It’s Mental Health Awareness day this week, so who better to join Anna in the studio than mental health advocate and the host of the Hurt to Healing Podcast, Pandora Morris. Pandora’s story is one of survival and resilience. And, in today’s episode, she shares her journey in response to a listener’s dilemma — as a reminder that everyone’s mental health journey is different. With the guidance of psychotherapist, Shabnam Yasmin, Anna and Pandora respond to a dilemma from a listener who found...

This week, Anna is responding to a dilemma from a woman in her late 40s who has questions around her sexuality. This listener was in a relationship with a man for 30 years, but after the breakdown of this marriage, she had a whirlwind romance with a woman. Now, she’s navigating teenage kids, questions around her sexuality, and to top it all off… the menopause. Yikes!  To help Anna get to the bottom of this dilemma, she’s joined by the brilliant Milena Sanchez. Milena is one-third of The...

Anna’s getting the low-down on non-monogamy this week, and, who better to guide us through this rich and fascinating topic than sex-positivity advocate, and practicer of non-monogamy themselves, Ruby Rare.  Ruby offers some guidance to a listener who has just opened up their previously monogamous relationship and is asking for some advice around how to approach conversations about their new sexual-liaisons with their long-term partner. With the assistance of Chris Sheridan (The Queer...

Anna Richardson is back with a brand new season of It Can’t Just Be Me, and she's primed and ready to answer your burning questions! To kick-start the season, Anna is joined by superstar anonymous Agony-Aunt, LalalaLetMeExplain.  Anna and Lala trawl through some of the juiciest dilemmas in the inbox. From belly-button kinks, parenthood, icks, and dating apps - Anna and Lala leave no stone unturned and have a good old laugh along the way.  For more from LalalaLetMeExplain, you can listen...

You loved the glorious Cici Colman when she joined me for last week's episode of It Can't Just Be Me. So, I'm sharing the first episode of her brilliant podcast, First Dates: The Podcast with you this week whilst I take a break for the summer. First Dates: The Podcast, is like a podcast version of the debrief you have with your best friend after you've gone on a first date. Co-hosted by Cici and the fabulous Frankie Bridge - I just know you're going to love it! You can find the show...

Cici Coleman is amazing at many things — she's the nation's favourite waitress, the co-host of First Dates: the Podcast, and a brilliant fitness and life coach. But, one thing Cici isn’t very good at is making decisions. And there's one decision that plagues her more than any other — whether or not to have children.  So, for this episode, I’ve beckoned her into my podcast studio to respond to a dilemma from a woman who is child-free by choice and is struggling with feeling like she has to...

It’s no secret that I love talking about sex… and judging by our inbox, it seems that you lot do too! So, I decided that the time has come to give the people what they want — advice about sex, pleasure, and everything in between! To help me get stuck into this sexy special, I’ve invited our resident psychotherapist — the fabulous Sam Pennells-Nkolo — to join me.  It’s a hot and steamy ride — from secret masturbation, orgasms, infidelity, long-distance relationships, and even some scandalous...

It's been more than ten years since Sali Hughes, The Guardian’s resident beauty columnist, went through a divorce. But she says it's still the most traumatic thing she's ever been through. In this episode Sali joins Anna and divorce coach, Maxine Clancy, in the studio to reflect on her experience and offer advice to a listener in the early stages of a separation. Together they share tips on how to approach the horrible practical tasks that come with a separation — like divvying up shared...

Ever wondered if you have ADHD? In the past it seemed like this was a label reserved only for naughty boys, but these days more adults than ever are being diagnosed with the condition. Which begs the question: do some of us have it and don't even know? In this episode Anna is joined by comedian Shaparak Khorsandi, whose life was transformed for the better when she was diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) in her forties. With the support of NHS consultant...

Feed your soul with nourishing conversations from two best friends, one therapist - and zero filter. Listen to Best Friend Therapy with Elizabeth Day and Emma Reed-Turrell on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts.

Everyone wants to look their best for their wedding, but is it healthy to lose weight just for the big day? In this episode Anna is joined by Geordie Shore icon, body positivity advocate and soon-to-be-bride Vicky Pattison. Together, the pair grapple with a dilemma from a nutritionist who’s feeling conflicted: she tells her engaged clients they shouldn't lose weight just to look 'better', but now her own big day is coming up she's tempted to shed some pounds for the sake of those photos....

