Create Your Kindspace

Holly Clark on Turning Personal Tragedy into Purpose

Losing a loved one is never easy. My guest today turned her grief, after losing her brother to suicide, into a profound personal mission. Devoting her career to suicide prevention and mental health training and campaigning for more support in these areas, particularly for those most vulnerable in our society.

In this emotional yet hopeful discussion, Holly shares her own journey, the misconceptions that fuel stigma, and the simple steps we can take to look out for those around us. Keep listening to find out how we can create the kind of spaces, where speaking up saves lives.

Timestamps:

00:03:08             Holly's Journey to Suicide Prevention Work

00:07:55             Creating the Space to Talk About Suicide

00:13:14             A Baton of Hope - Raising Awareness

00:21:52             Money Worries and Mental Health

00:28:47             Some of the Myths and How to Spot the Signs

00:36:04             Support in Schools and for Young People

00:38:03             Journaling for Mental Health

00:43:38             The Challenges and Rewards of Running a Business

00:48:04             What’s Coming Up for Blooming Mind?

00:49:48             Self-Care and Working Through Trauma

00:53:42             Links to Connect with Holly and Support Resources

 

Links:

Website: Blooming Mind – Check out Holly’s training for mental health and suicide first aid.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BloomingmindUK/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomingminduk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollyclarkbloomingmind/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bloomingminduk

Sunrise Scribbler – Holly’s journal to help you on your journey to better mental health.

Samaritans – Available 24/7. Reach out at 116, 123. They're there for everyone, not just those in a crisis.

Shout – A discreet text service for those times when you might not want to vocalise your feelings. Simply text to 25852, and a trained professional will offer their support.

Hub of Hope – This comprehensive tool can be accessed either via an app or on your desktop at hubofhope.co.uk. Just input your postcode, and discover the local support services available near you, catering to a wide range of needs.

A Local Information Service for Scotland ALISS – Helping you to find services, groups and activities for health and wellbeing across Scotland. Works on your desktop at aliss.org or your Alexa smart speaker, just say “Alexa, enable My Scottish Community” to get started.

For money advice check out:

Money and Pensions Service – talk money week

Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert website – a literal goldmine of advice for all things money

Money and Mental Health Policy Institute - Also headed up by Martin, this is where you can get involved in vital research that will help to ensure that people with financial worries are properly supported.

Baton for Hope – This baton relay tours around the country, get involved and raise awareness about suicide.

 

For the full transcript of this episode see: https://createyourkindspace.com/podcast

I encourage you to get in touch and share your stories and tips, I’d love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message on social media @createyourkindspace

It would also mean a lot to me if you could rate and review this podcast as it helps other people to discover our content.

Turning Your Dreams into Reality with Birgit Itse

Do you ever have a conversation or spend time with someone and come away feeling like you understand yourself better? That’s how I feel spending time with my next guest, Birgit Itse. She makes me feel like I can write and let go of the belief that I am more of a numbers person. She makes me feel like capturing stories matters and that my story matters. Keep listening as Birgit shares her top tips for memoir writing and her incredible story of how she moved from Estonia to Scotland to pursue her dream of writing.

Timestamps:

00:02:59             Birgit's journey from Estonia to Scotland

00:09:59             The inspiration behind Birgit's book "The Alphabet of Life"

00:12:30             Using writing to explore meaningful words

00:19:37             Tips for writing your memoir or life story

00:38:13             The connection between memory and imagination

00:41:46             Being bilingual: challenges and benefits

00:48:42             Unleashing your inner writing genius and building confidence

00:53:29             Birgit's self-care rituals and taking a pause

 

Links:

Upcoming workshop on the 18^th of Oct 2023 with Birgit in Aberdeen: https://www.eventbrite.fi/e/unleash-your-writing-genius-tickets-722854315717

Website: https://birgit-itse.com/

The Alphabet of Life book: https://amzn.to/3sTcy3w

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/birgit-itse/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/birgit.itse/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omataoline/?hl=en%20

X: https://twitter.com/BirgitItse

 

For the full transcript of this episode see: https://createyourkindspace.com/podcast

I encourage you to get in touch and share your stories and tips, I’d love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message on social media @createyourkindspace

It would also mean a lot to me if you could rate and review this podcast as it helps other people to discover our content.

How Siobhan Jaffray Found Her Calling Through Selfcare

For most of us it can be a struggle to make healthy food choices. Juggling work and kids and family can mean that it’s easy to reach for things that don’t best fuel your body. I can’t wait for you to meet my next guest, Siobhan Jaffray, to find out about her personal journey to becoming a certified nutrition coach, as well as all her amazing tips for healthy eating. I also learned a new term, food neutrality. Stay tuned to learn more about this and about how the lockdown period provided an opportunity for Siobhan to pursue her passion.

