Should I Delete That? - Gemma Styles: it’s not a bandwagon it’s a party bus
Episode Date: July 3, 2022Last week we lost Em’s dear friend and inspiration to us all, the incredible Dame Deborah James. You can support the Bowel Babe Fund here: https://www.bowelbabe.org/In this episode, the girls talk w...ith mental health ambassador and podcast host, Gemma Styles. They discuss how she chooses to be a good influence while working through her own mental health and making peace with her ADHD diagnosis. If you want more, you’re in luck! You can listen to Alex and Em on Gemma’s podcast, Good Influence, available here.Al also talks us through her decision to freeze her eggs and Em accuses her of dressing like a postman…Follow us on Instagram @shouldideletethatEmail us at shouldideletethatpod@gmail.comMusic by Alex Andrew Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
Discussion (0)
Oh my god, why did I post that?
Ah, I don't know what to do!
Should I delete that?
Yeah, you should definitely delete that.
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forward slash Alex and M.
Hi!
Ola!
Hello!
That's it.
Oh, there we go.
Nice.
Yeah.
That's literally as many languages as I know Hello in,
which is embarrassing.
What's hello in German?
Hi.
No, I don't know.
Oh my God, why can't I think of this?
Hi.
I don't know.
You're the linguist.
Oh, hello.
Okay.
Hello.
Hello.
Okay, good.
We smashed that.
Hi, how are you?
I'm good, I'm good, I'm good.
I don't sound great, but I'm good.
You've got a sore throat, haven't you?
Yeah, but I'm fine.
How are you doing?
I'm good.
I feel like I haven't spoken to you in ages.
I know we had a meeting together yesterday,
but I was really rude to you,
and then we went for our separate days,
and that was kind of that.
Yeah, I just sliked off your outfit,
but otherwise, I've not seen you, I've not heard from you,
and I've missed you loads,
so I'm happy, I'm just happy to be here,
I'm happy to have you in my presence.
It's all good.
Yeah, you did slag me off.
We'll get to that, actually.
That might feature in today's episode.
I'm sorry. The postman? Is it the postman that's here?
You love a postman? You love a postman?
I do.
Maybe this is a good time actually to go into my awkward.
Okay, go into it.
And it's my fault and I'm sorry and I love you and you're so pretty and you're so good at getting dressed and I just love you.
No, it's too late. It's too late. So as we've been talking about on the podcast,
dressing summary and I was like oh my god today's the day right I'm going into town and I'm
going to dress summary and I checked the weather and it said 23 degrees and I remember you saying
that 23 meant no jacket right so I was like I'm not going to wear a jacket for once I'm going
to wear a white linen skirt which is really pretty like had a frill at the bottom a little black
body suit and like I was like over rather than a denim jacket which I wear all the time I'm
like I'm going to wear this little blue short sleeve shirt that I've got and like wear it
open cute anyway mistake because as soon as I left the house it was fucking raining but
I was too late to go around and change so I was like oh my god I try and do something nice
so I get into town and we go to this meeting and we're halfway through the meeting and I'm just
it's like staring at my shirt like staring at it I'm like what she says you look like a postman
the summer
because
it's the royal male
it's the royal male summer
uniform is a short sleeve blue shirt
and I didn't
I didn't mean like
you look like the postman because
your outfit was so pretty and you looked so nice
and I was so proud of you so well I saw you
walking down the street looking so summery
I was like oh my god it was like boring with rain
I was like who is that
she's totally fucked it
but she looks great
and I loved your outfit
but you know when you're staring at something
and it really reminds you of something
and I was looking at that shirt
and I was like
where do I know that shirt from?
And then I realised that it's the guy
at the sorting office wears it every day
because they wear the pale blue shirt
and if you Google it we found it
it's a pale blue shirt
with the little red Royal Mail
sticker on it
literally all I'm using
with the Royal Metal logo
it wasn't like you just look terrible
it was just that
that shirt
just triggered a
response in me a memory
did you enjoy your summary outfit
I did I did
but now that shirt
all I see is Postman
I'm really sorry
all I see is Postman
but I did enjoy the summary outfit
and I enjoyed feeling like almost chilly
nice yeah
yeah I'd say that is nice
but also I just want to say like
Postman is not Cicinaman
Cinnamon bun. Sorry, it's not synonymous. I fell out my mouth. It's not, oh my God, it's not synonymous with insulting. Like, it's, it's, by no means a bad thing to look like the postman. It was just that, that outfit. Like, if you'd have shown up in like a chunky black jacket with high vye on it, I'd have been like, hey, look like a fireperson. You know, so. It's just not the vibe I was going for, I guess. Yeah, if you'd have showed up in like a hard hat with a bit of checkered ribbon around it, I'd have been.
I'm like, oh, a police person.
So, you're sorry.
What do you want to start with?
Well, I think we have to start with a bad.
And that is that this week, Dame Deborah James passed away, which obviously we knew was coming.
Deb sort of said her farewell a fair few weeks ago now and since then has gone on to do amazing things.
As of this morning, the Boul Babe Fund is at 7 million.
pounds which is extraordinary um and yeah i just um it's just the most extraordinary woman it's like i just
keep thinking of um of the elton john candle in the wind and it's just like your your candles burned
out long before your legend never will and i really feel like that's very true for deb's but it's and i and i'm
pleased she's it because she can rest now and she's at peace now but it's very sad um that the world has
lost somebody so amazing
so yeah and truly like what an like an astonishing like present like what an astonishing person
it's unbelievable the impact she has had and it would be like it's so easy for someone in her
position to just have retreated and like that would have been absolutely fine too but the
just the sheer amount that she's done and achieved throughout her diagnosis is just unbelievable
and I mean seven million pounds that's just extraordinary and that's only the bowel babe foundation right that's had that much like the amount of fundraising she did prior to setting up the foundation like god knows how much all and the rebellious hope t-shirts within the style raised over a million so cumulatively you know she must have raised tens of millions and and in the process as well the things and and I was lucky enough to be friends with Deb and and I know this is a feeling shared
among her friends, but also among the people that followed her, is as well as raising a
great amount of money and awareness, she also taught us such an extraordinary amount about
how to live, like I've never, and how to die, you know, she totally changed the conversation.
And I've never been, I've never known anybody like it, and I doubt I ever will again.
I've never known someone that just makes you so relentlessly grateful to be alive.
and I remember once
when I just run New York Marathon
like literally just done it
she sent me a text going
and I'm signing you up to Lundra marathon
and I was on the tube
and I replied go fucking hell
and she went and then I went
and she went oh come on it'll be fun
I'm doing it
and I lost signal
and I was on tube like oh Christ
she's going to do it she's going to do it
and by the time I had signal at the other side
she's like he done
she's like see you on October
I was like fucking hell
but you can't say no to Dems
and you just didn't want to because everything that she did was so fun.
And she was doing it in the face of every bit of every struggle,
every piece of adversity that came her way.
You know, even when her body was just in full rebellion against her,
she just kept on pushing.
It was just the most extraordinary thing to witness, you know,
whether that be in real life or online.
And I think so many people have taken so much from her.
And she's just the most extraordinary person.
And it's a huge loss that her legacy will live.
on forever among anybody that ever got to witness anything she ever did.
So we're going to put the link to the Bal Babe Fund in the description
and also to the Rebellious Hope T-shirts that Deb's design within the style.
They now come in lots of different colors and sizes.
So if you'd like to get your hands on one of those,
I think the message is really special, but also the money is going to a great place.
I think, do you know what, Debs would not want anybody sitting here and wallowing.
So can we pick this back up?
Can we have a good, Al?
Can we have a reason to smile today?
Something that's made you happy.
Yeah.
Oh, God.
My good's not really like a smiley kind of thing.
I'm regretting that now.
But my good is just very simply, like it's no big a huge deal,
but I've decided to freeze my eggs.
And I've actually made consultations,
and I'm going to go ahead with it.
do it and it's been something that I've been thinking about for a really long time
and there are obviously like cost implications to think about and a ton of other stuff as well
like I might not even be a candidate blah blah but I just I'm pleased that I'm I'm starting
the process and like doing something that I really have wanted to do so that's amazing that's
exciting I feel and God it's so cheesy the word empowered but I it does it makes me feel
empowered to be like taking control of something that you kind of can end up feeling like you've
not got much control over. So that feels really good and that's my good. Yeah. That's exactly the
word that I was going to use before you just slated the word. Yeah. That's exactly what I was
going to say. That's, that's even looking at your faces, you're saying that. And it is, I think it's
really empowering. And I'm so proud of you for talking about it on Instagram because you just said
on your page, you know, that people don't ever, there's so.
much secrecy around fertility and even saying this now like I don't want to use the word brave
because you know well actually fuck it I'll use it um it is brave it's cool and I'm really proud of you
do you know what I didn't feel brave until then I looked at my DMs afterwards and I was like
wow okay maybe this is why people don't talk about it because why there's a lot and I understand
that it's an extremely emotive subject but I think there's just and I think that's what
it comes down to there is so much emotion involved in it and it's it's um
a very you know and infertility
especially it's a really intense
and like grueling thing to go through
an IVF and I understand
you know I said that on my Instagram that it feels like there is just no
there isn't much open conversation about fertility
at least that's how it feels to me in my world in my bubble
and I think that
sort of fosters an environment that's like
feels very isolating and alone and almost like shameful but then I think a lot of people
were upset because they said but but I'm going through IVF and like I just don't want to tell
people because of you know which I totally understand I mean the questions are endless when
people do know that you're going through I know this through friends like when you are going
through IVF people asking you all the time like where about where are you in the cycle like when
does it get implanted are you pregnant yet what's going on month after month any news any news
and it's I imagine it to be very exhausting and emotional and upsetting
and so I understand why people want to keep it secretive you know you know keep it private
and I don't know why I'm going on this huge like disclaimer no no I think it's really important
but it's so hard to like get everyone to think about everyone especially when I'm totally new to this
and all I'm saying is like I'm freezing my eggs you know that's all I'm saying like but I guess with
anything you do anything online
And any subject that is like this, you do open a can of worms, so I should have known.
