Off the top of your head podcast

Pride season and allyship with Chloe Davies

June 24, 2024 10:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MB

MHFA England Ambassador, Chloe Davies joins Simon Blake to talk about Pride, why it is still important and what allyship and advocacy mean to her.

Sarah McIntosh & The Launch of the Association of Mental Health First Aiders

June 18, 2024 10:00 - 16 minutes - 11.1 MB

Prepare to be inspired as Sarah McIntosh, a dedicated Mental Health First Aider from MHFA England, joins us on "Off the Top of Your Head" podcast. Sarah’s journey reveals the power of opening up essential conversations about mental health and the profound benefits of a holistic approach in the workplace. Gain insights on strategic planning, policy implementation, and continuous support to foster a mentally healthy work environment. This episode also marks a significant milestone with the...

Mental Health Awareness Week: Ben Davie

May 19, 2024 09:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MB

Finding moments for movement doesn’t have to be going for a 5km run – it could be putting on your favourite music and dancing around the living room, doing some standing exercises while you wait for the kettle to boil, or taking a walking meeting. In our final episode of ‘Off the top of your head’ podcast for Mental Health Awareness Week, Ben Davie, fitness mindset coach, talks about how we can make movement part of our everyday lives

Mental Health Awareness Week: Hannah Moore & Shizana Arshad

May 18, 2024 09:00 - 16 minutes - 11.1 MB

**CONTENT WARNING: Mentions depression, anxiety, and serious mental illness** “Whether the gym, riding a bike, dancing, yoga, or any kind of movement, however you are struggling with your mental health, it’s vitally important to keep moving.” Simon speaks to Hannah Moore and Shizana Arshad from Centre for Mental Health. Hannah has a long-standing history of mental health conditions and talks about the importance of getting started, finding something you love, and keeping going, even when ...

Mental Health Awareness Week: Adah Parris

May 17, 2024 09:00 - 13 minutes - 9.13 MB

MHFA England® Chair, consultant, and keynote speaker Adah Parris talks to Simon about how she explores movement for creativity and how 'shaking it out' can inspire us no matter where we are working.

Mental Health Awareness Week: Polly Shute & Michael Gunning

May 16, 2024 09:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MB

Michael Gunning, former professional swimmer and Stonewall Ambassador, and Polly Shute, Co-Founder of OUTspoken Speaker Network and Out & Wild Festival, talk to Simon about encouraging movement within LGBTQIA+ communities

Mental Health Awareness Week: Gem Turner

May 15, 2024 09:00 - 12 minutes - 8.75 MB

Being able to boost our mental health through movement shouldn’t be a luxury. Yet many people face barriers, with approaches to movement often being restrictive and exclusionary. In this episode of the ‘Off the top of your head’ podcast, award-winning disabled content creator and public speaker Gem Turner talks about how we must encourage people to find moments for movement which work best for them.

Mental Health Awareness Week: Anil Toraty

May 14, 2024 09:00 - 27 minutes - 18.9 MB

**CONTENT WARNING: Mentions suicide, depression, and poor mental health** In today’s episode, Anil Toraty, Senior Director at Visa, talks to Simon about his lived experience of suicide thoughts and how running helps him look after his mental health.

Mental Health Awareness Week: Dr Julia Jones

May 13, 2024 09:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MB

Dr Julia Jones, neuroscientist and author, joins the 'Off the top of your head' podcast to share the neuroscience behind why movement matters to our mental health and how we can 'hack' our routines to help.

Mental Health Awareness Week: Mark Rowland

May 10, 2024 10:00 - 18 minutes - 13.1 MB

** Content warning: Contains references to poor mental health, suicide, self harm, anxiety, and depression ** Simon Blake is joined by Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foudation, Mark Rowland to discuss the upcoming Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May 2024) and why movement if good for our mental health.