Timestamps:

00:02:12             From yoyo dieting to qualified coach

00:03:55             Launching a business in lockdown

00:05:56             Journaling for selfcare and positive self-talk

00:10:34             How to practice food neutrality

00:11:43             Top tips for sustainable lifestyle changes

00:19:42             The challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship

00:21:43             Creating a daily Kindspace

00:23:43             Getting out in nature & the fake commute

00:25:03             Supporting local food banks

00:30:08             Start now on the path to better health

 

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SJNutrition21

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sj_nutriti0n/?hl=en-gb

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sj_nutrition1

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siobhan-jaffray/

Sign up to Siobhan’s newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/ee4839be482d/sj-nutrition-newsletter-sign-up

90 days to better nutrition journal: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BZF8PPCH?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_5ZDWJ5TPZK98C9RPXF2Y

 

For the full transcript of this episode see: https://createyourkindspace.com/podcast

I encourage you to get in touch and share your stories and tips, I’d love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message on social media @createyourkindspace

Pasna Sallis on How to Awaken Your Inner Child

In my time as an entrepreneur, I have had the pleasure of meeting many dedicated people who help others to live their best lives possible. My next guest, Pasna Sallis, is a true example of how to combine professional knowledge with energy and drive to make a difference. She lights up the world and never shies away from a challenge. 

In our chat, we talk about Pasna’s background in occupational therapy and how she went on to create the Weekday Wow Factor, a community that supports older adults. Pasna’s passion is infectious, and I hope listening inspires you in your work or in your community to connect with those around you and make life a little bit more fun and adventure filled.

Timestamps:

00:01:37 Pasna’s background in occupational therapy

00:04:19 What is Weekday Wow Factor, how did it start?

00:11:59 Adapting the activities to suit individual needs

00:15:19 Benefits of connecting with the outdoors

00:17:20 Opening up opportunities for social connection

00:19:16 Covid-19 & delivering activities online via Zoom 

00:22:38 Recognising your achievements

00:24:09 Managing risk in a way that is empowering

00:26:40 Shifting perceptions about ageing & getting older

00:30:03 Staying energised under challenging circumstances

00:32:21 Competing for funds

00:36:19 What’s coming up next for Weekday Wow Factor?

00:41:55 What does creating a kindspace mean to Pasna?

00:48:07 Making technology accessible and getting online

00:51:52 How to get in touch and find out more about Pasna’s work?

 

Links:

Website: https://weekdaywowfactor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weekdaywowfactor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeekdayWOW

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/weekday-wow-factor/

Connect with Pasna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pasna-sallis-5628473b/

Email: weekdaywowfactor@gmail.com or pasna.sallis@weekdaywowfactor.com

 

For the full transcript for this episode see: https://createyourkindspace.com/podcast

 

I encourage you to get in touch and share your stories and tips, I’d love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message on social media @createyourkindspace

Why Neil Bebber Believes in the Power of Bedtime Stories

An area that particularly fascinates me is the crossover between the tech and the creative world. Collaborating and experimenting with new ideas can unlock huge potential, that’s why I’m so delighted to introduce today’s guest, Neil Bebber. An award-winning writer and truly inspirational example of turning a passion into a whole new career.

In our chat, we look not only at this intersection and the innovative ways that technology and the creative arts are supporting wellbeing but we also get a peek behind the scenes at what it’s like to be a writer and the mental health challenges.

Timestamps:

00:01:26    How did Neil Bebber become a writer?

00:05:04    Where did the idea for short stories for Stressed Grown-ups come from?

00:08:35    What is interactive storytelling on Alexa?

00:10:44    What are the wellbeing benefits of immersive theatre and voice technology?

00:13:19    What inspires Neil’s writing?

00:17:21    What was it like doing a masterclass at BBC Hay Festival?

00:19:05    Failure and saying yes

00:22:16    Writing is about conversations and listening

00:23:22    Challenges to being in a creative profession, coping with rejection

00:29:16    Innovating in the online dating world through gaming

00:32:06    What’s coming up next for Neil?

00:34:01    Inviting the Kindspace community to shape the next bedtime story in the collection

00:37:10    What does creating kind space mean to Neil?

00:39:41    How to get in touch and find out more about Neil’s work?

 

Links:

The Grey Hill – Theatre Library: just say the magic words “Alexa, enable the gray hill”. See here for more info https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C69T187F/

Hay Festival: https://www.hayfestival.com/home

Elizabeth Day – How to Fail: https://amzn.to/45XXxMG

Kindspace on Alexa: just say the magic words “Alexa, open Kindspace”, if you have the Echo Show 15, you might need to say "Alexa, open the Kindspace skill” to get it to open. See here for more info: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08MJDV5RT/

The Kindspace Bedtime Stories: https://createyourkindspace.com/sharing-our-human-experiences-through-stories/

Neil’s website: https://www.goodwordsanddesign.com/

 

For the full transcript for this episode see: https://createyourkindspace.com/podcast

 

I encourage you to get in touch and share your stories and tips, I’d love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message on social media @createyourkindspace

Create Your Kindspace Trailer

Create Your Kindspace is all about wellbeing and the different ways in which we care for ourselves and those around us.

We’re here to offer companionship and practical tips to brighten your day. We’ll delve into the concept of kind spaces, chatting with an inspiring mix of people from across tech, wellness, and entrepreneurship.

Let’s learn together and sprinkle some much needed kindness in the world. So, take a pause, relax, and let’s start the journey.