The Mood Booster Podcast

Charlie and Dr Marcus
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy. Dr Marcus Bull and Charlie Allnutt are two friends who come together to discuss wellbeing, introspection and their journey to becoming better people. The podcast blends personal reflection with evidence-based advice, offering listeners practical tools to improve their wellbeing and boost their mood. In each episode, Charlie and Marcus explore building a likeminded community, working through difficult emotions and finding joy in everyday life. They lean on scientific research to guide these conversations and ensure their evolution aligns with the best evidence available to them. With guiding pillars; Introspection and Inspiration, Community and Connection, Presence and Gratitude, and Wellbeing and Joy, Charlie and Marcus invite you to learn, reflect, and grow alongside them, one conversation at a time.

  1. 5d ago

    89. All The Good News This Week

    The Home of Wellbeing and Joy Welcome back to The Mood Booster Podcast, episode 89. After such a positive response to our first good news round up, this is officially becoming a weekly feature. Recorded back in the studio after a chaotic week of failed recordings, Charlie and Dr Marcus cut through the noise of the news cycle to share what's actually been going right in the world and closer to home. ˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍ 🎧 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞: Charlie and Dr Marcus share some genuinely brilliant good news this week, from glow worms returning to Yorkshire after more than a century, to turtle doves being successfully reintroduced to Hampshire. They cover early signs of recovery in the UK job market, Kate Middleton's National Three Peaks Challenge for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, and Andy Burnham running the Great North Run for charity. Dr Marcus also breaks down the psychology behind why actively looking for good news actually changes what your brain notices, through something called the reticular activating system. ˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍ 🛠 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: Actively seek out good news rather than only consuming what the algorithm serves you, your brain will start noticing more of it the more you look. Protect your headspace, staying informed doesn't mean consuming negative media nonstop. Small everyday moments of community, like a barista who knows your order, count as genuine wins too. Notice where your own self talk shapes what you focus on, the same principle applies to more than just the news. 📍 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝: Introspection and Reflection, Community and Connection and Wellbeing and Joy 🔔 Don't forget to follow and review, it really helps us grow 📲 Follow us for more: 👉 Instagram: @themoodboosterofficial 👉 TikTok: @themoodboosterofficial 🌍 Website: www.themoodbooster.co.uk 🎥 Prefer video? Watch this episode on YouTube @TheMoodBoosterOfficial

    89. All The Good News This Week

  2. Sep 6

    88. Autumn Is Coming and Here's How to Actually Enjoy It

    The Home of Wellbeing and Joy Welcome back to The Mood Booster Podcast, episode 88. This week is all about autumn, kicking off with a very nostalgic childhood hymn singalong, before getting into why so many of us rush straight past autumn into winter, or worse, straight into Halloween, without actually enjoying the season itself. ˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍ 🎧 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞: Charlie and Dr Marcus talk honestly about how autumn genuinely makes them feel, the good and the slightly apprehensive, before getting into the very real TikTok concept of "autumn erasure", the idea that we skip straight from summer into winter without giving autumn its due. They chat through Halloween plans, the return of seasonal food and drink, and why eating in line with the season is genuinely good for both your body and the planet. They also touch on barefoot shoes, toe spread, and the slightly trickier parts of moving out of flip flop season, before closing with some proper intention setting for the months ahead. ˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍ 🛠 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: Try eating seasonally where you can, look up what's naturally growing near you right now, it's better for your body and the environment. Give autumn its own moment rather than rushing straight into Halloween or winter mode. Set an intention for the season ahead, being intentional with who you want to be matters more than which season it is. A change in weather doesn't mean a dip in mood is inevitable, notice it and work with it. 📍 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝: Introspection and Reflection, Community and Connection and Wellbeing and Joy 🔔 Don't forget to follow and review, it really helps us grow 📲 Follow us for more: 👉 Instagram: @themoodboosterofficial 👉 TikTok: @themoodboosterofficial 🌍 Website: www.themoodbooster.co.uk 🎥 Prefer video? Watch this episode on YouTube @TheMoodBoosterOfficial

