The Med Free Mental Fitness Podcast
The Med Free Mental Fitness Podcast
Podcast Description
I’m Katinka Blackford Newman— life coach, bestselling author and journalist.
This podcast is a space for real, honest conversations about mental health, medication, and the alternative paths people have taken to heal. I’ll be talking to those who’ve experienced the darker side of psychiatric drugs, as well as experts who can shed light on safer, more empowering solutions
If you’re curious about mental health beyond the prescription pad, you’re in the right place. Let’s dive in!
www.kbnlifecoaching.co.uk
[email protected]
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
This podcast centers on mental health topics, alternative healing methods, and personal recovery stories, with episodes exploring experiences of psychiatric medication, holistic strategies for well-being, and discussions on resilience. For example, a recent episode features bestselling author Rachel Kelly, who shares her journey of overcoming depression without medication.
I’m your host, Katinka Blackford Newman, a life coach, author and health journalist.
The Med-Free Mental Fitness Podcast is an interview-led show exploring mental health, behaviour change and wellbeing in the context of modern life. Through in-depth conversations, it examines how people live with overwhelm, stress and long-term challenges, and what genuinely supports recovery, resilience and agency.
At its core, the podcast is about meaning and agency beyond diagnosis and quick fixes, with space for complexity and differing perspectives.
Guests include clinicians, researchers, authors, journalists and practitioners, alongside people with lived experience. Topics include mental health and diagnosis, grief and loss, sleep and insomnia, trauma, addiction and habit change, pain, weight, medication use and withdrawal, informed consent, and evidence-informed, non-pharmacological approaches to recovery.
Video interviews are available on YouTube.
If you would like personalised support through life coaching, you can book a free consultation via:
www.kbnlifecoaching.co.uk
[email protected]
In this episode of the Med Free Mental Fitness podcast, I am joined by Brooke Siem, author of ‘May Cause Side Effects.’ Brooke shares her personal journey of being placed on antidepressants as a teenager following her father’s sudden death, the side effects she experienced over 15 years, and her life-altering decision to come off the medication. Discover how Brooke navigated the challenging withdrawal process, rebuilt her mental health through practical tools and self-awareness, and now advocates for a life beyond medication. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on the impact of psychiatric drugs and the strength found in med-free mental fitness.
00:00 Introduction to Med Free Mental Fitness
00:47 Brooke’s Journey with Antidepressants
02:25 The Effects and Side Effects of Medication
04:11 Questioning the Medication
14:07 The Turning Point: Deciding to Come Off Medication
15:29 The Struggle of Withdrawal
18:14 Rebuilding Life Beyond Medication
31:28 Advocacy and Current Work
34:27 Final Thoughts and Reflections
Disclaimer
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