Like I care about...

Too often women talk about unsatisfactory or below average sexual experiences in an almost acceptable way. Some women do not know what they like or how to ask for what they want. I don't think that's right and I wanted to do my part to help them see that doesn't have to be the case. That is why I invited Portia onto the podcast to share some tips on how women can find true sexual pleasure by themselves or with a partner. Portia is a sexual empowerment coach from Brooklyn in New York. Portia helps women become more present and find their power through pleasure. Her expansive sex coaching methods employ mindfulness and ritual to help women reconnect and discover deep sexual pleasure. You can find out more about Portia and her work on Instagram @theportiabrown 

Social media is the perfect example of something that is both a blessing and a curse. Yes, it was a HUGE bonus during the pandemic to make sure we stayed connected and provided the communtiy feel we were lacking in person. However, we all know the impact social media can have on our mental wellbeing, too.  Some of us have no choice but to find a way to make our tricky relationship with social media work because it's either part of our job, it helps us campaign or raise awareness about important issues or helps us connect with family and loved ones all over the world. I wanted to speak to someone who about how to use social media for one of these reasons and how they stay mentally well online. Taylor felt like the perfect person to have this conversation with (especially because we talk about it a lot between us!) Taylor hosts an award winning mental health and wellbeing podcast called the Waffleshop Podcast. Taylor launched the podcast in 2020 and has had a wide range of guests on the show to date, including Sean Paul, Perez Hilton and even Carole Baskin! More recently, Taylor launched a brand new podcast with his co-host, Emma, called Waffleshop Unfiltered. This new spin-off is an opportunity to take the conversation further, exploring a wide range of weird, wonderful and potentially controversial subjects. You can find out more about Taylor and the Waffeshop podcast on Instagram @waffleshoppodcast 

Psychiatric units and electroconvulsive therapy are two areas of mental health care and treatment that many of us know little about, myself included. I imagine there is a lot of stigma and assumptions made about both, too. That is why I am very grateful that Isabelle has kindly agreed to share her experience of being on a psychiatric ward and undergoing electroconvulsive therapy to educate people about both. Isabelle is a published poet who has recently released her debut book, Pandora's Ruin. Through the medium of poetry, Isabelle explores one women's mental health journey and her search for her true identity.  We explore a wide range of difficult topics, including suicide, depression, psychiatric units and electroconvulsive therapy. Please do take care when listening to this episode and explore the resources below if you need to: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/crisis-services/treatment-in-hospital/ https://www.samaritans.org/ https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/living-with-mental-illness/treatment-and-support/electroconvulsive-therapy-ect You can find out more about Isabelle on Instagram @isabellepbyrne  Check out Isabelle's new book, Pandora's Ruin, at https://www.bentkeypublishing.co.uk/product-page/pandora-s-ruin-isabelle-p-byrne

Grief is something that sadly affects us all at some point in our lives. It can be one of the most difficult experiences life throws at us. I've talked on the blog and the podcast about my own experience of losing my dad in 2013 at the age of 45 and the impact this had on my family and I. This is a topic I would struggle to discuss on my own, which is why I am so grateful that Gylisa agreed to join me on the podcast to share her experience of losing her dad.  Gylisa is an author and mummy blogger, known to her very loyal followers as 'rock n roll mother'. Based in Cornwall, Gylisa documents her life as a young mum, bluntly talking about the highs and lows that motherhood can bring, as well as life in general. Sadly, this includes her experience of losing her dad, Mark, when he was only 52. As you can imagine, this is an emotional and potentially triggering podcast episode. Please do take care when listening to this conversation and explore the resources below if you need to:  https://www.cruse.org.uk/ https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/ You can find out more about Gylisa on Instagram - @rocknrollmother_ You can also order her book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ever-Optimist-Gylisa-Jayne-Potten/dp/1695973925

Whether anyone has noticed or not, more and more people are opting to live an alcohol free life. As someone who does partake in a beverage or two, I am certainly not an expert on this but I think it's an important life choice that needs to be discussed. That is why I invited Melody onto the show to talk about her experience.  Melody is a straight-talking sober podcaster from Southampton who is undoubtedly one of sobriety's biggest fans. Last year, Melody launched her podcast, 'Hi, I'm Sober', to help people who may be reassessing their relationship with alcohol and are or are looking to live a sober life. In every epsiode, Melody interviews people at different stages of their sobriety to inspire, educate and empower people who are on a similar journey. You can find out more about Melody on Instagram - @merlotfreemelody 

