Psychotherapist Allan Clarke hosts a fortnightly podcast with worldwide guests talking all things mental health. The difference with the Straight Talking Mental Health Podcast? It is both informative and informal! Complicated and sensitive subjects are presented in a down to earth and relatable manner.
Episodes
Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
110: Night Terrors & Male Body Image
Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
"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
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
109: Bipolar Disorder (Kitt O’Malley)
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
"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
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
108: Long Distance Relationships & Chicks With Icks (Check In)
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
"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
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
107: LGBTQ & Parenting
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
"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.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083114869807
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
106: Can Men & Women Be Friends & Difficulties of Self Employment
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
"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
Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
105: Stuttering & Coming Out (Robert O’Brien)
Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
"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
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
104: Allan’s Ailments & Weekend Away (Check In)
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
"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
Tuesday Sep 06, 2022
103: Losing Family to Suicide (Collin Hughes)
Tuesday Sep 06, 2022
Tuesday Sep 06, 2022
"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
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
102: Dynamic Duo & Dire Diarrhea (Check In)
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
"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
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
101: Owning Your Mistakes (Fraser Morgan)
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
"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
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
100: Past, Present, Podcast Future (Peter Dunne)
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
"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
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
99: Bar Work & Break Ups (Check In with Nicky Clarke)
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
"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
Tuesday Jul 26, 2022
98: Growing Up Without a Dad (Arys Déjan)
Tuesday Jul 26, 2022
Tuesday Jul 26, 2022
"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
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
97: Cost of Living & Journaling (Check In)
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
"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
Tuesday Jul 12, 2022
96: The Killing Fields (Sara Im)
Tuesday Jul 12, 2022
Tuesday Jul 12, 2022
"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