The Just Checking In Podcast

In episode 105 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with presenter and journalist De-Graft Mensah. De-Graft is currently one of the presenters on CBBC's Newsround and the co-host of the BBC Sounds podcast 'If You Don't Know'. In this episode we discuss how he broke into journalism and got the job at Newsround, stepping into the shoes of previous presenter Lizo Mzimba,...

In episode 104 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with psychotherapist Jason Hanson. Jason is the author of the book 'Domestic Abuse: Men Suffer Too'. We talk about Jason’s journey from teaching to therapy and how he’s carved out his dream career through hard work, perseverance and having an important support network. We do a deep dive into the book and find out about the sto...

In episode 103 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with the other half of the Goals Don't Move Podcast, Phil Addison. Phil is the co-founder of the podcast along with best friend of our Founder Freddie Cocker and special guest on JCIP #50, James Lamb. James and Phil met whilst they were both studying at The University of South Carolina. In this episode we discuss how the pair met,...

In episode 102 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with journalist and New York Times bestselling author Kat Rosenfield. Kat is a culture writer and one half of the Feminist Chaos Podcast. She is the co-author of Stan Lee's 'Alliances' and the author of the recently published novel 'No One Will Miss Her'.In this episode we discuss how Kat got into journalism, peo...

In episode 101 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Charlie Livings. Charlie is a long-time friend of our Founder Freddie Cocker. Freddie and Charlie met at a Kids in Glass Houses gig with previous JCIP guest Jay Fisher. After that gig, every year, they have met up and seen one of their favourite bands, You Me At Six. Charlie lives in Brighton and works as an accountant. In this epi...

For the landmark 100th episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, our Founder Freddie Cocker got together some of the boys in his social group to talk about mental health and growing up together. Previous JCIP guests Alex Bartlett, James Lamb made their return, with Alex Hensman joining in the conversation on debut. James and Alex Bartlett reflected on their podcast episodes, the reaction to them an...

In the ninety-ninth episode of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Debbie Hayton. Debbie is a teacher, writer and commentator. She has written for outlets including UnHerd and The Spectator. Debbie is also a transsexual woman. In this episode we talk about her teaching journey, her proudest moments and the positivity that helping students has on her mental health. We talk about Debbie&...

In this episode of Behind The Mic, we checked in with Harry and Tom aka The Night Society. The Night Society are a dance floor indie-pop duo based in Guildford, UK. Drawing inspiration from their indie heroes such as The Wombats and Bombay Bicycle Club, they make unashamedly crystalline 80s dance-floor indie. Since the release of their debut single in March last year, The Night Society have racked...

In the ninety-eighth episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Sinéad Watson. Sinéad is a detransitioned woman who has spoken openly about her journey from transition to detransition. In this episode we discuss the sexual abuse Sinéad experienced as a child, teenager and young adult and how she says this created her gender dysphoria and fuelled her desire to live as a trans man....

In the ninety-seventh episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with freelance illustrator and designer Peter O'Toole. Pete has worked with clients including Adidas, Mundial Magazine, Nike, Scotts Menswear, The Telegraph, Men’s Health USA and Huddersfield Town Football Club. In this episode we discuss how Pete became an illustrator and designer, class in the industry, self-doubt,...

In the ninety-sixth episode of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with author Fiona Scarlett. Fiona recently published her first novel 'Boys Don't Cry' which we dive into in this episode. We discuss the themes it explores including masculinity, grief, brotherhood and fatherhood. Fiona also works full-time as a teacher. We discuss her teaching journey, the impact that social...

In the ninety-fifth episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Naama Kates. Naama is a film-maker, writer, musician and the Founder of The Incel Project. The Incel Project is a podcast takes a deep dive into the involuntary celibate community. We talk about Naama's writing journey, the challenges she faced as an actor and why she chose to cover a topic like incels and incel c...

