Strong Tea: Recent Episodes
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Welcome to Strong Tea, the love child of two women who just LOVE to chat. Katie & Vikki love chatting so much that they wanted to turn those chats into a platform to help others, to open up the conversation on difficult to talk about topics, taboo subjects and things that people shy away from openly discussing.
Well this is all a little emotional isn’t it?!
This is the final episode (FOR NOW) in the current instalment of Strong Tea & Quick Brews.
With a lot happening in our personal lives right now, we’ve decided to take a break until 2024 to give us chance to focus on other areas and also to plan ahead to Strong Tea 2.0! We want to come back with a BANG!
We’ve been so lucky that we grew the Strong Tea brand and podcast from nothing, just with a love of talking about the things that matter and the things that we should be talking about more and that has grown into over 16k downloads in less that 2 years which for us is HUGE!
We’ve also had a huge number of people approach the show to come on and tell their story. Each person that chooses to open up and talk about their experience is extremely important to us, it’s important that we give that person the time and dedication they deserve and so, our choice to take a break is important for them too. We want to plan out some new and incredible episodes with even more incredible people in the hope that shared and lived experience will help others.
We have had an absolute blast the last 2 years and have met some truly awe-inspiring and wonderfully amazing people, we have heard moving, traumatic, inspiring and thought provoking accounts from people all over the world about their own personal experiences, something which has left us truly humbled.
So, whilst this is goodbye for now, it certainly isn’t goodbye forever. Rest assured that we are beavering away in the background planning to come back bigger and better than before and to do what we love, to talk more about the things that matter.
Now, you know we love a fan girl moment and this is the ultimate for our Katie. The incredible Naomi Channell from the brilliant true crime podcast Real joins us today to chat all things true crime and we can’t get enough! As a follow up to our Quick Brew episode (Why Are We Obsessed With True Crime - Quick Brew, ep 20), we wanted to chat to someone who produces one of the best loved podcasts in the UK.
Naomi has been touched by crime with the murder of her best friend and wanted to develop a platform to bring justice for victims of unsolved murders. This podcast has developed into one of the best loved podcasts in the UK and around the world as it tells Real stories from all across the globe with one important difference, the victims are always at the centre of everything Naomi does. There are so many true crime podcasts out there these days with some sensationalising hugely traumatic events and crimes, this is where Real is different. Naomi dedicates a huge amount of time and effort to researching not only the crimes that she covers, but also the victims.
In this episode, we chat all things true crime, serial killers and the justice system, we touch on some of Naomi’s episodes that she’s covered including some of the deep dive, six parter episodes including - “His Name Was Stuart Lubbock”, “Her Name Was Claudia Lawrence” and “Through The Wall - The Case Against Luke Mitchell”.
If you’re a fan of true crime, this is definitely an episode not to be missed!
Trigger Warning: This episode and description contains details of suicide, eating disorders and depression.
This episode features a truly inspiring guest. Sandeep Saib is a lived experience mental health advocate, Rethink Mental Health Charity committee member, Time to Change London champion, Samaritans volunteer, South Asian Health Action Mental Health ambassador ....and so much more. Basically she is one of the most interesting, honest, and passionate people you could ever have the pleasure to meet.
We spoke to Sandeep on the 9th anniversary of the day she attempted to take her own life. We were honoured she had chosen to share this important date with us and sharing her story to help others. Sandeep talks about the beginnings of her mental health struggles through to her diagnosis of body dysmorphic disorder, anorexia nervosa, and obsessive compulsive disorder. She explores with us the importance of race and how it is often overlooked when it comes to mental health, and how her faith and family have been paramount in her journey.
Sandeep also featured in a powerful film called Breaking the Silence which you can watch here (391) The Angel and the Devil (from the 'Breaking the Silence' documentary series) - YouTube
If you would like to find out more about Sandeep or contact her then you can find her socials via this link:
Sandeep Saib | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
A massive thank you again to Sandeep and all the incredible work she does.
Valen Vain. The Filth Wizard. What can we say about the incredible Valen?! Valen is the founder and the face behind KEN - Kinky Erotic Nature events in Hull - Yorkshire's Largest Kinky Cabaret, he’s a compere, a singer, a pole & aerial hoop dancer, he’s the founder and presenter of the podcast Thirsty Work (see the link below) and he’s a sexual educator! Is there nothing this man can’t do?! We certainly learned a heap of things in this episode, our final in the sex series. Today, we delve into the world of kink and fetish, of safe words, BDSM and sex education. Valen is, in his own words, a hedonist, a pleasure seeker. His mind is more open than the majority of people when it comes to what pleasure might be, what to try and what turns him on. The world of kink and fetish is a wild one if you’re on the outside looking in and the fabulous Valen gives us a cheeky glimpse inside to understand a little more. But that’s not the only thing that Valen excels at, he’s also a sexual educator and runs the popular podcast Thirsty Work, check out the link here! Valen Vain had gained notoriety in the North East for running KEN, the kinky erotic nature which are events allowing people to explore their sexual intricacies, interests and desires. You can find out more about KEN here!
Today we meet with the absolutely lovely Dr Ellie Birtley. You only need take a peek at her website, which you can do here, to see what a brilliantly talented woman this is. Dr Ellie explains the top reasons that people come to sex therapy, we ask just how she helps her clients and delve into why sex is STILL (in 2023) a taboo topic! If you'd like to find out more about Dr Ellie or the services that she offers, you can find her here: https://drelliebirtley.co.uk
We are once again, extremely honoured to have the wonderful Finlay Games joining us, this time to get a little intimate to talk all about sex and trans. One reoccurring theme that we seem to continue to trip over with our wonderful trans guests is that other people always seem to be obsessed with what’s in their pants. You wouldn’t ask a cis person about their junk, so why do people feel its ok to ask trans people? In this episode, Finn is wonderfully open about his experience of his physical transition and what that has meant for him, he talks about sex and becoming comfortable in a new body. Learning to use an entirely new body part is something that the majority of people cannot even begin to fathom yet Finn talks openly to help and support others who may be considering bottom surgery. He talks candidly about his book “Top to Bottom” which you can get your hands on here and all about dispelling myths surrounding trans sex. To find out more about Finn, please check out his website here:https://finlaygames.com
Sex Toys. Gone are the days of skulking into a seedy back alley shop to purchase them. Sex toys are now more readily available than ever and the number of companies and distributors in the UK is growing all the time. And so, we came across the wonderful Sam Evans from Jo Divine (see the links below), the most wonderful and customer centred toy shop we could have teamed up with! Sam and her husband, Paul, set up Jo Divine in 2007 after finding that most sex toys and lubes were not skin-safe. Jo Divine became a store that only sells skin-safe products, allowing you to shop in confidence. They've been discreetly shipping sex toys ever since. But Jo Divine is not simply a sex toy company, Sam has an extremely wide and varied knowledge of sexual health and uses her experiences to help guide her customers through the purchasing process if they need help and support. Sam has spent a long time working to educate people on better sexual health, quality toys and how sexual pleasure has no age or health limits. She’s done extensive work with the perimenopausal, menopausal (with the wonderful Davina McCall - check it out here) and cancer communities. Here are some of the amazing products that were talked about on the show: Sutil Lube - https://www.jodivine.com/products/sutil-luxeYes Vaginal Moisturiser - https://www.jodivine.com/products/yes-vaginal-moisturiserSonic Wave - https://www.jodivine.com/products/lelo-sona-2Lipstick Bullet - https://www.jodivine.com/products/rocks-off-bambooMimi Soft - https://www.jodivine.com/products/je-joue-mimi-softA Spot Toy - https://www.jodivine.com/products/rocks-off-regala If you’d like to check out the incredible products or maybe even make some purchases, you can click here: https://www.jodivine.com and also use our EXCLUSIVE discount code: Get 10% discount by using the code: STRONGTEA (£5 minimum spend on full priced products excluding P&P) Be quick! Offer ends 08/10/2023. Sam and Jo Divine’s contacts are:Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodivineukTwitter for Sam: https://twitter.com/SamTalksSexInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jo.divine/Instagram for Sam: https://www.instagram.com/samtalkssex/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoDivineShop
When we first interviewed our wonderful friend of the show, Dom Smith (episode 24 if you haven’t listened - you really should!), we were stunned as he talked about his journey with Cerebral Palsy and the questions he gets asked - so many of those questions are extremely personal and normally about sex. Dom is the first person to put his hands up and be open and honest about this kind of stuff and he became the inspiration behind our sex series - lets talk about the things that people need educating on. Asking the questions that people want to know but are (sometimes!) too afraid to ask! Dom’s life has had some wild and interesting encounters and he’s not afraid to talk about them and what it’s like for disabled folk. We won’t steal his thunder, you can hear what he has to say on his episode out now!
