For this week's episode, I am joined by Elliot Colburn. Elliot is a former MP, and now working for Samaritans.

Elliot shares his experience of first struggling with his mental health at university, and later facing a much more serious crisis while serving as a Member of Parliament. We explore how pressure, loneliness, and life in the public eye can intensify mental health difficulties and why it’s often impossible to point to one single “cause”.

We talk about recovery and the fear many people carry about relapsing after starting to feel better. Elliot reflects on returning to work, eventually sharing his story in Parliament and the powerful response that followed.

We also discuss losing his seat in 2024, the emotional impact of such a public job loss, and how leaning on others helped protect his mental health during that transition. Finally, Elliot shares how he came to work for Samaritans, and why he believes conversation and human connection are central to suicide prevention.

Please leave a review or rating if you enjoyed the episode, it really helps the podcast reach more people.

If anything in this conversation brings up difficult feelings, you’re not alone, and support is available. If you’re in the UK, you can contact Samaritans free, 24/7 on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org.

If you’re elsewhere, you can find local helplines at findahelpline.com.

If you’re in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency services.

Find out more about Elliot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-colburn-b13665104/

Follow the podcast on Instagram for updates: @nowwerereallytalking

Check out Be The Change Media: @bethechangemedianetwork

If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at crumppaddy@gmail.com.

The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be The Change Media Network or its partners.

This episode is part two of my conversation with Sally Orange MBE. In this episode we explore her recovery journey and life beyond the Army. We talk about what healing really looks like, the role of therapy and self-compassion, and how small daily steps can help rebuild a sense of connection and purpose.

Sally reflects on leaving the military after 22 years, redefining her identity, and how running, fundraising and public speaking became powerful tools in her mental health journey. We also discuss Sally’s recent breast cancer diagnosis, and the different ways physical and mental illness are experienced and understood.

This is a conversation about recovery, transition, resilience, and learning to be kinder to yourself.

Please leave a review or rating if you enjoyed the episode, it really helps the podcast reach more people.

If anything in this conversation brings up difficult feelings, you’re not alone, and support is available. If you’re in the UK, you can contact Samaritans free, 24/7 on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org.

If you’re elsewhere, you can find local helplines at findahelpline.com.

If you’re in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency services.

Find out more about Sally: https://www.sallyorange.com/

Follow the podcast on Instagram for updates: @nowwerereallytalking

Check out Be The Change Media: @bethechangemedianetwork

If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at crumppaddy@gmail.com.

The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be The Change Media Network or its partners.

In this episode, I sit down with Sally Orange. This is the first part of my conversation with Sally! Check out the second episode later this week!

Sally is a former Army physiotherapist, mental health campaigner, adventure fundraiser and proud self-described “serial yes-sayer”.

We talk about Sally’s experience of growing up with anxiety, exam pressure, rejection, and not feeling “good enough”, and how these early experiences shaped her mental health into adulthood. Sally reflects on navigating university, professional life, and leadership roles while managing anxiety, imposter syndrome, and the weight of high expectations.

This is an honest and compassionate conversation about resilience, identity, and learning to listen to your mind and body.

Please leave a review or rating if you enjoyed the episode, it really helps the podcast reach more people.

If anything in this conversation brings up difficult feelings, you’re not alone, and support is available.

If you’re in the UK, you can contact Samaritans free, 24/7 on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org.

If you’re elsewhere, you can find local helplines at findahelpline.com.

If you’re in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency services.

Find out more about Sally:

Resources

Follow the podcast on Instagram for updates: @nowwerereallytalking Check out Be The Change Media: @bethechangemedianetwork

If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at crumppaddy@gmail.com.

The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be The Change Media Network or its partners.

In this episode, I sit down with Conor Warren. the founder and CEO of Spark UK. We talk about Conor’s experience of growing up with anxiety, accessing counselling from a young age, and how grief and major life changes shaped his mental health. We explore what it was like to start a mental health organisation at 14, the bullying and backlash that came with it, and the pressure of growing up in the public eye while trying to create change.

