The Wellbeing Project by The PodBarber: Recent Episodes
Conversation Is The Cure
We’re ‘Championing the Chat’ for greater positivity and better mental health & wellbeing. The award-winning PodBarber podcast is part of the current movement to get people to talk. It was founded and is run by Mick Phipps and Howie Fiddy, who have gained much training and experience through the likes of Samaritans, MHFA, and Lions Collective. We’ve remastered our collective skills to create an inspiring show that helps uncover the power of conversation as the bedrock for healing within. The world of health and beauty is at the forefront of this movement. As a barber of some 20+ years, Mickey brings the therapy and positivity he provides around his chair into the studio to showcase how we can support society simply by talking and listening. With each podcast meticulously created by seasoned radio producer Howie, we provide a unique listening experience that will get under your skin. Guests from every walk of life share their stories; their tribulations and their triumphs, peppered with deep and insightful reflections and observations from our host, not to mention a few laughs and smiles along the way. Here at The PodBarber HQ, when we’re trying to describe the potency of this new form of reality entertainment, all we say is: Just Listen! You’ll be glad you did.
The hair and beauty world has a huge role to play in overall health and wellbeing: looking good starts with feeling good. Enter Abi Farrow, the CEO of award-winning aesthetics clinic and training academy, Enhance Me.
Abi knows the power and importance of recovery. She lost her mother at 2 years old; she was caught up in crime and imprisoned whilst living abroad; she suffered through the darkness of mental health challenges & trauma from her sibling's drug addiction, It finally caught up with her and she decided to totally transform herself.
Now she’s worked her way to the top, listen to Abi’s ‘zero to hero’ journey and deeply breathe in the immense determination of this remarkable young lady.
Follow Abi and Enhance Me:InstagramFacebookWeb
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Dr. Albert Ulrich Gerhard is a beekeeper, tending to the insect integral to the survival of every living being. He currently runs about 30 hives in his apiary, pulling around one and a half tons of honey every season.
Born in Germany in the late 60s and being UK based since the 90s, Uli’s PhD in organic chemistry fed into his childhood love of bees, and he now makes time to educate and teach children in his local schools about bees.
Often referred to as the crazy German because he shuns the use of protective clothing, Uli has a rather unconventional style of beekeeping, but what he doesn’t know about bees isn’t worth knowing.
This is a fascinating podcast - it's the bee's knees...
Follow Uli:LinkedInWeb
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Russell Bohringer is the founder of SIAH Lifestyle Coaching. As well as incorporating a wide spectrum of therapies such as breathwork, yoga and meditation, the 1-to-1 service helps to implement life-transforming daily habits.
Acknowledging his addictive personality, and previously suffering with great anxiety, Russ learned exactly how to re-focus that energy, helping to melt away his mental agonies. He’s now able to share those intentions with his clients, shifting mindsets and enabling them to hugely improve the mind, body and soul.
Russ has an incredible energy which is, in itself, addictive. Get hooked on the man with the plan.
Join the PodBarber family:Patreon Connect with Russ:
Instagram: https://www.nathansimmondscoaching.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathan.p.simmonds
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Jasmine Virdi is a freelance writer in ecology, ethnobotany and psychoactive substances. She promotes responsible education on the healing power of plants, coupled with modern psychotherapy and counselling.
Jazz’s work is celebrated through her inclusion in the 40 under 40 outstanding BIPOC leaders in drug policy. The scientific community is increasingly qualifying the effectiveness of psychedelics to aid the recovery from mental illness, addiction, and trauma; and Jazz is at the forefront of this movement.
Tune your ear and your mind to this podcast conversation recognising indigenous cultures and these ancient technologies.
Follow Jazz:InstagramLinkedIn
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Patrick James Wells and Georgia Wilson Waterworth are the creative duo behind a natural supplement company, ENITY. Their individual life experiences - between them battling drug and alcohol addiction, anorexia, depression and ADD – place them perfectly for their new roles.
After years of therapy, Patrick and Georgia found sobriety and fell in love, but unexpectedly had to move to the UK from South Africa due to the Covid pandemic. And start all over again.
They’re now devoting their immense, combined energies into helping others to optimise their wellbeing utilising ENITY, their rapidly expanding supplements company.
This incredibly resilient couple is turning surviving into thriving.
Follow ENITY and Patrick and Georgia:
Facebook: enitylab Instagram: enitylab Web: enitylab.com
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Ben Sillett is a lawn care technician by day and a passionate Old-school House DJ by night. Sounds like a happy life, right? Maybe, but Ben’s childhood parental losses, leading to drug problems and anxiety and depression, paint a different picture.
