Welcome to the first episode of my podcast, ‘Me, Myself, and Isla – Lifting the Lid on Loneliness’. I volunteer at a charity called Mental Health Aberdeen where Astrid Whyte is the Counselling Services Manager, and Laura Simmons is the Manager of a project called One to One Counselling Services Deeside. I can’t think of another two people that I would rather kick things off with. I’ve got to know both of them across the past few years, and value the wisdom, kindness, and compassion they have for people. They are also skilled counsellors, who regularly support people who are experiencing loneliness for the many reasons that we do. I didn’t want to begin my journey into podcasting, covering such an emotive topic, without involving professionals who could guide me when required, and perhaps offer advice and support if we find ourselves in a situation where it’s needed. I was over the moon when they agreed to join me for a chat about loneliness in general, share our own experiences of it, chat about the various causes of loneliness, and the importance of having the courage to speak up if you’ve been feeling lonely because you are not alone. Full disclosure – I’ve never done this before. Podcasting is not my area of expertise, and neither is interviewing. Some these podcasts are recorded in Zoom with questionable audio, whilst some are in the studio with my Dad who is a media professional so there’s occasional differences in quality. All I’m really hoping is that my guests, who were kind enough to join me to share their knowledge and experiences, have a voice and can be heard, and that they go on to help others feel less alone by opening up. So, with that covered, brace yourselves, buckle up, let’s do this…