Now We’re Really Talking

For this week's episode, I am joined by Elliot Colburn. Elliot is a former MP, and now working for Samaritans.  Elliot shares his experience of first struggling with his mental health at university, and later facing a much more serious crisis while serving as a Member of Parliament. We explore how pressure, loneliness, and life in the public eye can intensify mental health difficulties and why it’...

This episode is part two of my conversation with Sally Orange MBE. In this episode we explore her recovery journey and life beyond the Army. We talk about what healing really looks like, the role of therapy and self-compassion, and how small daily steps can help rebuild a sense of connection and purpose. Sally reflects on leaving the military after 22 years, redefining her identity, and how runnin...

In this episode, I sit down with Sally Orange. This is the first part of my conversation with Sally! Check out the second episode later this week! Sally is a former Army physiotherapist, mental health campaigner, adventure fundraiser and proud self-described “serial yes-sayer”. We talk about Sally’s experience of growing up with anxiety, exam pressure, rejection, and not feeling “good enough”, and...

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...

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 o...

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 reshape...

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 hi...

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 ca...

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 c...

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 ch...

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 m...

In this episode of Now We're Really Talking, we welcome Mia Hill, mental health advocate and content creator. We dive into her experiences with OCD and BDD, exploring some of the most taboo aspects of OCD. Mia shares her journey through therapy, the story behind why she keeps a photo of her younger self on her mirror, and how she channels her experiences to support others. We also discuss how she...

In this episode of 'Now We're Really Talking', the guest is Elsa Arnold, a mental health campaigner. We discuss the importance of mental health awareness, the impact of bullying, and the significance of advocacy. Elsa shares her experiences with dual diagnoses of BPD and bipolar disorder, the challenges of navigating mental health systems, and the transformative power of kindness and empathy. The...

In this episode, I introduce myself, Paddy, and I share the story of my own mental health journey and what’s brought me to this point. You’ll hear why I decided to start this podcast, what you can expect from future episodes, and what I hope it will achieve. If you enjoy the episode, please leave a review and subscribe to help more people find these conversations. Follow the podcast on Instagram f...