The Just Checking In Podcast

In this episode of Reel Stories, we checked in with Laoise Toye. Laoise works in television and media and is the host of her own podcast 'Laoise Online'.In this episode we discuss: Laoise’s journey into television, from working with a Belfast production company called Stellify to where she is now, her love of theatre and musical theatre and how watching Eurovision for the first time as a...

In episode 248 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Nick Gazzard. Nick is the CEO of the Hollie Gazzard Trust (HGT).The Trust was set up by him after the murder of his daughter Hollie, by an ex-boyfriend when she was just 20 years old. After that moment, Nick set up the Trust to try and stop what happened to Hollie from happening to anyone else ever again. The Trust helps reduce dome...

In episode 247 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with a man called Sean. Sean works for the PSSD Network, which is an organisation based in Australia, made up of people who suffer from a condition called Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD). PSSD describes a debilitating condition which a subset of people live with and follows the use of SSRI and SNRI medication. A condition like this i...

This is Part 2 of our check in with Koggno Founder Kirsty Martin. In this episode we discuss some elements of exclusionary behaviour she experienced whilst at boarding school and some other traumatic events which we discuss in-depth in the podcast. Kirsty then went to university in Edinburgh where, perhaps as a statement of the university system around class, was surrounded with other people from...

In episode 246 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Kirsty Martin. Kirsty is the Founder of Koggno, a platform which shares, navigates and explore psychology, mental health & well-being from different perspectives and approaches. Through Koggno, Kirsty has also gone back to university and has recently completed a Masters in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health. In Part 1...

In this episode of Behind The Mic we checked in with drummer Michael Bivona. Biv currently is a session drummer for solo artist stayMellow and previously played drums for UK pop-punk band, Goldbloom. In this episode we discuss: his music journey, how he got into drumming, joining Goldbloom in 2019, his decision to leave the band in 2024, the band eventually splitting up and the stress of social me...

In episode 245 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with David Cooper. David is an artist who specialises in producing art from the world’s longest running TV show, The Simpsons, with prints taken from iconic scenes and his favourite characters. In this episode we discuss: his love of the show and how he got into drawing, painting and creating, which members of the Simpsons cast he most e...

In episode 244 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Luke Loughlin. Luke is the Co-Founder of Men United, a platform which seeks to empower men to reclaim control of their wellbeing by nurturing their mind, body, and soul. The platform was set up by its Founder Troy Colmer, who then befriended Luke and asked him to come on board. Troy set up the platform when a friend of his disclosed...

In this episode of Mind On The Game, we checked back in with World Rally Championship co-driver Alex Kihurani. We first checked back in with Alex in April 2023 and a lot has happened in Alex’s life since then. Alex’s daughter was born three months premature and has had health complications throughout 2023, which has been challenging for Alex. his wife and their wider family. Then, on 19th August 2...

In episode 243 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Melanie Bradley. Mel is the Founder of ‘Men Against Mountains’ (MAM), a platform and men’s mental health hub which aims to build connections, share men’s stories and allow them to be listened to, heard and feel understood. Every Sunday, Mel hosts a ‘Sunday Summit Session’ with a different man to share their story. In this episode we...

In episode 242 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Christopher Waller. Chris is the Founder of ‘We Power On’, which aims to improve men's lives through the power of walking, talking and connection. Every Sunday, Chris runs a walk and talk group in Epsom in Surrey for men from all walks of life to join and get whatever they are struggling with off their chest. Chris started the...

In this episode of Behind The Decks, we checked back in with Australian producer and DJ, Harry Hayes. In Part 1 we discussed comparison culture, imposter syndrome and how he felt he was in a state of 'music purgatory' in the industry. In the 10 months since we checked in, Harry has gone from strength to strength, musically and personally. He has put out four singles, including one with f...

