How Do You Cope?

Why should footballers have to tolerate racism?John sits down with ex-footballer Anton Ferdinand, who found himself at the centre of a national racism scandal.Anton was playing for Premier League team Queens Park Rangers in October 2011, when Chelsea and England defender John Terry was caught on camera apparently saying a racist slur. Terry was subsequently charged with racially abusing Anton, but was found not guilty.Anton talks to John about the impact this incident has had on his life - from his memories of what happened on the day, to how he coped with the aftermath when he became the target of further abuse from football fans and the press.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.

In this week’s bonus episode, domestic abuse campaigner and author David Challen shares the 5 things he is grateful for. In what turns out to be one of John’s favourite ever gratitude lists, David expresses his love for his bike and the film ‘You’ve Got Mail’. Head to the main episode to hear about how David fought to get his mother released from prison after she’d killed his father. He explains what men can do to combat violence against women. 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.

How do you reconcile your mother killing her abuser, when her abuser was your father?John speaks to domestic abuse campaigner and author David Challen. He shares his experiences of fighting to get his mother freed from prison after she killed his father.David was just 23 when he found out his mother Sally was close to ending her own life after the incident. She was subsequently sentenced to life in prison. But David felt the need to speak out and uncover his parents’ relationship for what it was; one of serial abuse and coercive control.David talks about the challenges of reassessing his childhood, his fight to release his mother from prison, and why more men should speak up about violence against women.Helpful Links:https://www.standingtogether.org.uk/https://www.womensaid.org.uk/If you need help, or just to speak to someone, you can call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247.David’s new book ‘The Unthinkable: A Story of Control, Violence and My Mother’, is out now.On Thursday in our bonus episode The Gratitude List, David 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.

In this week’s bonus episode, author and digital creator Megan Jayne Crabbe shares the 5 things she is grateful for. Megan explains how her relationship with gratitude initially started from a place of scepticism. She also discusses the benefits of writing morning pages, and why she’s grateful for Gilbert the cat.Head to the main episode to hear about Megan’s journey with anorexia, transforming her relationship with food and body image, and her thoughts on modern dating. You can send in your feedback 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.

How do you learn to love your body?John sits down with writer, presenter, and digital creator Megan Jayne Crabbe to talk about her experience of eating disorders, her journey into body positivity, and the reasons why women make themselves small. Megan began posting online about body positivity under the handle Bodyposipanda at the age of 21. In her teens she struggled with anorexia and binge eating. Since then, she has amassed over 1 million followers and written 2 books. The latest - ‘We Don’t Make Ourselves Smaller Here’ - is out now. On Thursday in our bonus episode The Gratitude List, Megan 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.

In this week’s bonus episode, actor Leslie Ash shares the things she’s grateful for, including The Chelsea Detective, and her blue roan Cocker Spaniel.Head to the main episode to hear about Leslie’s ordeal with the life-threatening infection MSSA, her long road to recovery, and her treatment by the tabloid press after a procedure to plump up her lips went wrong.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.

What do you do when your career is derailed by a life-threatening infection? John speaks to actor Leslie Ash, best known for playing the role of Debs in the 90s sitcom Men Behaving Badly, about catching an infection that nearly killed her. After being admitted to hospital with cracked ribs, Leslie contracted the life-threatening infection MSSA, which left her unable to walk. She discusses her long road to recovery, and how the illness affected her career. She also talks about the ridicule she suffered after a cosmetic procedure to plump up her lips went wrong. On Thursday in our bonus episode The Gratitude List, Leslie 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.

In this week’s bonus episode, comedian Pierre Novellie shares the 5 things he is grateful for. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle gets a shout out, as does Pierre’s own memory. Head to the main episode to hear about Pierre’s experiences of being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder later in life, how hyper-focusing at school led to teachers thinking he was deaf, and why Pierre thinks TV show The Big Bang Theory loses its humour when you reframe its main characters as autistic. 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.

What do you do when a stranger at a gig tells you they think you have autism?Comedian, writer and broadcaster Pierre Novellie sits down with John to talk about his experiences of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Pierre wasn’t diagnosed with ASD until the age of 31, after an audience member at his stand up show told him they thought he was on the autistic spectrum.He talks about masking at a young age, and his fascination with comedy and the impact jokes have on people. The pair also discuss Pierre’s coping mechanisms for living in a neurotypical world, including learning what his face should do in certain situations, and knowing when to say no to holding hands.On Thursday in our bonus episode The Gratitude List, Pierre 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.

In this week’s bonus episode, Rebecca Lucy Taylor, aka Self Esteem, shares the 5 things she is grateful for. Rebecca praises her hair and make up team, and expresses gratitude for a device that lets her listen to Peep Show whilst falling asleep.Head to the main episode to hear about Rebecca’s need to reinvent both herself and her career, and the coping mechanisms she’s developed for the days when she struggles to get out of bed.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.