Episode 7: Amy Thompson

Amy Thompson is the latest guest on our podcast recorded on real train journeys - Moving Minds! Amy is a familiar face on BBC Look North across East Yorkshire, as well as being a radio presenter and actor.

In a moving conversation between two lifelong friends, Amy and host Gemma Oaten chat about the pressures of the industry they work in, dating, making the decision to not have children and plenty more. 

Find information and support for your mental health on the NHS website or contact Samaritans who offer help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Hi, Gemma Rotten here, your host for the Whole Trains podcast Moving Minds. And this time around, we have a guest who I love dearly and have known for years, Amy Thompson. Yeah, you might have heard of Amy from her days on Milkshake and also the BBC Radio Humberside programmes. And now BBC Gook North. Don't go anywhere. So Hull Bird, but bread. We go way back. Who we do?

SPEAKER_01 0:34

Hall Trucks Theatre and Margaret Ashburn. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 0:39

How did I forget about Margaret Ashburn? Okay. Teenager weren't we? Wow, that's just blown my tiny mind. So Margaret Ashburn. Oh my god, I just got goosebumps. Oh.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

What how did I even forget? Yeah, because you were in before me. So Margaret Ashburn was an amazing drama tutor. She did like one-on-one drama classes, didn't she? And she she trained Deborah Stevenson, whole girl. Maureen Lippman, whole girl. Um, and then now us. So yeah, you went in before me, I always remember. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:13

Maybe that's yeah, that's really scary that I've forgotten that poor memory of like how we first met. We did, and then then to Northern later after that. I wonder, I wonder if I don't know, this might resonate with you a little bit. I wonder if like part of me not remembering that has nothing to do with you. But at the time I wasn't very well, was I? I don't know if you remember.

SPEAKER_01 1:39

I didn't really know the ins and outs of that until much later. Yeah, yeah. So she always looks so happy and beautiful, and it's it just is the telltale sign, isn't it? Just because someone looks happy and well put together does not mean that they're okay inside. That's yeah. I didn't know any of that.

SPEAKER_00 1:54

Because my dad, but I say he he was adamant that the the acting was one thing that I had to keep doing because it was the one thing that kept me going throughout the whole eating disorder journey, I guess you can call it. So yeah, that I wonder if that's why I've kind of like forgotten that as well. Maybe she was a big part of my life though, but she was, and that's why I'm a bit like taken aback. But that is, I mean, I never forget her, but I'd I'd forgotten that that was how we had first met because we grew up opposite ends of the city, didn't we? Yes.

SPEAKER_01 2:25

Even though I was born in the east of the city, I kind of grew up in the west. So we went to different schools.

SPEAKER_00 2:29

Yeah, and you were always the girl that I was always compared to. And I really like if you like met not in a bad way, in like a lovely way, like, oh my god, you remind me of Amy Thompson. Have you met Amy Thompson? And then like, then obviously our paths crossed, but but just just go back a little bit. So I was saying in in the intro that you did Milkshake as a as a child TV show presenter. Is that kind of like the first thing you would say kind of like propelled you onto that stage? Or what was the the platform that you feel was the one back then that yeah, I guess it's it's all relative, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 3:08

