Rising influencer Rory Gissing has proven that fitness can positively affect a person's mental health. However, if it's not kept at a steady balance, it can also cause a person to spiral, with calorie obsessions and body dysmorphia.

Today on Word on Wearside, join Tyler, Luke, and Scarlett will be discussing the fine balance of improving your physical fitness, whilst also safeguarding your mental health. How do we stop ourselves going from one extreme to another?

The team behind this episode:

• Luke Carr
• Tyler Elleanor
• Scarlett Gowans

Word on Wearside is a Spark Sunderland podcast, produced by journalism students at the University of Sunderland. With teaching supervision by Lecturer in Audio, Jay Sykes.

Over the last few months, we have seen footballers on social media sharing about their mental health; from Man City's Kyle Walker opening up on Twitter (now X), to Kevin Scott, as announced by Knotts County, of his struggles with mental health.

On today's episode of Word on Wearside, Cam meets ex-professional footballer JJ O'Donnell, on the struggles players face in the game today; how did his physical injury affect his mental health? How much pressure does social media put on footballers' wellbeing? And how do clubs support their players who are battling mental health related challenges?

The team behind this episode:

• Cam Houghton

Word on Wearside is a Spark Sunderland podcast, produced by journalism students at the University of Sunderland. With teaching supervision by Lecturer in Audio, Jay Sykes.

Please be aware that this episode contains frequent reference to abuse, sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, rape, and murder. Listener discretion is advised, and listeners who are particularly affected by these topics are advised to take precaution.

Eric and Lyle Menendez were just two young men aged 18 and 21, who killed their parents in 1989, following years of abuse. Rubie McKeever-Smith chats with Dan Taylor, Academic Tutor in the School of Psychology at the University of Sunderland to decide; are the Menendez brothers monsters or villains?

The team behind this episode:

• Rubie McKeever-Smith

Word on Wearside is a Spark Sunderland podcast, produced by journalism students at the University of Sunderland. With teaching supervision by Lecturer in Audio, Jay Sykes.