How to Stay Sane in an Insane World (Shed Talks)
Life is unpredictable, messy, and, at times, completely insane. So, how do we stay afloat? Hosted by Jeremy Thomas—renowned speaker, author, mental health advocate, and all round survivor—this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of resilience, recovery, and what it truly takes to maintain mental well-being in a chaotic world. Having faced his own battles with bipolar disorder and addiction, Jeremy brings both lived experience and hard-earned wisdom to every conversation. Each episode features fascinating guests—bestselling authors, musicians, industry leaders, athletes, and mental health experts—who open up about their struggles, triumphs, and the lifejackets that helped them through. Whether it’s music, poetry, a trusted friend, or a four-legged companion, we all need something to keep us steady. Honest conversations, hard-earned wisdom, and practical tools—because in an insane world, we could all use a little help staying sane. For more on How to Stay Sane in an insane World visit our website: howtostaysaneinaninsaneworld.co.uk Follow our socials @jeremythomastalks Or contact us enquiries@howtostaysane.co.uk
Episodes
Born and raised in Stockport, Manchester, the youngest of three, Carol’s world was shattered by the tragic loss of her father. Grief hit hard. At just 11, she turned to books and booze, juggling life as her eccentric mother’s carer while throwing herself into a full-blown identity crisis—experim...
When life knocked him down, what kept Simon Woodroffe from sinking? In this bonus episode, the Yo! Sushi founder and Dragon’s Den star shares the unconventional lifelines—his "lifejackets"—that helped him stay afloat when he was stuck. From the adrenaline of mountaineering and sailing to the wisdom of Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, Spinal Tap, and the unexpected lessons from Clarkson’s Farm and The Crown, S...
From rock-bottom to rock stages—designing for George Michael, Fleetwood Mac, and Rod Stewart—Simon turned his life around through 12-Step recovery, self-...
She discusses the healing power of nature, the unexpecte...
From working with Arthur Miller to running the Bristol Old Vic, Paul has ...
Hear about the time Charlie Watts gave Mick Jagger a taste of his own medicine, what it was like to share a bill with The Rollin...
After 35 years as a GP, Mary Ryan has seen it all, but her own journey has been just as intense as the lives of the patients she’s treated. Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), she opens up about the stigma, misunderstandings, and how her own views on it have changed over time.
She talks about power, violence, and the times she wasn’t believed,...
Music biographer and El vinyl boss Richard Morton Jack joins host Jeremy Thomas to dive deep into Drake’s lyrics, mental health, and the un...
Jan Ravens, one of the brilliant key voices behind BBC Radio 4’s Dead Ringers and a Spitting Image veteran, didn’t have the easiest start. Growing up in a household dominated by Liverpool FC and her father’s schizophrenia, she often felt powerless—until she discovered something that gave her control: comedy.
She talks about impersonating teachers for laug...
Nicky Chinn co-wrote some of the biggest songs of the '70s and '80s, writing smash hits like Tiger Feet, Blockbuster, Devil Gate Drive, Hey Mickey, Living Next Door to Alice—all while battling severe bipolar disorder. Alongside his songwriting partner Mike Chapman, he helped shape the sound of Sweet, Mud, Racey, Suzi Quatro,...
From the House of Lords to the depths of addiction—this is Lord Brooke’s story, unfiltered.
Clive Brooke, now Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe, grew up knowing he wasn’t the son his father wanted. That lingering shadow shaped him in ways he only truly understood later in life. Finding his feminine side helped him navigate the world of trade unions and politics, but behind the scenes, he was battling booze, food, and sex add...
Once a Royal College of Music student destined for concert pianist stardom, his world took a sharp turn after a violent father and a career-ending back injury forced him to walk away. But instead of leaving the music world behin...
He talks about growing up working-class, discovering how medication and diagnosis made sense of his past, and why he once thought Mike Leigh was faking it. Plus, ...
In this brilliantly unfiltered episode, she opens up about brain fog, toxic thoughts, and chaos engineers—plus why baking her own...
No One UK crime writer. Bestselling Inspector Rebus creator Ian Rankin reveals the personal battles that shaped his life and career—from growing up in gangs in tough Fife to battling panic attacks, family tragedy, and financial insecurity. He opens up about the three things that stopped him from veering off the cliff, and how writing saved him.
Rankin shares the lesser-k...
Dick Moore hated school so much he once faked appendicitis to escape it. Tormented by a sadistic headteacher, he battled anxiety and depression, with rugby as his only lifeline. But life took a turn—he became a teacher, a husband, and, at just 26, the youngest prep school headmaster in the country.
For 22 yea...
Forced to grow up fast, Karen found strength in ...
Meet Mike Fisher, the mastermind behind BAAM (British Association of Anger Management) and one of the UK’s top experts on managing anger. Born and raised under Apartheid in South Africa, Mike’s early years were shaped by a volatile world—one that fuelled his deep understanding of rage, imploding emotions, and the cost of burying anger.
In this episode, he breaks down th...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.