Well, I think it's, that's why I said it's brave, I think, because a lot of people have so much pain surrounding fertility and infertility that a lot of projection gets put on people, whether, you know, and I think so much of it isn't deliberate, but, you know, even people making baby announcements can be triggering to other people.
and of course that makes so much sense but that's nobody's fault you know it isn't the person who makes the announcement's fault and it's not the person who's upset by that's fault you know it's just it's just a really unfortunate sort of collision of worlds and it's something that's really painful for a lot of people but i think even you know that i i imagine that's where quite a lot of the pain comes from is you know everybody's experiences are so personal you know and it's so all-encompassing that and and i had imagined that
it's kind of an open space within the and I don't know but you know I do follow a lot of amazing people
who really open up about their IVF journey but I think the first steps into it I think it's it's
maybe more common place for people to talk about it once they're in it but for you to talk about it
before you go into it is um like maybe maybe that's what's unusual because yeah I mean people
don't it's a 12 week thing even you know people are then you're right like there is and of course
you don't have to speak about it at all.
But I think like societyly, there's there's so much to be gained for at least giving a
space to allowing the conversation.
But it's so emotive and it's really hard until it's a societal norm.
It's really hard for those first people to, or not the first people, but it's really hard
to go against the norm, which I guess is what you're doing by opening up about it.
So I do think it's brave.
And I think it's huge.
Yeah.
I mean, I don't like really think it is like I think I've seen like one of my good friends has opened up about her about her IVF journey on Instagram and she's been through a lot of rounds of IVF and that's brave and you see the downside of that as well. I mean she uploaded a COVID test that was positive and she was like oh damn it it got me and then was like flooded with oh my God does this mean you're pregnant? Is this? And I was
she was like can you not read it's a clearly a COVID test like do we not know at this point what a lateral flow test looks like so you know I I feel so you know I don't know I have a lot of empathy without actually and obviously understanding for people going through infertility it's just it's really difficult but I think as well and you said before like knowledge is power right and someone said to me who was 40 and going
through IVF and she said to me, just the one thing I wish I'd done when I was younger
is freeze my eggs, you know, she wasn't in a position to try when she was younger,
but she didn't know, she didn't really know about freezing her eggs. It just wasn't really
a thing that was talked about. So, and, you know, obviously it's an absolute privilege and not
everyone couldn't afford to do it, of course, and it's not going to be like easy. Anyway,
I'm going on and on and on and it's not that big a deal. But yeah, you get my point.
I get your point
I'm proud of you
it is empowering
I think it's really important
that women know more
about their fertility
in general
because it's extraordinary
that we just don't know
fucking shit about shit
so for that alone
to know alone
what your position is right now
is really cool
and important
and like I think
yeah
it's something really empowering
about getting to know your body
so I'm excited for you
on this journey
and I love you loads
and I hope that everybody
treats you with loads of empathy
because you deserve it
thanks
apparently the two weeks when you do it is like
you're just like an absolute bitch so look forward to that
hokey-dokey
I'll buckle up I've got a bubble wrap I've got a bubble wrap suit
that Alex got me for my birthday so I'll just wear that one
we have to have like any engagements all right cool
sold yeah fine thanks for the heads up
what's your good
god I don't think I have one I must have one
oh my good well it's a bit beyond now but it was birthday last week
which I've always been bad
because I hate that she's getting older
and she really is getting older now
which is a day
like something that if I think too much about I cry
which is unhealthy
but yeah I've decided to celebrate the fact
that she's the best bitch in town
she's alive she's driving
she rolled in the biggest pile of goose shit
this morning and then have to go under the hose
and then brought in goose shit paws right through my kitchen
so then I had to mop those up for a fair little while
we had a bit of a bit of a
bit of a nightmare
but she's seven
and she's a sensation
and I love her loads
and I've got Alex's birthday
on Saturday
this is a good time
for the household
because it's Abuah's birthday
then we had Georgie's birth
oh actually fuck it
you know what I'm going to do
a two in one
it was also Georgie Swallows
30th birthday
Georgie Swallow has beaten
cancer's ass
twice
and 30 was her first big
birthday
it was the first big milestone
that she's reached
since she's been in remission
and it was really special to watch her.
Be all shit-faced, going down a slip and slide,
eating loads of cake.
I'm just having a great day celebrating her life.
Amazing.
That's absolutely what she deserves.
Exactly.
For anyone that doesn't follow her,
you have to follow her.
And also, she's like one of the nicest human beings.
I think I've ever come across.
Isn't she?
Isn't she?
Like, it doesn't get nicer than Georgie.
No, no.
She's so nice.
Yeah.
So that was lovely.
It's just really, like, it's just been a week of real love, you know?
Like, first thing.
and then Georgie, got Al's birthday next week, mine's coming up.
It's just, we're all, it's just good vibes.
We're all getting old.
Lots of B days, I like it.
Yeah, it's nice.
Yeah, it's cool.
Cool, what have you, what have you not about bad?
You got bad, you got bad for me, anything terrible?
Well, I mean, I, I know, I know, we are all over the place today.
I, I, I, there's a man coming to my door with a drill.
That's the bad.
That type, just found my bad.
if the front
if we just have a drilling noise
and it's coming through your front door
yeah will you help
I don't know I mean yeah but no I don't know how
I'll try
okay
will you help I don't know
I'm not good in emergencies
I just freeze
I can imagine that
are you what was the last emergency
that you were in
and did you how did you handle it
do you know what one that has haunted me
for a really long time is
one of our cats from back home
I took her to the vets
years and years of years ago
I was like 19 or 20 or something
I took her to the vets and you have to take cats
in a box
crate, a crate
that's it a box, cardboard box
in the crate
and then when I brought her back
like I was opening the door
and it's like a dodgy little door to open
and her paw got stuck
and I come
completely froze and it's like I was just like screaming because like she was screaming but I
completely froze and then like basically my mum rushed through and sorted it and that has haunted
me ever since because I'm like oh my god what the fuck is wrong with me like it was I could have
just sorted it out but I just I don't know I kind of freeze in this situation so that is not good
that's interesting I know the poor little cat she was fine she was fine yeah she's a bit of
do you're dramatic
anyone
that's what you tell yourself
I'm really good in a crisis
I imagine that you would be
I launch into it
me and Alex together
my mum always said
that like
you ever see Ray Donovan
no
it was a really good show
anyway
I'm just I'm really good in a crisis
it's a surprise
internally I'm a mess
like internally everything's on fire
but externally I'm like
okay we can handle this
we will handle this
and I just handle it
but on like I say
inside like beams are falling children are screaming like everything's burning it's horrendous but outside
I'm like ok-loki like let's go that's like yeah like when one of the dogs goes AWOL which happens
frequently because they just they use their little noses and they just run honestly you think we
were keeping them in like guandanamo like the door opens and they're like see ya and it's like are you
joking like you live on the sofa
you're fed twice a day you'll give
us so much love and yet when the door opens they're like
bye fuck it is not all of them
but uh Bisto Bistow's
a runner um but he always
goes to the neighbour's house
like and I was like what's so good about
half Bistow
you came from the streets of Romania you are loved
you are loved and a door like the labs
don't care they'll come back because they know where their food is
but the Scottish Terrier
he's honestly
he's like fuck you I'm out
like fuck you people
I am done with this place
door opens, see ya
oh my god
but he doesn't run
he just walks away
so you probably could keep up with him
if you had a good speed on you as well
but he just he's like my
he wouldn't run away
that would be undignified
he just walks away
where's he going
who knows
he's like
I don't think you even deserve
I am preserving my dignity
by walking away here
100% like he's not running from anything
this is a choice
and he's going to do it in the way that he wants.
This is deliberate, guys.
Yeah, Bisto's like a rocket.
He's like, bye.
But he's also the same, to be honest.
He doesn't run away from you.
But if you try and, like, you know,
when he goes to the neighbours,
and you try and get him,
he just walks away from you.
It's a really annoying, embarrassing thing
because it's like, you're kind of walking towards him
and he's just walking away.
And I'm like, don't do this with me.
Like, don't do this with me.
Even if it's, like, in a secure area,
you know, and you're just trying to get him
to come back in the house.
Like, because we've got a secure bit
where obviously, like,
he's allowed in or whatever but you just have to keep walking towards him and he's like what he just
keeps walking away it's like i did that thing on my instagram it's like things that are embarrassing
for no reason and it's like that like chasing a dog or like trying to get a dog on the lead
who doesn't want to be put on the lead it's like oh my god it's so embarrassing because you're like
kind of bending kind of stooping and still walking and it's walking and it's just like oh god
it's so embarrassing oh my god that has unlocked a little awkward for me very quickly and that happened
last night and I totally forgot about it.
So I went to this really swanky party.
It was at HarperCollins party and it was very cool
and everyone was very posh and dressed of very posh.
And I met this literary agent.
I think she was.
Yeah, she was.
But like a big cheese apparently.
I don't know much about the publishing world still
so I'm not really sure.
But anyway, I held out my hand to shake her hand
because they said on the invite
like don't hug people, like no hugging.
So I held out my hand to shake her hand.
And she just, I don't know if she just didn't see it or ignored it.
I don't know what happened, but I was stud with my hand out for like far too long.
And then I was like, it's too, it's too awkward for me to pull it away.
So I, like, jammed, like jabbed my hand into hers.
Like, I am trying to shake your hand and you will not leave me hanging like this.
And she was like, hmm, okay, and just like sort of grabbed my, like, grabbed a couple of my fingers.
and I was like, thank you.
Thank you.
Oh, my God.
There's a video of, I saw it on TikTok.
All the time Vladimir Putin's been left hanging for a handshake, I'll send it to you.
So embarrassing.
It's so embarrassing.
And it happens to him like, like, it happened to him like six or seven times with like big cheeses.
Like prime ministers, like Kim Jong-un, like just people just like full on ignoring his hand.
So embarrassing.
So embarrassing.
He deserves it.
100%. A hundred percent. A hundred. A lot more. I hope that man is permanently chasing a dog that he can't get on a lead. And he's always chasing a ping pong ball and he's wearing his shoes on the wrong feet. And he's always spitting stuff out of his mouth. Yeah, yeah. And no one tells him when he's got stuff between his teeth. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We'll tell him. Look at us. So powerful with our threats. Nice. Sorry, your actual bad.
