Hello You is about stuff, and things. People and stories, mental and physical health and wellbeing, art and creativity, Shrewsbury and Shropshire, self-knowledge and the changes, obstacles and complexities of life.
Meet Tina. Tina lives in Shrewsbury, and she responded to my invitation to people who have a story to share, and thoughts to think about. She has plenty to share about pretty much all of those topics. Some of what she has to say chimes very much with my own experience; some of it you may also identify with, or you might find yourself seeing things a little differently through someone else’s eyes.
When I’m listening back to interviews I’ve recorded, I have a pencil in my hand to note down any possible ‘pull quotes’, phrases or sentences that could sit in the body of these show notes, to give you a flavour of what the guest has to say. By halfway through my chat with Tina, I needed to sharpen the pencil! She came out with so many ear-grabbing, eye-catching quotes I couldn’t write them down fast enough. One is the subtitle of this episode - 'I opened a bottle of Moët, sat in the garden and drank the whole lot' - and others included:
‘I felt I was becoming a heart-attack bore’
‘Don’t be afraid of who you are’
‘I’d let this happen to me’
‘Cheese is my comfort blanket’
‘From someone who could walk nine miles a day, to someone who could barely walk at all’
‘I’m still here!’
and the one that gives this episode its title:
‘Be more Tina! Be more authentic!’
We talk about:
not being a burden … or not feeling like you’re being a burden, when you’re not
atrial fibrillation
how being creative helps
FitBit tyranny
seeing Scotland by campervan
the difference between Tina’s experience of the NHS here and elsewhere
knitting
Solstice on Anglesey
gyms, diets and body issues
Stephen Sondheim
… and more. This episode covers a lot of ground!
Tina’s online persona is Phat Chic. She explains why during the conversation. You can find Phat Chic on YouTube and on Instagram.
If you have a story to tell or experiences to share, if you have thoughts and ideas you want to put in front of other people, if you have nagging questions or whimsical wonderings, if you know of a person, place or event that you’d like me to feature on Hello You, and crucially, if you want to feel properly heard, properly listened-to, contact me. I’m a good listener; it’s what I do.
Tina sent me a direct message on Twitter (sorry, X), saying she’d be happy to talk to me. Katie contacted me via Facebook about an urgent issue at a local organisation that’s close to her heart; you’ll hear from Katie and a bunch of other great people on next Friday’s episode. Simon also DM’d me on Twitter about a young person he knows who’s doing something remarkable, for really powerful reasons. I’m going to meet that young person this week, and you can meet them on Hello You in two weeks’ time.
I’m bloody thrilled that so many people are coming to me with ideas or suggestions for Hello You, or just asking how this podcast could help or support them. That means so much, that you’re putting your trust in me, whether as a listener or a contributor. As I’ve said before, I believe in local, public-service media. That’s why this podcast is what it is. And like the family that we are, it relies on trust, openness and credibility between us all.
Keep the suggestions coming for guests, topics, ideas, or even benches I could sit on to record conversations, or places I could record soundscapes to bring you a flavour of how Shropshire sounds. Email me or message via here or anywhere you find Hello You.
There’s another couple of ways you can help me out, too, if you’d be so kind. Firstly, wherever you can, please hit ‘Like’, rate or review this episode and any others that you listen to.
And secondly, there’s no algorithm like a human rhythm. So please, recommend Hello You to your friends, family, colleagues, people in your chat group or on a local Facebook page, or the other members of your clubs, societies, faith groups … anywhere or with anyone you think might enjoy it. Maybe I’ll give a special shout-out to anywhere that Hello You takes root. Or I could come along and record an episode with you all, at your book club, stitch’n’bitch, WI, choir practice, local-history society, munch …
Thank you for being part of the Hello You family. Thank you for welcoming and introducing more people to the Hello You family, too. Make sure that they - and you - subscribe on Substack or follow on Spotify.
Take care of yourself. Take care of the people around you. And I hope they’re taking care of you, too.
Hello You 56: Be More Tina!