The Just Checking In Podcast

In episode 159 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with writer Ben Sixsmith. Ben currently works as the contributing editor at The Critic Magazine. He is also founder of his Substack 'The Zone'.In this episode we discuss how he got into fell into writing through writing for outlets like Quillette and Areo Magazines respectively before he got work with outlets like The American...

In episode 158 of The Just Checking In Podcast our Founder Freddie Cocker reflected on how far we've come as a platform as we celebrated our fifth anniversary in September 2022.Freddie talks about the early days of Vent and setting up the website, how the idea for the JCIP began, the plethora of mental health issues we've covered on it in the 3.5 years its been going and how the podcast...

In this episode of our Behind The Mic series, we checked back in with UK psychedelic-rock band, Beach For Tiger. In part 2 we checked in with Mick Anderson, who plays drums in the band as well as percussion in Rayowa. In this episode we discussed how Mick started Beach For Tiger with his brother Pete and how both of them became part of Rayowa. We talk about the influence of TikTok on songwriting i...

In this episode of our Behind The Mic series, we checked back in with UK rock band, Cavalcade. In JCIP #25 we checked in with guitarist Jack Campbell, this time we checked in with Jack and lead singer Connor. In this episode we discuss Connor’s music journey and how he got involved in the band, what they’ve been up to and their plans for the future. We also talk about a period of depression Connor...

In this episode of our Behind The Mic series, we checked in with singer/songwriter Greta Lovisa. Greta was born in Germany to Swedish-German parents and moved to London to study music for her degree and pursue her dreams of being an artist before Covid-19 hit and she took stock of her journey and dropped out of university. She will be going back next year to finish her degree. In this episode we c...

In episode 157 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Lewis Baxter. Lewis is the founder of Hullo, which aims to give anyone and everyone access to conversation. Hullo provides a free call line that is open 9am to 9pm every day of the year and exists to unlock the power of conversation and create an inclusive, safe and non-judgmental space for people to chat and connect with others. Le...

In this episode of Behind The Mic, we checked in with sound engineer, mixer and writer, Rory Aitken. Rory studied first at the University of Portsmouth before landing a place on a course at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios in London where he has now graduated from. It’s accurate to say that music probably saved his life. In this episode we discuss the power of music, self-awareness, learning fr...

In episode 156 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked back in with conflict journalist and Founder of Popular Front, Jake Hanrahan. Since we last spoke, Jake has been busy covering more underreported conflicts across the globe, particularly in Ukraine in its war against Russia, French-controlled Corsica, the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Karabakh region and the continued rise of il...

In this episode of our Behind The Mic series, we checked in with artist, producer and sound engineer Tobiah Frei. Tobi started his music journey being inspired by music icons like The Weeknd, particularly his seminal album ‘House of Balloons’. He then developed a desire to craft his own sound as an artist and ventured out into Afro-beats inspired sounds. In this episode we discuss that music journ...

In episode 155 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Gordon Buchanan. Gordon Buchanan is a Scottish wildlife photographer and filmmaker who has made documentaries for over 20 years. Gordon has made a number of wonderful, intense and thrilling films including: ‘Big Cat Diary’, ‘Lost Land of the Volcano’, ‘The Bear Family & Me’, ‘The Polar Bear Family & Me’, ‘Lost Land of The Ti...

In episode 154 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with George Hodgson. George is the Founder of mental health fashion platform Maison de Choup. George founded Maison de Choup in 2017 and was set up to not only share his story of suffering but also encourage others to share their story, breaking down the stigma of suffering from poor mental health. In this episode we discuss how and why...

In episode 153 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Sarah Lee. Sarah is a journalist, writer and sub-editor who currently works for BBC London. Sarah wrote an article for the BBC News website about her experience of having stage three malignant melanoma in January 2022, which is the most serious form of skin cancer. Sarah had developed a pea-sized black mole on the top of her scalp a...