Trigger Warning: This episode contains details of addiction, depression and other mental health issues.
Bella Goode is the very definition of the term strong woman. Bella has tackled many hard times and traumas in her life and it’s never once stopped her.
For years, after suffering with depression, addiction and PND amongst damaging relationships, raising children and work, Bella was finally diagnosed with Bipolar disorder.
A diagnosis which has, in many ways, helped and supported her control of her mental health.
Bella realised that talking about her story has and is helping others with their own journeys and as such, she continues to speak to spread the word about mental health and her experience with bipolar to help and support others.
Her book, “Living With Bipolar - My Story” has been written under the pen name of Clare Marchant is not yet available but will be soon - we will post up when it is available.
If you’ve been affected by anything you’ve heard in this episode of Strong Tea, you can reach out for further support here:
https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
https://www.bipolaruk.org
If you’d like to get in touch with Bella, you can reach her at:
Facebook Bella’s Beauty & Hair Lounge - https://www.facebook.com/BellaGoodeBeauty
Instagram Bella Goode Beauty - https://www.instagram.com/bellagoodebeauty/
Her website is www.bellagoodebeauty.co.uk
Katie Neeves calls herself the gobby trans woman and we love her for that.
Katie is a woman on a mission - but not just any woman and not just any mission! She lived for 48 years as a man while struggling with her gender from the age of 3 and hiding her big secret to the World. She was thrown into turmoil when her gender dysphoria increased dramatically, causing her to go on a voyage of discovery before finally admitting to herself that she is a transgender woman and that she needed to change her body.
She then came out very publicly via a coming-out video which she posted on her social media and sent to all the clients of her photography business, risking her livelihood and reputation in the process. This was a massive risk, as she had built up a great reputation over 31 years as one of the UK’s top photographers, photographing everything from royalty, to wars and riots. She needn’t have worried though, as she was inundated with hundreds of messages of support. This led to her vlogging about her transition journey in a very open, honest and humorous way, which makes the subject accessible to all. Her story was picked up in the media and it wasn’t long before she was a regular in the radio and TV studios, becoming a trans ambassador along the way.
Katie formed Cool2BTrans to support and inspire other trans people and also to educate everyone else about trans people by showing them that trans people are just ordinary people who want to be happy - just like everyone else. She helps organisations with diversity and inclusion by providing trans awareness training and inspirational speaking in an entertaining way, using humour to break down barriers.
Katie appears regularly in the media, being on both ITV's and the BBC's lists of experts as well as being a BBC Sounds presenter. She was awarded British Diversity Awards "Hero of the Year 2023", the Trans in the City "Trans Community Champion 2022 Award", the This is Us "Training & Development 2023 Award" and Fellowship of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. She was a Diva Awards "Unsung Hero of the Year 2023" finalist and she was listed on the DIVA Power List 2023.
Participants and audience members will leave Katie’s uplifting talks and training feeling both entertained and educated. Katie said “Many people focus on the negative aspects of being trans, but I prefer to approach the subject from a much more positive angle. I am exactly the same person I was before my transition - but far happier!”
For more information about Katie, please visit her website at www.cool2btrans.co.uk - there are also more contact details for Katie available on our website.
The history of witchcraft is a long and harrowing one. Witchcraft was not made a capital offence in Britain until 1563 although it was deemed heresy and was denounced as such by Pope Innocent VIII in 1484. From 1484 until around 1750 some 200,000 witches were tortured, burnt or hanged in Western Europe.
Brett, know as the Witch of Salopia grew up surrounded by stories of spirits and witches, and even had a few in the family according to legend. He took his first steps as a witch aged thirteen when he found a collection of spells online. He was soon feared on the schoolyard for his curses, and kept seeking out more knowledge.
Unfortunately his journey would not always be a smooth one. Just as his practice was beginning to flourish, he found himself caught in an abusive relationship. Cut off from his spirituality, he was forbidden from practicing for five years.
But the universe had other plans for him, and he was helped to escape that awful situation.
With a renewed passion and gratitude Witch of Salopia threw himself into his practice. The spirits of his home county welcomed him as an old friend, giving him a deep sense of comfort and protection. This close connection with these spirits of his land remains a key part of his practice.
You can read more about Brett here: https://mossmatthey.com/witch-of-salopia/
Trigger Warning: Episode discusses mental health disorders, intrusive thoughts and self harm.
Brooke Miller joins us all the way from Wisconsin for this episode to discuss her mental health advocacy journey.
Brooke discusses her own journey and experiences of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, eating disorders, panic attacks, panic disorder and Bipolar disorder to help educate and inform others.
Brooke's experiences are unique in the sense of the combination and mental health issues that she suffers but 1 in 4 people will suffer with mental health issues at some point in their life and as such, talking about these and smashing stigmas is so important to let people know that they aren't suffering alone.
Brooke has her own wonderful blog on which she details her journey for others to read about and she's also highly visible on social media. We've popped all her links on our blog if you'd like to read more about or connect with Brooke.
Jennie is an award-winning freelance health journalist, writing features for national newspapers and magazines. Her work has appeared in The Times, the Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mail, the i paper, Red magazine, Women’s Health, Grazia, ELLE UK, the Guardian, and the Observer, among others.
Jennie's first book, Life, Almost: Miscarriage, misconceptions, and a search for answers from the brink of motherhood, was published in February 2023.
Jennie also is the author of the blog The Uterus Monologues, where she writes about her own experience of recurrent miscarriage and share the stories of others who have not had a straightforward path to parenthood.
In this episode, Jennie shares her story of recurrent miscarriage and the path she travelled to the birth of her son. Jennie's experience is sadly not unique with one in four women experiencing loss whether it be miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death and it is just not talked about enough.
At Strong Tea, we want to share Jennie's story to open up the conversation to supporting those that have experienced loss to know that they are not alone.
Madeleine Black is the courage cultivator. And my goodness, there couldn't be a more appropriate phrase for her if we'd come up with it ourselves!
Madeleine Black grew up in London in the late 1970’s and she was brutally raped at the age of 13 by two American teenagers. In 2014, having come to terms with how the trauma had shaped her life, she decided to share her story to help others and wrote the incredibly moving memoir, Unbroken: One Woman's Journey to Rebuild a Life Shattered by Violence.
