Emotionally Speaking

Peter and Sally share a moment on their thoughts on November.

Parenting is one of life’s roller coaster journeys; from the highs of precious moments and loving family rituals, to the lows of tested patience and frazzled nerves, it can bring out the best and worst in us.In this episode, broadcaster, writer and children’s therapist, Kate Silverton shares how bringing an understanding of neuroscience can help tame our emotional reactions to bring more empathy and better communication to family relationships.(Photo credit: 'Olivia Spencer Photography')

Professor Sir Andrew Pollard is a world-renowned expert in paediatrics and immunology. From early 2020 he played a leading role in the effort to find a vaccine for the coronavirus. Along with his colleagues at Oxford University, he led the roll out of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Andrew tells Peter Leonard about dealing with the stresses of leading such an important project and how he coped doing this under the glare of the world’s media.

Writer and coach Andrew Kauffmann was raised in a loving family, but as a young, gay man in the early 90s, he struggled with self-acceptance and his mental health. He sought the approval of his dad, but felt like he could never quite measure up. When his mum died aged only 50, his family constellation was forever changed. Then later, as an adult, Andrew made a life changing sacrifice to extend his father’s life.Andrew’s path through adulthood is defined by the challenges, joys, devastation and transformational power of parental relationships, and he shares his inspiring and thoughtful story with Peter Leonard.

Imam Monawar Hussain was the first Muslim chaplain for the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust working across four major hospitals. He was also the first Muslim Faith Tutor at Eton College. During the coronavirus pandemic Monawar found the trickle of bad news took its toll, and he had to stop work and seek counselling. Monawar’s family, friends and community were integral to his recovery. He tells Peter Leonard how rediscovering TV comedies brought laughter back into his life and why he’s so grateful his friends made him leave the house to spend time with them.

In July 1996, a man wielding a machete ran into a playground in Wolverhampton. 21-year old nursery teacher Lisa Potts was seriously injured when she put herself between the children in her care and her attacker. Her life changed in an instant. Lisa tells Peter Leonard about that day and the whirlwind of the first few years of recovery when her emotional resilience was tested. She explains why learning to “make your mind your friend” saved her and why it is the best advice she can give to the parents she works with in her role as a community health visitor. *This episode contains graphic descriptions of the violent attack that Lisa experienced.

Comedian, presenter, writer and campaigner Ruby Wax has been very public about her mental health. Her most recent book “I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was” (2023) details a severe breakdown which, after 12 years of good health, she didn’t see coming. In the book Ruby sets off on a series of journeys to try and find “inner peace” including a 30-day silent retreat, swimming with whales, visiting a refugee camp and staying at a Christian monastery. It’s during one of these trips that she suddenly realises she needs help and she describes what it was like being admitted to a mental health institution for treatment. In a frank discussion with Peter Leonard, Ruby discusses the depths of her depression and recovery. She explains why using this very personal experience in her writing and performance is an important part of her mental health awareness campaigning. Ruby set up the charity Frazzled Cafe 7 years ago. It’s an online support group where anyone can talk in a safe, non-judgemental space about their emotional and mental health and how they’re really feeling. She believes that to be heard is half the cure. You can find out more information at frazzledcafe.org *This episode contains strong language and explores what it’s like to live with a mental health disease.

Conductor and broadcaster Ben Gernon remembers a significant moment aged 21 when he had a panic attack in the middle of a performance. He tells Peter Leonard about learning to deal with anxiety and how opening up about it stops it getting ‘out of whack’.