Listen to Ben’s courageous story of how he has coped with his trauma, grief and turmoil through counselling and ‘talking therapy’, and how his love of music helped him rediscover his swagger.
Ben Sillett a.k.a. Wizzy B is on the mic. and he’s got a lot to tell you…
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Frankie Witmer wants to talk ‘porn’. She was raised in 1960s Switzerland, has travelled the world a few times, worked in many professions and learned several languages.
Frankie founded a language school for adults and children and now works as a transition coach. She believes that we can all help to guide our future generations towards living with no need for mental and emotional healing.
To that end, Frankie identifies the need to tackle one of the most dangerous and destructive dependencies in the world: porn addiction. She has undertaken lengthy studies, concluding that the effects of this addiction go beyond destroying relationships and marriages; the world’s population figures are also at stake…
Porn addiction help:
Web: Recovery.org.uk
Frankie's life work:
Web: Jardin33
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Seb Walker is on a mission to change lives through the sport of rowing.
Discovering a passion at university for ‘the ultimate team sport’ helped him to grow in self-confidence; the physical and mental discipline, and the camaraderie cemented his obsession with the world of rowing.
In 2021, after many years working within government for the MOD, HM Customs, as well as helping implement Tony Blair’s defence review, Seb and two friends established the East Anglia Youth Rowing Club. The organisation provides children from all backgrounds the opportunity to row and to experience the life-changing benefits of being involved with the sport.
Seb and the youth rowing club:
Facebook: eastangliayouthrowing Instagram: eastangliayouthrowing LinkedIn: east-anglia-youth-rowing
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Throughout childhood, Annika Fox suffered the debilitating symptoms of a rare condition, with bouts of fatigue, physical and neuro pain, migraines, insomnia and recurrent injuries. It was finally diagnosed in her mid-30s as Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, or EDS.
With no known cure for her condition, Annie dispensed with the increasing number of pharma drugs she’d been taking and sought alternative support from plant-based medicines, particularly essential oils.
This podcast is a story is of one woman experiencing invisible pain, yet developing resiliently to found ‘Essentially Annie’, and she is now on a quest with doTERRA oil products to help people with chronic health conditions thrive rather than simply survive.
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John Dowd is the philosophical father behind his family's food truck venture, Boho kitchen, the menu drawing on the family travels around the Mediterranean.
Prior to starting this ‘later-life’ business, John was a teacher and then a highly respected head teacher, a career that enabled him to apply his ethics and moral principles to profoundly impact thousands of young people.
John strongly believes in equality, refusing to tolerate discrimination of any kind, and in this podcast he eloquently communicates this and other life philosophies which will really get under your attention. He offers food for the belly, and food for thought.
Join the PodBarber family:Patreon Connect with Mick:Instagram Boho Kitchen:
Facebook: Boho Kitchen
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Luke Chadwick’s four seasons playing midfield for Manchester United alongside David Beckham and Ryan Giggs helped him gain great respect for his skills as a footballer. And his experience being under the wing of manager Sir Alex Ferguson taught him the human skills he uses in his current job.
Luke’s enthusiasm for helping steer young people towards better mental health eventually brought him to take up the role of Director at The Football Fun Factory, an ever-growing franchise created to provide incredible childhood football experiences for boys and girls of all ages and ability levels.
Listen to Luke’s heart-warming story of his own childhood passion for The Beautiful Game, his rise to fame, and the mental health struggles that ensued. He’s a seriously lovely man with a great heart for doing good in the world.
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Parenting: arguably, the hardest job in the world.
Enter Sarah Ockwell-Smith, author of over a dozen parenting guidebooks, empowering parents to nurture their children’s life journeys.
After studying psychology, working in pharmaceutical research and development, and then retraining as an antenatal teacher, Sarah turned to writing, drawing on her life experiences to offer us valuable assistance in raising our kids.
Join Sarah on this fantastic episode as she shares with us her wisdom and knowledge, offering much-needed encouragement towards better parenting, including through being kind to ourselves.
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How are you?
When you sit down in your barber’s chair, chances are they’ll ask you just that.
National Barber Mental Health Awareness Day on May 19th was created to encourage us to return the question, to check in with our barbers as they so often check in on us.
Barbers work intimately with multiple people every day, dealing with different energies and personalities. It’s not uncommon for a customer to unload their personal struggles onto their barber, and that can be a heavy burden to carry, especially if the barber is having a bad day themselves.
In this episode, our very own Mick Phipps a.k.a. The PodBarber, talks to producer Howie about the mental health side of barbering. Their chat underlines the pressures a barber can be under and how National Barber Mental Health Awareness Day highlights the need for a barber to talk about their issue, too.
It’s a fascinating podcast which details the life and psyche of barbers around the world.