We also talk about burnout, the link between mental and physical health and how anxiety can show up in unexpected ways in the body. Conor reflects on balancing university, running a charity, learning when to say no, and the guilt that can come with rest. We go on to discuss faith, purpose, and why Conor believes young people are searching for meaning in an increasingly uncertain world.

Please leave a review or rating if you enjoyed the episode, it really helps the podcast reach more people.

If anything in this conversation brings up difficult feelings, you’re not alone, and support is available.

If you’re in the UK, you can contact Samaritans free, 24/7 on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org.

If you’re elsewhere, you can find local helplines at findahelpline.com.

And if you’re in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency services.

Find out more about Conor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamconorjames/

Resources

https://www.mind.org.uk/

Follow the podcast on Instagram for updates: @nowwerereallytalking

Check out Be The Change Media: @bethechangemedianetwork

If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at crumppaddy@gmail.com.

The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

In this episode, I sit down with Leigh Johnstone, the Beardy Gardner. Leigh is a theatre director turned garden designer. He is now an active mental health campaigner and has become popular on social media sharing gardening content.

In this episode, we talk about Leigh’s experience of growing up with an alcoholic parent and how this still impacts him today. We also talk about the positive impact on mental health of theatre and gardening.

We go on to talk about the double edged sword of social media, and the value of slowing down, and how reconnecting with creativity and nature can help us feel more human in an increasingly fast, digital world.

Please leave a review or rating, if you enjoyed the episode!

Leigh on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beardygardener/

Fluid Motion Theatre: https://fluidmotiontheatre.com/about-fluid-motion-theatre

Resources

https://www.mind.org.uk/

Follow the podcast on Instagram for updates: @nowwerereallytalking

Check out Be The Change Media: @bethechangemedianetwork

If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at crumppaddy@gmail.com.

The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

In this fascinating episode, I am joined by Lara Rodwell. Lara is a writer, journalist and mental health advocate whose work explores neurodivergence, grief, identity, and loneliness. She also founded the Lonely Club. She speaks openly about growing up as an identical twin, navigating her sister’s eating disorder, discovering she is autistic and ADHD in adulthood, and how those revelations reshaped her understanding of herself. Lara also shares the deeply personal experience of losing her dad in 2020 and how grief became both a rupture and the start of a new chapter.

If you found the episode insightful, please subscribe and give a review!

Lara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lararodwell_/

All things The Lonely Club: https://linktr.ee/_thelonelyclub

Resources:

https://www.marmaladetrust.org/

https://www.mind.org.uk/

Follow the podcast on Instagram for updates: @nowwerereallytalking

Check out Be the change. Media: @bethechangemedianetwork

If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at crumppaddy@gmail.com.

The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

In this episode, I am joined by Danny Bowman, an academic and Director at the Conservative Mental Health Group. Danny opens up about his experiences with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), reflecting on the period of his life when he became housebound and consumed by his self-image.

The conversation explores why Danny went viral a decade ago, how BDD affects his everyday life and the long road toward recovery.

We also delve into his academic and political work on mental health, including the lessons he took from standing in the 2024 general election.

If you found the episode insightful, please subscribe and give a review!

Danny on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dannybowman96

Donate to Danny’s marathon: Link to Donate

Resources:

https://www.ocduk.org/

https://bddfoundation.org/

Follow the podcast on Instagram for updates: @nowwerereallytalking

Check out Be the change. Media: @bethechangemedianetwork

If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at crumppaddy@gmail.com.

In this episode, I’m joined by Tanya Roy for an insightful and honest conversation about her experiences with mental health challenges. We explore her journey through school and university, including why she believes exam reform is urgently needed to better support students who are struggling. Tanya also opens up about the complex intersection between mental and physical health, and how the two can influence and complicate each other.

We discuss her ongoing campaign work, what drives her, and the future she hopes to shape both personally and through advocacy.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues in this episode call Samaritans for free on their 24-hour phone line on 116 123.

If you found the episode insightful, please subscribe and give a review!

Tanya on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanyaroy._/

MK Brownies: https://www.instagram.com/mkbrownieco/

Follow the podcast on Instagram for updates: @nowwerereallytalking

Check out Be the change. Media: @bethechangemedianetwork

If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach me at crumppaddy@gmail.com.