In this incredible episode, Madeleine shares with her experience, her life after and her journey to forgiveness.
Today’s episode is with a fantastic human, author of the book OCDad: Learning to be a Parent with a Mental Health Disorder, Jason Adams.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is something we should all know more about as it is frequently mis-referenced when people say they are “a little bit OCD” because they like cleaning or symmetry. Miseducation is sadly rife.
OCD is a mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. It can affect men, women and children. People can start having symptoms from as early as 6 years old, but it often begins around puberty and early adulthood.
OCD can be distressing and significantly interfere with your life, but treatment can help you keep it under control.
If you have OCD, you'll usually experience frequent obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.
- An obsession is an unwanted and unpleasant thought, image or urge that repeatedly enters your mind, causing feelings of anxiety, disgust or unease.
- A compulsion is a repetitive behaviour or mental act that you feel you need to do to temporarily relieve the unpleasant feelings brought on by the obsessive thought.
In this episode, Jason shares his experiences after the birth of his twins, which included persistent obsessive and intrusive thoughts and overwhelming compulsions which were taking over his life.
This is an informative and insightful episode and a must for everyone to learn more about Obsessive-Complusive Disorder.
Jason’s book can be purchased here:
https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/ocdad-learning-to-be-a-parent-with-a-mental-health-disorder/jason-adams/paperback/9781039109544.html
Or from selected independent bookshops.
Trigger Warning: Episode contains descriptions of childhood sexual abuse.
Strong Tea podcast is all about talking about issues which people find difficult to discuss, the things that people shy away from talking about and this was one of the hardest topics to talk about.
Our guest "Sam" has asked to remain anonymous as she tells her story of childhood sexual abuse by family members and her journey of recovery.
Today's episode was not an easy episode to record or to listen to but it is so important that we stand with victims of abuse to ensure that they know they are not alone and are supported.
Bisexual Erasure.
A pervasive problem in which the existence or legitimacy of bisexuality (either in general or in regard to an individual) is questioned or denied outright.
In this episode, we chat with our own fabulous Vikki and our fantastic, returning Strong Tea family favourite April Kelley, all about their own experiences of bisexual erasure and overall bisexual representation.
We chat and, more appropriately, challenge views and opinions of bisexuality and how the world views these FABULOUS humans.
Marianne Oakes is an extraordinary woman, not only has she been through her own transitional journey, she now dedicates her life to helping and supporting others in the LGBTQ+ community.
Assigned male at birth, Marianne grew up with a feeling of not fitting in her body, that something wasn’t quite right. She started presenting female in the privacy of her home in her teens, her journey from meeting her incredible partner Vikki to being outed behind her back to transitioning to living as female is quite simply incredible.
Marianne then chose to retrain as a therapist and now works daily to support the trans and wider LGBTQ+ community with their mental health.
This really is an episode not to be missed!
Welcome to the third episode in our 2023 Pride series!
This is a hugely important episode for us. Terminology and what you can and can't say these days can be incredibly confusing in an ever changing culture so, as part of our Pride series, we've decided to round up an extensive (but not exhaustive) list of LGBTQ+ terminology to help you understand what it's ok to say.
We are so lucky to be bringing you the second episode in our Pride series with the incredible Tom Hayes-Isaacs who is a passionate HIV activist and advocate. Working across the UK and Europe he aims to both help reduce the number of new diagnoses, and improve life for those living with HIV.
Born in October 1985, Tom grew up in the the Midlands. Tom was diagnosed HIV positive on August 4th 2011, a day that changed his life, and work forever.
From the week following his diagnosis, Tom started blogging his journey – anonymously at first as UKPositiveLad. The blogs followed the ups and downs he experienced as he grappled with his new status, his fragile mental health and the minefield of sex and relationships as a newly diagnosed gay man.
Since then Tom has dedicated myself to tackling stigma and improving education around HIV, sexual health and mental health – with an aim of improving life for people living with HIV, and bringing down the number of new diagnoses. Please check out our blog for all the links to follow Tom.
Welcome to our first episode of our Pride series, 2023!!
Finn is transgender which means he was assigned female at birth but is, in fact, male. Finn came out as transgender in 2012 and began his medical transition in 2013. The medical side of his transition was completed in 2018, but the social aspect of transition is, and likely always will be, ongoing.
Finn has been sharing his story since 2011, in video format on YouTube and in writing on various blogging platforms. While this was once a hobby, he’s come to realise that sharing in this way is his calling in life. He decided to change his career focus and began to turn writing, creating, and public speaking.
Finn recently appeared on the incredibly popular Channel 4 show, ‘Naked Education’ and discussed transitioning, phalloplasty and bravely got his kit off to show off his body.
Finn has also written a book all about his physical transition called ‘Top to Bottom’ and it gives an incredible insight into the journey that trans people go through when physically transitioning.
Finn is a returning guest and we absolutely love having him on the show, his honesty and rawness has made him a firm Strong Tea favourite and we loved that you’ve joined us with a cuppa to listen to his journey.
To find out more about Finn, please check out his website here:
https://finlaygames.com
To purchase his incredible book, click here:
https://gayprideshop.co.uk/products/top-to-bottom-a-memoir-and-personal-guide-through-phalloplasty-book?variant=33039987441718&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=16877874405&gclid=CjwKCAjwpuajBhBpEiwA_Ztfhcr3VVxPjLfohFeZbxAFemICNWVS8LCzic529S8PvAKKgvm9utoxJRoCwlsQAvD_BwE
You can watch Finn’s episode of Naked Education on Channel 4 On Demand.
Trigger Warning: Child loss, mental health, traumatic birth, and pregnancy after loss.
Back in 2021, our very own Katie suffered unimaginable loss when her daughter died. What came next was a traumatic, emotional and grief stricken journey to have another baby.
Katie shares with us her journey, the feelings she experienced, the things that helped and the things that most definitely didn’t.
This episode explores the anguish and anxiety of Katie’s pregnancy with Freddie, the panic and fear of loss consuming her for 9 months.
This episode is not an easy listen but it’s Katie’s hope that if it helps just one other person in that situation then it’s been worth it.
Sarah Wallace is supermum. Today's episode is like no other, we talk to Sarah Wallace who talks us through her life parenting two children with special educational needs.Ollie has Down's syndrome and Alfie has autism. Sarah talks us through what it's like parenting with these additional challenges and how she now supports others by sharing her story through a facebook page. To check out Sarah's Facebook page, click here: https://m.facebook.com/people/Special-Needs-and-the-Life-We-Lead/100063665432109/
Living on the bipolar spectrum, with a side order of PTSD & ADHD, there are very few who command a room like Thomas. After growing up in difficult circumstances, Thomas successfully turned his life around to help other people, saving countless lives along the way. Thomas Duncan Bell is often better known across the UK & Internationally as The Bipolar Businessman. A true enigma, living with a bipolar disorder, Thomas has managed to reach over 1 Million people with his writing, video and various other media work and published articles on mental health in business. Growing up in an extremely volatile environment, his father a destructive, repressed homosexual, Thomas has fought adversity and fear since he was old enough to remember it and is now swiftly becoming one of the UK’s most popular mental health speakers. Thomas has also battled through drug and alcohol addictions, destructive relationships and evolved to become a prominent mental health campaigner. He’s now the primary mental health champion at the UK’s Institute of Directors and is performing his energetic key note speeches and round table discovery sessions at all of their diversity events across the UK. He’s also presenting for a wide range of businesses and implementing change programmes with the use of magic, as a medium to break down barriers. Thomas Duncan Bell is someone that commands your attention. He was thrown out of a top theatre school because of his debilitating mental health, despite an obvious raw talent for the stage. He’s been a FTSE 500 & SME Commercial Consultant for over 14 years and has run sales teams across the UK, Europe and the U.S. He’s able to work with companies to develop their mental health programmes, while understanding the needs of the business, to ensure return on investment while investing in change of culture. A leader to watch out for as the mental health movement evolves globally, with publishers fighting over his first book “Everything’s A Little Bit Mental” as we speak, it won’t be long before his infectious personality and drive is renowned, when the subject of mental health is raised, and people are looking for energy and real change in their businesses. We can’t thank Thomas enough for joining us on the show to talk all about his life, his bipolar disorder and the incredible work he does to raise awareness of mental health issues. To find out more about Thomas and the work he does, click here: https://thebipolarbusinessman.com You can also reach Thomas at on the following platforms: YouTube: @thebipolarbusinessmanInstagram: @thebipolarbusinessman Email: thomas@mywholeself.co.uk Additional Web: https://www.mywholeself.co.uk
We are so pleased to have our friend and member of the Strong Tea family back with us today! George Mycock’s is the founder of Myominds, a company that works to shine a light on and unravel what mental health means in the exercising community.
