Read more Good Samaritan articles in the Pod Bible magazine, which you can read online or buy in our shop. You can subscribe to Learning To Adult Slowly on Acast, Spotify or all other podcast apps.
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]]>JR: Lou Mensah’s list of achievements in podcasting is certainly impressive. Creating the podcast Shade in 2019, Lou has received recommendations in The Guardian, Esquire Magazine and Grazia, as well as being the silver award winner in the 2019 British Podcast Awards for Best Arts and Culture podcast. So how would Lou describe her podcast Shade – what’s it about?
LM: “My guests champion the work of artists of colour within the wider cultural landscape. I love talking with artists whose work stimulates the senses but also has the scope to create wider conversations about inclusion. Shade is a space to be inspired by artists and their stories.
I remembered how isolated I felt being a self-taught, female photographer of colour in the 90’s, without access to inspiring conversations about art or my place within it. I also had a disability which meant that I couldn’t socialise with other artists. Back then my sense of community came from reading about other artists’ lives. When I decided to create the podcast I wanted to create an intimate and welcoming space for everyone, from established artists to listeners who
simply enjoy the odd gallery visit.”
JR: Like many podcasters, Lou has taken away some personal highlights from her time producing the show.
LM: “A highlight so far has been Season 4 which was in response to the 2020 BLM uprisings. I felt that we needed a space to process how we felt about the arts and its response to the uprisings, and how our work may change as a result. It was also an opportunity to talk with those working within the media whose job it was to respond to that seminal moment in civil rights history. I talked with the Editor of TIME, journalists from i-D and The Guardian, plus curators, photographers and critics about how the uprisings had impacted their work. I was lucky to have guests on the show who had refused to talk to other press outlets during this time.
One guest was a founding member of BLM UK, who entrusted me with his story. I am proud to have created a space for the conversations that are glaringly missing from mainstream broadcasting platforms. Sometimes podcasting can feel like talking into a void, but the response to the show affirms that the podcast caters for an audience eager to engage with and support
these conversations.”
JR: Despite time restraints, Lou is looking to the future and production for an upcoming season is in process.
LM: “As an independent podcaster I only have time to work on the show a few hours a week, so I am proud that in it’s short life Shade has garnered attention and support from some art heavyweights, including from the South London Gallery and Hauser & Wirth for example, who will continue to support Shade next season. For season 5 I am working with the Sound designer Axel Kacoutié and we are taking the show in a completely new direction. We will launch our collaboration online and at an event in September [2022]. I hope to see some Pod Biblers there!”
Shade is now in its eleventh season, but find out more about Lou’s collaboration with Axel Kacoutié, Interludes, here >>

Listen to SHADE on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps now >>
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]]>The post THE GOOD SAMARITAN // Proper Mental appeared first on POD BIBLE.
]]>The inspiration for starting a podcast is intrinsically personal – Tom Davies has used his own journey as the foundation for his highly regarded Proper Mental Podcast, a show which leaves no stone unturned for mental health. Tom has always been beautifully open about his own experiences:
“I started Proper Mental to create the sort of platform that I needed when I was struggling. Initially it was going to be a short series of conversations but it seemed to resonate with so many people it made more sense to start making a weekly show.
In 2016 my mental health declined to the point of collapse and I experienced a breakdown. I didn’t tell anyone what was happening to me. Mental health just wasn’t on my radar and I’d never heard anyone I could relate to talk about being poorly. I didn’t have the words to describe what was going on, I didn’t know who I could tell if I did. I thought I was going ‘Proper Mental’.”
Tom’s audience continues to grow and the national award nominations are also starting to roll in – but Tom makes it clear that the outreach of the podcast is the most rewarding part of the process.
“It wasn’t until I started speaking openly about my mental health and listening to others talk about their own experiences that I could really start working towards recovery. Speaking to so many people has given me an incredible understanding of my own mental health journey and a fascinating insight into what other people are going through.
I make the podcast so that anyone who listens might feel less alone, get a better understanding of their own experiences or gain insight into the experiences of others and maybe find out about organisations, support systems or self-care techniques that they might not know much about.”
