Skip to main content
We Are What We Overcome

We Are What We Overcome

By We Are What We Overcome

3 friends keeping it together by checking in on our mental health, discussing and sharing wellbeing ideas and issues. Join us for a warm, thoughtful, and heartfelt chat. Watch our episodes on YouTube!
Available on
Amazon Music Logo
Apple Podcasts Logo
Castbox Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Grief and Loss – We Are What We Overcome Episode 005

We Are What We OvercomeApr 30, 2020

00:00
01:05:14
A Dip in the Sea – We Are What We Overcome Episode 035

A Dip in the Sea – We Are What We Overcome Episode 035

We've been on the move, right back to Edinburgh where it all began... This time we've had a couple of days at the Festival Fringe and while there we met up with the Edinburgh Blue Balls to join them on their weekly dip in the sea at Portobello beach! Blue Balls is a group for men to find community and the (potentially rather cold) swim is an opportunity to support each other and improve our mental and physical health. We like to swim, but do we like to swim off the Scottish coast...?

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Aug 18, 202334:01
Brain Fog – We Are What We Overcome Episode 034

Brain Fog – We Are What We Overcome Episode 034

This time we're talking about brain fog - a curious phenomenon that affects lots of different people in different ways and for a variety of reasons. Sometimes we're overloaded, sometimes we just can't think straight. Let's talk about why, and how we dispel the fog.
Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.
Aug 04, 202335:05
Big Fat Check-In – We Are What We Overcome Episode 033

Big Fat Check-In – We Are What We Overcome Episode 033

It's been a busy year so far and it's kept the three of us apart more than usual. The only solution is spending some more time finding out how we're doing at the moment. Lots of dealing with various stresses, working hard on sleeping, and managing the sheer wealth of stuff - good and bad - that life throws at us.

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.
Jul 09, 202336:04
Long Check-In – We Are What We Overcome Episode 032

Long Check-In – We Are What We Overcome Episode 032

Sometimes we just need to talk for a while about how we feel and what’s going on with us. This is one of those times. With Wez away on magical duties, Matt and Nick began talking about friendship, but ended up having a much longer mental health check-in than usual.

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Feb 28, 202341:48
Health Part Two – We Are What We Overcome Episode 031

Health Part Two – We Are What We Overcome Episode 031

The boys get together to talk about physical health, fitness and its effect on mental health. We’re all at different levels of fitness and interest in exercise, though we seem to have sprouted some unexpected new year’s resolutions (not that we’d admit to them, of course).

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Feb 03, 202339:06
Health – We Are What We Overcome Episode 030

Health – We Are What We Overcome Episode 030

We were slightly delayed in recording this episode because of a health problem, so it seemed fitting that we talk about it. Much of our discussion is about Matt’s recent heart attack, how it made him feel, and the impacts of health  – good and bad – on us and those around us. 

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Jan 11, 202339:39
Time – We Are What We Overcome Episode 029

Time – We Are What We Overcome Episode 029

In this episode we’re talking about time (and using the word “time” far too many times). All of memories and much of how our modern life is organised and driven are rooted in time. We talk about how we feel about time, the mental health issues where time seems to have an effect, whether it’s OK to be late for meetings, but also how our relationship with time has changed as we’ve gotten older. It’s a strange elastic thing that controls our lives and it can be hard to get a grip on.

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.9

Dec 04, 202235:16
Sleep – We Are What We Overcome Episode 028

Sleep – We Are What We Overcome Episode 028

We do it every night, and are supposed to spend up to one third of our whole lives doing it, but catching a good night’s sleep can be really difficult. And when we don’t get enough sleep, everything seems to harder. This time we’re talking about sleep – whether we manage to get enough, what happens to us when we don’t, and what we can do to ensure we catch as many Zs as possible.

