97: DIG IN: Understanding Anxiety with Owen O'Kane
Dig It with Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball
Persephonica
4.6 • 606 Ratings
🗓️ 1 June 2026
⏱️ 40 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Zoe and Jo have a fascinating conversation with therapist and former NHS Mental Health Lead Owen O’Kane. Owen suggests that by working with our anxiety rather than against it we can often see better results. He offers lots of tips and advice about how we can change our relationship with anxiety, and reassures us that we are not alone in dealing with it.
Owen’s book Addicted To Anxiety is Out Now.
As Owen says in the interview, if you feel you need support, do reach out to your GP. More information can be found on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/how-to-find-local-mental-health-services/
Subscribe to our Substack!
Get extra free content each week by subscribing here: https://digitpod.substack.com/
GET IN TOUCH
📧 Email us: questions@digitpod.co.uk
📱 Text or Voice Note: 07477 038795
💬 Or tap here to send a voice note or message on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/447477038795
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
This episode is brought to you by QVC
🛍️QVC — Summer gatherings always seem to end up in the garden, so why not make the space feel extra special? Explore My Garden Escape at www.qvcuk.com and use code QDIGIT for £10 off your first order. Minimum spend applies and full terms are on the QVC website.
CREDITS
Exec Producer: Jonathan O’Sullivan
Producers: Samantha Psyk and Harriet Thurley
Assistant Producer: Eve Jones
Technical Producer: Oliver Geraghty
Video Editors: Danny Pape and Jack Whiteside
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Coming up on Diggett. When an anxious thought comes along, they're the most tantalizing thoughts. |
| 0:06.1 | I joked about it once and I said, it's kind of almost like porn for the brain. |
| 0:09.6 | I started to have panic attacks. I think it was from grief. And then I started to have crippling |
| 0:16.3 | anxiety to the point where I was struggling to work. I would really, really welcome a conversation about how we help our children. When they are having anxiety and it's genuinely stuff they've got to tackle that you have no control over, I've honestly found myself lost words quite often. Let's be honest, let's layer cards in the table. If you're having a hard time with them and trust me, you are not on your own. Honestly, Owen, I have to say, I actually feel quite emotional listening to you today. |
| 0:40.9 | Honestly, I think that's going to be one of my favourite episodes. |
| 0:43.3 | All of that right after this. |
| 0:51.8 | Digit, sponsored by QVC. |
| 0:53.7 | If you're thinking about giving your garden a bit of a refresh, this is very good timing. |
| 0:58.6 | My garden scape at QVC is basically like having a whole garden centre, but at the touch of a button. |
| 1:04.1 | Everything's there, furniture, plants, tools, lighting, all in one place. |
| 1:08.9 | I rather like the look of their Studio 70 collection. |
| 1:12.0 | It's got this very lovely retro feel to it. |
| 1:14.2 | Yeah, if you sort of think bold colours, striped sofas, loungers, it is giving proper 70s revival. |
| 1:21.0 | And my garden escape is, it's not just for big gardens either. |
| 1:24.4 | It's for balconies, it's for windowsills, whatever you've got. |
| 1:27.3 | Plus, they've got advice from expert gardeners available through their online hub and streaming |
| 1:32.3 | platform, so you're not just guessing what to do. |
| 1:35.2 | Search My Garden Escape at QVC.com to discover more. You can also use code QDigit for 10 pounds |
| 1:41.8 | of your first order. That's code QDigit, QDIGIT for 10 pounds off your first order over £30. |
| 1:48.7 | For full terms, visit the QVC website. |
| 1:51.2 | Digit is sponsored by EE. |
| 1:53.1 | When I'm recording for Telejo, I love shooting on location, meeting loads for amazing people, |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in 24 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Persephonica, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Persephonica and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.

