Minds Aloud

I spoke with Stu Mills the Founder of the Noisy Brain asupportive online community that allows its members to turn their own mentalhealth & recovery stories into new original pieces of music with the helpof a network of artists. Stu shares some of his own mental health story and explainshow the Noisy Brain project came to be. Curious then after listening to thisone go and check out the Noisy Brain website or get the app on the Apple store.

I sat down with the Punk Poet Jackson Davies to discuss mental wellbeing, how his poetry & creative outletbenefit his mental health, the role of the arts in addressing injustices in society and so much more! An incredibly fun listen and no punches pulled!

I spoke with Fal from the punk band the Indestructibles. Wediscussed their recent success, the pressures faced by DIY bands/musicians, howsongwriting has helped Fal through some dark places with his own mental healthand much more. We also bonded a bit over our shared love of the punk rock sceneand ethos! Another fun episode so check it out!

A Los Angeles based Pop Punk musician, mental health speaker and advocate Zack spoke to me about his journey from the corporate world into the musical one, how his music has helped his recovery and how he hopes it can encourage others to talk about their own mental health.

I sat down with Brian Mitchell an Ambassador for the Sophie Lancaster Foundation. We pulled no punches in this one! With discussion ranging from how the Foundation came to be after a tragic murder, the work they do, the power of music to create communities and why in 2026 we can't afford to be complacent about hate crimes and discrimination.

I spoke to singer and songwriter Kat Button about how her own mental health journey has shaped her song writing. We also talk about the importance of getting kids talking about mental health, the perils musicians face in navigating social media and much more. Check it out!

Blending Ska, Reggae, Hip Hop and social commentary into wonderfully joyful music Rocky Leon is an immensely talented musician and human. We spoke about his love for his craft, battles against algorithm's, the power of music for keeping hold of positivity and his outlook on life. A fascinating discussion and an artist you should check out!

With a long career spent working as a producer & songwriter Joshua Landry or Lø Spirit sat down to talk with me about how he balances his long term physical & mental health issues with a rising career as one of Alt-Rocks newest faces , how his health conditions have shaped his song writing and much more as he prepares for the launch of his debut album

I sat down with Cherry & Callum from Defences a UK band in the rise! We spoke about how they aim to connect people and create community through their music, how themes of growth & mental health run through some of their songs and so much more.

I welcomed Mike Yates from Skaraman back to the pod for this one! Felt like catching up with an old friend! We spoke about creating a supportive local music scene, coping with enforced time away from creating music and more. & the impact that can have on our wellbeing and more!

Alana Hil is a Soul singer with a unique personal and musical journey. In this episode Alana & Rob cover a wide range of topics from her journey so far and how her mental health experiences shape her music to the pressures of social media & what can be done to support the mental wellbeing of musical artists. Alana is down to earth, honest and a fascinating person to talk to.

In this bonus episode I caught up with Mike Hartley to talk about Icebreaker festival including some of the history behind the festival, some of his fondest memories from running Icebreaker for 12 years and more. This episode also contains a mini review of this years festival from myself.

In the last of the three specials to mark two years of Minds Aloud we brought back Liam from The Big Movement Project and Phil from the Southern Ska Collective. We spoke about men's mental health, the benefits of movement and performing for our wellbeing and more.Enjoy this last and the other two specials before it before we kick off more episodes for 2026!

The second of the three special episodes to mark two years of the pod! This time we brought back Kate from heavy metal Therapy, Jeordie from tonic Music & Rich Lansley. Again wide ranging discussion. We spoke about the importance of looking after our artists mental wellbeing, the benefits of creativity for our wellbeing and the power of peer support plus more!

To mark two years of the podcast I recorded three special episodes This first one with returning guests. In this first one I welcomed back Millie Manders & Baz from massive wagons. No punches pulled here with a wide ranging conversation from musical artists facing censorship to the pressures on women in the music scene and more. Check this one out!

In this episode we change things up to talk about student mental health as I am joined by Faith and Hari from the University of Portsmouth's Rock Society. We Talk the importance of finding your tribe, the mental health challenges students face, the acceptance of the alternative music communities and more!

Join me as I talk to Kimberly & Tom from Rogue Awakening. A fun conversation where we cover the on stage persona's, the mental health benefits of writing & performing, the pressures of growing a band and more!

We have our first returning guest to the show as Andy Bawden who came on the pod last year with Call of Sirens returns. We talk about looking after your wellbeing through changes to band line-up's & projects coming to an end, the importance of supporting local venues and Andy share's some of his own personal mental health story.

With over 25 years of experience within the music industry in various roles and as the host of the Music Business Buddy Podcast Jonny is a fascinating person to talk to. We chat about how the music industry has changed and what Jonny feels are some of the mental health pressures faced by musician's today.

I sat down with Mae & George who collectively are known as Wrex. This one covers a wide range of topics from their history as a band, how mental health themes are found throughout their lyrical content and the benefits that music and performing has brought them both. Really fun episode with two super talented, incredibly honest and down to earth people. Check it out!