    88. Autumn Is Coming and Here's How to Actually Enjoy It

  3. Aug 30

    87. The Psychology of Anonymity: Who Are You When No One's Watching?

    Welcome back to The Mood Booster Podcast, episode 87. This week is all about anonymity, sparked by Charlie's own recent run in with an anonymous troll online. The pair dig into why we act so differently when nobody can see who we are, when anonymity brings out the worst in people, and when it can actually be one of the most beautiful things about being human. ˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍ 🎧 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞: Charlie opens up about being called names by a stranger online after a comment he made, sparking a wider conversation about what anonymity actually does to us. Dr Marcus breaks down the difference between anonymity, privacy and confidentiality, and why anonymity is such an important concept within fields like psychology, medicine and data protection. From there the conversation moves into the darker side of anonymity online, before flipping it entirely, exploring how anonymity can also be the thing that enables courage, honest confessions and whistleblowing. They land on one simple, powerful question, who are you when nobody's watching, and close with a heartfelt nod to Dolly Parton, whose enormous, often anonymous generosity became a perfect example of anonymity used for good. ˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍ 🛠 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: Before commenting anonymously online, ask yourself if you'd say the same thing with your name attached, it's a useful gut check. Anonymity isn't inherently good or bad, notice whether you're using it to hide from accountability or to protect something genuinely vulnerable. Try asking yourself who you are and how you act when nobody's watching, that's often the truest measure of your character. Consider where a small, unseen act of generosity or honesty might do more good than a visible one. 📍 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝: Introspection and Reflection, Community and Connection and Wellbeing and Joy 🔔 Don't forget to follow and review, it really helps us grow 📲 Follow us for more: 👉 Instagram: @themoodboosterofficial 👉 TikTok: @themoodboosterofficial 🌍 Website: www.themoodbooster.co.uk 🎥 Prefer video? Watch this episode on YouTube @TheMoodBoosterOfficial

  4. Aug 23

    86. The Psychology of Assumptions, Why We Do It and How to Stop

    The Home of Wellbeing and Joy Welcome back to The Mood Booster Podcast. This week is all about the psychology of assumptions, why our brains are wired to fill in the gaps, and what that costs us in our relationships, friendships and everyday interactions. Expect a fair bit of chaos along the way too, Charlie is nursing a rather dramatic swollen eyelid this week, so don't assume it's pink eye. ˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍ 🎧 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞: Charlie and Dr Marcus unpack why assumptions exist in the first place, our brains are wired to take cognitive shortcuts, and most of the time that serves us well. The conversation moves into what happens when it doesn't, missing information in relationships, jumping to conclusions with people we know well, and the age old idea of always assuming best intentions. They share a story from Dr Marcus' trip to Italy that shows just how easily we assume things that turn out not to be true at all, before landing on some genuinely useful, real world advice, from cycling safely in London to lessons learned in consultancy training about the power of simply asking the question instead of assuming the answer. ˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍ 🛠 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: Try to assume best intentions in other people by default, it saves a huge amount of unnecessary conflict. When you notice yourself filling in a gap with an assumption, pause and ask the question instead. In situations where safety is involved, like cycling in traffic, assuming the worst case can genuinely be the safer choice. Ask more, assume less, in relationships, at work, and in everyday interactions, communication really is the key. 📍 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝: Introspection and Reflection, Community and Connection and Wellbeing and Joy 🔔 Don't forget to follow and review, it really helps us grow 📲 Follow us for more: 👉 Instagram: @themoodboosterofficial 👉 TikTok: @themoodboosterofficial 🌍 Website: www.themoodbooster.co.uk 🎥 Prefer video? Watch this episode on YouTube @TheMoodBoosterOfficial

