The Proper Mental Podcast

Burning out, slowing down and learning to do things differently with Hana Walker-Brown

Welcome to episode 207 with Hana Walker-Brown, a multi-award winning and critically acclaimed storyteller and sound artist who works across film, radio and podcasting and narrative non-fiction. In 2023 Hana was signed off work with severe burnout.  I…

I might look like a superhuman, but I'm a human first. Olympic medals, mental struggles and radical compassion with Karsta Lowe

Welcome to episode 206 with Karsta Lowe, who is an Olympian and professional volley ball player who was a member of the United States women's national team that won bronze medals at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Karsta has played volley ball, at the hi…

Why is it so hard to change even when staying the same is killing us? with Dr Ross Ellenhorn

Welcome to episode 205 with Dr Ross Ellenhorn, who is a sociologist, psychotherapist and social worker. Dr. Ellenhorn is encouraging mental health professionals to be more present with patients and think outside the box when it comes to treatment met…

Taking control and rocking out with Ginger Wildheart

Welcome to episode 204 with Ginger Wildheart, who is the singer, songwriter and guitarist in The Wildhearts. The Wildhearts formed in 1989 and over years since have celebrated top 20 singles and top 10 albums and sell out tours all over the world whi…

Stop sh*tting yourself! Sam Delaney is back to help you calm the f*ck down

Welcome to episode 203 with Sam Delaney, who is a journalist, author, broadcaster and podcaster whose work has featured in Guardian, Big Issue and Talk Sport. Sam guested on Proper Mental a couple of years ago back at episode 127, and in that episode…

Dan Astles on music, masculinity and sad but beautiful story that inspired his debut album

Welcome to episode 202 with Dan Astles, who is a musician and singer songwriter from Liverpool who makes music under the name Astles, either on his own or alongside a 10 strong musical collective called The Balloon Moon Orchestra. Dan has a new album…

Making sense of worry and anxiety with Dr Martin Brunet

Welcome to episode 201 with Dr Martin Brunet, who has been an NHS GP for more than 20 years and is also well known for his social media channels and videos about different aspects of mental health. In this episode I chat to Martin about his time in g…

The serotonin theory of depression with Professor Joanna Moncrieff

Welcome to episode 200 with Professor Joanna Moncrieff who is a psychiatrist, author and researcher who is one of the founding members of the Critical Psychiatry Network. In 2022, Joanna was the lead author of a study that explored the ‘chemical imba…

OCD, poetry and the day that Georgia Lock's brain broke

Welcome to episode 199 with Georgia Lock, who is an actor, poet and an advocate for obsessive compulsive disorder. In this episode I chat to Georgia about the moment that her ‘brain broke’ and OCD became a part of her life. We chat about what happene…

Why do men die by suicide? with Dr Susie Bennett

Welcome to episode 198 with Dr Susie Bennett, a psychologist and research fellow at the 'Suicidal Behaviour Research Lab' at the University of Glasgow. Her work focuses on trying to understand why men are more at risk of suicide and what can be done …