As with any aspect of mental health, Tom has to skilfully and humbly steer the conversations with his guests.
“It feels like a real privilege to be able to hold space for my guests and the fact that they trust me with their stories is an honour I will never take lightly. I recently recorded an episode with a street artist, and former soldier called Jay Wheeler, who was medically discharged. It was incredibly moving and I couldn’t be prouder of how we navigated such a challenging story. Another episode that was an incredible experience was one I recorded with my wife. We talked through my experience with mental ill health from her perspective and the effect it had on our family and that resonated with a massive amount of people.”
The Proper Mental Podcast has plans to continue, and Tom is also putting a lot of time into further outreach efforts.
“I did my first live show last year, it was really well received and a lot of fun. I’m currently in the process of pulling together everything I’ve learned from almost 100 conversations about mental health and putting it all into a talk that I’d like to deliver to schools, workplaces or at events. I try to introduce my listeners to charities and organisations that they might not be aware of and speak to experts about different aspects of support and self-care so anyone listening can get a better idea of what’s out there.”

Listen to Proper Mental on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps >>
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]]>The post THE GOOD SAMARITAN // Everything You Need Is Within appeared first on POD BIBLE.
]]>JR: At the age of 14 Gigi Robinson was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, but Gigi has used her experience to develop her skills in podcasting. Everything You Need Is Within is a masterclass in how to turn adversity into advocacy.
GR: The idea was conceived in late 2020, it was based on a conversation I had with Julia Michaels on Instagram Live. The subject was being an artist and dealing with mental health, not only online but also in our creative work. I decided that it’d be really cool to interview creators from all different backgrounds and give my platform to people who wanted to get their mission out there into the world. The show was then picked up by Spotify Live and I was with them for a year and a half which was incredible and really helped grow the podcast.
With a varied career ranging from being a finalist in the Sports Illustrated Swim Search to being a champion of issues such as chronic illness and body positivity – how does Gigi manage to keep balanced?
Dealing with a chronic illness on top of working as a content creator can definitely be challenging, especially when I’m spending 15 to 30 minutes on the phone with a doctor just trying to set up an appointment. Managing so many different things is definitely a big challenge, but thanks to a huge team and other people behind the scenes we’re able to really create a content machine, which doesn’t leave me as burnt out as I once was. If you do want to scale up, I think it’s really important to balance and delegate tasks to different people so that you can maximise your productivity. I have things that help me stay on track but I’m still a work in progress! I also spend at least two to three hours on virtual appointments during the week and two to three hours on commuting, all of which combined probably equates to a part time job.
Everything You Need Is Within hosts conversations based around social advocacy, including mental and physical health, leadership, and much more.
A big subject that I love talking about on the show is, of course, disability and accessibility online, so that we can work towards levelling the playing field for everyone. Some of my favourite subjects I’ve touched on include pay transparency, which always needs more highlighting, as well as internet activism and advocacy. I think there are ways to implement social media literacy into everyone’s work and make sure that people are really taking responsibility for platforms if they have them.
Season 4 is right around the corner…
The future of Everything You Need is Within is definitely bright; I think we have a really solid pilot series to pitch for a live talk show and hopefully work our way up not only within the podcast space but into the talk show space as well and bridge the gap between what it means to be a host in these spaces. I would say that anybody who is interested in learning about social media literacy should definitely listen to some of our episodes and make sure that they’re being intentional every time they use social media. And last but not least, always be kind online.
Gigi Robinson is an advocate for The Jed Foundation – looking after emotional health and suicide prevention.

Listen to Everything You Need Is Within on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps >>
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]]>The post THE GOOD SAMARITAN // Race Reflections’ AT WORK appeared first on POD BIBLE.
]]>RRAW: From the very first episode, we have dived deeply into topics such as racial trauma, joy as a form of resistance and the psychological framework of race-based traumatic stress. More recently we have discussed the concepts of scapegoating and aversive racism whilst also addressing topical issues such as the mistreatment of the Black players in the England team after the Euro 2020 Final. Racial trauma in the workplace is an issue not often reflected upon.
