I wasn’t planning this episode — it just sort of happened. I’d taken my dog out to a quiet country park, sat down by the water to clear my head, and started thinking about life, work, and the stuff we don’t always admit. Somewhere between the geese, the cold air, and my dog demanding attention, I found myself asking a question I think a lot of you might wonder too: Do adults really have their shit together?

The truth? We don’t. Not really.
In this little bonus episode, I talk honestly about what it’s like being an adult who still doesn’t have everything figured out, why it’s okay if you don’t either, and how sometimes the best way to make sense of things is to just stop, breathe, and sit still for a bit.

This one’s a slower, more personal chat — just me, a park bench, and a few thoughts that might help you feel a bit less pressure to have it all sorted.

Want to get involved?
I’d love to hear from you:

• Send me a message → headstraight.co.uk/contact
• Leave me a voice note → headstraight.co.uk/voicemail
• Share your feedback by leaving a review (it helps more young people find the podcast) → headstraight.co.uk/reviews/new

Explore more from Headstraight:

• Read the blog version of every episode, packed with extra insights on self-sabotage, motivation, resilience, and mental health → headstraight.co.uk/blog
• Find out more about me, the host, and why I started this podcast → headstraight.co.uk/about

Need support right now?
If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or in crisis, visit our Resources page
for helplines, mental health services, and support options available in the UK and across the world.

Being misunderstood hurts. Maybe it’s parents who brush off your feelings, teachers who assume the worst, or friends who make you feel small. For teens and young adults, this pressure fuels self doubt, pushes you into people pleasing, and drains your emotional well-being.

In this episode, hosted by Mark Taylor, we’ll talk about why being misunderstood cuts so deep, how it connects to teen mental health, and the ways you end up reacting — from shutting down to trying to keep everyone happy. More importantly, we’ll explore how to hold your ground, protect your self esteem, and make better choices about where to put your energy.

This is about using self control to stay steady, finding grounded advice for teens, and learning how to face mental challenges without losing yourself. If you’ve ever felt unseen or unheard, this one will help you stand stronger.

Want to get involved?
I’d love to hear from you:

• Send me a message → headstraight.co.uk/contact
• Leave me a voice note → headstraight.co.uk/voicemail
• Share your feedback by leaving a review (it helps more young people find the podcast) → headstraight.co.uk/reviews/new

Explore more from Headstraight:

• Read the blog version of every episode, packed with extra insights on self-sabotage, motivation, resilience, and mental health → headstraight.co.uk/blog
• Find out more about me, the host, and why I started this podcast → headstraight.co.uk/about

Need support right now?
If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or in crisis, visit our Resources page
for helplines, mental health services, and support options available in the UK and across the world.

In today's fast-paced environment, distractions are everywhere, making it challenging for teens and young adults to stay focused and motivated. In this episode of Headstraight, hosted by Mark Taylor, we dive into how distractions can undermine your self esteem and fuel self doubt. We'll discuss why losing motivation often feels impossible to overcome and why the common advice to "just try harder" is a misconception.

By exploring practical strategies, you'll learn how to rebuild your attention and make better choices that reflect your values. We’ll offer insights on self control, developing lasting routines, and fostering self reliance. It’s all about protecting your mental well-being and taking charge of your energy while navigating the noise of modern life. Listen in for real-life answers that empower you to overcome the teen troubles of distraction and self-doubt.

Want to get involved?
I’d love to hear from you:

• Send me a message → headstraight.co.uk/contact
• Leave me a voice note → headstraight.co.uk/voicemail
• Share your feedback by leaving a review (it helps more young people find the podcast) → headstraight.co.uk/reviews/new

Explore more from Headstraight:

• Read the blog version of every episode, packed with extra insights on self-sabotage, motivation, resilience, and mental health → headstraight.co.uk/blog
• Find out more about me, the host, and why I started this podcast → headstraight.co.uk/about

Need support right now?
If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or in crisis, visit our Resources page
for helplines, mental health services, and support options available in the UK and across the world.