In this episode of our Behind The Mic series, we checked back in with JCIP #19 guest and headliner for JCIL #4, AMiR.In part two of AMiR's journey, we discuss the impact that Covid-19 had on his career both financially and mentally as he was unable to do any live shows and had to build the momentum he had generated back up as we came out of lockdown. We discuss his move to take up boxing coac...

In episode 152 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Jackie Kibanza. Jackie is the Founder of La Grâce de Françoise, a platform which aims to bring awareness to and give a voice to male and female survivors of sexual abuse and domestic abuse. Jackie was born originally to immigrant Congolese parents but tragically her mother died when she was a baby and she was fostered by a Dutch fam...

In episode 151 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with photojournalist Hugh Kinsella-Cunningham. He has covered conflict, health and social issues for The Sunday Times Magazine, The Guardian and National Geographic. He works on assignment for organisations including Save the Children and the United Nations and his work has been recognised by Amnesty International and the Sony World Phot...

In episode 150 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we took it back to where it all began by checking back in with JCIP #1 guest, poet and mental health advocate, Tim Fletcher. In Part 2 of Tim's journey, we reflect on the first episode and how far he has come, how far our Founder Freddie Cocker has come and how Vent has grown alongside his mental health recovery. We delve into why the current po...

In episode 149 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with William Jones-Warner. Will is is an immunologist and photographer currently living in London. Will’s photography focuses largely on nature, wildlife and travel. He has produced images for a number of large outdoor brands such as Arc’teryx UK, Sun God and Lindewerdelin and done collaborations with athletes in the outdoor sphere. He i...

In episode 148 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Dulcie Jones. Dulcie currently works as a support time recovery worker in the NHS. Dulcie always had an ambition to become a therapist and during the first Covid-19 lockdown, she felt the urge to pursue this dream fully and left her previous job as a casting director in the arts industry. Dulcie’s day-to-day now involves supporting...

In episode 147 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with sports journalist Oli Fisher. Oli is the Co-Owner and Editor-in-Chief of SempreMilan, a football platform dedicated to providing the best news, features and match English-language coverage of Serie A football team AC Milan. The platform formed in January 2016 and in this episode we discuss how Oli broke into sports journalism, found...

In episode 146 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked back in with Claudia Van-Nimwegen. Claudia is a mental health advocate, teacher and theatre artist. In Part 2 of her mental health journey, we discuss her diagnosis in March 2020 of a chronic pain condition called fibromyalgia and the impact that has had on her physical and mental health. Since we last checked in, Claudia has also made the...

In episode 145 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Jordyn Chasiak-Pratt. Jordyn works in finance in London and moved to the capital after graduating from university. In this episode we discuss the pressure Jordyn faced in school to achieve, perfectionism and being bullied because of her academic ability. After being bullied for this as well as her weight, combined with her perfectio...

In episode 144 of The Just Checking In Podcast previous JCIP guest Connor Smart checked in with our Founder Freddie Cocker for Part 4 of his mental health journey. Connor explored Freddie's journey through three perspectives: 'Defeat', 'Struggle' and 'Growth' and where each one related to different parts of his life. They discussed how Freddie moved from a defeat...

In episode 143 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Duncan Craig OBE. Duncan is is the Founder and CEO of Survivors Manchester. Survivors Manchester is a survivor focused voluntary sector organisation that aims to create and facilitate safe spaces for male survivors of sexual abuse, rape and sexual exploitation across Greater Manchester providing access to quality assured support. T...

In episode 142 of the Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with David Foy. David works in marketing and has done some work in podcasting himself. Dave lived in a rural area growing up and found the step to a large secondary school quite overwhelming. He would be off sick quite a lot and puts this down to him not liking his school experience. Dave also decided to go to university as a last-minute...

In episode 141 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Micah Fanimo. Micah is the founder of food blog and platform 'Feast with Fanimo', where he reviews restaurants from London, Essex and Liverpool. Micah is also a survivor of domestic abuse and the first male survivor we have had on the podcast. In this episode we discuss his mental health journey; being sent to Nigeria for...