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Damian Scannell spent his youth involved with drink, crime and a difficult family life. Then, along came a saviour who gave him the chance to use his fantastic soccer skills to eventually rack up over 100 appearances as a professional footballer.
Damian is now commonly known as ‘Superdad Damo’, an online coach solely focussed on improving the lives of dads - currently a thousand-strong army of these men supporting each other to reach their goals.
Damo raises huge amounts of money for underprivileged kids in London and he inspires men everywhere to better themselves physically and emotionally.
Join the PodBarber family:Patreon Connect with Damo:YouTube
Instagram
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The PodBarber's Mickey Phipps brings along Anna Moorhouse from Saffron Walden County High school to talk to the BBC about the huge project that The Wellbeing Project is involved in with the school - to build a 'quiet room' for students in the pastoral hub.
This episode is taken from the BBC's evening programme hosted by Rob Jelly, who shares the Wellbeing Project's passion and advocates for better mental health awareness across the region and throughout schools, offices, homes and beyond.
Please read more and donate to this incredibly worthwhile project that will hopefully be a blueprint for schools nationally to implement:
Go Fund Me
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Dr Gemma Mackman is not a conventional person, and so she was fated to a lifetime of the study of 'others' through Criminology and Sociology.
Over 20 years ago, Gemma started studying the fascinating world of new age traveller communities, learning how they are often misjudged and vilified. She soon launched her own research agency and undertook a 6-year PHD exploring the tribal phenomenon of music festival-goers.
Community and emotional enrichment go hand-in-hand, and Gemma enlightens us with a most fascinating insight into a world often overlooked and neglected, to the detriment of our understanding of her much-loved word: deviance.
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What’s a Rapid Change Therapist? Nathan Simmonds will explain. He’s one of those, and a leadership coach for FTSE 250 companies.
His history of childhood hospitalisations, training in martial arts, ritual medicinal healings in Brazil and battling through working in the rat race, has informed his holistic approach to solving psychological issues within the modern working environment.
Join this amazing, spiritual man and perhaps find your own solutions to the perceived difficulties that life throws at us.
Join the PodBarber family:Patreon Connect with Nathan:
Website: https://www.nathansimmondscoaching.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathan.p.simmonds
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathansimmondstheleadershipcoach/
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Lee Coville’s story is one of fierce determination to achieve his childhood dream. This gentle, humble man’s only desire in life was to fight in the MMA and kickboxing ring.
The path he trod took him from country to country, living rough, training hard day and night, determined to prove to the world that he could do it. First, he had to fight through the loneliness, isolation and anxiety; then the wins came.
Lee is now a world champion many times over, and an inspirational example of how we can accomplish our goals with focus and commitment.
Join the PodBarber family:Patreon Connect with Lee:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecoville/
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New to the The Wellbeing Project by The PodBarber? Here's a little taster of what you can expect from this inspirational podcast series: snippets from some of the fantastic guests we've had on the show.
And if you're already a seasoned Wellbeing Project listener, make sure to jump on our website for lots more info about who we are and what we do: www.thepodbarber.com
Search 'the podbarber' on social media and let's get connected. Subscribe and feel the positivity!
Peace, love and power to your day.
Mickey & Howie
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We close the trio of SWCHS podcasts with Teacher of Art, Geri Jones, who combines a warm and maternal instinct with her educating skills to nurture and inspire her high school students.
Art is mindfulness and can be a meditation, and it’s this philosophy that Geri uses, alongside a love of nature, inspiring our younger generation to cultivate a stronger, more positive mental health and wellbeing.
Join Mick and Geri in this podcast as they chat about their passion for steering our youth towards a confident and emotionally successful future.
Join the PodBarber family:www.patreon.com/thepodbarber
Help Sam build a Quiet Room by clicking here:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-sam-build-a-quiet-room-at-swchs
Insta: @b16.swchs
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The High School mental health and wellbeing trilogy continues this week with Paul Lederer, Deputy Head of science at SWCHS.
A happy childhood in Austria ended abruptly when he lost his father to suicide, pushing a family move to Scotland. Paul’s determination and positive spirit was obvious from the start, coping with poverty and multiple school moves, he ended up graduating from the prestigious St. Andrews University.
Fast forward to now, Paul is testament to how a person can turn adversity into genuine, upbeat joy. As he says: “Being content is happiness.”
This series of podcasts is to raise awareness of the fund-raising to build a Quiet Room in the school’s pastoral hub.
Join the PodBarber family:www.patreon.com/thepodbarber
Help Sam build a Quiet Room by clicking here:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-sam-build-a-quiet-room-at-swchs
Insta: @b16.swchs
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Ahoora Baranian moved from Iran as a child after a family tragedy. His subsequent mental health issues steered him into therapy and informed his move into helping others via training to become a psychotherapist, currently running Saffron Walden High School’s pastoral hub.