If you I mean it's just I don't know if you get this, I'm sure you do. When people meet you and they ask what you've done, they always kind of ask, What have you what have I seen you on on the technical? They're always more interested in like screen stuff, yeah. And that's a whole other like conversation, isn't it? Because I grew up at Hull Truck Theatre working for John Godball, so I was really proud of that because the first show that I ever watched, the ever the first ever time I went into a theatre was at Hull Truck. Same at Spring Street when he was at Spring Street. I watched a production of the Snow Queen when I was around 10, and then I saw a production of Teachers when I was 12 or 13. Yes, just made me go, that is absolutely what I want to do. And I remember telling my mum that I wanted to be a performer because I did dance class, but I was a really shy kid. Yeah, and actually, I'm still a shy adult, I'm just very good at pretending. Yeah, yeah. Um extroverted, introvert, I think that's what they say. Yeah, um, but basically that was a programme on the BBC at the at the time. The Biz. I don't know if you remember Paul Nichols, who I was obsessed with and believed. Jesus Christ. I just superstar. No, not Paul Nicholas, but Nichols. Do you remember? Oh, from EastEnders. Handsome boy. Oh, yeah. I was convinced that I was gonna marry him, so I'm kind of still waiting for that to happen. But anyway, anyway, I love that show and I say to my mum, that's what I want to do. So we're gonna have to not be quite as shy, Amy, because you need to have, you know, a bit more, you know, balls, I guess. Just to kind of know. And I was such such a shy little kid. So that that was the spark for me to get into theatre and to kind of make that work. But then, yeah, the milkshake thing happened kind of by accident. I think a lot of people say they they fall into presenting, and I give you so yeah, lots of theatre, lots of touring, and I really learned my craft doing that. I owe a lot to John Godbur and all the amazing actors that I had the absolute honour of working with throughout all those years, going to all the different theatres around the UK. I know that was my drama school training. Yeah. Um, because I couldn't afford to go to drama school. No, no, no. And at the time, like no one in my family had come from that world. Careers advisors, I think, have come on a lot nowadays if you're 15, 16 and you and you say to the the careers teacher, I'm assuming this still got careers advisors. Um there's probably like a an easier route, but they just basically said to me, if you want to be an actor, then you're gonna have to move to London. And at the time I didn't really want to do that. Yeah. Um, so I got a little job at Hullstrick Theatre on the bar. Yeah. And I met John Godbear, auditioned for him, and got into a play when I was 18. And that was uh Thick as a Brick, it was called. I saw Thick as a Brick. It was amazing. It was a musical about three naughty schoolgirls who loved drama and loved their drama teacher. Yeah, my goodness. Because it was it Claire or no Claire Eden. She did Teachers with me. Yeah, that was it. Thick as a Brick was like a few years before that. Yeah, yeah. Um, and it was great for me to play a naughty schoolgirl because I was like really good at school, really quiet. So it was really lovely to kind of just become someone else for the very first time professionally. Yeah. So yeah, I owe so much to John. I love animal truck, and the theatre thing was just my world for a long time.

SPEAKER_00 6:09

I remember seeing you in teachers playing games.

SPEAKER_01 6:12

Yes, my favourite player ever.

SPEAKER_00 6:14

I watched you in teachers and I was like, I want to be here, like I want that. And I was still coming out of like I was starting to to go through my recovery journey, but I was still not not completely there. But it Lee Green asked me to come and watch it in Teachers, and then off the back of that, he cast me in the theatre and education tour of teachers. So you were doing it in the main stage, yes, and I was going out um to all the schools. Yeah, but I mean, how see I there's so many things. 2008, I think.

SPEAKER_01 6:45

Oh my goodness, but yeah, like to kind of you know get back to getting into telly. I I believe that when I went for that audition that day at Pineapple Dance Studios, which you know, again, if you've grown up wanting to be a performer, everyone will know it. Pineapple Dance Studios was like the place where the Spice Girls put together five, you know, it was a huge deal to kind of be auditioning there. Um, and you know, you go through all the rounds, the dancing rounds, singing round, and eventually I was invited to do a screen test at MTV. Now, again, MTV, like growing up, MTV Select for me in the 90s was like wow.

SPEAKER_00 7:20

Um that's the holy grail, isn't it? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:22

So it was like this really surreal fever dream of being in the places that you always dream of being as a kid, but it was actually happening, and I was having this audition, but I got the milkshake job, I think, because of all the years of like children's theatre and just theatre generally that I'd done that whole truck. Yeah, and I think when you look back, everything it's like a stepping stone, isn't it, to something else. I might not have got that job if I'd not let that person or if I'd not got that credit on my CV.

SPEAKER_00 7:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:50

Because essentially they wanted somebody who was confident on stage, who could sing and dance, engage with children, um, and not trained as a presenter. They wanted someone to just really is that one of the things that they yeah, it's very much like that still at uh at Milkshake, it's very much like they just encourage you to be yourself. Because again, like when you're used to not doing bits and pieces though. Uh no, I left Milkshake coming up to two years ago now, it's gone really fast. But it was the first job for me where I'd kind of had to be myself, yeah. Because as an actor, you hide behind another character, and that's the fun of it, isn't it? You have to be yourself. Um so that was really nice for them to actively encourage well, um, you know, to actively encourage you to have your whole accent and don't lose it. Whereas a few years previous, absolutely you have to like neutralise your accent. Um, I don't think that's the case at the moment. I feel like it's very much a cool thing to be northern and oh absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 8:48

I mean, now we've I've always been mate, Ron Ari Mayo.