Bad. My actual bad. Well, I suspected that we were going to share our bads this week, I think. And obviously,
Obviously, one was Debbs.
Like, I didn't know her personally, but I know that you did.
And Georgie did as well, really well.
And obviously, it was really sad.
And also, Roe v. Wade, I feel like I just, it's, yeah, I just, it's, yeah.
I mean, it's, like, obviously flawed everyone, like, completely flawed.
And I think what's really, I mean, the whole thing is horrific, absolutely horrific.
But it feels like I don't actually know, like, what anyone can do from here.
And we were talking yesterday about, like, do we do a podcast episode on it?
And it feels like, almost like, what's the point?
Because we are preaching to the converted.
Like, the rift is very big.
It feels very big, doesn't it?
It feels like there's a huge rift between, and, you know, the people that we would,
I don't know, that kind of, the whole thing just feels a little bit hopeless.
And I feel horrendously sorry for anyone, like all women in America right now,
because it's just unbelievable.
It's unbelievable.
I do.
And I think as well, like something that came up a lot was the reminder from people when we talked
about what was happening in America.
Like a lot of people were DM in me being like, well, you can't really talk about
this because you have to acknowledge Northern Ireland and like the fact that we're not,
you know, we haven't really got great rights exclusively over here.
And that is definitely worth acknowledging.
I think two things can be true.
And like we do need the space to be absolutely horrified about the regression of rights.
I think something that at least, you know, I know that, and I know this really,
well, like, because again, same as Northern Ireland, the Island, my mum's from, abortion
only got legalised in 2019.
Alex is from Dublin and he was part of the, you know, he was very much there for the repeal
the 8th.
So it is something that I'm very aware of and it has actually been a big part of my sort of
psyche, but I guess the difference has been that it's always felt at least here like
we're moving forwards.
And I remember last year it got criminalised in Poland and that was a real, like what the
fuck and to have it happen in america i think the thing that's been so shocking is it's such a pull
backwards and a very deliberate pull backwards like 55 years and it's not about life it isn't
because the thing that's been so gross has been the fact that guns can you know legislate
sorry i'm not using my words probably the fact that states haven't been granted the control over
guns but they have been granted the control over women and it's like that the fact that both the
rulings were made at the same time. So I know we've got so many problems across the world,
but I just think look, and particularly at a home. And for God's sake, fucking Dominic Raab today
has just said, or yesterday, said that he didn't want to put abortion rights in the
Bill of, in the Human Rights Act. Like, you know, we are not safe here. And I think something
that we have to do is keep our eyes and ears to the ground, like follow the women's
equality party and pay close attention to your MP's view on this. Because we do have to
support our sisters across the pond, but we also need to keep driving for change in Northern
Ireland and really pay attention to what's happening with our MPs here. Because I don't trust
this fucking government, not as far as I can throw them. And they've just, the America's just,
you know, I mean, I do think the fact that five unelected people made this decision is an
extraordinary fucking thing in the free world. Like, I don't understand how that's democracy. And I do
think we stand a better chance here in terms of democracy, but that does rely on us paying
attention. And I think something that came up a lot in my DMs when I talked about this was a lot
of people on my side, for example, on the sort of pro-choice side. And even people who are pro-life,
but understanding that they can be pro-life individually, but they can't inflict their pro-life
beliefs on other people, which again is really important. And I really respect people who have
that belief, because obviously abortion is a horrible thing. And a lot of people aren't going to want
to have one. And don't believe that it's the right thing to do, but they also respect that
it's a woman's right to choose, which is, you know, that that's what this comes down to. Anyway,
but I did find a lot of people trying to really kind of like nitpick a lot of what I was saying,
and I've seen that quite a lot online with like, oh, well, you know, you said that abortion's
always a painful decision and it isn't always an abortion, it isn't always a painful decision
and you said this, but it isn't always quite like this. And actually, I think we need to be
quite careful not to get too nitpicky with each other and really recognise what the
the end goal here is. And that's fighting for human rights, women's rights here and a
way. Don't you feel like really despondent with it? Because it's like we are, I do think we are
in an echo chamber. And like the stuff we're talking about, we're talking to people who
already agree with us. And that is just worrying. And I don't know. I think, I think it is
closer to home than we've realized. I mean, I mean, abortion is the only procedure here that has to
be signed off by two doctors, the only one in the UK. That's it. And it's illegal until it's signed
off by two doctors, which is crazy, you know. And I mean, I know that often, like I believe that
often it's, it's, you know, the doctors are willing to sign it off, but that's, you know,
in the doctor's hands, which is crazy. So anyway, I just, yeah. I just, yeah. I just, yeah. I think we
should we should do a deeper dive into this and we are working on it we're trying to secure
someone who's going to be able to because I think what's important is someone that's going to
be able to explain the system to us fully because there's a lot of confusion around it and
yeah so we're working on it and bear with us basically yeah my awkward it's tiny so just yeah
we watch out for that episode we're working really hard if you've got any ideas for what we can
do or I hope we've got a lead that we're going to be able to sort out this afternoon anyway
my awkward, I actually was going to get into this more
and then the news about Debs has just made all of my bads just pale into insignificant
so I'm actually happy not to have gone into it as a bad
but my bad and my awkward were connected.
My bad is turn like and we are going to go into this again.
I've been trolled quite badly as it turns out like some people don't like me
which was absolutely gutting.
Absolutely gutting.
And I found a forum and I was properly upset and we will go into that another time.
But my awkward stems from that and that's the,
A lot of these people seem to think that I do my spelling mistakes on my Instagram stories,
on purpose, to drive engagement and make myself sound relatable.
And it's really sad because I don't.
I'm just really shit at spelling.
I just, I know, but it was like, oh, she thinks she's so this and this.
And does she do these on purpose so that people reply and tell her that she says whatever?
And I was like, no, I just do them because I'm really bad at spelling.
So that people reply and tell you what?
I don't know, drive my engagement up.
they think I don't bring gay.
And I'm like, oh, please.
There's nothing more annoying to me than a DM going,
you spell considered wrong.
I'm like, oh, God.
Literally, he's the worst type of DM or being like,
literally a picture of an animal and I said it was a goat or whatever.
I don't even know.
I don't even know what it was.
People like, that's not a goat, that's a sheep, that's a lamb, not a cow,
whatever, I don't fucking know.
But like, that is literally the most annoying type of DM to get
because you like, you want to connect with people and stuff.
So why would you, oh, fuck off, sorry.
to get all shouty and sweary,
but people really irritate me.
Do they not have anything better to do?
Jesus.
I know, I know, I know.
It's just, of all of it, I was just like, oh, fuck.
Like, who didn't think I am?
I don't know, I was just like, oh yeah, anyway.
So that was just a bit...
Imagine seeing someone's stories
and then being like,
taking the time to go onto a forum and write,
I think she does this to drive engagement.
Like, how sad.
That is so sad.
I know. I know. It did make me laugh. Like just that one. The others made me cry a lot, but that one made me laugh. I was like, oh no. They think I'm clever and I'm actually just really fucking shit at spelling. I don't have that kind of business mind. And we are going to go into this further, aren't we?
Oh yeah. Yeah, definitely. I want to talk about the effect. I mean, I do believe that these people will kill someone if they're left unchecked. But I think it's really important that we talk about the way that it,
I'm really happy to talk about the way that I feel.
And I think, and we, yeah, we're going to do an episode about, about, about learning,
learning how to cope when people aren't nice to you and learning how to, learning,
learning how to really believe that other people's opinions of you don't matter.
And I'm still on that path.
Like, I'm, I'm getting closer to, to the full belief.
And sometimes it can, you know, sometimes it's not as easy as other, some days it's not as easy as it's other days.
And I think this week I've just felt vulnerable and tired and, and it just hit me harder than other days.
but I would like to share part of the journey and the thought process and like how we get to
to not let other people's words about us affected so badly so we are going to do an episode on that
and if you've got any questions about that actually send them in and any specific ones about
kind of learning to be okay with other people not liking you for example um like hit us up
send them into Instagram or email or whatever and we can um we can bring that into the episode as well
so it's not just me um but yeah we will we will get into that but
fuckers and I hope you're okay.
I'm fine. I'm okay. I'm absolutely devastated
and this will take probably years to recover from
but I'm absolutely fine.
No, I am fine. Anyway, we've got a great
interview today with somebody that
I'm so happy we've got to have this chat. Wasn't it just like
it's just gas? Absolutely. We interview Gemma Stiles who
is a friend of both of ours and we talked about mental health
and well it really it was just sort of it was like just it felt like a hug the whole episode just felt
like a hug it was just fun and lovely and I think jem was really great and I hope you all enjoy it
she's also on board for the fridge magnet so um woohoo love jm she can come back anytime um no it was
it was a brilliant episode and um she sent me a meme this morning actually that said
this is so relevant to what we talked about in the podcast I
I'm just going to read out to you quickly.
It says, I don't care if I'm cringe.
I'm just a mirror of your internalised shame.
How spot on is that?
Why didn't she send that to me on Thursday, Monday,
whenever it was when I was crying in bed.
Right.
People hate me.
Right.
Oh my God.
It's not cringe.
It's a mirror of your internalized shame.
And I feel like that is a brilliant way to kick off this episode.
Fucking A.
Enjoy it, guys.
Yeah.
We will see you on Thursday for an.
