BBC Radio 5’s hit mental health podcast How Do You Cope? is to return for its fourth season on Tuesday this week, hosted by award-winning comedians Elis James and John Robins.
The returning weekly series will see the comedians open up about their own mental health struggles, including James’ stresses with moving house and Robins’ relationship with alcohol. Other themes discussed in the series include body image, sexuality, transitioning, and more.
James and Robins will also be in conversation with a number of celebrity guests including television and radio presenter Gabby Logan, rowing champion and Olympic gold medalist James Cracknell, writer and activist Katie Piper, snooker champion Shaun Murphy, former broadcaster Iain Lee, author Moisin Zaidi, and fellow comedian Jordan Gray.
“Yet again it has been an absolute privilege to conduct some of the most illuminating conversations I have ever had for this new series,” said James. “I can't wait for our listeners to hear people in the public eye speak so candidly about some of the challenges they have had to face in private.”
“I’m so looking forward to sharing another selection of incredible conversations with remarkable people,” said Robins. “What makes this podcast such a source of hope is that these discussions aren’t about superhuman responses to impossible problems, they are conversations about the kind of situations we all might find ourselves or our loved ones dealing with, lived experiences we can all draw inspiration and strength from.”
The How Do You Cope? podcast launched in May 2019 and later won the Broadcasting Press Guild award for best podcast in 2021. It is a sister podcast to Elis James and John Robins’ weekly radio show on BBC Radio 5 Live, which releases highlights from the show as a weekly podcast.
As part of tomorrow’s episode of the PodPod podcast, James was interviewed about the relationship between comedy and podcasting, and praised the versatility of the medium. James also co-hosts The Socially Distant Sports Bar; an award-winning comedy podcast with Mike Bubbins and Steff Garrero.
“I think that podcasting is a tremendously fluid art form that can lend itself to everyone,” James told PodPod. “...I'm drawn mainly to comic podcasts because I like having a laugh and I don't think there's anything wrong with that.”