RRAW: Race Reflections is a fast-growing social enterprise dedicated to tackling inequality, injustice and oppression in society. We provide this through various activities including organisational consultancy, training, community engagement and content creation. Founder and Head Disruptor, Guilaine Kinouani – author of Living While Black – decided to introduce a podcast that addresses the psychological impact of racism and racial trauma in the daily lived experience of black people.
RRAW: Race Reflections’ AT WORK brings the same engaging, stimulating and supportive content found on our membership platform, but in a free audible form. We hope that this podcast provides a place of sanctuary.
We talk about issues concerning Black people but also speak to issues that include people of colour generally and people marginalised in other ways. Tuning in provides you with an opportunity for reflection and exploration for and with people that want to be active participants in the conversation for change.
RRAW: Visit our website: racereflections.co.uk – you will find a variety of membership options. Spreading the word and the link to a podcast episode that you enjoyed is also appreciated! We love to hear from our listeners and your ideas for future episodes can be submitted to contact@racereflections.co.uk.
‘AT WORK’, as the name suggests, focuses on inequality, injustice, and oppression AT WORK and is solution-focused. What more can we all do? Acknowledge our complicity and recognise that it’s important to think beyond interpersonal issues, considering cultural and structural issues as well to promote the well-being of staff of colour and marginalised people in our communities.
We have several exciting changes in the upcoming months as we begin to welcome different voices and perspectives to the podcast. We will be inviting exciting speakers including artists and authors from marginalised groups to add to our discussions; covering topics like the success of Black pound day, ‘taking up space’ as a black person in a social setting, and employment barriers across different industries.

Listen to Race Reflections’ AT WORK on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other podcast apps. For press enquiries, contact: dionne@racereflections.co.uk. To find out more, visit: racereflections.co.uk.
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]]>The post THE GOOD SAMARITAN // Insane In The Fem Brain appeared first on POD BIBLE.
]]>How do you go about bettering an already popular and very respected podcast? Well, comedian Rich Wilson has done just that. His show, Insane In The Men Brain has addressed men’s mental health since the start of 2019 with an array of guests who have openly spoken about their mental health journeys, but now Rich takes on a new spin-off project in the form of Insane In The Fem Brain.
RW: Well, Fem Brain came from a conversation I had with Jayde Adams. Jayde was of the opinion that although I’m not completely in the dark, I maybe didn’t know as much as I thought I did about women – so I decided that the only way to learn more was to go and talk to women, particularly strong, successful women that have got where they wanted to be even though the world is still a very male dominated place. It’s been truly enlightening and I’ve really enjoyed recording the episodes.
RW: The whole point of my podcasts is that I’m learning things. I’m talking to people from different backgrounds, different classes, different faiths, different cultures because I want to know more. It’s all about the guests that I have in, not a platform for me to bang on about myself. I feel so different to how I did when I first started. I just feel I understand people a lot more and I’ve come to realise that everyone, no matter where they’re from, is just figuring it all out as we go along. Nobody really knows what’s going on nor does anyone have any answers.
RW: I’d just love to reach more people and not from a “I want to be famous” kind of way. I get so many messages from people who’ve said that my podcasts have really helped them which blows my mind so if that’s the case, I’d love to help more people.
RW: Stigmas are being lifted – but we still need to do more. We may not be the generation that benefits from it but future generations will and this is why it’s important that we’ve started this, and also why it’s important that we carry on. The world is a mad old place and you’d have to be made of stone for it not to affect you, but if we keep talking to each other, at least we can help each other through.
Rich would like to raise awareness of the National Suicide Prevention Alliance, an alliance of public, private, voluntary and community organisations in England who care about suicide prevention and are willing to take action to reduce suicide and support those affected by suicide. www.nspa.org.uk.

Listen to Insane In The Fem Brain on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps.
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]]>The post THE GOOD SAMARITAN // Russell Kane’s Man Baggage appeared first on POD BIBLE.
]]>Do men really talk? We’re currently facing a major mental health challenge in society with suicide being the biggest killer of men
under the age of 45, so what can we do to make sure we’re really airing our thoughts and fears?
