Welcome to The Talk Works Podcast, a space where we explore mental health, therapy, practical advice, and the tools needed to support wellbeing in the workplace.

In this episode, Dr Jen Cottam is joined by Rie Pearson, a former police officer, domestic abuse specialist and author of Be Kind, No Excuses.

Rie reflects on her 27 years in policing, specialising in Domestic Violence and Safeguarding. She talks about how control builds gradually, why leaving is far more complex than most people realise, and the red flag behaviours that are a precursor to abuse in intimate relationships.

Visit Talk Works: https://talk-works.org.uk/  

Connect with Jen:

LinkedIn: Jen Cottam 

Connect with Rie:

Instagram: @bekindnoexcuses_cic

TikTok: @riepearson (me.actually)

Website: riepearson.com

Be Kind, No Excuses (Book):

Available via Amazon

Welcome to The Talk Works Podcast, a space where we explore mental health, therapy, practical advice, and the tools needed to support wellbeing in the workplace.

In this episode, Dr Jen Cottam is joined by Anthony Hutton, winner of Big Brother 2005 and founder of the Never Throw In The Towel Project.

Anthony talks openly about life after sudden fame, the impact it had on his identity, which led to unhealthy habits, including alcohol and drug use. He shares the importance of breathwork, how you sometimes need to disguise mental health for men and why you need to get in the best shape of your life for the sake of your own mental health.

He also shares the power of community and the inspiration behind the Never Throw In The Towel Project.

Visit Talk Works: talk-works.org.uk  

Connect with Jen:  LinkedIn: Jen Cottam 

Connect with Anthony:

LinkedIn: Anthony Hutton

Instagram: @theanthonyhutton

https://www.instagram.com/theanthonyhutton/

Visit Never Throw in the Towel Project:

Website: https://neverthrowinthetowel.website/

LinkedIn: Never Throw In The Towel Project

Instagram: @neverthrowinthetowelproject

Welcome to the Talk Works Podcast, a space where we explore mental health, therapy, practical advice, and the tools needed to support wellbeing in the workplace.

In this episode, host Dr Jen Cottam is joined by Dr Vicky Jervis, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist working full-time in the NHS within a Specialist Adult Autism Team. Alongside her NHS role, Vicky provides supervision and mentoring through ACP-UK and the Royal College of Psychiatry’s national Autism Training Programme.

Vicky shares her experience of spending much of her life undiagnosed before receiving a late autism diagnosis in 2021, and what that was like for her. Jen and Vicky discuss masking at work, what a neuroaffirmative approach looks like in practice, and why identity-affirming support matters. They also explore the role of language and how employers can create environments where autistic and neurodivergent people don’t feel pressure to hide who they are.

Visit Talk Works: https://talk-works.org.uk/  

 Connect with Jen: LinkedIn: Jen Cottam 

 Connect with Vicky: LinkedIn: Dr Vicky Jervis

Recommended Resources:

The Autistic Anthology: Neuro Narratives of Mental Health Professionals

Welcome to the Talk Works Podcast, a space where we explore mental health, therapy, practical advice, and the tools needed to support wellbeing in the workplace

In this episode, host Dr Jen Cottam is joined by Jan Garcha, a UKCP-accredited psychotherapist specialising in adult grief and bereavement with experience in both NHS and private mental health services.

Jan shares her personal journey of losing her daughter and how that experience deepened her understanding of grief, shaping the compassionate, relational approach she brings to her clients.

She reflects on the many ways grief can show up and the importance of giving people space to process their emotions, as well as practical ways friends, family, and workplaces can offer support.

Jan also explores therapeutic approaches, including relational therapy, mind-body techniques like grief yoga and Pilates, and the benefits of a grief support group.

Visit Talk Works: https://talk-works.org.uk/

Connect with Jen: LinkedIn: Jen Cottam

Connect with Jan: LinkedIn: Jan Garcha

Recommended Resources and Organisations:

Dr Tonkin’s Model of Grief: The Fried Egg Model

Cruse Bereavement Care: https://www.cruse.org.uk/

Welcome to The Talk Works Podcast, a space where we explore mental health, therapy, practical advice, and the tools needed to support wellbeing in the workplace.

In this episode, host Dr. Jen Cottam is joined by Claire McLean, founder of the award-winning consultancy Realise HR and Chair of Northern Cancer Voices. Claire shares her personal journey of being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37 while stepping into her first HR Director role, and how that experience shaped her perspective on life, work, and leadership.

She reflects on the challenges of balancing treatment with work and family life, the importance of employer flexibility and compassion, and the small but powerful ways colleagues and managers can make a difference.

She also offers professional insights on how organisations can better support employees affected by cancer, emphasising the need for empathy, reasonable adjustments, and open communication.

