In this episode, I sit down with Conor Warren. the founder and CEO of Spark UK. We talk about Conor’s experience of growing up with anxiety, accessing counselling from a young age, and how grief and major life changes shaped his mental health. We explore what it was like to start a mental health organisation at 14, the bullying and backlash that came with it, and the pressure of growing up in the public eye while trying to create change.

We also talk about burnout, the link between mental and physical health and how anxiety can show up in unexpected ways in the body. Conor reflects on balancing university, running a charity, learning when to say no, and the guilt that can come with rest. We go on to discuss faith, purpose, and why Conor believes young people are searching for meaning in an increasingly uncertain world.

Please leave a review or rating if you enjoyed the episode, it really helps the podcast reach more people.

If anything in this conversation brings up difficult feelings, you’re not alone, and support is available.

If you’re in the UK, you can contact Samaritans free, 24/7 on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org.

If you’re elsewhere, you can find local helplines at findahelpline.com.

And if you’re in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency services.

Find out more about Conor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamconorjames/

Resources

https://www.mind.org.uk/

Follow the podcast on Instagram for updates: @nowwerereallytalking

Check out Be The Change Media: @bethechangemedianetwork

If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at crumppaddy@gmail.com.

The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

In this episode, I sit down with Leigh Johnstone, the Beardy Gardner. Leigh is a theatre director turned garden designer. He is now an active mental health campaigner and has become popular on social media sharing gardening content.

In this episode, we talk about Leigh’s experience of growing up with an alcoholic parent and how this still impacts him today. We also talk about the positive impact on mental health of theatre and gardening.

We go on to talk about the double edged sword of social media, and the value of slowing down, and how reconnecting with creativity and nature can help us feel more human in an increasingly fast, digital world.

Please leave a review or rating, if you enjoyed the episode!

Leigh on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beardygardener/

Fluid Motion Theatre: https://fluidmotiontheatre.com/about-fluid-motion-theatre

Resources

https://www.mind.org.uk/

Follow the podcast on Instagram for updates: @nowwerereallytalking

Check out Be The Change Media: @bethechangemedianetwork

If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at crumppaddy@gmail.com.

The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

In this fascinating episode, I am joined by Lara Rodwell. Lara is a writer, journalist and mental health advocate whose work explores neurodivergence, grief, identity, and loneliness. She also founded the Lonely Club. She speaks openly about growing up as an identical twin, navigating her sister’s eating disorder, discovering she is autistic and ADHD in adulthood, and how those revelations reshaped her understanding of herself. Lara also shares the deeply personal experience of losing her dad in 2020 and how grief became both a rupture and the start of a new chapter.

If you found the episode insightful, please subscribe and give a review!

Lara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lararodwell_/

All things The Lonely Club: https://linktr.ee/_thelonelyclub

Resources:

https://www.marmaladetrust.org/

https://www.mind.org.uk/

Follow the podcast on Instagram for updates: @nowwerereallytalking

Check out Be the change. Media: @bethechangemedianetwork

If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at crumppaddy@gmail.com.

The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

In this episode, I am joined by Danny Bowman, an academic and Director at the Conservative Mental Health Group. Danny opens up about his experiences with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), reflecting on the period of his life when he became housebound and consumed by his self-image.

The conversation explores why Danny went viral a decade ago, how BDD affects his everyday life and the long road toward recovery.

We also delve into his academic and political work on mental health, including the lessons he took from standing in the 2024 general election.

If you found the episode insightful, please subscribe and give a review!

Danny on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dannybowman96

Donate to Danny’s marathon: Link to Donate

Resources:

https://www.ocduk.org/

https://bddfoundation.org/

Follow the podcast on Instagram for updates: @nowwerereallytalking

Check out Be the change. Media: @bethechangemedianetwork

If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at crumppaddy@gmail.com.

In this episode, I’m joined by Tanya Roy for an insightful and honest conversation about her experiences with mental health challenges. We explore her journey through school and university, including why she believes exam reform is urgently needed to better support students who are struggling. Tanya also opens up about the complex intersection between mental and physical health, and how the two can influence and complicate each other.

We discuss her ongoing campaign work, what drives her, and the future she hopes to shape both personally and through advocacy.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues in this episode call Samaritans for free on their 24-hour phone line on 116 123.

If you found the episode insightful, please subscribe and give a review!

Tanya on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanyaroy._/

MK Brownies: https://www.instagram.com/mkbrownieco/

Follow the podcast on Instagram for updates: @nowwerereallytalking

Check out Be the change. Media: @bethechangemedianetwork

If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at crumppaddy@gmail.com.

In this episode, I’m joined by Mathew Hulbert for an open and heartfelt conversation about grief, loss, and what coping really looks like. Mathew shares how comfort eating became a way to manage overwhelming feelings, and how, over time, he began to rebuild his sense of self-worth.

We talk about the importance of telling the people around us that we love them, learning to disagree without losing compassion, and dealing with social media abuse. Mathew also shares his experience of coming close to death and how that moment changed his understanding of what it means to be alive.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues in this episode, call Samaritans for free on their 24-hour phone line on 116 123.

If you found the episode insightful, please subscribe and give a review!

Mathew on Twitter: https://x.com/MathewHulbert

Political Frenemies: https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticalFrenemies

Mathew & Andy Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@MathewAndyPod

Follow the podcast on Instagram for updates: @nowwerereallytalking

Check out Be the change. Media: @bethechangemedianetwork

If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at crumppaddy@gmail.com.

In this powerful episode, we are joined by Glen Markey, who lost his daughter, Helena, to suicide in 2015. Since then, Glen has dedicated himself to campaigning for change in how schools support young people’s mental health through his campaign Smile4Helena.

Together, we explore the impact of loss, how workplaces have evolved in talking about mental health, and the simple yet life-saving policy change Glen is fighting for: ensuring parents are always contacted when a young person becomes distressed in school.

It’s an emotional and deeply human conversation about grief, resilience, and turning pain into purpose.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues in this episode, call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.

If you found the episode insightful, please subscribe and give a review!

Glen on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glen-markey-2110092/

Smile4Helena: https://www.facebook.com/smile4helena/

SOBS: https://uksobs.com/

Follow the podcast on Instagram for updates: @nowwerereallytalking

Check out Be the change. Media: @bethechangemedianetwork

If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at crumppaddy@gmail.com.

In this episode, I am joined by Poppy, a journalist, mental health advocate and spoken word dabbler (her words!). We delve into the intersection of journalism and mental health, exploring how Poppy’s experiences with her own mental health impact on her journalism. We also discuss the impact of COVID-19 on mental health, and the importance of personal experiences in shaping one's understanding of mental health. Poppy shares her struggles with mental health, the role of therapy, and her involvement with the charity Words Matter. The conversation highlights the power of spoken word as a form of self-expression and the importance of navigating relationships while being mindful of mental health.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week. Or call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.

If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review and subscribe to help more people find these conversations.

Poppy on Instagram: @poppyelizab & @Poppyjourno

Follow the podcast on Instagram for updates: @nowwerereallytalking

Check out Be the change. Media: @bethechangemedianetwork

If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at crumppaddy@gmail.com.