How Do You Cope?
Episodes
Esther Ghey: ‘Having mindfulness in my back pocket saved me’
04 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How do you navigate the world after the murder of your child?John is joined by Esther Ghey, mother of Brianna Ghey who was murdered in 2023. Following...
Alison Spittle: The Gratitude List
30 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, comedian, podcaster, writer and actor Alison Spittle shares the things she’s grateful for. Podcasting, the TV show P...
Alison Spittle ‘The compulsion to eat was stronger than wanting to live’
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean when your coping mechanism stops working for you?John speaks to comedian, podcaster, writer and actor Alison Spittle about using foo...
Richard Osman: The Gratitude List
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode best-selling author, podcaster and TV host Richard Osman shares the things he's grateful for. Having suffered with poor...
Richard Osman: 'The addiction itself becomes the shame'
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
John is joined by best-selling author, podcaster and TV host Richard Osman for a conversation about food addiction, shame, and the challenge of changi...
How Do You Cope is back for a brand new series!
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How Do You Cope is back for a brand new series! Each week John Robins will be speaking to fascinating guests, including former Communications Dir...
Your Correspondence | 32
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the final episode of the series, John reads a selection of your emails and feedback. We hear correspondence on our episodes with David Challen, Pie...
The Gratitude List: Bryony Gordon | 31
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode journalist, author and broadcaster Bryony Gordon shares the things she’s grateful for. Books, free coffees and Arsena...
Bryony Gordon: ‘I couldn’t associate myself with the word alcoholic’ | 31
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you live a fulfilling life after coming to terms with addiction problems? John speaks to the journalist, author and broadcaster Bryony Gordon a...
The Gratitude List: Izzy Judd | 30
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode author, presenter and musician Izzy Judd shares the things she’s grateful for. From the life lessons you can learn fr...
The Gratitude List: Philippa York | 29
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode ex-cyclist, now journalist and author Philippa York shares the things she’s grateful for. Philippa talks about the im...
Philippa York: ‘Am I always going to be seen as the cyclist who transitioned?’ | 29
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do great sporting achievements mean when you’re born in the wrong body?John sits down with ex-cyclist Philippa York, who competed in the Tour d...
Izzy Judd: ‘I had to learn to let go of control’ | 30
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can you ever prepare yourself for the challenges of parenthood — especially when faced with unexpected struggles?Author, presenter, and musician Izz...
The Gratitude List: Nicky Campbell | 28
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode broadcaster, author and musician Nicky Campbell shares the things he’s grateful for. Unsurprisingly for a man who’s...
Nicky Campbell: ‘I was 9 when I saw my friend being abused next to me’ | 28
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can you ever fully recover from experiences of childhood abuse? John is joined by fellow BBC 5 Live presenter; broadcaster, author and musician Nicky ...
The Gratitude List: Sophie Willan (Encore) | 27
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, comedian and actor Sophie Willan shares the 5 things she’s currently grateful for. No stranger to writing gratitude ...
Encore: Sophie Willan: ‘In the care system you're either a tragic story or a hero’ | 27
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you truly find your identity after growing up in care?John is joined by comedian Sophie Willan, the star and writer of Alma’s Not Normal, to ...
Encore: The Gratitude List: Jordan Stephens | 26
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, musician and writer Jordan Stephens shares the five things he’s currently grateful for. There’s a disagreement abo...
Encore: Jordan Stephens: ‘I had an appetite for self destruction’ | 26
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you recover from a breakup you feel is your fault?John sits down with musician and writer Jordan Stephens, best known as one half of Rizzle Kic...
The Gratitude List: Tom Rosenthal | 25
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, author and comedian Tom Rosenthal shares the 5 things he is grateful for. He explains why he thinks dogs resonate at a...
Tom Rosenthal: ‘I’ve had personal experience of a higher power’ | 25
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do we live the most fulfilled life possible?John sits down with his friend the comedian and actor Tom Rosenthal to discuss faith, coming to terms ...
The Gratitude List: Chermal Williams | 24
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, Chermal Williams from the charity Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse shares the 5 things she is grateful for. Sh...
Chermal Williams: ‘I want children to have the childhood I didn’t have’ | 24
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you escape and recover from abuse by a parent?John talks to Chermal Williams, Head of Services for Health and Training at the charity Standing ...
