What the Friday Youth Podcast

Bailey Grace interviews Lucy, a type 1 diabetic, about her experiences and the impact of diabetes on young people. Lucy shares her symptoms, including extreme thirst, frequent urination, and weight loss, and discusses the importance of raising awareness for type 1 diabetes, which is often overshadowed by type 2. She highlights the emotional challenges, such as anxiety and stigma, and the need for...

Tobias and Danny from Invictus Wellbeing discuss self-harm, emphasising it as a coping mechanism for overwhelming emotional distress rather than attention-seeking. They highlight various forms of self-harm, including digital self-harm like cyberbullying and negative content consumption. Danny stresses the importance of addressing the root causes rather than the behaviour itself. They debunk myths,...

Krystal and gynaecologist Dr. Ghosh discuss endometriosis, a common condition affecting 190 million women globally, with a delay in diagnosis of 4-11 years. Dr. Ghosh explains that endometriosis occurs when blood from the uterus deposits in the pelvis, causing pain and bleeding. Symptoms include pain before bleeding, heavy and irregular periods, and pain during sex. Diagnosis can be challenging du...

Monique shares her journey with an eating disorder, emphasising the importance of early intervention. Her issues began in summer 2020 during lockdown, influenced by social media and K-pop idols. Initially, she made healthy choices but soon spiralled into restrictive eating and excessive exercise. Her daily life was consumed by food and exercise obsessions, affecting her school performance and soci...

Kleo and Chloe from Invictus Wellbeing discuss the connection between mental anxiety and physical symptoms. Chloe explains that anxiety triggers the fight-or-flight response, releasing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, leading to physical symptoms such as muscle tension, shallow breathing, and digestive issues. They identify common physical symptoms in young people, like headaches, stomach pr...

Latifat and Tamara host a podcast discussing male insecurities with dermatology specialist Craig from Locala. Craig defines male insecurities as doubts about appearance, confidence, relationships, and performance, often stemming from societal pressures and media portrayals. He notes that young men are often discouraged from expressing emotions, leading to internalised struggles. Common insecuritie...

Latifat and Tamara host a podcast discussing insecurities with dermatology specialist Nurse Craig from Locala. Craig highlights that 80% of teens worry about their appearance, exacerbated by social media, which can lead to self-esteem issues. He notes that girls and LGBTQ+ teens face deeper struggles. Academic pressure and peer conflicts also contribute to insecurities. Craig emphasises the import...

Tobias and Danny discuss various mental health therapies, emphasising their confidentiality and broad applicability. Danny explains that therapy involves talking to trained professionals to address thoughts, feelings, and problems, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depression, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) for emotional regulation, and person-centred counselling f...

On this episode, Bailey Grace and Courtney from the Locala Sexual Health Outreach Team discuss the concept of consent. Courtney explains that real consent is clear, mutual, ongoing, and enthusiastic, emphasising that individuals can change their minds at any time. She advises prioritising personal safety and seeking support from trusted individuals or services if consent is not respected. Courtney...

Ever caught feelings and then immediately overthought every interaction?  Or found yourself in the talking stage that never actually goes anywhere?  This week’s episode of What The Friday breaks down the messy, exciting, and sometimes confusing world of teen and young adult relationships.  We’re joined by relationship expert Jodie, an Education Mental Health Practitioner from Northpoint https://no...

Ever bought a £5 top you wore once? Or filled your 'basket' with clothes because they were 75% off? In this episode, we dive headfirst into the world of fast fashion -what it is, why it's everywhere, and what it’s really costing us and the planet. We’re joined by Julia, Founder of Upcycle Fashion and Thread Republic, who helps us unpack the truth behind those cheap outfits. From sweatshop labour a...

Politics might seem boring, confusing, or just not your thing—but what if we told you it affects nearly everything in your life? From school to social justice, climate change to cost of living, your voice matters more than you think. In this episode, the hosts sits down with Evie and Lewis, two former youth councillors, to break down why politics isn’t just for adults in suits. We cover what polit...

