Mental Health Awareness Week was this week. Now, I don\u2019t know about you, but I always get a bit cynical about themed weeks <\/em>such as this. Talking about our mental health is important, but funding and resources matter so much more<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That being said, there has been some great audio recently that talks about how to deal with your mental health in a practical way. Baby On The Brain<\/strong><\/a>, a podcast that explores all <\/em>the emotions following the news of a pregnancy, joined forces with Dope Black Mums<\/strong><\/a> to explore the mental health issues faced by Black mothers and mothers-to-be, which has been complicated by the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bottoming<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>the LGBTQ+ mental health podcast, recently did a helpful episode that looked at all of the different roots you can take into therapy, from the NHS to charity to going private, with special guests from each route. Self Care Club<\/strong><\/a> have also done a special about the mental health warning signs we should all look out for (one sign: \u201cdo we have a sustained period where our ability to function and carry on everyday tasks of normal life is affected?\u201d<\/em> said guest and counsellor Kate Medlin<\/strong><\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few months ago we recommended the BBC Radio 1 Life Hacks<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>podcast, presented by Vick Hope and Katie Thistleton. They have just released a new batch of episodes covering workplace topics, many of which are mental health related. Topics include how to build self-confidence<\/strong><\/a> in your own ability and how to recover from rejection<\/strong><\/a>. Off-topic, there was an interesting discussion on the rising popularity of side-hustles<\/strong><\/a> too. \u201cI think a lot of people are getting into [side hustles] for a number of reasons,\u201d <\/em>explained careers coach Jaz Broughton. \u201cPartly because we realise that it is setting ourselves up for disappointment sometimes to expect our entire career fulfillment to come from one particular company and one particular role. I think we\u2019re also realising that we\u2019re a lot more talented than we realise.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n GUESTS ON PODCASTS THIS WEEK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have heard a great guest on a podcast, please let us know! Fill in <\/strong>this form<\/strong><\/a> and it might get featured in an upcoming newsletter.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are our podcast picks for the week ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want your podcast featured, or you have a great recommendation, all you need to do is fill in this <\/strong>simple form<\/strong><\/a> and might get featured in a future newsletter.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Human Resources<\/strong><\/a> – <\/strong>Moya Lothian-McLean is the host of this new illuminating series exploring our historic links to the transatlantic slave trade. Its purpose is to highlight how slavery touched every part of the nation, not just the areas you have heard about before or would expect. \u201cI just want to learn the truth,\u201d <\/em>says Moya at the start of the episode, \u201cabout how the British slave trade shaped my past – our past – and our present.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n To prove this point, the story starts in Moya\u2019s home county of Herefordshire. In particular, a school that has links to Britain\u2019s first slave trader. The series has a lot of strengths: its intention, its research and its production. A recommended listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Write-Off with Francesca Steele<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>– Every writer has experienced failure. You wouldn\u2019t be a writer without one \u2013 from failed pitches, to failed projects. In this podcast you\u2019ll hear stories from writers who have suffered and struggled, but have managed to come out the other side with considerable advice. Rejection and failure podcasts are all the rage at the moment, so it\u2019s great to know that there\u2019s now podcasts with tailored advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spotify Podcast of the Week<\/strong> – Brydon &<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong> Rob is joined by fellow Welshman Rhys Ifans on this week’s Brydon &. They discuss Rhys’ erring on the side of danger and how that’s shaped where he is today – in both his work and personal life. He talks about appearing in a movie with another great Welshman, Sir Anthony Hopkins, and tells a story involving yet another Cymru legend, Sir Tom Jones. Possibly the Welshest podcast you’ll hear all week! <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Retrospectors<\/strong><\/a> – <\/strong>Want to go beyond your Timehop app to find out all of the things that have happened on exactly this date? This new history podcast out every weekday, notes anniversaries, celebrates birthdays, remembers tragedies and reminds you of all of those news events you may have forgotten about. I particularly like the varied stories that they like to choose, from the story of Alcoholics Anonymous<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>to the life and impact of the \u2018filth\u2019 TV campaigner Mary Whitehouse<\/strong><\/a> (without her, we probably wouldn\u2019t have had Ofcom). This is the podcast equivalent of falling deep into a Wikipedia hole. It\u2019s presented by Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina and Arion McNicoll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Graham Norton Book Club<\/strong><\/a> – <\/strong>It feels as if Book Clubs are all the rage at the moment. Now Graham Norton, who is also a bestselling novelist, has got his own. He\u2019s joined by the journalist Alex Clark and the writer Sara Collins to review and talk about interesting book releases, but he\u2019s also joined with guest contributors from all over the country to talk about their favourites too. As a result, it feels like a book club should.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you would expect from Norton, the podcast is a witty and breezy listen, with more than ten books mentioned in the opening episode alone. I should mention though that the podcast is only available if you are an Audible subscriber, which means that it isn\u2019t free to listen, but at least each publication mentioned in the book has been linked to an audiobook version on their website, which means you can get into the book straightaway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just before we go, a reminder that Great British Podcast newsletter subscribers can get a discount at the upcoming podcasting conference Podcast Day 24<\/strong><\/a>. Taking place on the 7th June (and a conference that you can watch from the comfort of your own home), speakers include some of the most notable names from the podcasting industry in the UK, US and Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n