SPEAKER_01 8:52

Bless him, what what an amazing achievement. And he is flying that whole flag really proudly, and we're very proud of him. Yeah, yeah. But yeah, it just goes to show that you know, actually, just being yourself is so powerful.

SPEAKER_00 9:04

So because like I love that, I love that. Like it's it's such a strong statement to make, and I think it's one that we only get to as we get.

SPEAKER_01 9:11

Yeah, I think so. Like this. You wish you could tell your 15-year-old self that, but I don't think at 15 I would have it would have resonated in the same way.

SPEAKER_00 9:20

Because you might not think realise it, but you have been pivotal in my move back to home. So I'm told, Gemma. Backstory, backstory is Amy and I were both asked at the same time to come and do some cover at BBC Radio Humberside summer Saturdays because there was a shift in the schedule and there was an up an opportunity. Rob Dowell, we love you, you're amazing. Yay! Um, and he brought us in, and it wasn't just come in and present, it was like, we will teach you how to be radio presenters, so we play we can drive the desk and stuff. Anyway, so we've been doing that for a couple of years now, like both of us, you you are like second in command for Kofi, more than not, yeah. And I'm like the the go-to for like Carla Green, and um, so our paths cross all the time at Humberside, and I was still in London, and I just remember you say every single time I came into the studio, it was like, when are you coming home?

SPEAKER_01 10:12

Because you were always like flying here, there, and everywhere, and you were always up north doing stuff in Manchester, and why are you paying a small fortune every month to live? Don't get me wrong, London's great, yeah, but I always love coming home.

SPEAKER_00 10:26

Yeah, yeah, going down there for a bit and coming home. And I thought if Amy if Amy's saying this and Amy can do this, then what am I what am I on about? And then one day it just yeah, it just switched and I came out.

SPEAKER_01 10:35

So you feel happier for doing it.

SPEAKER_00 10:37

I I I can't believe it's taken me this long. But then, like you say, the things happen for a reason, yeah. When they're meant to as well.

SPEAKER_01 10:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:46

And you've got to be at that space in your life where that's the right thing for you to do.

SPEAKER_01 10:53

You have to feel it yourself. Like everyone can advise you, but you have to feel that it's right. But it you know, I think I just mentioned it earlier that you are told you've got to be in London, like don't miss out. Because if you're not there, then you'll miss out. And I really believe that that's not the case too much, you know, especially with self-tapes for auditions now, rightly or wrongly. You don't have to be in London all the time.

SPEAKER_00 11:13

No, no. But I mean, the self-tape thing for me is is very separate. I get really riled about it because I just feel like where is where is where is that moment gone where you were actually able to sit in a room with a casting director? How how does that person know if you can take direction if you're not a horrible person? Yeah, it's hard. Like, how do they know that? I'll never forget doing a screen test. No, not a screen test, I just self-take and sent it off. And the brief was that it was a small part, so please tell Gemma to like go for it and add lib and improvise. So I did, and then the feedback was we really enjoyed Gemma's performance, but it was just too big.

SPEAKER_01 11:55

Um, but we'll keep her in mind for and I was like, should I make me do it again? See, the good thing about it though for me is you're saving money on travel because it can be fast. And you can do it again and again until you're happy. Like I feel like the pressure's off a little bit. Because that being said, yeah, and then overthink it, I will get really obsessed and never be happy. Yeah. And the first take is usually the right one. Yeah. Oh, that's a good bit of advice. But who am I to give advice? But I just think that you have to trust your instinct when you're doing something. And if you've learned it and you've studied the character, then you've just got to go. Because I think as well, you can overthink a lot of things in life generally, not just in acting, but I think you can always second guess what somebody else wants you to do, or you know, how would they want me to be as this character? But actually, you just have to trust your own gut and if it's right, it's right. And if it's not, it's not. And you know, rejection is super hard, but it's part of our well, how do you deal with it? Like, I don't know if I well, of course I'd deal with it because I wouldn't still be doing it all of these years on. But if I knew, Gemilla, I would bottle it and I think be a millionaire how to deal with rejection. I think you just have somebody once said to me, It's never your fault.