In this episode of Headstraight, we’re diving deep into the challenges of losing motivation and uncovering practical strategies for improving teen mental health. It's common for teens to hit a slump where motivation vanishes, leading to self-doubt and emotional decline. We’ll explore how feelings of shame and guilt contribute to this loss of drive, and provide actionable tools to help restore your motivation.

Join host Mark Taylor as we discuss why motivation isn’t rooted in laziness, but in understanding the factors affecting teen self-esteem and mental health. You’ll learn to break the cycle of feeling stuck, overcome self-sabotage, and reconnect with your purpose while building resilience. Let’s make better choices together that foster emotional well-being. Don’t let losing motivation keep you trapped; listen in for a compassionate approach to reigniting your drive!!

Want to get involved?
I’d love to hear from you:

• Send me a message → headstraight.co.uk/contact
• Leave me a voice note → headstraight.co.uk/voicemail
• Share your feedback by leaving a review (it helps more young people find the podcast) → headstraight.co.uk/reviews/new

Explore more from Headstraight:

• Read the blog version of every episode, packed with extra insights on self-sabotage, motivation, resilience, and mental health → headstraight.co.uk/blog
• Find out more about me, the host, and why I started this podcast → headstraight.co.uk/about

Need support right now?
If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or in crisis, visit our Resources page
for helplines, mental health services, and support options available in the UK and across the world.

Failure hurts more than most people admit, especially for teens and young adults facing mental challenges. Setbacks can spark self-doubt and initiate a shame spiral, often leading to guilt trips and feelings of hopelessness. In this episode, hosted by Mark Taylor, we break down the emotional impact of failure and its connection to teen mental health. Discover why these experiences weigh heavily on your well-being and the traps that keep you from moving forward, like overthinking and losing motivation.

You’ll learn the crucial difference between failure and feedback as we explore how to reframe setbacks into opportunities for growth. Most importantly, we provide practical advice tailored for teens on rebuilding self-esteem and self-control. We'll share small, actionable steps to help you tackle mental challenges head-on and bounce back stronger from any setback. Listen in for real-life answers to help you overcome self-doubt and emotional hurdles.

Want to get involved?
I’d love to hear from you:

• Send me a message → headstraight.co.uk/contact
• Leave me a voice note → headstraight.co.uk/voicemail
• Share your feedback by leaving a review (it helps more young people find the podcast) → headstraight.co.uk/reviews/new

Explore more from Headstraight:

• Read the blog version of every episode, packed with extra insights on self-sabotage, motivation, resilience, and mental health → headstraight.co.uk/blog
• Find out more about me, the host, and why I started this podcast → headstraight.co.uk/about

Need support right now?
If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or in crisis, visit our Resources page
for helplines, mental health services, and support options available in the UK and across the world.

Have you ever noticed how self-sabotage can prevent your success? For many teens and young adults, it manifests as excuses, procrastination, and ‘faking it’ — masking deeper feelings of fear and self-doubt. This behavior, if left unchecked, can drain your confidence and chip away at emotional well-being and self-esteem.

In this episode, hosted by Mark Taylor, we’ll delve into why self-sabotage isn’t just laziness - it's a safety mechanism your brain switches to on autopilot. We’ll connect it to teen mental health and discuss how short-term comfort and self-criticism can evolve into long-term setbacks. You’ll learn why overcoming self-sabotage feels so challenging, especially when you've already lost motivation.

More importantly, you will gain practical strategies for building self-control, building self-reliance, and making healthier choices in the face of fear. We’re about facing uncomfortable truths, cutting through mental challenges, and offering honest guidance for teens. Join us as we equip you with the tools to combat fear, create positive habits for your mental well-being, and truly feel safe as you move forward.

