The Proper Mental Podcast

Andy Nicholson on moving on, finding peace and life after the Arctic Monkeys

22 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 238 with Andy Nicholson, who is a musician, producer, photographer and a founding member of the Arctic Monkeys. Andy met Alex Turn...

Beatrice Birch and Inner Fire, the healing community offering an alternative to medication

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 237 with Beatrice Birch, who is a Hauschka Artistic Therapist and the founder of Inner Fire, a proactive healing community that off...

Live at Mental Wealth Festival 2025 with Sam Delaney and Shaun Flores

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 236 recorded live at the City Lit Mental Wealth Festival 2025! On Saturday 11th October I was joined by Sam Delaney and Shaun Flore...

Louise Beech on the the day her mother jumped from the Humber Bridge and the memoir it inspired

30 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 235 with Louise Beech, who is an award-winning author and writer who was making up stories in her head before she was even old enou...

Andy Ellis on feeling things deeply, dealing with rejection, This is England and mental health

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 234 with Andy Ellis, who is an actor, voice actor and film maker known for his roles in This is England, The Walk In and Supertato....

Finding meaning and answering life's big questions with Brother Richard Hendrick

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 233 with Brother Richard Hendrick, who is a Capuchin Franciscan priest-friar, a mindfulness and meditation teacher, and a poet and ...

I'm sorry my mental illness isn't sexy enough for you with Katja Pavlovna from Lives Not Labels

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 232 with Katja Pavlovna, who is an educator and award-winning activist and the co-founder of Lives Not Labels, a project designed ...

Krystal Evans on how to survive a fire and a chaotic childhood without losing your sense of humour

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 231 with Krystal Evans who is a writer and stand-up comedian. Krystal is also the author of The Hottest Girl at Burn Camp, a memoir...

Sophie Scott on how to support a loved one's mental health without losing your own

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 230 with Sophie Scott, who is a practicing transpersonal psychotherapist and the Founder of Balance, an award-winning wellness me...

"Labels are for jars mate!" Glyn Butcher and the life saving power of true peer support

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 229 with Glyn Butcher, who is a member of the People Focused Group in Doncaster and an Ambassador for the Citizen Network. Growing...

Dr Eugene Lipov is upending everything you think you know about trauma and PTSD

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 228 with Dr Eugene Lipov, who is an anaesthesiologist and pain physician and a leading expert in treating post-traumatic stress. Wh...

Redefining failure and men's mental health with Angus Collins

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 227 with Angus Collins, an endurance athlete and adventurer who has rowed across the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans, setting ...

Embracing Nature's healing touch. Nick Ray on dealing with depression through a lifetime of adventure.

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 226 with Nick Ray, who is a sea kayaker, wild walker and adventurer who also lives with treatment resistant depression and is a sui...

Healers, Shaman and rites of passage. How tribal and indigenous cultures approach mental illness with Phil Borges

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 225 with Phil Borges, a documentary photographer and filmmaker, recognised for his documentation of indigenous peoples and tribal c...

Depression, identity and creativity as an outlet with Karla Chubb (Sprints)

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 224 with Karla Chubb, who is a singer, guitarist and songwriter in Sprints. Sprints formed in Dublin in 2019 and quickly became kno...

Healing trauma and reclaiming joy with Dr MaryCatherine McDonald

01 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 223 with Dr MaryCatherine McDonald, who is a research professor and life coach who specialises in the psychology and philosophy of ...

Anthony Kavanagh on fame, addiction and the dark side of 90’s pop

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 222 with Anthony Kavanagh, a singer and author who exploded onto the pop music scene in the late 90’s when his song ‘I Can Make...

Kaila Yu and the intersection of race, body image and mental health.

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 221 with Kaila Yu, a journalist, travel writer and the author of Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty. A...

Changing the mental health system from the inside out with Miranda Arieh and the HEROES Programme

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 220 with Miranda Arieh, who is a mental health educator and founder of the pioneering HEROES Programme, a holistic, transformation-...

Lobotomy, asylums, madness and lunacy. A History of Mental Illness with Andrew Scull

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 219 with Andrew Scull, who is a sociologist whose research has centred on the social history of medicine and particularly psychiatr...

Addiction, sobriety and brutal recovery with Lauren McQuistin

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 218 with Lauren McQuistin, who is a musician, opera singer and author of No Lost Causes Club, a memoir that explores what navigatin...

Understanding anger and rethinking rage with Sam Parker

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 217 with Sam Parker, who is British GQ’s Site Director and someone who has worked in culture and lifestyle journalism for over 1...

Masculinity and other male failures with Adam Farrer

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 216 with Adam Farrer, who is a writer, lecturer, mentor and editor. Adam’s recent book Broken Biscuits and Other Male Failures is...

Class inequality and working class culture with Dr Lisa McKenzie

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 215 with Dr Lisa McKenzie, who is a working class academic and anarchistic author. She is a researcher and educator whose work rela...

Why we don't have a health problem, we have a village problem with Cormac Russell

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 214 with Cormac Russell, who is an author and social explorer. He is the Founding Director of Nurture Development and a member of t...

Trauma Industrial Complex and the stories we tell ourselves about our wounds with Darren McGarvey

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 213 with Darren McGarvey, who is an author, musician, social commentator and journalist. Darren grew up in Pollok on the south side...

Exploring intimacy, identity and ocd on the stage with Tana Sirois

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 212 with Tana Sirois, who is an actor, theatre maker and coach who is currently touring a one woman show called UnTethered, an auto...

Grief grifting with Owen Williams (The Tubs\Ex-Void)

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 211 with Owen Williams, who is the singer and guitarist in The Tubs. He is also a vocalist and guitarist in Ex-Void and the drummer...

Rosie Viva is completely normal and totally fine

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 210 with Rosie Viva, who is a model, presenter, author and an ambassador for Bipolar UK. Rosie has experienced various mental healt...

The neuroscience of mental health with Dr Dean Burnett

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 209 with Dr Dean Burnett, who is a neuroscientist, lecturer and author. Dean is currently an honorary research fellow at Cardiff Ps...

Suicidal ideation, societal conditioning and connection through community with Hyphen

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 208 with Hyphen, who is a rapper, songwriter and political punk. After finishing university, Hyphen found himself working in financ...

Burn out and the long road back to yourself with Hana Walker-Brown

31 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 207 with Hana Walker-Brown, a multi-award winning and critically acclaimed storyteller and sound artist who works across film, radi...

Radical compassion with Olympian Karsta Lowe

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

How to change and why we don't with Dr Ross Ellenhorn

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 205 with Dr Ross Ellenhorn, who is a sociologist, psychotherapist and social worker. Dr. Ellenhorn is encouraging mental health pro...

The Satanic Rites Of Ginger Wildheart

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 204 with Ginger Wildheart, who is the singer, songwriter and guitarist in The Wildhearts. The Wildhearts formed in 1989 and over ye...

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

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 203 with Sam Delaney, who is a journalist, author, broadcaster and podcaster whose work has featured in Guardian, Big Issue and Tal...

Family tragedy and the 'Soundtrack For The 21 Bus Home' with Dan Astles

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ow...

Anxiety, burn out and why your worry makes sense with NHS G.P Dr Martin Brunet

10 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 v...

Professor Joanna Moncrieff on chemical imbalance and the serotonin theory of depression

03 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Georgia Lock on OCD, poetry and the day that her brain broke

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

Why do men die by suicide? with Dr Susie Bennett

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 198 with Dr Susie Bennett, a psychologist and research fellow at the 'Suicidal Behaviour Research Lab' at the University of Glasgow...

Preventing 200 suicides and the photo that went around the world. Kevin Briggs, the Guardian of The Golden Gate Bridge

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 197 with Kevin Briggs, who is a retired sergeant for the California Highway Patrol, known as the "Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridg...

Professional rugby and plant medicine. The Heroes Journey with former Scotland international Rory Lamont

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 196 with Rory Lamont, who is a former professional Rugby Union player and the co-founder of CAIM, a health and wellness retreat cen...

Are women depressed or oppressed? with psychiatrist Dr Linda Gask

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 195 with Dr Linda Gask who is a writer and a psychiatrist who has been an advisor to the World Health Organisation and been awarded...

Mental illness on the NHS front lines with Dr Benji Waterhouse

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 194 with Dr Benji Waterhouse who is a front-line NHS doctor specialising in psychiatry and an award-winning stand-up comedian. He i...

Masculinity, music and autism with Tom Fleming (Wild Beasts/One True Pairing)

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 193 with Tom Fleming of One True Pairing and formerly of Wild Beasts! As a member of Wild Beasts, Tom released 5 acclaimed albums, ...