Visit Talk Works: talk-works.org.uk

Connect with Jen: LinkedIn: Jen Cottam

Visit Realise HR: https://realisehr.co.uk/

Connect with Claire: LinkedIn: Claire McLean

Recommended Organisations:

Northern Cancer Voices: https://northerncancervoices.co.uk/

Welcome to The Talk Works Podcast, a space where we explore mental health, therapy, practical advice, and the tools needed to support wellbeing in the workplace.

In this episode, Dr. Jen Cottam is joined by Dr Charlotte Armitage, a leading voice in the conversation around children, technology, and mental health. Charlotte is the author of Generation Zombie: Why Devices are Harming our Children and What We Can Do About It, and the founder of Be Device Wise, a pioneering organisation delivering training and interventions.

Charlotte shares her expertise on the risks of excessive device use, the alarming trends she’s observed, and the practical steps families, educators, and workplaces can take to set healthier boundaries.

Connect with Jen:

LinkedIn: Jen Cottam

Visit Talk Works: talk-works.org.uk

Connect with Dr Charlotte Armitage:

LinkedIn: Dr Charlotte Armitage

Website: https://charlottearmitage.co.uk/

Be Device Wise: https://bedevicewise.com/

Welcome to The Talk Works Podcast, a space where we explore mental health, therapy, practical advice, and the tools needed to support wellbeing in the workplace.

In this episode, Dr. Jen Cottam is joined by Damian Baetens, business consultant, coach, and advocate for neurodiversity in the workplace. Diagnosed with ADHD at 53, Damian shares his journey from a career in music management to business consultancy, and how his diagnosis has transformed the way he works, lives, and supports others.

He discusses the challenges of ADHD, including burnout and rejection sensitivity, and the strategies that have helped him succeed, such as body doubling and focusing on strengths. Damian also introduces the Smarta app, a platform supporting neurodivergent entrepreneurs and businesses to build more inclusive workplaces.

Visit Talk Works: talk-works.org.uk

Connect with Jen:

LinkedIn: Jen Cottam

Connect with Damian:

LinkedIn: Damian Baetens

Smarta Website: https://gosmarta.com/

Welcome to The Talk Works Podcast, a space where we explore mental health, therapy, practical advice, and the tools needed to support wellbeing in the workplace.

In this episode, Dr. Jen Cottam is joined by Jamie Gamble, Partner at Ward Hadaway and an expert in employment law. Together, they discuss the rise in mental health-related issues in the workplace, common misunderstandings employers have about their responsibilities, and key insights from tribunal cases, including unfair dismissal and disability discrimination. Jamie highlights the importance of early intervention, reasonable adjustments, and well-trained managers.

He also shares his personal experience with mental health and how it inspired him to champion wellbeing initiatives at Ward Hadaway.

Visit Talk Works: https://talk-works.org.uk

Connect with Jen:

LinkedIn: Jen Cottam

Connect with Jamie:

LinkedIn: Jamie Gamble

Ward Hadaway: https://www.wardhadaway.com/

Recommended Resources:

2023 CIPD Report

ACAS Mental Health Guidance

Welcome to The Talk Works Podcast, a space where we explore mental health, therapy, practical advice, and the tools needed to support wellbeing in the workplace.

In this episode, host Dr. Jen Cottam is joined by Kayleigh Laverick, social entrepreneur and founder of Mama Social Co. Kayleigh shares her story of experiencing postnatal depression and trauma following the birth of her second child, and how one walk and a Facebook post became the start of a powerful movement.

Kayleigh reflects on how therapy, meditation, and community helped her recover, and how Mama Social Co supports over 60,000 parents through meaningful social experiences.

Visit Talk Works: talk-works.org.uk

Connect with Jen: LinkedIn: Jen Cottam

Connect with Kayleigh: LinkedIn: Kayleigh Laverick

Visit Mamma Social Co: https://mammasocialco.com/

Visit PANDAS Foundation: https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/how-you-can-help-us/

Welcome to The Talk Works Podcast, a space where we explore mental health, therapy, practical advice, and the tools needed to support wellbeing in the workplace.

In this episode, Dr. Jen Cottam is joined by Mark Deeks; musician, choir leader, speaker, and advocate for mental health. Mark joins Jen for a deeply moving conversation about grief, baby loss, and finding comfort through music.

Mark talks about his TEDx Talk in which he discussed the impact of music on mental health. He also shares his and his wife’s personal story of loss and the profound impact it’s had on their lives.

Mark also shares how music continues to play a grounding role in his life and parenting, and how his love for football and daily beach walks help him manage his mental health.

This is a powerful, compassionate episode about loss, language, and the importance of making space at work and in life for stories that are often left unsaid.

Visit Talk Works: talk-works.org.uk

Connect with Jen: LinkedIn: Jen Cottam

Connect with Mark: Website: https://markdeeksmusic.com/ LinkedIn: Mark Deeks Choir: Sing United

Recommended Organisations:

4Louis: https://4louis.co.uk/

Teardrop: http://www.teardrop.org.uk/home.html