I cannot thank these guys enough for normalising the thoughts we all have, and approaching in a sensitive way.

For me, the questions asked by Elis and John are always sensitive and interesting. I admire massively how honest the guests are willing to be and Elis and John remain respectful and challenging, not just sitting back and listening. I love it when they chip in their own life experiences too, neither has had a perfect life themselves. Despite the sometimes difficult topics covered, E&J still uplift me up during the podcasts as their comedy is relevant and timely and not overused during these episodes.

I didn’t think I could love these two anymore then they started a podcast discussing mental health. Two of my favourite people discussing something I’m passionate about. Thank you for being wonderful :)

Really good addition to the Ellis and John cannon - each one is thought provoking and a brilliant way to spend the morning commute

I’ve listened to Elis’s and John’s podcasts on and off since the RX days. When they switched to R5L I became more committed because of the subjects they naturally steer more towards: mental health, emotional honesty, and a sort of anti-lad culture alternative. (I hasten to add, topics notwithstanding, E and J are just plain hilarious and great aural company full stop. Same seen live). How Do You Cope is, for me, the ultimate distillation of their skills and I am an avid and regular listener. I feel like I have learned a lot about some heavy, some more digestible, subjects concerning wellbeing and mental health through them. Like simply talking, or reaching out, if you are experiencing some form of crisis, the “answers” or the “cure” are not going to be instantaneous, but the journey itself is what is vital. Each episode here feels like another insightful, entertaining step along the way. Thank you, you amazing sons of coins. Long may it all continue.

Elis and John both in their standard show and the Cope podcast do what a lot of people on tv/radio don’t do which is to truly be themselves even if that means it’s not all positive, listening to people and actually caring about people and what happens to people. That said they can be daft funny bastards when needed too! Keep it up boys x

An excellent podcast drawing on some of the tough issues encountered in life. Excellent interviews, great listening. 👍🏻

I listen to a lot of podcasts but this is my new favourite. I work in mental health and I love your candid honest approach. Oooh and you’re both also really funny 🤣

Conversations I wish more of us were having. Funny, inspirational and heart-breaking. Thanks all.

I completely understand 5 Live wanting a different Show to that of Radio X, however for me the openness of their discussion around mental health was an integral part of the previous show. Thats why im so pleased they have produced this as it is such a major part of everyones lives today and they address it in such a way that makes open discussion all the more easy.

Thanks from the edge of darkness

S

A fantastic listen where real life tragedy and struggle is told with humility and humour in equal measure. Elis and John have taken their vibe to another level.

The way this show is done is so thoughtful and important. Bringing peoples stories to us all to take something from. Whatever you struggle with in life there is something you can take from every episode of this. The dignity John & Elis give the guests stories, seems to make them more open and the whole thing more engaging.

Just listened to the Tom Bratby episode. Really excellent to hear mental health discussed in such a relatable and accessible and entertaining way.

In case Ellis and James are having any self-doubt. This is very good stuff.

Thanks

Ellis and John have achieved something exceptionally magical here. They’re opening up the discussions surrounding mental health and all it encompasses, in the most wonderful of ways. The discussions are frank and beautiful. They’re wonderfully peppered with humour, which is a necessity I feel when discussing mental health in the way that these podcasts are doing. I admire John’s openness surrounding his own gambling addiction and mental health issues. I love the way in which the boys have approached all of their guests, this is something special. This podcast is beyond special. Well worth a listen. Demonstrates the awesomeness of these wonderful humans with their interviewing skills.

Brilliant podcast, a series of warm, open conversations helping to make mental health a topic that can be talked about - highly recommended

Great podcast thought provoking, interesting and lots of laughs even when talking about serious issues. Keep up the excellent work.

I’ve just started listening to this podcast and I can honestly say it’s one of the best things I’ve heard in a long time. As someone who suffers with anxiety the episode with Tom Bradby was one of the most relatable interviews I’ve heard and is something that will help me in dealing with my own mental health.

I know Elis James from the Guardian Football Weekly pod and kind of made assumptions about what this might be like (admittedly without knowing his co-host at all). I found it entertaining and for such serious themes, light touch. My work crosses over with mental health issues and I found this to be a welcome addition to the mental health/grief/life challenges-focussed podcasts and significantly more listenable than some of the “big hitters”. Nice job so far.

