Web Series — The Exchange

Web Series

Short Exchanges

In our first series, we explore 12 diverse topics to break taboos and share fact-based and stigma-free conversations on issues that affect young people.

The Science of Drugs

In our second series, we explore The Science of Drugs, including the principles of harm reduction, how drugs work on the brain, and the experience of addiction and recovery.

Emotional health

In our third series, we tackle Emotional Health and look at how to cope with life's big emotional challenges, from grief to jealousy to anger.

Series 1 - Short Exchanges

CONSENT

Nathaniel Cole, a writer, researcher, speaker and workshop facilitator on masculinity, mental health and sex & relationships and bloggers, Jasmeen and Kiran from British Bindi, discuss the language and law around consent and the importance of open conversations.

BULLYING

Broadcaster, author & activist Vick Hope, who has recently joined BBC Radio 1 Life Hacks, and founder of global youth charity, Ditch the Label, Dr Liam Hackett, discuss how you get advice when you’re growing up, bullying, self-esteem and mental health.

Anxiety and Depression

We talk to mental health expert Pooky Knightsmith and writer and podcaster Alex Holmes about how to cope with anxiety and depression in a year when many people are experiencing this for the the first time.

Social Media

We talk to writer and blogger Jess Bacon and award-winning poet, filmmaker and Head of Education at the Center for Humane Technology, Max Stossel about the impact of social media on our daily lives and how we can use it in a positive way.

Body Confidence

We talk to body confidence and self acceptance influencer Alex Light and model and activist Ambar Driscoll about what practical steps we can take to love our bodies more and the impact that social media and diet culture can have on self-esteem and mental health.

Sustainable Fashion

We talk to research fellow Francesco Mazzarella and sustainable fashion advocate and blogger Izzy Manuel about the environmental and social impact of fast fashion, buying less and thinking about where your clothes come from before you buy.

Gambling

Former cricketer Patrick Foster and former footballer Scott Davies talk about how their lives were torn apart by gambling addiction, their roads to recovery and the blurred lines between gambling and addiction.

Period Stigma

Gabby Edlin, founder of menstrual equity charity, Bloody Good Period, and model, photographer and activist, Emma Breschi discuss period poverty, how there is still a stigma surrounding periods and what we can do about it.

Image-Based Abuse

We talk to feminist and online activist Emma Holten and Professor of Law Clare McGlynn about the impact of ‘revenge porn’ on lives, the laws on consent surrounding this, and why the terminology must be changed.

Coming Out

We speak to model, speaker and activist Jude Guaitamacchi and Associate Professor of American and Gender Studies, Michael Stambolis about gender identity, coming out and the importance of open conversation and support.

Criminal Exploitation

We speak to author, urban youth specialist and entrepreneur Tanayah Sam and activist, film-maker and entrepreneur Amani Simpson about the importance of positive role models and the steps we can take to empower ourselves and improve self-worth.

Unconscious Bias

We talk to Charlotte Williams, the founder of SevenSixAgency, and Equality and Diversity Officer for the Association of Surgeons in Training, Michael Okocha, about the impact of unconscious bias and why positive representation in the workplace matters so much.

Series 2 - The Science of Drugs

Harm Reduction

It Happens educator Zoe Shuttleworth says that the ‘don’t do drugs mantra’ isn’t working in schools and that young people are so fearful of getting into trouble with the law that they will not ask for help when things go wrong.

Addiction

Anya Aggarwal highlights some of the factors that lead to addiction and the impact that addiction can have on our relationships with those around us. She talks about why the stigma surrounding addiction can stop those who need help accessing it and why talking therapy can often be an important first step to recovery.

Drugs Policy

Professor David Nutt shows how policies underpinned by science can have a transformative affect on society. He shows the impact this has had in other countries where they have adopted a radical approach to drugs legislation.

How Drugs Work

We often focus on the substance, the drug itself - but drug scientist Rayyan Zafar not only speaks about the substance, but the set (our mindset) and the setting (our environment) as contributing factors that influence the way we react to drugs.

Recovery

Max shares his story of recovery. He speaks about how addiction can happen to anyone and can often be linked with trauma. He talks about the importance of acknowledging his addiction and its causes, and why being aware of this actually enables him to make better choices.

Series 3 - Emotional Health

Understanding Emotion

Author and campaigner Natasha Devon talks about why making sense of our emotions is a necessary first step to dealing with them. Whether we articulate emotion through talking, journaling or dancing, being able to stay in-tune with how we feel allows us to move forward.

Anger

Doctor and broadcaster Dr Radha Modgil talks about why anger is often perceived as a ‘bad emotion’ when actually all emotions have the right to exist in the complexity of the human psyche.

Jealousy

It Happens educator Alice Hoyle talks about how to overcome jealousy in romantic relationships through good communication.

Grief

Rapper and songwriter Aadarsh Gautam aka Hyphen talks about the benefit of therapy for dealing with grief and gives guidance on how to help friends who might be struggling with loss. He reminds us that there is no ‘one way’ to deal with grief.

Shame

Psychotherapist and author Stella O’Malley talks about the emotion of shame and the way it paralyses people into thinking that they are fundamentally bad at their core.