Myominds lead on research projects alongside some of the UK’s top universities whilst also creating conversations through their social media and through the MyoMinds Podcast.
George has had quite the year since we last saw him, he’s appeared in Men’s Health Magazine in the UK and US, he’s contributed to the development of the 3rd edition of the community standards for the Quality Network for Eating Disorders. He’s done an incredibly powerful video with Mind promoting and supporting a healthy relationship with physical activity, and he’s have also started a PhD investigating muscularity oriented psychosocial issues in men. Is there anything he can’t do?!
To find out more about George and the incredible work by Myominds, check out their website here: https://myominds.com/
This Quick Brew tackles a really tricky, but relevant, topic. We explore the pandora’s box that is cancel culture. Cancel culture is the mass withdrawal of support from public figures or celebrities who have done things that aren't socially accepted today. This practice of "cancelling" or mass shaming often occurs on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. We have seen it with politicians, authors, actors, and singers, and we delve into whether it is freedom of speech or rightful erasure that we praise or shame them. Is cancel culture enabling social justice or a mob mentality? Katie and Vikki also talk about the complexities of dividing our feelings towards a “cancelled” artist, with our appreciation for their art. It is a jam packed episode and we would love to hear your thoughts on the topic.
You know when you meet someone who just kicks the butt out of being awesome? Get ready to meet Kaddy, faced with challenging adversity throughout her life, she’s remained strong and positive and has become a force to be reckoned with. Listen to Kaddy’s story as she tells it from the perspective of a mother, a full-time care giver and advocate for carers everywhere. Kaddy is the Founder and Director of Elijah’s Hope and Founder of Carers Collective. Both were established due to the incredible journey she has been and continues to be on and from being the incredibly determined and compassionate mother and caregiver she is. Elijah’s Hope aims to help and support families within the South West regions of the UK who are facing acute challenges due to child illnesses, and was established in honour of her son Elijah Hodges who has a rare genetic disorder. Carers Collective is an incredible support for carers who are struggling with the physical and mental exhaustion that comes with being a carer. They provides resources and coaching to empower and support carers as well as providing an invaluable community for them to join. Kaddy is just so incredibly inspiring and has a story of resilience, determination and love, that you will not forget.
Time for another Tea Break! 2023 has been so busy for us already, we wanted to take five, grab a cuppa and take stock. This mini episode sees us chat what's been released this year so far, what topics and guests are coming up for Strong Tea, some highlights and some of the juicy content we want to get into for Quick Brews, all this AND what the best dunking biscuit is. What more could you want from a podcast!
The book, Don’t Forget To Scream : Untold Truths About Motherhood speaks for itself when it comes to reviews:To describe this book as honest, brave, empathetic and powerful doesn't do it justice – it is all these things in abundance, but also funny and beautifulAdam Kay Don’t Forget To Scream is a stunning, urgent, feminist masterpiece. Many of the essays brought me to tears, and I had to give myself breaks between them to digest their beauty and wisdom and insight before moving onto the next . . . So many mothers will see themselves in this book. And anyone who has ever rolled their eyes while a mother struggles to get a buggy onto the bus needs to read it too. A masterclass in empathy. I'm buying copies for everyone I knowHolly Bourne Honest, witty, powerful and moving... An important book brimming with hard-won wisdomRobert Webb Marianne studied Theology at the University of Cambridge. After graduating she spent 10 years as an actor and voice artist before becoming a full-time children's writer. She has published five books for children and teens. Marianne's journalism began with book reviews for The Independent on Sunday, before expanding into arts coverage. She has written for The Independent, The Guardian and The FT. Her roundups and reviews lead The i newspaper's children's books' coverage, alongside her features and book reviews. In 2018, within a handful of days of having her second child, she felt compelled to write the essay 'Two Weeks', which was published on Medium. A few months later, she wrote 'The Mothers'. The huge response to these essays led her to write extensively about motherhood, both on Medium and for The i.Don't Forget To Scream: Unspoken Truths About Motherhood is published by Phoenix. This episode sees Katie & Vikki discuss the book, the feedback and all things gritty and real about the truth of parenting. If you want to find out more about Marianne, you can click here: http://www.mariannelevy.co.uk
Katie & Vikki are back again with a follow up to the extremely popular and heated episode discussing Euthanasia, released on February 17th 2023.
This time we are joined by the wonderful Dr Tom Petrie. At the time of recording, Tom is in his final few weeks of medical training at Leicester University. Tom has a special interest in rheumatology and care of the elderly.
This episode was an excellent opportunity to get back in to the nitty gritty and controversy of the topic of euthanasia, providing some new thoughts from a medical perspective.
It’s certainly one not to be missed!
We were first introduced to Gina Kinson by Michael Johnson-Ellis who was the guest in our first episode in the Becoming a Parent series, My Surrogacy Journey. We learnt so much about the process and experience of surrogate parents but we also had so many questions and wanted to learn more about these incredible humans who are the surrogates. The wonderful Gina Kinson has had two surrogate journeys and is currently carrying her third surrogate baby, helping couples to have the families that they have always dreamed of. Selfless, inspiring, and changing lives, we cannot wait for you to hear this incredible episode with this incredible woman.
Next up in our Becoming A Parent mini series, we delve into the world of adoption.
In 2022, just under 3000 children were adopted, an increase from the previous year. There are so many reasons that people look to adopt and in today’s episode, Katy Smith shares her own personal experience.
Katy is a wellbeing and self-development coach for parents and is an adoptive parent support specialist.
She established the incredibly powerful Adoptive parent’s circle after her own experiences and seeing the hit and miss support that was out there.
Katy provides space and support for adoptive parents to talk about their parenting lives, sharing tips, suggestions, and to know they are not alone.
You can check out Katy’s LinkedIn profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-smith21/
You can find her website here: https://www.katysmithcoaching.com
Here’s the link for the Adoptive Parents Circle: https://katy-smith-coaching-adoptive-parents-circle.mailerpage.com
In the next episode of our Becoming a Parent series, we are joined by our very special guest, Kate Draper.
Kate talks to us about her experience in becoming a solo mum by choice. Motherhood is not contingent on a romantic relationship, marriage, or partnership (even though arguably, our culture holds bias against single parenting and encourages the ‘perfect’ family) and Kate helps to demystify assumptions, preconceptions and stereotypes that can come with being a solo mum by choice.
