A Need To Read

Katie spent 6 months in one of the world’s most forgotten countries — the Central African Republic. In this episode, we sit down in person to chat about her experiences there working as a medical doctor with Doctors Without Borders.   This is a story of people who have been ignored for too long — of grief, resilience, and what it means to show up in the darkest places.   Her book, Field Notes from Death’s Door, is available wherever you get your books. It’s excellent, and I genuinely recommend you give it a read if you can. Today’s paid partner is BetterHelp, to get 10% off your first month of online therapy with a credentialed therapist head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread         A Need To Read is partnered with The Breath Space, a online Breath-work education and practise portal that I have been using for the last couple of months, alongside my course to become a breath-work facilitator. To check out how breathwork can help you, follow the link and use the code ED for 50% off your first 2 months.  https://courses.thebreathspace.co.uk/your-breath-space-online-membership    You can also support my work by heading to www.buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread    Any feedback is welcome: aneedtoread.podcast@gmail.com 

Today’s paid partner is BetterHelp, to get 10% off your first month of online therapy with a credentialed therapist head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread   In this episode, I sit down with Ellie Middleton — author of Unmasked and How To Be You — to talk about the messy, powerful journey of self-discovery through a late diagnosis of autism and ADHD. From anxiety misdiagnoses and burnout cycles to the pressures of “being normal” and the power of simply understanding yourself, Ellie opens up about it all. We also dive into reading habits, writing under pressure, self-compassion, and learning to be a big brave girl (in the surf).   What We Talk About The cycle of burnout and the misdiagnosis of anxiety and depression Ellie’s late diagnosis journey and the “lightbulb” moment in therapy Masking and why “being normal” is so damn exhausting Reading as a neurodivergent person — fiction, nonfiction, and dropping the book snobbery Writing two books in under two years (and nearly breaking herself doing it) Neurodivergent time vs. linear time — and why “spinning out in space” matters The power of somatic work, surfing, and getting comfortable looking silly Gendered differences in how autism and ADHD are recognised Internalised ableism and the fear of being your unmasked self Self-compassion as a daily practice, not a one-time fix   Links & Resources: Follow Ellie: @elliemidds on Instagram / TikTok / LinkedIn Follow the podcast on Instagram: @aneedtoread   A Need To Read is partnered with The Breath Space, a online Breath-work education and practise portal that I have been using for the last couple of months, alongside my course to become a breath-work facilitator. To check out how breathwork can help you, follow the link and use the code ED for 50% off your first 2 months.  https://courses.thebreathspace.co.uk/your-breath-space-online-membership    You can also support my work by heading to www.buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread    Any feedback is welcome: aneedtoread.podcast@gmail.com 

Boys read less than girls. That’s what the stats say, and today, writer, Lucas Oakley joins me to chat about why this is and gives some direction for guys looking to get into reading.   Today’s paid partner is betterhelp, for 10% off your first month head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread   books discussed Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead Mothers by Chris Power All that man is by David Soles Men without women by Murakami Reservoir Bitches by Dahlia De La Cerda The Bee Sting by Paul Murray Four Three Two One by Paul Auster A Little Life by Hanya Yangahara Skippy Dies by Paul Murray   For info on his new book and book club for boys follow Lucas on Instagram:  @LucasOakeley   buy me a coffee if you like, www.buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread   Feedback/comments welcome: aneedtoread.podcast@gmail.com  

Today’s paid partner is BetterHelp, to get 10% off your first month of online therapy with a credentialed therapist head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread - Today's conversation is with Joanna Moncreiff, the author of 'Chemically Imbalanced: the making and unmaking of the serotonin myth'. We discuss the history of the link between depression and serotonin, side effects of taking SSRI's and the emerging mental health treatment methods that we should be wary of.    For help understanding how you can come off Anti Depressants, follow this link  -    A Need To Read is partnered with The Breath Space, a online Breath-work education and practise portal that I have been using for the last couple of months, alongside my course to become a breath-work facilitator. To check out how breathwork can help you, follow the link and use the code ED for 50% off your first 2 months.  https://courses.thebreathspace.co.uk/your-breath-space-online-membership    You can also support my work by heading to www.buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread    Any feedback is welcome: aneedtoread.podcast@gmail.com 

Matt Smith is a former professional surfer and sailor, now he spends his time on the west coast of Ireland as CEO of the charity HOMETREE (https://www.hometree.ie/about).   You can find him on Instagram @thehonestcaptain where he talks about his projects show support  www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread www.buymeacoffee.com//aneedtoread 