Staying motivated isn’t easy – especially when you're juggling stress, self-doubt, distractions (we see you, TikTok), or just trying to get through the week. In this episode, we’re joined by Georgina, a Wellbeing Practitioner & Engagement Lead at Invictus Wellbeing, to unpack the truth about motivation: what it is, how it works, and how you can build it. From the science behind SMART goals and...

Join Smiruti, Sahitra, Sam, Verity, Ben and Brandon and they meet Jonathan from Loudspeaker - a youth speaker who helps teens and young adults boost their confidence. Jonathan shares his honest experiences and discusses how even he gets nervous at times. He has a bag full of top tips and at a number of points, turns from interviewee to interviewer as he puts the hosts on the spot and asks them a n...

In this week's episode, Daryoush speaks to Tamara at Kirklees College about Apprenticeships and Josh speaks to Claire about becoming a motivational youth speaker.    If you would like to become a youth speaker why not consider these steps: 1. Define Your Message Think about: What issue or experience do you care deeply about? What do you want others to learn or feel? What change do you want to insp...

In this episode Sean talks about the benefits of going back to college to re-study English and Maths and we also speak to Callum, who as a victim of peer pressure ended up being suspended from college. Both talk personally about the challenges they are facing and how they are overcoming them. Links for studying English and Maths: If you are thinking about returning to college these are are our top...

For our final episode of the year our hosts have decided to do it live and unscripted! Our hosts answer all the main Christmas questions that young people are asking including: How do you buy Christmas presents on a budget? What do you have for your Christmas dessert? And Tinsel – yes or no? Series 2 will drop in 2025 and if you’d like to be involved (either with content or to involve your cohort...

In this week’s episode we look at creative careers and firstly speak to five local professionals who are earning a living in the creative sector and then Daniel speaks to Andy about how an aspiring creative can get into the sector. We have used snippets from our Exploring Careers podcast which feature longer interviews. The long-form interviews also feature contributions from careers experts Scott...

In this week’s episode we look at how you can ‘choose well’ and what you can do to look after your physical and mental health. We are joined by Amanda who is a pharmacy manager and India who is a psychological wellbeing practitioner for NHS Talking Therapies in Calderdale.   What can you do to choose well this winter?   Consider using a pharmacy rather than visiting A&E or your GP.   Items tha...

In this week’s episode we look at the benefits of having the HPV immunisation and speak to a young adult who has turned his life around through volunteering.   HPV vaccination NHS information on HPV vaccine: https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/hpv-vaccine/   Find your local GP or register with a GP surgery: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp   We’d like to thank Locala https://www.locala.org....

In our second Into Work Special we look at whether the recruitment process is weighted against young people from minority groups and how to set up a business and be self employed. Chloe spoke to Shauna who is Head of People Services from Kirklees Council to get a first-hand account of really happens when you apply for a job   In our second interview Sienna talks to Jane who mentors people who are...

In our first Into Work Special we look at what you can do to add work experience to your CV and why it’s beneficial to take advantage of activities at your college or university. Liam interviews Kelly from C+K Careers to find out what skills employers are looking for and hear her top tips for getting work experience. In our second interview Alex interviews Graham from Youth Social to find out what...

For this week’s episode we are exploring the lived-experience of four LGBTQ+ teens and young adults. They discuss four subjects: Discovering you are gay Coming out Managing your mental health How LGBTQ+ youth centres and safe spaces can help So, whether you are figuring out your own sexuality or you would like to better understand the challenges that others face – we hope you enjoy this episode.  ...

At some point we all need to find our own place to live – whether that is by choice or it is forced upon us. But how do you go from living with family to having your own home? To find out more we spoke to Natasha from the Kirklees Citizens Advice & Law Centre to discuss available options and get some top tips for moving out. Whether you’re going to university, want to move in with mates or at...

This week we are shining a light on teens and young adults who have grown up in the care system. There are approximately 82,000 young people in the care system and each one of them has a unique story and has faced challenges that many can only imagine.  In this episode Josh P, Josh H, Sophie, Matt, Odette and Louis give us a taste of what life is life in care. If you would like to hear longer vers...