The Just Checking In Podcast

The Just Checking In Podcast by VENT

The Just Checking In Podcast is another step in VENT’s mission to give people a voice, change the conversation around mental health and provide an outlet where everyone, but especially men and boys, can express themselves.Each pod we check in with a special guest. We have a natter and a chat about all things mental health as well as anything and everything else they're passionate about. If it helps that person with their mental health, we'll discuss it!

  1. JCIP #343 - Niamh Hughes - Part 1

    5D AGO

    JCIP #343 - Niamh Hughes - Part 1

    In episode 343 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Niamh Hughes.  Niamh is a freelance journalist, producer, presenter and voiceover artist.  Niamh also happens to have a disability called Congenital Hemiplegia, which is a form of unilateral cerebral palsy. The disability only affects the right side of her body, so she can’t use her right hand and has to type with one hand. Prior to going freelance, Niamh worked for many years at the BBC and worked as a reporter and producer on the BBC’s accessibility outlet and brand, Access All, then called BBC Ouch. In Part 1 of this bumper episode, we chart Niamh’s journalism journey and how she was inspired to get involved in it by previous podcast guest Izzie Clarke! We then discuss how she got her foot in the door at the Beeb, the various roles she's done in her very impressive career so far, including BBC Ouch, Newsnight's 'The 100 Women' programme, BBC News, her decision to leave the Beeb in March 2025 and the challenges of going freelance.  As always, #itsokaytovent You can find out more about Niamh's work here. You can follow Niamh on social media below:  InstagramSupport Us: PatreonPayPalMerchandise

    1h 21m
  2. JCIP #343 - Niamh Hughes - Part 2

    5D AGO

    JCIP #343 - Niamh Hughes - Part 2

    In Part 2 of journalist Niamh Hughes' journey, we discuss her diagnosis of Congenital Hemiplegia and how she managed it from being a young child, through to adolescence and adulthood. We explore how her acceptance of it came alongside her acceptance of herself as a person, and so many other challenges. We also talk about the normalisation of disabilities more widely and what still needs to change going forward to support disabled people, wherever they are on the spectrum and whatever disability they may have, physical or mental. As always, #itsokaytovent You can find out more about Niamh's work here. You can follow Niamh on social media below:  InstagramSupport Us: PatreonPayPalMerchandise

    49 min
  3. JCIP #342 - Olena Lukyanova

    MAR 25

    JCIP #342 - Olena Lukyanova

    In episode 342 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Olena Lukyanova.  Olena is a qualified therapist and the Director of her therapy practice, OL Psychotherapy and Consulting.  Olena had a desire to become a therapist from a very young age but growing up in the post-Soviet Union era in Ukraine, this wasn’t an option for her, so she studied economics at university and became an economist for many years. She then moved to the United Arab Emirates and was living there 10 years ago when Ukraine was first invaded by Russia. Whilst she was there, she set up a Ukrainian cultural club for fellow ex-pats and organised rehabilitation for wounded Ukrainian soldiers and former prisoners of war.  The more time she spent with them, the more she realised that the mental health support of these soldiers should also be a focus, and she began receiving positive feedback from the men and women she worked with about her listening and therapeutic skills. She then moved to the UK in 2015, and in In March 2022, once the war in Ukraine expanded beyond the Donbass Oblasts, Olena applied to study psychotherapy in the UK at the Metanoia Institute, and she graduated in 2025. In this episode we discuss her professional journey, her desire to become a therapist and the achievement of becoming one and the clients she has worked with from different nationalities, ethnicities and backgrounds.  We discuss the support she has given to fellow Ukrainian ex-pat clients in the context of the Ukraine war, and also why she doesn’t want to limit herself just to supporting these clients, as important a role as it is. We then talk about how she’s built her therapy practice, transitioned into this new career, and how it’s made her get to know herself better. For Olena’s mental health journey, we discuss her life through the lens of a group of revolutions or conflicts: the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991, the Orange Revolution in 2004, the Maidan Revolution in Ukraine in 2013/2014 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine first in 2014, and again in 2022. We talk about her experience of childhood bullying in Ukraine for being a ‘different’ person and the environment of the country after the collapse of the Soviet Union, how the Maidan Revolution impacted her and her conception of herself as a Ukrainian and when Russia invaded Ukraine. As always, #itsokaytovent You can find out more about Olena and OL Psychotherapy and Consulting here: https://www.ol-therapy.com/. Support Us: PatreonPayPalMerchandise