The Gratitude List: Angela Scanlon | 23
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, broadcaster and writer Angela Scanlon shares the 5 things she is grateful for. She explains how gratitude came into he...
Angela Scanlon: ‘My eating disorder made my world feel safe’ | 23
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you recover from an eating disorder?John speaks to presenter, writer and broadcaster Angela Scanlon about living with anorexia and bulimia in h...
Your Correspondence #3 | 22
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a special episode, John reads a selection of your questions and emails.There are reflections on Megan Jayne Crabbe’s message of body positivity, ...
Anton Ferdinand: ‘It felt like me versus football’ | 22
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why should footballers have to tolerate racism?John sits down with ex-footballer Anton Ferdinand, who found himself at the centre of a national racism...
The Gratitude List: David Challen | 21
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, domestic abuse campaigner and author David Challen shares the 5 things he is grateful for. In what turns out to be one...
David Challen - ‘My mum killed my dad but I fought to get her free’ | 21
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you reconcile your mother killing her abuser, when her abuser was your father?John speaks to domestic abuse campaigner and author David Challen...
The Gratitude List: Megan Jayne Crabbe | 20
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, author and digital creator Megan Jayne Crabbe shares the 5 things she is grateful for. Megan explains how her relation...
Megan Jayne Crabbe: 'Making my body smaller has only ever made my life smaller' | 20
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you learn to love your body?John sits down with writer, presenter, and digital creator Megan Jayne Crabbe to talk about her experience of eatin...
The Gratitude List: Leslie Ash | 19
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, actor Leslie Ash shares the things she’s grateful for, including The Chelsea Detective, and her blue roan Cocker Spa...
Leslie Ash: ‘I was 2 hours from death’ | 19
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when your career is derailed by a life-threatening infection? John speaks to actor Leslie Ash, best known for playing the role of Debs ...
The Gratitude List: Pierre Novellie | 18
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, comedian Pierre Novellie shares the 5 things he is grateful for. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle gets a shout out, as does P...
Pierre Novellie: 'I wasn't able to get what I wanted out of life' | 18
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when a stranger at a gig tells you they think you have autism?Comedian, writer and broadcaster Pierre Novellie sits down with John to t...
The Gratitude List: Self Esteem | 17
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, Rebecca Lucy Taylor, aka Self Esteem, shares the 5 things she is grateful for. Rebecca praises her hair and make up te...
Self Esteem: ‘It was easier to be a sexualised version of myself' | 17
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At what point do you decide to take the plunge and make that life-changing decision?John sits down with musician and actor Rebecca Lucy Taylor, aka Se...
The Gratitude List: Hannah Maguire | 16
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, RedHanded host Hannah Maguire shares the 5 things she is currently grateful for. Narrow ruled notebooks make an appear...
Hannah Maguire: 'I grieved for my unmedicated self' | 16
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why are so many women only finding out as adults that they are neurodiverse?Host of the hugely successful true crime podcast RedHanded Hannah Maguire ...
The Gratitude List: Jason Arday | 15
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, Professor Jason Arday shares the 5 things he is grateful for. He explains how a McDonald’s triple cheeseburger acts ...
Professor Jason Arday: 'I learned to mask within an inch of my life' | 15
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jason was diagnosed with autism and global developmental delay as a child, and was non-verbal. Despite these challenges, through determination and the...
The Gratitude List: Andrew and Lisa Roussos | 14
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, Andrew and Lisa Roussos share the 5 things they are grateful for.After losing their daughter Saffie in the Manchester ...
Andrew and Lisa Roussos: ‘My world fell apart’ | 14
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you survive an unimaginable tragedy?John sits down with Andrew and Lisa Roussos, parents to Saffie, the youngest victim of the Manchester Arena...
The Gratitude List: Naga Munchetty | 13
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, broadcaster and author Naga Munchetty shares the 5 things she is currently grateful for.For Naga, Rory McIlroy and dis...
Naga Munchetty: 'Medical misogyny exists' | 13
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why are women still asked to accept pain by the medical establishment?John speaks to broadcaster and author Naga Munchetty about how women’s health ...
Your Correspondence #2 | 12
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a special episode, John reads a selection of your emails and feedback. He shares how he felt preparing for an interview with one of his favourite a...
Alastair Campbell: 'I didn’t want to identify myself as mentally ill' | 12
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At what point do you accept that you need help?John talks to political strategist, author and broadcaster Alastair Campbell about his battles with dep...