Is it just me?
my absolute favorite thing was just like watching round the crowd and all like did you see
where they were all doing like big like circles and the like giant little like conga lines
round the entire floor of the stadium and I was just like this looks so fun I loved the lights
which I initially thought were lighters and then was like no it's just a phone torch but like
when you looked across this sea of like torches and it was so beautiful that always makes me
really emotion it is emotional isn't it i don't know something about lights just call play did that and
they gave us all like a band like a wrist band or something oh i saw that actually on something i think
i can't remember was that was that the same tour where they did like a really sustainable tour
or something and everyone was like talking about all the different like things that they did it was really
good it was a few years ago it was really good when they sang lightful gadget is that when they did
it I think I'll guide you home yeah and then they had it for up and up maybe one of the
other you know tear jerks tear joke no just in inspiration I love cold I fucking love
gold play I love cold play and I know it's not cool to love them I don't care I don't go I love
cold play yeah I really fancy Chris Martin yeah thank you for not leaving me
it took me a second I was like yeah yeah I think they get a bad right oh my god so yeah
yeah just started I really fancy
Chris Martin
for a record show
he did a modern fact
oh never mind
he did I saw that
yeah that was really good
anyway
hi Gemma
hello
amica do you fancy
Chris Martin
can't say I've ever thought
of him in that way
but you know
each to their own
start
I remember seeing them do a gig
and I don't know what it was
I never know if a concert or gig
I noticed last night
you kept being like the gig
and I was like
do you mean the concert
I don't know which one to use
I'm not cool enough to say a gig
like at all
Is that like a cool thing to say?
I think so.
Okay.
Does that me, are you just cool?
Maybe you're just a bit cool.
It comes naturally to.
Congrats.
But anyway, when they did it, I probably do concerts rather than gigs, don't know.
Anyway, he was doing a gig, concert.
And, like, working so hard that his t-shirt was just full of sweat.
And I was like, I like that.
I do like that.
You're really trying, and I like it.
He's putting his all into it.
He was putting his all into it.
Alex loves a tryer.
Yeah.
It was kudos for that.
Anyway, that was a random way to open the episode.
But it wasn't entirely random because we all went to a gig last night, the same gig.
And Gemma's got a horse voice because she, well, you've been to loads of gigs, concerts.
I did, yeah.
Me, who never goes anywhere with the crowd or anywhere, cool, definitely not cool enough for gigs.
Yeah, four Harry Stal shows and one, it's so weird when I full name him, he'll be like, yeah, four shows in a week.
which was great, loved it.
I'm glad you guys were there last night as well.
It was so good.
I had such, we had a blast, didn't we?
We did.
I mean, the alcohol was helping.
Yeah, but you're also not supposed to call it a blast.
Oh my God.
I had such a blast of the glass.
I had a blasted.
I had a so old and uncool.
I had a great time at the gig.
The gig was sick.
Like, wow, mate, loved it, sick.
I don't know.
What do you want from me?
I'm not cool, okay.
No, it was amazing.
we didn't see you but we got today we're getting like a real styles fix because it's been 24 hours
getting it all in it's funny when i text you before and i was like you're gonna be there and you said yeah
and then i was like oh it's actually a very big place we probably won't see you i'll try and wave
like from somewhere my eyes aren't good enough to wave across that many people and no i'm feeling
smug today though because i wasn't drinking last night and everyone else who was there last night is like
oh my god i'm so done and i'm like nope i'm done for the week good for you yeah i didn't drink yesterday either
And I saw our stories this morning
and she were like, I'm really hung over
I was like, ha ha, I didn't realize, I was so young,
I didn't realize I was drunk until we got into the taxi
and I was sitting backwards and I was like, oh my God,
everything is spinning and I think I'm going to be sick
and I just couldn't talk, I was like, keep it in, keep it in.
We were in with strangers as well
and she was staring at her phone trying to get her like
Burger King Chits and she just kept being like,
I think I'm going to be sick
and everybody's faces in the camera, I'm like, please don't be sick
like, who is this random person sitting in the middle.
I'm a stranger, please don't be sick of my lap.
you know when you're ill like that and you're like
you've had too much alcohol and you're like the only thing
I just need food to soak it up so I was like
Burger King chips anything I'll have anything
I ended up getting vegan nuggets from Burger King and they was so good
so good so good this has been a terrible interview so far
I think of my god sorry absolutely fine I love chips and
Chips for gigs
How are you? How are you? I'm good how are you
very good thank you and thank you for coming we want we've wanted you
we wanted you for ages
and now we've got you to be very happy.
So fun.
I love doing a good podcast swap as well.
It makes me feel like a real podcast.
Yeah.
I know.
I think this is our first podcast swap.
It is.
Yeah, I don't get invited in many places so.
Oh, well.
I don't, can't imagine why, but I'm really excited.
I'm excited too.
I think it'll be fun.
So this is a two-part episode
because there's this side on ours
and then Al and I will be appearing on Gemma's podcast,
The Good Influence.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow.
Yeah.
I want to ask about your podcast.
Sure.
Yeah.
It's such a lovely thing.
Like the good influence.
Like you just...
Is it just as simple as that?
Like you just want...
What was the reasoning behind starting that the podcast
and the messaging that it brings?
Because it is lovely.
I mean, I think the name probably came around
as kind of like a play on the fact that like that's essentially what I do now.
In terms of like the influencer thing.
So you know when it's kind of...
It's one of those things.
some people like the word influencer and some people don't but when you kind of get called it a lot
and I feel like I was having the conversation of like you know on social media people obviously
talk about a lot of different things and like you guys will know this for well you talk about
things that have like a decent amount of substance and like you actually get more like diving into
conversations but I don't feel like social media is necessarily always the best platform for that
and yeah it kind of just came around as a riff on the whole thing of like well if I
I'm going to be an influencer.
I want to be like
doing something good with it
and then all the guests that are coming on
of people who I think are like
a good influence and all you know
I love a pun more than anything else
so really that's where the podcast came brought.
No I like it because I feel like influences
are so vilified and the
just the term itself is so vilified
but actually there can be a lot of good
and yeah you have to take everything with a pinch of soul
and make sure everything you know
everything you're consuming is balanced and varied
and whatnot but there is a lot of good
that can come from being an influencer so yeah i like that i really like that thanks guys yeah
did you sorry i feel like well i'm putting words in your mouth but did you ever want to be an
influencer or is that something that you've sort of fallen into and and done something brilliant with no i mean
it's very much an accident i mean this is the kind of thing where like i feel like on occasion
if people are like trying to be mean to me on the internet they say things that they think are like
devastating that they've come up with like you wouldn't even have followers if it wasn't for
your brother and I'm like yeah no shit like do you think I'm not aware of that but like it's one
of those things where it just kind of happened and I don't know to me I'm like if I ended up
with that platform if you like I just think it would have felt like a real waste to do
absolutely nothing with it yeah and you've got two choices right you're giving
this platform and then you have two choices like you do nothing with it or you do something with it
so like it's really cool yeah i mean i still i'm like i don't feel like i know what i'm doing
half the time i'm probably not and this is the thing i know that people who are like big
influencers as a career now like there's so much work that goes into like people building audiences
and stuff and there's some real like authentic authentic like helpful like great people
on the internet who are doing that work and have done loads of work to build themselves up to
that level. So I always feel like a bit like I kind of snuck in and I'm like, oh well I kind of
ended up with the beginning of it completely by accident like it wasn't really through anything
that I'd done. But yeah, I don't know. I think it's just like trying to make the most of it and
do some good with it, you know. Yeah. So we're going to dive into mental health because you
have been really open and transparent about your mental health online and you've talked about
it openly. But I want to know what that did to your mental health to find yourself suddenly
thrust into the spotlight and not in a small way, in quite a big way as well. And then from going
from like hardly any eyes on you to suddenly so many eyes on you. And now you've got, sorry,
I know you'll hate talking about this, but you've got like millions of followers now on
Instagram. Like that is a lot of people. Do that affect your mental health? It must have done.
yeah I think I think it must have done at times like I don't think that there's a way it couldn't have you know but it's quite like looking back on it now because it's been so long but also it was very like that was the time when social media was literally just beginning yeah so like what must have been like 2010 or 11 I think around that which is when like I think Twitter started and then Instagram was like maybe a year or two later so it's all been really really
gradual it doesn't feel like such a like overnight kind of thing I've kind of got a bit
more used to it now yeah but when I think back to it I think because social media was so
new anyway people knew what they were doing less at the time like it wasn't like social
media was it wasn't a job like it is now like people didn't have social media jobs
like I think maybe like the YouTube set was up and running and all the rest of it but
yeah i think it probably like took me longer to realize how much stuff like that affects you
but also like just as me in general and like predating social media or anything like i'm
quite a like self-conscious person like i'm not right super confident with things so then
trying to get to grips with like putting yourself on the internet and knowing that
there are people listening to what you have to say which is an enormous privilege in an
of itself which is kind of you know what I was alluding to before of why I have a platform
and do nothing with it but yeah getting used to the fact that people would like give a shit
if I said something was like quite strange to have like fame that it isn't your choice necessarily
it's something that I've to a much lesser extent had and I think my relationship with it was
kind of weird because I don't know I think I actually I don't think anyone's relationship with
it is normal but it's it's what you said before about you know what you said about having the
choice of doing something with it and it's a really hard choice sometimes because it's like
you're you're still trying to grow and live your life and work out who you are as an
individual but then you've just got all these people and they just keep coming in and you're like
oh my god yeah and they only see a little bit of the picture but they think they know the whole
picture and and it's really odd if because if you go out and you seek it like you
you say there's, you know, YouTubers or Instagramers or whatever,
who go out and actively work for it,
it's not such a surprise when it comes,
but people who come through other avenues,
it is a bit of a surprise, right?
Like that's the kind of like, not discomfort necessarily,
but it's like, ooh, hi, I don't know how to feel about this all the time.
And I haven't always felt comfortable with people arriving into my space.
I'm just like, I don't know why you're here.
Because I know, you know, with the Instagram stuff, I do,
people who listen to the podcast
I know why they're listening to the podcast
but some people who just look at stuff
I don't know if I'm making any sense
No you are I get it
Yeah but yeah because yeah
And I always think
What do you want from me
But then also you can't ask that
Of every single person that arrives in your life
Because you never get anything done
For asking the question
And you know like those
Rolling around the internet
There's always like certain people
Who you know like will like hate follow you
Because they just want to watch you
And be like really don't like her
Did people do that to you?
I don't know
I mean, there's always like, there's the people who actually like show up in your inbox
and are kind of like, hi, I hate you, I think you're terrible.
But then there's also like, yeah, yeah, they do that.
But you're not terrible?
Well, you know, thanks.
Screw you guys.
That's the thing.
I mean, this is the thing I've heard people say before.
It's like on the internet, the worst things people say about you and the best things people
say about you.
