Mental Health Podcast Spotlights Startup Life Realities

by Startacus Admin

In startup world, the positive, “We're killing it!” culture and bravado can often cover up a more complex work/life/heath reality.

Step forward Sanctus, a startup company who are aiming to change the perception of mental health in the workplace, and podcast partners Spotify - think global music and podcast giant, to launch a new podcast on mental health in startup world.

We've featured Sanctus a couple of times before on Startacus - most noticably in our article on depression, mental Health, entrepreneurship & startups, and then when we covered the news on their recent 'Mental Health Pledge' for employers initiative.

Now, and in partnership with Spotify (you might have heard of them before), Sanctus are focusing explicitly on mental health in the startup world with a brand new Spotify podcast, called “Killing it”.

Aiming to shed light on the startup stories you perhaps never hear, the 6 part podcast series "Killing it" (already two parts in) hears from some of the leading lights in the UK startup scene; Alex Depledge (resi.co.uk & hassle.com), Michael Acton Smith (Moshi Monsters & Calm) and Tom Foster-Carter (Monzo), to name three.

Hosted by tech journalist Aleks Krotoski, with James Routledge, Co-founder of Sanctus acting as the the voice into the startup world and Petra Velzeboer, the therapist who then delves into people’s stories, the aim here is that the podcast features leading people from the frontline of that startup world, who are open to talking about their own mental health issues.

Why "Killing it?"

James Routledge, co-founder of Sanctus explained all in this recent blog post:

“We’re killing it” has become a famous line in the startup world, because of course everyone is killing it, because everyone in the startup world is pitching- pitching for investment, for sales and for status". 

Going on to say:

"Yet, there’s a darker side too. In the desperate attempt to “kill it”, people are killing themselves in the process. Burnout, depression, anxiety, stress and suicide are very real issues in the startup world and beyond...Still, conversations around this are hushed and behind closed doors, they’re not out in the open."

Kudos to Spotify, Sanctus and all the participants for bringing this key startup topic to a potentially huge global audience, - Startacus will be making sure to listen in and share. 

If this mental health & startup focused feature inspires, you might also want to read up about: 

• Moment Health - making maternal mental health mainstream

• Unmind - a B2B mental health platform to help both employees and organisations to become healthier and happier

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• #sanctus
• #mental health
• #spotify
• #mindset
• #killing it
• #mental health and startups

Published on: 20th March 2018