At last we’re able to meet up in person again, and we took advantage of a gloriously sunny day to gather and talk about mental health. This episode is about perspectives, particularly that sensation we sometimes have when our perspective suddenly changes and everything feels different. We’re interested in what that feels like, and what prompts such a change in our mental landscape.  CW: this conversation includes a discussion about sexual abuse and its impact.  This episode was recorded on 18 July 2021, outside in Woodhouse Moor in Leeds, so there may be some background sounds of other folks enjoying themselves. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-are-what-we-overcome/message

We Are What We Overcome

Perspectives – We Are What We Overcome Episode 016

We met up to talk about what social masks we wear under different circumstances. For some of us, being sociable and out and about is a really good thing that gives us energy, but sometimes is just too much! It's been a weird year for socialising, and the prospect of getting back to a "normal" social life is only partly appealing... This episode was recorded on 24 April 2021 using Zoom. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-are-what-we-overcome/message

Social Masks – We Are What We Overcome Episode 015 (Lockdown Special)

Continuing our two-parter on performance and mental heath. We talk about what the experience of performing does for our mental health, as well as the things that motivate us to perform. All four of us are performers in different ways – musicians, improvisers and magicians. It’s an important part of our lives and one that we’ve been unable to indulge in for the last year.  This episode was recorded on 27 March 2021 using Zoom, and includes one contributor with incredibly laggy audio... Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-are-what-we-overcome/message

Performing and Performance Part Two – We Are What We Overcome Episode 014 (Lockdown Special)

All four of us are performers in different ways – musicians, improvisers and magicians. It’s an important part of our lives and one that we’ve been unable to indulge in for the last year. We talk about what performance means to us, why we perform and how it affects and is an effect of our mental health and identities.  This episode was recorded on 27 February 2021 using Zoom. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-are-what-we-overcome/message

Performing and Performance Part One – We Are What We Overcome Episode 013 (Lockdown Special)

Well, 2020 finally came to an end and we met up in early in the new year to talk about change, hope and new year’s resolutions.  This episode was recorded on 2nd January 2021, but it kinda still feels like 2020. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-are-what-we-overcome/message

New Year & Resolutions – We Are What We Overcome Episode 012 (Lockdown Special)

In this episode we discuss empathy, what it means and how important it can be - especially right now. We also talk about how and why empathy can be difficult, and even whether it’s always worth it.  This episode was recorded on 5th December 2020. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-are-what-we-overcome/message

Empathy – We Are What We Overcome Episode 011 (Lockdown Special)

Mental Health Awareness Week is the perfect time to talk about our own mental health. In this episode we talk about what awareness we have of our own mental health, what the signs (positive and negative) are for us, and what steps we feel able to take to deal with it. Technically, this is the fourth of our special lockdown recordings over Zoom, which we recorded and streamed live way back in May, but we’re releasing them out of order - this is 2020 after all. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-are-what-we-overcome/message

Mental Health Awareness Week – We Are What We Overcome Episode 010 (Lockdown Special 4)

Well, we’re back in lockdown in the UK, and we’re not really sure how to feel about it. High on the list of hard to define feelings is anxiety, which can be a constant pressure whose source is tricky to pin down. We talk about anxiety, what might cause it and what we can do to alleviate it. Technically, this is the tenth of our special lockdown recordings over Zoom, but we’re releasing them out of order - this is 2020 after all.  Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-are-what-we-overcome/message

Anxiety – We Are What We Overcome Episode 009 (Lockdown Special 10)

From the earlier days of lockdown, when we were still adjusting to a life lived at home and constant disaster news weighing heavily on our minds. We talk about self care, its importance, our own techniques and how well we actually apply them to ourselves, plus tips for others. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-are-what-we-overcome/message

Self Care – We Are What We Overcome Episode 008 (Lockdown Special 03)

Lockdown continues… This time we’re talking about how we talk to each other, abut the kinds of language we use and how being direct may also be better in certain situations. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-are-what-we-overcome/message

How We Talk to Each Other – We Are What We Overcome Episode 007 (Lockdown Special 02)

When lockdown came, we started chatting online to see how we were coping. This is our first one from April 2020. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-are-what-we-overcome/message

Checking In – We Are What We Overcome Episode 006 (Lockdown Special 01)

This one's a tough one, so trigger warnings up front: we're talking about grief, bereavement and death. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. This episode was recorded at Hyde Park Book Club in Leeds. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-are-what-we-overcome/message

Grief and Loss – We Are What We Overcome Episode 005

This week we're talking about how our mental health affects our family and our loved ones. While they're also the people most likely to buoy us up if we're down, they're also the ones who take the brunt of our own mental health. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. This episode was recorded at The Castle pub in Nottingham. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-are-what-we-overcome/message

Friends and Family – We Are What We Overcome Episode 004

We're talking about suicide this week, so major TRIGGER WARNING, for us and anyone listening. We share our personal experiences of being on the edge, of friends and family, suicide myths, and struggle to figure out how we feel about people taking their own lives. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. This episode was recorded at QUAD Derby during the Little Ed Festival. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-are-what-we-overcome/message

Suicide – We Are What We Overcome Episode 003

This time our main topic is anxiety, and all the ways that's affected us and how we learn to deal with it. We’re also testing out a mental health check-in for ourselves at the top of the show, since we're all affected by everything we talk about too! Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-are-what-we-overcome/message

Anxiety – We Are What We Overcome Episode 002

A musician, an Improviser and a Psychotherapist. A podcast for starting an essential conversation about mental health, particularly for men.