Introduction

Welcome, you are listening to Links at Bain and Gray. A catalogue of podcasts centred on all things business support in the workplace. Our aim is to bring you interesting and relevant content that will keep you up to date and thriving in your role.

Emily: Good afternoon, Jess.

Jess: Hello!

Emily: It’s lovely to have you on board with Links. Thank you for joining our podcast series.

Jess: It’s a pleasure. Great to catch up.

Emily: It’s hard to believe, but I think it’s nearly 10 years since we first met.

Jess: Yes, it doesn’t feel like 10 years, but it is.

Emily: Somehow it feels both longer and shorter, doesn't it?

Jess: Yes, a lot has happened in 10 years.

Emily: You’ve achieved so much in such a short time! I’m excited to talk about Run Talk Run. I think it’s going to be really captivating for our audience. But before we dive into that, I want to know what you were doing before Run Talk Run. What was life like before?

BUILDING RUN TALK RUN

Jess: Before Run Talk Run, my career had nothing to do with mental health. I went to secretarial college and started my career in office management. I worked at Bain and Gray in a front-of-house, admin role, then moved on to work for an acoustic consultancy. My career took a complete 180 when I got involved in mental health through Run Talk Run.

Emily: So, what led you to start Run Talk Run? What was happening in your life at that time?

Jess: It’s hard to pinpoint when my mental health struggles started. I was a shy child, and as I got older, that shyness turned into social anxiety. I became very fearful and paranoid about talking to people. I coped with this through an eating disorder, as I wasn’t expressing my feelings. This led to a cycle of anxiety, bulimia, and depression. In 2017, after experiencing another long period of depression and trauma, I realised I needed a space to talk about my mental health. I found it difficult to open up in therapy because my social anxiety made it hard to be vulnerable.

Emily: So, therapy was hard for you, even though you had tried that route?

Jess: Yes, I found it difficult. When I was in a bad place, my anxiety would flare up, and talking to someone face-to-face just felt too overwhelming.

Emily: That probably made things worse, right?

Jess: Yes, it did. I ended up paying for therapy sessions where I didn’t open up at all, so it wasn’t helpful.

Emily: I know you were into running at that time. Was it running that helped you see a different way to approach mental health?

Jess: Yes, I’d used running as a way to manage my mental health before, but in 2017, when I was depressed, I started going home more often to see my mum. She’d take me out for runs, and it was through running with her that I realised it could be an alternative to therapy—a much easier space to talk about life’s challenges. I found it easier to be open while running.

Starting Run Talk Run

Emily: How did you take those runs with your mum and turn that into Run Talk Run?

Jess: It was a nudge from my mum, Wendy. She encouraged me to find friends in London to run with. I looked at running groups, but they were all high-energy, positive spaces that felt intimidating, especially for someone with depression. I couldn’t find the space I needed, so I decided to create it myself.

Emily: That’s incredibly brave. What was your first run like?

Jess: The first run was just one girl, and she never came back. She didn’t want anyone to know she was going to a mental health-specific running group. It frustrated me because it highlighted the stigma people still face, but it also showed me how much this space was needed.

Emily: It was a slow start then?

Jess: Yes, it was. But it was also a realisation of how much Run Talk Run was needed.

The Concept of Run Talk Run

Emily: For our listeners, can you explain what Run Talk Run is?

Jess: Of course. The first run I facilitated is the same as it is now—a gentle 5km jog that happens weekly. The aim is to create a space to talk about your mental health, whether it's about a bad day at work or something more serious like a mental health diagnosis. The runs are led by volunteers with lived experience, and it’s a safe space for people to be honest.

Emily: That's amazing. And now you have 170 groups worldwide, right?

Jess: Yes, it has grown massively since that first year.

Emily: That’s incredible! It shows there was a real need for this. What milestone stands out the most to you?

Jess: One of the biggest moments came just over a year in when a woman from Peterborough reached out. She had lost her dad to suicide and wanted to set up a similar group there. I suggested she call it Run Talk Run, and suddenly, other people started reaching out to start groups too. Social media played a huge part in spreading the idea.

Growth and Global Expansion

Emily: Did you eventually expand internationally?

Jess: Yes, we started a group in North California two years in. It was really special to visit them a year later.

Emily: That’s amazing. So, how many people are involved now?

Jess: We have thousands of runners weekly and over 300 volunteers. The number of volunteers is what blows my mind—the fact that so many people give their time consistently to listen and support others.

Emily: It’s a cycle, right? The volunteers get just as much out of it as the participants.

Jess: Exactly. It’s been a journey of learning more about myself, connecting with others, and seeing the positive impact it’s had on my own mental health.

Support and Personal Growth

Emily: You should be so proud of what you've built. How do you get support outside of Run Talk Run?

Jess: I access support in many ways—antidepressants, therapy, journaling, and a strong support network of friends and my partner. That’s made all the difference.

Emily: It must feel incredible to know you’ve created something so impactful.

Jess: Yes, it’s amazing. Just recently, Run Talk Run became part of Sport in Mind, a mental health charity. I sold the trademarks, and now I can be involved from a distance, which feels like a good step.

Final Thoughts

Emily: Your story is so inspiring. You’ve built something so important. I’m proud of you, and I know many listeners will want to get involved. We’ll make sure your details are on our website. Thank you so much for sharing your journey, Jess.

Jess: Thank you so much for having me.

Emily: It’s my pleasure!