Former RAF communications specialist, Pete White, lives with PTSD after the horrors he witnessed while serving in Afghanistan. Today, however, he is a successful children's author who is using his experiences to help children to understand their own emotions, as well as those of their parents. Speaking from the heart, in this episode of The Brave Front Pete tells us about a journey with his mental health that has seen him diagnosed with psychosis and driven to the point of suicide, as well as how an inspired night of writing has helped to turn his life around. We've also got a copy of Pete's first book, The Anxious Knight, to give away. Simply subscribe to the show, leave us a review and click on this link to enter: https://tr.ee/JJa6a0EeM_ Show outline: 00:00:05 - 00:04:22: Welcome, introduction and coming up 00:04:23 - 00:10:36: Writing as a therapy 00:10:37 - 00:14:54: Joining the armed services 00:14:55 - 00:19:15: Camp Bastian and casualty reporting 00:19:16 - 00:21:56: The armed services mentality 00:21:57 - 00:30:40: The fly sniper and the impact of seeing death up close 00:30:41 - 00:41:31: Going down hill, psychosis and brink of suicide 00:41:32 - 00:45:05: Diagnosed with PTSD 00:45:06 - 00:54:27: Writing children’s books and feeling proud 00:54:28 - 00:55:31: Win a copy of The Anxious Knight Useful links: Buy Pete’s books on Amazon here: Amazon.co.uk: Pete White: books, biography, latest update Enchanted Kingdom, Pete’s website: Home - Enchanted Kingdom (enchanted-kingdom.com) Pete’s mental health consulting business: Home - (petewhiteconsulting.co.uk) Share the show: If you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Brave Front, you can share it through any of the following links: Our Linktree site (for links to all the podcast platforms): linktr.ee/thebravefront  Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Interact with the show: Answer our episode question on the Spotify episode page Get in touch Send us a voice message Read our latest blog posts Full transcription: Click HERE to read the full show transcript: https://thebravefront.blogspot.com/2023/12/ep-7-from-war-zone-to-writing-how.html --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebravefront/message

After his world was turned upside down following a life changing physical health diagnosis, Dr Nicholas Peat found his mental health challenged like never before. Having lived with Asperger Syndrome his whole life, the GP and father of two found professional and personal life almost impossible. On the brink of suicide, it took previously untapped personal strength and the help of professionals to turn his life around.  Today, having committed to brave lifestyle choices and with the help and support of his family, he is keen to help others facing challenges to their physical and mental health. Show outline: 00:00:06 - 00:04:27 - Welcome and introduction 00:04:29 - 00:07:05 - Nicholas’s background 00:07:06 - 00:12:20 - Mental health in the medical profession 00:12:21 - 00:20:42 - Being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease 00:20:43 - 00:27:40 - Mental health impact of serious health issues 00:27:41 - 00:34:48 - Low point and affect on Nicholas’s Asperger’s 00:34:49 - 00:48:07 - Living with Asperger’s 00:48:08 - 00:53:40 - Looking to the future Useful links: Dr Nicholas Peat’s business website: Uniquely Created U | Health & Nutrition (ucunutrition.com) The Brave Front website: The Brave Front Samaritans⁠… - Call 116 123 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) - https://www.samaritans.org/  ⁠Mind ⁠- Call 0300 123 3393 (9am-6pm Mon-Fri) - https://www.mind.org.uk/  App: ⁠StayAlive ⁠- provides quick access to crisis helplines, support and guidance - https://www.stayalive.app/ App: ⁠distrACT ⁠- provides techniques and advice on avoiding self-harm or suicidal thoughts - https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/distract/id1225176329 Share the show: If you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Brave Front, you can share it through any of the following links: Our Linktree site (for links to all the podcast platforms): linktr.ee/thebravefront  Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Interact with the show: Answer our episode question on the Spotify episode page Get in touch Send us a voice message Read our latest blog posts Full transcription:Click HERE to read the full show transcript: https://thebravefront.blogspot.com/2023/11/ep6-coping-with-life-changing-health.html --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebravefront/message