In this episode she shares how she made the decision to become a solo mum and the subsequent rollercoaster of undergoing treatment, heartache, and the eventual arrival of her gorgeous little boy, George.
Kate’s incredible strength, independence, and drive is what makes her story so empowering. We know she will inspire others as well as providing the much needed learning about being a solo mum by choice.
Links:
https://dcnetwork.org/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/473506363502195/?ref=share
Excited to bring you a special midweek podcast this week in honour of International Women’s Day! Today’s episode is a Quick Brew but with a very special guest, Krisi Smith of the awesome Bird & Blend tea!
Bird & Blend was founded in 2014 and has since becoming one of the greatest boutique tea brands in the UK with 14 retail stores and a significant online presence.
Krisi joins us today to talk all about her journey to become co-founder of this incredible brand, she talks about the challenges of being a woman in business, the gender inequality issues and why it’s so important that we raise the next generation to be soaring for success, regardless of gender.
So excited to bring you the first instalment in our Becoming A Parent series.
Today, the incredible Michael Johnson-Ellis from TwoDadsUK® joins us to talk all about his and his husband Wes’ journey to become parents using a surrogate.
Surrogacy is becoming an increasingly popular way in the UK to become a parent for a variety of different people whether there be fertility issues, LGBTQ+ people, single parents or other reasons. To put it in perspective, in 2008 there were just 67 parental order applications, in 2022 that number had jumped up to 300 applications. (A parental order application is a post-birth court order which makes the intended parents the legal parents of the child).
Michael and Wes Johnson-Ellis set up TwoDadsUK® in 2016 as a social media account to discuss their own route to parenthood through surrogacy, this later developed and grew significantly and they launched Fertility Clinic Partnerships in 2018.
Since then, TwoDadsUK® has become more than an Instagram account and is now a recognised brand within the fertility sector and LGBTQ+ parenting space. Mike and Wes are also Founders of The Modern Family Show in March 2019 and My Surrogacy Journey® which launched in February 2021. It also has a Number 1 Podcast too; My Surrogacy Journey – The Podcast.
Michael is corporate speaker for a large number of brands and has also contributed to a Number 1 Best Selling Book, released in in 2021 titled DAD. The Untold Stories.
When they aren’t busy running their empire, they are being incredible parents to their two beautiful children Talulah & Duke.
Today's episode is something a little different. We teamed up with the fantastic Tyler Copenhaver-Heath and Clifford Starks from the Bully This - A Hero's Journey podcast to talk all things bullying. Both of these gents have incredible stories and experiences that they share with us in this episode, along with talking about how they created the award winning Bully This podcast. We discuss the many sides of bullying, the impact on its victims as well as the bullies themselves, and the power of unconditional love. Bullying is a problem for people of all ages, all over the world and from all walks of life. Using our platforms, we hope to open up the conversation to make it more visible and to ensure that people who are being bullied know they are not alone. Check out Tyler & Clifford's podcast here: https://www.bullythisaherosjourney.com/
TRIGGER WARNING: discusses suicide, dying, and terminal illness. The right to die. Morally, a tough debate to have, but so very important.Imagine suffering with an incurable illness that offered an extremely limited quality of life, you’ve spent your life independent, happy and active. This illness will destroy your body and mind, it will be extremely hard on you and those around you. Should you have the right to chose whether you live or die? Now imagine that society is accepting of, and even helping individuals in your position to die. The pressure and the 'burden' you feel on your friends and family mean that you 'should' consider assisted dying as a viable option, even though you want to live every second you can. Should the law remain to protect those? In today’s episode, Katie & Vikki open up one of the hardest but most important topics of our time - should the law change to allow us to chose when we die?
Katie has known Joe since she was a teeny tiny girl, their mums worked together many moons ago and are life long friends. Joe is one hell of a human! Tenacious, outgoing and supremely positive, he has lived all over the world and had an array of jobs. In his late 20s, during training for a half marathon, Joe noticed some changes in his body, a series of things which just didn’t feel right. After multiple trips to the GPs and physios, Joe was advised by a friend to speak to his GP again about a neurological issue rather than a physical issue. This was the start of Joe’s journey with Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is a lifelong condition that affects the brain and nerves. There is no known cure and there are many symptoms. Joe’s journey has been varied and difficult but his positivity is second to none. This episode explores exactly what MS is, how it affects different people, how it's treated and managed and what the future holds for Joe.
Social Media. Best thing since sliced bread or a recipe for disaster? We delve into the toxic world of social media.
Deep fakes to fake news - just how toxic is social media for us?
We look at social media and freedom of speech, is everyone entitled to say and post what they think? So many questions, so little time!
In this hour long episode we discuss statistics, stories, celebrities and topical news stories from the world of social media to highlight just how it can be toxic for our mental health, our relationships and our lives.
An interesting debate for a modern day problem!
We are so excited to be bringing you the first of several fantastic episodes with the very lovely Finlay Games. Finlay, also known as Finn, has a huge following online thanks to his wonderfully honest accounts of his life journey. In this episode, Finn discusses his journey with drugs and alcohol and how he used these to block out feelings, emotions and parts of his life. Finn attended his first AA meeting in 2010 with no intention of giving up alcohol but it ended up changing his life in more ways than one. Finn is a truly wonderful human who’s honesty and openness make for a really fantastic chat.
True Crime is a loved genre of books, podcasts, movies and tv shows and documentaries the World over, but why? Why does watching or listening to, in some cases, seriously hideous crimes, fascinate us so much? In this episode Katie & Vikki delve into the world of murderers, kidnappers, cannibals and cults to discover why true crime has so many fans and at what point does it go from the moderately curious to the downright weird? The absurdity of murderabillia items available and paying to attend a true crime festival and a talk with a murderer? Scratching the surface with this episode, we will be back for more!
Victoria Kleinsman returns as a very loved member of the Strong Tea family to talk openly and honestly about surviving eating disorders. Vic has overcome anorexia, binge eating disorder, and bulimia. Vic’s battle with food started at a very young age and plagued her for many years but strength and resilience has not only helped her survive these disorders but to become an inspiration for others as a food freedom and body love coach and describes it as her life’s mission to help others. Check out Victoria's fantastic website for more on her journey: https://victoriakleinsman.com/
It's 2023, and we are LIVE!!
Happy new year folks and thank you for joining us for another exciting year of podcasting delights!
This episode sees us chat through many of the forthcoming episodes and topics we will be covering in 2023 and what our new year's resolutions are!
Whatever the new year holds for you, we are pleased to have you with us so grab a cuppa of your favourite brew and let's do this!
Welcome to the last podcast of 2022, the big Christmas Tea Party!
2022 has been an incredible year for us and so we take the opportunity to chat through some of the incredible guests and topics from the year, discuss some of the biggest moment of 2022 in the media (who could forget the slap heard around the World!) and if we actually stuck with any of our resolutions from last year!
Plenty of chat, laughter and festive cheer as we see out 2022 with a brew and a good old chat!
Wishing all our listeners a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year!
Have you ever met someone that just oozes with loveliness? That’s Jonathan.
We came across Jonathan Blake following his appearance on the recent Sky documentary, Positive. This incredible three part series looked at the AIDS epidemic during the 80s and how people’s lives were affected, the persecution that the gay community faced and how the media and government reacted. Jonathan was one of many incredible people who featured on this programme and shared their experiences.
