Inside Your Head artwork

Inside Your Head

25 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago -

A podcast exploring psychology, mental health, neuroscience, self-help and related subjects. A wide range of guests are featured, ranging from academics and medical practitioners who specialise in particular aspects of the mind and brain, through to medical and science journalists who keep tabs on the latest developments, authors of best-selling books on the subjects within our brief, creatives, artists and, occasionally, celebrities who have championed mental health and well-being. In addition, I interview members of the public who have had interesting or powerful experiences that help to shed light on the workings of the brain and mind.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mental Health Health & Fitness Science Life Sciences psychology mental health psychiatry neuroscience wellness mindfulness meditation creativity
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Episodes

Inside Your Head Episode 12

January 30, 2022 21:00 - 2 hours - 172 MB

My introduction reveals that I am currently facing a health condition that most of us have come to dread for quite some time: Coronavirus. Luckily, my symptoms are currently mild, but the emotional impact has been greater than expected because of the ongoing after-effects of the drug I was given to combat prostate cancer—Prostap-3—so I go on to discuss the impact of this on not just my life, but those of other sufferers too. The main interview is with Anne Goodwin, a novelist and short stor...

Relaxation on the Beach Episode 12

January 30, 2022 21:00 - 18 minutes - 24.9 MB

This Relaxation on the Beach guided meditation explores how to allow thoughts to come and go during practice, always returning to the breath, before focusing on the value of close friendships and ensuring that we express our gratitude for them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside Your Head Episode 11

December 18, 2021 16:00 - 2 hours - 186 MB

In this episode, my introduction gives me a chance to talk about showing compassion both to others and ourselves at a time of year that is challenging for many of us. I also review some books that I’ve been reading recently that range from in-depth Transactional Analysis through to tips for organising your days more efficiently and getting more done. This is followed by an interview with multi-talented author, editor and horsewoman Roz Morris, who provides some insights into the challenges ...

Relaxation on the Beach Episode 11

December 18, 2021 16:00 - 18 minutes - 25.4 MB

This guided meditation guides you in an appreciation of awe, which can create such positive and valuable feelings, whether it's watching a beautiful sunset, walking into a magnificent building like a cathedral, or gazing up at the night sky full of stars – and I encourage you to make a list of the things, places, people, animals, events or artwork that inspire you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside Your Head Special Announcement

November 29, 2021 19:36 - 5 minutes - 7.62 MB

Hi, this is Henry your host and I've produced this as a special announcement today because I've had to make a very difficult decision about the podcast. And the decision is that for the time being, I'm going to have to cut back the podcast from being fortnightly to just monthly. It takes me at least two or three days every episode to plan, record, edit, release, and then publicize the show as well as the time taken to try and persuade guests to come on the show in the first place! I've done...

Inside Your Head Episode 10

November 19, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 156 MB

My introduction focuses on a recent lived experience in which a line in a film triggered a distant memory loaded with overpowering emotions. I describe what happened, why this memory was so overwhelming, and the tactics I have used to soothe myself and cope with this incident in the hope that hearing my experience might one day be useful to you. The main interview is with Orna Ross,. Not only is she an accomplished and award-winning author and poet, she is also the Director of the Alliance ...

Relaxation on the Beach Episode 10

November 19, 2021 11:00 - 16 minutes - 22.3 MB

This time we perform a short body scan and focus on our breathing before using the meditation to safeguard happy memories that we can access whenever we feel challenged in life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Relaxation on the Beach Episode 9

November 05, 2021 11:00 - 14 minutes - 20.4 MB

Our Relaxation on the Beach guided meditation is all about exercising mindfulness in difficult conversations. We explore various ways in which you can learn to respond, rather than react to what the other person is saying, as well as learning to truly listen and pay attention to what is being said. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside Your Head Episode 9

November 05, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 150 MB

In my introduction, I explore a link I have realised exists between mindfulness, Transactional Analysis and Attachment Theory as ways to regulate our emotions. I also read out a wonderful thread I found on Twitter by Miranda @mir_and_a entitled How to Stop Out of Control Emotions. (Thanks for granting permission, Miranda!) My interview is with the amazing Kari Olsen-Porthouse who creates choirs and singing groups. Kari has had an amazing career path, including working as a primary school te...

Relaxation on the Beach Episode 8

October 22, 2021 10:00 - 15 minutes - 20.8 MB

In this episode, we work on forgiveness towards others for their failings and transgressions, and seek forgiveness for ourselves for any hurt we may have caused others. Be aware that it might be a good idea to think about less difficult situations to begin with, working up to tackling issues with more difficult or important people in your life after trying this a couple of times.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside Your Head Episode 8

October 22, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 146 MB

In my introduction, I talk about the necessity of exercising caution when reading self-help books, especially those penned by big-name celebrities and overnight successes. Even if written with a genuine desire to help others, the author may look back on their path to success with confirmation bias (or survivorship bias) which can seriously skew the usefulness of the text. An important thing to realise about the apparent evidence of their route to success is that correlation does not equal ca...