Ahoora is now on a mission to create a ‘Quiet Room’ within this hub to give students a safe space to talk through their issues. He hopes this will be a blueprint to roll out across UK schools.
The Wellbeing project has collaborated with the school to help raise much-needed funds for this venture, and Ahoora talks about this in the first of 3 podcasts featuring teachers from the high school. He reflects on his own tough early life and brings his views to the forefront on what he terms ‘the future roots of society’ – our youth.
The fund-raiser was started by student Sam Spaxman, and he kick-started the donations using his Jack Petchey award money from the high school. Let's get that room built!
Join the PodBarber family:www.patreon.com/thepodbarber
Help Sam build a Quiet Room by clicking here:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-sam-build-a-quiet-room-at-swchs
Insta: @b16.swchs
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Everyone breathes. But do we breathe ‘correctly’? We welcome former professional rugby player, David ‘Jacko’ Jackson, Master Instructor with the highly acclaimed Oxygen Advantage Method.
He talks about breathing practices which are scientifically proven to boost the immune system, vastly improve cardiovascular health, mental health and overall wellbeing. These are ancient and sacred practices that have been lost over the millennia.
It’s time to take a deep breath and listen to Jacko’s fantastic insight and advice.
Join the PodBarber family:www.patreon.com/thepodbarber
Get connected with Jacko:
Website: https://www.rootedlife.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackohumanflag/
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Wrapping up Season 3 of The Wellbeing Project, the show's producer, Howie, chats to The PodBarber himself, Mickey, about the guests who’ve given their time and fantastic energy to this series.
We all have our own life narrative, and this show brings you close to the conversation; intimate stories shared by an eclectic mix of guests from all walks of life - people just like you.
Listen to how real people find focus, healing and positivity from what the world has to offer, and be inspired towards your own personal growth.
www.thepodbarber.com
@thepodbarber
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Henry and William. They’re the Wade brothers, identical twins and London-based fashion design content makers, working with high-end brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Gillette, Land Rover and Tag Heuer.
Achieving their level of success took a huge amount of work over a few years, and now they’ve been rewarded with an ever-increasing rise up the social and digital media ladders.
But is being a twin all it’s cracked up to be? Listen in on the vibrant chat with these two beautiful men and learn about how they navigate their mental health issues to nurture their individual and collective personal growth.
Get in touch with The Wades on Instagram:
thewadetwins_
henryjwade
williamjwade
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Climate change. Sustainability. Buzzwords we’ve all heard, the hot topic of our time. But do we truly know the implications of the harsh mining we’ve undertaken for the last couple of centuries of our beautiful Earth’s resources?
Enter: Edward Gildea. Environmental activist, founder of ‘The Ring-out For Climate’ campaign ahead of 2021’s COP26 Conference, and a passionate advocate for change inside and outside of our governments to save humanity.
Millions of people will die as a result of our actions on this planet, so now is the time for us all to shift mindsets and start to reverse the damage for the future generations.
Edward’s passion, enthusiasm and knowledge on this matter shine through in this fascinating and educational podcast. Be inspired to make a difference. We have one chance to save lives. Let’s do it together. Starting now.
Edward's website: https://www.edwardgildea.co.uk/
Web: https://solar-aid.org/
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Stephen ‘Bez’ Berry is a loved and respected EOD Command Operator from The Royal Engineers. He also represents the regiment as a bare-knuckle fighter. So, he’s no softy, no fool. His story will therefore surprise and confuse many listeners.
Bez grew out of a fractured family life and became a lost teenager, until joining the military gave him purpose and brotherhood. He married, formed a family, things were good. Then divorce, then a new relationship. And that’s when life took a dramatic change in course.
Stockholm Syndrome and CPTSD. Whether or not you’ve heard of either of those, listening to Bez’s story will be shocking and astonishing.
An account of a man who suffered severe domestic abuse, who’s now helping others by raising awareness for mental health and wellbeing.
Website: https://www.ssafa.org.uk/
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Prostate Cancer: the silent killer. Men, you need to get checked regularly, because you might not know you have it until it’s too late.
Our guest in this episode is Errol McKellar MBE, he himself a survivor of the disease, which propelled him into dedicating his life to spreading awareness of the cancer which kills over 11,000 men a year.
Errol is now on a mission to get mobile testing units on the road to help the majority of the next 11,000 avoid death by having the simplest of checks – the PDA test. And ladies, if they aren’t thinking about doing it, get your men tested before it’s too late.
By the time you reach the end of this podcast, another man will have died of Prostate Cancer.