Comedian Russell Kane hosts the podcast Man Baggage where he talks to celebrities and an array of people in efforts to tussle with the real problems that men face. So, how does Russell personally feel about male mental health and how does he like to handle the subject?
RK: Men’s mental health – it’s an iceberg problem. Most of it is hidden – and incredibly deadly. There is a space to use humour and banter to get a certain type of man to engage. That’s the area I’m interested in.
There’s a new episode each Tuesday where Russell leaves no topic off the table! The podcast was previously titled Boys Don’t Cry and this title also perfectly summarised many of the issues that the podcast is inherently about. At what point did Russell personally decide that he wanted to do more for men’s mental health?
RK: When I saw, finally, that the long needed conversation around men’s mental health was beginning – but that it was somewhat dominated by worthiness. There is nothing wrong with worthiness – but a certain type of working-class man is put off by the seriousness of it.
The Russell Kane’s Man Baggage podcast blurb rather wonderfully says it all:
“Russell and his guests explore all the uncomfortable and anxiety-inducing conversations that usually make men run for the door by doing what blokes do best – make daft jokes about them.
Are men biologically more reckless? Are women naturally more assertive than men? Should all men wear a watch? Thought provoking, insightful and laugh out loud funny, Man Baggage takes you to all the best places.”
As Russell points out, as the host he tries to make the conversations funny, accessible and engaging so that we can all partake in the themes. It’s often the case that men can avoid emotional baggage, hence the need for the podcast – what are his personal highlights?
RK: Easily – the episode about heights. I cannot believe what a divisive topic it is to men and women, to reflect on how tall they are, and how much insecurity and toxicity lies beneath it.
What more can we do – what advice would Russell personally give to make sure that we carry on these conversations?
The number one piece of advice I gave to all blokes is check in twice. Most men will tell you everything is okay, so you’re gonna need to be a little bit annoying when you’re checking in with a friend you’re worrying about. Don’t worry about being annoying, you might save his life.
Listen to Russell Kane’s Man Baggage now on Apple podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts.

This article was first written in August 2021 and featured in Issue #016 of the Pod Bible Magazine. Subscribe to the magazine so you never miss an issue.
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]]>The post THE GOOD SAMARITAN // Out with Suzi Ruffell appeared first on POD BIBLE.
]]>Comedian Suzi Ruffell is no stranger to the podcast world; her show Like Minded Friends with co-host and friend Tom Allen has proved very popular and funny, often talking about the strangest topics.

Suzi has now released a new podcast called Out with Suzi Ruffell with the intention of speaking to inspirational figures from the LGBTQ+ community. Still in its first season, Suzi has already hosted some emotional conversations with truly fascinating guests, and she had a clear idea from the outset of what she wanted to create.
I really wanted to create a podcast that had a hopeful and positive message about being queer. There is a long tradition in the LGBT+ community of people sharing their coming out story, I thought a podcast would be a great way to share those stories and celebrate the guests journeys from realising they were different to finding their place in the world. I noticed there wasn’t anything quite like what I wanted to do so I just went for it. It was probably only about two months from first speaking to the team at Keep It Light Productions before the first episode came out.
Not only has the LGBTQ+ audience responded well, but Suzi is keen to point out that all ears have turned towards the podcast and its engaging chats.
I’ve loved creating this show and the listener reaction has been brilliant, part of the show is sharing audience correspondence and I have been blown away by how many people have got in touch. It has also reached beyond the queer community and I have received so many emails from straight people who have loved and been inspired by the guests on the show.
Like many podcasters, Suzi has had some personal thrills in producing the series, and she’s been shown wonderful hospitality too…
I have been so lucky with guests, an Oscar winner, a Bafta winner, notable broadcasters, writers, comedians, activists, and a Baroness Pretty impressive for series one. I can’t pick a favourite, they were all brilliant and special. The first episode I recorded was Dustin Lance Black, he won an Oscar for the film Milk, which is one of my favourite films. Dustin is also an activist who has always fought for the rights of the oppressed. Spending an hour listening to him and his story confirmed to me we were making something pretty special. Also the amount of beautiful listener stories we have received and folk telling me what the podcast means to them has been very humbling. I just want to keep creating a show that is thoughtful and funny and that people enjoy. I already have the beginnings of a very exciting line up for series 2.