Like, you just have to kind of ignore them both.
Because some people will be like, oh my God, you're amazing.
and I'm like, well, I haven't really done anything to deserve that.
And some people will be like, you are vile
and you should be ashamed of yourself.
And I'm like, why?
What did I do?
Where does that come from, though?
I just don't understand.
But also, you should take the good stuff
because you are doing good stuff
and you do deserve that.
I mean, yeah, I'd much prefer to like,
if I'm going to take on one or the other,
I'll try and like absorb the good
rather than the bad just for my own sanity.
Also, if you're going to take the bad,
you definitely have to take the good as well.
Yeah.
That's something I've learned because I'm like cherry-picked the bad.
Yeah.
Like if there's like 99 comments,
but you're great and there's one being like,
I hate you.
I'm like, oh my God.
They hate me.
That is the thing I'm like really having to like learn and work on.
And I've seen like other people on Instagram talking about this
and I'm trying to like absorb the message of it.
That like some people are just going to decide that they don't like you.
And it's actually kind of nothing really to do with you
because from what they see on social media,
they like decide who you are
and build a picture of you in their head
that's like, oh well, obviously she thinks this
and clearly
that's what she's doing and all the rest of it.
And all of it's completely untrue.
They've just made it up in their heads.
Like they don't actually know who you are.
And if they decide to hate you based on that picture
they've created for themselves,
like there's actually nothing I can do about that.
And I'm trying to just let it go.
Yeah, there's a lot of power in that
because I always used to want to fight people.
If people make assumptions about me based on like my dad predominantly,
because I now feel very straight in who I am and what I do on social media.
I'm very like, okay, this is what I do.
This is the work that I'm making and creating.
But before, when I had less of an idea of what I was doing,
when people would make assumptions about me,
I would feel so compelled to go and physically fight them.
And they're like, like, you know, like you said before,
like the most devastating thing someone can say to an influencer was like,
you don't deserve it, you only have it, you're living off someone else's money.
And I'd be like, oh, you know, oh, God, let me tell you.
And I'd be as good as prinkly off my bank,
statement like let me show you and I was like this is such a waste of my energy to like
bicker with people that I don't know so there is there is a lot of power in letting people
be wrong about you yeah I think that is something that comes a bit more with age though and I
guess like for you it's like a lifelong thing as well even rather than I don't know but I mean
you've had like 12 where are we told yeah I mean yeah yeah yeah yeah that's as good as
really it's true I've been a long time yeah but yeah it definitely I'm not very good
when people are angry at me
or don't like me
which I mean who it is I suppose
but like I
yeah
you're speaking to the choir
we're like
this is a bad podcast review
we're like oh Christ
which funnily enough is apparently
well I know
this is the crowd to speak to
but it's an ADHD thing apparently
it's like a rejection sensitive
something or other
and I read about that
and I was like oh
okay that's why like
my brain gets so upset by this stuff
like I feel like
I'm a horrible person
I've done something really badly wrong
and it like takes me
I really have to kind of talk myself down
to be like let's logic this out
because you didn't say that
or you didn't do that or yeah
it feels like a very visceral
physical feeling doesn't it
when someone yeah
because actually in this conversation
the three of us sitting here
we all have ADHD so that's funny
sorry I bet's okay I shouldn't have said that
I'm like when we've been for dinner before
sitting around talking about I was like oh sorry
I didn't mind saying it in this
I haven't been officially diagnosed by a doctor
it's been suggested twice by therapists and it is not an unlikely assumption based on
my personality and I've been making my piece with that over the last few months and we've
talked about that and what we three have talked about it we went out for dinner so I don't mind
being outed literally every time I do anything on social media everyone's like um your ADHD is showing
I'm like okay fair enough yeah you yeah I know I know I know I have to walk myself every morning
before work like a Labrador.
I can't come in and record
without her, she won't talk to me
because I just sit along where it's like touching the wall
fidgeting and the words.
The microphones have to be like right in front of my face
otherwise you can't hear me.
Anyway, I forgot what we're going with.
Oh, the visceral reaction.
Oh, yeah, the rejection.
Yeah, it's horrible, isn't it?
It's really horrible.
Yeah.
And especially on social media, it feels like,
I don't know, it feels like heightened in a way
because you kind of, you pour your,
your heart out online and a lot of like what we put so much into it and it feels like that
that quote that says like it feels like someone coming into your house and saying to you like
and that's what it feels like it feels like someone's walking down the street and saying to you
like you know just shouting at you because half the time when you read it you're in your house so to
you it's happening to you in your own home like in a safe that's supposed to be like safe
yeah so yeah i'm very surprised that you get me too unlike comments um troll comments like i'm i'm
I'm really surprised that you get because I imagine the people that would follow you
would love Harry so that they would come to you and love you too.
Yeah, I mean, don't like don't get me wrong.
It's not the majority or anything, but it just, it does happen from time to time.
Like, and it's usually, it's one of those things I have such a thing about the internet.
Like, it's usually if you, I don't know, if something's happening and they don't like
something that you've said about it or not said about it or I don't know.
Yeah.
right with like world events like current affairs stuff and if you're not talking about them yeah or like
really anything it's it's it's quite wild i find like sometimes i read a message and it actually
doesn't upset me i'm just like wow you should be a hurdler because that leap was i could not have
made that cold standard i always think that you're going to hurt yourself stretching this far
yeah yeah it's yeah it's quite amazing the leap that some people will take but it's
And I guess, like, it's bound to happen.
Like, you've got that many people
and know it's going to happen, so.
That's the thing.
And I think even if you know
it's like a minority of people or,
I don't know, I mean, I don't like upsetting anyone.
Like, I never do that intentionally.
But that it does feel like it's a lot more dramatic
than maybe it is sometimes.
Like, I, so before I did any of this online stuff,
my last, like, job job where I didn't work myself
was I worked for a charity that was a cyberbullying.
charity. So I used to deal with this stuff like every day anyway and kind of have people
getting in touch with the charity who were like being trolled or bullied online and all the
rest of it. So kind of even coming at it from that sort of background, it just takes such an
emotional toll on people because even if that isn't what's happening, it feels like it's
everyone who's looking at you and thinking that. And if there's a mean comment on something,
if it's like a public comment on an Instagram post or something,
you look at it and because in theory anyone could come to that page
and look at that comment,
it feels like the entire world has seen it.
Even if they absolutely haven't.
But it's like, yeah, it's like someone,
it's like being on a massive stage in front of people,
terrifying anyway,
and then having someone walk up to you with a microphone
and insult you to your face with a load of people watching.
Yeah.
That's what it feels like.
And it's just like, obviously,
you'll say that's horrendous.
Yeah.
And it's kind of embarrassing.
It is.
When I get trolled, I'm like, oh God, how embarrassing.
So embarrassing.
It's so weird.
I get sheepish in front of, like, my friends.
And it's stupid.
Like, no one cares about me, like, enough to, do you know what I mean?
Like, they don't even know, whatever.
But I feel like I get really sheepish around my friends then.
I'm like embarrassed.
Yeah.
Like, they'll have seen that stuff and it is embarrassing.
It does feel embarrassing because you're, it's like,
because it feels like no one slags off the cool girl.
Like, people who are only mean about, like, the losers.
That's how we grew up, right?
I know.
So then I'm like, oh, yeah, I'm like, oh, right.
Loser in school, loser now.
Loser in life.
I'm going to a concert later and we're going to have a blast.
It's off, okay?
Oh my God.
This is all said with love.
Yeah.
Doesn't feel like it from me.
You know, she's on the stage right now
we've just showed up with her microphone.
Just to say mean things to do it.
Whatever.
It is said with love.
So, we'd love to talk about mental health.
what made you decide
I mean
yeah what made you decide
to talk about it
publicly because
like we said there are a lot of people
and that's quite a vulnerable thing to do
especially in a world where there is still
and when you I don't know when you first started talking about it
I'm trying to think when
yeah when I first would have properly spoken about it
I mean several years ago
but I think to be honest
it was probably more when
slightly after the fact
when things had got kind of
to their worst for me
okay
and I feel like
you kind of well I sort of
just got to the point where
you're obviously speaking to people
and putting things out on the internet and I just
felt too much like I was lying
and kind of
having to pretend to be someone
even if I wasn't because it wasn't that then I would be
you know putting post out being like
I'm the happiest person in the world, et cetera, et cetera.
Not like I would have been pushing, like, a really false narrative, if you like.
But I don't know, I just felt like there's definitely been times when it's such an enormous
part of my life that it just felt really disingenuous, not to mention it.
Okay.
And again, like we were saying before, kind of do some kind of good with the lot that you get in life.
it's so isolating
when you're struggling with your mental health
and you feel like you're the only one
and I was like if that if that is something
that I can give someone
like even from a selfish point of view as well
like being able to do
like kind positive
like helpful things is actually really good
for your own mental health
like being nice to other people will make you a happier person
This is what trolls need to understand.
So yeah, I think it felt quite natural at the time.
I didn't feel like I think I waited, I don't know, however long.
I didn't feel like I'd forced myself into it.
But I got to a point where I was like,
I don't feel like people are going to know who I am.
Like one of the things I always take as like the biggest compliment
is if I meet someone in real life who like we've followed each other on Instagram for ages
and they're like, oh, you're exactly how I thought you would be.
Like I always take that as a really big compliment.
because I'm like good because I don't want to be kind of portraying myself as someone that I'm not and yeah that was a big part of it I think yeah I think if I had existed online for much longer and not talked about the fact that I'd have like crippling depression and anxiety I just would have felt like a massive liar have you I mean have you always suffered with depression and anxiety or is it something that
happened in recent years or so I think with hindsight I've always been quite an anxious person
but kind of in the way it wasn't particularly getting in the way of my life or like that
harmful until I think it was like exam seasons at school kind of like GCSE A level especially
right but now I look back at it and I'm like okay so those were the things you were doing
to try and kind of like self-soothe your anxiety sort of thing so I mean
anyone who knows me whatsoever will know that I am not an exercise person I've tried to get into it
I have in little dribs and drabs like I know it's really good for you I need to start moving myself
again at some point because it's good for your brain too but when I was doing my A levels I'd got to a point
where I would end up going to the gym at like 8.30 9 o'clock at night so that I could get some
sort of anxious energy out and like tire myself out so that I would sleep
because otherwise I was just so anxious
I couldn't sleep
and now I look back at that at the time
and I'm like how did you not kind of see
that's what you were doing but I mean I was young
and also just didn't know
anything so
yeah I don't know I think looking back
it was always there
but the depression
that had come in more kind of like
through my early 20s
and it did
I think it had started
I mean it definitely started
when I was at uni, I'd been doing my, the first course I did at uni, I left after a year
and a half and basically dropped out of that course because I was really depressed, which at
the time, I think I kind of thought that it was because I wasn't happy on the course that I was
doing. But actually now, having been through like a decade of like cycling depressive episodes and
ups and downs and all the rest of it.