Want to get involved?
I’d love to hear from you:

• Send me a message → headstraight.co.uk/contact
• Leave me a voice note → headstraight.co.uk/voicemail
• Share your feedback by leaving a review (it helps more young people find the podcast) → headstraight.co.uk/reviews/new

Explore more from Headstraight:

• Read the blog version of every episode, packed with extra insights on self-sabotage, motivation, resilience, and mental health → headstraight.co.uk/blog
• Find out more about me, the host, and why I started this podcast → headstraight.co.uk/about

Need support right now?
If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or in crisis, visit our Resources page
for helplines, mental health services, and support options available in the UK and across the world.

Season 3 of Headstraight, hosted by Mark Taylor, goes straight into the struggles that keep so many teens and young adults stuck. This season is all about breaking patterns like self doubt, self-sabotage, losing motivation, and the weight of guilt trips that drag down your emotional well-being.

Across ten episodes, we’ll tackle real mental challenges: the habits you can’t seem to build, the distractions that keep pulling you away, the pressure that leads to people pleasing, and the constant comparison that wrecks your self esteem. You’ll hear why these struggles hit so hard, how they connect to teen mental health, and what you can do to move past them.

Each episode starts with a real thought or belief — “I’m always behind,” “I’ll never get it right,” or “I’m just faking it” — and unpacks what’s really going on underneath. With practical tools, grounded advice for teens, and straight talk about making better choices, Season 3 will show you how to build self control, protect your mental well-being, and start overcoming fear instead of running from it.

Want to get involved?
I’d love to hear from you:

• Send me a message → headstraight.co.uk/contact
• Leave me a voice note → headstraight.co.uk/voicemail
• Share your feedback by leaving a review (it helps more young people find the podcast) → headstraight.co.uk/reviews/new

Explore more from Headstraight:

• Read the blog version of every episode, packed with extra insights on self-sabotage, motivation, resilience, and mental health → headstraight.co.uk/blog
• Find out more about me, the host, and why I started this podcast → headstraight.co.uk/about

Need support right now?
If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or in crisis, visit our Resources page
for helplines, mental health services, and support options available in the UK and across the world.

Season 2 was never about quick fixes. It was about facing fear, breaking toxic cycles, and building the kind of resilience that lasts. Along the way, you’ve battled self doubt, challenged people pleasing, dealt with guilt trips, and learned how to push through even when you’d lost motivation.

In this season finale of Headstraight, we look back at the big shifts: making better choices, resetting after self-sabotage, and protecting your emotional well-being when life gets tough. You’ll see how small steps—setting boundaries, practicing self control, and building routines—help young adults and teens develop real self esteem, self reliance, and confidence without faking it.

This is pure straight talk—a recap of the tools that actually work for teen mental health and a reminder that change isn’t about perfection, it’s about persistence. From lowering the bar to stop burnout, to using real talk mental health strategies when shame creeps in, this wrap-up locks in what you’ve learned.

If you’ve struggled with teen troubles, mental challenges, or just the grind of keeping up, this episode is proof that you’re not broken—you’re building something stronger.

Want the Cheat Sheet? Click the Link or copy and paste the following into your browser:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hfHFFRyW4_LbXia-IrDW_KrLwTyU_cA-/edit?usp=sharing

Want to get involved?
I’d love to hear from you:

• Send me a message → headstraight.co.uk/contact
• Leave me a voice note → headstraight.co.uk/voicemail
• Share your feedback by leaving a review (it helps more young people find the podcast) → headstraight.co.uk/reviews/new

Explore more from Headstraight:

• Read the blog version of every episode, packed with extra insights on self-sabotage, motivation, resilience, and mental health → headstraight.co.uk/blog
• Find out more about me, the host, and why I started this podcast → headstraight.co.uk/about

Need support right now?
If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or in crisis, visit our Resources page
for helplines, mental health services, and support options available in the UK and across the world.

Click here to view the episode transcript.