Straight Talking Mental Health

"I don't think the podcast will get the credit it deserves, for what we've done." For the final time we are Straight Talking Mental Health. The OG hosts return for the final episode - Allan & Peter. We catch up on how Peter is getting on his Morning Show on Midlands 103, we reflect back on all the guests we have had over the last 3 years, the impact the show has had on our listeners and our regrets about the podcast. Peter is smiling after getting away on a trip with his dad to find the graves of uncles killed in World War 1 and Allan is riled after throwing money away to Ryanair after forgetting to check in for his flight and that's only the start of it! Thank you for joining us for 3 years and 125 episodes. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show.. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"If somebody gaslights you over and over and over again, it does a number on your brain!" This week we're straight talking having a Narcissistic Husband with Erin Riley. Erin grew up in Mad Men era Manhattan with a model "narcissistic" mother and actor father, before she ran away to California as a teen. Erin tells us her rock n roll stories from being in the rock scene for 40 years, including one about Lou Reed. She discusses the cycle of abuse with narcissists, her husband being a covert narcissist, the love bombing, the gaslighting and the impact it had on her. She also shares the early warning signs to look out for. Erin's dog Murphy has her smiling but people not doing what they say will has her riled. Allan is smiling seeing former co-hosts Peter & Kamron host a charity mental health event but trying to promote anything on social media has him riled. In major news Allan has decided to finish the podcast with this episode being the penultimate episode of the show. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"I've clients that are being diagnosed and medicated at the age of 4!" This week we're straight talking Parenting ADHD Children with Avigail Gimpel - an educator and very proud Jewish mom to SIX children with ADHD (and a husband). Avigail tells us about her experience of getting her older children diagnosed and why she stopped getting diagnoses, to diagnose or not, the reliance in Israel on medicating children as young as 2, the importance of having more faith in our children as well some excellent parenting and relationship advice. Avigail is smiling thanks to some great family news (we can't discuss it here) but the American economy has her riled. Allan is riled by the constant rain but Ireland win the grand slam in the 6 nations has him smiling! Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"I didn't want to die but if that was going to be the best alternative, I was ok with it" This week we're straight talking Losing A Partner with Will Craig. Will tells us about the mental health struggles he had and the suicidal thoughts he experienced even before the death of his girlfriend who was only in her 20's. He also opens up about what it was like to suspect something was wrong on the day she died when he hadn't heard from her, the grief and trauma around her death, his experience of therapy, the hydrocephalus which requires multiple surgeries and we discuss the resilience he has developed after all he has been through. Will's riled by the need for perfection, why done is better than perfect and his fearless nephew has him smiling. Allan is riled by the recent shooting of a PSNI officer in Omagh, but a romantic "living autopsy" has him smiling. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"I was so anxious and very, very suicidal... I'd always struggled with depression and that just amplified it completely " This week we're straight talking Bullying with "Mollie". Mollie tells us about her experience of being bullied in school, the cyberbullying she endured - from group chats being set up about her, anonymous comments online of how to kill herself and the toll it took on her physical and mental health. Mollie also describes the severe anxiety she had as a 6 year old which lead to being homeschooled and the emetophobia she experiences. Allan is smiling having got back into building scale models but the recent Tiger Woods tampon issue has him riled! Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"I didn't fight cancer, I embraced cancer!" This week we're straight talking Cancer with Angelica Alen. Angelica was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer after an admission to the emergency room. She tells us about the emergency surgery to remove the tumor, how chemotherapy treatment was like being blasted "with an atomic bomb", the impact her cancer had on her husband and children and she stresses the importance of taking an active part in your health recovery. Angelica is smiling about taking a 3 month cross country drive around Australia with her husband and children, but the stresses that come with that have her riled. Allan is smiling about just chilling out with his partner but a head cold has him riled! Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"I had a baby 7 years ago and I hated it, I felt no connection." This week we're straight talking Postpartum Depression with Suzanne Yatim Aslam. Suzanne is a former Ms. Arab USA with no history of mental health difficulties, after the birth of her first son she hated being a mother, felt no connection to her son and it wasn't for two more years she found out she was suffering with postpartum depression and anxiety. Suzanne tells us about her book "Post Pardon Me", her anger at being depressed, she has advice for women who may be going through what she went through and Allan discusses his experience of male postpartum depression. Suzanne is smiling after a beautiful moment with her son but someone who remains nameless in her house leaving the water running has her riled. Allan is smiling after seeing clients make some real progress but the cold weather has him riled again! Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"In my 30s I had my own nervous breakdown and was diagnosed with schizophrenia." This week we're straight talking Schizophrenia with Bee Baumann. Bee grew up in a strict Christian Baptist home only to find out at 12 she had been fostered and then taken back to live with her birth mother and 7 siblings. Bee tells us about becoming an emancipated child at 15, being hospitalised after a nervous breakdown and being diagnosed with schizophrenia in her 30s and her experience of being an African American woman in small town Germany. Bee is smiling at the littlest thing like seeing a rainbow but bureaucracy has her riled... well, she is in Germany! Allan is smiling as he gets back to playing golf and he is riled because... he's back playing golf!  Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"Darkness consumed me, I believed there was no way out." Fresh for 2023, we're straight talking Male Depression with Neil Kelders. Neil shares his experience of depression that has been there since childhood after his father left at age 10, the abandonment fears that affected his relationships in later life, the constant suicidal thoughts that consumed him daily and how finally opening up about his mental health struggles helped. You can find Neil's book "The Other Side" on Amazon. Neil's smiling after finally getting to hand his mother a copy of his book but his own mental health struggles still affecting him have him riled. Allan's riled by man's inhumanity to man after watching documentaries on war photographer James Nachtwey and Emmett Till but meeting up with some old school friends have him smiling. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"People say 'you should have done better at school' but I tried my hardest." This week we're straight talking Dyslexia with Rachel. Rachel is a long time listener to the podcast who works in social care for people with mental health difficulties - she shares what that experience is like, working with people who can at times self harm or be violent. She also discusses living with dyslexia, from being screened in school, the cost and requirement of an official diagnosis, difficulties in adult life with numbers and managing money and even down to reading and messaging on online dating apps. Rachel is riling about the cold weather but a week off from work has her smiling. Allan is smiling with the Brassic TV show but a new client who grew up in a mother and baby home has him riled. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"I thought I was fucked, I thought I was broken, I thought I was different." This week we're straight talking Dissociation with Erik DaRosa. Erik, a former Wall Street trader, tells us about his experience of intrusive thoughts about harming other people related to the OCD & anxiety he experienced since a child, the imposter syndrome he felt working on Wall St and the stress that lead to his first experience of dissociation. Allan (in therapist mode) discusses attachment, helps Erik track a pattern around the time of year he dissociated and we discuss Kanye's mental health. Erik is smiling after seeing a friend for the first time in years but returning to the cold weather of Colorado from Hawaii has him riled. Allan is smiling whilst catching up on The Crown but the attitudes towards men's mental health have him riled. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"It was clear I wasn't going to make it through college without a formal diagnosis." This week we're straight talking ADHD with Eric Allan. Eric tells about his OCD as a child, how a fever as a child may have contributed, how ADHD was a difficulty for him throughout life and why he doesn't know if would have wanted to be diagnosed as child. We also discuss the different manifestations of ADHD (inattentive/ hyperactive/ combined) and the diagnostic criteria for children and adults. Ordinarily this would be our check in episode, however they will be no more, as Allan explains how him and Aisling have parted ways on podcast and life. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"I learned a lot about myself and my sexuality through sex work" This week we're straight talking Being An Escort/ Sex Worker with "Hannah". Hannah tells us about why she chose to be an escort, being "outed" to her mother, her experience from working in a brothel to being "independent" and paying tax on a profession that is legal where she lives. Hannah also opens up about her previous mental health experiences, getting officially diagnosed with ADHD, being "stealthed" by a client and how much she has learned about herself from her work. Unfortunately due to technical issues we have no check in before Hannah's interview this week. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"Your desire to hurt your ex is greater than your love for your kids." This week, at the request of a listener, we're straight talking Parental Alienation & Loving Your Kids. We discuss the 5 factors involved in parental alienation, not just stopping the children seeing their parent but also bad mouthing them in front of the children, the impact it has on children when they become adults and the common issues with the alienating parent. Allan shares his own experience of having had to go to court as a single father and Aisling shares her experience of everything she went through to ensure the kids weren't affected after her break up. Aisling is smiling after getting some family time with her children but Allan interrupting her to do the podcast has her riled. Allan is riled when Aisling doesn't want the anniversary gift he thought was on to a winner with and he's smiling after watching The Banshees of Inisherin. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"One partner has the higher libido, or the other partner doesn't want to have sex as much, there can be frustration, feelings of resentment." This week we're straight talking Sex with sex therapist Lyndsey Murray CST. Allan & Lyndsey share their clinical experience and discuss desire discrepancy (when one partner has a higher sex drive), religious beliefs and how they change our view of sex, what's the "normal" amount of times to have sex a week, masturbation, pornography and if sex addiction is real or not. The constant rain is getting to Allan & Aisling this week. Aisling is smiling watching Helena Bonham Carter in The Cleaner but Allan isn't impressed with her breath after her latest obsession with garlic prawns and both of us are smiling after checking out the new O'Dooles restaurant in Kildare Town. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"No matter how much someone tells you you're not fat... if you don't believe it yourself, no amount of anyone else saying it to you is going to convince you." It's our check in episode! We're straight talking night terrors, as Aisling tells us about her experience of suffering night terrors, a year of screaming in her sleep and jumping out of bed. After Allan's self consciousness filming last week's YouTube episode he opens up about male body image and Aisling tells us how she was affected by... a meme! Aisling has no smiles this week after another week of being sick and trying to manage a crazy toddler. Allan's smiling when our former co-host Kamron, graduates from college with a first class distinction but he's riled after their stay in Rossharbour turns into a sleepless night (for the wrong reasons). Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"I thought that my son would be unsafe in my care now that my diagnosis changed from depression to bipolar." This week we're straight talking Bipolar Disorder with author Kitt O'Malley. Kitt, a former psychotherapist, tells us about growing up in an alcoholic home, high parental expectations she experienced, how her first manic episode started as a result of medication she was prescribed and how she had to move back in with her parents as a result. We describe the different kinds of bipolar disorder, the stress of parenting not just because of her diagnosis but her son's high needs due to ADHD and Kitt tells us how she found acceptance of her diagnosis. It's Aisling's birthday! We are recording from Ross Harbour Lakeside Lodges and she is smiling because of her birthday celebrations with Allan and the kids but her daughter Delilah being sick has her riled. Allan's smiling after a family day out to Powerscourt Waterfall but is riled due to the recent vandalism of Van Gogh's painting. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"It's hard to not be able to say 'I'll be around in a few minutes' if you have a bad day." It's our check in episode! We're straight talking the difficulties that come with being in a long distance relationship and we're reading out your icks - men you really need to hear what women think about what you're doing! We discuss what the ick is, why it affects women more than men (is there an evolutionary reason for it) and we look at the theme of the icks you guys sent in! Allan's had a stressful week and we're both riled by the increasing cost of EVERYTHING! Aisling's smiling watching the new Interview With a Vampire TV show and House of the Dragon, meanwhile Allan's smiling having watched Mike Binder's The Comedy Store documentary series. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"People think they have the right to take somebody's life, just because they're gay." This week we're straight talking LGBTQ+ & Parenting. Mary Gibney tells us about her experience of growing up in small town Ireland in the 80's & 90's, not even knowing what a lesbian was, finding the gay scene in Dublin and the homophobic attacks and rapes by men on lesbian women. Mary also tells us her experience of being a gay parent, the bullying her son endured and his own difficulties with gay men. Aisling is riled because her fridge freezer has broken and has to wait 2 weeks in a house with 3 kids! Allan is riled by men - from rape, to hooliganism to toxic masculinity and young male syndrome! We're both smiling having enjoyed a meal out in Omagh. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com Gay Resources Mentioned In This Episode: https://www.belongto.org/ https://teni.ie/ http://thehivekildare.ie/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083114869807  