Nathan Filer will change your mind about mental health

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 192 with Nathan Filer, who is a writer, university lecturer and broadcaster and a former mental health nurse. In this episode I cha...

Dave 'The Running Telephone' Lock on The Samaritans and running to save lives

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 191 with Dave Lock, who is more commonly known as the running telephone. For the last 25 consecutive years, Dave has ran the London...

Is it a character flaw or an ADHD thing? with Philippa Dawson

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 190 with Philippa Dawson, who is a writer, producer and performer who is also the creator of Character Flaw, a show about her exper...

I have my challenges—but they sure don't have me. Bulimia, Mount Everest and survivors guilt with Alex Staniforth

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 189 with Alex Staniforth, who is an adventurer, speaker and the founder of Mind Over Mountains, a charity that brings together walk...

Jaxon Feeley

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 188 with Jaxon Feeley, who is a Life and Mindset Coach, motivational speaker and TV personality. Jax served in the military as an R...

Chris Baker, the one armed bank robber.

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 187 with Chris Baker, who is a mentor, coach and public speaker. Chris got in to crime at a young age and spent a long time bouncin...

The Poetry Project

07 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 186 with James McInerney, who is the creator of The Poetry Project. James started off experimenting with words by writing out his t...

Lessons in life, love and longevity with 103 year old physician Dr Gladys McGarey

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 185 with Dr. Gladys McGarey, who is a 103-year-old still-consulting doctor who is internationally recognised as the ‘Mother of H...

Menopause and mental health with Dr Louise Newson

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 184 with Dr Louise Newson, who is a G.P, menopause specialist and member of the UK Government’s Menopause Taskforce who has been ...

The Artist Taxi Driver

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 183 with The Artist Taxi Driver, who is an artist, taxi driver, educator and speaker who is also known as Mark McGowan. Mark discov...

DJ Paulette

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 182 with DJ Paulette, who is a renowned DJ, radio broadcaster and author who has spent more than three decades entertaining crowds...

Suicide & Co.

29 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 181 with Amelia Wrighton, who is the co-founder and CEO of Suicide & Co, a charity that is on a mission to support bereaved ind...

Andrew Jenkins from BBC's The Traitors

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 180 with Andrew Jenkins, who is a mental health advocate, speaker and star of the hit BBC series The Traitors. At the age of 21, An...

3 Dads Walking

15 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 179 with Tim Owen, Mike Palmer and Andy Airey, who are collectively known as the 3 Dads Walking! Tim, Mike & Andy are 3 dads, b...

Hannah Phillips is back to change the world!

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 178 with Hannah Phillips, who is a mother, a runner, a writer, speaker and trainee psychotherapist. Han is a returning guest and fi...

Joe Griffin and The Human Givens approach to psychotherapy

07 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 177 with Joe Griffin, who is a psychologist and co-founder of the Human Givens approach to psychotherapy. Human Givens is a practic...

Vince Freeman

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 176 with Vince Freeman, a singer and songwriter who is about to release a debut album that has been a decade in the making. Vince s...

Allie Bailey

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 175 with Allie Bailey, who is an ultrarunner, coach and author. She was the first woman to run 100 miles across a frozen Lake in Mo...

Paul Danan

25 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 174 with Paul Danan, who is an actor and the founder and creator of Morning After Drama (MAD), a theatre company that provides spec...

Gulwali Passarlay

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 173 with Gulwali Passarlay, who is a speaker and campaigner for refugee rights. Gulwali was sent away from Afghanistan at the age o...

Bill Ryder-Jones

10 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 172 with Bill Ryder-Jones, who is a singer-songwriter, musician, music producer and composer. Bill was a co-founder of The Coral, w...

Mark Williams

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 171 with Mark Williams, who is an author, speaker and international campaigner for father’s mental health. Mark suffered with PTS...

Lily Bailey

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 170 with Lily Bailey who is an author, journalist and activist who has been writing and speaking about OCD and mental illness for a...

John Rattray

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 169 with John Rattray, who is a former professional skateboarder and the creator of Why So Sad? Why So Sad? Is a skate and cycling ...

Jess Greenfield

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 168 with Jess Greenfield, who is a multi-instrumentalist and a singer with Wonder 45 and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying birds. In t...

Nadia Gilani

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 167 with Nadia Gilani, who is a writer and yoga teacher. Nadia was introduced to yoga as a teenager when her Mum took her along to ...

