G’Day Birds Eye Viewers!How are you all on this dull February morning?Now, those of you who know me personally and not just via the blog will already know that I’m something of a motormouth. I have a tendency towards being pretty full on: turbo-charged and as nutty as a tray of Ferrero’s at the Ambassador’s Reception. Some of you may remember my previous podcast recorded with Washington DC-based podcasters Sip And Shine.

Trying to get a word in edgeways when I’m on one is no mean feat…as Mike Douglas, creator of the mental health podcast Mike’s Open Journal, was about to find out, when he invited me onto his show to talk about my experiences with mental health issues, specifically in relation to infertility, IVF and marriage breakdown, as described in this blog post…

                              
Having had his own experience of mental health issues and also a marriage breakdown and no children, Mike and I have plenty in common. Unfortunately what we don’t have in common is the same calm and controlled style of speech, so listening to Mike’s even and lilting tone will be soothing and easy to listen to; my own hyper and breathless babbling…not so much.

I wonder which one’s me…? photo credit

So apologies for the frantic pace of my chatter – oh, and the fact that I sound like Pat Butcher from Eastenders…and say “yeah” a thousand times. Believe it or not, despite the mile-a-minute rambling, I actually don’t like the sound of my own voice that much. Let’s just say I make Bianca Jackson sound posh.

Anyway, thanks for listening! I hope I don’t send your blood pressure soaring and you can listen with a nice cuppa, and not require a vodka and a fistful of statins to get through the hour-long episode….

 To listen to the podcast click here




Listen to Mike’s other episodes 
Follow Mike’s Open Journal on Twitter

Who, me? I don’t know what you mean… photo credit

Sam x


Fancy reading my back-story before you go any further? You can find my other blogs at:

www.costaricachica1.blogspot.com
www.samgoessolo.blogspot.com
www.mummymission.blogspot.com
www.worldwidewalsh.blogspot.com

Follow me:

Twitter: @SamanthaWalsh76 (Life:ABird’sEyeView)
Facebook: @lifeabirdseyeview
Instagram: @lifeabirdseyeview

The post I’m a guest on Mike’s Open Journal Podcast appeared first on Life: A Birds Eye View.

Some weeks ago an email randomly popped into my inbox from a girl called Carrie, saying she was a podcaster interested in interviewing writers and bloggers for her Society Lounge (Sip and Shine) podcast, she really liked my blog (having discovered it via Twitter) and would I be up for an interview?

Of course I was intrigued, so I agreed, booked the appointment in via the website as requested…and promptly forgot about it amidst the chaos of a hectic schedule…

In the meantime Andy and I went off to Amsterdam; I was working, socialising and blogging away…until the day before the podcast when I thought I’d best do a spot of research. I’d booked the podcast in for 11am and had a response from Carrie that she’d have to get up early, but she didn’t mind. Lazy! I’d thought fleetingly, but didn’t really give it a second thought.

It was only later, as I googled the podcasts’ websites she’d mentioned, All Things Podcast, Society Lounge and Sip and Shine, that it gradually dawned on me…this wasn’t a couple of layabout teenage students playing about in their boxroom bedrooms at their parents’ house somewhere in Blighty, oh no siree….this is actually a pair of sassy Washington DC-based professional thirty-something women. In America! With actual followers – and lots of them, by looks of it. Eek! So now I’m nervous!

Now, I know I’m the direct type – I don’t mince my words – but the thought of an hour-long recorded Skype call which would potentially be listened to by tens of thousands of Americans on their commute was making me break out in a cold sweat. Shooting from the hip is one thing, but having everything you say recorded and played back is quite another. At least when I write my blog I can delete the bits that go a step too far; with the spoken word, once it’s been said (and recorded) the cat’s out the bag: you can’t take it back.

I had no way to prepare; I didn’t know any of the questions. I was going to have to think on my feet. Gulp. In the end we did 2 recorded calls of almost an hour each. Which is a long time to be on video call to The States to someone you’ve never met before when you have absolutely zero idea what to expect and a habit of engaging the mouth before the brain. And when Carrie mentions we’ll be drinking wine and playing drinking games I can feel my pulse quickening and my palms getting clammy.

I send up a silent prayer: “Oh please don’t let me make a fool of myself,” as I click to accept the incoming Skype call…

And did I?

Well she was great fun and we got along like a house on fire. We have lots in common, including a love of wine and embracing the dating scene in our thirties after years out of the game having been long-term Smug Marrieds. I babbled incessantly and due to the nature of Skype and simultaneously consuming wine during the drinking games segment (which fyi was during the second call; I wasn’t chugging back wine at 11am) spoke over her several times, but I think we pulled it off ok in the end. Here she is, my Sister From Another Mister, Carrie Gillen:

But don’t take my word for it, decide for yourself:

Part 1 here

Part 2 here

And there’s even a cute lil intro video collage video too:

Thanks for listening – feedback welcome (I think!)…..

Follow Sip and Shine aka DC Life and Style on Twitter 

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UPDATE 2018: Unfortunately these podcasts are currently unavailable as it was recorded back in September 2016 and Sip and Shine is being rebranded. I’ll re-add it if I can at a later date. Apologies! 

Sam x


Fancy reading my back-story before you go any further? You can find my other blogs at:

www.costaricachica1.blogspot.com
www.samgoessolo.blogspot.com
www.mummymission.blogspot.com
www.worldwidewalsh.blogspot.com

Follow me:

Twitter: @SamanthaWalsh76 (Life:ABird’sEyeView)
Facebook: @lifeabirdseyeview
Instagram: @lifeabirdseyeview

The post I’m a guest on Sip and Shine Podcast appeared first on Life: A Birds Eye View.