"You can have a male friend that's straight, majority of the time it's going to come out that they want something else'." We're asking the age old question can men and women be friends. Aisling discusses the friendships she has lost when feelings haven't been reciprocated and the experience of grief after losing people she thought were genuine friends. We also discuss emotional affairs, "work husbands/ wives", the importance of keeping flirting with your partner and Aisling has advice for men of how to better connect with their partners. Allan discusses the difficulties of being self employed, clients not turning up, not being paid even when they do and the conflict for therapists of being care givers and fee takers. Aisling is riled by the cost of health care down in Southern Ireland and we have a surprise guest appearance of Allan's son James! Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"I felt lost and I think (the suicide attempt) was a cry for help more than anything else." This week we're straight talking stammering & coming out with Robert O'Brien. Rob tells us about developing a stutter at age 8 due to bullying, the anxiety he's experienced due to his stammer and what he missed out on in life as a result. He also tells us about his experience of coming out as gay at 32, his failed suicide attempt and how it all culminated in his book "Just One More Drive" We've had a few drinks as we record, not hard to figure out with Aisling! She's smiling because of how her kids are with Allan but she's riled due to the outcry over the casting of Halle Bailey as The Little Mermaid. Allan's smiling after seeing Dave Chappelle live but a bit of racism also has him riled. Stick around at the end to hear the sexy talk that goes on in the bedroom! Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"I felt horrible in my own skin and thought 'I look like a fuckin' leper'." We're checking in from a hotel in Wales with no internet! We had some technical difficulties so apologies on the audio side of things. This week we visited Aisling's family in Yorkshire and travelled down to Wales then to see her dad. Allan was extremely ill the week prior and he discusses the impact that had on his mental health. Aisling's riled as the bank mess up and take a double payment that necessitated hours on the phone, Allan's whole week was a rile but both of them are wound up by the Premier Inn in Holyhead! Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"You just get through it, you never get over it." With World Suicide Day approaching we are straight talking Losing Family to Suicide. Collin is a former cowboy and bull rider, his losses started with his daughter to cancer, Collin opens up about losing his granddaughter to suicide aged just 15 during this summer! Collin also touches on the abusive father he grew up with, having to flee the house as his father cocked a shotgun threatening to kill his mother when Collin was just a young boy! Aisling's daughter Delilah has moved on from cursing last week, to throwing socks down the toilet and flushing them this week and she bonds with Allan over a shite film! Allan is smiling as he is preparing a studio for the podcast and he is moved to tears with a correspondence from a listener. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"How are you?!" SURPRISE! Absolute last minute bonus episode for you to listen to! A former co-host returns and explains why she's back... spoiler alert... it's Aisling! Find out what has her and Allan back on the podcast together and what's going on with the two of them. It's a check in episode, so we see what's going on in our lives and how we're feeling.  Aisling has to endure what all parents experience at some point - a cursing toddler, she's smiling at the scenic drive across Sally's Gap in Wicklow. Moth's have Allan riled but he is smiling as he is back at a hip hop gig for the first time since he gave up rapping and it's another episode where the question has to be asked - did Allan shit the bed?! Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube and our Facebook page. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"Well, I know I've done dumb shit and said things I didn't mean."  A new format begins! No co-host and our first ever returning guest jumps on to give us a check in and his smiles and riles. Singer/ songwriter Fraser Morgan returns and tells us about some of the mistakes he made and dark place he went to afterwards. He tells us about owning his mistake, taking the window of opportunity to right your wrongs when presented the chance, we discuss effective apologies and Fraser gives us an exclusive live performance of his next single Playing a mentor roles to some teens has Fraser smiling, while Allan has a family funeral and gets emotional at Dublin Comic Con. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. A real help to us would be to subscribe to our YouTube channel! Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"So, ironically enough, the Straight Talking Mental Health Podcast has had a huge impact on my mental health " Episode 100! We made it this far! Former co-host and Midlands 103 Breakfast Show presenter Peter Dunne jumps back on, as we look back at all we have achieved. Peter gives us a behind the scenes look at what goes into creating the morning show, the women's topics we covered on the show, we discuss break ups when children are involved and Allan discusses the future of the podcast and the toll the show has taken on his mental health. The lies of "Peel & Reseal" & "Ripe & Ready" have the lads riled and both are smiling after a trip to the cinema - Minions for Peter and Bullet Train for Allan. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"One of the lads started off coming in for two pints on his break, then it was three, then is was four..." It's our fortnightly check in episode where we discuss what's going on in ours and the greater world. Allan doesn't look too far for a guest, calling in his brother Nicky to discuss the mental health impact of bar work. From the anti-social hours, the rampant use of cocaine, how the industry has changed since people started building home bars during lockdown and the impact the job had on Nicky's mental health. Unfortunately Allan & Aisling have broken up, thankfully very amicably. Allan discusses whether the podcast has a future. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"I don't know my father... I don't have a picture or a name. There is a piece of me that is unknown." We're straight talking Growing Up Without a Dad with Arys Déjan. Arys is creator and podcast host and this week's show he tells us about his experience of growing up not knowing who is father is, moving around a lot as a child and being put into foster care. We also discuss the importance of connecting with people on a human level, not defining people by one opinion we disagree with, the influence of art on his life and he tells us about his Who & How Club. Aisling is smiling after taking her kids to Belfast but she's riled at her inability to use Google Maps. Allan is smiling after the finale of The Good Place but the recent cancellation of Dave Chappelle's gig by a venue has him riled. Plus, we need to call out some filthy minded viewers of our last video episode! Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube and our Facebook page. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"Come winter a lot of people will freeze, it's going to be heat or eat." It's our fortnightly check in episode where we discuss what's going on in ours and the greater world. This week we're straight talking about the spiraling cost of living, with energy prices ever increasing the impact it has on our mental health. Allan mentions his own difficulty in deliberately trying not to raise his own rates. We also discuss journaling after a listener get in touch, Allan & Aisling speak from personal experience having both journaled in the past. The new Thor: Love & Thunder movie has Aisling smiling but her favourite make up brand being discontinued has her riled. Allan is smiling after appearing on The Reflective Doc (Dr. Jennifer Reid) podcast but the call for trigger warnings around movies has him riled. Also, the hot weather has got Aisling hot and bothered! Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube and our Facebook page. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"I noticed so many people were disappearing, because they were taken away." We're straight talking The Killing Fields with Sara Im. Sara was just 21 when the Khmer Rouge came to power in Cambodia, she was forced to flee the capital where she was at university with only what she could carry. She was sent to a work camp where only for the kindness of one camp supervisor she would have died. After 4 years she escaped the camp in the hopes of finding her family. Sara's story is one of inspiration, hope and highlights the importance of having a purpose in life. Aisling is smiling about her smile (aided by teeth whitening strips) but her cousin waking her at the weekend has her riled. Meanwhile, inconsiderate drivers (for not the first time) have Allan riled, but some father/ son time has him smiling. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also now check out our episodes as videos on YouTube and our Facebook page. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com  

"You just don't know, the kids have seen their parents break up and I didn't want to introduce another person." It's our fortnightly check in episode where we discuss what's going on in ours and the greater world. This week we're discussing the difficulties of dating when you have children, our own blended family, the societal shift in using dating apps and we share some of our own bad dates from the past. After last week's episode on sleep, Aisling talks about the night terrors she experienced in the past after a week where she cut her own forehead in her sleep. Allan is riled by the Roe Vs Wade decision in the U.S. and Aisling is smiling as she re-watches Breaking Bad but the shitty Irish weather is getting to her. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Feel free to email us hello@stmhpodcast with any of your feedback on the show or if you would like to come on and tell your story as a guest. Check us out on www.stmhpodcast.com

"We start to panic about our sleep, start to obsess about it, start to work really hard at it" We're straight talking sleep with Dr. Jennifer Reid MD. Jennifer is a psychiatrist in Philadelphia, we discuss the difference between insomnia and sleep deprivation and the impact of it on your physical and mental health, the impact of alcohol on our sleep quality, the use of melatonin and snoring. She shares some great advice on how to get better sleep for everyone including new mothers with babies and find out why your teenager can't get out of bed in the morning. We get an insight into Aisling's mind as she tells us about her evening habits of looking at properly porn and her sadistic joy in killing flies and find out why she has a problem with Allan being a guest on another podcast. Allan's riled at the closure of the Fountain Pen Shop in Dublin. Check out Allan live on TikTok, Sundays at 8pm. Follow us on @stmhpodcast, he will be live to answer all your mental health questions and offer any advice he can. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com About Jennifer: Dr. Jennifer Reid is a psychiatrist and award-winning educator with a practice in Philadelphia. She writes and podcasts as The Reflective Doc, sharing practical mental health information to those who may not have access to adequate care and support. She trained at Columbia University and UCLA, and is on the clinical faculty at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a frequent guest on podcasts and a regular contributor to Psychology Today and Doximity.