Web: https://www.theerrolmckellarfoundation.com/
Email: info@errolmckellar.com
Instagram: errolmckellar1
Twitter: temf2018
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What’s with those football hooligans? The answer is not a simple one. Meet Dave Minet. Abandoned as an infant into the care system in the 1960s, he suffered racism, he never felt love, and his constant fear drove him to drink, hard drugs and the hooliganism that gave him purpose and thrill.
Fast forward 40-plus years, and Dave’s hope for a better life – or even just a life in itself – led him to the 12-step programme and a release from the hell that most of his life had been. He’s now using the story of his own life experience to inspire and help save others who have similarly lost their way.
This is a heart-warming story that will challenge opinion and belief.
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Benjamin Hartley a.k.a Harb Binli from Star Wars film Rogue One flies into the studio to regale us with utterly captivating stories of his life as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot turned X-wing fighter pilot in the Galactic Civil War.
Sounds far-fetched? Just wait till you hear more of Ben’s life journey, growing up in a handful of countries, landing in one of the most expensive films ever made, acting alongside the movie world’s biggest stars, then creating companies to serve that industry. Remarkable.
Now heading up Cambridge incubator business, IdeaSpace, working with entrepreneurs, innovators and start-ups, Ben’s a busy dude, committed to cramming as many lifetimes into his one as he can.
Download and listen to Ben jammin’.
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This episode’s guest is social worker and breast cancer survivor, Christen Williams. Except she didn’t survive; she PREvived. Christen lost her mother to this cruel disease, and so inheriting the rare, mutated BRCA gene she opted for a double mastectomy to dramatically reduce the chance of getting breast cancer herself.
After tirelessly running a campaign to raise awareness and support for BRCA sufferers, Christen has recently set up a charity – BRCACHAT - to help those dealing with their own associated situation.
It affects men, too, so this podcast is invaluable for every one of every age.
It’s unlikely you’ll ever meet someone who has extracted so much positivity from such a dramatic, life-changing experience as Christen Williams. We salute her in this fantastic episode.
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Our guest is Mark Lovell, the former Royal Marine Commando who fought heavy battles in the Afghanistan war, witnessing the death of friends throughout.
The traumatic events there led to Mark consequently battling poor mental health, the kind of fight he wasn’t trained to deal with.
After a period of coping by way of drink and substance abuse, Mark found the inner strength to combat those demons and so reinvent himself.
He’s now a successful mini-entrepreneur proving that, with dedication to self and altering the mindset, just about anything is surmountable.
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Season 3 of The PodBarber’s Wellbeing Project kicks off with our favourite ASOS model and Love Island contestant, George Rains.
Remove the filters, throw away the airbrush, and underneath this man’s handsome exterior you’ll see a story of a teenager’s cycle of toxic self-destruction which found him beaten up and left unconscious in the night. It was a pivotal moment. George invested in himself, started to work tirelessly on self-improvement, and ultimately got back what he put in.
Now, he’s helping others through his work as an international lifestyle fitness coach, on top of all his other high-profile modelling work for numerous agencies around the world.
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Here's a bonus episode - highlights from Season 2 of The Wellbeing Project by The PodBarber, featuring all 10 guests.
Enjoy! And we hope you might be able to help keep us on the air by clicking on the Buy Me A Coffee link. THANK YOU!
Peace, love and power to your day.
Mickey & Howie.
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In this final episode of Season 2 we host special guest Harriet Frew, BACP accredited counsellor specialising in supporting people with eating disorders and body image.
As the world learns to deal with the darker side of social media, Harriet’s work in this field is crucial, helping increasing numbers of people struggling with those disorders linked to society’s peer pressures.
Harriet talks us through her own childhood experience of anorexia and bulimia, and her sustainable, anti-diet approach to recovery, fostering a more positive mindset. This is such an important podcast for young, old, parents, children…for everyone.
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Mick and Howie - host and producer respectively - had their second stint on BBC Essex (October 2021) and we thank host Ian Wyatt for having us on his 'stand-in' show for Rob Jelly. Ian is an excellent host and gave us the space to chat in depth about what The PodBarber is all about and what we're trying to achieve for our ever-growing podcast audience.
Enjoy!
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Will Clarke is an amateur strongman, but his strength to resist the dangers of drink and drugs was absent in his youth.
Fast forward a decade, including three months in a rehab centre, and Will has a firm grip on the realities of being an addict. He has moved into the sustainable health realm, teaching others how to create their own fitness and wellbeing programs for life.
Will's insight into the mindset of addiction is invaluable, and that includes all forms; not just of drugs, but also of addiction to your phone, to exercise and to anything that pulls a veil over pain.
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This episode's guest is Tom Chapman. He's an award winning barber, author, public speaker, global barber director and international educator.
