White Fox Talking

Mark Charlie Valentine, Sebastian Budniak
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  • Mental Health
  • Biweekly

Talk About Mental Health & Well-Being… Why Not? Mark ‘Charlie’ Valentine suffered life changing mental illness, before beginning a journey to recovery and wellness; the darkness of PTSD transformed by the light atop mountains and beyond. Mark is now joining forces with Seb Budniak, to make up the ‘White Fox Talking’ team. Through a series of Podcasts and Vlogs, ‘White Fox Talking’ will be bringing you a variety of guests, topics, and inspirational stories relating to improving mental well-being. Find your way back to you! Expect conversation, information, serious discussion and a healthy dose of Yorkshire humour!

  1. 3d ago

    E93: Endometriosis – Years of Pain, Misdiagnosis and the Fight to Be Heard | Sam Davies & Vicky Taylor

    Send White Fox Talking a Message Content warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide, suicidal thoughts, miscarriage, infertility, mental health struggles and substance misuse. Endometriosis is often dismissed as simply having a painful period. But for those living with the condition, the reality can be far more complicated and devastating. In this episode of White Fox Talking, we're joined by Sam Davies and Vicky Taylor, two women from Leeds who share their experiences of living with endometriosis, the years spent fighting for a diagnosis, and the physical and emotional toll it has taken on their lives. Sam spent around 14 years searching for answers, while Vicky's journey lasted more than 25 years. Both experienced severe pain, debilitating symptoms and the frustration of repeatedly being told that what they were experiencing was normal, stress-related or simply in their heads. We explore what endometriosis actually is, why it can take so long to diagnose, and how the condition affects far more than just the reproductive system. From chronic pain and fatigue to bowel complications, infertility and miscarriage, Sam and Vicky share the realities that are too often overlooked. But this conversation goes much deeper than physical symptoms. We discuss the mental health impact of living with a condition that isn't always understood or taken seriously. The isolation, depression, suicidal thoughts and emotional exhaustion that can come from years of being dismissed, alongside the difficult decisions surrounding medication, hormonal treatments and surgery. We also hear about the lack of specialist support, lengthy NHS waiting lists and the challenges of navigating a healthcare system that both women feel has repeatedly let them down. Despite everything they've experienced, Sam and Vicky are determined to make a difference. Through their patient-led support community and campaigning work in West Yorkshire, they're helping others find information, support and, perhaps most importantly, the confidence to speak up and be heard. This is an open, honest and at times difficult conversation about endometriosis, mental health, medical dismissal and the importance of community. Whether you're living with endometriosis, supporting someone who is, or simply want to understand more, this is a conversation worth hearing. If this episode resonates with you, please share it. Raising awareness and starting conversations can make a real difference. White Fox Talking – Find your way back to you. Petition Leeds Endometriosis Community - Facebook Leeds Endometriosis Community - Instagram Support the show

    E93: Endometriosis – Years of Pain, Misdiagnosis and the Fight to Be Heard | Sam Davies & Vicky Taylor

  2. Oct 19

    E92: Beyond the Ceremony with Dave Gallagher – Ayahuasca, Trauma and the Science of Healing

    Send White Fox Talking a Message Ayahuasca gets talked about like a quick fix, but the reality is messier, harder, and a lot more interesting. We sit down in the studio with psychologist and researcher Dave Gallagher to dig into what plant medicine retreats in Peru and Colombia actually look like when the goal is trauma healing, not a “trip.” Building on the conversation around childhood trauma and lived experience, we explore why veterans with PTSD and athletes from combat sports often share the same hidden wound, and why identity can unravel when the structure of service or competition disappears. Dave walks us through the science that’s finally catching up: psychedelic research history, brain imaging, and what the default mode network can tell us about the “autobiography of self.” We talk about integration as the real work, including a practical rule that can save people from impulsive decisions after a powerful ceremony: wait 30 days before you blow up your life. We also get honest about the risks, from re-living trauma to the need for real screening, real support, and a safe set and setting, especially for anyone on SSRIs or with a predisposition to psychosis. We also go behind the scenes on what researchers measure on these programs, from depression and quality-of-life scores to EEG, cognitive testing, inflammation markers, epigenetics, and the gut microbiome. If you’re curious about psychedelic-assisted therapy for PTSD, complex trauma, concussion, or traumatic brain injury, this is a grounded conversation that takes both hope and harm seriously. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave us a review with your biggest question about psychedelics and healing. Support the show

    E92: Beyond the Ceremony with Dave Gallagher – Ayahuasca, Trauma and the Science of Healing

  3. Sep 26

    E91: The Fight Beyond the Ring with Matthew “The Spider” Morton – Trauma, Addiction and Healing