I actually don't know.
I don't know whether I would have maybe stayed
and finished that first course that I was doing
had I not been really depressed
and was just kind of like trying to find a way to fix it, you know?
So I think that's one of the things
that people still don't really understand
about depression all the time.
And again, if you've never experienced it,
you think it's, I mean, there is such a thing
as like situational depression
as in things are happening in your life.
that are making you sad and you get depressed that is a thing but that's not the only way that
depression kind of manifests itself so i think when i was younger and would get depressed i was still
kind of like trying to look at things in my life and like change them and try and fix them and i
just couldn't really understand what was happening to me and now that i've got a lot more experience
of it and I'm older and I've you know the benefit of hindsight I don't actually know that it was
the situation at all right it's really like quite impossible to say now I think yeah that's so
interesting and it's I hate the word empowering because I know I don't hate it but I just feel like
it's overused but it is it is empowering to get a diagnosis and to get some perspective on it
isn't it and to be able to put it down to something because yeah if you're like
I'm changing this, I'm changing that, and I'm still really depressed.
Like, I still can't get out of bed, or I'm still, like, just feel like I can't function.
Yeah.
But that, just having that, I guess, the knowledge is so empowering and kind of just gives you back.
And also, I imagine, like, well, at least for me, but I'm imagining for you as well.
Like, gives you some sort of kind of peace as well.
Like, there isn't just, there isn't, like, something wrong with me, you know?
It's a thing.
It's an actual thing.
and I'm not alone in this either.
Yeah, it's, weirdly, it's almost kind of the opposite
in that you want to be like, oh, there's not something wrong with me,
but actually it was more empowering for me to kind of realize
there is something wrong with me.
Because otherwise, I think it's, well, I certainly did for such a long time
to get into the whole thing of like, why is everyone else able to cope with this, well, life?
And I'm not able to do it.
yeah like there's nothing wrong with me i'm looking around and i should be fine i should be fine
and that more makes you feel like you're doing something wrong or you're like ungrateful for your
life or yeah yeah you just don't know why you're reacting in certain ways whereas for me
being like no you have a mental health condition right like there actually is something
wrong with you and that's why you feel that way yeah i oddly found that quite a lot more comforting
rather than it being like, no, there's nothing wrong.
You're on a level playing field with everyone else.
It's just they're happy and you're not.
Definitely, yeah.
No, yeah, sorry, that's what...
I'm thinking about it with ADHD as well,
because, like, for so long...
I don't know why I'm making this about me, sorry.
But for so long, I was like, I'm lazy.
I just can't function like normal people.
I can't take on things like normal people can.
Like, I want to lay in bed,
and it's just because I'm...
lazy like it's sometimes when I can't get a bad a bed like it feels like any depression would
be managed so like I just can't get out of bed so I'm lazy and like having like knowing what
it was then you know the ADHD was like huge for me like absolutely huge just to take away the
pressure on myself did you feel like that as well yeah I did I think it kind of just made
things make sense a lot more and even so something that I've really struggled with and I mean
And this is why, so I work with an ambassador for a charity called MQ Mental Health Research.
And the reason why I'm so passionate about research into mental health is because one of the
most frustrating things that I've found over, God knows how many years, is I don't understand
why, like, why does my brain do this to me? Why is this how I feel?
Even though I know that, you know, it's just, it's something I've experienced.
It's part of who I am, if you like. Some people don't like to think of it that way, but I don't
mind not um not having the why and the reasoning i always find really frustrating yeah so i think
yeah having getting an ADHD diagnosis for me part of that has almost made me feel
slightly less frustrated with my history of depression and anxiety because it's such a common
comorbid condition because the kind of years of like you say having an undiagnosed
kind of neurodiverse condition and not just thinking you're like a rubbish person because
you're not functioning in the same way that you think other people are and you think you should
be makes you feel really bad about yourself and that 100% then leads into like the low
self-esteem and like can fuel depression and all the rest of it
so yeah i do think i think it's been helpful
but yeah i don't know it's just it's just like it's just a lot to come to terms of like i mean
yeah sorry that i've then accidentally harvard did you as well on your own podcast
but it's like it's just a lot to deal with which is why then when you meet other people who are
like hello i'm also a late diagnosis woman with ADHD you're like oh my god tell me everything
have you felt like shit your whole life okay me too yeah i feel like i'm making a lot of peace with
myself now though like I just all the things that like we laugh at me for like not paying my
fucking anything in time like I always I just get so many bills and I never pay them in time
and I don't know why I could do it I could do it and I just don't do it and I hate myself for it
and I said there we go I've said there so many times over the last and it's only been the last like
year since my surgery when I haven't been able to exercise exercise I realized it's been a massive
coping thing for me like the marathons at ultra and like all of that was like it really
kept me like a good use of my energy and I just felt like pretty consistently chill and it's
only been since my surgery that and I haven't really been able to exercise like I could before
that I just get so angry with myself and I hate how angry I get with myself because I'm like
and it's a rational agro it's not like it's like a full temper tantrum with myself yeah for just being
a shit human and it's so annoying like I can't I can't get to the jumpers under my bed because
there's too many jumpers in there and every day I'm like
I'm going to do something about that.
It's been a year, and I've not done it.
And about once a month, I'm like, I hate myself.
And it's just horrendous.
And I've been trying to explain to my Alex why it means so much that I know what's up now.
But I'm like, it means I don't hate myself as much because I'm like, at least it's not totally my fault.
Exactly.
And that's nice.
Like, your brain is wired differently.
Yeah.
And it's so cool to know that.
Yeah.
I just, but I wish, sometimes I'm like, where's the good bit?
Where's the good bit?
Because, you know, like, there's a flip side to every coin, and I'm like, my jumpers are a mess,
but at least my t-shirts are nice, but it's not like that.
It's all just messy, and that's the line.
But I think the good bit is, like, I guess creativity is quite common in people with ADHD, right?
Which I think is why a lot of people, influences, a lot of influences have had, like,
late diagnoses as well.
Yeah.
Diagnoses as well.
But do you find, like, I've mentioned it online, like, a couple times, but I've stopped because of
this whole like oh you just jumped on the bandwagon thing has that been a thing for you have you
felt that well so i actually hadn't mentioned it online at all yet yeah yeah and then so i'd happen
to an episode of my podcast that came up this morning i like mention it briefly in the episode and
that's like the first like public iteration of like me talking like yeah exactly soft launching my
but yeah no i 100% like that is a thing about social media then is really worrying and like even
when I've like spoken to the psychiatrist like about ADD I'm like I feel like somehow I'm lying
and I've tricked you yeah and I actually am just really lazy and terrible and he's like please stop
he was like this is really common but I think the social media thing fuels into that as well because
people like to be like oh okay fine you're just doing what are you doing this for like I think that's
why I've never mentioned it I haven't mentioned it's my parents I haven't talked about it with anyone
And apart from Alex and you, probably.
Well, I mean, and all the Instagram followers
to DM me about 200 times a day saying,
ha-ha, you're idiotity show.
But, yeah, I'd never bring it up.
I mean, my sister won't play bobble with me
or do anything with me because she's just like,
you're a fucking nightmare.
So she's been saying it forever.
But it's that weird thing where I'm just like,
I probably don't, I'll just leave it.
So I haven't pursued it.
That's why I've not pursued it
because that's why I've never talked about it on the internet
because I'm just like, I'll just leave it.
It's no biggie.
Yeah, it's just a bit scary.
But it is, isn't it?
And it's like, I said the same.
thing to my psychiatrist. I was like, I feel like I'm a fraud. I really do. Like I, I really do.
And he was like, well, then what does that make me? Because I've diagnosed you. Like,
what does that make me? And I was like, yeah, fair point. But I, and I was actually talking to
Dave about this. And I was like, I just don't want to mention it to anyone because I don't want
people think I'm like jumping out of the wagon, whatever. And he's like, why do you care?
He was like, this has been one of the, this has been one of the biggest revelations in your
life. And this has been one of the, one of the things that's helped you mentally more than
anything else and it's really changed your life so why the hell do you care like jump on the wagon
be on the wagon the wagon's great i love the wagon i'm like yeah you're so right i've been saying
it's the ages the wagon's the best place to be like why like we's where do we say this i mean
we're talking about this last night actually at the concert because you're quite your your music
taste is quite alternative and i was like i just can't be fucked to be alternative anymore
because it's just too much effort you've to like work out what everybody likes and then you've
to find out what it is that people like that other people like it's so much easier
to just like the music in the charts
and just wear what other people are wearing
because it's available in the shops
and just like the bad wagon
it's just so much easier
to just follow the trends
be a little sheep just hop on
I am honestly I'm like it's like
the 1950s and I'm just jumping on the back of the bath
every single time I'm like yeah
fine I'm coming
take me with you
literally any trend I'm such a sucker for them
I'm just lazy there you go
I'll just go with the easiest option available
and that's like hot hits UK sold
but it does annoy me that narrative of the bandwagon with the ADHD thing
because I'm like there are probably probably so many women out there
who desperately need the diagnosis like desperately need it
and are a bit like oh well it seems everyone has it now
so like maybe you know I'm just relating to these TikToks but I'm not really
and it's like it's yeah that's the thing there's something so embarrassing
about being like oh I got served loads of like Instagram Reels content
about adult women with ADHD and I started thinking hmm
maybe I have that and then actually but I mean I'd like sat on that for probably like a solid year
before I even then made a GP appointment you know when you're like doing a sneaky Google about
something and literally checking every box and you're like no because I saw it on the internet
so that can't be true like how ridiculous would that be if I accidentally diagnosed myself with a
mental something through like a TikTok content that someone's repurpose for Instagram
I'm like, what a weird, weird story to tell.