Tom is the founder and driving force behind The Lions Barber Collective, the mental health support training charity, raising awareness of mental wellbeing and suicide prevention. And Tom is also the inspiration for our own PodBarber podcast.
Those working in the beauty and hair industry are fast becoming lauded for their therapy-providing status, each day talking and listening to a dozen or more clients about their life’s issues. Tom gives us an insight into the extraordinary phenomenon that he has created. This episode is relevant to ANYONE who has had a haircut…
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Danny Piper’s musical prowess is mind-blowing, but the thunderous sounds from his guitar belie the serenity and philosophical knowledge contained inside this beautiful man’s mind.
In this episode, Danny shares with us his learned insights gained through a lifetime of living in the music world, his practising of Kung-Fu and his own mental and physical battles, including surviving sepsis.
He is a force for realising the need for looking inwards not outwards, for living within the moment - something that every one of us could barely refuse to ignore.
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As a technical engineer, Adam ‘KitKat’ Miles has spent many years keeping aeroplanes safe in the sky. But he couldn’t keep himself safe on the rugby pitch.
Consequently, he broke his back. And carried on playing rugby. For weeks. The ensuing suffering he endured turned into a mental torture that took him completely by surprise. It was only then that he went on to confront all his childhood demons on the journey of healing.
Now, KitKat is facing a much more cheerful challenge: that of becoming a father. Hear his remarkable story of recovery, both physical and mental.
Follow us on all social media, just search: thepodbarber
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Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Facts: Cassie Rae Wardle models beautiful, hand-made lingerie. She has a degree in art and animation. She survived a psychologically abusive relationship that she later realised included being raped by her own boyfriend.
Cassie had to grow up fast. Her single-parent childhood was full of love, but then learning to deal with life at university and the realities of a precarious relationship shaped her into the strong, independent woman whom we met at The PodBarber HQ.
Cassie’s experience of mental health healing through qualified therapy offers a beacon of hope to anyone who has struggled through emotionally difficult times. Today, she works in the insurance sector, but also expresses her unearthed self-confidence through the medium of lingerie modelling.
Listen to this episode's guest’s inspirational words of advise and insight into growing yourself towards being the best version of you.
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Kundai Chinyenze is a survivor. Losing both parents to AIDS, a normal childhood in Zimbabwe was very quickly snatched away from her.
But the legacy of love she inherited inspired Kundai’s academic studies towards researching more into the global epidemic that took her parents’ lives.
Now resident in the UK and as the Executive Director for Clinical Development at IAVI, she is engaged in developing vaccines and antibodies for HIV, TB and other emerging infectious diseases, including the current coronavirus, Covid-19.
Kundai’s journey from childhood to adulthood is a story that is heartbreaking yet jubilant, tragic yet triumphant. Faith and family have kept her strong throughout, and Kundai’s infectious positivity and joy are the only kind of diseases we should all hope to catch.
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Whilst changing a tyre by the side of the road, Shaun Whiter was hit by a drunk driver. He ended up losing both of his legs below the knee.
But the incredible account of his determination to live life to the full in the face of all the daily challenges he faces will bring a tear to the eye.
He has since found love, become a father and is truly inspirational, not only to the everyday person, but in sport, with the Paralympics in his sights.
A story of triumph over mental and physical adversity.
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This episode hosts the social media queen and entrepreneur, Hannah O’Malley. This confident, charismatic and switched-on young lady empowers women and men alike to have the confidence to live the life they choose.
Personal development is the key to success and Hannah applies this philosophy to every aspect of her work in the realm of network marketing.
She advises how to balance hard graft with high quality ‘me’ time – the key to achieving the calm and focus in everything we do.
You can’t fail to be motivated by this wonderful human being!
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Season 2 kicks off with Aaron Flack, whose remarkable life includes overcoming childhood anxiety and depression, battling his crippling stammer and suffering with severe self-harming.
Aaron grew into a positive man, helping others who suffer with poor mental health, encouraging them onto alternative routes in life for a healthier mind.
And he’s also helping others with electronic health, in the world of Cyber Security. All of that, plus Aaron possesses some serious culinary skills in the kitchen!
An inspirational show on many levels.
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Life started tough for Tom Foxley: being bullied at school, poor mental health and then discovering he had Sudden Death Syndrome.
Did he let it beat him? Anything but. Tom's strong. Very strong. Not just in a physical way, as a keen Crossfit follower, but in the mindset sense. So strong is his belief in the power of our brains, he created Mindset RX'd, a company which provides mindset coaching to elite athletes and the functional fitness community.
Tom runs us through his life story, from the struggles to the triumphs, taking in a few years living alongside the wilderness of Canada to understand the importance of nature's influence towards a healthier mind.
