

How Do You Cope?
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With one in six people experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, it’s never been more important to find out how people are dealing with these challenges. In this podcast, comedian and broadcaster John Robins brings his trademark approach of heart and humour to the conversation, sitting down with guests and experts each week to ask the very simple question - How Do You Cope? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 18, 2025 • 56min
Encore: Sophie Willan: ‘In the care system you're either a tragic story or a hero’ | 27
 How do you truly find your identity after growing up in care?John is joined by comedian Sophie Willan, the star and writer of Alma’s Not Normal, to talk about her experiences of the care system.Sophie discusses the many ways being in care has affected her life - from constantly thinking of herself as an outsider, to always feeling the need to make people happy. She also talks about growing up with a drug-addicted mother and the boundaries she had to put in place to take care of her mental health.On Thursday in our bonus episode The Gratitude List, Sophie shares the 5 things that she is currently grateful for.You can send in your thoughts and reflections to hello@howdoyoucopepod.com, or follow the show on Instagram and TikTok. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 

Aug 14, 2025 • 28min
Encore: The Gratitude List: Jordan Stephens | 26
 In this week’s bonus episode, musician and writer Jordan Stephens shares the five things he’s currently grateful for. There’s a disagreement about dogs, but a lot of excitement over a new way of drinking tea.Head to the main episode to hear about Jordan’s struggles with fame, addiction, and managing his ADHD. Plus why he thinks group therapy changed his life.You can send in your thoughts and reflections to hello@howdoyoucopepod.com, or follow the show on Instagram and TikTok @howdoyoucopepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 

Aug 11, 2025 • 57min
Encore: Jordan Stephens: ‘I had an appetite for self destruction’ | 26
 How do you recover from a breakup you feel is your fault?John sits down with musician and writer Jordan Stephens, best known as one half of Rizzle Kicks, to talk about how his self-destructive behaviour led to infidelity and heartbreak.Jordan opens up to John about how he set his life back on the right path by admitting his faults, accepting his ADHD diagnosis, and throwing himself into group therapy.On Thursday in our bonus episode The Gratitude List, Jordan shares the 5 things that he is currently grateful for.You can send in your thoughts and reflections to hello@howdoyoucopepod.com, or follow the show on Instagram and TikTok @howdoyoucopepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 

Aug 7, 2025 • 23min
The Gratitude List: Tom Rosenthal | 25
 In this week’s bonus episode, author and comedian Tom Rosenthal shares the 5 things he is grateful for. He explains why he thinks dogs resonate at a higher frequency to people, and why he’s grateful to be part of the comedy world. Head to the main episode to hear about Tom’s spiritual journey from sceptic to believer, his experiences of losing an unborn child, and his approach to living life by being a vessel for a higher power. You can send in your thoughts and reflections to hello@howdoyoucopepod.com, or follow the show on Instagram and TikTok @howdoyoucopepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 

Aug 4, 2025 • 57min
Tom Rosenthal: ‘I’ve had personal experience of a higher power’ | 25
 How do we live the most fulfilled life possible?John sits down with his friend the comedian and actor Tom Rosenthal to discuss faith, coming to terms with loss, and experiencing a higher plane of existence. Tom describes how taking part in the BBC documentary Pilgrimage led to him confronting buried trauma around the loss of his unborn child. He also explains how he experienced a transcendental episode where he encountered a different plane of existence, and outlines his approach to spirituality.On Thursday in our bonus episode The Gratitude List, Tom shares the 5 things that he is currently grateful for.You can send in your thoughts and reflections to hello@howdoyoucopepod.com, or follow the show on Instagram and TikTok @howdoyoucopepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 

Jul 31, 2025 • 14min
The Gratitude List: Chermal Williams | 24
 In this week’s bonus episode, Chermal Williams from the charity Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse shares the 5 things she is grateful for. She explains how getting up at 5am every day has changed her life, and why she’s grateful for herself. Head to the main episode to hear about Chermal’s experiences of domestic abuse as a child at the hands of her stepfather. And how coaching a boys’ football team allows her to give children the childhood she didn’t have.You can send in your thoughts and reflections to hello@howdoyoucopepod.com, or follow the show on Instagram and TikTok @howdoyoucopepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 

Jul 28, 2025 • 48min
Chermal Williams: ‘I want children to have the childhood I didn’t have’ | 24
 How do you escape and recover from abuse by a parent?John talks to Chermal Williams, Head of Services for Health and Training at the charity Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse, about her difficult childhood.Chermal was the victim of domestic abuse as a child at the hands of her stepfather, experiencing physical and psychological abuse. Later as an adult, she found herself in an abusive relationship. But through reading self-help books, working with children, and finding time for herself, she managed to escape the cycle of abuse, and forge her own identity.You can find out more Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse on their website:https://www.standingtogether.org.uk/Other helpful links:Childline: https://www.childline.org.uk/Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline: https://dsahelpline.org/On Thursday in our bonus episode The Gratitude List, Chermal shares the 5 things that she is currently grateful for.You can send in your thoughts and reflections to hello@howdoyoucopepod.com, or follow the show on Instagram and TikTok @howdoyoucopepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 

Jul 24, 2025 • 34min
The Gratitude List: Angela Scanlon | 23
 In this week’s bonus episode, broadcaster and writer Angela Scanlon shares the 5 things she is grateful for. She explains how gratitude came into her life via Irish dancing, and expresses her love for the mundane.Head to the main episode to hear about Angela’s battles with anorexia and bulimia, her journey into parenthood, and how meditating for 10 minutes on the tube can change her day. You can send in your thoughts and reflections to hello@howdoyoucopepod.com, or follow the show on Instagram and TikTok @howdoyoucopepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 

Jul 21, 2025 • 56min
Angela Scanlon: ‘My eating disorder made my world feel safe’ | 23
 How do you recover from an eating disorder?John speaks to presenter, writer and broadcaster Angela Scanlon about living with anorexia and bulimia in her younger years. Angela noticed her relationship with food change in her late teens, and went on to struggle with eating disorders for 15 years. She talks about how controlling her eating gave her a sense of safety, which years later morphed into an addiction to work. Angela also explores how giving birth to her first daughter changed her mindset, and explains how meditating for 10 minutes on the tube can change her day.Her new podcast ‘Get A Grip’ with Vicky Pattison is out now.If you need support head to: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/On Thursday in our bonus episode The Gratitude List, Angela shares the 5 things that she is currently grateful for.You can send in your thoughts and reflections to hello@howdoyoucopepod.com, or follow the show on Instagram and TikTok @howdoyoucopepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 

Jul 17, 2025 • 31min
Your Correspondence #3 | 22
 In a special episode, John reads a selection of your questions and emails.There are reflections on Megan Jayne Crabbe’s message of body positivity, reactions to Naga Munchetty highlighting the misogyny of the health service, and John answers questions about making big life decisions, and how to effectively check in on loved ones.You can send in your thoughts and reflections to hello@howdoyoucopepod.com, or follow the show on Instagram and TikTok @howdoyoucopepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 


