Loneliness, Self-talk, and belonging.

Loneliness in grief, how it affects us and how to deal with it

We sit down with Tania to talk about something many of us avoid: grief. After the sudden loss of her wife Charlotte in February 2024, Tania found herself navigating unimaginable change — from the practical realities of loss to the emotional weight of loneliness, identity shifts, and rebuilding a life that no longer looks the way it once did. This is an honest, powerful conversation about what grief really feels like — especially when it happens young — and why it’s something society still struggles to talk about.

Psychological Safety & Growth: What Organisations Still Get Wrong

In this episode, we’re joined by Julie, whose career spans teaching, mental health services, and university change leadership. Drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience of mental health challenges, Julie shares what it really takes to build confidence, resilience, and growth in the workplace. We explore why psychological safety isn’t just a buzzword, but a foundation for learning, innovation, and honest conversations especially during times of change. Julie explains why leaders don’t need all the answers, and how vulnerability, transparency, and co-creation can empower teams rather than unsettle them. The conversation also dives into learning and development, challenging the idea that growth comes from courses alone. Instead, we unpack the importance of everyday learning, softer skills, and environments where people feel safe to speak up, make mistakes, and develop at their own pace. We also tackle: * Why lived experience matters as much as formal expertise * How organisations often get staff development wrong * The hidden risks of promoting technical experts into people management roles * How AI is changing the workplace—and how to embrace it without fear * Why confidence is a skill you can learn, not something you’re born with Ultimately, this episode is a powerful reminder that when organisations invest in people—through trust, support, and meaningful development—they unlock not just performance, but real human potential. Stay tuned for the next episode, where we’ll explore how to develop leaders who truly empower others and support teams through change.

AI, Loneliness & the Quiet Crisis We’re Not Talking About

Technology promises connection, yet more people than ever report feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or emotionally unsupported. In this episode, Nina sits down with data scientist and AI specialist Vasilij Nevlev to explore one of the most urgent questions of our time:   Is AI helping us combat loneliness — or quietly making it worse?  From digital companionship to therapy chatbots, from overreliance to addiction, Nina and Vasilij unpack how AI is reshaping emotional life in ways most of us haven’t even noticed yet. Vasilij shares real examples, emerging research, and what he’s seeing first hand in the UK: young people turning to AI for therapy, adults substituting relationships with chatbots, and the societal risks of change moving faster than regulation.  But this is not a fear based conversation.  It’s an invitation to rethink how we build real connection, what healthy AI use looks like, and why ancient wisdom yes, Stoicism might be more relevant than ever.

The Grind Behind the Smile: Men’s Mental Health in Focus

In this powerful episode of Modern Day Issues We Love to Ignore, we sit down with Ant Willis — host of The Grind Diaries — to explore the side of men’s mental health that often goes unseen. Ant opens up about the invisible pressures many men carry: the expectation to provide, the fear of appearing weak, the impact of social media, and the confusion around what it really means to “man up.” With raw honesty, Ant discusses daily anxiety, the importance of small wins, why exercise can change everything, and how open conversations can prevent isolation. Together, we unpack stigma, masculinity, identity, loneliness, and the unexpected strength in saying “I’m struggling.” This is an episode for men, women, partners, parents, and anyone who wants to understand the unseen emotional world many men live in.

Loneliness, Mindfulness Meditation and Self-compassion

In this episode of Modern Day Issues we Love To Ignore , we explore how the way we speak to ourselves shapes our confidence, resilience, and overall well-being. Host Nina Kelly is joined once again by clinical psychologist James Southwood and person-centered psychotherapist Angela Whitmore to discuss the transformative power of positive self-talk and why cultivating a sense of belonging is essential for mental health. From quieting the inner critic to practicing realistic affirmations, and from celebrating small wins to finding our place in community, this conversation offers both practical tools and fresh insights. Whether you struggle with self-doubt or simply want to strengthen your self-esteem, this episode will encourage you to be kinder to yourself and remind you that you don’t have to walk through life alone.