Successful music producer, Andrew Kingslow, has worked alongside music royalty including John Legend and BB King. However, throughout his illustrious career he has struggled with anxiety and depression, eventually receiving a diagnosis of autism as an adult. In our exclusive interview, Andrew tells us how he masked his autism from the world, overcame a host of personal demons and took the brave step to seek support. And today, as an ambassador for the neurodivergent community across the music industry, he talks about his hope to help others to overcome the challenges and barriers that he faced.  Show outline: 00:00:07 - 00:03:05 - Introduction and sneak preview 00:03:06 - 00:11:20 - Andrew’s career - from John Legend to Rastamouse 00:12:54 - 00:17:34 - Working as ‘the Neuro Muso’ 00:17:45 - 00:30:54 - Living with autism and being diagnosed as an adult 00:30:55 - 00:36:34 - The lowest point and climbing out 00:36:35 - 00:44:15 - Changing the music industry 00:44:16 - 00:49:05 - Looking to the future Useful links: Answer Andrew’s survey: Electric Pineapple And The London Autism Group Charity Survey: https://tinyurl.com/nd-musicians  Andrew Kingslow, the Neuro Muso website: https://theneuromuso.godaddysites.com/  London Autism Group Charity: https://www.londonautismgroupcharity.org/  Share the show: If you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Brave Front, you can share it through any of the following links: Our Linktree site (for links to all the podcast platforms): linktr.ee/thebravefront  Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Interact with the show: Answer our episode question on the Spotify episode page Get in touch Send us a voice message --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebravefront/message

The quality of our sleep is central to our mental wellbeing, but the relationship between the two is complex. Professor of Neuroscience at Bristol University, Matt Jones, spends his days analysing other people’s nights, so we spoke to him to find out more about the science behind sleep and its impact on mental health. From grumpy mornings and insomnia, to bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and PTSD, the amount we sleep could impact our every waking moment. Finding the answer to a perfect night’s sleep, meanwhile, could be as simple, as a siesta in a hammock. Make yourself a cocoa and settle down for a dreamlike Episode 4. Show outline: 00:00:07 - 00:02:18 - Welcome to the episode 00:04:56 - 00:11:15 - Why do we need a good night’s sleep? 00:11:27 - 00:21:44 - Sleep and mental health 00:21:51 - 00:28:41 - Talking and other possible ways to improve sleep 00:28:42 - 00:31:14 - The power nap 00:31:08 - 00:38:34 - Sleep hygiene, exercise and racing thoughts 00:38:35 - 00:45:00 - Sleep changes with age and future studies Useful links: Professor Matt Jones - University of Bristol profile: Professor Matt Jones - Our People (bristol.ac.uk) The science of Sleep with Matt Jones - YouTube: https://youtu.be/J9cVSnCVzbk?si=rQ3FzJNSsGl0Du27 Why can’t I sleep? The benefits of good sleep hygiene | Wellcome Share the show: If you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Brave Front, you can share it through any of the following links: Our Linktree site (for links to all the podcast platforms): linktr.ee/thebravefront  Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Interact with the show: Answer our episode question on the Spotify episode page Get in touch Send us a voice message Full Transcript: Click here: https://midlifeonearth.com/2023/10/23/the-brave-front-episode-4-how-sleep-affects-mental-health/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebravefront/message

According to Wim Hof, the Ice Man, our physical and mental wellbeing benefits from routine exposure to the extreme cold. Through learning how to breathe, he says, we can control our anxiety and our body's reaction to panic. To find out more about how we can all benefit from rethinking the simple act of breathing, and re-evaluating our relationship with the cold, we speak to Chris Ashworth, a Level 2 Wim Hof Method instructor and ice bath regular. Please remember to consult your GP and to do your research before attempting any kind of exposure to the cold as it is not without its risks. Show outline: 00:00:07 - 00:03:58 - Welcome to the episode 00:03:59 - 00:09:12 - Ash’s background and breath journey 00:09:54 - 00:16:49 - Why we’re all breathing incorrectly 00:17:55 - 00:31:17 - Wim Hof, the cold and what to expect 00:31:23 - 00:48:21 - How to try it for yourself Useful links: Official Wim Hof Method website: https://www.wimhofmethod.com/ Wim Hof YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/wimhof1 Breath Is The Bridge - Chris Ashworth’s website https://www.breathisthebridge.co.uk/ Chris Ashworth Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/breathisthebridge/ Share the show: If you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Brave Front, you can share it through any of the following links: Our Linktree site (for links to all the podcast platforms): linktr.ee/thebravefront  Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0EMdA8CtAeeiEt5TXExZ4Z Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brave-front-time-to-talk-about-mens-mental-health/id1702316026 Google Podcasts https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9lNGUxOTBiYy9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw Amazon Music https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/d08abd4a-5bb0-418d-965f-5625b7ca1981/the-brave-front---time-to-talk-about-men's-mental-health Interact with the show: Answer our episode question on the Spotify episode page - https://open.spotify.com/show/0EMdA8CtAeeiEt5TXExZ4Z Get in touch - https://tr.ee/hBFVwL17aK Send us a voice message - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebravefront/message Full transcription: Click HERE to read the full show transcript. - https://midlifeonearth.com/2023/10/09/the-brave-front-episode-3-wim-hof-breathing-and-the-cold/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebravefront/message

