The Just Checking In Podcast

In the twenty-second episode of the Just Checking In Podcast, we spoke to freelance Science Journalist and Audio Producer, Izzie Clarke. After completing a Masters degree in Physics, Izzie worked as an assistant producer for BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 1, returning to science content a few years later as a producer and presenter for The Naked Scientists on BBC Radio 5 Live, ABC’s Radio National in Australia and their eponymous podcast. In addition to reporting on the latest science news, creating space documentaries or throwing herself into an captivating location recording or experiment for radio, Izzie is motivated to bring science to a younger audience. She has presented a video series for BBC Radio 1 on genetics with Dev Griffin and was a researcher for the 2016 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures.In this pod we discussed Izzie's media journey and how she got to where she is today, the challenges of going freelance and the financial and social pressures that come with it, sexism in science, her experiences of living with imposter syndrome, her love of knitting and of course a mental health chat! Izzie’s latest project is producing and presenting the Royal Astronomical Society's new podcast, 'The Supermassive Podcast' which you can listen to here: https://audioboom.com/channels/5014098Find out more about Izzie's work and how to commission her on her website here: https://www.izzieclarke.com/You can also follow her on social media below: Twitter: https://twitter.com/IzzieClarkeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/izzie__c/As always, #itsokaytoventMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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In the twenty-first episode of the Just Checking In Podcast, we spoke to Senior Referee Officer at the English Football Association, Farai Hallam. Farai is a qualified professional referee and a former professional footballer having played for Stevenage before several injuries curtailed his career before he was released by the club and forced him to change career. Referees across the English football pyramid face abuse both verbal and in some extremely rare cases physical by players on the pitch. They also face a barrage of abuse by fans on social media platforms as well as by pundits when they make the wrong decision. In this case, we wanted to show that referees are human beings too, with their own mental health to manage. We chatted to Farai about his football journey, both playing and refereeing, racism in football as well as incidents of racism he faced whilst playing the game and his mental health journey.We also discussed the interview he did for the Metro for journalist Natalie Morris as part of her 'Mixed Up' feature, which is a weekly series that aims to elevate the under-heard voices of the mixed-race population in the UK.You can read that article in full here: https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/16/mixed-up-being-english-is-not-about-what-you-look-like-im-proud-to-represent-modern-england-10920711/As always, #itsokaytoventMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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In the twentieth episode of the Just Checking In Podcast, we spoke to Vent Champion and Head Chef at London restaurant Copper & Ink, Robert Parks. Rob got his big break in the industry when he made it to the Semi-Final of BBC cookery show MasterChef in 2015.In this pod we discussed the article he wrote for Vent in January 2018 about some of the realities of working in the restaurant industry and how it's pressure cooker environments can have an impact on one's mental health, with some important stories about how it has taken the lives of several prominent chefs as well. We also discussed his own cookery journey, his mental health journey and of course, a mental health chat. A final topic of discussion was around identity and the interview he did for the Metro for journalist Natalie Morris as part of her 'Mixed Up' feature, which is a weekly series that aims to elevate the under-heard voices of the mixed-race population in the UK.You can read that article in full here: https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/10/mixed-up-if-you-are-anything-other-than-white-you-are-considered-black-9139063/You can also read the full article he wrote for Vent 'Boiling Over' here: http://vent.org.uk/boiling-chefsFollow Robert on social media below: Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertDAParksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/copperandink/Follow Copper & Ink on social media below: Twitter: https://twitter.com/copperinkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertdaparks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CopperandInk/?ref=br_rsIf you are a chef and need additional support with your mental health, you can contact 'Chefs with Issues' here: http://chefswithissues.com/As always, #itsokaytoventMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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In the nineteenth episode of the Just Checking In Podcast, we spoke to UK Disco & Soul recording artist, AMiR. AMiR spoke honestly about his experiences in the music industry in his career to date, his debut album, 'All or Nothing' he released in 2019 and his refusal to be pigeon-holed or stereotyped.We also spoke about the man behind the alias including fatherhood, family, football and of course, a mental health chat.You can stream or buy AMiR's debut album 'All or Nothing' on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Nothing-AMiR/dp/B07PB1S55G/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=amir+all+or+nothing&qid=1581282817&sr=8-1You can also find AMiR's music on SoundCloud, Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music and other streaming platforms. Follow AMiR on social media below:Twitter: https://twitter.com/amirofficialukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amirofficialuk/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/amirofficialuk/As always, #itsokaytovent Music: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvkOutro music: AMiR: Feel For You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFeezBvo9hQ

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In the eighteenth episode of the Just Checking In Podcast, we spoke to Vent Champion Bree Leahy. Bree at time of recording is a full-time University student at the University of East London and is studying for a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree in Sport, Physical Education and Development.She has written for Vent’s poetry section about her experiences as a young gay woman as well as an article about having to be a part-time carer for her grandmother and the grief she experienced when she lost her.We spoke about those experiences as well as her mental health journey, her coming out story, the homophobia she's experienced at University and before it and of course, a mental health chat. As always, #itsokaytoventRead the full article Bree wrote about caring for her grandmother here: http://vent.org.uk/caring-for-others-a-young-carers-journey-of-self-hatred-to-self-loveYou can also read the poem Bree wrote for Vent we discussed on this podcast here: http://vent.org.uk/kissing-girls-is-easy-unless-youre-a-girl-as-wellMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk**TRIGGER WARNING** This podcast contains discussions around suicide which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting so please listen with caution.

