The Spider Speaks His Mind: A New Podcast from Spider Project

With one episode already out, Gary Owen is looking for potential guests

Spider Project, a Wirral-based creative arts and wellbeing recovery project, has launched a brand-new podcast called The Spider Speaks His Mind. The series will feature open conversations with people from all walks of life, exploring issues around mental health, alcohol and substance recovery.

The idea began after Gary Owen was inspired by the work he and Spider Project were doing during Alcohol Awareness Week, where he recorded a series of interviews. Gary wanted to continue having open conversations with people about the issues they support with and create something that wasn’t sensationalised, but authentic.

He deliberately avoided listening to other podcasts beforehand, echoing local music promoter and DJ Roger Eagle’s advice to young musicians: 'Don’t listen to The Beatles, you’ll be influenced', looking to tear the script up and make his own path in the space. Instead, he focused on creating something straightforward and real involving honest chats with people who have a connection, whether lived experience or otherwise, to everything Spider Project looks to tackle.

Gary has written, co-produced and engineered the episodes with Spider volunteer Paul Franklin along with support from others at the organisation, with the aim of reaching local audiences across the Wirral, though listeners have already tuned in from as far afield as the United States!

Stories that Matter

The podcast aims brings in a range of voices, each with a perspective on the impact of drugs, alcohol, and mental health. The conversations don’t just raise awareness, they help to dispel myths and break down stigma.

Gary has been struck by how powerful these conversations can be. He explained that for some guests, being given two hours simply to talk about themselves and their journey is something they’ve never experienced before and find therapeutic.

More Than Just a Chat

Although many think podcasting is simply “having a chat”, Gary has quickly learned that working with sensitive topics brings extra responsibilities. Safeguarding, communication and consent are central to his approach. He ensures that every guest understands what will be shared, checks in with them after recording and sends the final edit for approval before publishing.

The first episode is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other platforms. The next episode will be released on Wednesday 10th September, with new episodes planned to be released on a bi-weekly basis.

Listen Now

Get Involved

Gary is keen to hear from people who would like to share their experiences of mental health and recovery from across the VCFSE to feature on the podcast. Anyone interested can get in touch with Gary directly at gary.owen@spiderproject.org.uk