HAVE YOU HEARD?

Don’t Let Dave Win: Talks about tackle the negative inner voice

Published on February 17, 2023

Have You Heard? is where the Pod Bible team meet the people behind the podcasts you may not have heard of yet. This time we’re speaking to Abbie Atkinson about her new podcast about how to tackle your negative inner voice, Don’t Let Dave Win…

Who are you and what’s your podcast about?

I’m Abbie Atkinson, an early career actor from Harrogate in North Yorkshire. My podcast Don’t Let Dave Win is about opening up the conversation surrounding mental health within the arts industry. ‘Dave’ is the nickname I have given to my negative inner voice. I named the voice in order to humanise it and make it seem less intimidating. So in each episode, I chat to a guest who works within the creative industry about their inner voice, how they combat it, and whether theirs has a name!

Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place? What was it about the medium that felt right for this project?

I decided to start this podcast to create change within the arts industry. I was having a lot of really important conversations in private with fellow actors about mental health and what needs to change within the industry to better support people. These conversations felt too important to keep private, so I decided to start recording them. The podcast medium felt right for these conversations because I wanted to give my guests the freedom to chat in whichever way felt the most comfortable – whether that be in person, over a video call, or over an audio call. As a medium, it allows for flexibility in that aspect.

Did you take inspiration from any other podcasts?

I took some inspiration from Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place. I discovered Happy Place when I was in a really dark headspace and it helped me to feel uplifted and to be reminded that I’m not alone in feeling this way. This is one of my key aims with my podcast – to create a safe space in which listeners can feel that they are not alone. Especially in the world of the arts, because it can be a very lonely place.

Who’s your dream guest for the podcast?

My dream guest would be Fearne Cotton because her podcast was the first one I started listening to religiously, and because of the influence it’s had on my own work.

You’re an actor used to playing other people – how have you found it being yourself as the host?

I’ve actually really enjoyed being myself as a podcast host. It’s scary, not having a character to hide behind, but it’s been very liberating too. I’m usually an introvert, so it’s been a good challenge for me to speak openly and honestly, and to prove to myself that I am enough. I don’t need to be a character, or to learn a script, in order to have something to say.