    86. The Psychology of Assumptions, Why We Do It and How to Stop

  5. Aug 16

    85. What Learning A New Language Does To Your Brain

    The Home of Wellbeing and Joy Welcome back to The Mood Booster Podcast. This week is all about learning a language, sparked by our ongoing Spanish lessons and a trip to Italy that ended up testing Dr Marcus in a way he didn't expect. We get into why picking up a new language is so good for you, not just practically, but for your brain itself, and Dr Marcus breaks down the neuroscience behind it, from grey matter to the hippocampus. ˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍ 🎧 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞: Charlie shares how his weekly Spanish lessons made him appreciate just how much he'd absorbed when he was able to understand basic Italian on a recent trip, despite never studying it. The conversation moves into what actually makes a language stick, why understanding the theory and reasoning behind a language can matter as much as the vocabulary itself, and why simply asking more questions while learning speeds everything up. Dr Marcus then breaks down the neuroscience, what grey matter actually is, how the hippocampus is involved in learning a new language, and why multiple studies have found that people who speak more than one language develop measurably more of these brain connections. ˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍ 🛠 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: If you've always wanted to learn a language, start, even a single weekly lesson counts. Try attaching meaning and reasoning to what you learn rather than memorising by rote, it helps it stick. Practise little and often outside of lessons, even a short conversation with yourself, your dog, or a podcast in that language helps. Don't be afraid to ask why something works the way it does when you're learning, curiosity speeds up understanding. And this goes beyond language, whatever you're trying to learn, sitting in that early discomfort of being a beginner again, getting things wrong, feeling slow, this is exactly where you should be! It's a sign that you're growing and expanding (growing pains). That discomfort is usually the exact thing that pays off later. 📍 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝: Introspection and Deliberation, Wellbeing and Joy, Community and Connection 🔔 Don't forget to follow and review, it really helps us grow 📲 Follow us for more: 👉 Instagram: @themoodboosterofficial 👉 TikTok: @themoodboosterofficial 🌍 Website: www.themoodbooster.co.uk 🎥 Prefer video? Watch this episode on YouTube @TheMoodBoosterOfficial

    85. What Learning A New Language Does To Your Brain

  6. Aug 9

    84. The Power of the Sun: How Sunlight Impacts Your Mood and Wellbeing

    The Home of Wellbeing and Joy Welcome back to The Mood Booster Podcast. This week's episode is dedicated entirely to the sun, recorded outside in the park in the sun itself. Charlie and Dr Marcus share what the sun genuinely means to them, trace sun worship back through ancient mythology, and get into the real science of how sunlight affects your circadian rhythm, your skin and your wellbeing. It is 49 minutes of warmth, in every sense. ˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍ 🎧 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞: Charlie and Dr Marcus share what the sun personally means to them, from presence and relaxation to a sense of new beginnings, before tracing sun worship back through ancient mythology, Ra, Helios and beyond. They get into the science next, circadian rhythm, melatonin, cortisol, and some fascinating research on how infrared light interacts with your skin cells. They also explore the link between sunlight, movement and social connection, touch on the more out there world of sungazing (with a very necessary warning attached), and share the story behind The Mood Booster's brand new sun logo. ˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍ 🛠 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: Try to get natural sunlight on your eyes soon after waking to help set your circadian rhythm for the day. In the evening, dim the lights where you can to support your body's natural melatonin production. On cloudy or winter days, make the intentional effort to go outside anyway, the benefit is about light and movement, not just clear skies. Never look directly at the sun, sungazing included, the risk of permanent retinal damage is real and not worth it. 📍 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝: Presence and Gratitude, Wellbeing and Joy, Community and Connection 🔔 Don't forget to follow and review, it really helps us grow 📲 Follow us for more: 👉 Instagram: @themoodboosterofficial 👉 TikTok: @themoodboosterofficial 🌍 Website: www.themoodbooster.co.uk 🎥 Prefer video? Watch this episode on YouTube @TheMoodBoosterOfficial

    84. The Power of the Sun: How Sunlight Impacts Your Mood and Wellbeing

  7. Aug 2

    83. All the Good News in the World This Week

    The Home of Wellbeing and Joy Welcome back to The Mood Booster Podcast. This week is a lighter one, a proper round up of good news from around the world and closer to home. Marcus has shaved his head, Charlie's best friends just got married, and the pair share some genuinely uplifting stories, from fungi helping tackle pollution to a new co-living community for women over 50 in North London. It is 36 minutes of pure mood boosting. ˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍ 🎧 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞: Charlie and Dr Marcus kick off with Marcus's new shaved head after being best man at his friends' wedding, before moving into a full round up of good news stories. They cover breakthroughs in fungi and seaweed being used to help tackle plastic and pollution, a new women only co-living community in North London built to fight loneliness, and the Library Dads, a group of fathers in Atlanta bonding with their kids over books. They also share some good news closer to home, including a huge sobriety milestone for one of their Run Club ambassadors and a new baby in the community. ˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍˍ 🛠 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: Make space in your week to actively seek out good news rather than only consuming what the algorithm feeds you. Share your own good news with the people around you, it is contagious. Small community efforts, a library group, a co-living space, a run club, can create a genuine sense of belonging. Celebrating other people's wins, big or small, is its own form of joy. 📍 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝: Community and Connection, Introspection and Inspiration, Wellbeing and Joy 🔔 Don’t forget to follow and review, it really helps us grow  📲 Follow us for more: 👉 Instagram: @themoodboosterofficial  👉 TikTok: @themoodboosterofficial  🌍 Website: www.themoodbooster.co.uk  🎥 Prefer video? Watch this episode on YouTube @TheMoodBoosterOfficial