Welcome back! I’ve been away for a while, and never even said see ya later or goodbye.  This episode covers a little bit about why I stopped the podcast, what I’ve been up to, and where the podcast will go in the future.  books recommended: 100 years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Reservoir Bitches by Dahlia de la Cerda Someone To Love You In All Your Damaged Glory by Raphael Bob Wakesburg    COMING UP: interviews with Matt Smith (Hometree CEO) & Ellie Middleton (author of UNMSKED & How To Be You), and a review of ‘The Compassionate Mind’ by Paul Gilbert    let me know if you have any suggestions for guests or topics you want me to look in to aneedtoread.podcast@gmail.com   sponsors: www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread for 10% off your first month of therapy 

  www.buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread Www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread  Merlin Sheldrake is a biologist, writer, and speaker with a background in plant sciences, microbiology, ecology, and the history and philosophy of science. He received a Ph.D. in tropical ecology from Cambridge University for his work on underground fungal networks in tropical forests in Panama.   His book Entangled life was a Sunday Times Bestseller.     A-need-to-read is the code for an additional 10% off your first purchase with Urban Farm It, who do homegrown mushroom kits: https://urban-farm-it.com/

In this episode, I chat about some fiction books that you might like to read this year.    Books discussed   When We Cease To Understand The World by Benjamin Labtut Kim Jiyoung Born 1982 by Cho Nam Joo A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Someone To Love You In All Your Damaged Glory by Raphael Bob-Waksburg First Person Singular by Hariku Murakami If Cats Disappeared From The World by Genki Kawamura The Virgin Suicides & Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides  A Little Life by Hanya Yangihara Siddartha & Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez   All of the links will take you to Bookshop.org, a website where when you buy books, you support small bookstores, and I also get 10% of the sale. Which is quite nice, init.    Support for the podcast   If you want to help me produce podcasts directly, which would be VERY KIND, head to www.buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread    You will have heard me bang on about how transformational therapy can be, that's why I am proud that Betterhelp sponsors A Need To Read. Meaning you get 10% off your first month if you wanted to chat with a therapist, just head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread   If you have any feedback, requests, or well-wishes, send me an email at hello@aneedtoread.co.uk

Dan Osman is a Health and Wellbeing Educator, who has worked in the health and fitness industry for 17 years.    We discuss; problems with social media, People’s relationships with diets, exercise, and themselves, Self-awareness, How to use values to guide you, confusing avoidance with enlightenment, body-image issues across genders,  society’s contribution to body image issues, self-objectification, and have a general moan about empty mental health advocacy. Support for the podcast   I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.   - Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast.    - Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee   - The show is sponsored by BetterHelp, so you can get matched with a therapist within 48 hours and get 10% off your first month by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread    - You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk  

Support for the podcast   I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.   - Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast.    - Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee   - The show is sponsored by BetterHelp, so you can get matched with a therapist within 48 hours and get 10% off your first month by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread    - You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk  

Dr. Alan Flanagan, PhD, holds an MSc and PhD in nutrition from the University of Surrey, and is a former practicing Lawyer (Barrister) from Dublin, Ireland. In this podcast we discuss; nutrition, the protein problem for plant-based diets, what we’re seeing in British politics, philosophy, and Alan’s favourite books.    

Bill McGuire is a Professor Emeritus of Geophysical and Climate Hazards at University College London, and a writer, who is regularly published in The Guardian, The Times, and The Observer. He is the author of many books, notably the newest, Hothouse Earth - an inhabitants guide, which is a look towards the future of our planet.      In this podcast we discuss: The impact of rising sea levels on the earth's crust, volcanos, coastal cities, and marine life Humanity’s downward spiral due to the climate crisis   Capitalism and climate change And at the end, I chat about how I'm trying not to be sad all the time about what the future is looking likely to hold.    Support for the podcast   I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.   - Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast.    - Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee   I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link.    - Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show   - Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show.    - You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk  

Professor Anil Seth is a Computational and Cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Sussex. His book Being You was a Sunday Times Bestseller.    Take part in Anil's research   In this podcast we discuss: Anil’s latest project ‘The Dream Machine’ What dreams are for? How your brain creates experience  How we see colour Why we all see things differently  What happens to your brain on Psychadelics What happens to your brains when you learn something new The illusion of Self Free Will    Support for the podcast   I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.   - Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast.    - Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee   I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link.    - Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show   - Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show.    - You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk  

Kieran Setiya is a Professor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was born in Hull, UK. He is known for his work in ethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of mind.    We discuss:  Utilitarianism and the problems with focusing on happiness The Good Enough life Dealing with injustice Effective altruism Dealing with powerlessness and the limits of individualism Meaning in an absurd world  Assessing hope How to face your midlife crisis  Dealing with regret  Meditation and presence  Kieran’s favourite philosopher His website is: http://www.ksetiya.net/    Support for the podcast   I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.   - Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast.    - Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee   I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link.    - Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show   - Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show.    - You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk  

Dr. Mike Banna is a GP in the South of England, a GP educator, and a Director of the British Society for Lifestyle Medicine. He also writes a weekly newsletter for Gymshark called The Doctors Note.   This podcast discusses mental health services in the UK, Instagram wellness advice, behaviour change journeys, shamelessly being bad at things, and a few of his favourite books.    Dr. Mike is on Instagram and Twitter as @DrMikethe2nd   Support for the podcast   I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.   - Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast.    - Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee   I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link.    - Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show   - Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show.    - You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk      

George Monbiot is one of Britain's finest writers on Climate. He has a weekly column where he writes on political and environmental issues with The Guardian and is the author of multiple books.  His book feral has inspired a rewinding movement in the UK, and his latest book Regenesis looks at the future of farming.    In this podcast we discuss The complexity of soil  How common farming practices are destroying the structure of soil   What working on a pig farm is like  How much DEFRA suck  Where there is hope in eco-farming The impact of animal agriculture  The future of protein How farmers control farming policies   Find more from George on his website: https://www.monbiot.com/about/   Support for the podcast   I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.   - Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast.    - Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee   I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link.    - Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show   - Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show.    - You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk  

David Robert Grimes is a Science communicator and author. His book The Irrational Ape has been discussed on this show many times. He joins me today to discuss the Law of Attraction, the pseudoscientific craze that has made millennials, Gen-Zers, and Gwyneth Paltrow believe they can bend the universe to suit their will.   More from David is on his website: https://www.davidrobertgrimes.com   I highly recommend reading his book if you have ever wondered what on the flat earth makes people believe in conspiracy theories. David's an excellent communicator. and a great voice for science and rationality.    Support for the podcast   Hey!   I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.   - Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast.    - Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee   I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link.    - Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show   - Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show.    - You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk

Dr. Nicola Fox Hamilton is a cyberpsychology researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Art, Design, and Technology, in Dublin. She has authored a new series called 'The Psychology of Online Behaviour' on audible, and regularly appears in the media to discuss her research.    We discuss - How Tinder changed online dating - Social Media use - Why social media gets the blame for the mental health crisis - The psychology of Dick Pics - How men can be more successful with online dating - How men and women's experiences vary with online dating - How to think rationally about screen time & technology use - How school shooters aren't linked with gaming    For more from Nicola head to her website: https://www.nicolafoxhamilton.com/    Get a Free audiobook with Audible and access to Nicola's Audible Original 'The Psychology of Online Behaviour'   Support   Get my new weekly newsletter   www.Buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread   BetterHelp sponsors this podcast, so if you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you’ll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you’ll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   This podcast is also sponsored by Athletic Greens so you can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread     Get in touch: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact   

Mark Maslin is a Professor of Earth System Science at University College London, a thought-leader on global heating, and the author of popular books on climate change and human evolution, most recently How To Save Our Planet: The Facts.   Mark joined me to discuss: - How much it will cost to limit further damage and save the planet, - Why Jordan Peterson is wrong about environmentalists, - Who will be dealing with the worst of the consequences of global heating, - How capitalism can save the planet, - What it means to be in The Anthropocene, - How governments, individuals, and corporations can do their bit    You can find Mark on Twitter: @profmarkmaslin   Support   Get my new weekly newsletter   This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, so if you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you’ll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you’ll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   This podcast is also sponsored by Athletic Greens so you can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread   Get a Free audiobook with Audible!    Get in touch: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact    Or to support my work by making a donation please head to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread

Siobhan O'hagan is a Personal Trainer and Content Creator, she is also a good friend of mine. She's back on A Need To Read for the third time to discuss; Tony Robbins, self-help, effective altruism, whether or not the laptop lifestyle is sustainable, Angel numbers, the meaning of suffering, Whether books REALLY helped me as much as I thought, The recently UCL study on the chemical imbalance narrative around depression, the effectiveness of IAPT (Immediate Access to Psychological Therapies) in the UK, and the problems with the economics of happiness.   Books Discussed The existentialist Cafe The Antidote  Manufacturing Happy Citizens    Support The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter.   You can also see the archive posts with this link.   This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, so if you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you’ll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you’ll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   This podcast is also sponsored by Athletic Greens so you can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    Get a Free audiobook with Audible!    Get in touch: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact