What I’ve been listening to recently

As well as being a huge fan of Bryony Gordon’s Mad World and Ferne Cotton’s Happy Place podcasts, I love The Joe Wicks Podcast. The guy we knew of as the PE tutor from lockdown interviews inspirational people.

In series one his guests ranged from Gordon Ramsay, Louis Theroux and James Bay to Jamie Oliver, Mark Cavendish, Jo Malone and Time Peake.

In series two he spoke to amongst others Sir Mo Farah, Kate Silverton, Olly Murs, Ellie Goulding and Russell Brand.

And, in the summer of 2022 he has started in series 3.

From his life-long heroes and inspirational friends, Joe Wicks wants to dive into deep conversations and he asks all of them… what’s the one thing that makes life better?

Here are some that resonated with me:

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. “A wonderful work of art and a wonderful window into the human heart’”– Richard Curtis — *The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse* by Charlie Mackesy. *“A wonderful work of art and a wonderful window into the human heart’”*– Richard Curtis

Author Charlie Mackesy: Filling my lungs with air

You have no doubt heard of Charlie Mackesy’s book The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, but did you know that each character is based on a part of the artist? I understood that mental health was important to him, but I had no idea that the author’s best mate died when he was just 18 years old and a number of his friends have subsequently taken their own lives.
When Joe interviews him, Charlie speaks from his barn in Suffolk about the tough time he had writing the now famous book in the year before lockdown, but he explains how a higher force drove him onwards. I’m so pleased that he persevered because his book has helped so many during the pandemic and will for years to come.

Sir Tom Jones: Don’t Hold Back

Tom and his wife Linda were married for 59 years before she passed away in 2016.

This was Joe Wick’s first face-to-face podcast interview and his voice carries the excitement that he felt as he interviewed Sir Tom Jones and discussed his career in pop and show business that spanned seven decades.
Sir Tom Jones’ wife died five years before the interview from lung cancer (in 2016, the same year as my husband). Sir Tom Jones explains that he felt his life had ended when his wife died, how a part of him died with her and how he struggled to get back onto stage. Realising that he was not alone, the singer explained how playing for his fans helped him get back onto his feet.
Joe Wicks does not normally talk about grief, but he spoke to Sir Tom Jones about the physical pain of loss and how the singer moved forwards without the love of his life.
Dr Matt Walker: Why we sleep
Having realised that sleep is the foundation of everything else in his life, Joe Wicks discusses with his guest its impact on eating healthily, exercising regularly and helping relationships and stress.
Dr Matthew Walker is the founder of “The Centre for Human Sleep Science” at the University of California and he wrote the bestselling book Why We Sleep.
Joe and his guest chat about the effect of sleep on many aspects of our lives, what goes on in our brains when we dream and Matt’s top tips for better sleep.
This was a fascinating podcast that is highly recommended as a reminder why we need to prioritise sleep in our lives.

Dr Julie Smith: Train your mind

Clinical psychologist Dr Julie Smith started posting bite-sized videos explaining how the mind works in November 2019. The short clips are insights into subjects such as depression, anxiety and our inner demons and have enabled her to amass over three million followers online.
Joe Wicks talks about his favourite video clip about anxiety depicted through an inflating (and eventually exploding) exercise ball!
They chat about the impact of work on mental health, how they handle the messages they receive from people looking for help and advice and Joe’s documentary ‘Joe Wicks: Facing my Childhood’.
A really important podcast for anyone who had a negative inner voice and wants to know more about mental health.

***

Joe Wicks’ interviews are rays of sunshine in our world. His guests’ stories illustrate how people keep themselves feeling mentally and physically strong in the face of life’s challenges. Take a listen and let me know what you thought!

“Often the best answer to give… is just to listen.”