We were so lucky when Jonathan agreed to come onto Strong Tea to talk about his incredible life. Jonathan was one of the first people in the UK to be diagnosed with HIV back in the 80s and upon receiving his diagnosis, he believed he would be dead in a few months, sadly, like many of his friends.
This diagnosis led Jonathan to meet the love of his life and be a pioneering member of the Gays & Lesbians Support The Miners movement. Jonathan has led an extraordinary life in the face of losing friends to the illness that he lives with. Jonathan is now a gay rights and HIV activist, educating the world one person at a time.
This episode is heartwarming, funny and educational. Jonathan is a wonderful human and this is an episode which really shouldn’t be missed!
Stress. Our body and mind’s natural reaction to pressure. Being triggered when we experience something new or unexpected that threatens our sense of self or when we feel we have little control over a situation.
Stress can be experienced anywhere and at any time in many different scenarios, in this episode we talk about when and where it can happen, the impact that it has and our own personal experiences.
When we encounter stress, our body produces stress hormones that trigger a fight or flight response and activate our immune system. This helps us respond quickly to dangerous situations.
Sometimes, this stress response can be useful: it can help us push through fear or pain so we can run a marathon or deliver a speech, for example. Our stress hormones will usually return to normal quickly once the stressful event is over, and there won’t be any lasting effects.
However, too much stress can cause negative effects. It can leave us in a permanent stage of fight or flight, leaving us overwhelmed or unable to cope. Long term, this can affect our physical and mental health.
We all deal with stress differently. Our ability to cope can depend on our genetics, early life events, personality and social and economic circumstances.
We talk about if stress can be a good thing and how important it is not to ignore it. We discuss our own experiences and ways to manage and cope with stress.
The bottom line is, don’t just accept stress, if it’s becoming too much, please reach out and get support. Extreme stress can lead to burnout, mental health issues and in some extreme circumstances, suicidal thoughts. Please get support before it gets too much. (Check out our website for support networks and advice).
Trigger warning: This episode contains details of violence, rape, animal abuse, depression and emotive content.
Contains some swearing.
Victoria Kleinsman is an inspiration. In what is one of the most emotional episodes in the Strong Tea series so far, we cannot tell you how wonderful this lady is.
Vic is a coach who provides food freedom and body love counselling. She is also a podcaster and all round fantastic human being. Vic in her own words has been through some "tough shit" and has faced challenges that have meant heartbreak, fear, adversity and incredible growth.
This is our first episode with Vic and we are so lucky she has joined our Strong Tea family.
This topic will be a tough one to listen to, Vic will tells us about her horrific experiences of domestic abuse. A journey which nearly cost her her life. This is a must listen to episode however there are trigger warnings.
If you are affected by this episode and would like to get in touch with Vic, then please go to her website to find out more Food Freedom & Body Love Coach | Victoria Kleinsman - https://victoriakleinsman.com/
To those who are being abused and feel stuck....we see you and you don't have to feel alone.
This episode sees Katie & Vikki delve into the dark world of bullying which happens in school, the workplace, online and in the home. It happens far more than you’d think.
Not beating around the bush, we talk about the types of bullying, the stats and our own personal experiences.
Bullying is damaging and can have a profound effect on mental health, we explore different tips and advice on how to deal with it and where to get further support if you need it.
Anti-bullying Alliance have fantastic advice, guidance and support including running Anti-bullying Week (14th-18th November). This year's theme is Reach Out. Anti-Bullying Week 2022: Reach Out (anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk)
Birth control.
It's been around for a long long time, and yet this topic is still not talked about enough. This episode sees us discuss the different types, the pros and cons, the dangers, the myths, the politics and the inequalities...we cover it all.
This episode has some surprising moments and includes research that we hope will give you food for thought and a good knowledge to have that informed discussion with sexual partners and beyond.
This episode brings us the wonderful Dom. And he really is, wonderful that is. Dom is an absolute powerhouse of a human being, his positivity is impossible not to warm to.
This podcast details Dom’s journey with cerebral palsy and how the alternative community became a huge part of his life and support structure. We just had to invite him on and this episode will not disappoint.
Dom is founder of Wobbling About & Rocking Out which promotes disability and mental health awareness, he is a venue accessibility consultant, he works as a journalist in wrestling media. Writer of SoundSphere magazine, a podcaster, a qualified counsellor and has an incredible amount of strings to his bow.
Dom’s story is truly something, this episode will make you laugh, cry and everything in between, but we guarantee you will want to have Dom in your world afterwards.
This weeks episode sees us chat to the lovely Agnese Effe all about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
Agnese’s journey highlights just how frequently PCOS goes undiagnosed or is poorly misunderstood and treated by general practitioners.
PCOS is a hormonal imbalance in the body which can have a significant number of symptoms including weight gain, irregular periods, mental health issues, acne and fertility issues.
PCOS affects 1 in every 10 women in the UK yet services and knowledge surrounding this syndrome are in short supply.
Agnese and our own Katie talk about their experiences and diagnoses with PCOS and the benefits of holistic treatments and approaches towards it.
Veganism. The practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, mainly in diet but also throughout life.
This episode sees Katie and Vikki discuss the background and history of veganism, the statistics behind it and also checking in with some opinions of people who follow a vegan diet and lifestyle.
The chat sees some preconceived ideas and misconceptions busted and results in meat lover Katie planning to go vegan for a week to see how much better she feels. We’ve got a feeling that this won’t be the last time we visit this topic!
Chanai Destinee Bradley Fofanah – also known as self love Nai is an actress, equality activist, a model, spoken word artist, mental health ambassador and body positivity role model. There is nothing this lady doesn’t do without beauty, heart and soul.
If you haven’t seen Chanai’s Instagram account it is an amazing reflection of how inspirational being true to your authentic self is. But obviously there has been a road to travel for her and in this episode she talks about how past trauma and her mental health have helped shape her outlook and successes, how body positivity is a state of mind, and how being a role model and visibility is key for inclusivity.
Check out her Instagram here: @selflovenai
Something a little different this week!
Check out this episode that hears us chat briefly about our podcasting journey so far, what topics and guests are coming up and how YOU can get involved!
We are so lucky to have the amazing Katie Stevenson return to Strong Tea and to once again bring her truth, openness, and beauty to our podcast. Katie provided us with an incredible account of her breast cancer journey in episode 3. It was moving and informative but ultimately a tale of success. Tragedy struck in June this year when, following a seizure, Katie was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer which has spread to her brain. This is an unimaginable situation for anyone.
We are truly honored to have Katie return and talk to us about her experience, what her new prognosis means for her, and the legacy she now wants to create. This episode is sad, funny, hopeful, sobering and everything between. If you have ever had a question for someone living with this prognosis, but were scared to ask, this episode may help answer some of them and also provide a beautiful perspective on something so unimaginable.
Thanks again to the wonderful Katie Stevenson and in her own words....check your boobies everyone!
Periods. We get it. No-one want’s to take about it. But maybe that’s why we should?
In today’s episode we talk all things menstrual cycles including the shame and stigma attached of Aunt Flo coming to call. Things get pretty heated as we ask the questions about WHY there is such shame when it’s such a natural bodily function, how PMT has become the butt of many jokes and just how many women and girls in the UK are currently experiencing period poverty and cannot afford the necessary sanitary products.
As many as 9 working days are lost every year due to women’s monthly cycles and the stigma attached to them. In 2022 we really should be normalising the conversation for women and girls to feel comfortable with their bodies and the way they work.