Suzi Ruffell is a professional comedian, a parent, and one of few people who has managed to turn crippling anxiety into a successful comedy show. So Anna knew she was the person to call on for this week’s dilemma, which comes from a parent who's feeling anxious about the fact they're feeling anxious. With the help of our resident psychotherapist, the wonderful Sam Pennells-Nkolo, Anna and Suzi consider whether parents should be honest with their children about their anxieties, or if they...

Owen O’Kane is a best-selling author and a qualified psychotherapist. His advice is hailed by the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch, Dame Kelly Holmes, and Fearne Cotton, so Anna is keen to make the most of having him in the studio and mine him for as much advice as possible.  In order to take full advantage of Owen’s expertise, this episode runs a little differently than usual. Anna puts several listener dilemmas to Owen — ranging from bringing a partner home after coming out as gay, dating as...

Actor Evanna Lynch has come a long way since she played Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films. In this episode she looks back on her own relationships and mental health struggles to offer advice to a listener who’s concerned her partner is depressed. Anna and Evanna are joined by our resident psychotherapist Sam Pennells-Nkolo from The London Practice, as they ask: how much responsibility do we have for our partner’s happiness? And, if they won’t get help, at what point should we just walk...

When comedian Sarah Keyworth lost their good friend Paul, they were floored by the strength of their grief. In the end, the only way to process it was to talk about the friendship in their stand-up routines, and relive the joyful, and sometimes silly, moments they enjoyed together.  In this episode, Sarah reflects on their experience as they join Anna to unpack a dilemma from a listener who is grieving two important people in his life, and is struggling to move on. This episode touches on...

This week's dilemma is one of the rawest we've had so far, so we brought Kate Ferdinand (the queen of blended families!) into the studio for some expert support. Listen in as Anna and Kate help out a step-mum who admits that when her stepchildren are around, she resents not being her partner's 'number one'. Along the way Kate discusses being step-mum to footballer Rio Ferdinand’s kids, and shares some of the challenges she’s faced.  Anna and Kate are joined in the studio by the brilliant...

When Izzy Judd and her husband Harry decided to start a family, they had no idea what kind of journey lay ahead of them. They battled through miscarriage, IVF and some very dark days to get to where they are now - a happy family of five. In this week’s episode Izzy joins Anna to tackle a dilemma from a midwife who’s going through IVF. She wishes her friends and family could understand what she’s going through and stop suggesting she should ‘just adopt’ instead. Anna and Izzy are joined by...

Medical doctor and TV presenter Ranj Singh came out at the age of thirty after being married to a woman. In this episode he and Anna reflect on their own experiences of coming out, and unpack a dilemma from a gay woman who wants her male exes to know that their relationship was authentic. We want to thank Erene Hadjiioannou who joined Anna and Ranj for this recording. Erene is an Integrative Psychotherapist who specialises in LGBT+ matters. In the episode Erene recommends a resource called...

Comedian Rosie Jones joins Anna to tackle a dilemma from a woman preparing to get back on the dating scene. Along the way Rosie opens up about her own dating history, and reveals the moving moment she realised she was worthy of love as a woman living with cerebral palsy. Anna and Rosie are joined in the studio by Jennie Williams, CEO of Enhance the UK. This charity runs The Love Lounge, an initiative that gives disabled people one-to-one advice on dating and intimacy. We want to thank...

Scarlette Douglas (I'm a Celeb 2022, A Place in the Sun) helps Anna unpack a dilemma from a woman who thinks her boyfriend resents her successful career. In this episode Scarlette offers her advice and opens up about her own experience with an ex who she felt wasn’t supportive of her dreams. Anna and Scarlette are joined in the studio by psychotherapist Sam Pennells-Nkolo from The London Practice. … Have questions about sex? Divorce? Motherhood? Menopause? Mental health? With no topic...

In the first episode of this series, Anna is joined by love and relationship coach Mel Schilling to tackle dilemmas on break-ups, friends who won’t take good advice, and telling your dates you don’t want kids. You’ve probably seen Mel advising new couples on Channel 4’s Married at First Sight. But while she’s an expert, she’s had her own fair share of ups and downs in the relationship department, so she really knows what she’s talking about! … Have questions about sex? Divorce? Motherhood?...

Anna Richardson is primed and ready to solve that big dilemma in your life. And she’s invited some very special celebrity guests and experts to help. Have questions about sex? Divorce? Motherhood? Menopause? Mental health? With no topic off limits, Anna’s here to prove that whatever you’re going through, it’s not just you. If you have a dilemma you’d like unpacked, visit itcantjustbeme.co.uk and record a voice note. Or tell Anna all about it in an email to [email protected] This...