SPEAKER_00 13:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:03

And I think that's true. Like when you don't get a job, it's very rarely because you weren't good enough to do that job. It's because you weren't tall enough or you didn't look like the person who was already cast to be your dad or mum or sister. Um, you're not, you know, all these things that you can't I can con can't control my eye colour or my height. Sometimes I wish I could be a bit taller, but you know, that it is what I foot for in a peanut babe. I'm five foot one and a bit, so oh that's quite you know, it's quite didn't you really? You've got five foot two on the CV though. Yeah. Always um but yeah, I think if you do tell yourself it's not my fault, I've done my best, then that's how I deal with it. Yeah. But sometimes it gets you down because it's frustrating, isn't it? You're never really in control of no.

SPEAKER_00 13:45

Do you know what I find more I f the hardest thing that I find actually is I've always seen getting an audition or a self-tape as a win because you and I know how rare it is to even be asked to self-tape or to audition. Like to for me, that's a win in itself. Yeah. And so, like, if it if I don't get it, I I always see it as a positive that somebody else has seen me. Yeah, so you never know that they'll remember you. Yeah, but the one thing that I struggle with is the amount of times you get people and you get trolls online going, oh, so have you given up acting? Like you I haven't seen you do anything for ages, so you're not bothered anymore. I don't look at that. I think I think people see it to my face, don't you?

SPEAKER_01 14:25

Oh, well, that's just rude. But I think that's part of dealing with the whole being a performer. Like you just you don't you can't read it. You can't read it because again, I'm not an expert in any of this, but somebody else's opinion is none of my business. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That always resonated with me. Like I always wanted to be liked as a kid, you know. I struggled at school sometimes because I was I loved school, I loved learning, I'm really curious, and that's really helped us now in our presenting work. Like, we're really curious, we love talking to people, but because of that, some girls, you know, were jealous and you realise now you're older, it was just jealousy. But at the time it's awful, you think, please just like me like I'm a good person, you know. You're not ever gonna be everybody's cup of tea. But you know, I think once you kind of go, okay, I just have to be myself, and if you don't like me, that's fine, I don't mind.

SPEAKER_00 15:16

Yeah, I'm at a point now where I'm just like what's that saying? Um, those that matter don't mind, and those that mind don't matter. Yeah. And you just you just kind of gotta go, do you know what? I I'm I'm done with all of that. I want to surround myself with radiators and not drains, like, and that's okay. Absolutely, and that only comes with age, I think. I d I think so, but it's it's just annoying because you just I I just wish I knew then what I know now.

SPEAKER_01 15:42

Yeah, but then you wouldn't necessarily have gone down that path. And you know, um that that song that came out in the late 90s is doing the rounds again, um, everybody's free to wear sunscreen. Oh, is it? And they're basically saying that our millennial generation, yeah, and now hearing that song and just sobbing because it's really hitting home in a way that it would never hit when you're like 16. Yeah. Because it's not going to, is it? You haven't got that life experience. So you can say to yourself, Oh, I wish I knew I really wish I'd listened to those lyrics. I really wish I'd followed that advice, but you're not gonna do that at 16 because you've got not really a care in the world. Yeah. Um, so yeah, I just think you have to just block it out and do your own thing, really. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:25

I mean, just going back to the milkshake um and the the children's presenting. So you and I and and we can cut this from the podcast or you can tell me to shut up, but you and I have spoken quite a lot about how old we are and the fact that we've not got children. Yeah. But we have, we've got dogs. We've got dogs, absolutely. We're those people. Yes, we might use those dogs.

SPEAKER_01 16:51

Turn my nose apart. Oh, it's a dog, not a child. But it is no, it is a child.

SPEAKER_00 16:54

It's a child. What's your child called?

