Active Minds podcast Dave Jordan

Full episode and Show Notes - www.activeminds.life/podcast

My 5th guest on the podcast is the travel adventure journalist and author Joe Minihane.

After reading Roger Deakin's seminal book Waterlog, Joe became obsessed with wild swimming, and between 2012 and 2015 decided to retrace Deakins wilds swims around Britain and then write a book detailing his adventures. No mean feat given the fact that he didn’t drive at the time and wasn’t a particularly strong swimmer.

In his book, Floating, Joe beautifully details his journey in exploring his own mental health and attempts to find acceptance and peace through the healing properties of nature and wild stretches of water.

I’ve a lot of respect for Joe in how publicly open and honest he has been with regards to his own mental health struggles particularly at a time when it wasn’t quite as acceptable or dare I say it trendy. I also respect the fact that he has addressed his mental health issues head on, done the hard work and has the discipline to put into practice the self-care strategy that works for him; cause let’s be honest, despite what a lot of the self-improvement industry might have us believe, there is no silver bullet or quick fixes when it comes managing our various expressions of mental illness. Whether it be anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, eating disorders or drugs or alcohol dependency, It takes a huge amount of work and bravery to explore the root causes and gain the awareness needed to manage and overcome these debilitating illnesses…and despite toddlers, babies, furloughs and pandemic lockdowns, Joe finds himself in a good place and grateful for all he has.

Full episode and Show Notes - www.activeminds.life/podcast

My third guest on the podcast is a BAFTA award-winning TV presenter, Sony Award-winning radio DJ a renowned fire chef and best-selling author. Christian Stevenson, AKA DJBBQ, has work alongside the who’s who of the action sports world and documented the industries development over the last 3 decades.

Christian’s positive energy and larger than life character has been his greatest asset throughout his career, and through the laws of attraction presented him with countless opportunities, as well as allowing him to adapt and reinvent himself when the times called for it.

Behind the larger than life front that has served him so well, lies a sensitive soul and during our interview Christian opens up about his own turbulent childhood, the reality of being a single dad to 3 boys and on how opening up and showing his vulnerability has helped him with navigating life’s ups and downs.

Thanks to Martin Fisher for the theme tune, and to my editor Cameron Nesbitt. If you enjoyed the podcast please share and leave a review.

Full episode and Show Notes - www.activeminds.life/podcast

My 4th guest on the podcast is a good friend of mine who I did my coaching training within London a couple of years ago. Shalini Sequeira is a Cambridge graduate, published author, and with her business partner Jo Larbie, makes up Inclusive Professions, an executive coaching firm that specialises in the promotion of talented women and BAME people into senior leadership roles. In her previous career she was a senior lawyer and she works now as a consultant with some of the largest law firms in London.

Since our training we’ve continued to coach each other and have regular catch ups and although I always enjoy my chats with Shalini I have to admit to feeling a bit nervous in the build-up to this one basically…..for fear of saying the wrong thing or causing offence in some way and I think this in itself highlights perfectly one of the barriers that we face in making progress on prejudice and racism in the UK and globally…and that is, in actually having these difficult conversations at all levels and acknowledging the elephant in the room.

Thanks to Martin Fisher for the theme tune, and to my editor Cameron Nesbitt. If you enjoyed the podcast please share and leave a review.

Full episode and Show Notes - www.activeminds.life/podcast

My second guest on the podcast is an amazing woman with a beautiful soul. Sian Leigh is an entrepreneur, health coach, yoga instructor and full-time mother of two, who’s positivity, compassion and love of life is infectious.
Sian has always led an adventurous whirlwind lifestyle but in 2011 her world came crashing down when the stresses and strains of modern life led to her developing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which, according to her doctors at the time was incurable.

Throughout her illness she researched and studied her condition and gradually learned how to heal herself through rest, restorative yoga, meditation and dietary changes. She went on to make a full recovery and the journey she’d been forced to take went onto inform her future career as a much-respected health coach. Sian has managed to combine her passions for the outdoors, yoga, nutrition, psychology and a deep desire to help others, into a business that uses a wholistic approach to improve her clients physical and mental wellbeing.

As ever, Sian is open and honest about her own struggles during our conversation and generous in sharing her knowledge on mental health and the things that help with healing and living happier lives.

Thanks to Martin Fisher for the theme tune, and to my editor Cameron Nesbitt. If you enjoyed the podcast, please share and leave a review.

Full episode and Show Notes - www.activeminds.life/podcast

My first guest on the podcast is a dear friend of mine who I’ve known for over 20 years.

I first met Matt Barr when he rocked up to do a ski season in Meribel in 1996 with an epic crew of characters that made up a lot of the early pioneers of British snowboarding, including Chris Moran, Scott Nixon, Ewan Wallace, Lesley McKenna, and in subsequent seasons Ed Leigh, Spencer Claridge and Stu Brass.

Matt has many strings to his bow and functions on a different level to most mere mortals, although interestingly, as you’ll hear from the interview, he struggles with acknowledging and celebrating his achievements…something he’s working on. His lifelong strategy of applying a dogged work ethic and his sharp, logical intellect to whatever goals he sets himself has meant he has carved out an impressive career and an enviable lifestyle.

Matt is a former Whitelines editor and freelance journalist, an accomplished musician with a publishing deal under his belt, a co-director of ACM communications agency and the man behind the very successful Looking sideways action sports podcast.

Matt talks gives an open and honest account of his upbringing in Manchester, the influence that strong female characters played in his life as well as the struggles he faced that went on to shape him. I have a huge amount of love and respect for Matt and there couldn’t be a more fitting first guest.

Thanks to Martin Fisher for the theme tune, and to my editor Cameron Nesbitt. If you enjoyed the podcast, please share and leave a review.