Tate Smith

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 166 with Tate Smith, who is an award-winning trans activist, consultant and speaker. Tate started to experience anxiety at high sch...

Roxy Longworth

22 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 165 with Roxy Longworth. When Roxy was 13, she was coerced then blackmailed into sending explicit photos, which were spread around ...

Ian Tucknott

15 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 164 with Ian Tucknott who is a creative coach, arts educator and the curator of the Mental Wealth Festival which is hosted by City ...

Steve Warwick

08 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 163 with Steve Warwick, who is a men’s mental health advocate, eating disorder survivor and the man behind the Instagram page Hea...

Aidy Smith

02 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 162 with Aidy Smith who is an award-winning broadcaster, journalist, content creator and speaker and the only TV presenter in the U...

Adam Bloom

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 161 with Adam Bloom who is a multi-award-winning stand-up comedian and writer. Adam has made national TV appearances in Britain and...

Bonus: Christmas Special 2023

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to a very special Christmas episode of the Proper Mental podcast! Tis the season that not everybody enjoys, for a lot of different reasons.  ...

Tasha Bailey

10 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 160 with The Real Talk Therapist, Tasha Bailey! Tasha is an author, content creator and psychotherapist who specialises in trauma, ...

Kunt & The Gang

08 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 159 with Kunt, who is a sometime comedy songwriter turned major irritant who records and performs as Kunt & The Gang! At Christ...

Christmas For CAMHS

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 158 with Ro Bevan from Christmas For CAMHS, a registered charity who provides special Christmas gifts every year for children and y...

Reed Amber

27 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 157 with Reed Amber, who is a proud sex worker, educator, anti-shamer and activist.  She is also co-founder of ComeCurious, a lead...

Bonus: Mental Wealth Festival 2023 Live Panel

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to this bonus episode which was recorded live at this year’s Mental Wealth Festival in October 2023. The Mental Wealth Festival is an annu...

Top 5 Songs for your Mental Health with Chris & Stu from Hardcore Listing

20 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 156, where I’m joined by Chris & Stu from Hardcore Listings for a men’s mental health awareness month special! I reached ou...

Sammy Trotman

13 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 155 with Sammy Trotman, who is the writer and creator of ‘That’s Not My Name’ a show about mental illness, labels and trauma....

Mark Richardson

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 154 with Mark Richardson, who is the drummer in Skunk Anansie and has previously played drums in Little Angels and Feeder. As a chi...

Vanessa Cornell

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 153 with Vanessa Cornell, who is a surfer, writer, teacher a messy mum of 5 and the founder of Nushu, an organisation that holds a ...

Kieran Cunningham

23 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 152 with Kieran Cunningham, who is an author, climber and mountaineer. After being diagnosed with Bipolar 1 while at university, Ki...

Kim Davies

16 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 151 with Kim Davies! My wife Kim and I originally recorded and released this episode in April 2021. At that time, we were both quit...

Tom Davies

16 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 150! I’m not sure if 150 episodes is an actual milestone or not, but it sort of feels like one so I wanted to mark it in some way...

James McMahon

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 149 with James McMahon, a journalist and podcaster who spent a long time working at the NME, editing Kerrang! and interviewing pret...

Dr Ben Cave

18 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 148 with Dr Ben Cave, which is the pen name of a practising general and forensic psychiatrist. For over 30 years Ben has worked as ...

David Parkin

11 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 147 with David Parkin is an author, theatre maker and installation artist whose work is fiercely autobiographical or silly and spec...

Kimberley Nixon

04 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 146 with Kimberley Nixon, who is an actor and writer who has appeared in shows such as Fresh Meat, Cranford and The Tuckers and in ...

Jeremy Thomas

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 145 with Jeremy Thomas, who is an author, public speaker and podcast host. Jeremy has had a really exciting life and a lot of this ...

Eva Echo

21 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 144 with Eva Echo, who is a trans rights activist, writer and public speaker. It took Eva a long time to figure out who she was and...

Danny McNamara

14 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 143 with Danny McNamara, who is a songwriter and the singer in Embrace. Embrace released their debut album ‘The Good Will Out’ ...

Cara Lisette

07 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 142 with Cara Lisette, who is a mental health writer and campaigner, a registered mental health nurse and CBT therapist. In this ep...

Xani Byrne

31 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 141 with Xani Byrne, who is currently riding a tandem around the coastline of the UK, covering 3500 miles to raise awareness of sui...