What is Peer Support, Really?

Stigma and Shame

This week Katie, Emma and Danny get into stigma and shame — what they actually are, how they show up in daily life, and how exhausting it is to constantly manage how you're perceived. They get honest about their own relationships with shame, whether that's avoiding certain situations entirely, policing what you share with services, or just never quite knowing when it's safe to tell your story. They also get into why so many anti-stigma campaigns fall flat, the role power plays in all of this, and why real change isn't really about educating individuals one by one. Brought to you by Imroc [https://www.imroc.org/].

Who gets to say Madness Part 2

In this second part, Katie, Emma, and Danny turn inward — exploring what madness feels like from the inside, and what it has to teach us. From madness as protector to madness as identity, the conversation gets personal and philosophical. They dig into the myth of mental illness, the power of metaphor in extreme experiences, and whether "getting better" means leaving your mad self behind — or learning to live alongside her.

Who gets to say Madness Part 1

Let's be honest about madness!Join Katie, Emma, and Danny as they swap stories about their "mad selves" not as enemies to overcome, but as protectors, box-smashers, and core parts of who they are. Time to dig into identity, metaphor, the myth of mental illness, and why "getting better" isn't always the win it's cracked up to be. Find out more about Imroc https://www.imroc.org/ [https://www.imroc.org/]

What is Peer Support, Really?

What actually counts as peer support? In this episode of Lived Experience Lounge, we explore the origins, evolution, and tensions within peer support in mental health. From grassroots activism and survivor-led movements to its integration into modern services, we ask: what makes peer support distinct, and what risks emerge as it becomes professionalised? We reflect on peer support as both a philosophy and a practice, rooted in shared experience, relational connection, and intentional storytelling. Is it defined by lived experience alone, or by the skills, boundaries, and values that shape how that experience is used? This becomes a conversation about power, connection, and care, and what happens when something deeply human meets a system that struggles to understand what peer support can offer. We discuss: * The historical roots of peer support, from activism to modern services * What defines a “peer” and who gets to claim that identity * Peer support as relational practice vs professional role * The tension between grassroots values and system integration * The risks of commodification, burnout, and loss of authenticity * Why peer support is hard to measure, yet deeply impactful * The role of training, boundaries, and intentional storytelling * How shared experience creates safety, connection, and possibility Lived Experience Lounge is an Imroc podcast hosted by Emma Watson, Danny Bowyer and Katie Mottram. Imroc is a mental health charity based in England focused on transforming systems and communities by centring lived experience. Its work spans peer support, recovery colleges, research and evaluation, community development, and relational approaches to care. To learn more, visit imroc.org or follow Imroc on LinkedIn.

What Counts as Lived Experience?

What do we really mean when we talk about “lived experience”? In this episode of Lived Experience Lounge, we explore the philosophical roots, political dimensions, and practical realities of lived experience in mental health. Is it simply experience that has been labelled or diagnosed? Is it embodied knowledge? Is it an identity, a role, a form of power, or all of the above? We reflect on lived experience as a way of knowing, the tensions between professional and peer identities, and the risks of hierarchy and competition within lived experience spaces. We also ask what distinguishes lived experience leadership from compassionate, values-based leadership more broadly. This is a conversation about embodiment, power, storytelling, systems, and the responsibility that comes with turning experience into influence. We discuss: * The philosophical roots of lived experience * Embodied knowledge vs objective knowledge * Lived experience as identity and as expertise * Hierarchies and competitiveness within lived experience spaces * The difference between “peer” and “lived experience” roles * Emotional labour and the performance of lived experience * Leadership, power and co-production * How collective change might reduce the need for new lived experience Lived Experience Lounge is an Imroc podcast hosted by Emma Watson, Danny Bowyer and Katie Mottram. Imroc is a mental health charity based in England focused on transforming systems and communities by centring lived experience. Its work spans peer support, recovery colleges, research and evaluation, community development, and relational approaches to care. To learn more, visit imroc.org or follow Imroc on LinkedIn.