Lively Minds: The Mental Health Podcast

08/05/2025

In our latest episode we chat with Dr Mark Fabian, Associate Professor of Public Policy at the University of Warwick, about what it means to live a 'happy' life.

This is the second of a two-part series called 'Rethinking Happiness'. In the first episode, with William Tov, Associate Professor of Psychology at Singapore Management University, we talked about the definition of 'happiness' and how this concept varies in different parts of the world.

Listen to both at livelymindspod.com or search Lively Minds wherever you get your podcasts!

05/05/2025

What does it mean to live a happy life? Can happiness be more than just feeling good? And how might ideas like meaning, community, and values help us rethink wellbeing?

In this second of a two part series, we are are joined by Mark Fabian, Associate Professor of Public Policy at the University of Warwick and author of Beyond Happy.

We explore happiness as something more complex than mood, touching on meaning, self-actualisation, nihilism, community, and the impact of culture and policy on our ability to live well.
The conversation also reflects on how mental health and happiness intersect, and why moving beyond self-optimisation might bring us closer to fulfilment.

Beyond Happy is published by Bedford Square Publishers and is available to purchase from your favourite bookstores now!

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!

07/03/2025

Art, friendship, and mental health come together in the latest episode of Lively Minds the mental health podcast!

Our very own Ellie Page joins Charlie Fitz, and Miss Jacqui to share how their artist collective - Triad - became a vital source of support through the power of connection and collective care.

https://livelymindspod.com/listen/

Image Description: The text reads, Lively Minds the mental health podcast. Collective Care with Charlie Fitz and Miss Jacqui. Season 3, Episode 9.

There are two circular frames, each containing a portrait photographs of artists: Miss Jacqui and Charlie Fitz.

14/02/2025

Episode 8 has dropped!

We had a wonderful time discussing self-harm, busting myths, talking about how to support a friend, and much more with the very wonderful Naomi Salisbury, who we can't wait to have on again soon.

Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts!

https://www.livelymindspod.com

09/01/2025

Co-host Will has written an article for North East Bylines about North East England's ongoing mental health crisis.

It includes a conversation - featured on this podcast - with Alisdair Cameron of Re-Co-Co, where we try to fathom out what on Earth is going on.

You can read the article here
https://northeastbylines.co.uk/news/health/why-is-north-east-england-still-so-mentally-unwell/

You can listen to Will and Alisdair's conversation on the podcast by clicking below or searching Lively Minds wherever you get your podcasts.
https://www.anyamedia.net/livelymindspod/s3e6-why-is-north-east-england-so-mentally-unwell-with-alisdair-cameron/

"...your lack of proximity to power means that your voices are not heard, your concerns are not heard, and you are essentially forgotten about.”

07/01/2025

Series 3 Episode 7 is here!

I (Ellie, me, from the show n that) will be talking to Will about my recently published research paper, based on my MSc Psychology thesis: Exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and shift to online formats on hearing voices group facilitators in the UK, published in Psychosis journal by Taylor & Francis.

We discuss the "rapid and forced" transition that many community peer support groups (in this particular case, the wonderful Hearing Voices Groups) experienced over the pandemic, moving to online and teleconferencing formats.

What was it like for facilitators? What was it like for participants? I don't think it is as simple as pros and cons, but interested to know your thoughts...

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Link in bio

https://buff.ly/3DKs336

01/11/2024

Episode 5 has landed!

And it is a LONG overdue episode (the first of many) on the topic of Art and Mental Health with the marvelousssss Doll!

Listen, like and subscribe now, wherever you get your podcasts

www.livelymindspod.com

07/10/2024

Will and Ellie - cohosts of the Lively Minds mental health podcast - discuss what their ingredients are for good mental health. 👩‍🍳

We are really interested to hear what your ingredients are - please let us know in the commments! ⬇️

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Please note that this show does not constitute medical advice and is not a replacement for seeking professional help. You can find our more about the show and get signposting to support on our BRAND NEW SHINY website livelymindspod.com

07/10/2024

Series 3 is officially here!

Join us for episode one as Will meets Rupert Jones Lee to talk about Mental Health in the TV and Film Industry.

Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts

Signposting to support is available on our website.

Ideas for an episode? email us at [email protected]

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19/09/2024

In this month’s episode, we feed-shared with the Creative Life Story Work podcast!

We were pleased to welcome back Ciara McClelland from TICS (Trauma Informed Consultancy Services).

Ciara shares her expertise on supporting care-experienced children and young people as they navigate the complex grief and loss that often comes with separation from their birth families. Drawing on her dramatherapeutic approach, she explains how creative interventions can help young people process these profound feelings.

What stood out to us was how Ciara reframed ‘grief’ beyond traditional bereavement. This episode offers a deep and thoughtful exploration of these experiences, underlining the need for compassionate, trauma-informed care.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts or by clicking here
https://www.anyamedia.net/livelymindspod/s3e3-navigating-the-grief-and-loss-of-separation-for-care-experienced-children-and-young-people-with-ciara-mcclelland/

The Creative Life Story Work podcast is all about how a creative approach to life story work can help care-experienced children and young people make sense of their past, and build a brighter future. You can check them out at creativelifestorywork.com/podcast

02/08/2024

In Series 3 Episode 2, we spoke to Dr Afrosa Ahmed about Mindfulness. Having worked as a GP for over 20 years, Dr Ahmed now teaches and practices mindfulness both through her work in clinic and through her Mindfulness Coaching organisation - MindfulDoc.

Mindfulness... you might have heard the term thrown around a lot. So what exactly is it? How can it help? Why does it help? Who does it help?

We loved speaking to Dr Ahmed, and if you would like to put some of her techniques into practice, you can buy her book Mindful Healing, published by

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

https://buff.ly/4aezISh

Is there something you would like us to cover? Let us know at [email protected]

https://buff.ly/3zWEqqL?

07/07/2024

Season 3 is here!

Join Will Sadler, Anya Media as he talks to Rupert Jones-Lee about mental health in the film and TV industry.

As The Film and TV Charity launches the Looking Glass survey 2024, Rupert discusses the concerning findings from the 2022 report in which only 11% of those surveyed considered the screen sector a mentally health place to work.

We talk about the reasons behind these mental health struggles, the measures currently being implemented to address them, and the further actions needed to create a healthier work environment.

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https://www.anyamedia.net/project/livelyminds/

Do you work in screen?
Complete the latest survey here ⬇️
https://filmtvcharity.org.uk/research-impact/reports/looking-glass-2024/?utm_campaign=Looking%20Glass%202024&utm_source=Staff%20Outreach&utm_medium=Rupert