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Oct 30, 202238:52
The Traumatising World – We Are What We Overcome Episode 027
Oct 02, 202237:52
At Edinburgh Festival Fringe – We Are What We Overcome Episode 026

At Edinburgh Festival Fringe – We Are What We Overcome Episode 026

We met up at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where Matt is performing his acclaimed one-man mental health music and spoken word show. Among the many shows at the Fringe is Man Shed, a dramatised one-man play inspired by the international Men’s Shed organisation. We sat down outside the Symposium Hall with the playwright Euan Martin and actor Ron Emslie to talk about these two shows, their mental health themes and what it’s like to do a show rooted in trauma.

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Links:

Men’s Shed UK: https://menssheds.org.uk/

Man Shed: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/man-shed - at the Pleasant Courtyard, 14:15 till 29 August

Matt’s show, We Are What We Overcome: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/we-are-what-we-overcome - at theSpace @ Symposium Hall till 27 August

 

Aug 22, 202234:51
Being in the Moment – We Are What We Overcome Episode 025

Being in the Moment – We Are What We Overcome Episode 025

Both the past and the future are filled with things to think about, fret about, and hope for. Sometimes those  thoughts can be intensely distracting, and take us away from being in the present. Being in the moment means different things to each of us, but for all us it’s a way to pay more attention to ourselves, to those we’re with, and to appreciate what we have.

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Aug 01, 202233:34
Happiness – We Are What We Overcome Episode 024

Happiness – We Are What We Overcome Episode 024

Are you happy? It’s a harder question to answer than we think. Overloaded with expectations, ambitions and comparing ourselves with others, we dive into a discussion about something that we’re all “supposed” to be aiming for: happiness. 

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Jul 05, 202244:22
Being Opened Up To – We Are What We Overcome Episode 023

Being Opened Up To – We Are What We Overcome Episode 023

What do you do when someone opens up to you? It’s a privilege, but it’s also potentially terrifying, very awkward and just difficult to know how to respond! We talk about what it feels like when a friend, family member, or even a complete stranger shares something deeply personal with us, and how we might respond. 

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

May 31, 202237:23
Putting the Past in the Picture – We Are What We Overcome Episode 022

Putting the Past in the Picture – We Are What We Overcome Episode 022

This episode is about being in counselling, sharing how the process can feel, and what can be gained from the experience. Ten years after being in counselling, Nick shares some excerpts from the notes he made after those sessions. He talks about piecing shattered memories back together, why that’s a fundamental part of his here and now, and with a detached approach he wanders through his scattered reflections on that past. This episode contains conversations and personal thoughts about child abuse, self-harm, and trauma - please use your own judgement before listening.

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

May 01, 202250:46
Information Overload – We Are What We Overcome Episode 021

Information Overload – We Are What We Overcome Episode 021

Modern life is filled with a seemingly endless barrage of information - news, social media feeds, gossip... stuff. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming, but you can't just turn it off... can you? This time we chat about how being constantly fed news affects us, how we feel about it and what we can do to manage the insistent external voices.

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Mar 27, 202241:42
Why Don't Men Ask for Help? – We Are What We Overcome Episode 020

Why Don't Men Ask for Help? – We Are What We Overcome Episode 020

We talk about the barriers to seeking help, recognising whether we need help, and why it is that so many people don't reach out when they're in distress. It's complicated, and we talk about our own personal experiences with realising we need help, as well as how we've seen others seek aid.

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Feb 27, 202241:41
Feeling Regret – We Are What We Overcome Episode 019

Feeling Regret – We Are What We Overcome Episode 019

This month we talk about something that can linger in the back of our minds... regret. It's a slippery feeling, and so we spend some time trying to figure out what regret is, and what leads us to hold onto feelings that often hurt. 

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Feb 07, 202242:38
Looking Forward to the New Year - We Are What We Overcome Episode 018

Looking Forward to the New Year - We Are What We Overcome Episode 018

Gosh it's been a long year... or super-short? Either way, there's a new one coming up in just a couple of days. For some that brings promise of hope and change, for others it's the beginning of the same old cycle. 