Ep 14: Linda Aiello

April 23, 2020 05:00 - 47 minutes - 33 MB

This series we're looking look at a new campaign by MHFA England; My Whole Self. To create mentally healthy workplaces, people need to feel safe to be their ‘whole self’ at work. So how can we create workforces, wherever that may be, where everyone has the freedom to do this? To find out, Simon has gathered leaders from across the worlds of business, sport, and more... Our final guest of the series is Linda Aiello, Executive Vice President, Employee Success Business Partner at Salesforce. T...

Ep 13: Karl Robinson

April 15, 2020 05:00 - 49 minutes - 34 MB

This series we're looking look at a new campaign by MHFA England; My Whole Self. To create mentally healthy workplaces, people need to feel safe to be their ‘whole self’ at work. So how can we create workforces, wherever that may be, where everyone has the freedom to do this? To find out, Simon has gathered leaders from across the worlds of business, sport, and more... Our special guest this week is Manager of Oxford United F.C. Karl Robinson. In 2010, Karl became the youngest manager in th...

Ep 12: Mike Cherry

April 08, 2020 05:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MB

Simon Blake OBE returns for a second series of Just About Coping. This series we're looking look at a new campaign by MHFA England; My Whole Self. To create mentally healthy workplaces, people need to feel safe to be their ‘whole self’ at work. So how can we create workforces, wherever that may be, where everyone has the freedom to do this? To find out, Simon has gathered leaders from across the worlds of business, sport, and more... This week's guest is Mike Cherry OBE, who is Chairman of...

Ep 11: Adah Parris

April 01, 2020 05:00 - 45 minutes - 31.6 MB

Simon Blake OBE returns for a second series of Just About Coping. This series we're looking look at a new campaign by MHFA England; My Whole Self. To create mentally healthy workplaces, people need to feel safe to be their ‘whole self’ at work. So how can we create workforces, wherever that may be, where everyone has the freedom to do this? To find out, Simon has gathered leaders from across the worlds of business, sport, and more... This week's guest is workplace culture strategist Adah P...

Ep 10: Nat Kilsby

March 25, 2020 06:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MB

Simon Blake OBE returns for a second series of Just About Coping. This series we're looking look at a new campaign by MHFA England; My Whole Self. To create mentally healthy workplaces, people need to feel safe to be their ‘whole self’ at work. So how can we create workforces, wherever that may be, where everyone has the freedom to do this? To find out, Simon has gathered leaders from across the worlds of business, sport, and more... Today we hear from Nat Kilsby, a Managing Director at Go...

Ep 9: Dara Nasr

March 18, 2020 06:00 - 35 minutes - 24.7 MB

Simon Blake OBE returns for a second series of Just About Coping. This series we're looking look at a new campaign by MHFA England; My Whole Self. To create mentally healthy workplaces, people need to feel safe to be their ‘whole self’ at work. So how can we create workforces, wherever that may be, where everyone has the freedom to do this? To find out, Simon has gathered leaders from across the worlds of business, sport, and more... Our first guest is Dara Nasr. Dara is the Managing Dire...

Series Two trailer: My Whole Self

March 16, 2020 10:00 - 2 minutes - 1.77 MB

Simon Blake OBE returns for a second series of Just About Coping with more discussion of self-care, workplace wellbeing, and the future of mental health. This series will look at a new campaign by MHFA England; My Whole Self. To create mentally healthy workplaces, people need to feel safe to be their ‘whole self’ at work. When people can be their whole self, they are empowered to think bigger, bolder, and work more effectively together, whether in person or virtually. So how can we create ...

Ep 8: Phyll Opoku-Gyimah

December 10, 2019 06:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MB

For the final episode of the series Simon caught up with long-time friend, activist, writer and the 'Queen of Kindness' Phyll Opoku-Gyimah. Phyll, who you may know as Lady Phyll, is the Co-Founder and Director of UK Black Pride, and currently the Executive Director of the Kaleidoscope Trust, an international charity working to uphold and advance human rights for LGBT+ people. Before that, Phyll spent years working for trade unions fighting for equality in the workplace and beyond. Phyll an...

