Lively Minds, the UK Mental Health Podcast
Lively Minds is a monthly podcast about mental health challenges that go beyond the ebb and flow of the everyday. Led by people with lived experience, the show looks at how developing an understanding of our mental health influences how we address the challenges we face. Episodes are released on the first Friday of each month. Find out more at www.anyamedia.net/livelyminds
Episodes
June 26, 2026 • 32 mins
We are pleased to announce that we plan to start new episodes of Lively Minds again from next month!
In the meantime, here is a re-run of another of our favourite episodes - this time from August 2023.
Kema Sikawe recently appeared in a BBC 3 documentary: Therapy: Tough Talking in which he gives viewers a front-row seat at a series of therapy sessions where he opens up and discusses his mental health challenges. ...
In the meantime, here is a re-run of another of our favourite episodes - this time from August 2023.
Kema Sikawe recently appeared in a BBC 3 documentary: Therapy: Tough Talking in which he gives viewers a front-row seat at a series of therapy sessions where he opens up and discusses his mental health challenges. ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
June 5, 2026 • 24 mins
Hello everyone, it’s Will here. We are still in the process of resuming normal service, but we’re aware that today is the first Friday of the month so we’d ordinarily be releasing a new episode.
We are really pleased we managed to get out 2 new episodes over the past couple of months; this month we are taking another dive into our archives and re-playing a conversation that Ellie and I had with Paul Wilshaw...
We are really pleased we managed to get out 2 new episodes over the past couple of months; this month we are taking another dive into our archives and re-playing a conversation that Ellie and I had with Paul Wilshaw...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
May 24, 2026 • 43 mins
In late November 2025, Will was told that what was thought to be a lingering infection was in fact advanced testicular cancer.
Within about 36 hours of being rediagnosed he had been admitted to hospital and was starting an intensive 12-week BEP chemotherapy regimen.
Will describes shock, dream-like dissociation, fear of death, and the balance between trying to feel positive, hopeful and grateful for the support he was...
Within about 36 hours of being rediagnosed he had been admitted to hospital and was starting an intensive 12-week BEP chemotherapy regimen.
Will describes shock, dream-like dissociation, fear of death, and the balance between trying to feel positive, hopeful and grateful for the support he was...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
April 3, 2026 • 21 mins
Hosts Will and Ellie interview therapist and crocheter Olivia Dieterich about her book Random Acts of Crochet Kindness and the global movement she founded.
After losing a friend, Natalie, to suicide, Olivia used crochet to cope with grief and set a 100-day challenge to crochet a flower each day and leave it for strangers with a note inviting them to take it home, sparking the hashtag.
During lockdown, a found item was...
After losing a friend, Natalie, to suicide, Olivia used crochet to cope with grief and set a 100-day challenge to crochet a flower each day and leave it for strangers with a note inviting them to take it home, sparking the hashtag.
During lockdown, a found item was...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
March 11, 2026 • 31 mins
Hello everyone, it’s Will here.
As you know, Ellie and I have had to take a break from the podcast due to some ongoing health issues. We are still hoping to bring you new episodes in late Spring or Summer 2026 but in the meantime, we thought we’d go back through our archives and bring you some of our favourite episodes from the 3 years we’ve been doing the show.
And so, here is an episode from May 20...
As you know, Ellie and I have had to take a break from the podcast due to some ongoing health issues. We are still hoping to bring you new episodes in late Spring or Summer 2026 but in the meantime, we thought we’d go back through our archives and bring you some of our favourite episodes from the 3 years we’ve been doing the show.
And so, here is an episode from May 20...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
December 14, 2025 • 39 secs
Hello everyone, it’s Ellie here.
Thank you so much to all of you for following our podcast over the last few years. It has meant the world to us, and we’ve loved every part of the podcasting process so far.
Unfortunately, due to various health issues, we are going to take a slightly-longer-than-planned break from recording new Lively Minds episodes. We hope to return to your ears for a new season sometime in 2026....