Working from home isn't for everyone. We can't deny some of the perks that come with having your office right on your door step (literally), but despite these perks, some of us can find working at home every day quite challenging. It can go as far as having a detrimental impact on our mental health and wellbeing, in some cases.  As someone who has worked from home for over five years now, I have very often sat in (if not led) the 'okay, I'm over this now' camp. I've developed my own way of coping with working from home but I certainly wouldn't say I'm an expert. That’s why I invited Jess onto this episode to help me talk about this topic in more detail and share some tips on how we can manage our wellbeing that little bit better when home is now our work place too. Jess is a working from home wellbeing mentor and founder of the Coworking Club which helps people to work from home their way. As a mentor, Jess also helps people to prioritise their wellbeing as well as their workload. You can find out more about Jess and the Coworking Club at :   Website - https://thecoworkingclub.co.uk/  Instagram - @thec0workingclub or @wfhwithjess 

One in two people in the hospitality industry struggle with their mental health. ONE IN TWO. Having grown up in the industry, I've seen how people struggle with little to no support. It's a very wonderful industry, but more needs to be done to combat the taboo that surrounds mental health issues amongst hospitality workers so they can get the help and support they need. And if you don't work in the industry and think this episode won't be relevant for you, you'd be wrong. We all have a part to play.  To help me discuss this topic, I am joined by Paddy from So Let’s Talk. Paddy spent over a decade in the hospitality industry working across the North West of England. When his own mental health suffered, Paddy realised there wasn't an avenue for getting help and support for your mental health when working in the hospitality industry, so he decided to create one. That's when So Let's Talk was born. So Let's Talk is a not-for-profit platform that provides mental, physical and financial health sessions to hospitality professionals. You can find out more about Paddy and the important work he is doing through So Let's Talk at: Website - https://soletstalk.co/  Instagram - @soletstalk___ If you have experienced any of the issues mentioned in this episode, please consider exploring the links and resources below (as well as the So Let's Talk website): https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/suicidal-feelings/about-suicidal-feelings/ https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/about-mental-illness/learn-more-about-symptoms/suicidal-thoughts-how-to-cope/

Emotional eating is an issue that affects more people than we often realise. It's often too easy to turn to food for comfort during stressful and emotionally difficult times, making us feel like we will never be able to break the cycle.  Having struggled with this issue myself, I wanted to talk about it on the podcast to prove that you can find a way to work through and manage emotional eating, even if it feels like you never will. Nutrition and weight loss advisor, Jen Kay, helped me to take control of my emotional eating and that's why I couldn't think of a better person to invite onto the show to talk about this topic in more detail. Jen helps women to ditch diets and transform themselves physically and mentally without restrictions. Working alongside her partner, Phil, Jen helps women to build their confidence and a healthier lifestyle. To find out more about Jen's work, visit: Website - https://www.liftlearnandburn.co.uk/ Instagram - @jenkayllb If you have been affected by any of the topics discussed during this episode, please consider exploring the links and resources below: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/about-eating-disorders/types/binge-eating-disorder/ https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/eating-problems/types-of-eating-disorders/

We all have a daily routine, and maybe even a weekly fitness routine, but do you have one for your mental health? This episode, mental health advocate, Daragh, joins me to talk about his mental health routine and the impact it has had on his life since implementing it a few years ago.  Daragh, from Cork in Ireland, uses his instagram page, Thoughts 2 Big, to normalise the chat around mental health and help people build daily routines for their wellbeing. Daragh set up the page in tribute to his best friend who died by suicide at the age of 17.  You can find out more about Daragh at: Website - https://thoughtstoobig.ie/ Instagram - @thoughts2big If you have experienced any of the issues mentioned in this episode, please considering exploring the links and resources below: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/ https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/get-help/

We all have ambitions in life and, for most of us, to be happy is one of them.  Professor Paul McGee joined me to talk about happiness and how you can embrace daily habits and practices to help you live your best life. Paul is a Sunday Times bestselling author and an internationally sought-after keynote speaker and performance coach from the UK. Paul and his co-author, Dr Andy Cope, recently wrote and released the Happiness Revolution. In the book, they outline a 10-point Happiness Manifesto grounded in the science of human flourishing and the reality of life and provide plenty of simple and practical principles designed to have a positive impact on your life. You can find out more about Paul at: Website - https://www.thesumoguy.com/ Instagram - @thesumoguy Twitter - @TheSumoGuy You can order Paul and Andy's book at any good bookstore, but here is a link to save you searching: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/the-happiness-revolution-a-manifesto-for-living-your-best-life/9780857088888  If you have experienced any of the issues mentioned in this episode, please considering exploring the links and resources below: https://bit.ly/2Z5u0D1 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/get-help/