Excellent and thought provoking

Some very difficult topics discussed with humility, humour, and genuine warmth. Brilliant

Listening to this as a “junior doctor” 17 years after I started at medical school, driving home 3 hours late, this certainly struck home. Adam Kay gives an excellent account as life as a junior doctor and as ever Elis and John are brilliant hosts and consummate professionals. I like forward to the whole podcast series

I’m a PCD and retro-oner, and this is the first podcast review I’ve ever been compelled to write. This is the best thing Elis and John have ever done, and I’m really glad it exists. You can hear their hearts are in it, and the guests they’ve had have been interesting, warm and open. I just want to thank them for making it feel normal to talk about issues like depression and alcoholism. I’ve seen first-hand the negative effects of stigmatising the problems that a lot of us face in our lives. Thank you for creating this and please continue!

I keep refreshing for the next one. A brilliant rollercoaster podcast.

Another excellent podcast from Elis and John. Thank you for always providing great content and keeping it sess-ational.

Such a great pod!

Just pure qualo.

Listening to Emily’s story is an hour very well spent, she talks about the one thing that is not discussed nearly enough and with a perfect balance of humour, affection and sentiment. Very well supported by Jon and Elis. Brilliant podcast.

What a superb guest. Really lived this ep. Diolch 💕

A podcast that is good for the soul, really beautiful stuff. Not afraid to explore areas that are typically uncomfortable to discuss. Mental health aware and very insightful. Good work lads!

Thank you doing for being so honest, this will help so many. xxx

Thank you, thank you, thank you for creating this. It is beautiful and heartbreaking and funny all at the same time and is exactly what I need to bring me out of the slightly overwhelming and anxiety riddled space that I am currently in. I have never alternated between laughing and crying so much in 1 hour and 14 minutes. Just brilliant.

Moving, heartwarming and inspirational #content

Just wonderful. They are so good at this stuff and so helpful to people like me. The Emily Dene made me feel like I was being hugged and reassured.

Listened to this episode walking my dog. Ended up stood in a field in tears. Moving and wonderful. Another great podcast!

Insightful, honest, warm and, above all, funny! Can’t wait to hear the next one

I have no balance when it comes to Elis & John - they can do no wrong in my eyes (and in my ears) and the same goes for this podcast. Delightful.

Elis and John are dab hands at bringing light to dark topics on their usual show, and I’m so glad they’ve been allowed to take it one step further with this podcast. To hear two men talking so candidly about their emotions, fears and mental health, and encouraging their guests to do the same, really is quite groundbreaking. It’s a tonic for the soul and a gentle take-down of toxic masculinity. I can already tell it’s going to help me feel like I’m not alone when I’m going through a dark time, because everyone struggles to cope sometimes.

I haven’t read (or head of the book) but I work with vulnerable people and recognize the description of how it feels to find that your job causes such stress. The lack of recognition of the importance of caring for staff is such an important conversation. Elis and John do a wonderful job of drawing out the humanity and humor in this issue talking to Adam about his amazing stories. Really great podcast. Tears and laughs

I have always loved Elis and John. I am also a junior doctor. The 1st episode of this podcast told so many truths of currently life in the NHS. As healthcare professionals we often are not coping but put on a brave face even to our closest family and friends. It appears that we have ‘resilience’ but in the long term this can and most likely will cause our own mental health to suffer. Thank you to Elis, John and Adam for talking about this so openly and sensitively.

Thoroughly enjoyed the first podcast, and as a fan of Emily Dean, I can’t wait for next weeks :)

Lovely to have a slightly different podcast from the boys, fascinating chat. If you don’t go an hug an NHS employee then you don’t have a heart

El and John are pushing the envelope for us to be more open and honest about our fears, failures, anxieties and coping methods in a genuine and heartening way, which can only be a good thing. Like good friends, I wouldn’t be without them.

A new podcast in which the wonderful Elis and John discuss mental health and methods by which individuals in the public eye cope with their situation.

The first episode with Adam Kay is fantastic, as someone who has used the NHS but doesn’t know anyone working within the service it was a very interesting and enlightening podcast. I now have a book to read that would never have interested me before too!

Give it a listen!

A great first episode. Elis & John are intelligent and gently witty as always, and not too intrusive, and Adam Kay is searingly honest. Fingers crossed it stays this good.

Great podcast

A fantastic and really important series.

As an Elis and John apologist I was always going to love this but it really is something special. The guys chemistry when they’re interviewing a third party is so natural and warm, it really feels like having a great interesting chat with friends, lovely stuff.

A great first episode. Had to listen in one hit. The podcast equivalent of a real page turner. Can’t wait for the next one.

Loved the first episode with Adam Kay, keep it up!