In episode 241 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Russell Payne. Russ is a qualified painter and decorator and the Founder of 'The Talking Tradesman' (TTT) podcast. TTT aims to entertain, connect and raise mental health awareness for tradespeople throughout the UK.Russ set up the podcast in November 2023 where he interviews tradesman from across the sector about their men...

In episode 240 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Amelia Wrighton. Amelia is the co-founder of mental health charity, Suicide & Co, a charity which supports those bereaved by suicide. Amelia started Suicide & Co with her friend Emma Morrisoe, who she met whilst working in her media and marketing career and she discovered they had both lost parents to suicide. Amelia lost he...

In episode 239 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Gary Hayes. Gary is the Co-Founder and CEO of PTSD999, which is a charity that was set up in 2015 to support those in the emergency services, and their families, living with Post Traumatic Stress. Gary lives with Complex PTSD himself and was undiagnosed for many years when he worked in the British Transport Police (BTP) as a Police...

In episode 238 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked back in with previous guests Claudia Van-Nimwegen and Tobiah Frei for a special episode. Claudia is a a teacher, photographer and creative. Tobiah Frei is an artist and sound engineer. They both met each other through the London church, Liberty London. In this episode we discuss their friendship, faith, creative commonalities and how our F...

In episode 237 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Jordan Nimmo. Jordan is the Founder of men's mental health platform, 'Men Behind The Masc' (MBTM), which he started in 2018.MBTM aims to promote positive mental health in men and change the conversation around men’s mental health more generally. Jordan became a father aged 19 years old with his childhood sweetheart A...

In episode 236 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Oliver Tennant. Ollie is an actor and the Founder of Run4Hope, a campaign he has created where he is running 12 marathons in 12 months to raise money for men's mental health charity, James’ Place UK. In this episode we discuss how and why he started Run4Hope and his fitness journey into getting ready for the marathons. We then...

In episode 235 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Diane Porterfield. Diane is a menopause Nurse Practitioner, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) prescriber and the Founder of Bourne2Care. Bourne2Care is Diane's own private consulting practice, where she sees female clients struggling with the menopause and she can prescribe HRT as a course of treatment, where appropriate. Diane...

In episode 234 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Jonathan Lee. Jon is currently a Creative Director at an advertising agency and the Founder of mental health initiative The Life Jacket (TLJ).After Jon’s friend Alex took his own life in 2023, he wanted to create a new suicide prevention tool that would have intervened in the period building up to Alex’s death. Jon tragically discov...

In episode 233 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with academic Dr Susie Bennett. Susie currently studies at the Suicidal Behaviour Research Lab (SBRL) at the University of Glasgow, researching male suicide. We came across Susie through friend of the pod George from TheTinMen and for her PHD dissertation, she conducted one of the largest studies of suicidal men ever done. She interviewe...

In this episode of Behind The Mic we checked back in with UK band VICTORS for the third time. This time we checked in with Simon who plays lead guitar in the band. In this episode we discuss Simon’s music journey and how he came to form the band with Harry who came on for Parts 1 and 2, playing in various indie-rock bands in his school days and a fond discussion over a shared love of the mid-00s U...

In episode 232 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with academic and writer Dr Samuel Mace. Sam currently works as a teaching fellow at the University of Leeds and has a SubStack called ‘Theory Matters’. He also holds a BA and MA in Politics and a PHD, which specialised in political theory and middle-eastern studies. We came across Sam through an article he wrote in The Critic entitled ‘...

In episode 231 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked back in with a very old friend of ours, Elliot Pearce. Elliot first came on the podcast way back when in JCIP #2! At the time we recorded Part 1 he worked at Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA), a very important organisation who deliver Mental Health First Aid training to organisations across the UK. Elliot worked his way up to the role...

In episode 230 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked back in with Sam Evans. Sam is a mental health advocate and works in the healthcare industry. He first came on the podcast way back when in JCIP #31.In Part 1, we discussed his exposure to mental illness when one of his friends tragically took his own life and it ignited his desire to help men with their mental health. He has since put his...