The Just Checking In Podcast

In episode 117 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Claire Graham.Claire Graham is the Public Engagement Consultant for the charity DSD Families. DSD Families is an information and peer support charity for families.They work together with families and their children, teens and young adults and healthcare providers in the UK to raise happy, healthy, confident and well-informed young people who can speak up for the support they need.Every year in the UK, approximately 150 children are diagnosed with a Developmental Sex Disorder (DSD) and there are approximately 2,300 children in total living with a DSD in the country.In this episode we discuss Claire’s experience of anxiety throughout her life and the DSD she lives with called Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome.MRKH means Claire is unable to have children and we discuss Claire’s realisation about her fertility, learning how to live with it in adulthood and how its enabled her to code-switch between male and female social groups. We also discuss her frustrations when non-intersex people claim to speak on behalf of intersex people for their own political agendas and how children with DSDs can experience high levels of Gender Dysphoria. As always, #itsokaytoventFind out more about DSD Families here: https://www.dsdfamilies.org/charitySupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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In episode 116 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Lesley Roberts.Lesley is a mother and author of ‘A is for Alex’, which documents her journey of grief and losing her eldest son Alex to suicide.Alex took his own life when he was 23 years old, two years after he was circumcised aged 21. Clinicians advised him to do this to treat a medical condition he had called phimosis. Alex’s suicide shattered Lesley’s life and the lives of her other children. She wrote this book as a way of channelling her grief and to help any other parent who might have lost a child or how to support their children who may have mental health difficulties. In this episode we discuss how Alex came into the world and her journey of motherhood, the events which transpired which led to Alex’s death and how she has tried to navigate life after his passing.As always, #itsokaytovent You can buy A for Alex here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alex-Bereaved-Mothers-Promise-Beloved/dp/1913615472/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Z90DYP1T5551&keywords=A+is+for+Alex&qid=1643903917&sprefix=a+is+for+alex%2Caps%2C188&sr=8-1You can follow Lesley on social media below: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LesleyRobertsAuthor/You can also contact Lesley via email here: [email protected] Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvkTRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains a deep and detailed discussion about grief, loss and the suicide of a loved one, which some listeners may find extremely upsetting or distressing, so please listen with caution.

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In episode 115 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Jerry Barnett.Jerry has held many careers throughout his life and happened to be a software developer at the time of the Internet being created.Jerry is the author of 'Porn Panic: Sex and Censorship in the UK', which charts the history of censorship in the porn industry. Jerry argues that this censorship of porn is widespread and is having a negative impact on society.In this episode we discuss the historical context of censorship laws around porn in the UK, whether pornography really does lead to increased rates of sexual violence towards women or not and the erasure of female directors in the adult film industry and why some people pretend they don’t exist. We also discuss Jerry’s experience of becoming a father twice, once when he was very young and again as an older man and what it’s taught him about himself and life. We finish by talking about a serious physical assault Jerry experienced where he could have been killed, the short-term PTSD he experienced from it and how he overcame it to live life to the fullest.As always, #itsokaytovent You can purchase a copy of Porn Panic here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Porn-Panic-Sex-Censorship-UK-ebook/dp/B01ICAI8W6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SG767LIXSEZH&keywords=porn+panic&qid=1643464904&sprefix=porn+paic%2Caps%2C972&sr=8-1Follow Jerry on social media below: Twitter: https://twitter.com/PornPanicSupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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In episode 114 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Dr Karenza Moore.Karenza is a Lecturer in Sociology of Crime at Newcastle University and the Founder of Club Research. Club Research is the home of Karenza’s academic research on the use of alcohol, illegal drugs, novel psychoactive substances (NPS), drug policy, the night-time economy (NTE) and dance music club cultures and drug research methods and ethics.Karenza has been researching and writing about drugs for 18 years. Her research explores the prevalence, use patterns, emerging drug trends, meanings, motivations and consequences of drug use, especially polydrug use and drug use in recreational settings, including illegal raves, clubs, festivals and after-parties.In this episode we discuss Karenza’s academic journey, Club Research, the importance of clubs as cultural institutions, the relationship between psychedelics and mental health, a discussion about the medicinal benefits of drugs like MDMA and LSD vs the harms and how we break down the stigma behind not going out. We also talk about the eating disorder Karenza lived with between the ages of 15-30 years old, how she overcame it and how raving and clubbing massively helped her recovery.The final part of our conversation concerns the issues she’s had with Benzodiazepine and the collective trauma we are all trying to overcome brought about by Covid-19.As always, #itsokaytoventFollow Karenza on social media below: Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrKarenzaMooreFind out more about Club Research here: http://clubresearch.org/Support Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvkBuy your ticket to Just Checking In Live #3 here: helmtickets.com/events/7436/vents…-dj-pete-anderson

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In this episode of Mind On The Game we checked in with Ben Bloomfield. Ben was university flat-mates with friend of the pod James Lamb and plays in Sunday League team and former Vent sponsors Mabley Mavericks.In this episode we discuss Ben’s football journey, the brief 5 minutes of fame his university halls team experienced when they were sponsored by PornHub, camaraderie and how football allowed him to survive and thrive in school. We also discuss the work burnout he experienced from 2019, why he took the plunge to leave his job during a pandemic and change profession, the mental health challenges that presented and what he’s learned having come out the other side. As always, #itsokaytoventSupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvkBuy your ticket to Just Checking In Live #3 here: helmtickets.com/events/7436/vents…-dj-pete-anderson