    58 min
  4. JCIP #341 - Lucy MacLeod

    MAR 20

    JCIP #341 - Lucy MacLeod

    In episode 341 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Lucy MacLeod.  Lucy is a firefighter and has worked in the London Fire Brigade for over 16 years across a range of different roles since she joined the LFB in May 2009.  Her current role involves her being a trauma and wellbeing dog handler, which she does with her dog Blue. Together, they have a social media account which brings awareness to wellbeing dogs and the role they play in the fire service.  In her words, Blue acts as a ‘buffer and a bridge’ with people and he helps build trust with them who then feel they can disclose to Lucy on what is happening to them. In this episode we first discuss her firefighting journey, why she joined it comparatively late in life, the roles she has had and the work she does with Blue now.  For Lucy’s mental health journey, it centres around a terrible accident she experienced in 2004, when she worked as a duty manager at a pool and fitness centre. She inhaled chlorine gas and it burned her upper airway. She was on multiple medications and was diagnosed with PTSD (which we prefer to call PTSI).  After struggling for a period of time, she decided one day that enough was enough and she wanted to take a more holistic approach to her mental health. She tried everything she could to make her feel better, including CBT therapy, EMDR and acupuncture.  She also got a dog called Lucky, which was a game changer. He got her out of bed in the morning, gave her purpose and was her ‘heartbeat’. Lucy soon got another dog called Poppy to keep Lucky company when she went to work. Lucky unfortunately died in 2019 and Poppy died in 2022. We talk about the accident, why Lucy has a mantra of ‘you are not your diagnosis, it’s a start point’ and her recovery journey from 2004 to now. In 2025, she published her first book, a children’s adventure book called ‘Lucy & Blue Save The Day’ and we discuss how the book came about, how she feels to be a children’s author and the impact it’s had on the children who’ve bought it! As always, #itsokaytovent Find out more about Lucy's journey and where you can purchase a copy of her book here: https://lucyandblue.com/. You can follow Lucy & Blue on social media below:  InstagramTikTokSupport Us: PatreonPayPalMerchandise

    1h 30m
  5. JCIP #340 - Jay Darkmoore

    MAR 18

    JCIP #340 - Jay Darkmoore

    In episode 340 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Jay Darkmoore. Jay is a published author, commentator and hosts his own YouTube channel and podcast, discussing issues around policing in the UK.  He has written several books, including crime novels and his own memoir, ‘The Job's F*cked - The Secret Diary of a Police Officer’, which was published in 2025 and details his 10-year career in the English Police Force as a Police Constable.  In this episode we do a deep dive into the book and his journey in the Police, how domestic abuse incidents were handled during his time in the organisation, some of the most difficult call-outs he and his fellow officers had to deal with, what is the truth behind ‘non-crime hate incidents’? Is there a ‘two tier’ system in how crimes are handled? And much more.  For Jay’s mental health journey, we discuss his personal experience of being domestically abused and why that inspired him to join the Police in the first place.  We also talk about family issues he experienced throughout his early life, his relationship with his mum, the lack of control he felt he had in his childhood and adolescence, and how he went about taking that control back as an adult through his choices and life path.  As always, #itsokaytovent You can find out more about Jay's journey, purchase a copy of his books and subscribe to the  Job's F*cked podcast here: https://linktr.ee/Jaydarkmoore. You can follow Jay on social media below:  InstagramTikTokTRIGGER WARNING: this podcast contains a brief discussion about suicide, which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting, so please listen with caution. Support Us: PatreonPayPalMerchandise

    1h 53m
  6. JCIP #339 - Luke Loughlin - Part 2

    MAR 16

    JCIP #339 - Luke Loughlin - Part 2

    In episode 339 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked back in with Luke Loughlin.  Luke is a men’s mental health advocate based in Canada, the former Co-Founder of Men United and the Founder of Recovery Painting, a painting and decorating business which gives opportunities to men in recovery from addiction issues or have been in prison.  He is also the Founder of The Inside Job Project, a soon-to-be-launched recovery and coaching programme for other people going through addiction recovery. Luke first came on the podcast in May 2024 in JCIP #244, where we discussed childhood trauma, including being a survivor of CSA, his battle with alcohol addiction, interactions with the police, faith and recovery.  We then checked in again in March 2025 in JCIP #280 where we had one of the most powerful conversations we've ever had on this podcast with Luke and his sister Lindsay. In this Part 2 solo episode, we check back in with Luke’s mental health journey and recovery.  We talk about the conclusion of a court case which has been hanging over him since 2019 and which came about because of his actions whilst in addiction.  We discuss how and why he built his new painting and decorating business and giving other men like him an opportunity for employment, self-esteem and keep them on the path of recovery.  For Luke’s continued advocacy journey, we discuss his launch plans for The Inside Job, the event he did in February 2026 with an organisation called Lives Touched by Addiction and a sermon he delivered about his story at his local church.  We finish by discussing the opportunity he had when he got to speak to a graduate class of firefighters, which as you’ll discover, was a massive full circle moment for him in the context of his story.  As always, #itsokaytovent You can follow Luke on social media here: https://www.instagram.com/mentalhealthloughlin/ You can listen to Luke's previous episodes below:  JCIP #244 - Luke LoughlinJCIP #280 - Luke Loughlin & Lindsay LoughlinTRIGGER WARNING: this podcast contains a brief discussion about sexual abuse and suicide, which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting, so please listen with caution. Support Us: PatreonPayPalMerchandise