Suzi would like to raise awareness to akt, a charity that supports young people from the LGBTQ+ community in the UK who experience homelessness or hostile living environments, lending support via safe homes and employment, education or training, not to mention a welcoming and open environment that celebrates LGBTQ+ identities.
Out with Suzie Ruffle is now in it’s third season. You can listen now on ACAST, SPOTIFY or your favourite podcast app.
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]]>The post THE GOOD SAMARITAN // Mentally Yours appeared first on POD BIBLE.
]]>Mental health is an issue that we’re all beginning to talk more about, but what exactly gave Yvette and Ellen the seeds of inspiration to start a podcast about mental health?
Yvette: Both Ellen and I have long term mental health issues, we know how isolating it can feel. We’ve both written about mental health and this felt like the next step. We’ve covered everything from schizophrenia to anxiety and borderline personality, and we’ve had celebrity guests including Ruby Wax, Audley Harrison, Kelly Holmes and Rose McGowan.
Ellen: Back in 2017, when we started the podcast, I was in the middle of a personal series about my own mental health journey, called Getting Better, and the response was incredible. I was getting messages every day from people thanking me for speaking up and saying that as a result of my articles they had gone to the doctor and finally asked for help, so podcasting felt like the perfect medium because it’s intimate. You can hear people telling their stories in their words.
Y: I’ll never forget our first Mentally Yours Live – a panel event in which top speakers Natasha Devon, Matthew Todd, Carl Anka and Dr Pragya Agarwal discussed mental health and work. We had a great turnout and it was brilliant to meet listeners in person. One listener in particular said it had really helped her when she was off work, which meant a lot.
E: My favourite episodes are always the ones where we talk to someone with a radically different experience to our own. Talking about mental illness when you yourself are struggling can bring up a lot of emotional stuff and it can be draining. I’ve recorded some episodes then gone home and cried because it resonated too much. I’ve had to learn how to decompress after each episode and be aware that listening is emotionally challenging.
Y: I’d love to have Mariah Carey on. She has bipolar disorder and it would be interesting to hear how she’s managed it throughout her life and career. I’m a huge fan too, so I’d just like an excuse to talk to her to be honest.
E: I would love to cover psychopathy. It’s another area that I have preconceptions about that I would love to have challenged, and ‘psychopath’ is such a strong label that it would be so powerful to have someone come on, say they identify with that label, and explain what it means to me
Y: As well as more great guests and interesting topics I’d love to host more live events and to also do some episodes out on location too. There’s a lot of great projects going on and it would be good to go to them if we can.
E: I’d like to chat to someone in the government and funding side of things to get their perspective on why on earth mental health care still isn’t being properly funded. We’ve had a mental health nurse, and someone who set up a ‘poetry pharmacy’ to prescribe poems to people struggling – I like what we’re doing at the moment, which is coming at mental illness from different angles.
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Listen to Mentally Yours, on ACAST, SPOTIFY and OTHER PLATFORMS. Read more Good Samaritan articles in the Pod Bible magazine, which you can read online or buy in our shop.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram so you don’t miss the rest of our recommendations for podcasts about mental health.
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]]>The post THE GOOD SAMARITAN // Stroke Stories appeared first on POD BIBLE.
]]>After broadcaster Mark Goodier suffered a stroke in 2016, he found that there weren’t too many resources to help survivors, this led him to set up Stroke Stories, a podcast dedicated to those who have lived-experiences.

STROKE STORIES: There weren’t many resources that were available to help stroke survivors during their recovery. Also, once a stroke survivor is away from constant medical supervision, and their friends and family return to their normal, daily lives, it can be a lonely time. The podcast is there to fill in that gap: to give stroke survivors an opportunity to tell their story in their own words, and in doing so providing insight and support to other survivors.