In this episode I sat down with Mike Yates from the ska group Skaraman. Conversation ranged from how performing benefits Mike's mental wellbeing, advice for aspiring grassroots musicians, the importance of supporting small music venues and losing shoes at a Goldfinger gig! Check it out!

In this episode Baz from Massive Wagons took the time about the work the band has done with Andy's Man Club & Metal for Good, reaching fans who may be struggling throught heir songs and more! Baz was incredibly down to earth, insightful and fun to chat to. Make sure you check it out!

I sat down with Liam Gifford who works with Zoie Logic to talk about the Big Movement, Men's mental health and the power of movement for our wellbeing. As usual for a Minds Aloud episode plenty of laughs and real & unfiltered talk about mental wellbeing. Check it out!

Frank Turner took some time out whilst on tour to sit down and chat about supporting the mental health of touring musician's, how his own mental health journey has influenced his song writing and more! Frank was incredibly open and honest and it made for a really interesting conversation. Some slight sound issues as Frank was joining backstage from a gig venue.

In this episode I chat with artist, writer & spoken word performer Rich Lansley. An uplifting and funny conversation Rich shares about his own mental health journey, the importance of engaging with our creativity and finding joy in all life's little moments. A really positive and heart warming episode here!Triger Warning: includes some discussion of suicide.

Call Me Malcolm are one of the best Ska Punk Bands on the British scene. I sat down with Lucius & Mark from the band to chat about their history, how they address Lucius' own mental health journey in their lyrics, the realities of being in a band and much more. We had plenty of laughs recording this one and I think you'll enjoy listening!

In this episode I talk with Poet and Author Cecily Holland. We talk about how Cecily started writing poetry when going through her own mental health difficulties, the benefits poetry & the arts can have for our wellbeing and more!

Trash Arts Open Ya Mouth is a local CIC. On this episode I talk to Omar who compere's the open mic night and Kizz and Ella. We talk about the history of Open Ya Mouth, how music & poetry can be beneficial for our mental wellbeing, how they can help build communities and more. We had people joining this one at different times but we rolled with it as was a really fun conversation. Check it out!

Released on International Men's Day this episode has a bit of a different focus from the usual as I talk to Sean Gill one of the regional coordinators from Andys Man club. We talk Men's mental health, the work AMC does, the power of music to communicate when we're struggling and more! Check it out!

I sit down with author & poet Eileen Phyall who has recently released her first novel "About Time."We talk about how Eileen's writing and poetry have supported her mental wellbeing through challenging periods in her life, her new book and more.

In this episode I talk to Kate Quinn from Heavy Metal Therapy. We talk about the work Heavy Metal Therapy does, Peer Support, the mental health benefits of listening to Metal and more!

In this episode I chat with Jeordie Shenton who works for Tonic Music. We talk about the work Tonic does supporting people at all levels in the music industry, the pressures faced by those trying to make a career in thew music industry the power of music and more! Apologies for some sound balance issues in this one I didn't want to lose the awesome conversation I had with Jeordie and wasn't to get everything perfect after using a new recording setup for first time.

In this episode I talk to some of the guys from Call of Sirens. Topics range from the mental health benefits of playing and performing music to how their own mental health has impacted on their song writing. A really fun episode to record as we all enjoyed chatting away on this one. Some sound quality issues where internet connections went out at a couple of points.

In this episode I talk with one of my former colleagues Anna Fiers who is now working for an NHS Talking Therapies service. We talk about how music and art are important for Anna's wellbeing and she also shares some wellbeing tips and coping strategies

Recorded back in January I sit down with Kevin Child Director of Student Support Services at the University of Portsmouth. We talk about Kevin's work, Men's mental health, the power of music (particularly a shared love of Punk) and Kevin share's some of his own lived experience of dealing with Stress & Anxiety.

Millie Manders is the outspoken vocalist from Millie Manders and The Shutup! She is well known for her brutally honest lyrics ranging from songs where she references her own mental health struggles, bombings in Syria and the state of our society. Millie doesn't hold back on her opinions and it makes for a really fun and insightful conversation.

In this episode I sit down with a colleague from Hampshire's largest mental health Charity Solent Mind Amy Hyde. Amy and I talk about her love of musical theatre, how she sometimes recommends YouTube covers to her clients who call the lighthouse and much more!

The second episode where I sit down with a member of the Southern Ska Collective as I talk with Jo Webb. Really interesting discussion as we talk through what performing with choir has meant for her, the power of music and more mental health goodness!

The first of two episodes where I sit down and talk with members from the Southern Ska Collective (formerly the Tonic Ska Choir)Phil and I talk about how performing with the Southern Ska Collective has had an incredible positive impact on her life and mental wellbeing.

For the very first episode of Minds Aloud I talk to Daniel Winter-Bates from Bury Tomorrow. First formed in 2006 Bury Tomorrow have had multiple top 40 albums and have played festivals such as Download, Reading & Leeds and Slamdunk. Dan has been with the band since day one and as well as touring and performing with the Band he also works for his local NHS trust. Dan talks openly & honestly about the pressures of balancing his dual roles, his own mental health struggles and we talk about the impact music can have on our wellbeing.Trigger warnings: This episode contains mentions about eating disorders and suicide.