  8. Jul 26

    82. How alcohol impacts your life

    ⚠️ 𝐀 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 This episode discusses alcohol and drinking habits openly and honestly. If you are currently struggling with your relationship with alcohol, please take care while watching, and know that support is available. Alcoholics Anonymous Great Britain offers a free, confidential national helpline on 0800 9177 650, along with local meetings and online support, more information can be found at alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk. Drinkaware also offers a free helpline on 0300 123 1110 for anyone concerned about their own drinking or someone else's. Welcome back to The Mood Booster Podcast. This is episode 82, recorded on a beach the morning after a very lively 30th birthday weekend. Charlie and Dr Marcus start with the usual chaos, pet hates, a game of The Traitors gone wrong, a chaotic sports day, before settling into a properly honest conversation about alcohol. They talk through why drinking is so tied up with socialising, the concept of needing a third thing to bond over, and where non-alcoholic alternatives fit into all of that. 🎧 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞: The pair reflect on the weekend just gone, a birthday game of The Traitors and a chaotic sports day, before getting into the real conversation of the episode. They unpack why alcohol so often becomes the third thing that makes socialising easier, particularly for men, and why some friendships lean so heavily on the pub setting to exist at all. They talk candidly about not drinking around certain people without it needing to mean anything deeper, the rise of non-alcoholic beer as a genuine middle ground, and how growing more comfortable in yourself can naturally shift your relationship with drinking over time. 🛠 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: If someone chooses not to drink around you, it is not a judgement of you, so try not to take it personally. A non-alcoholic drink can be a genuine middle ground rather than an all or nothing choice. Notice if you are using alcohol as the only third thing in a friendship, and try building connection around an activity instead, a run, a coffee, a game. Growing more comfortable in yourself often naturally changes how much you feel you need a drink to enjoy an evening. ☀️ 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐈𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐆𝐨𝐝 We are so excited to announce that The Mood Booster is now an official partner of SunGod. SunGod are a British eyewear brand built for adventure, trail runs, race days or just a sunny walk with the dog. They are a certified B Corp, fully carbon neutral, and every pair comes with a lifetime guarantee. As part of our partnership, SunGod are giving our community 20% off their entire range, just use the code MOODBOOSTERMEMBER20 at checkout. 👉 Shop SunGod: https://www.sungod.co/en-gb 📍 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝: Community and Connection, Introspection and Inspiration, Wellbeing and Joy 🔔 Don’t forget to follow and review, it really helps us grow  📲 Follow us for more: 👉 Instagram: @themoodboosterofficial  👉 TikTok: @themoodboosterofficial  🌍 Website: www.themoodbooster.co.uk  🎥 Prefer video? Watch this episode on YouTube @TheMoodBoosterOfficial

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About

The Home of Wellbeing and Joy. Dr Marcus Bull and Charlie Allnutt are two friends who come together to discuss wellbeing, introspection and their journey to becoming better people. The podcast blends personal reflection with evidence-based advice, offering listeners practical tools to improve their wellbeing and boost their mood. In each episode, Charlie and Marcus explore building a likeminded community, working through difficult emotions and finding joy in everyday life. They lean on scientific research to guide these conversations and ensure their evolution aligns with the best evidence available to them. With guiding pillars; Introspection and Inspiration, Community and Connection, Presence and Gratitude, and Wellbeing and Joy, Charlie and Marcus invite you to learn, reflect, and grow alongside them, one conversation at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Charlie and Dr Marcus
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    87
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Mood Booster Podcast

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