Shoulder to Shoulder by With-you
Welcome to Shoulder to Shoulder
Shoulder to Shoulder is a podcast about the power of peer support and lived experience, and what happens when people who've been through tough times use that experience to help others.
But what is peer support? It's simple: people who've faced their own challenges offer understanding, connection, and hope to others going through similar challenges. That's the meaning of peer support, and it's at the heart of everything we do.
In a world that can make us feel alone when we're struggling, this podcast is a reminder that connection changes everything.
I'm Cate Munro, and each episode I talk with people who've faced real challenges - mental health struggles, addiction, trauma, grief, life-changing moments - and who now stand shoulder to shoulder with others on their own journeys.
My guests include peer support workers, people running peer support groups, and individuals whose lived experience has become their greatest strength.
They share their stories honestly: what happened, what helped, and how peer support made a difference.
Whether you're a peer support worker, thinking about becoming one, part of a peer support group, or simply believe in the power of human connection and shared experience, there's something here for you.
Before you listen: This podcast explores personal stories of growth, mental health and resilience. Some episodes include descriptions of trauma and distress. Please trust your instincts and look after yourself - it's always okay to pause or come back another time.
Thank you for being here.
Find out more about With-you Consultancy at www.with-you.co.uk
Shoulder to Shoulder by With-you
EP 21: From Lived Experience to Leadership: Pete Fleischmann on Co-Production, Mental Health, and System Change
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What does it mean to bring lived experience into the heart of public services — not just as a voice, but as a driver of real change?
In this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate speaks with Pete Fleischmann, Director of Co-production Works, who shares how his own experience of mental health challenges — and disillusionment with traditional psychiatric care — led him to champion co-production and peer support across health and social care.
With roots in the mental health survivor movement and decades of work spanning research, consultancy, and service redesign, Pete reflects on:
Why traditional mental health services didn’t work for him
The power of co-production to transform systems
What peer support and psychotherapy offer that services sometimes miss
How Zen meditation, cycling, and connection keep him grounded
The story behind Co-production Week and SCIE’s widely-used principles
Whether you're working in mental health, social care, or just curious about what genuine co-production looks like — this is a conversation about purpose, persistence, and the people-first future we can build together.
Learn more about With You and our peer support communities at with-you.co.uk
Find out more about Pete and his work at coproductionworks.co.uk
Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk