For this episode, I’m joined by Sean Smith from The Blackout and Sappenin’ Podcast for an honest conversation about identity, purpose, starting again, and what happens when something that has defined you for years suddenly disappears.

The idea behind Fact & Feelings is simple. We start with a mental health fact, then use it to ask one honest question. No scripts, no perfect answers, just a conversation about the feelings and experiences that statistics can never fully capture.

Sean speaks openly about what happened when The Blackout originally split in 2015, and how losing the band also meant losing a huge part of how he understood himself. After more than a decade of touring and building his life around music, he suddenly found himself questioning what he could do next, what skills he had, and whether he would always just be known as “Sean from The Blackout.”

We talk about feeling abandoned by an industry you gave everything to, falling out of love with music, and the people and opportunities that helped Sean gradually find his feet again. From starting Sappenin’ Podcast to returning to music and eventually reuniting with The Blackout, Sean reflects on discovering that his identity could be bigger than any one band, job or chapter of his life.

The conversation also goes somewhere I wasn't expecting. Sean talks about the impact that the actions of the "Ian Watkins Saga" and the end of Lostprophets had on him and the wider Welsh music scene, and the difficulty of carrying feelings connected to something you had no control over.

Sean also speaks openly about starting therapy after reaching a difficult point in his own life, what finally made him ask for help, and how having those conversations has helped him better understand himself.

And we finish by looking back at some of the moments that made everything worthwhile, from touring the world and playing huge stages to performing with one of his heroes, Limp Bizkit.

This conversation keeps coming back to one idea. Losing something that helped define you can leave you wondering who you are without it, but the end of one part of your identity doesn't have to be the end of you.

Fact & Feelings is part of For Younger You, a mental health project built around having the conversations we wish we'd had sooner.

If something in this episode resonates with you, please share it with somebody who might need to hear it.

And if you'd like to help keep For Younger You going, you can support the project here on Patreon. Your support helps us continue producing these conversations, visiting schools and, most importantly, keeping our mental health resources free for the people who need them.

Thank you for watching, listening and supporting the project.

For Younger You

The Conversations We Needed.

For this episode, I’m joined by Charlie Rolfe from As Everything Unfolds for an honest conversation about self-belief, comparison, perfectionism, and what happens when the way other people see you starts to change the way you see yourself.

The idea behind Fact & Feelings is simple. We start with a mental health fact, then use it to ask one honest question. No scripts, no perfect answers, just a conversation about the feelings and experiences that statistics can never fully capture.

Charlie speaks openly about her own struggles with confidence, particularly as a vocalist and performer, and how even after years of experience, bigger crowds and becoming a better singer, she has sometimes found herself feeling less confident than she did when she started. We talk about imposter syndrome, constantly comparing yourself to other people, and the pressure to appear perfect in an industry where so much of what we see online isn't always real.

We also talk about the pressure placed on female artists, social media, learning to separate your own worth from other people's opinions, and why hearing somebody else admit they're struggling can sometimes make you feel less alone.

Charlie also opens up about losing the ability to enjoy moments she once dreamed about, putting on a face when things don't feel right, and trying to rediscover the confidence that allowed her to simply get on stage and enjoy being there.

But this conversation also comes back to how far she's come. From starting a band with friends and playing gigs in pubs, to standing on stage at Wembley and realising that the 15-year-old version of herself would barely believe the life she gets to live now.

This is a conversation about trying to believe in yourself when comparison, expectations and other people's perceptions make that difficult, and remembering to occasionally look back at the person you used to be and recognise just how far you've come.

Fact & Feelings is part of For Younger You, a mental health project built around having the conversations we wish we'd had sooner.

If something in this episode resonates with you, please share it with somebody who might need to hear it.

And if you'd like to help keep For Younger You going, you can support the project here on Patreon. Your support helps us continue producing these conversations, visiting schools and, most importantly, keeping our mental health resources free for the people who need them.

Thank you for watching, listening and supporting the project.

For Younger You

The Conversations We Needed.

For this episode, I’m joined by Dani Winter-Bates from Bury Tomorrow for an honest conversation about burnout, boundaries, vulnerability, and what can happen when you spend so much time looking after other people that you stop noticing what it’s costing you.

The idea behind Fact & Feelings is simple. We start with a mental health fact, then use it to ask one honest question. No scripts, no perfect answers, just a conversation about the feelings and experiences that statistics can never fully capture.

Dani speaks openly about his own experiences with anxiety, OCD, depression and eating disorders, as well as the pressure that can come with trying to support everyone around you. We talk about recognising when something is draining your energy, building a support network before you need it, and why being there for somebody does not mean you have to fix them.

We also talk about safe spaces, listening properly, noticing changes in the people around you, and why vulnerability can be one of the most important parts of growth.

This is one of those conversations that covers a lot, but keeps coming back to one simple idea. Caring for other people matters, but so does protecting enough of yourself to keep going.

Fact & Feelings is part of For Younger You, a mental health project built around having the conversations we wish we'd had sooner.

If something in this episode resonates with you, please share it with somebody who might need to hear it.

And if you'd like to help keep For Younger You going, you can support the project here on Patreon. Your support helps us continue producing these conversations, visiting schools and, most importantly, keeping our mental health resources free for the people who need them.

Thank you for watching, listening and supporting the project.

For Younger You

The Conversations We Needed.