Is It Safe? Self-interrogation, the road to nowhere

A transmission arrives from deep space.In this immersive episode of Small Mercies, HAL 9000 reflects on scale, fragility, memory, and what it means to be alive in a universe vast enough to swallow stars whole.Through collapsing signals, cosmic imagery, and fragments of human culture drifting through the void, the transmission moves from exploding suns and black holes… back toward the smallest and most human things: ordinary care, hands that make, voices that answer, and the quiet possibility that what we already have may be enough.Headphones recommended._____________________________________________________Theme Tune:“Hot Summer” by SonicMysery (Pixabay License)Sound Effects:Freesound.orgPixabay.com

This week on Small Mercies, I’m talking to artist McLovin, a mature MA fine art student, performer, and maker whose work sits somewhere between humour, awkwardness, and bold ambition.From changing his name, to building large-scale sculptures from everyday objects, McLovin uses comedy and performance to explore what it means to be seen, how we hide behind the versions of ourselves we present, and why honesty can feel so rare.We talk about photography, stand-up comedy, going to art school as a mature student, loneliness, confidence, and the strange freedom that can come from not waiting to feel ready before trying something new.This is a conversation about identity, risk, and the small mercy of giving yourself permission to do things differently.Artists website: https://mclovin.co.uk/Theme Tune:“Hot Summer” by SonicMystery (Pixabay License)Sound Effects:Freesound.orgPixabay.com

In this episode, I pick up where I left off last time, still sitting with a few questions I didn’t have answers to.How have I got this far in life without a clear plan?Why does it suddenly feel like I’m supposed to have one?And where is that pressure actually coming from?We’re often asked to imagine a future for ourselves at the exact moment life feels uncertain, messy, or unresolved, and I’m starting to question whether that’s realistic, or even helpful.I look at the idea of visioning and manifesting, where it might work, where it starts to fall apart, and why it can feel like a big ask when you’re not on steady ground.There’s also a small mercy for the week: a simple loving-kindness (Metta) practice that shifts the focus away from fixing the future, and back toward something more immediate.Theme Tune:“Hot Summer” by SonicMysery (Pixabay License)Sound Effects:Freesound.orgPixabay.comJenny’s machine voice:luvvoice.comDrum Solo: Alban_Gogh (pixabay.com)

In this episode, I reflect on the stories I inherited about who I am and what’s possible. From a school cinema warning about my dad to joining a punk band with no plan, I explore how stepping outside those narratives can help shape a future that truly belongs to you.___________________________________________________________Theme Tune:“Hot Summer” by SonicMysery (Pixabay License)Punk Guitar: Twisterium: SoundCloud: http://bit.ly/2DJQskEWebsite: https://www.freebackgroundtracks.comSound Effects:Freesound.orgPixabay.com

When emotions are too big or messy to explain, the mind often turns them into metaphors.In this episode, I explore the metaphor I use to navigate depression — an abandoned hospital with rooms called Regret and Guilt — and how a small, ordinary memory becomes a way out.Not a cure. Just a chance to keep moving.Theme Tune:“Hot Summer” by SonicMysery (Pixabay License)Sound Effects:Freesound.orgPixabay.comBBC Sound Archive

This week’s Small Mercy is about letting go of certainty.Questions like: Is this the right decision?Is this safe?Will this work out?When those questions stop being useful, they can become a trap — fuelling anxiety, avoidance, and a constant second-guessing of ourselves. Special thanks to:Otis Chetwyn-WoodsTheme Tune:“Hot Summer” by SonicMysery (Pixabay License)Sound Effects:Freesound.org and Pixabay.comPiano music:Jenny’s machine voice:luvvoice.com

This episode gently explores what happens when we stop running from the past and instead turn towards it with honesty. At its heart lies a simple question:What does it take to let a memory remain in the past, and to forgive the version of ourselves who lived through it?If you would like to support the show, please keep listening and follow (if you haven’t already) and drop a few comments or likes. I have no marketing or social media strategy so if you could share the show with someone who you think would enjoy it, that would be nice. Special thanks to:Andrea and the Seaford SwimmersCast (in order of appearance):Kazuya Tsuji - Wise old manLuella Steed - Innocent childEddie Trigg - Dark wolfAnabelle Angell - Light wolfTheme Tune:“Hot Summer” by SonicMysery (Pixabay License)Sound Effects:Freesound.orgPiano music:Samuel F Johanns (Pixabay Licence)Jenny’s machine voice:luvvoice.com

We explore:Stories from the Arrernte people of Central Australia; two sisters singing life back into a damaged world.Scientific evidence that men who adopt behaviours traditionally associated with women, caregiving, empathy, emotional connection; live longer, healthier, and more fulfilled lives.Practical “Small Mercies” you can start today: joining in the lives of the women around you, pausing to listen before speaking, and championing women without needing credit.Personal reflections on what stepping back has taught me, and how it has changed the way I experience life, community, and leadership.Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or ready to try something new, this episode offers insight, humour, and actionable ways to restore balance, for yourself, and for the world around you.Audio Effects and Music The Emerald Isle courtesy of Paul Winter AKA: Kaazoom from Pixabay.com Australian Outback courtesy of Geoff Harvey: from  Pixabay.com  SFX and Pads: Pixabay.com and Freesound.org Jenny’s Machine voice Luvvoice.com

I take listeners on a candid and thought-provoking journey into the mind, exploring the elusive inner critic that shapes our thoughts, choices, and self-perception. Blending personal stories, reflective insights, and practical strategies, this exploration reveals how the critical voice can both challenge and guide us. The podcast offers a map for understanding, confronting, and even befriending the inner critic, inviting listeners to step into a more aware and self-compassionate way of thinking

In this episode, I explore what happens when you step outside your comfort zone; from laughter yoga and gong baths to talking with shamanic practitioner Jessica about darkness, healing, and connection.I’ll admit, I was expecting a lot more woo-woo. But what I found instead was a grounded way of connecting with ourselves through nature, and with nature through truth and ritual.I also share a story from a beach in Eastbourne, where a child’s simple misunderstanding about how stones form left me questioning how we see the world.Jessica’s Small Mercy is to find your sit spot — a place in nature you visit regularly to sit, notice, and reconnect.Theme Tune: Pixabay.comSFX: Freesound.org