#31 with Jack Davis, founder of It's Cool to Cry: Normalising and frothing our mental health, soaking up the simple pleasures and being proactive when it comes to the hard conversations

Jack Davis from It's Cool To Cry joins The Ebbs and The Flows for episode 31. There are some heavy themes relating to suicide in this episode, but we do tread lightly. There's also plenty of swears. Other than that, it's a bloody ripper chat with a bloody ripper bloke.

Jack has a message that really resonates with me, and many others, when it comes to emotional expression. Crying is cool. It's important to express your emotions, it's important to learn about them, because it allows you to simultaneously feel more connected to yourself and also connected to others.

Jack has a compelling reason for starting his apparel and advocacy business, the devastating death by suicide of his partner when he was a younger man, however just as relevant is the reason he continues. Normalising talking about our mental health makes some people squirm, but it doesn't need to. And without an investment in our mental health, we not only duck our heads in the sand in regard to a stark and urgent reality, but we also put ourselves and others at risk of not finding positive and healthy ways to cope with the tricky and difficult parts of life that are inevitably facing us all.

A chat I thoroughly enjoyed, and reckon you will too. Check it out on most podcast platforms. Give us a follow, get in touch. All of the stuff.

Weird Fishes: (from 45 mins on)
Films: Dumb and Dumber & Iron Claw
Book: Bodies of Light - Jennifer Down
Album: In Waves by Jamie XX
Local Reco: Wall Two-80 in Balaclava, Melbourne, Victoria

Check out Jack's website here: https://itscooltocry.com/

At the end of the day, we're all just a work in progress.

The Ebbs and the Flows is an emotional health movement focused on openness and transparency about the light and the shade of the lives we led and journeys we encounter. The Ebbs and the Flows is not a licensed mental health service and therefore if you are seeking mental health advice, assessment or treatment, you should seek expert advice with a GP, psychologist, psychiatrist or in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

For those struggling, or who know somebody who is, help is available:

@lifelineaustralia 13 11 14

@beyondblueofficial 1300 22 4636

@headspace_aus 1800 650 890

@kidshelplineau 1800 55 1800

For advice specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people @13yarn 13 92 76

For LGBTQIA+ specific advice @qlife_aus

1800 184 527

For The Ebbs and The Flows Instagram page head to https://www.instagram.com/theebbsandtheflows/

At the end of the day, we are all just a work in progress.

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