An inspiration for young and old alike, Tom will feed you with motivational concepts for living better. Prepare for a mind feast.
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Since the early years of her childhood, Becs dreamed of a role as spiritual medium, so it's with immense happiness that she is now fulfilling her life's true purpose by facilitating those meaningful and powerful reunions.
Dealing with a deep frustration through life, Becs strongly sensed that her mind had a disconnect with the body she was given at birth. Over many years she underwent great changes physically and emotionally, bravely moving into a realm where she found her confidence, joy and, above all, inner peace.
Becs has become recognised for her unique way of mediumship, working as a ‘Clairsentient’, which means she feels spirit, senses them and then gets to know them, to help reunite them with her audience members.
In this special podcast she also tells of her own learning and healing, thanks in part to Amazonian medicines and through spirit guided practises of her own.
Feel the incredible energy Becs exudes and be a part of the movement for acceptance of human uniqueness.
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She's called Vanessa Frake, a.k.a 'The Governor', the title of her self-penned book which sheds light on the world of Britain's old prison system.
Now retired, and bestowed with an MBE, Vanessa shares with us the highs and lows, the gruesome and the humorous goings-on inside the walls of the establishments she governed.
Hear about the softer side of Britain's notorious serial killers, the system's impact on mental health and the toughness of dealing with violent inmates. And not forgetting the rather intrusive body searches that often gave the staff a snigger or two in the face of a physically and emotionally draining job...
Vanessa is down-to-earth, warm and charming. Get locked away with her on The PodBarber and enjoy some fascinating stories.
Get 'The Governor' book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0008390053/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_glt_fabc_Z7GJ8WF1QM5PBE0NRRRN
Twitter: @VanessaFrake
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Haemophilia is a rare, chronic blood condition. Laurence Woollard has had 30-plus years of experience living with it, which has led him to become a passionate activist and advocate for improved health management and treatment choice for sufferers of chronic rare diseases.
Laurence has an incredible energy to champion the cause, he’s ultra-enthusiastic and brings incredible positivity to affect global change within the medical and health environment.
Hit play and be prepared for an episode crammed full of fascinating insight into the controversial history of haemophilia treatment, which has led to the Infected Blood Enquiry, on which Laurence talks extensively.
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Tom Borsberry was a dad. Tom Borsberry IS a dad. He and his wife had Baby Pip, whose premature death devastated their lives before Pip could live his own.
As Tom relives the story from that moment to the present day, he brings so much hope to us all. He describes what helped him come to terms with the loss, using meditation, yoga, counselling, and TALKING - which gave him the tools to employ an incredibly optimistic outlook on life, which he now sees as a gift.
Tom was a successful singer in the '90s, and now he views success with a whole different set of values.
Be inspired by this gentle and ultra-positive man.
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We welcome the fascinating nonagenarian, Kit Orde-Powlett.
This 90-year-old man shares remarkable stories of his family’s history, including living in the second biggest house to Windsor Castle, fighting Cromwell’s forces, and his own colourful life of championship sports, innovative forestry techniques and the highly secretive ‘heavy water’.
Kit exudes such warmth and humour with a real passion for living. His secret for a long life? Listen and learn from this wonderful, beautiful man.
A truly historical episode!
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Alex Scales is a man like no other we've had on The PodBarber. This Billericay boy and international tiler suffered with destructive mental health for 30 years since being a young boy, tormented with visions, voices and much confusion in his head.
And then he discovered Ayahuasca, the Amazonian herbal medicine that, in just hours, transformed him from depression and angst to meditative and calm.
Now, eighteen months on, Alex shares with us his life story and how he's a transformed man, all attributed to his experience with the herbal tea that set him free.
He has embarked on a new phase of life to help others in their journey of seeking an escape from mental torment. A must-hear podcast, this one.
Peace, love and power to your day.
✌🏻❤👊🏻
Mickey & Howie
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We call him 'Matt The Fish', otherwise known as Saffron Walden Fish Co.'s owner, Matt Gurnett. This episode's guest spent nearly 20 years as head chef in Jamie Oliver's kitchen and he brings us tales of the highs and lows of the industry: the laughs and the fights, the sweat, tears and burns. And the celebrity diners...
The mental health of chefs is well documented as being less than acceptable, but Matt says there's hope on the horizon.
Now, Matt is running the town's only fish shop, indulging his passion for sustainably, ethically caught creatures of the sea. He's out before sunrise to source the best fish for our plates, so allow us to serve up a dish of this man's stories to save you having to try and catch him at dawn.
Matt's a top bloke, you'll fall for him hook, line and sinker!
Peace, love and power to your day.