But then, yeah, I finally, like, psyched myself up
and made a GP appointment.
And literally, I said it to my boyfriend.
I was like, I just want to do that
because then they'll tell me that I'm being ridiculous
and I can let go of the thought of it then
and not keep wondering.
And actually, the GP that I spoke to was like,
okay, I'm going to refer you.
And I was like, oh my God.
Oh, my God, maybe this is true.
Instagram Real was right.
I was like, are you serious?
Yeah, see, I haven't got to that stage yet.
I had one therapist to tell me, like, in 2018,
she's like, you've ever been diagnosed with ADHD?
Because you should have a lot of the symptoms,
and I was like, traits, whatever.
And I was like, you're a terrible therapist, goodbye.
And I never went back to her.
And I got home to my mom, and I was like,
she said, I don't think she had to start me at all.
And then it was only, like, three years later
and someone else had said it.
I was like, but what's interesting is I think yours presents
in like a more typical way, like, more in the, like,
the typical, like, the typical, like,
I'm quite surprised by that, like, yeah.
Yeah.
In the more like boys, little boys running around, like concert still kind of way.
But I also feel like I've grown into, this is what's really weird.
And I probably should go and explore this, but I don't, I feel like this part of me is like coming out a lot more as I've got older.
My brother and sisters said they were reminded them of Leslie from Parks and Rec the other day.
And I was like, for fuck, same, turn the dozen, sad little sympathetic laugh.
I love that.
I love Leslie also.
And everyone loves her.
I know, but she's also, you know, she's a lot.
And I was like, why do you, why do I remind you that?
And they were just like, I don't know, it's very chaotic.
And I was like, oh, maybe everyone could see this in me, apart from me.
I think it's just a lot of energy.
It's a lot of energy, yeah.
Which I'm always just jealous of more than anything else.
I don't have that side of it.
Yeah.
I've just got the like, I'm a lazy shit human being side of it.
I wish I had the, like, let's go for a run.
But I have that, and I'm still a lazy shit with all the stuff that matters.
Like, I can't tell you how many things I have to do.
I can't.
It actually upsets me so much
when I look at my lists
and my bills and all the post is red
and I'm just like, oh God.
So this, I always find this interesting
because this has been one of like the biggest revelations for me
about like why I am the way I am.
Do you have the thing where like if you've got one thing
in your calendar for the day?
So like today like going to meet you 2pm
setting the scene.
For me then the whole day is gone.
That's the whole day.
Yeah.
Because like the whole morning is like,
okay, I've got this thing to do
two o'clock. Yeah. And then I've built it up so much that like when this is done, I'm going
to be like, wow, the day's over now. And like one thing in the calendar like occupies my brain
for the entirety of that day. And I physically don't understand how people are like, well, I'm going
to do this in the morning. And then, you know, I've got obviously work. And then I'm going to go out
afterwards and do this. And then I'm going to go to the gym. And then I'm going to do this and do
that. And I'm like, that's so many things in one day. Like, how do you do that many things?
I think you kind of get in the
in the swing of doing busy things
I feel like I used to be like that
I did as well
physically couldn't cope
and also like if I had something on my mind
I couldn't think about anything else
like actually physically couldn't cope
like I remember when I broke up with my boyfriend
and like other people like want to go to work
as a distraction and I was like
I can't think about or do anything else
like I'm very like one-trap mind in that way
but I feel like with the busy thing
I've had to, I know exactly what you mean, but I've had to, like, get over that now.
But I think I cope with that by writing, like, everything, a list of the night, like, the day, the night before the next day, I literally, I'm like, I write down Monday and then I've got to do this at nine and da-da-da-da, and that helps me then.
Does that make you want to be sick? Because that makes me want to be sick.
I, I kind of try and do that and kind of write.
So my thing is to try and make myself feel more organised and like I'm not going to forget things because I do end up forgetting things.
Yeah.
I make the to-do list but then I never look at the to-do list ever again
and then I just make a new to-do list and then by that time I forgot
half the stuff that was like on the old list you are my people but like I'm genuinely
really trying and like I make the list and I want to tick it all off I just forget to look
at the list ever again yeah I do I just found a list of things to pack for my wedding
that I left in my house this is like with them exactly this is like with natural cycles
I'm like since I stopped since I got the coil out my period's been all over the place I'm like
I want to get on track with it
and you have to take your temperature every morning
and you were like, leave it by your bed
and I'm like, yeah, but you won't remember.
I won't look at my, I remember it.
You'll look at it and see it and be like,
and it won't register.
And it won't register.
And I was like, well set the alarm and say,
take your temperature, I'm like, I will see it
and I just won't register.
I will see it, snooze the alarm
and then that's it, done, it's gone off my brain,
I just won't do it, yeah.
I'm on thin ice because I forgot
to take my temperature this morning,
however, every other day
that that's a practice thing,
that I just really got into it
and then every time I'm like that's your high five
I'm like hell yeah
it takes 21 days to form a habit
yeah
good luck to us all
I couldn't do it for 21 days
I wouldn't remember
I think that got debunked recently
I held on that when I gave up
oh well that explains a lot
when I was giving up smoking I held onto that with both hands
I was like 21 days
maybe it's psychosomatic
or 21 days to make a habit but it's a lot longer
to break
anyway
fine anyway
Interesting. Interesting. I still get drunk and have a cigarette, so I don't know if I'm not
to talk to about that. So back to, sorry, we got sidetracked. Back to your mental health.
With your depression and your anxiety, what do you think, what do you think has helped you?
What has contributed to making you feel mentally healthier and in a better place?
I think that's honestly a hard one to answer. Like the things that I have done over the years
are like I've tried
lots of different medications and things
I have
eventually I saw a therapist
which was great
but I actually
I mean I haven't been on
like antidepressants or anything
for quite a few years now
but then even when I have had like
quite bad
depressive episodes again
I mean this is a funny one I keep then like
coming back to the ADHD thing because it's quite
it's helped me understand it a bit more like even when I'd been on antidepressants I still
I've and this is the thing that then again is frustrating because I've had so many conversations
like with um doctors and like my therapist kind of saying I feel like medication has helped
me to a certain extent like it's definitely like done me some good I needed it glad I took it
but I still just feel like there's something wrong like it's not doing what
I thought it should do. Not that I, you know, think antidepressants should make you have like
metaphorical like rainbow sunglasses and just think everything's amazing all the time. But it just
felt like something was missing. So I kind of have done without that and have been okay
without that for the past few years. I think it's a lot of what has helped is kind of accepting
it a little bit more and just kind of getting to know I don't know kind of not blaming myself
so much for it yeah has been quite a big thing I think yeah can I just like leap back from just
thinking with with when you were working in your normal job was your mental health bad then
when you were working in the sort of cyberbullying really bad really really bad like that's that's
the worst yeah it ever was so do you think it's got better since you've like worked for yourself
and done Instagram and sort of like changed your life.
Yeah, I mean it's still it's still been up and down to be honest
but that is again one of the like big privileges of being able to work in that kind of job
is I can like set my own schedule if you know what I mean and like and also I work with people
who are really understanding about mental health and I'll be like like comfortably be very
open with them so if I'm feeling really anxious and I've got like too many things scheduled
for the same week I can kind of just say that
or yeah if I'm just feeling really down
and need to not I don't know
talk about something or I need to reschedule something
I am lucky to work with people who are great in that regard
and also I think because I've been talking about mental health online
for like quite a long time now
people kind of know this about me already
so it's not having to like rehash from the beginning
a conversation every single time
whereas at the beginning
you have to be like
okay
I'm struggling with this because X, Y and Z
and it's like having to
let someone into like such a personal
part of your life
but yeah I do you think like once
you start talking about mental health with people
it does get easier
one because you've got the practice at it
but two just because people already know
and have an idea
so it's not like you have to spring it on someone it's where if I say to someone oh I'm feeling
really anxious about something they're not surprised now so like that takes away one kind of
hurdle to it yeah but yeah it's I mean yeah I think like anything it's kind of upsides and
downsides to working for yourself so yeah I'm not like the absolute most organized person in
the world I'm not the best like self-starter I need deadlines to like
make me do things, which yeah, doesn't always lend itself that well.
But equally, I think it's a lot easier to kind of try and practice the sort of like
mindfulness and like prioritising your own wellness in a day when you are like in control
of the hours that you're doing that day.
And also on the point about talking to people as well, it's like I don't think we
realise because there is still stigma around mental health, I don't think,
we know to the full extent of how pervasive mental health problems are and it's likely that
whoever you talk to is will have had if they don't currently have had some experience with mental
health problems but I'm wondering how and don't you don't have to answer this if you're not
comfortable doing so but I'm wondering how with your boyfriend how has it has it impacted your
relationship has he been understanding and supportive and again you don't have to answer
so you don't want to but yeah no yeah I mean he's great love him to bits um it is yeah it
it definitely does impact relationships that's the thing and like he's great and is really supportive
but at the same time I I think because I've I don't know because I talk about mental health
and also because I've been to therapy I'm also like one of those people who goes to therapy and
is like oh my god everyone should go to therapy it's so good but I'm like I'm not super sure I mean
obviously we've been together for a long time and I would trust him
anyway but I'm not really like shy about talking about my feelings anymore yeah so I think it's easier
in that way because if I am feeling really down or I'm you know I'm feeling something he doesn't
really have to kind of like dig it out of me like I'll just I'll just say so then it's obviously
easier to like support each other when you know what's going on with someone yeah because that that is
the difficult thing as well if you're trying to like come to terms with your own
mental health struggles but also trying to you don't even have the words yet to
articulate it so trying to like explain to people in your life around you what's
going on with you you don't even really know what's going on with you so that yeah I'm
lucky like it's a long relationship so like he's had these years of me like that one
January where I spent the entirety of January under a blanket on the sofa watching
gross anatomy. Like I think I what I mean there's a lot of seasons of gross anatomy. I think I
watched like 12 seasons in a month. Wow. Because that's literally just what I did from
dusk till dawn because I was horrifically depressed and couldn't do anything else.
