MenTalk Health: Recent Episodes
Luke Brand
Mental health can be a taboo subject for men; let’s change that. MenTalk Health is a fortnightly podcast which discusses how to navigate mental health issues as a young man in the labyrinth of the modern world.
I’m this episode, my guest and I discuss the downsides of resorting to mental health medication too quickly. We also delve into the subject of relationships and talk about how important friends, family and loved ones are, when it comes to battling with everyday mental health struggles.
In this episode of the MenTalk Health podcast, my guest and I discuss the correlation between racism and mental health. Given the abuse suffered by England players in the Euros final, as well as the rising anti-Asian hatred stirred up by the pandemic, racism is a pressing issue that directly results in worsened mental health and the breakdown of integral support networks.
Here we are joined by another of our anonymous guests, to discuss her experiences with struggling with mental health at uni and how to best support your friends who are going through issues such as depression, anxiety and insomnia.
To kick off our second season, we sit down with our first anonymous guest to discuss their experience with the counselling system, both on a private level and within their educational career. We pick apart the pros and cons and try to come up with ways to deal with common mental health issues on a long term basis.
This is the second and last bonus episode of the inaugural MenTalk Health season. In this initially unreleased episode, Christos (a close friend and frequent guest on the podcast) joins me to discuss and debate Alex Skeel’s experience as a man caught in an almost fatal abusive relationship. We mainly focus on how you can spot signs of toxicity in your friend’s relationships and help to support them before things go too far.
In the last episode of the MenTalk Health podcast, I solely describe the future direction of the podcast as well as reliving some of my favourite moments and snippets from the inaugural season. Thank you to all the listeners who tuned in for season 1 and I really hoped that you were helped by the discussions in some way.
Oli Rugg, avid Hammers fan and footy addict, joins us to talk all things sport. We’ll look at how sport can be used to alleviate stress, depression and more. Join us if you want to hear the ins and outs of the correlation between regular exercise and mental health from someone who has experienced both the negative and positive consequences sport can bring.
Creativity, especially through the form of poetry & spoken word, can vastly improve an individuals mental health. Today I am joined by Nicholas J Barlow, a young poet who is also passionate about mental health. We discuss the positive effects that poetry has had in both of our lives, as well as providing helpful tips for anyone else who wants to use their own creativity to work towards a more mentally stable life.
Specific mental health disorders such as BPD, Schizophrenia and Bipolar are widespread but seriously underreported. Today, I am joined by Augustine, a BPD sufferer who has his own BBC radio show and is a keen mental health advocate. We discuss how society can better understand disorders such as BPD, and how we can personally help those around us who need extra support and help. These issues need to be spoken about and we can only do that by having open conversation.
Charlotte, who is a transgender woman passionate about raising awareness for LGBTQIA+ mental health, joins me to discuss the invisible but harmful effects of societal prejudice on the mental health and well-being of certain people in society. Although we do predominantly focus on men’s mental health, we won’t be able to move forward as society without helping out other demographics who are also disproportionately affected.
Ben, a practicing Buddhist and advocate for inner peace, joins us today to talk about how his faith impacts his mental health struggles. Inner peace and growth are the main topics for this episode, where we highlight the main signs of balanced and peaceful mental health, while also going over ways in which one can improve their inner peace and wellbeing.
In the first episode of this mini-series, I discuss and share my own personal experience of being a victim in a toxic relationship.
I am joined by Christian, who has passion for highlighting the unspoken truths surrounding mental health. We discuss the main factors contributing to mental health censorship and use evidence to uncover solutions for this daunting issue.
Rob (owner of Rob Talks, among many other things) joins us today on the podcast to discuss addiction and it’s role as a symptom of deeper mental health issues. We delve into the main theories surrounding addiction, citing evidence to support the fact that it can ruin lives and encompasses so much more than the stereotypical example of alcohol & drug abuse.
Here we talk to Christian and student, Mathew Found (creator of the Talking God At University podcast). The main focus is on how men can build stable, consistent and foundation building habits in their life to combat mental health issues. We look at the correlation between spirituality and mental health, looking at solutions for atheists, agnostics and religious believers. We hope you enjoy this episode and feel free to share with family & friends.
Today I am joined by Christos, a 2nd year Economics student at Warwick University. We discuss men’s mental health in an overall sense, looking at trends, statistics and figures alongside our own opinions to explore how mental health affects men, the BAME community and also the wider population. Be sure to tune in for openness, humour and informative discussion!