How Do You Cope?

At what point do you accept that you need help?John talks to political strategist, author and broadcaster Alastair Campbell about his battles with depression. Alastair has been very vocal about the after-effects of a psychotic episode that left him hospitalised in 1986, and seeing his brother Donald live with schizophrenia.He talks about his resistance towards seeking help, how his spell in hospital has impacted his outlook, and how looking at a raisin helped calm his thoughts.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, Snow Patrol lead singer Gary Lightbody shares the 5 things he is currently grateful for. Gratitude plays a big part in Gary’s life, and he describes a transcendental experience he had whilst swimming in Belfast Lough. Head to the main episode to hear about Gary’s experiences of grief after the death of his father, how he felt guilt and shame in the wake of his passing, and the importance of finding stillness and calm in his everyday 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.

What do you do when the grief of losing a loved one becomes all-consuming?Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody sits down with John to talk about losing his father, and the all-encompassing grief that followed. Gary talks about the sometimes challenging relationship he had with his Dad Jack. In the wake of Jack’s death, he was forced to confront the ways in which their relationship could have been better. He also discusses his experience of being a single man, and the importance of finding stillness in your everyday life.On Thursday in our bonus episode The Gratitude List, Gary 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, member of the House of Lords Craig Mackinlay shares the 5 things he is currently grateful for.Beginning unsurprisingly with gratitude for life itself, Craig explains how, from the moment he woke up from his coma, he was determined to live.Head to the main episode to hear about Craig’s ordeal with sepsis; from losing both his arms and legs to having to relearn how to walk.You can send in your thoughts and reflections to hello@howdoyoucopepod.com, or follow the show on Instagram and TikTok @howdoyoucopepodListen to How Do You Cope on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/howdoyoucope now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you recover both mentally and physically from a life-changing operation? John sits down with member of the House of Lords Craig Mackinlay who developed sepsis in 2023 and was given a 5% chance of survival. Craig spent 16 days in an induced coma and then had both his arms and legs amputated. He discusses how his wife’s tenacity kept him alive, how he’s adapted to life with prosthetic arms and legs, and how old ladies often hug him when he’s out and about. You can find more information about sepsis on the following websites:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/ and https://sepsistrust.org/ On Thursday in our bonus episode The Gratitude List, Craig 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, musician Bonnie “Prince” Billy, aka Will Oldham, shares the 5 things he is currently grateful for, and explains why he sees gratitude as acts of reverence and defiance.Head to the main episode to hear about Will’s experiences of caring for his mother when she developed Alzheimer’s, how he copes with grief, and why streaming has harmed our appreciation of music.You can send in your thoughts and reflections to hello@howdoyoucopepod.com, or follow the show on Instagram and TikTok @howdoyoucopepod.Listen to How Do You Cope on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/howdoyoucope now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you cope when caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s?John speaks to one of his musical heroes, the musician and actor Bonnie “Prince” Billy, aka Will Oldham. After the death of Will’s father, his mother started showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease.John also discusses Will’s journey into music, his difficulty in calling himself an artist, and the effect that streaming has on our appreciation of music.On Thursday in our bonus episode The Gratitude List, Will 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.Listen to How Do You Cope on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/howdoyoucope now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s bonus episode, comedian Rosie Jones shares the 5 things she is currently grateful for. There’s an in-depth conversation about central heating, and Rosie extols the virtues of long (and slightly erotic) hot water bottles.Head to the main episode to hear about Rosie’s coping mechanisms in the face of online hate and abuse, how she was able to stand up to Matt Hancock, and why she’s unwilling to shape her career around others’ expectations.You can send in your thoughts and reflections to hello@howdoyoucopepod.com, or follow the show on Instagram and TikTok @howdoyoucopepod.Listen to How Do You Cope on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/howdoyoucope now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian, writer, and actress Rosie Jones, who has cerebral palsy, discusses how humor helps her cope with online hate. She shares her inspiring journey into comedy and her pride in creating the Edie Eckhart book series, which features a young girl with a disability. Rosie emphasizes the significance of representation and authenticity in her work while also tackling the challenges of fame and setting personal boundaries. The conversation is a powerful blend of resilience and laughter, perfect for anyone seeking inspiration.

In a special episode, John reads a selection of your emails and feedback. He shares the coping mechanisms he’s learnt from recent guests, and how his approach to interviews has changed since becoming sober.We also turn the Gratitude List over to you, to hear what’s making you smile. And John shares 5 things he’s currently thankful for...You can send in your thoughts and reflections to hello@howdoyoucopepod.com, or follow the show on Instagram and TikTok @howdoyoucopepod.Listen to How Do You Cope on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/howdoyoucope now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.