But yeah that is odd behaviour to deal with from you know someone that you live with but he
doesn't make me feel like a weirdo when I just need to like yeah. But also tries to make me go
for walks and things which is helpful. How does that go? Not always great.
He gets up earlier than I do.
He's like, come on, let's go for a walk.
It'll be good.
And I'm like, mm, go away.
But sometimes I do go, and it always is a good thing to do.
And then I'm so annoyed that it was a good thing to do.
I just look me so smug right now.
I hate when people try and make me go for a walk.
I hate that.
I love a walk.
I go every morning, 7.30.
Just love a walk.
6.30 in the winter, because you've...
You have a dog, though, which I think, I think that would make me get up.
I hate going for a walk.
I hate it.
I'm annoyed that I just told it the wrong way around.
30 in the summer, 7.30 in the winter.
I just felt like I was lying.
Why would I walk in the dark?
It was just stupid.
It was really annoying me that I just lied.
Yeah, the dog helps.
I actually can't see the point of walking without a dog, to be fair.
But I just love walking.
I just think it's the best thing in the world.
I just, if I could be sponsored by walks, that's all I'd need.
Do you know what?
I like walks.
Yeah.
But I like going for a proper walk.
Go for a proper walk.
But I'm from the countryside.
So for me, I'm like, I'm like,
want to go for like an hour or two's walk in a field. I want to see some cows. I want to do
like a proper walk. I can take you on a proper walk. I have a proper road around the streets of London
at 7.30 in the morning. I can show you horses on this walk. Proper walk. All right. You show me
some good walk. I will. Stanley Collier's Wood. It's a good walk. I wish I liked that. I get so
bored on walks. I'm not going to tell you how long it is if I won't use you. No, I'm not going.
It's a good long walk. No, I like a proper long walk. Right, fine. Me and I'm going to
like walking around my neighbourhood for the fourth time that week I'm like this just couldn't be
less fun to me oh see I go around the common every day I just I just fucking lived for it I'm like
go visit the ducks they've been growing I missed them whilst I was away I mean that's cute yeah the
little ducklings yeah and I see like the same dog like parsnit one of birds friends like see him
on the regs there's a little like little dog called max he's come from cypress and it's like you know
in Notting Hill that's seen where it goes from like the year that she's away and it says
plays ain't no sunshine when she's gone and you see everything change that's like my life
is just like every my like hours walk in the morning is that and I just get to like I watch people
get pregnant watch them like bring their dogs the dogs get less nervous it's just a joy the ducklings
are born then they migrate away it's a fucking it's a blessing guy I mean if there's like if there's like a
walking PR council they really need to like literally oh my god I know oh no I'm going to like
the national trust it's so full of joy you just love life don't you I really do you said this
yesterday I'm so happy for you
I'm sitting here talking about my depression
and you're like, I fucking love life
I'm sorry
if it's any conversation I hate myself
I just love life
I mean we were saying this yesterday
about like drinking to like escape reality
I was like I just kind of like reality
and you just looked so disappointed at me
you were just like oh fuck's sake
I mean well thanks thanks for airing that
I drink to escape my life
you do we were talking about we were talking about it in another context that can probably be
removed um that i really like what you do with instagram and i think it would have been
really easy for you to um have to just change gear so quickly i can hear my own voice like ha ha ha
anyway um i've got silly um but it would have been really easy for you to just go and do like
this sort of like traditional influencer like whatever you could like you could just be in dubai living
the life of Riley if you wanted with like whatever but it really feels like you've taken what
you've been given and been like I'm going to do something actively good with this like I'm going
to make a good choice with it and it feels like it's really lovely to look at it and just be like
like this is someone doing something really lovely just because you can't like it doesn't feel
like there's an agenda it's just like we're going to like save the planet be nice to each other
and wear cool sunglasses I'm like fucking hey yeah I can get up on with this also love your sunglasses
love love love love they're so cute
I'm like they're so cute
they're so cute that was a weird word
I'm trying to be cool
I was just going to say dashing
and then I was like what else can I say
no kidding
April what can she say what's a cool word
yeah what's a cool word for like April's a cool
this person I know even though she's wearing crooks right now
like your sunglasses are only cool people wear crocs
I know
Pang
oh my god
okay forget that
what's cool it's cool
sick? They're sick?
I think this is the problem I think.
If we hear too much about the right cool word for call, it's just not cool.
No.
They're, they're lovely. They're lovely.
They're just lovely.
Shall I say what I think is the coolest thing of people who don't try and be cool?
I agree.
Yeah, okay, there you go.
So it's not.
That's a little.
I've just given up.
Like, I'm not a cool person.
I'm like a bit boring and quite not.
normal and just not very cool.
And the more okay I get with that,
the more happy I am with my own down.
I've got 100%.
But I find that cool.
I find that cool.
I find it cool to be like who you actually are.
Yeah.
You know? That's a Matt Hayquot.
And it's like don't, and I'm going to butcher it,
but it's like don't gravitate towards like the cool people
because like you'll be cool when you're dead.
Gravitate towards the warm people
because that's where life is.
It's like that's so nice.
I spent so long trying to be cool.
And you know what?
probably achieved it for like a good few years there and I wore a lot of eyeliner and elasticated
belts and I was kind of mean to people I was a bit of a bitch because I thought it would make
me cooler yeah and how sad and I was so unhappy in myself I like hit my music taste my emo
stuff because I was like I knew that wasn't cool oh no I was a full on baby emma too pretended to
like house and like oh no I don't know techno drum and bass for ages and actually no I don't
like it. I like emo music. I had a
song. I had a boyfriend at school. I said, have you heard the song? And I was like,
yeah. Got it on my phone. Love it. Never heard it. Then I downloaded it. It sounded so
bad coming up my Motorola. I was like, oh, I hate this song. And I had to pretend I liked it for ages.
My iPod just filled the music I didn't like. And I remember my brother put him on Blast,
had a Taylor Swift song on his, on his iPod, and it was like, ha ha. It's like, why am I
doing this? I love that song. And I was so mean to it. And now here you are like,
Betty Bandwagon like come on everyone I know and he loved Coldplay as well and I always give
him such a hard time I was like that is so lame like no one likes corplay now I'm like so I'm going
to a call play gig yeah I mean you had girls allowed on the car on the way here I did yeah
when I'm sad like when I get sad because sometimes I get like quite irrationally hysterically
sad for no reason doesn't last long but it's just I'll have like a spiral and then I just
pick myself up and the way the brilliant way to pick myself up normally is to go for a walk
but I made a playlist
so I'll share it with the group
for when I had my surgery done
on my last one when I was awake for
and I had to listen to
well I made it
it's a very good playlist
it was a big like 2005 to 2008
we're saying Timberland
Girls Aloud
Sugar Bades
it was it's so good
it's honestly it's so uncool
and I'm sitting in my car
and it was 303 to remember Starstruck
I was singing that full volume today
as I was like going down the street again
I was like ha
your playlist would actively negatively impact my mood I think
but I wouldn't have listened to all of that before because it wasn't very cool
and now it's the vibe what music do you like kind of I mean I listen I don't listen to
a lot of chart music I'd say you like cool music yeah but I just think what what most
people like at the moment is yeah like a lot of maybe more kind of like dance music and
that to me like dance music makes my brain feel itchy like I can't
physically stand it.
Yeah, it's a lot.
Something sensory-wise, yeah, I hate it.
Maybe it's a sensory thing.
It's just way too much.
It's a Rationly annoyed.
Like, there's a Lizzo song that everyone loves at the moment
and I've got real beef with it.
I don't know.
I mean, it's a great song.
The one that, about damn time.
Oh yeah, no, I quite like that one.
It's a great song.
But it really gets on a nerves.
But yeah, if it just gets you, it just gets you.
But yeah, no, I like, I listen to a lot of like old music.
Like 70s, 80s, okay.
Do you like Stevie Nix?
You don't like you might like Stevie Nix?
yeah I really get that five
yeah I feel like that
but I also
the best songs ever
yeah amazing
I also was such a like
teenage baby emo
I'll still like
crack the death cab out
when I want to really feel like myself
oh good okay okay
so you didn't quite grow up of it
no not at all
yeah I still just listen to like all the same music
and then I mean and then some pop music
I do really like because it's pop
because it's popular and it's popular
because people like it I'm a person
I like some of it too
yeah exactly
bandwagon Gemma
please it says you'll stop it's not a bandwagon it's a party bus
oh my god that's the best thing it did you just make that up
it's so good that's going on a fresh pack there
that is you have to like make that into a quote like camber that up
and put that on your instagram ever heard because that is so good
it's not a bandwagon it's a party bus
I don't think you've realised the actually genius that you've just come out with
unbelievable I've literally never been hyped up this much in my entire life
it's so good
pieces, we're like,
oh, this is so inspiring.
Oh, I love that.
I think that's the name of the episode.
Yes, it's not bad.
It's a party bus.
Oh my God, it is to being really uncool.
I fucking love a party bus.
I haven't at my hand do, didn't we?
Yeah, it was a big thing.
I'll get, yeah, we'll get another.
Love that.
We'll get another, we'll go for a walk with it.
We'll do a big, like, mental health party buzz.
Yeah, PhD party buzz.
Everyone's on the bandwagon.
We'll be like, come on.
I'll be running alongside it.
Gemma, thank you so much.
Thank you.
Thank you.
We'll put the link to your podcast.
in the show notes and yeah thank you so much for coming on and for chatting with us it's been
brilliant so nice and we've done it in RIL in real life and it's been wonderful I'll stop it guys
have you had a glass I'm obsessed with you today else I really am I think you should
stop trying I think I should just stop talking actually you finish the episode
no you're doing great carry on thank you guys
Thank you.
Jennifer, thank you so much for talking to us.
We love your loads.
Please come back.
Thanks.
Bye.
Thank you.
Bye.
Instagram account and should I delete that as part of the ACAS creator network.
