Hello hello hello, we are thrilled to be back after a slightly longer than intended break. We are excited to come back for this very special pod episode in celebration ney… in honour of Vangeya’s impending ascent to the fourth floor!!!!

We have a natter about what has been happening in the past few months, there may well be a couple of clues in may in the title of this episode! We really wanted to catch up with you before the end of the year an this felt like the perfect excuse!!

I (Vangeya) love my birthday and on this milestone birthday I wanted to celebrate with you all! Sarah shared her thoughts on entering what you will remember is by all accounts ‘a tricky decades’ from one of our earliest episodes: https://open.spotify.com/episode/41N9S72WiyAb3gKCNxV7sq?si=-INf-p0zTl-YtByuKJkXJg

As hoped Sarah offers some wisdom as one that has gone before and you will be pleased to know Vangeya feels ready to wave her 30s goodbye and shares her reflections and thoughts on why. So grab a cuppa or a glass of fizz as we raise a toast over the fence!!



Excitingly you can now watch us as well as listen on the usual platforms! To see our attempt at video go to our youtube page: https://youtu.be/czVwDQdTbPI

Resources
1. Shelly Tygielski: no is a complete sentence: https://www.mindful.org/no-is-a-complete-sentence/#:~:text=And%2C%20what's%20worse%2C%20when%20we,complete%20sentence%2C%20and%20here's%20why.&text=Saying%20%E2%80%9Cno%E2%80%9D%20is%20all%20about,will%20make%20the%20most%20impact.
2. Stewart’s episode: season 3 bonus https://open.spotify.com/episode/40QMaCyB4zjoPPfDi58LDK?si=fBQ2L6eORLm8f_rAKLte-Q

Over the Fence is a podcast written and presented by Vangeya Mhone and Sarah Parkinson
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
Editing and Post-Production: Chris Parkinson

The two parties just keep on coming. This wasn’t even an intentional one. This weeks episode ended up being a part two that we didn’t even know the world needed. Those of you that have been listening for awhile. Remember that we did a bonus episode called the art of conversation, which was an episode about the do's and don’ts of conversation, in its complicated, messy and sometimes down right awkward marvellousness.

Well, apparently there was much more for us to say! We stumbled upon it, when having a conversation with each other about the pitfalls that people can fall into in ‘big community’ when assumptions are made.

So for the last time this season join as as we delve into another big issue from our different sides of the fence.

Resources

1. Table Manners podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2SZX2oyIXVvyqEtjQ6C6z5?si=D1ImP8CxSXa_zi3MYo3wYA
2. Best Friend Therapy s6 ep6: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3crYlhTujhOFshsdrjrdzb?si=U3od1J4GSnulF9xocPHxWw
3. Bruce Tuckman’s theory on team formation: https://www.mindtools.com/abyj5fi/forming-storming-norming-and-performing

Over the Fence is a podcast written and presented by Vangeya Mhone and Sarah Parkinson
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
Editing and Post-Production: Chris Parkinson

As promised, we are back with part two of the big issues deep dive with Sarah sharing some of her story from her side of the fence with regard to mental health stereotypes. As with last weeks episode the A+B=C formula was also an expectation for Sarah, get married have kids live happily ever after!

Sarah shares candidly and with vulnerability as she speaks of the impact mental health stereotypes have had on her family life as her husband continues to battle PTSD and all of that comes with it. As always we wanted to hold space for the conversation but also to help with practical tips for those wishing to be better equipped in their attempts to be of assistance:

1. Drop the expectation that there will be a happy outcome
2. Ask questions that create a space for open conversations and rather than an opportunity to give solutions
3. Allow people to be where they are rather than trying to skip forward
4. Grand gestures are good, but consistency is better
5. Set at your store with regard to what support you can offer
6. Just ask, don’t assume you know how best to help.

Resources:

1. Best Friend Therapy: Ep1 boundaries, what are they? - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3mIiYg04LDshddZJ4LmC9V?si=pb9piMCSTSCe_jW4tqfBTg
2. Jay Shetty: killing ego: https://www.jayshetty.me/blog/jay-shetty-on-3-strategies-people-use-to-overcome-their-ego

Over the Fence is a podcast written and presented by Vangeya Mhone and Sarah Parkinson
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
Editing and Post-Production: Chris Parkinson