In the ninety-fourth episode of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Figen Murray. Figen is a former psychotherapist, life coach and author of the book ‘Bears Have Issues Too’. Figen worked as a counsellor for over 23 years and offered clinical supervision to other counsellors as well. She is the mother of five children but on 22nd May 2017, her life changed forever. One of her children...

In the ninety-third episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Mark Wyatt. Mark works as a Fitness Manager and Senior Personal Trainer for Nuffield Health. In this episode we discuss Mark’s journey into fitness, his transition from aspiring teacher to personal trainer, the social status culture that exists in some personal trainer circles and the relationship between physical heal...

In the ninety-second episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Patricia Faulks. Trish is the Founder of 'Just Me & Lilley', which is a platform she uses to talk about her lived experience of being involuntarily childless. In this episode we talk about Patricia's issues with conceiving children in her early-20s with her first husband, perfectionism and all of th...

In this episode of Behind The Mic, we checked in with Cal from UK indie/pop group Isla Rico. Isla Rico originally started as another band called Off Shore and we chart the evolution and journey from Off Shore to Isla Rico, which has culminated in their joyous debut single 'Laying In The Summer Rain'. We also discuss the importance of perseverance and hard work in the music industry and h...

In the ninety-first episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with YouTuber and advocate for greater gambling awareness, Joshua's Opinion. Joshua talks about his lived experience of gambling addiction on his channel as well as topics covering self-acceptance, personal responsibility and growth. In this episode we talked about his gambling addiction and his recovery to where he is...

In the ninetieth episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Aaron Kimberly. Aaron is a transsexual man (this is the term he prefers) and the Founder of the Gender Dysphoric Alliance Canada (GDAC).GDAC was formed in 2021 by a small group of community members made up of trans and detransitioned people who say they are concerned about the direction that gender medicine and activism h...

In this episode of Behind The Decks we checked in with one of the leaders in the UK House & Disco scene, Louis La Roche. Louis has been in the game since 2008 and came to prominence on a track he made called ‘Love’ which sampled Michael Jackson and was originally mistaken by many people to be a Daft Punk record. He formed his own record label ‘Ever After Records’ in 2008 and has put out three...

In this episode of Mind On The Game, we check back in with women's footballer Chloe Bellerby for part 2 of her journey. We discuss her lived experience of self-harm, suicide and the constant pressure she felt at school to mask her mental health difficulties. We also discuss her move into mental health advocacy, how she's turned this massive negative in her life into a positive and the im...

In the eighty-ninth episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Holly Swinyard. Holly is a writer, podcaster and cosplay lover. They are the Editor-In-Chief and Head Writer of the Cosplay Journal, which is a UK based cosplay magazine & publication that promotes the craft, skill & diversity in the cosplay community. They are also the co-host of the Ray Gunn & Starburst p...

In this episode of Reel Stories, we checked in with actor and writer, Louise Bryant. We discuss classism in acting, the impact of #MeToo on the industry, the importance of consent and cut-throat culture. We also talk about Louise's lived experience of anxiety, panic attacks and the grief she experienced losing her dad to Hodgkin's lymphoma when she was a teenager. As always, #itsokaytove...

In the eighty-eighth episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with James Whittaker. James is a contributor for Huddersfield Town fan channel 'And He Takes That Chance' and works in the public sector at time of recording. In this episode we discuss how he got involved with AHTTC and the community it has given him. We also discuss James's experience of anxiety as a teena...

In the eighty-seventh episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Dr Robin Hadley. Robin is a mature early career researcher and social gerontologist who is a world expert on male childlessness and ageing. In this pod we discuss how and why he came to be an expert on male childlessness, classism in academia, the stigma around male broodiness and male fertility. As always, #itsokayt...

In the eighty-sixth episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Tom Fleming. Tom works for The Big Step, a campaign project formed and run by people who have suffered gambling harm. They are part of Gambling with Lives, a charity set up by bereaved family members and friends who have lost loved ones to gambling-related suicide. Together, they advocate for a public health approach t...