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In the seventeenth episode of the Just Checking In Podcast, we spoke to former professional rugby player, Kearnan Myall. Kearnan has played for a number of Premiership Rugby clubs including London Wasps and Sale Sharks. He started his career at Championship club Leeds Carnegie, now known as Yorkshire Carnegie.Kearnan has also been capped by England at both England U18 and England Saxons level and was included in former Head Coach Stuart Lancaster's squad for the 2013 tour of South America.Kearnan is now studying for a PHD at Oxford University in Psychiatry. In August 2019 he came out about his mental health issues in a Guardian interview and has since been a prominent and trailblazing mental health advocate in the professional sport community. We talked about this article and his experiences of suicide and depression.We also took a look back at his playing career, how the mental health of players is looked after in professional rugby, his PHD, the impact Stuart Lancaster had on his mental health, dressing room culture and of course, a mental health chat. As always, #itsokaytovent Read Kearnan's Guardian interview with Robert Kitson here: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/19/kearnan-myall-england-players-mental-health-training-camp**TRIGGER WARNING**This podcast contains discussions around suicide which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting so please listen with caution.Music: @Patawawa - Strange; www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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In the sixteenth episode of the Just Checking In Podcast, we spoke to Personal Trainer and Studio Manager at Rock Health & Fitness, Dean Clarke. In one of the most raw and in-depth interviews to date, we spoke to Dean about his mental health journey and living with Bipolar Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We discussed his experiences of being in the British Army, his tours of both Iraq and Afghanistan, fatherhood, his suicide attempt and of course, a mental health chat. Follow Rock Health & Fitness on social media below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rock_healthfitness_gym/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockhealthandfitnessstudio/Twitter: https://twitter.com/rock_offley**TRIGGER WARNING** This podcast contains discussions around suicide which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting so please listen with caution.As always, #itsokaytovent Music: @Patawawa - Strange; www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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In the fifteenth episode of the Just Checking In Podcast, we spoke to mental health advocate Paul McGregor. Paul is a Public Speaker, a guest Lecturer at University of the Arts London and Founder of the digital platform, ‘Every Mind At Work’.We talked about losing his dad to suicide, the impact that had on him growing up and how it's shaped his experiences as a father, public speaking and becoming a published author! You can follow Paul's work on social media on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pmcgregorcom/Twitter: https://twitter.com/pmcgregorcomFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pmcgregorcom/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXiZFpmQK4Fnx7n2Tvxp8VAAs always, #itsokaytoventMusic: @patawawa - Strange; https://www.youtube.com/watch?

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In the fourteenth episode of the Just Checking In Podcast, we spoke to mental health advocate, campaigner, public speaker and author, Hope Virgo. Hope is one of the most prominent and influential advocates for greater awareness and better treatment for eating disorders in the UK. Her campaign, 'Dump The Scales' aims to ensure nobody is turned away from treatment for eating disorders purely because of their weight. At the time of recording, the petition has gathered over 95,000 signatures. She is also a published author, with her book ‘Stand Tall, Little Girl’ recently having been re-issued.You can sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/eating-disorders-are-not-just-about-weight-dumpthescalesYou can purchase 'Stand Tall Little Girl' here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stand-Tall-Little-Girl-Anorexia/dp/1789561205/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1PNV6O8214L8&keywords=stand+tall+little+girl&qid=1578253838&sprefix=stand+tall+lit%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-1 If you'd like to follow Hope on social media or contact her, you can find her on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopevirgo_/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HopeVirgoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hopevirgoauthor/ If you've been affected by the issues discussed on this pod, please find a link to eating disorder charities which might be able to help: Beat Eating Disorders UK: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/As always, #itsokaytovent Music: @patawawa - Strange; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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In the thirteenth episode of the Just Checking In Podcast, we spoke to co-founder of the Whole Man Academy, Matthew Shaw.Since September 2018, the Whole Man Academy has been creating spaces for men to talk. Their public and corporate events, workshops and 1-2-1 coaching sessions are designed to help men build a strong mindset and improve their resilience in today’s challenging and demanding world. They welcome all men to be part of that conversation.We also spoke about Matt's mental health journey, how he got to where he is today working as an Editor at BBC News and the work that Matt has done at the BBC to improve the mental health of all staff working there. Find out more about the Whole Man Academy here: https://www.wholemanacademy.com/You can also follow them on social media below: Twitter: https://twitter.com/wholemanacademyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholemanacademy/As always, #itsokaytovent Music: @Patawawa - Strange: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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