The fantastic book, Period Power by Maisie Hill, that we talk about in the episode can be found and purchased here https://tinyurl.com/3nfjku29 and it’s well worth it!
If you want to read more, support the movement or help eradicate period poverty, take a look at these links:
https://period.org
https://periodpoverty.uk
https://www.freedom4girls.co.uk
https://www.actionaid.org.uk/our-work/womens-rights/period-poverty
Trigger Warning: Episode discusses suicidal thoughts and eating disorders. In this episode we have the wonderful George Mycock, founder of Myominds. George talks to us about his own experience of eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia.
This incredible story is inspiring, revealing and something that we do not hear enough about. We discuss the topic of masculinity and how it can impact men including the rise in eating disorders and body image issues in young males. George talks us through how we can spot the signs and support those who may be affected by muscle dysmorphia or related eating disorders.
This episode concludes our Death Series and takes a look at death around the World. Each country, culture, tribe, and religion has a different tradition when it comes to death, burial, and remembering their loved ones. In this episode, Katie & Vikki delve into life after death and the different customs surrounding the biggest taboo of our life.
This light hearted episode brings interesting statistics, cultural uniqueness, giggles and a few chickens for good measure. Whether you’re donating your body to science or having a sky burial, this episode is sure to open your eyes to the world of death and beyond!
Tigger Warning - This episode contains discussion about human remains, the body after death, true crime, and grief.
Please note - The opinions, thoughts, and beliefs expressed in this episode are our own.
Trigger Warning: Episode discusses baby loss and traumatic events.
The death of a child is something no parent should ever have to experience.
Our very own Katie talks about the loss of her daughter Poppy, how it impacted her life and those around her. Katie is open and honest about this devastating loss which was traumatic and debilitating. Katie talks about what life after Poppy and her pregnancy with Freddie whilst grieving her daughter. She gives honest and open advice to those experiencing the loss of child or those supporting others.
“Grief is just love with no place to go”.
If you’ve grieved the loss of a love one close to you, you will know the absolute pain and anguish that journey comes with.
Grief is not linear and it is individual to each person suffering which makes it a difficult and lonely road to travel.
We chat with Jane Grayer, end of life doula and celebrant about grieving and loss, the impact that the loss of a loved one has on those around and why grief is so hard to talk about.
Trigger Warning: This episode contains details of death, the moments of death, cancer, and grief.
For some, the thought of losing a parent is unimaginable, even though it is considered the order of life. But what happens when we do? How does it feel? What if we are there when they die?
In this episode Katie talks to Eva, our wonderful guest who returns for this episode, and to our very own Vikki about the experiences of their mums' deaths.
We explore anticipatory grief, relationships, legacy, and the change that happens after death. This is a beautiful episode that is sad, hopeful, funny, and most of all, loving.
Death. It comes to all of us yet so many of us shy away from talking about it. The inevitability and finality of end of life can be scary and daunting but why do stick our heads in the sand?
This episode sees us meet with Jane Grayer, celebrant and end of life doula, who talks about those scary yet all important conversations we should be having.
Listen to us discuss all aspects of death and dying including how opening up the conversation can help those with a terminal diagnosis and those close to them.
Fibromyalgia. Never heard of it? This is a condition which affects the central nervous system and causes chronic pain. It's estimated that it affects up to 2 million people in the UK.
After years of struggling with various diagnosis’ and ongoing issues, Katie became increasingly frustrated, the impact on mental health was becoming significant and that in itself was making the issues worse. So what was going on? After a very long winded medical intervention, Katie’s doctor diagnosed her with Fibromyalgia.
In this episode, we explore what exactly it is, the symptoms, and the stats behind this bizarre medical condition. Katie talks about her personal experiences and how getting a diagnosis changed her life.
If like further information about Fibromyalgia, please check out the links below:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fibromyalgia/
https://www.fmauk.org
Instagram:
@fibromyalgia_warriors_uk
@fibromyalgia.support
@ukfibromyalgiamag
If you have ever wondered or been skeptical about the power of spirituality and its healing abilities, then this episode is for you. We are absolutely thrilled to have Eva Lake as our very special guest for this episode. Eva is the founder of Moonhive Healing and through energy and sound healing, rituals and ceremonies, she helps establish sacred space where people can explore and facilitate healing and expansion. She talks to us about the life changing moment when her mum died and how it sparked a new and incredible journey for her. Eva also tells us about the calling for the next chapter of her spiritual work, which is one of the most admirable and inspiring accounts you will hear.
Eva was definitely a calming presence to Strong Tea and we found it interesting, fascinating,and wanting to celebrate every part of our lives!
If you would like to contact Eva or find our more about Moonhive Healing then you can get in touch through the website Moonhive Healing and Ceremonies
It has been a fantastic Strong Tea Pride series and we are ending with a Quick Brew finale.
Vikki and Katie talk through their LGBT+ role models which proved very difficult to short list.
An incredible mix of historical and current legends that have both changed history and currently making history for the LGBT+ community.
There may be some legends you have heard of and some you have not, but the folk in this episode have journeys and life stories that are heroic, tragic, empowering, uplifting and inspiring - it is not one to miss.
We welcome back the inspiringly wonderful Suzanne Doyle who talks to us about her journey from personal discovery and coming out, to her incredible work and achievements for the LGBT+ community.
This episode is everything from emotional, funny, interesting and thought provoking.
Suzanne is Winner of the UK's Most Inspiring Individual of the Year 2017, Winner of the Bristol Diversity Awards (Business Award) for LGBT+ 2019, Winner of several Shout Out Awards for her role as Director of Indigo Network, she was shortlisted for UK Lead EDI of the Year and shortlisted for Community Champion of the Year amongst many, many others.
This is a fantastic final Strong Tea episode for our Pride series, we hope you find it as powerful as we did!
Welcoming back the wonderful Dylan Holloway to his second podcast with us.
Dylan joined us earlier in our Pride series to discuss his transition journey with us in what was a truly uplifting and warming episode.
This time, Dylan talks about navigating his music career whilst battling gender dysmorphia, how his journey with testosterone has changed his singing voice and why he’s prouder than ever to be playing at London Pride this year.
Don’t miss this fantastic episode which encompasses all things pride!
So super excited about this episode! We were so privileged to have Dylan Holloway on our show to talk about his transition journey.
Dylan was born in the early 90s and always felt like he was born into the wrong body, always desperate to be the Disney prince and not the princess, his journey began from day dot. Fast forward 28 years and Dylan is living as a trans man and living his absolute best life.
This podcast is emotional, insightful and wonderfully honest, Dylan talks about his journey of self discovery, physical dysphoria and coming out to his friends and family.
As part of our pride series, this episode teaches us about love and acceptance of all those around us and how we can be better allies.
It’s certainly one to get your lugholes around as soon as possible!
To kick off our Strong Tea Pride mini-series, we are beyond excited to bring you a very special guest, Sab Samuel.
Also known as Aida H Dee, Sab is the founder of Drag Queen Story Hour UK and is a proud advocate for autistic, ADHD and LGBTQ+ people everywhere.
This episode covers his humble beginnings in drag, his incredible work and the discusses the continuing need for more LGBTQ+ content in education.
It's one heck of a fabulous listen!
Trigger warning: Discusses alcohol, alcohol addiction, recovery and impact to mental health.
Upon recording this episode, it was the eve of Bob’s 19 month sober anniversary. He shares with us his truly inspiring journey which took him from an unhealthy relationship with alcohol to a spiral of darkness, lies and uncontrolled drinking.
Bob talks candidly about how it affected him physically and mentally as well how his drinking had an impact on relationships in his life.
