In this episode I talk to one of my favourite guests, Me. 2021 was a year unlike any other and for me and my family and presented a whole raft of new challenges. In 2007 I was diagnosed with depression. I often say that I have recovered from this diagnosis but this year was as close as I have ever felt to feeling like I was becoming depressed again. In this podcast I talk about the tools and strategies I used to manage my mental health this year including changing my mindset, keeping a routine and buying a puppy!

How you going mate?

My 2021 with Me

In this episode I talk to my friend and former collegue Michelle. Michelle is a Mum, a registered psychologist and a woman with a lived experince of a mental health issue. This is a great conversation where we talk about the stigma surrounding mental health, understanding her mental health after the birth of her first child and how that shaped her professional career, how Jessica Rowe inspired and continues to inspire her to manage her mental health and the importance of paying your bills! Dont forget you can listen on Whooshka, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Audible and whereever you listen to your podcasts.

Breaking Down Stigma with Michelle

In this episode I talk to my longtime friend and colleague, Jackie about living with Bi Polar. In this honest and eye opening discussion we talk about when Jackie first started to realise she had a mental health condition, how she came to understand it, being hospitalised (sometimes involuntarily), the incredible support she received from her husband and the role that ECT played in her recovery. Jackie continues to live and thrive with a mental health condition and I can most definately say that we have never told a story quite like Jackie's before. 

Jackie's Story

In this episode I talk to Bowen Therapist and Hypnotherapist Anissa Young from Feel Young Therapy. I have known Anissa for close for 30 years now, but this is the first time I have heard her story. Anissa and I talk about everything from her experiences growing up with an abusive stepfather, to how Bowen Therapy and Hypnotherapy helped with her mental health and how she now uses these two therapies to help others. Also, don't miss the start where we tell you about our experience at a music awards show with legendary Aussie music TV guru Molly Meldrum. 

Feeling Young with Anissa

In this episode I talk to Jan Clark. Jan is a mother and Grandmother who was diagnosed with Leukaemia after a trip overseas. Jan's diagnosis and treatment also happened to coincide with the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic and the birth of her 7th grandchild and if that wasn't complex enough, Jan's age meant that the treatment she needed could be more dangerous that the leukaemia itself. But this is a story of one of the strongest and most amazingly positive people you will ever meet and how that strength, positivity and the support of her family helped her to win the battle over this disease. Not only that but how it has enabled her to support others in her position.

Do you wish you had a Jan? The importance of positivity.

In this episode we talk to Amy and hear her incredible story of addiction, mental health and recovery. One of the most common things we hear when we have a mental health condition is "But you have everything you could ever want. How do you have a problem?" and this was certainly the case for Amy. We talk about how she went from seemingly having the perfect life with a great job, a great apartment and all the trapping of success, to living with addiction and ultimately her journey to rehab, recovery and redemption.

But you don't look like you have a problem.

In this episode I talk to the one and only Laura Zammit. We have a wide ranging conversation where we talk about everything from mentally preparing for lockdown, fake spouses, hiding behind a big personality, ADHD, attending rehab, what holding space is and the power of holding space with someone who needs it.

Holding Space with Laura

Matt Curvey is a hard working father, husband, car lover and radio enthusiast who has survived not one, but two life threatening bouts with Cancer. In this episode we talk about the physical and emotional toll this took on Matt, his wife and his young family as well as what Matt learned about himself during his cancer journey and when he finally decided to seek support.You can listen to Matt's story by clicking on the link or via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and all affiliated podcast channels. 

Matt's Cancer journey

In this episode I speak with an former colleague of mine Dr Kylie Crnek-Georgeson, PhD. Kylie's field of expertise is people who are ageing, mental health and suicide. We look at how people who are ageing experience mental health, why it is so important to plan for the next stages of life and how we can encourage the older people in our life to talk about their mental health and look after their wellbeing.Don't forget that you can listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and all affiliated podcasting services.

Ageing and mental health with Dr Kylie

Rafia Marsh runs Rafia Marsh Counselling in South Western Sydney and is a Mental Health Worker with over 17 years experience. In this episode I talk to Rafia about a range of topics including her own lived experience of a mental health condition, Gestalt Therapy, maintaining good mental health and of course the joys of being my first ever remote guest.Don't forget that you can listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and all affiliated podcasting apps.

My chat with Rafia -Our first remote guest.

A few months ago now I decided to take a break from producing and recording the podcast. I needed this time to rethink and refocus and, more importantly, to figure out exactly what we are trying to say and do.Take some time to listen to this episode, tell us what you think and please don't forget to share it with your mates.

Allow me to reintroduce myself...

Isolation is one of the key but most overlooked indicators of poor mental health. In this episode we discuss why isolation is such a key part of our message here at How you going mate?. We also look at why we isolate, the vicious cycle that isolation causes, why connection is so important and what we can go to connect with others.

Isolation and Connection

In this episode we look at supporting young people and their mental health. We explore our personal and professional experiences and look at how supporting good mental health has changes over the last 25 years.

Supporting young people

In this episode I talk to my friend and colleague about her recovery from a diagnosis of complex trauma and family violence, a journey that didn't start until well into adult hood. We also look at Debbie's work with people who are living with hoarding and squalor disorder and what its like to be 4 foot 9 and 3/4 inches tall.

Debbie and her recovery journey

12 months ago Barbie and I took a look at Valentine's Day and we thought it would be timely to revisit this episode. Valentine's Day can have a major impact on our mental health. Whether it's the pressure to be with someone, the pressure to live up to the "Hollywood" ideal or just the idea of not getting a rose, that feeling of being alone can be devastating. In this episode, Barbie and I take a look at these pressures and offer you our tips on what you can do to get through Valentine's Day!

hubhopper

How you going mate?

hubhopper