    Send White Fox Talking a Message WATCH THE PODCAST He went from being a kid carrying secrets no child should carry to a man trying to turn pain into purpose, and he doesn’t soften a single edge. We’re joined by Matthew Morton, known in the fight world as The Spider, a professional bare knuckle fighter who lays out the real timeline: childhood trauma, sexual abuse, crack and heroin addiction at 12, years of crime and chaos, and the moment it all finally started to shift. We talk about ADHD traits, shame, and why people often punish symptoms while missing the cause. Matthew explains how structure and discipline became his lifeline after overdose and withdrawal, and how fighting gave him a legal place to burn off energy, stay focused, and prove to himself he wasn’t “too far gone.” Alongside him, our resident psychologist Dave Gallagher adds context on trauma, athlete mental health, and what happens when a combat sports career ends and identity starts to collapse. Then we get into plant medicine with the detail most conversations skip. Matthew shares what an ayahuasca retreat in Colombia actually felt like, why set and setting matters, what purging and fear can bring up, and why psychedelic integration is where the work really begins. Dave breaks down the emerging science on psychedelics, neuroplasticity, and how field research and brain imaging can capture meaningful changes in wellbeing over time. If you care about addiction recovery, PTSD healing, ADHD and substance use, combat sports mental health, or psychedelic therapy done responsibly, this one will stick with you. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave us a review with your biggest takeaway. Support the show

    E91: The Fight Beyond the Ring with Matthew “The Spider” Morton – Trauma, Addiction and Healing

  4. Sep 11

    E90: More Than The Miles with Andy North – Endurance, Purpose And Giving Back

    Send White Fox Talking a Message A 4am bike ride to a boardroom meeting sounds ridiculous until you hear what it does for your head. We sit down with endurance fundraiser Andy North to talk about why the outdoors keeps pulling him back, how he started taking on big challenges at 50, and how training can make you better at work without stealing your whole life.  Andy shares his connection to Candlelighters, the children’s cancer charity in Leeds, and what it means to keep showing up for families years after the headlines fade. From marathons and ultra-style efforts to cycling blocks that would scare most people off, we get honest about the parts nobody posts: the aches that feel like the flu, the moments at night when your mind turns on you, and the simple tools that get you moving again. We also dig into the basics that actually matter for endurance performance and mental health: hydration, nutrition, sleep, and self-praise when you’re tempted to write yourself off.  Then we go big. Andy breaks down standout projects like multi-day run-and-ride charity expeditions, record-setting climbs, and how he builds community around each event with planning, support crews, and fundraising strategy. He also talks setbacks, injuries, and the reality of adapting a training plan when illness hits. Finally, we look ahead to an Ironman-style challenge for Candlelighters and his “Spirit of Rome” vision: a 2,300-mile journey tied to corporate social responsibility and getting more people involved in doing hard things for a good cause.  If you enjoy endurance training, marathon motivation, cycling adventures, and real-world charity fundraising, you’ll get a lot from this conversation. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a nudge to start, and leave a review with the goal you’re chasing next. Support the show

    E90: More Than The Miles with Andy North – Endurance, Purpose And Giving Back

  5. Aug 12

    E89: Climb Your Own Mountain with Jonny Pain – What Resilience Really Takes

    Send White Fox Talking a Message We sit down with coach and endurance athlete Jonny Pain to talk about what actually creates resilience, not the social media kind, but the kind that holds up when you’re tired, stressed, and tempted to quit. Jonny breaks down Project Vertical, his attempt to complete a “vertical marathon” by climbing Ben Nevis again and again until the total elevation gain equals 26.2 miles. He shares what changed between the first attempt and the successful second run, including going self-supported, managing sleep deprivation, staying safe under accumulating fatigue, and learning how quickly anger burns out as fuel. We also dig into how community support can keep you moving when your own thoughts turn against you. From special forces selection prep to everyday mental health, we get practical about fatigue management, allostatic load, HRV, and why your body just hears “stress,” whether it comes from squats, poor sleep, work pressure, or relationship strain. We push back on arbitrary targets like 10,000 steps and one-size-fits-all coaching numbers, then land on a simple theme: climb your own mountain by taking the next step, even when fear shows up. If you get something from this one, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave us a review. Support the show

