Off the top of your head podcast

Simon Blake OBE returns for a second series of Just About Coping.
This series we're looking look at a new campaign by MHFA England; My Whole Self. To create mentally healthy workplaces, people need to feel safe to be their ‘whole self’ at work. So how can we create workforces, wherever that may be, where everyone has the freedom to do this? To find out, Simon has gathered leaders from across the worlds of business, sport, and more...
Today we hear from Nat Kilsby, a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs with years of experience in financial engineering and technology. Nat is also gender-fluid, meaning sometimes they present male and sometimes they present female. After hearing Nat's moving story at our My Whole Self event at the House of Lords back in February, we had to get them on the podcast to hear more.
Simon and Nat chatted about;

• Complex gender identity and the relationship with wellbeing
• Feelings, and learning that they are not good or bad, they just are
• Treating life as an experiment and how Nat helps empower people at work by embracing fluidity
• The importance of pronouns and why Nat uses they, them and theirs

Nat embodies the essence of bringing your whole self to work and it was fascinating to hear how intrinsically their identity, performance at work, and happiness were linked.
As always, we'd love to know what you think. If you could take a moment to rate and review wherever you get your podcasts we would very much appreciate your feedback. You can do this on most platforms including:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher
• TuneIn

Don't forget to get involved on social media using #JACPodcast and check out all the My Whole Self fun on our website.
More on Nat: goldmansachs.com/careers/blog/posts/letter-to-my-younger-self-nat-kilsby
More on Simon: twitter.com/SimonablakeSimon Blake OBE is the Chief Executive of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England. His mission is to improve the mental health of the nation and help build an inclusive and society where attitudes and behaviours around mental health are normalised. Simon received an OBE in 2011, is Deputy Chair at Stonewall, and enjoys running, equestrian eventing, and walks with his dog.
More on #JACPodcast:
MHFA England: mhfaengland.org
Email: [email protected]
More on #MyWholeSelf: mhfaengland.org/my-whole-self/

For the final episode of the series Simon caught up with long-time friend, activist, writer and the 'Queen of Kindness' Phyll Opoku-Gyimah.
Phyll, who you may know as Lady Phyll, is the Co-Founder and Director of UK Black Pride, and currently the Executive Director of the Kaleidoscope Trust, an international charity working to uphold and advance human rights for LGBT+ people. Before that, Phyll spent years working for trade unions fighting for equality in the workplace and beyond.
Phyll and Simon had an honest and emotional chat about:

• The power of kindness and how to really listen to someone
• Why Phyll no longer uses the word 'normalise'
• The journey of UK Black Pride from 200 to 10,000 attendees
• Why equality and mental health and wellbeing go hand in hand
• The best advice Phyll has ever been given

Make sure to stay right to the end for a bonus story about the time Phyll met Whoopi Goldberg!
We'd love to know what you think! If you could take a moment to rate and review wherever you get your podcasts we would very much appreciate your feedback. You can do this on most platforms including:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher
• TuneIn

Don't forget to get involved on social media using #JACPodcast!
More on Lady Phyll: twitter.com/MsLadyPhyllUK Black Pride: ukblackpride.org.uk
The Kaleidoscope Trust: kaleidoscopetrust.com
More on Simon: twitter.com/SimonablakeSimon Blake OBE is the Chief Executive of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England. His mission is to improve the mental health of the nation and help build an inclusive and society where attitudes and behaviours around mental health are normalised. Simon received an OBE in 2011, is Deputy Chair at Stonewall, and enjoys running, equestrian eventing, and walks with his dog.
More on #JACPodcast:
MHFA England: mhfaengland.org
Email: [email protected]

Simon Blake OBE returns for a second series of Just About Coping.
This series we're looking look at a new campaign by MHFA England; My Whole Self. To create mentally healthy workplaces, people need to feel safe to be their ‘whole self’ at work. So how can we create workforces, wherever that may be, where everyone has the freedom to do this? To find out, Simon has gathered leaders from across the worlds of business, sport, and more...
This week's guest is workplace culture strategist Adah Parris. Adah describes herself as a futurist, storyteller and artist. Having worked with the likes of Google, the EU Council and the BFI to transform their workplace culture, she was a perfect guest to explore the themes of bringing your whole self to work. Simon and Adah chatted about;

• Being human and the idea of 'human blockchains'
• Shifting personas depending on the context you are in
• Applying the ten principles of Burning Man to everyday life
• Burnouts - how to see them coming and stop yourself running out of steam