SPEAKER_01 16:56

My child is Ralph. And Ralph is Yorkshire Terrier. He's going to be four on Tuesday. Oh, yeah. What have you got planned? We're going. This is so embarrassing. Actually, it's not embarrassing. No, we're going to Scarborough for a couple of days because he loves the beach.

SPEAKER_00 17:12

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_01 17:13

So it's my happy place. It's now his happy place.

SPEAKER_00 17:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:16

No, I love far. I go far.

SPEAKER_00 17:18

But how has it been for you in terms of being a child, a children's presenter? And and and this might sound like a really weird question, but a children's presenter without children, and I know that you can be a big child person. Oh yeah. It's just like that, it's quite close, isn't it? Do you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 17:38

I have I'm really open about this. I've never really wanted to have children of my own. I am a proud auntie, I've got nieces and nephews, and I adore them, and I feel like that is tick for me because I got all the fun parts of them. And then when they start being a bit mossy, just give them back. Yeah. It's not, it's not for me to discipline, it's for me to be like the cool auntie Amy. Yeah. Um, but yeah, it's it is an interesting question because I think people just ask as a woman, people say, Oh, have you got children? Yeah. When are you gonna have children? And you know, I wish people would stop asking that question because some people can't, some people have, you know, a lot of sadness around that. But I can be really open and say I've never really seen it in my plan. Yeah. Uh hopefully I won't regret that when I'm older, but I mean I'm nearly 45, so it's you know, it's a bit late if I do suddenly decide that I want to.

SPEAKER_00 18:31

But I've never really wanted to, so but I think that's so like that's so empowering um to be able to have the conviction to just say that and it not be a thing. Like, there's so many times where I've said, Oh, I've not got children and I don't know if I ever will. And they go, Oh, I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_01 18:48

Yeah, and I get really angry at that though, Gemma, because I've had some really, really like close friends have quite heated conversations because they go, Oh, but Amy, be such a good mum. And like, I'm sure I would be, but I don't want to be, and that's okay. Yeah. Um, but I also think in our line of work, it's incredibly hard to take that time away and make that choice to go off. And it's no mean feat, is it? Like having a baby grow inside of you for all those months, then giving birth, like my sisters and anyone else that's done it, absolute warriors. They had really difficult um pregnancies and births, and your body changes, your your brain resets itself. Like this is a real thing. Yeah. Um, and that's always scared me. Yes. Because like with mental health, you know, I'm very open about it. I sometimes really struggle with my mental health. I'm sure my job is a big part of that. Talking about getting rejected, like on the surface, you're okay, you do with it. But deep down, you know, eventually you're like, ah, why why do they not want me? Is it is it because of how I look? And then you go down all you know that awful rabbit hole. So, you know, there's all these things that you just have to be strong about. Um and it and it's not always easy, but I just think you just have to be you just have to trust your gut. I keep going back to that, but you just have to trust that what you think is right is right for you.

SPEAKER_00 20:08

I mean, like I I I sort of I've said it to you before, like God, it if it if it had ever happened, like wow, like my mum and family have always said I've been amazing with kids and I was a mum before I was a mum and all of that. And but like like you say there so bravely, I I actually don't know if I would have I actually don't know if I would have cooked with pregnancy, especially with all of the the issues that I've had with with my body and and the changes. Like I actually and do you know what else I get petrified about? If I had a child bringing them up in this world, well there's all there's that to yeah you know consider as well. But mental health really I don't know, like I I I've got some friends and and and and definitely some family members who are so like I can't say mental health free because we've all got mental health, but everything's just like yeah, that's fine. Yeah, like there's no agonizing, there's no anxiety, and I just go, Oh, that I know I wish I was like that. But it would have been well there if you like if I had a child, I would like I and and anything, yeah, there's that there's that guilt, and I know that because my dad used to persecute himself and I and I I hated it and I could never get it out of his head. And he would always say, I feel like the eating disorder is my fault, and I'm like, why? And he goes, Because I'm sensitive, because I'm this, I believe that it's genetics, and that used to just like break break my heart. But I mean, yeah, I it's just for me, it's really nice to have a friend who and I've got more than one friend who feels the same that it's okay to be single, yeah, not have children, and not have it all like tick, tick, tick as what society thinks that we should, and still be able to be happy.