Thank you so much to all of you for following our podcast over the last few years. It has meant the world to us, and we’ve loved every part of the podcasting process so far.
Unfortunately, due to various health issues, we are going to take a slightly-longer-than-planned break from recording new Lively Minds episodes. We hope to return to your ears for a new season sometime in 2026....
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
November 7, 2025 • 41 mins
What is a 'patient-centred approach'? What systemic challenges get in the way of making it a reality?What does the biopsychosocial model tell us about how to choose the best pathways for treatment?
Alex Curmi, a consultant psychiatrist and trainee psychotherapist from The Thinking Mind Podcast discusses how he helps clients determine the best treatment plans based on a multitude of factors.
He elaborates on his divers...
Alex Curmi, a consultant psychiatrist and trainee psychotherapist from The Thinking Mind Podcast discusses how he helps clients determine the best treatment plans based on a multitude of factors.
He elaborates on his divers...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
In this episode we are joined by Dr. Elspeth Davies, a medical anthropologist from the University of Oxford, and Dr. Helen Salisbury, a GP and BMJ columnist, about their BMJ article: How do we talk about overdiagnosis of mental health conditions without dismissing people’s suffering?
Our discussion explores the fine line between validating patients' experiences and the potential harms of unnecessary diagnostic labels. ...
Our discussion explores the fine line between validating patients' experiences and the potential harms of unnecessary diagnostic labels. ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
September 5, 2025 • 28 mins
In this episode we are joined by author: Caro Giles to talk about school and mental health.
Caro has worked as a teacher across the education sector. She is winner of the inaugural BBC Countryfile New Writer Award, author of Twelve Moons, published by Harper North and writes a regular monthly column for Psychologies Magazine.
Her latest book - Unschooled - published by Little Toller Books, is a memoir about her ...
Caro has worked as a teacher across the education sector. She is winner of the inaugural BBC Countryfile New Writer Award, author of Twelve Moons, published by Harper North and writes a regular monthly column for Psychologies Magazine.
Her latest book - Unschooled - published by Little Toller Books, is a memoir about her ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
August 1, 2025 • 37 mins
Depression isn’t just about a presence of sadness, it’s also about an absence of happiness. And whilst ceasing to function is a long-understood symptom of Depression, those that cope by never stopping aren’t necessarily in any less need of help.
In this episode of Lively Minds we discuss High Functioning Depression with Dr. Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist and researcher. Dr. Joseph,...
In this episode of Lively Minds we discuss High Functioning Depression with Dr. Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist and researcher. Dr. Joseph,...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
July 4, 2025 • 30 mins
Professor Melissa Bateson, an expert in ethology, explains the biological functions of anxiety, its evolutionary importance, and how it prepares humans and animals to detect and respond to threats.
The conversation covers the smoke detector principle, the optimal threshold for anxiety responses, and the potential impact of modern environments on anxiety levels.
The episode also delves into how understanding animal beh...
The conversation covers the smoke detector principle, the optimal threshold for anxiety responses, and the potential impact of modern environments on anxiety levels.
The episode also delves into how understanding animal beh...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
June 13, 2025 • 48 mins
We take a deep dive into SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), which is the most commonly prescribed form of antidepressant in the UK. We discuss with Consultant Psychiatrist: Dr Alex Curmi what we know about the effectiveness of SSRIs, what we don't, and why there is so much debate about their use.
Check out the Thinking Mind Podcast by searching for it wherever you get your podcasts.
Or you can find it on Spo...
Check out the Thinking Mind Podcast by searching for it wherever you get your podcasts.
Or you can find it on Spo...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
May 2, 2025 • 31 mins
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, hosts Will and Ellie are joined by Dr Mark Fabian, Associate Professor of Public Policy at the University of Warwick and author of Beyond Happy.
They explore happiness as something more complex than mood&mdash...