✌🏻❤👊🏻
Mickey & Howie
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In this episode we have sports and nutritionist student Ryan Deamer shedding light on how we can harness the power of being motivated by what's within us, not what others expect of us.
Ryan is so many years wiser than his university student age and he's an inspiration not only to the youth of today, but to anyone of any age who seeks to better themself through improved diet, discipline and by simply being a decent human being.
This gentle and polite young man has learned life lessons from his caring and wise dad, from seeing his mum battle breast cancer, and he's now on a wonderful journey of self-discovery and betterment.
Take some time out to listen this fabulous Gen Z dude!
Peace, love and power to your day.
✌🏻❤👊🏻
Mickey & Howie
Take a sneaky listen to some PodBarber highlights.
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In this episode we welcome a man who was living in the deepest depths of despair, gripped by the torments of drink and drugs. He was figuratively falling towards death and he could do nothing to halt the rapid descent.
Suddenly, a voice cried out to him - and everything stopped.
Listen to Neil's story of how his mental health was completely turned around by a split second of divine intervention; truly a tale of biblical proportions.
This gentle, warm and beautiful man gives hope to many as he now puts into practice his beliefs and teachings. A PodBarber podcast not to be missed.
Thanks, as ever, for dropping by and enjoy the show!
Peace, love and power to your day.
✌🏻❤👊🏻
Mickey & Howie
Take a sneaky listen to some PodBarber highlights.
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In the chair today is a man properly connected to nature: Hatfield Forest's Lead Ranger, Grant Macpherson.
Before he discovered his passion for the outdoors, Grant was in the music business and spent his working days and nights indoors in the darkness, a time that came close to damaging his mental health. In his own words, he discovered 'a big, yellow thing in the sky', figured the outdoors was for him and he never looked back.
Years on, Grant maintains the forest's many varieties of trees, controls the deer population there, and he runs experience days to encourage improved mental health and wellbeing.
Join in and feel Grant's passion for nature, family and good living.
Thanks, as ever, for dropping by and enjoy the show!
Peace, love and power to your day.
✌🏻❤👊🏻
Mickey & Howie
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Joining Mickey today is the highly respected veteran of Her Majesty’s forces and supreme fitness and nutrition coach, Samuel Lee Parke.
“What is Cross Fit? How is my mental health connected to my physical health? What’s the deal with re-learning how to breathe…?”
Main man Sam at Bear Walden Crossfit sheds light on these questions and provides a fascinating insight into how we can self-improve just by observing and altering what we do with our body and mind. Start your new way of life, right here.
Thanks, as ever, for dropping by and enjoy the show!
Peace, love and power to your day.
✌🏻❤👊🏻
Mickey & Howie
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The second of the two Daves parks himself in The Podbarber guest seat on the most appropriate date of all. It's Dave Alexander, self-confessed Trekky and Star Wars geek. May The Fourth be with you!
Dave is a bit of a local hero with his fine singing voice and he'll be bringing stories of times with his various bands; openness about struggles with divorce and drink; and his love of scuba diving, plus his diving magazine and travel business.
So, take a Trek today with Mick and Dave.
Thanks, as ever, for dropping by and enjoy the show!
Peace, love and power to your day.
✌🏻❤👊🏻
Mickey & Howie
Take a sneaky listen to some PodBarber highlights.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thepodbarber)
Today in the guest chair we've got music maestro, Dave Clarke. We all know him as bass player extraordinaire with Uncle Funk, but now he and his fab band members are sweeping the nation with Miss Disco, the UK's premier disco band.
Dave will be sharing tales of his crazy days in the music business; hanging out with Duran Duran; strip searches at airports; and his love of fly fishing! And get prepared for the biggest, longest ego-boosting intro on the show from Mick for this great man....
Thanks, as ever, for dropping by and enjoy the show!
Peace, love and power to your day.
✌🏻❤👊🏻
Mickey & Howie
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In Mick's chair today is the super organic Tyler Cotton, owner of market garden Dynamic Organics. He's a fountain of knowledge about Biodynamics and organic farming; he's a dedicated, disciplined Jiu Jitsu practitioner; and he drinks raw milk! A fascinating man who is peacefully introverted yet fearlessly talkative. You're gonna love him.
Thanks, as ever, for dropping by and enjoy the show!
Peace, love and power to your day ✌❤👊
Mickey & Howie
Take a sneaky listen to some PodBarber highlights.
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In this 'pre-episode' we bring you a chat with the man himself, Mickey the barber, who hosts this series of scintillating podcasts. Get to know Mick a bit better, find out how he entered the world of barbering, how he arrived at creating The PodBarber, and what to expect from this podcast series. Happy listening!
Peace, love and power to your day.
Mickey & Howie
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thepodbarber)