Inside Your Head Episode 7

October 08, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 143 MB

In the introduction, I talk about one of my passions – the wonders of language – speculating on how language came into being at all. After all, without language, almost nothing else in modern life would be possible and language has been called 'the tool that unlocks all other tools'. I venture into neuroscience, pinpointing which parts of the brain are responsible for handling language, and I take a brief look at the study of how language – even just little grunts and 'non words' – can be cr...

Relaxation on the Beach episode 7

October 08, 2021 10:00 - 14 minutes - 20.3 MB

This episode of our Relaxation on the Beach guided meditation focuses on gratitude, and how even the little things in life can inspire us to feel better about ourselves and the world. (And introduces Stanley, the neighbourhood cat...) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside Your Head Episode 6

September 24, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 148 MB

My introduction focuses on stories, their place in our culture and importance, and the stories we tell ourselves, especially in relationships. We need to be careful that we are aware that we can be acting as scriptwriter and director in our own life movie playing in our heads, but the other participants may not want to follow our script! The main interview is with Michael Peterson, an ex-Canadian army chaplain, now an Anglican vicar, whose work has dealt with a wide range of issues. In the ...

Relaxation on the Beach Episode 6

September 24, 2021 10:00 - 14 minutes - 20.5 MB

This time, our meditation focuses on releasing difficult thoughts about the past or the future – rumination or anxiety. Both are just stories we concoct in our heads about how things were or how they will be, so we can use compassion to release ourselves from them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Relaxation on the Beach Episode 5

September 10, 2021 10:00 - 15 minutes - 20.8 MB

Enjoy this free, guided meditation. This time, I introduce the technique of finding calm by 'noting' your thoughts and letting them go, rather than becoming embroiled in them. This helps you to focus on your 'home base' (usually the breath) and can be easily applied in your daily life to helpm you cope with distractions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside Your Head Episode 5

September 10, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 143 MB

I open the show by reviewing Emotional First Aid by Guy Winch PH.D. in the introduction. Guy Winch makes the point that whilst almost all of us have at least a basic idea of how to treat physical wounds or injuries, whether minor household mishaps or even more serious ones, such as if we witness an accident and step in to help, when it comes to emotional wounds, many of us don't even know where to begin and are left floundering and miserable – and we can even make things worse if we're not c...

Inside Your Head Episode 4

August 27, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 140 MB

The show opens with me revealing some of my own, recent 'lived experience' dealing with imposter syndrome, an incident that took me completely by surprise. I discuss how it manifested itself, the implications it has for my own psychological 'work' because it has revealed an aspect of my personality that I had overlooked, and how I have managed to deal with it. This also has implications for my discussions with forthcoming guest Clare Josa, who specialises in helping people overcome imposter ...

Relaxation on the Beach 4

August 27, 2021 10:00 - 13 minutes - 19.1 MB

Our Relaxation on the Beach meditation this time uses a 'body scan' to relax your body and ease any discomfort or tension. This is a great way to focus on the present, moving through the body and noting sensations, whilst clearing your mind of any other distractions and using the breath as your 'home base'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Relaxation on the Beach 3

August 13, 2021 10:00 - 13 minutes - 19.1 MB

A short, guided meditation in which, accompanied by the soothing sounds of the seashore, I show you how to apply self-compassion to difficult situations and circumstances in your life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside Your Head Episode 3

August 13, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 143 MB

The show opens with my introduction to the subject of self-compassion, focusing on the remarkable book Self Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind by Kristen Neff PhD. The significance of the book is that it enables me to use my own experience of the last year to highlight the danger of self-loathing and self-criticism that can lead to one making desperate and potentially irreversible choices – in short, I nearly committed suicide early in 2021 and this is the book...

Inside Your Head Episode 2

July 30, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 137 MB

The show opens with an introduction to the subject of attachment, which owes its origins to the psychologist John Bowlby who studied the relationship between babies and their mothers, creating the categories of secure, anxious (also known as ambivalent) and avoidant. This subject has more recently been expanded to cover adult relationships, whether romantic, family or friendships, and I take an in-depth look at some of the guidance contained in the marvellous book Attached: Are you Anxious,...

Relaxation on the Beach 2

July 30, 2021 10:00 - 15 minutes - 21.6 MB

A short, guided meditation in which, accompanied by the soothing sounds of the seashore, I show you how to release unwanted thoughts and achieve a state of calm relaxation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside Your Head Episode 1 with Dr Laurence Baldwin

July 16, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 139 MB

Some of the major topics that I discuss with Dr Laurence Baldwin in the show include: The pandemic has threatened so many aspects of our lives and undermined what many would see as being the key aspects of our psychological well-being: the need to feel safe; the need for social, emotional and physical comfort; the need to be close to others; and the need for things to make sense, be predictable and be familiar. How well have we coped with these aspects of mental health over the last couple o...

Relaxation on the Beach 1

July 16, 2021 10:00 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MB

A guided meditation aimed primarily at absolute beginners, but potentially useful as a refresher for anyone who may have tried meditation before, or even for more experienced meditators who just want to see how they get along with Henry guiding their meditation. Here, we go through the basics about finding somewhere to meditate, whether you should stand, sit or lie down, the choice to close the eyes or leave them open, and the key factor of focusing on the breath during meditation. It include...

Twitter Mentions

@mir_and_a 1 Episode
@libertysinger73 1 Episode
@ornaross 1 Episode