SPEAKER_01 21:57

Absolutely, because if you're not happy, then how can make anybody else happy and um yeah I just I've always been envious of people that can just you know roll roll with it and you know not let things uh bother them yeah um in that sense but yeah you you kind of just said how I feel like I have uh been worried about how it would change my happiness yeah um so some sometimes you have to be really selfish and go I don't actually think this is a good thing for me so that's not gonna be a good thing for them. Yeah. Um and it should be more normalized.

SPEAKER_00 22:30

I really you know we're a different generation to our parents I you know we don't have to you know don't get me wrong love men not not hating the men but to be an independent woman earning her own money and um you know times are different when my mum and dad were growing up like we don't you don't have to and that you know in any line of work not just as actors like that should be more normalized now for women to just make that choice and I just got tired in the end like I I just got I just got tired like the amount of times that I was bailing out like my partner or like paying for their mishaps and misdemeanours I'm not saying all men are like that but like I seemed to gravitate towards the ones who were probably because you're a fixer I'm a people pleaser. Yeah yeah so I that was ingrained in me and I would go there whereas when I started to like really be accountable that was when I went do you know what maybe I just shouldn't go there for a little bit and so I just took myself yeah off the yeah whatever it is these days. Gosh terrifying are you dated wedding?

SPEAKER_01 23:40

I am yes yes how long have you been we've been together for six years which has gone really quickly and did you meet organically or this is the reason I'm asking or was it I online we actually met online I had been in a very long term relationship and um you know that was all lovely for the time and then was on my own for a bit and I thought okay because it's really hard to meet people I think unless you meet them at work and I'd also made the choice that I didn't want to date another actor yes why I don't want to meet somebody at work because that's the sort of people unless you be you know people behind the scenes. Yeah. So I thought oh let's just be brave join it what's the worst that can happen so I joined I don't know if I can say the name but Bumble because that was um signs up to Bumble. Well that was the one where the where the girl has like you know you instigate it you're you it you know it felt a bit more I could be totally wrong about this it just felt a bit more safer than like Tinder or it felt a bit more like less CD because if you want to meet somebody you don't just you know well they did become like a bit of a stigma around yeah rightly or wrongly I I completely get that I was on it for a week and then I went on a date and yeah here we are. So I haven't really got any real um yeah so maybe really lucky but I you know I said if if that all goes wrong tomorrow then I've done I just the idea of going back into that is terrifying. Yeah but also I think it's okay to be on your own like I honestly I've got so many we have a mutual friend Sean yes my sister like they've been on their own for a long time and they are so happy yeah um so I just think again I'm a bit of a Disney girl yeah I've been uh told that I've got fairy tale syndrome which is good and bad so you always want to see like the you know the Disney ending yeah and I do believe in love but I think you know if it doesn't work out it doesn't work out and you have to then just be comfortable which I've never been great at I will hold my hands up I've never been great at like yeah being on my own and well I should be because all of my happiest friends are yeah well do you know what the big turnaround for me was lockdown.

SPEAKER_00 25:49

I was I was seeing somebody uh as soon as Boris announced the lockdown I was out it was like the best excuse yeah forced to be on your own but it was also scary because a bit like you I'd never really been on my own.

SPEAKER_01 26:02

I wasn't comfortable in my own skin when I was living in London I was out all the time not like getting hammered or anything but I could never just sit yeah and because it's scary because then you're in your own head yes is part of the problem but I think it's brave to be in your own head yeah and realise like these are the things that bother me these are the things that might trigger me to kind of go a bit over the line with my mental health yeah so it is very important that you sit in that uncomfortable space sometimes um and go okay this is me but my mum does have a go at me sometimes because like say if like somebody does ask me out on a date yes believe it or not it does happen.