SS: The podcast is there as a resource for survivors and their families. Often, the stories will involve the guest telling us about their stroke and aftermath, the challenges that they faced while recovering, and their tips and advice that they pass on to other survivors. A universal theme from all of our stories is that sometimes getting your life back takes time but for most people, a rewarding and fulfilling life is very achievable. A stroke can be an incredibly isolating experience, and the feedback we’ve had suggests that having these stories readily available can help survivors realise that they aren’t alone in the world.
SS: Every 6 seconds, someone will suffer a stroke. That’s 15 million people every year, and roughly a third of those will die from their stroke. The majority of the rest will be left with disabilities that they will often carry with them for the rest of their life. Strokes can happen to anyone at any age. Because stroke is so widespread and can affect such a large cross section of the world’s population, we want to feature as many people from the widest possible range of ages, backgrounds, and locations.
SS: The good news is there are things that we can do that can decrease risk: maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet. Keeping a check on the amount of alcohol we consume and the amount of exercise that we do, getting enough sleep at night, and managing your work/personal life properly to ensure that you aren’t consumed by stress.
SS: Something else that is important is understanding how difficult life post-stroke can be for a survivor. If they are left with mobility, speech, or fatigue issues then they can often find themselves out of work and less able to navigate the day to day. If you know, or are related to a stroke survivor, then doing something as simple as sending a text or calling them up to check on how they can really make a difference in their recovery.
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Listen to Stroke Stories on ACAST, SPOTIFY and OTHER PLATFORMS. Read more Good Samaritan articles in the Pod Bible magazine, which you can read online or buy in our shop.
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]]>The post THE GOOD SAMARITAN // Learning To Adult Slowly appeared first on POD BIBLE.
]]>Podcasts have become a hub for entertainment and amusement, or indeed a place of learning, but they’ve also taken on a role of outreach. There are certain challenges that we collectively face in today’s world, but podcasts are putting conversations on a global stage. We now have a whole sector with a social conscience in the podcast world. Pod Bible aims to shine a spotlight on these causes.

Learning To Adult Slowly is a podcast hosted by rap artist Professor Green and its aim is to address the many aspects faced by men today, such as body image, mental health, grief, and resilience. Produced by The Book of Man, a website that aims to open up the dialogue around mental health – and for which Professor Green is a columnist – the Learning to Adult Slowly podcast is a natural spin-off. So how did it all come about?
Martin Robinson, founder and editor of The Book of Man explains why he initially took such an interest in our collective mental health.
“I had the idea for it after losing my previous magazine job and finding myself at home, discovering the joys of being a stay at home Dad, but also quite isolated and bewildered and emotionally bruised. It occurred to me that there was nothing out there to really support men internally as well as externally – nothing genuinely dealing with the ‘masculinity crisis’, which wasn’t just a pop culture joke but a genuine result of a digital age shifting in social roles at home and work, exacerbated by recession and resulting in terrifying figures for male suicide, mental health issues, addiction, violence, sexual dysfunction, and eating disorders.”
The figures speak for themselves. The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is a support network for mental health and according to their website suicide is the single biggest killer of men aged under 45 in the UK. In 2015, 75% of all UK suicides were male. During a live recording of Learning to Adult Slowly, with guests consisting of Scroobius Pip, comedian Kelly Convey, and CALM CEO Simon Gunning, the panel were keen to point out that males under the age of 45 are statistically more likely to be at risk from dying due to self-harm than any other way, including road traffic deaths. What can we do to keep the conversation going?
Martin Robinson says:
“Having Professor Green as our columnist on Book of Man and also the host of the Learning to Adult Slowly podcast has been wonderful in exemplifying the kind of issues we want to deal with – the issues that aren’t better left unsaid. His writing about grief, meds, violence, fear, vulnerability, is remarkable and much needed. But bringing that into the podcast arena has given it another dimension, as well as a bigger repeat audience. Real conversations with people on these areas really makes them hit home. And you realise everyone has in some way been affected by such matters. The mere fact that you can listen to people talking about the most difficult moments in their life is remarkable. The reaction we had was immediate and positive”
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