The Two of Us - some great interviews from the archives !

During Mental Health Awareness Week I would like to share some previous interviews from my podcast and Reel Rebels Radio show The Two of Us where I talk to writer and artists about their work and how it relates to mental health. If you enjoy the show why not subscribe on your favourite podcast app.

Writer and editor Chimene Suleyman shares new work, her wisdom about using therapy wisely before depression hits, the importance of being foolish and why allowing a fluid and non-binary approach to race and gender changed things for her.

Writer, poet and performer, Inua Ellams talks about what it means to live on the cusp, and the feeling of not belonging anywhere. He describes himself as having a nomad spirit which is reflected in his having multiple disciplines in which to express himself creatively. He reads from his unpublished work f**k boys.

Photographer and Artist Director of Free Space Project, Daniel Regan, talks about how friendship can help facilitate change. He shares his experience of being unwell and isolated as a young person, his eventual breakdown in his 20's, and how photography has been integral to his well-being.

Poet, playwright and performer Joelle Taylor reads from her book 'Songs my Enemy Taught Me' She discusses the experience of disassociation and living outside of the body as a result of trauma, and how poetry can bridge that gap.

Artist Diane Goldie talks about making art to help people tell their own stories and how she found feminism after divorce. She shares the way in which she carries the memories of her daughter after her death from suicide.

Poet Peter Raynard shares his experience of living with depression and chronic illness. He reads from Precarious published by Smokestack books. He discusses his son's depression as a young teenager and the moment he self-defined as disabled.

Naomi talks to poet, podcaster and carpenter David Turner. He discusses the idea of joinery and collaboration with his wife Lizzy Turner.

Happy Birthday 'The Conversational' on Reel Rebels Radio

Happy Birthday 'The Conversational' - a year old today on National Poetry Day! You can catch up on the archives here

Here's some of the wonderful guests who have appeared on the show:

Raymond Antrobus, Dzifa Benson, Matthew Caley , Nathan Penlington, Zena Edwards, Tim Wells, Salena Godden, Ash Sarkar , Inua Ellams, Francesca Beard, Tshaka Campbell, Jacob Sam-La Rose, Rob Story, Dan Cockrill, Richard Tyrone Jones, Joelle Taylor, Anthony Anaxagorou, Nick Field, Dorothea Smartt, Polarbear, Vanessa Kisuule, Karen McCarthyWoolf, Jacqueline Saphra, Courttia Newland, Aoife Mannix, Niall O'Sullivan, Kayo Chingonyi, Comfort Onit Cydelle, Gemma Weekes, Thabanittbone Nyoni, Aisling Fahey, Nadia Khomami, and Zionite Poet !

Listen to today's 'The Conversational' National Poetry Day Special at 7pm with star guests - Malika Booker, Anthony Joseph and Yemisi Blake.

All That's Good

Perhaps you have over-indulged a little over the holidays or you are enjoying some well deserved chill out time, whatever you do why not feed yourself with all that's good for the soul and listen to 'The Conversational' on Reel Rebels Radio for those who love words in all their guises, presented by Jude Cowan and myself.

December's show features the wonderful Inua Ellams, Francesca Beard and Tim Wells, in DJ guise, playing some of his favourite tunes - Wednesday December 29th at 730pm.

You can hear it here