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In episode 113 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Alex Roberts.Alex is the sibling of a close friend of our Founder Freddie Cocker, Aimee Roberts. Freddie met Aimee through his best mate and friend of the pod James Lamb. Aimee has supported Alex’s mental health for a few years and Alex is a testament to the idea that recovery from trauma is possible and you can, with the right support, treatment and good people around you, overcome the difficulties you are going through in life. In this episode we discuss Alex’s childhood and his relationship with his father. We also discuss Alex’s journey with addiction and recovery, including his difficulties with marijuana and cocaine. We hope his journey can be example to any of you Venters if you are struggling with addiction that things can and will get better. As always, #itsokaytoventSupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvkBuy your ticket to Just Checking In Live #3 here: helmtickets.com/events/7436/vents…-dj-pete-andersonTRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains deep and detailed discussions about drug abuse and self-harm, which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting, so please listen with caution.

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In episode 112 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Mars. Mars is a a YouTuber, commentator and trans man.Mars’s YouTube channel is called ‘upperhandMars’. He has interviewed a range of people including trans and detransitioners on his channel. He is also the host of ‘The Mars Show Podcast’.In this episode we discuss how his gender dysphoria began and his transition, how testosterone affected his physical health and why he decided to come off it in 2021. We explore the conversation about gender dysphoric children right now, the conversation about trans within the butch lesbian community and how he found himself excluded from the trans community because he disagreed with some of the views espoused by some of its members.As always, #itsokaytoventSubscribe to Mars's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/upperhandMARSListen to The Mars Show Podcast here: https://themarshow.podbean.com/Follow Mars on social media below: Twitter: https://twitter.com/UpperhandMarsSupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvkBuy your ticket to Just Checking In Live #3 here: helmtickets.com/events/7436/vents…-dj-pete-andersonTRIGGER WARNING: this podcast contains deep and detailed discussions about self-harm and suicide, which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting, so please listen with caution.

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In part 2 of Deborah Powney's JCIP, we talk about the academic research Deborah has done around partner abuse and domestic violence. We talk about the myths currently present in the conversation, why Deborah pushes back against the concept of 'gender-based violence', how male victim-survivors are abused by female perpetrators and the massive stigma they face in reporting it.We also discuss recent case studies in the media spotlight involving females murdering male partners or in some cases children and why this is often brushed under the carpet.As always, #itsokaytoventFollow Deborah on social media below:Twitter: twitter.com/DeborahPowneySupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvkBuy your ticket to Just Checking In Live #3 here: helmtickets.com/events/7436/vents…-dj-pete-anderson

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In episode 111 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Deborah Powney. Deborah is a Final Year PHD Candidate in Psychology and is a mature academic researcher and research psychologist specialising in impact and recovery in male and female victims of partner abuse and coercive control. In Part 1 of Deborah's episode, we talk about her experience of being domestically abused by her first husband over a five and a half year period.We discuss how she was abused and her husband's narcissistic personality disorder. We explore the PTSD the abuse left her with after she escaped the marriage and the post-traumatic growth she enjoyed in the years that followed. We also discuss the grief she went through in losing both her parents and her brother to suicide. As always, #itsokaytoventFollow Deborah on social media below: Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeborahPowneySupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvkBuy your ticket to Just Checking In Live #3 here: helmtickets.com/events/7436/vents…-dj-pete-andersonTRIGGER WARNING: this podcast contains deep and detailed discussions about grief, domestic abuse and suicide, which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting, so please listen with caution.

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In episode 110 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Ria Wolstenholme.Ria is a former journalist and the co-host of the 'No Worries If Not' podcast, a podcast for the 'anxiously ambitious'.In this episode we discuss her journalism journey, being chucked in at the deep end in her university degree and how that toughened her up and cemented her desire to pursue it as a career. We talk about dealing with rejection, access in journalism and the London-centric privilege that exists. We also talk about the podcast, how it allows her and Georgia to have conversations they might not otherwise have had and in bringing their WhatsApp group chat to life. For Ria’s mental health, we discuss her experience of anxiety from an early age, her parents divorce, attachment issues and independence as an adult.We finish by talking about Ria’s endometriosis, a hugely stigmatised health condition which affects women, specifically female fertility.As always, #itsokaytoventListen to No Worries If Not here: https://anchor.fm/no-worries-if-not-podcastFollow the podcast on social media below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noworriesifnot_podcast/?hl=enFollow Ria on social media below:Twitter: https://twitter.com/riawolstenholmeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/riawolstenholme/?hl=enSupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvkBuy your ticket to Just Checking In Live #3 here: https://helmtickets.com/events/7436/vents-just-checking-in-live-3-with-isla-rico-dj-pete-andersonTRIGGER WARNING: this podcast contains a brief discussion about suicide and suicidality, which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting, so please listen with caution.

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