Bob’s sobriety began on 21st September 2020 and he opens up about rehab, AA meetings and the process which keeps him sober, happy and moving forward.
A truly powerful and inspiring episode which is full of honesty and hope. It’s one not to be missed.
Prepare to be shocked, angry and feel a little queasy listening to today's episode where Katie and Vikki uncover the most extreme diets, give stats and the truth behind the weight loss industry, and talk about their own experiences and thoughts around diet.
This episode covers diet where we change an eating behaviour in order to achieve weight loss, gain, or body transformation. Whilst the media plays an enormous role in headlining body ideals along with weight loss advertising, the detrimental affects it has on its audience is discussed as well.
This episode does contain humour, but in the spirit of Strong Tea, we are very serious about the topic and getting the truth out there.
Trigger Warning: Discusses suicide.
This podcast episode is absolutely not one to miss!
This episode sees us meet Paul McGregor of Everymind at Work. Paul’s journey started at the age of 18 when he lost his dad to suicide.
Paul’s journey into the discovery of his own mental health began at that point and his journey is still ongoing to this day. Paul talks openly and honestly about his struggles and how he’s used his experience to help others.
We find out more about what Paul does to help others through his business Everymind at Work and how important it is to assist people with mental health in the workplace and life in general.
Bajingo. Moomoo. Cha-Cha. Whatever you call your lady bits, this episode of Quick Brew, we talk about the importance of cervical screening.
Statistics show that numbers of people attending invites for cervical screening had declined year on year by over 5%. Given the importance of getting your bits checked, it’s alarming to hear this statistic. We know no-one likes having someone poke around in their chuff but the benefits of it far outweigh the fear of getting it done.
We talk stats, the process of cervical screening and our own personal experiences. We add a little humour into this topic because, as we both know, this is daunting experience for anyone and opening up the conversation is more important now than ever.
We were so lucky to have the inspiring (literally as she was the Winner of UK's Most Inspiring Individual of the Year 2017!) Suzanne Doyle come and talk to us about her life long experience living with diabetes.
She tells us about how she found out she had Type 1 diabetes, the struggles and difficulties she has faced, as well as demystifying the condition and debunking the myths surrounding it.
Suzanne is simply fascinating and has several awards and accolades including Winner of Bristol Women's Voice Wonderful Women Award, Shortlisted for Community Champion of the Year and Winner of several Shout Out awards.
This episode was a truly fantastic learning experience for Katie and Vikki and we can't wait for you to listen to it too!
Welcome back to another episode of Quick Brews, today’s topic is GAD!
GAD is relatively common and affects 5% of the population but you may not have heard of it. So what is GAD? Generalised Anxiety Disorder is a long-term condition that causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues, rather than 1 specific event. People with GAD feel anxious most days and often struggle to remember the last time they felt relaxed.
This episode is the story of Katie and Vikki’s life! Both having been diagnosed with GAD at different points in their life, they discuss what it’s like to struggle daily with these mental health battles.
To read more about GAD, check out these links:
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder/overview/
https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder
We are so lucky to have the powerhouse that is Alex Beevis join us for this incredibly engaging episode. Alex is the head of Complete Lifestyle Academy, former British and European Powerlifting champion, mentor, coach and all-round fantastic human, and joins us to talk about his own mind and body transformation over his life and how he has coped with numerous obstacles and setbacks whilst balancing personal ambition, mental health and his family. This is a must listen to episode!
Further links to get in touch with Alex: Complete Lifestyle Academy – Your Lifestyle Fitness (cla-fitness.com)
This week’s episode is a big one.
There was so much content, it was a struggle to keep this to Quick Brew timings, but this week the topic covers gender and social expectations on body weight and image. We cover the causes and consequences of negative body image, and Katie and Vikki talk about their own experiences and battles with weight and how society has reacted to it.
This week’s episode we chat with the wonderful Abbie who joins us for a lively discussion around being childless by choice. Abbie talks us through her own journey and the reasons for not having children and the social and medical stigma she has found placed upon her, and other women, who make this choice.
With recent You.gov reports highting that more women than men are stating that they do not have children and do not want to have them in the future, this topic is lending itself for closer study and being talked about more. We were keen to tell it from a slightly different angle, so we hope you find this as interesting as we did making it with Abbie.
Recommended further reading: Why do people choose to not have children? | YouGov
March 8th is International Women's Day and on this episode of Strong Tea - Quick Brews we celebrate some iconic women from history!
Next week is Eating Disorder Awareness Week and we wanted to open up the discussion about journeys of those who have experienced eating disorders.
Our fifth episode brings us together with Rach who has speaks frankly and openly about her struggles in her 20s with bulimia. She talks about the physical and mental impacts that her eating disorder had on her and how she’s journeyed through recovery to her relationship with food now.
Trigger Warning: This podcast discusses bulimia and eating disorders in general.
Recommended support networks and resources:
https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
https://www.anorexiabulimiacare.org.uk
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/eating-problems/useful-contacts/
To contact us with feedback or to get involved, you can reach us here:
Katie – www.strongandbrave.co.uk – katie@strongandbrave.co.uk
Vikki – www.laytonlifecoaching.com – laytonlifecoaching@outlook.com
Both – strongteachat@gmail.com
Our fourth episode hears us chatting to the awesome Kez who speaks frankly and inspirationally about her experience of mental breakdown and how she made it out the other side. Kez’s journey begins with something we can all relate to; work related stress.
Even though mental health is becoming much less of a taboo topic, there is still such a long way to go to normalise the topic, listening to podcasts such as this and educating ourselves can help our generations to move forward with knowledge to help and support others.
Recommended support networks are:
https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ https://www.mind.org.uk/need-urgent-help/using-this-tool https://www.rethink.org/aboutus/what-we-do/advice-and-information-service/get-help-now/
In honour of Time to Talk Day on February 3rd, we’ve create an A to Z of mental health. Time to Talk Day is all about opening up the conversation and normalising talking about our mental health.
To read the full A to Z, check out:
www.strongandbrave.co.uk or www.laytonlifecoaching.com
Our first ever Quick Brew!
A bite size version of our full shows and this one features New Years Resolutions!
Our third episode brings us together with the incredible and inspiring Katie S who has very recently fought her own battle with breast cancer. Katie takes us on her journey and talks so openly and honestly about her feelings, the journey and the physical and mental health impacts it had on her life.
Raising awareness of breast cancer is so important and Katie talks about the importance of checking yourself, telling friends and family and getting the support you need.
Welcome back to Strong Tea, the love child of two women who just LOVE to chat. Katie & Vikki love chatting so much that they wanted to turn those chats into a platform to help others, to open up the conversation on difficult to talk about topics, taboo subjects and things that people shy away from openly discussing.
Episode 2 sees our very first guest to Strong Tea!
This episode opens up on the world of bisexuality for two women that have experienced it from very different backgrounds.
Our very own Vikki talks frankly about coming out and her views on how those around her have provided support and our awesome guest, actor, writer and producer, April Kelley speaks openly about bi-erasure and the representation of bisexuality in the media. Both Vikki and April speak honestly about their experiences to hopefully help others who may be experiencing confusion about their own sexuality.
Both Katie & Vikki have recently experienced significant loss in their life, Katie with the death of her newborn daughter & Vikki with the loss of her mother.
This frank & honest discussion is two women baring their hearts to try and support those burdened with grief.
Trigger Warning: This podcast discusses death, loss, grief, cancer, child loss, parental loss and neonatal death.