"WE'RE BACK WEEKLY!!!'" Episode 93: SURPRISE! Yes, we snuck up on you, we're back with weekly episodes! We discuss the difficulties of co-parenting. Following on from last week's episode we elaborate on the 5 Love Languages (including our love languages), we clear up the differences between life coaches and therapists and bust the myth of 21 day habits. Aisling is smiling after catching up with Stranger Things and find out why Chris Hemsworth's handsome good looks have Allan riled! After the success of the first TikTok Live, Allan will be jumping on at 8pm on Sunday again, be sure to join us! Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"I was co-dependent for 25 years.'" Episode 92: We're straight talking Relationship Coaching with Lisa McFarland. Relationship coach Lisa tells us about her own experience of couple's counselling before informing us about the importance of emotional support. We also discuss co-dependency, sexless relationships, couple's losing their identity as parents and Lisa busts one of the biggest myths your granny probably told you about arguing as well as telling us why love isn't enough! Find out why we're turning down pay for our principals (again) and why Aisling would choose death when her throat closes up than die of embarrassment. She gives her brutal review of the new Jurassic Park movie while Allan is kinder to Top Gun. He is smiling after bumping into a client he helped while he was in school but is riled by the juxtaposition of George Carlin & Tiktok. Allan is doing a TikTok Live on Sunday June 19th at 8pm. Follow us on @stmhpodcast, he will be live to answer all your mental health questions and offer any advice he can. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"My mum actually told me the car they were in, lifted off the ground when the bomb went off'" Episode 91: Monthly check in time. We discuss America and guns after yet another tragic school shooting, we have some advice for people after a break up and we discuss the finale of Derry Girls, the Good Friday Agreement and the Omagh bombing featured on the show. Aisling (being from Omagh) tells us how lucky she is to still have her mother after she was in the town when the bomb went off Aisling has some advice of what not to say to your mother in law, Allan is smiling after having an open mental health conversation with an old school friend and we're smiling after getting tickets for Kevin Hart. Our TikTok is blowing up after just a few weeks, you can follow us on @stmhpodcast, as is our username on all the social media platforms. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"I spent 15 months hospitalised in psychiatric wards.'" Episode 90: We're straight talking The Psych Ward with author Peter Vox. Peter is a former teacher in the Bronx who grew up in a family with a history of mental illnesses and is the author of The Psych Ward Notes. Peter tells us how his health anxiety and existential thoughts developed early in childhood and after a suicide attempt he was hospitalised in various psychiatric wards. He discusses schizoid patients, electroconvulsive therapy and if it really is like One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Allan got sunburned playing golf in Portugal but he's riling over "ripe & ready" avocados while Aisling still has the Keanu Reeves crush from childhood but is bemused at her TikTok profile picture theft. We are finally active on TikTok, you can follow us @stmhpodcast, as is our username on all the social media platforms. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"Men don't really talk about this, we don't really hear about men in violent relationships.'" Episode 89: It's out monthly check in, no particular theme just what is going in ours and the greater world. We discuss the ongoing case of Johnny Depp & Amber Heard, their toxic relationship, the often unspoken domestic violence on men and Amber Heard's diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. We have covered men in Abusive Relationships & Borderline Personality Disorder in the past, click the links or check our back catalogue. We return from London - definitely not Aisling's favourite place. Allan quite weirdly is smiling at the traumatic origins of Marvel's Moon Knight but he is most definitely not smiling after being made to watch 50 Shade of Grey by Aisling! We are finally active on TikTok, you can follow us @stmhpodcast, as is our username on all the social media platforms. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism'" Episode 88: STMH 2.0 is go! Peter steps out and Aisling steps in. We're straight talking autism with Kella aka Awakened Neurodivergence. We discuss ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and Kella also tells us also about her OCD. We discuss some of the characteristics of autism like stimming, eye contact, social and, sensory issues, the levels of autism diagnosis and we clear up some of the biggest misconceptions. Allan discusses his own experience of being diagnosed and Aisling shares what it's like to be a neurotypical partner of someone that is neurodivergent. As it is the first podcast with Aisling as the brand new co-host, we discuss our background of how we met so it's a bit of a longer episode but that just means more laughs! Aisling is a fantastic new asset to the podcast as she opens up about her experience of anxiety and panic attacks. Find out how people in public think their chemistry is "magnetic" and how they fell in love over inappropriate memes about Allan's mother! We are finally active on TikTok, you can follow us @stmhpodcast, as is our username on all the social media platforms. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"The man is a devil!'" Episode 87: The second in our check in series! Don't get too attached though as Peter leaves the podcast again! Not to worry though, we'll be continuing on and relaunching STMH 2.0 with a new co-host! Find out all about it on this week's episode. Before Peter goes though, he'll be telling you (sort of) why he is leaving for good this time and why it has him smiling. We also talk about "The Slap" and you can hear why testing positive for covid wasn't even the most exciting thing to happen to Allan on Monday! Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"Every child is vulnerable to being captured by alcohol or drugs - every child!" Episode 86:  This week we are talking to author Ricahrd Capriola about his book "The Addicted Child." Richard tells us some of the warning signs to look out for with teenagers and substance abuse, some of the underlying issues which can lead to addiction, the impact of drugs on the developing brain and what not to do as a parent if your child is abusing drugs. Allan & Peter discuss the mental health challenges of being a father after a correspondence from a dad who is feeling suicidal, we're riled at the dramatic rise in the cost of living, Peter jumps on the Encanto buzz and Allan has parenting wins and fails. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"The situation in the Ukraine is breeding a lot of anxiety for people'" Episode 85: Surprise!!! We're back. You wanted weekly, we'll meet ye half way and give you every two weeks. This is our first check in episode, no particular theme but we look at the world as always, through the lens of mental health. We discuss the anxiety the situation in Ukraine is breeding, Allan goes back to the gym and notices the societal shift since he was last there. We also discuss the recent controversy around The 2 Johnnies misogynistic remarks and once again, Peter's horn let's him down but our former co-host Kamron has him smiling. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"You carry the guilt as a mum, 'Am I affecting them? Am I going to cause damage?'" Episode 84: We're back! This month we're straight talking Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). We talk to Emily who tells us about her history of depression and self harm that goes back to when she was 14, the eating order that developed after putting on weight after the birth of her child, the difficulties of parenting and how MBSR helped her to deal with it all. With restrictions lifting in Ireland, Allan & Peter both plan trips away. Peter is smiling as he hits another parenting landmark (losing the first tooth) but he's suffering "PTSB". Allan's client work has him smiling and riling, as he is saddened by the adults that have suffered throughout their life with undiagnosed autism. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

Episode 83: We're back! This month we're straight talking Narcissism. We discuss the criteria for someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, the developmental contributors to what causes it, why narcissists are typically men and why Allan hasn't seen many in his practice. We also look at examples of narcissists in popular culture: Trump, Kanye and Dennis Reynolds from It's Always Sunny in Philadephia. Peter has caught covid since we were last with you but he's smiling as the family get a new car whilst Allan is smiling about the new Peacemaker TV show. As two men we discuss our feelings on women's safety in the midst of the Aisling Murphy murder. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

Episode 82: This week we're straight talking the Xmas craic live! We had a Facebook Live interactive episode on Sunday 19th for our Xmas party with our audience. Listen back and be regaled with tales of Kamron's hangover, see if you can hear as Peter drifts towards "4 Pints Pee" as the beers are flowing and find out why Allan is so tired after being away for a night in a hotel for his anniversary. We have our usual smiles and riles, 2 truths - 1 lie and we discuss how Xmas can be a difficult time for many people. Thank you to everyone for your support during the year. We switch to monthly episodes in the new year and so we'll see you all again on January 25th Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"A lot of people don't understand, it's not just something you see it and you get over it." Episode 81: This week we're straight talking Suicide with Amy. Amy's boyfriend of almost two years killed himself after a drunken argument. We discuss her experience of finding his body, the nightmares/ flashbacks and PTSD symptoms she has experienced since, the various emotions of her grieving experience and the guilt she experienced as she moved on with her dating life. Peter has a family emergency unfortunately and is unavailable for this week's show but Allan calls in some serious favours and recruits his girlfriend Aisling to co-host. She picks right up where Peter & Kamron left off - abusing Allan! Allan's smiling & riling about the F1 final race of the season controversy and Aisling is smiling & riling on the covid front as she is out of isolation after covid in the house but has "covid arm" after her vaccine. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"We've helped a lot of people. I'm very proud of that and we'll continue to do that." Episode 80: This week we're straight talking hitting the landmark of breaking 80! Peter jumps back on and we discuss the impact we have had on people's lives over our 80 weekly episodes. We also discuss the resilience of children, is it real or not and we share our podcast wrapped stats for the year. In order for the podcast to continue we reassess how to continue since Kamron has stepped out of hosting duties, there will be a change, but we will continue!  We're also planning a live Xmas party and we want you involved! Peter is riled as he has to jump through hoops to try get from watching Man Utd but he's smiling after getting away with family. Allan's love life is impeded by Covid but he's smiling getting back to do some learning on a course that was cancelled since first lockdown. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com

"Corruption? That's one of the reasons I left, why I resigned." Episode 79: This week we're straight talking Law Enforcement with "Linda". Linda was a police officer and detective in South Africa before resigning. We discuss corruption and police brutality, the differences between racism and oppression in SA now, the impact of the job which can lead to relationship difficulties and addictions, trying to juggle being a single mother with the job and humour as a defense mechanisms. We say goodbye to Kamron on his last episode so our own chat is a bit longer than usual. We discuss why he's smiling because it's cold, future covid restrictions, inconsiderate drivers and Allan's smiling at spectator commentary at the Ireland vs Argentina rugby match. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"Their babies would be taken if they didn't have the money to buy them back, which happened in most of the cases." Episode 78: This week we're straight talking Mother & Baby Homes with filmmaker Teresa Levina.  Teresa's film "Untold Secrets" focuses on survivors of the Mother & Baby homes in Ireland, with a particular emphasis on Anne Silke and her treatment in the Tuam Home, site of the Tuam Babies. The Tuam Babies are 800 babies bodies in a mass septic tank grave at the Tuam Mother & Baby home. The unmarried, often raped, mothers in the home were treated as sub human and very often the children from the homes were essentially sold as slave labour by the Bon Secours nuns who ran the homes. Anne Silke was one such child who worked for a prominent political family in the area who physically and sexually abused her. The same family continues to try and censor Teresa's film putting pressure on any film festival that screens the documentary. Kamron goes DaVinci-esque as he paints a picture of his bad day and his concerns about another lockdown. Allan is smiling with the Irish rugby teams beating the All Blacks but he's riled by the Miami Showband Killings documentary. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

Episode 77: This week we're straight talking our mental health. We all have a lot going on and who better to talk about mental health on our podcast than us, as we have a check in with ourselves. Peter starts meditating and turns into the Dalai Lama as he gets all philosophical. Kamron is so busy with college, work and internship that he prepares to take a break from the podcast but he's smiling because he's one of these people that likes Xmas decorations up after Halloween. Allan is riled by fuel prices and we discuss the impact of the clocks going back and the lack of daylight on our mental health. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"Did I take my foot off the pedal (when I got to Newcastle)? If I'm being honest I would 'yeah just slightly' compared to what I was like at Bohemians." Episode 76: This week we're straight talking mental health in football with Republic of Ireland Under 21 Manager Jim Crawford. Jim tells us about his own career and what it was like to move to Newcastle under Kevin Keegan & Kenny Dalglish, the toll it takes on young players moving away from home as teenagers, players that don't make it big and feeling like a failure, the psychology of great players like Ronaldo and how he tries to understand the motivation of young players playing for their country for pride or to enhance their brand. Peter jumps back in and he's smiling as he prepares to go back over to watch Man Utd for the first time in 6 years (probably won't be smiling for long) and Allan is riled by the increased cases in women being spiked. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"I had quite a severe manic episode but nobody knew, because I was embarrassed.'" Episode 75: This week we're straight talking Psychosis with DJ Jadie Swales-Barnes. Jadie tells us about her diagnosis of psychosis, PTSD & Bipolar 1 and the childhood abuse and self harm from a young age which have contributed to her mental health over the years. We also discuss her multiple suicide attempts and her happiness at times at the decision to end her life, the side effects to the multiple medications she has been on over the years and how support from her partner and friends and her passion for music have pulled her out of that dark place. Kamron is still going through the NCT rigmarole and is under even more pressure time wise after beginning her internship and Allan is riled by TikTok and female sports pundits being there just for the sake of it. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com