    E89: Climb Your Own Mountain with Jonny Pain – What Resilience Really Takes

  6. Jun 20

    E88: Gaz Mullen - Riding 1,600 Miles for Jamie

    Send White Fox Talking a Message He told his brother he felt depressed and suicidal, then added the sentence so many men have been trained to say: “I just need to man up.” Not long after, Jamie was gone. And the people left behind were handed a kind of grief that comes with questions, guilt, anger, and the awful silence of a topic most people still avoid. We’re joined by Gaz Mullen from West Yorkshire, who’s riding roughly 1,600 miles from Bradford to Benidorm on Jamie’s bike to raise money for Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) and to push suicide prevention conversations into the open. Gaz shares who Jamie was beyond the headlines, why returning to Benidorm matters so much, and what it’s like to carry a loss that can make friends and strangers visibly uncomfortable. We also get practical about men’s mental health: how stigma shows up when someone says they’re in therapy, why bullying and social media can make young people feel trapped, and what actually helped Gaz stay upright when everything collapsed. We talk medication, the need for follow-up and real support, and why a “magic pill” mindset can leave people alone at the worst moment. Along the way, Gaz explains how training, routine, and purpose can turn raw grief into something survivable, mile by mile. If you want to support Gaz’s ride, follow his journey, or share this with someone who needs a nudge to speak up, hit play. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more people who need this conversation can find it. GoFundMe Support the show

    E88: Gaz Mullen - Riding 1,600 Miles for Jamie

  7. May 20

    E87: Brain Dead with Paul Robinson – The Phone Trap

    Send White Fox Talking a Message Your phone is not just a device, it is a habit engine that follows you into lines, meals, conversations, and bed. We sit down with Leeds-based creative and author Paul Robinson to talk about his new book, Braindead, and the personal moments that made him realize how quickly smartphone use can become automatic. The conversation gets honest fast: the “queue without a phone” panic, the constant urge to check for something new, and how digital overload leaves us mentally tired even when we have not done anything “hard.” We dig into the mechanics behind smartphone addiction and doomscrolling, including dopamine anticipation and the attention economy that rewards endless engagement. We also talk about what this does to kids and teens, from the challenge of “dumbing down” a smartphone to the way screen time rises the moment more apps appear, even if it is not social media. School phone policies, notifications, and the pressure to be reachable all come up, along with a bigger question: what happens to creativity, patience, and real human connection when every pause gets filled by a screen? This is not a tech-hate rant. We share practical digital wellbeing moves that actually work in real life: turning off most notifications, reclaiming small in-between moments, reducing blue light at night, and building enough awareness to step out of the scroll before it steals your evening. We also touch on AI as a powerful tool that becomes risky when we start relying on it instead of thinking for ourselves. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review with your best tip for using your phone more intentionally. Support the show

    E87: Brain Dead with Paul Robinson – The Phone Trap

  8. May 1

    E86: Calm Under Pressure – What Combat Sports Teach Your Mind with Rich Cadden

    Send White Fox Talking a Message Getting hit is the least interesting part of combat sports. What matters is what happens to your mind when pressure rises and how training teaches you to stay calm, focused, and in control when your instincts want to panic. We sit down with Rich Cadden, a two-time Muay Thai world champion, BJJ brown belt, and coach who blends fight experience with NLP, hypnotherapy, CBT tools, and work with neurodiverse students. We talk about the mental health benefits of martial arts training and why the right gym culture can turn anger into discipline and insecurity into grounded confidence. Rich breaks down flow state and why it can feel like a clean, ethical “high” that helps quiet anxiety and depression through exercise-induced transient hypofrontality. You’ll also hear a practical look at fear management through evidence and repetition, the stress arousal curve that explains why people freeze, and the real-world survival responses of fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. We get into bullying, boundaries, and why self-defense starts long before a confrontation with posture, awareness, and trusting your gut. If you’re curious about Muay Thai, MMA, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, or boxing for stress relief, resilience, confidence, and community, this one is a roadmap. If you enjoy the show, subscribe, share it with someone who could use a stronger mindset, and leave a review. What’s one skill you’d want from training: calm, confidence, fitness, or focus? Support the show

    E86: Calm Under Pressure – What Combat Sports Teach Your Mind with Rich Cadden
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About

Talk About Mental Health & Well-Being… Why Not? Mark ‘Charlie’ Valentine suffered life changing mental illness, before beginning a journey to recovery and wellness; the darkness of PTSD transformed by the light atop mountains and beyond. Mark is now joining forces with Seb Budniak, to make up the ‘White Fox Talking’ team. Through a series of Podcasts and Vlogs, ‘White Fox Talking’ will be bringing you a variety of guests, topics, and inspirational stories relating to improving mental well-being. Find your way back to you! Expect conversation, information, serious discussion and a healthy dose of Yorkshire humour!

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Charlie Valentine, Sebastian Budniak
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    94
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 White Fox Talking
  • Show Website
    White Fox Talking