The Gratitude List: Gary Lightbody | 11
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, Snow Patrol lead singer Gary Lightbody shares the 5 things he is currently grateful for. Gratitude plays a big part in...
Gary Lightbody: ‘I thought I was broken, and I would never feel again’ | 11
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when the grief of losing a loved one becomes all-consuming?Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody sits down with John to talk about losing...
The Gratitude List: Craig Mackinlay | 10
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, member of the House of Lords Craig Mackinlay shares the 5 things he is currently grateful for.Beginning unsurprisingly...
Craig Mackinlay: ‘I woke up from the coma and could see that my arms and legs were dead’ | 10
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you recover both mentally and physically from a life-changing operation? John sits down with member of the House of Lords Craig Mackinlay who d...
The Gratitude List: Bonnie “Prince” Billy | 9
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, musician Bonnie “Prince” Billy, aka Will Oldham, shares the 5 things he is currently grateful for, and explains wh...
Bonnie “Prince” Billy: ‘Grief is only bearable in micro moments’ | 9
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you cope when caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s?John speaks to one of his musical heroes, the musician and actor Bonnie “Prince” Billy...
The Gratitude List: Rosie Jones | 8
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, comedian Rosie Jones shares the 5 things she is currently grateful for. There’s an in-depth conversation about centr...
Rosie Jones: ‘Abuse is hard, but I know I’m being my true authentic self’ | 8
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you stay strong when you’re on the receiving end of online hate and abuse?John sits down with Rosie Jones to discuss the ways that humour and...
Your Correspondence
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a special episode, John reads a selection of your emails and feedback. He shares the coping mechanisms he’s learnt from recent guests, and how hi...
Amanda Knox: ‘ I felt utterly ostracised by the rest of humanity’ | 7
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you cope when you’re sentenced to life in prison for a crime you didn’t commit?John speaks to writer and activist Amanda Knox, who was wron...
The Gratitude List: Matt Forde | 6
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, comedian Matt Forde shares the 5 things he is currently grateful for.This is a list that John had been looking forward...
Matt Forde: ‘I’m still alive, I’m still getting laughs; that’s a win isn’t it?’ | 6
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you stay positive when facing life-altering surgery?John sits down with comedian, satirist, and friend, Matt Forde, to talk about his experienc...
The Gratitude List: Joe Wicks | 5
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, fitness coach Joe Wicks shares the 5 things he is currently grateful for. Joe explains how gratitude lists already pla...
Joe Wicks: ‘The antidote to addiction is connection’ | 5
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How does being the child of an addict affect your life?John is joined by fitness and health coach Joe Wicks to explore the trauma from his childhood, ...
The Gratitude List: Tuppence Middleton | 4
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, actor Tuppence Middleton shares the 5 things she’s currently grateful for, in a list that spans pens to powerplants....
Tuppence Middleton: ‘You never really will have control, and that’s okay’ | 4
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you navigate everyday life when you can’t trust your own mind?John is joined by actor Tuppence Middleton, best known for her role in the Down...
The Gratitude List: Sophie Willan | 3
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, comedian and actor Sophie Willan shares the 5 things she’s currently grateful for. No stranger to writing gratitude ...
Sophie Willan: ‘In the care system you're either a tragic story or a hero’ | 3
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John is joined by comedian Sophie Willan, the star and writer of Alma’s Not Normal, to talk about her experiences of the care system.Sophie discusse...
The Gratitude List: Jordan Stephens | 2
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, musician and writer Jordan Stephens shares the five things he’s currently grateful for. There’s a disagreement abo...
The Gratitude List: Justin Hawkins | 1
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s bonus episode, the Darkness lead singer Justin Hawkins shares the five things he’s currently grateful for. After questioning the ve...
Jordan Stephens: ‘I had an appetite for self destruction’ | 2
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you recover from a breakup you feel is your fault?John sits down with musician and writer Jordan Stephens, best known as one half of Rizzle Kic...
Justin Hawkins: ‘Drugs became my main source of nutrition and inspiration’ | 1
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does recovery look like when you're a rockstar at the height of your fame? Justin Hawkins sits down with John to talk about addiction, giving his...
Introducing... How Do You Cope?
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How Do You Cope? launches Monday 24th February with bonus minisodes landing every Thursday. Listen to How Do You Cope? on the Wondery A...