Welcome to Headstraight!
Headstraight
Headstraight
A teen mental health podcast hosted by Mark Taylor that offers real talk and practical support for teens who want to understand what’s going on inside their head.
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Headstraight

Headstraight

A teen mental health podcast hosted by Mark Taylor that offers real talk and practical support for teens who want to understand what’s going on inside their head.

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Trying to Inspire People? This Is Why It Backfires

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Trying to Inspire People? This Is Why It Backfires
April 1, 2026

Trying to Inspire People? This Is Why It Backfires

There’s a moment most people recognise.You try to say something helpful. Something encouraging. Something that sounds good in your head.And then it lands… flat.People nod. Maybe smile. But you can feel it didn’t quite connec…

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Trying to Inspire People? This Is Why It Backfires
March 31, 2026

Trying to Inspire People? This Is Why It Backfires

Most people are quietly afraid of one thing when they try to encourage or motivate someone else. Looking cringe. You say something that sounded good in your head, and it lands flat. The room shifts. You instantly regret tryin...

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Messed up in public? Here's How to Sort It
March 25, 2026

Messed up in public? Here's How to Sort It

There’s a particular kind of moment that sticks with you.It’s not when you get something wrong quietly. Not when it slips under the radar and disappears without much impact. It’s when you mess up and other people see it. A commen…

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Screwed up in public? Here's How to Sort It
March 24, 2026

Screwed up in public? Here's How to Sort It

Messing up is uncomfortable. Messing up in front of other people can feel brutal. A comment that didn’t land. A reaction that went too far. A decision that backfired. And suddenly your brain is shouting that everyone saw it a...

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Staying Quiet Costs You. Here's Why.
March 18, 2026

Staying Quiet Costs You. Here's Why.

There’s a moment most people recognise straight away.You’re in a conversation. Something shifts. A comment lands wrong, a line gets crossed, or a boundary is nudged just enough for your body to notice before your brain catches up. Your…

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Staying Quiet Costs You. Here's Why.
March 17, 2026

Staying Quiet Costs You. Here's Why.

There’s a moment most people recognise. Something feels off. A comment crosses a line. A boundary gets nudged. You feel it in your body straight away — and at the same time, you talk yourself out of saying anything. It’s easi...

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About the Host

Mark Taylor Profile Photo
Mark Taylor

Creator, author and host.

I’m a Qualified/Certified Mental Health Nurse with over 35 years of experience supporting young people and their families. I’ve worked in secure hospitals, eating disorder units, and CAMHS crisis teams—walking alongside adolescents during some of their toughest moments.

My focus has always been on helping young people in emotional distress—especially those who struggle to engage or are finding it hard to stay safe.

I also teach at universities and train professionals across health, education and social care to better understand what young people really need from us.

Headstraight brings all of that together. Just real conversations, grounded advice, and ideas that might actually help. That’s the goal: make it easier to understand, easier to talk about, and more useful to you in real life.

Reviews

This will help me.
I can't wait to get started on this. Going to listen to it all on my commute to work. This guy really sounds like he knows his stuff
Such a great find..!
I'm a parent and was desperate to find something for my son to look at. I've tried to encourage him to seek support but he is worried about talking to someone about how he feels. This podcast was just what he needed to find the courage to speak to someone. Now he is talking to his counsellor in school and is noticeably brighter. Thank you so much... !
Always something helpful
I found this clear and straightforward. Something to learn for practitioners and young people alike, both professionally and personally as we all go through stuff!Going to listen to the 'confidence' track with a young person who struggles with low self esteem as I'm struggling to communicate with him!