SPEAKER_00 26:35

Of course it does me but then like I say if they're gonna ask me to meet them at seven o'clock I'm not it's not happening and they need to I need to get out by about half past five otherwise the date's not happening because I'm tired and I want to be home by nine I know that's when you know you're getting old when you get into fed at like half past eight with your dog snug old and you go I am winning at life I'm like we're so old I I love it though I'm in my happiest era give me if you will a little a little well being hack we like to sort of wrap things up with a little well being hack. But when those days when when you do struggle yeah um and I love you so much but I love you even more for the fact that you're just so open and honest about it and open and honest with me um you know and I know we've gone through a few things recently and and we've been there you know on the phone and how how do you navigate your way through a day when it when it's just becoming a little bit too much is there any sort of hack seems a little bit trivial is there any sort of comfort blanket that you have that just helps ease the pain of outside really yeah obviously having a dog forces you to get up and get out anyway so um getting a dog really helped my sister with her mental health and they're incredible.

SPEAKER_01 27:57

Having having that little pop that needs you that loves you unconditionally that helps but getting outside for me if I'm ever feeling really dull having a bit of a wobble even when the weather's a bit bleak like it is at the moment although the sun's trying to come out it's coming out fresh. Fresh air just fresh air breathing it in just being in nature nature especially the beach for me like Scarborough any anywhere on the coast um is my happy place switching that phone off having a break from not just social media but just the screen yeah um I I keep saying this and this again I'm old but in the 90s we grew up with with no phones no social media and we were outside all the time lacking out with your mates yeah meeting off at Topshop at three o'clock at Fletcher's fountain and you wouldn't bail you couldn't bail because you couldn't text them and say I'm not feeling very well you were there going to get your CDs at Woolys oh my god the the best of days and you picked me um but yeah for me switching off the phone and getting outside and just breathing in that fresh air um and it's so powerful. I know it is maybe a bit of a cliche but it is so powerful for me because if I get out and have a walk I love to I will walk all day every day if I could because it just gets you out your own head because you should never think that your problems are not important because they are massively important to you but it does kind of make you realise there's a massive world out there. There's loads of people who are going through the same thing as you and you will be alright. Yeah yeah no matter how hard it gets and life is especially at the moment let's not shy away from it life is really tough yeah for everybody at the moment it's a really unsettling time and just kind of getting out and switching off the telly switching off all forms of noise yes cutting out the noise and get yeah fresh air for me nature and and being with my dog is really powerful and really helpful for me. So yeah just get outside and have a walk and a cup of tea and an atta with a friend whether it's on the phone or face to face which is the best but just just having that cup of tea and that comfort with somebody picking I I'm a talker like I will talk out my problems with all my friends. Yeah that's how I'm so healthy how I do it. Not everyone does that you know my sister's very the opposite of me she keeps it on and that's what works for her but for me just talking and um yeah share sharing your words.

SPEAKER_00 30:22

Yeah yeah just helps me so yeah the sun's coming out sun's coming out one one one last um thing that we've been asking our guests this series is a little travel hack that you have like whether it's preparing to go on a train journey or it could even be like going on a plane like have you got like one thing that is a go-to for you that when you're traveling yeah yeah my music so I have to charge up my headphones my ear pods and my playlist I'll give myself like a little holiday playlist or whatever I'm doing like you know music is everything for me like I grew up with the radio so it's so nice it would never on the radio because I'm I just adore music whether you want to cry whether you want to dance and just look at it all that's another hack actually dance.

SPEAKER_01 31:07

Yes dance just makes you feel incredible you know I'll hit that 90s playlist and I'll just dance. So yeah whenever I'm traveling it has to be music and love that because it's yeah it's just a massive part of my life so yeah I always agent how often do you see us in the studios brother again if if it's a 90s track so born the 90s I just I love it so much just makes me happy so anytime it's a 90s song I am there bopping away love yeah just you've got you've got to do things like that just whatever makes you happy yeah that was music for me makes me you know feel all the feels few you know there's certain songs you know if I need a good release yeah yeah put on my heart will go on no that's embarrassing that is embarrassing but it's the truth when I had that on my playlist at Humberside this is not even a joke Fiona Mills was howling at me when I told her uh my heart would go on was on the rewind.

SPEAKER_00 31:59

Yeah I started to cry and then I was like I'm so sorry it's meant it came out of nowhere but just Leah Kate Titanic oh it's so yeah music always music Amy Thompson thank you for being an amazing amazing guest thanks to having I love you dearly and um just keep being you thanks no thank you