Ep 7: Tony Piper

December 03, 2019 09:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MB

Tony Piper is a stress, burnout and leadership coach. After 27 years in the IT profession, Tony shared with Simon his expertise on stress in the workplace, why it happens, and looked at this year's WHO definition of burnout as an 'occupational phenomenon'. Simon and Tony touched on: What burnout physically looks like, and how to spot it in yourself The importance of line managers in preventing burnout Why Chief Executives are not superheroes and the power of vulnerable leadership Tony o...

Ep 6: Poppy Jaman

November 26, 2019 06:00 - 34 minutes - 23.6 MB

Simon had the pleasure of sitting down with international mental health campaigner and pioneer Poppy Jaman OBE. Poppy is the CEO of the City Mental Health Alliance (CMHA), a membership organisation that works with large city firms to transform their workplaces into mentally healthy environments. She also just happens to be a former CEO and Co-Founder of Mental Health First Aid England! Poppy talked Simon through: Her journey into the mental health sector The birth of MHFA as a concept a...

Ep 5: Ryan Atkin

November 19, 2019 06:00 - 34 minutes - 23.8 MB

This week, Simon caught up with Ryan Atkin, who is currently the only openly gay professional referee in English men's football. After coming out in 2017, Ryan has become an LGBT+ in sport advocate, Stonewall Sports Champion, and diversity and inclusion campaigner. Simon and Ryan's wide-ranging conversation touched on a number of topics, including: The progress being made in sport around mental health awareness The pressures of being a football official and dealing with abuse online and i...

Ep 4: Jonny Benjamin

November 12, 2019 06:00 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MB

**Content Warning** This episode contains discussion of a suicidal crisis and suicidal ideation. Jonny Benjamin MBE is a writer, filmmaker, public speaker, and award-winning mental health campaigner. Since starting his YouTube channel in 2010, Jonny has gone on to make documentaries for BBC Three and Channel 4 and write a book about the time he was prevented from attempting suicide in 2008 by a passerby. He is passionate about improving mental health education and this year launched a cha...

Ep 3: Dr Ranj Singh

November 05, 2019 06:00 - 37 minutes - 25.9 MB

NHS doctor, TV presenter, and star of Strictly Come Dancing Dr Ranj Singh joined Simon for a catch-up in this week's Just About Coping. As well as still being a practicing clinician, you'll know Ranj from ITV's This Morning, where he is the resident health expert, and for his new best-selling book Save Money, Lose Weight. Ranj had a huge amount to say on the subject of mental health, both from his professional and personal experience. Simon and Ranj chatted about the importance of preventio...

Ep 2: Alexander Leon

October 29, 2019 07:00 - 37 minutes - 25.9 MB

Alex Leon is a BAME, LGBT+ and mental health awareness activist. When he's not working for the Kaleidoscope Trust, a leading charity working to uphold equality in human right for LGBT+ people across the world, he's also a journalist, campaigner, and YouTuber. As well as talking about Alex's work, Simon and Alex discussed their experiences of being gay, racism, intersectionality and the effects navigating these things can have on mental health and wellbeing. They also chatted about the power...

Ep 1: Ruby Wax

October 22, 2019 06:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MB

Simon's first guest is writer, performer, comedian, and the 'poster girl for mental health' Ruby Wax OBE. Since her groundbreaking show 'Losing It' in 2011 which focused on her mental health issues, Ruby has written three best-selling books on mental health and wellbeing. She holds a master's degree in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy from Oxford University and is currently touring the country with her latest show How to be Human. In the comfort of her beautiful home in West London, Simo...

Introducing Just About Coping

October 17, 2019 07:00 - 1 minute - 1.37 MB

Introducing Just About Coping, a new podcast looking at the future of mental health and wellbeing. Chief Executive of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England Simon Blake OBE will be joined by a series of fantastic guests to try and answer the question; how can we create a world where everyone is coping? Featuring Ruby Wax OBE, Dr Ranj Singh, Jonny Benjamin, and many more, join us on our journey as we imagine what a mentally healthy world might look like. More on Simon: twitter.com/Simonabla...