    51 min
  7. JCIP #338 - George Gabriel

    MAR 11

    JCIP #338 - George Gabriel

    In episode 338 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with George Gabriel. George is the Director and Co-Founder of an organisation called ‘The Dad Shift’, which is made up of a group of men, dads and other parents campaigning for better paternity leave in the UK.  Currently, in the UK, dads only receive a statutory two weeks off work when they become a father or for any future children they have. This is paid at less than half the minimum wage, with self-employed men receiving nothing. The Dad Shift is calling for more paternity leave that is sustainable, affordable and equal.  In this episode we first discuss George’s mental health journey, which centres around several major life events. The first was his marriage to his first wife, who he was in a relationship with for 13 years.  After it ended acrimoniously, he ended up moving back into his childhood bedroom with his parents at 30 years old. At the time, he was running a humanitarian organisation supporting refugees called ‘Safe for Passage’ and he hit rock bottom. The first steps of his recovery then came when his brother took him on a holiday to Brazil. However, things didn’t pan out that way and after signing up for a mountain hike in the middle of the night whilst intoxicated, he reached the summit and thought about taking his own life.  Just as he was about to complete this attempt, his tour guide came over to him and offered him a Snickers bar, and it broke his suicidal thought cycle. He came back to the UK, took more positive steps with his recovery, and suddenly things began to fall into place for him.  He was approached by a recruiter for a tech company and got the job, he did EMDR therapy and ayahuasca, which we’ll discuss in the pod how they benefited him, and George slowly rebuilt his life.  He entered a new relationship with his now-wife and became a father twice! In his words, he now lives a life he never imagined. We discuss this entire mental health journey of crisis and recovery, fatherhood, the work he is doing with The Dad Shift and the impact it has had on changing the conversation.   As always, #itsokaytovent You can find out more about The Dad Shift here: https://dadshift.org.uk/. You can follow The Dad Shift on social media below:  InstagramTikTokSupport Us: PatreonPayPalMerchandise

    1h 6m
  8. JCIP #337 - Mark Taylor

    MAR 6

    JCIP #337 - Mark Taylor

    In episode 337 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Mark Taylor.  Mark is a Director at Men Walking and Talking (MWAT), a men’s walk and talk organisation founded in 2021 by Dan Reid.  Mark is also the Kenilworth branch Walk Leader, which is how he became involved in MWAT and remains the leader to this day.  In this episode we discuss his involvement with MWAT, its growth, the services it provides and the impact it’s had on the men they support.  We also discuss Mark’s own mental health journey, which originates from a very bad car accident he had in 1997 when he was 25 years old. For a long time he didn’t see it as a long-lasting traumatic event. However, in 2021, his mental health issues came to a head.  He started experiencing unexplained outbursts of anger in the workplace, which became so bad they almost cost him his job.  He googled anger management therapists and found someone who began helping him unlock why he was having these outbursts.  He told his therapist about some important life events which had caused him difficulty or even trauma. He listed being bullying at school, getting divorced from his wife and the loss of regular time with his children.  He then disclosed the car accident and some traits which are associated with Post-Traumatic Stress, including the anger, as well as high sensitivity to noisy environments and certain sounds.  Suddenly, things began to make sense and from there, he began to gain the self-awareness to improve his life, make adjustments to his work to avoid being triggered and recover from those traits which had previously almost derailed his life.  We discuss all of that, his recovery and how he now helps men go on that journey of self-awareness and ownership like he did. As always, #itsokaytovent You can find out more about MWAT and find your local walk branch here: https://www.menwalkingandtalking.co.uk/. You can follow MWAT on social media here: https://www.instagram.com/menwalkingandtalking/?hl=en Support Us: PatreonPayPalMerchandise

    1h 18m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Just Checking In Podcast is another step in VENT’s mission to give people a voice, change the conversation around mental health and provide an outlet where everyone, but especially men and boys, can express themselves.Each pod we check in with a special guest. We have a natter and a chat about all things mental health as well as anything and everything else they're passionate about. If it helps that person with their mental health, we'll discuss it!

Information

  • Creator
    The Just Checking In Podcast by VENT
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    447
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Just Checking In Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Just Checking In Podcast