We met up just before Christmas to talk about this annual event, hanging out at Derby Arena's Sleeping Beauty pantomime during set construction, which set a cheery tone for the conversation to follow. 

Join us as we consider hope, reflecting on the past, making positive changes and whether new year makes any sense at all. 

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Dec 29, 202140:12
Christmas Chat - We Are What We Overcome Episode 017

Christmas Chat - We Are What We Overcome Episode 017

It's that time of year. Snow, Real Fires, Baileys (other Irish Cream Liqueurs are available but not necessarily as good) Relatives, Cold (both varieties), Present shopping, Panto, stories about immigrants seeking refuge and finding a stable etc.  

It's a tricky and diverse time of year, met with polar opposite emotions depending where you're at in this life. 

Wes, Nick and Matt talk through it all, the upsides, the downsides. It's good to chat x

Nov 28, 202146:52
Perspectives – We Are What We Overcome Episode 016

Perspectives – We Are What We Overcome Episode 016

At last we’re able to meet up in person again, and we took advantage of a gloriously sunny day to gather and talk about mental health. This episode is about perspectives, particularly that sensation we sometimes have when our perspective suddenly changes and everything feels different. We’re interested in what that feels like, and what prompts such a change in our mental landscape. 

CW: this conversation includes a discussion about sexual abuse and its impact. 

This episode was recorded on 18 July 2021, outside in Woodhouse Moor in Leeds, so there may be some background sounds of other folks enjoying themselves.

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Aug 06, 202142:35
Social Masks – We Are What We Overcome Episode 015 (Lockdown Special)

Social Masks – We Are What We Overcome Episode 015 (Lockdown Special)

We met up to talk about what social masks we wear under different circumstances. For some of us, being sociable and out and about is a really good thing that gives us energy, but sometimes is just too much! It's been a weird year for socialising, and the prospect of getting back to a "normal" social life is only partly appealing...

This episode was recorded on 24 April 2021 using Zoom.

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

May 15, 202142:31
Performing and Performance Part Two – We Are What We Overcome Episode 014 (Lockdown Special)

Performing and Performance Part Two – We Are What We Overcome Episode 014 (Lockdown Special)

Continuing our two-parter on performance and mental heath. We talk about what the experience of performing does for our mental health, as well as the things that motivate us to perform. All four of us are performers in different ways – musicians, improvisers and magicians. It’s an important part of our lives and one that we’ve been unable to indulge in for the last year. 

This episode was recorded on 27 March 2021 using Zoom, and includes one contributor with incredibly laggy audio...

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Apr 12, 202146:02
Performing and Performance Part One – We Are What We Overcome Episode 013 (Lockdown Special)

Performing and Performance Part One – We Are What We Overcome Episode 013 (Lockdown Special)

All four of us are performers in different ways – musicians, improvisers and magicians. It’s an important part of our lives and one that we’ve been unable to indulge in for the last year. We talk about what performance means to us, why we perform and how it affects and is an effect of our mental health and identities. 

This episode was recorded on 27 February 2021 using Zoom.

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Mar 13, 202143:31
New Year & Resolutions – We Are What We Overcome Episode 012 (Lockdown Special)

New Year & Resolutions – We Are What We Overcome Episode 012 (Lockdown Special)

Well, 2020 finally came to an end and we met up in early in the new year to talk about change, hope and new year’s resolutions. 

This episode was recorded on 2nd January 2021, but it kinda still feels like 2020.

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Feb 17, 202141:21
Empathy – We Are What We Overcome Episode 011 (Lockdown Special)

Empathy – We Are What We Overcome Episode 011 (Lockdown Special)

In this episode we discuss empathy, what it means and how important it can be - especially right now. We also talk about how and why empathy can be difficult, and even whether it’s always worth it. 

This episode was recorded on 5th December 2020.

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Feb 12, 202138:45
Mental Health Awareness Week – We Are What We Overcome Episode 010 (Lockdown Special 4)

Mental Health Awareness Week – We Are What We Overcome Episode 010 (Lockdown Special 4)

Mental Health Awareness Week is the perfect time to talk about our own mental health. In this episode we talk about what awareness we have of our own mental health, what the signs (positive and negative) are for us, and what steps we feel able to take to deal with it.

