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
December 8, 2025 • 71 mins
From the Hacienda Club all the way to the Riverside Studios cinema…
Filmmaker Carol Morley talks (Typist Artist Pirate King, The Falling, The Alcohol Years, and Dreams of a Life) with Jeremy Thomas about the effects of bereavement on her teenager, how she nearly lost everything, and 4 years of addictive mayhem at the Hacienda Club in Manchester. With resilience and courage, she tells us how she made it out of dodge ci...
Filmmaker Carol Morley talks (Typist Artist Pirate King, The Falling, The Alcohol Years, and Dreams of a Life) with Jeremy Thomas about the effects of bereavement on her teenager, how she nearly lost everything, and 4 years of addictive mayhem at the Hacienda Club in Manchester. With resilience and courage, she tells us how she made it out of dodge ci...
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What do Florence Pugh, Monica Dolan, Toby Jones, Patricia Clarkson, and James Caan all have in common? Answer: Carol Morley.
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...
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...
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September 19, 2024 • 31 mins
BONUS EPISODE:
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...
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...
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August 29, 2024 • 47 mins
At seven, he was sent away to boarding school, where abuse, fear, and loneliness shaped his early years. By his thirties, Simon Woodroffe masked the pain with bravado, drink, drugs, and a fast life that landed him briefly behind bars. But his story doesn’t end there.
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-...
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-...
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June 1, 2024 • 22 mins
Writer, special needs teacher, and editor of Toes in the Water, Rachel Jones shares how wild swimming became more than just a hobby—it became a lifeline. From navigating autoimmune disease and single parenthood to finding community, resilience, and self-worth in the open water, Rachel talks about the transformative effects of cold swimming on both mind and body.
She discusses the healing power of nature, the unexpecte...
She discusses the healing power of nature, the unexpecte...
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May 7, 2024 • 89 mins
Writer, director, and Casualty co-creator Paul Unwin has spent his career telling other people’s stories, but this time, he’s sharing his own. He opens up about the trauma that shaped him at 19, the therapy that helped him heal, and why he refuses to let fear or regret define his life. His ethos is "Don't live with regret, don't live with fear".
From working with Arthur Miller to running the Bristol Old Vic, Paul has ...
From working with Arthur Miller to running the Bristol Old Vic, Paul has ...
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April 21, 2024 • 43 mins
Kicking off 2024 with a bang as Harvey Lisberg, legendary manager of Herman’s Hermits, 10CC, Graham Gouldman, and more, pulls back the curtain on his wild life in the music business. From Manchester to New York, Elvis to Mick Jagger, Harvey’s stories are as big as the names he’s worked with.
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...
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...
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January 31, 2024 • 85 mins
Doctor, scholar, mother, survivor—and dog lover.
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,...
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,...
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December 13, 2023 • 105 mins
Nick Drake was supposed to be a star. A Cambridge-educated, prodigiously talented songwriter, he released three critically acclaimed albums—Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter, and Pink Moon—yet never saw commercial success in his lifetime. At just 26, he tragically took his own life.
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...
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...
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September 4, 2023 • 90 mins
Impressions, insecurity, and the struggle for control.
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...
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...
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May 26, 2023 • 101 mins
50+ hit records. Three Ivor Novello awards. Bipolar disorder. Electroconvulsive therapy at 16.
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,...
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,...
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December 31, 2022 • 65 mins
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...
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September 22, 2022 • 87 mins
From child prodigy to classical music industry powerhouse, Danny Evans has lived a life that echoes the drama of a Rachmaninov concerto—soaring highs, crashing lows, and everything in between.
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...
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...
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May 12, 2022 • 74 mins
Award-winning writer Tim Lott has lived a life full of twists, turns, and the occasional bad trip. From a train journey with David Bowie to navigating severe depression, ADHD, and the chaos of fathering four daughters, Tim reflects on the moments that shaped him.
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, ...
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, ...
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February 20, 2022 • 48 mins
A.L. Kennedy is known for her dark, razor-sharp novels, her no-nonsense attitude, and her ability to cut through literary fluff like a bare-knuckle boxer—which, coincidentally, her grandfather actually was. But beyond the awards, the Guardian blogs, and the stand-up gigs, who is she really?
In this brilliantly unfiltered episode, she opens up about brain fog, toxic thoughts, and chaos engineers—plus why baking her own...
In this brilliantly unfiltered episode, she opens up about brain fog, toxic thoughts, and chaos engineers—plus why baking her own...
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November 17, 2021 • 90 mins
From riding winners to battling demons, Nathan Horrocks has jumped more fences than most—both literal and metaphorical. The ex-jockey turned award-winning film director opens up about the highs and lows of his life, from abandonment and dyslexia to the relentless pressure of professional racing. He lifts the lid on the brutal reality of the jockey world, his struggle with anorexia, and the dark day he woke up wishing he hadn’t...
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September 8, 2021 • 81 mins
Crime, chaos, and the fight to stay afloat.
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...
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...
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July 23, 2021 • 83 mins
Journalist Gordon Darroch reflects on life, love, and the unexpected turns that shape us. From his passion for literature, film, and music. To the realities of meeting the love of your life aged 17 to parenting two children with autism, he shares his journey with honesty and depth. But when his wife received a terminal cancer diagnosis at just 36, everything changed.
How do you navigate grief, resilience, and t...
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June 9, 2021 • 84 mins
From a bullied schoolboy to a headmaster, from rugby triumphs to the heartbreak of unimaginable loss.
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...
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...
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