In this second of a two part series, hosts Will and Ellie are joined by Dr Mark Fabian, Associate Professor of Public Policy at the University of Warwick and author of Beyond Happy.
They explore happiness as something more complex than mood&mdash...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
April 4, 2025 • 27 mins
What is happiness? How does it change across cultures? How might notions of happiness change for people with mental health challenges? What does it mean to live a “happy life”?
In this first of a two part series, we revisit an interview from May 2023 with Professor William Tov of Singapore Management University. We discuss the broad and varied definitions of happiness, cultural differences in how happiness is per...
In this first of a two part series, we revisit an interview from May 2023 with Professor William Tov of Singapore Management University. We discuss the broad and varied definitions of happiness, cultural differences in how happiness is per...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
March 7, 2025 • 30 mins
In this episode of 'Lively Minds,' Ellie discusses the importance of collective care and mental health through a conversation with artists: Charlie Fitz and Miss Jackie.
They explore how their artist collective, Triad, created during the Covid pandemic, became a vital support system for their well-being.
The shared experiences of disability and creativity fostered a unique bond among them, providing a space for emotio...
They explore how their artist collective, Triad, created during the Covid pandemic, became a vital support system for their well-being.
The shared experiences of disability and creativity fostered a unique bond among them, providing a space for emotio...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
February 7, 2025 • 37 mins
What is self-harm? Why can it be so uncomfortable to talk about? How do we best support those who self-harm?
In this episode of Lively Minds, hosts Ellie and Will explore self-harm with Naomi Salisbury, a consultant and former CEO of Self Injury Support. They discuss the varied reasons behind self-harm, its misconceptions, and the importance of compassion and harm minimisation.
Naomi shares insights on support strateg...
In this episode of Lively Minds, hosts Ellie and Will explore self-harm with Naomi Salisbury, a consultant and former CEO of Self Injury Support. They discuss the varied reasons behind self-harm, its misconceptions, and the importance of compassion and harm minimisation.
Naomi shares insights on support strateg...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
January 7, 2025 • 26 mins
Ellie's just had a research paper published!
In today's episode we discuss how can we learn from the impact that COVID-19 had on mental health peer support groups being forced to transition to online formats?
Ellie shares insights from her research conducted at the University of Liverpool, focusing on the experiences of Hearing Voices Network facilitators.
Key themes include the rapid shift to Zoom, issue...
In today's episode we discuss how can we learn from the impact that COVID-19 had on mental health peer support groups being forced to transition to online formats?
Ellie shares insights from her research conducted at the University of Liverpool, focusing on the experiences of Hearing Voices Network facilitators.
Key themes include the rapid shift to Zoom, issue...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
December 6, 2024 • 27 mins
North East England has the highest per capita use of antidepressant use in England and Wales and has had the highest suicide rate in England for 3 out of the past 4 years.
We are joined by Alasdair Cameron, co-director of Newcastle-based independent mental health charity ReCoco, to explore why.
We explore regional socio-economic factors impacting mental well-being, the inflexibility in mental health services between u...
We are joined by Alasdair Cameron, co-director of Newcastle-based independent mental health charity ReCoco, to explore why.
We explore regional socio-economic factors impacting mental well-being, the inflexibility in mental health services between u...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
November 1, 2024 • 35 mins
How can art be used as a therepeutic tool to navigate types of grief that go beyond death and bereavement?
This is just one of the questions covered in our conversation with Doll - an artist, who shares their story of using their artistic practice to navigate their mental health experience.
Discussing their eclectic artistic practices—from sketchbooks to sculpture and crochet—Doll elaborates on how t...
This is just one of the questions covered in our conversation with Doll - an artist, who shares their story of using their artistic practice to navigate their mental health experience.
Discussing their eclectic artistic practices—from sketchbooks to sculpture and crochet—Doll elaborates on how t...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
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.
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
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.