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In the UK, men are three times more likely to die from suicide than women, with those aged 40-49 having the highest suicide rate of all. Men are also more likely to develop alcohol dependency and use illegal drugs, and far less likely to access mental health support. So, in this bonus episode of The Brave Front, we caught up with Darren Edwards from Andy’s Man Club - a charity that offers men all over the UK a safe space to come to terms with the issues affecting their mental wellbeing - to talk about the options available to those worried for themselves, or someone else .  Useful links: If you are at a point of crisis and need some support, here are some places you can turn to today:  ⁠Andy's Man Club⁠ Samaritans⁠… - Call 116 123 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)  ⁠Mind ⁠- Call 0300 123 3393 (9am-6pm Mon-Fri)  App: ⁠StayAlive ⁠- provides quick access to crisis helplines, support and guidance  App: ⁠distrACT ⁠- provides techniques and advice on avoiding self-harm or suicidal thoughts Share the show: If you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Brave Front, you can share it through any of the following links: Our Linktree site (for links to all the podcast platforms): linktr.ee/thebravefront  Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Interact with the show: Answer our episode question on the Spotify episode page Get in touch Send us a voice message --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebravefront/message

Having spent 20 years on the books at Southampton Football Club, Francis 'Franny' Benali has rightly earned ‘legend’ status amongst Saints fans.  Since retiring, however, he has gone on to raise over £1.4million for charity by undertaking three ultra endurance challenges that pushed his mind and body beyond breaking point. In our exclusive interview, Franny talks about the mental strength needed to dedicate yourself to football and to take on seemingly impossible challenges.  Convinced that there is something we can all learn by living outside of our comfort zone, his advice could help us all to reconsider what we value and how we view our own mental wellbeing. Show outline: 00:00:00 - 00:03:41 - Welcome and introduction 00:03:46 - 00:12:07 - Becoming a grandad and early childhood 00:12:08 - 00:19:48 - Determination to succeed 00:20:00 - 00:30:14 - Highs and lows 00:30:21 - 00:44:27 - Life after football 00:44:29 - 00:56:12 - The challenge that broke me 00:56:13 - 00:58:46 - Outside your comfort zone Useful links: Francis Benali MBE official website Franny’s Facebook Franny’s Twitter Franny’s Instagram Franny’s LinkedIn Share the show: If you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Brave Front, you can share it through any of the following links: Our Linktree site (for links to all the podcast platforms): linktr.ee/thebravefront  Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Interact with the show: Answer our episode question on the Spotify episode page Get in touch Send us a voice message Full transcription:Click HERE to read the full show transcript. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebravefront/message

A motivational speaker, charity founder, endurance athlete and all round nice guy, it’s hard to believe that Alex Staniforth has battled poor mental health his whole life. Bullied at school after being diagnosed with epilepsy and living with a lifelong stammer, he has lived with anxiety and depression, as well as enduring panic attacks and battling an eating disorder. However, a teenage passion for the outdoors provided Alex with a focus and drive that twice took him to Everest in pursuit of a dream to become one of the youngest Britons ever to climb the world’s tallest mountain. Along the way, he was challenged physically and mentally, at home and under tragic circumstances while in Nepal. Today, Alex continues to challenge himself in the most extreme of ways and has ploughed his considerable energies into founding a charity to help others overcome poor mental health, by taking them up some of the UK’s most challenging mountains. Alex’s story is one of passion and determination, of facing fear, overcoming adversity and discovering unexpected mental strength. Listen to it in his own words on The Brave Front. Show outline: 00:00:00 - 00:03:45 - Welcome and introduction 00:03:53 - 00:07:17 - Meet Alex 00:07:53 - 00:13:29 - Childhood, growing up, facing bullying at school 00:13:38 - 00:18:00 - Discovering the great outdoors, a paragliding breakthrough 00:18:10 - 00:33:49 - Stepping outside your comfort zone, Mount Everest, escaping death 00:33:58 - 00:40:00 - Mind Over Mountains, launching a mental health charity 00:40:26 - 00:48:06 - Alex’s mental health today and the future Useful links: You can find out more about Alex on his website You can follow Alex on X As well as on Instagram And you can find out all about Alex’s charity on the excellent Mind over Mountains website. Share the show: If you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Brave Front, you can share it through any of the following links: Our Linktree site (for links to all the podcast platforms): linktr.ee/thebravefront  Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Interact with the show: Answer our episode question on your mobile via Spotify app episode page Get in touch Send us a voice message Full transcription: Click here for a full transcription of the show --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebravefront/message