And much, much more!
As always, we'd love to know what you think. If you could take a moment to rate and review wherever you get your podcasts we would very much appreciate your feedback. You can do this on most platforms including:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher
• TuneIn

Don't forget to get involved on social media using #JACPodcast and check out all the My Whole Self fun on our website.
More on Adah: adahparris.com/the-four-freedoms
The ten principles of Burning Man: burningman.org/culture/philosophical-center/10-principles
More on Simon: twitter.com/SimonablakeSimon Blake OBE is the Chief Executive of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England. His mission is to improve the mental health of the nation and help build an inclusive and society where attitudes and behaviours around mental health are normalised. Simon received an OBE in 2011, is Deputy Chair at Stonewall, and enjoys running, equestrian eventing, and walks with his dog.
More on #JACPodcast:
MHFA England: mhfaengland.org
Email: [email protected]
More on #MyWholeSelf: mhfaengland.org/my-whole-self/

NHS doctor, TV presenter, and star of Strictly Come Dancing Dr Ranj Singh joined Simon for a catch-up in this week's Just About Coping. As well as still being a practicing clinician, you'll know Ranj from ITV's This Morning, where he is the resident health expert, and for his new best-selling book Save Money, Lose Weight.
Ranj had a huge amount to say on the subject of mental health, both from his professional and personal experience. Simon and Ranj chatted about the importance of prevention and teaching young people about mental health, the way forward for a mentally healthier society, and how Ranj coped with the highs, lows, and intensity of competing on Strictly Come Dancing.
We'd love to know what you think so far! If you could take a moment to rate and review wherever you get your podcasts we would very much appreciate your feedback. You can do this on most platforms including:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher
• TuneIn

Don't forget to get involved on social media using #JACPodcast!
More on Ranj:
Save Money, Lose Weight: amazon.co.uk/Save-Money-Lose-Weight-Waistline/
This Morning: itv.com/thismorning/health
More on Simon: twitter.com/SimonablakeSimon Blake OBE is the Chief Executive of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England. His mission is to improve the mental health of the nation and help build an inclusive and society where attitudes and behaviours around mental health are normalised. Simon received an OBE in 2011, is Deputy Chair at Stonewall, and enjoys running, equestrian eventing, and walks with his dog.
More on #JACPodcast:
MHFA England: mhfaengland.org
Email: [email protected]

This series we're looking look at a new campaign by MHFA England; My Whole Self. To create mentally healthy workplaces, people need to feel safe to be their ‘whole self’ at work. So how can we create workforces, wherever that may be, where everyone has the freedom to do this? To find out, Simon has gathered leaders from across the worlds of business, sport, and more...
Our final guest of the series is Linda Aiello, Executive Vice President, Employee Success Business Partner at Salesforce. Tech giant Salesforce has regularly appeared in international best places to work lists, and Linda has been at the heart of ensuring customer and employee satisfaction. She joined Simon over a video call to discuss:

• The importance of trust and authenticity in the workplace, particularly in the current climate, to create psychological safety
• Why Salesforce have encouraged a remote working culture for years and the best ways to do it
• The power of data and the ability to use it to improve workplace wellbeing, diversity and inclusion
• Zoom calls, the new normal, and managing your mental health during lockdown

We also learned a new Hawaiian word, 'Ohana' and the fact that Linda has lived in seven countries in her lifetime! We hope you've enjoyed this series and look forward to bringing you another one some time soon.
As always, we'd love to know what you think. If you could take a moment to rate and review wherever you get your podcasts we would very much appreciate your feedback. You can do this on most platforms including:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher
• TuneIn

Don't forget to get involved on social media using #JACPodcast and check out all the My Whole Self fun on our website.
More on Linda: europe.businesschief.com/leadership/2848/
'Supporting employees' mental health': peoplemanagement.co.uk/voices/comment/supporting-employees-mental-health
More on Simon: twitter.com/SimonablakeSimon Blake OBE is the Chief Executive of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England. His mission is to improve the mental health of the nation and help build an inclusive and society where attitudes and behaviours around mental health are normalised. Simon received an OBE in 2011, is Deputy Chair at Stonewall, and enjoys running, equestrian eventing, and walks with his dog.
More on #JACPodcast:
MHFA England: mhfaengland.org
Email: [email protected]
More on #MyWholeSelf: mhfaengland.org/my-whole-self/