Technically, this is the fourth of our special lockdown recordings over Zoom, which we recorded and streamed live way back in May, but we’re releasing them out of order - this is 2020 after all.

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Dec 16, 202050:18
Anxiety Revisited – We Are What We Overcome Episode 009 (Lockdown Special 10)

Anxiety Revisited – We Are What We Overcome Episode 009 (Lockdown Special 10)

Well, we’re back in lockdown in the UK, and we’re not really sure how to feel about it. High on the list of hard to define feelings is anxiety, which can be a constant pressure whose source is tricky to pin down. We talk about anxiety, what might cause it and what we can do to alleviate it. Technically, this is the tenth of our special lockdown recordings over Zoom, but we’re releasing them out of order - this is 2020 after all. 

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Nov 17, 202034:05
Self Care – We Are What We Overcome Episode 008 (Lockdown Special 03)

Self Care – We Are What We Overcome Episode 008 (Lockdown Special 03)

From the earlier days of lockdown, when we were still adjusting to a life lived at home and constant disaster news weighing heavily on our minds. We talk about self care, its importance, our own techniques and how well we actually apply them to ourselves, plus tips for others.

Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Jul 28, 202049:46
How We Talk to Each Other – We Are What We Overcome Episode 007 (Lockdown Special 02)

How We Talk to Each Other – We Are What We Overcome Episode 007 (Lockdown Special 02)

Lockdown continues… This time we’re talking about how we talk to each other, abut the kinds of language we use and how being direct may also be better in certain situations. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Jul 07, 202048:46
Checking In – We Are What We Overcome Episode 006 (Lockdown Special 01)

Checking In – We Are What We Overcome Episode 006 (Lockdown Special 01)

When lockdown came, we started chatting online to see how we were coping. This is our first one from April 2020. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception, especially in these weird times. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Jun 23, 202045:26
Grief and Loss – We Are What We Overcome Episode 005

Grief and Loss – We Are What We Overcome Episode 005

This one's a tough one, so trigger warnings up front: we're talking about grief, bereavement and death. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. This episode was recorded at Hyde Park Book Club in Leeds.

Apr 30, 202001:05:14
Friends and Family – We Are What We Overcome Episode 004

Friends and Family – We Are What We Overcome Episode 004

This week we're talking about how our mental health affects our family and our loved ones. While they're also the people most likely to buoy us up if we're down, they're also the ones who take the brunt of our own mental health. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. This episode was recorded at The Castle pub in Nottingham.

Mar 31, 202044:16
Suicide – We Are What We Overcome Episode 003

Suicide – We Are What We Overcome Episode 003

We're talking about suicide this week, so major TRIGGER WARNING, for us and anyone listening. We share our personal experiences of being on the edge, of friends and family, suicide myths, and struggle to figure out how we feel about people taking their own lives. Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling. This episode was recorded at QUAD Derby during the Little Ed Festival.

Jun 02, 201953:55
Anxiety – We Are What We Overcome Episode 002

Anxiety – We Are What We Overcome Episode 002

This time our main topic is anxiety, and all the ways that's affected us and how we learn to deal with it. We’re also testing out a mental health check-in for ourselves at the top of the show, since we're all affected by everything we talk about too! Everyone needs to talk more about mental health and we’re no exception. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

May 01, 201901:00:49
Start Talking About Mental Health – We Are What We Overcome Episode 001

Start Talking About Mental Health – We Are What We Overcome Episode 001

A podcast for starting an essential conversation about mental health. We’ve all faced mental health problems; we’ve told friends we’re fine and kept it all to ourselves… now it’s payback time. We talk about Matt's experiences taking his show to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018, its subsequent development into a touring production and podcast, as well as what mental health means to us, and for us. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counselling.

Apr 29, 201901:06:32