Will Young is on the road with LGBTQ+ podcast Homo Sapiens
With four UK number one albums Will Young has been on quite the journey – and he is currently on the road again. This time Will is joined by good friend and co-host Chris Sweeney to bring us a ‘Woman’s Hour’ inspired podcast ‘Homo Sapiens’ to cities across the UK. With a healthy dose of random chatter, wit and warmth the hilarious in conversation programme uncovers stories that matter to the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. This season includes riveting interviews with everyone from Jeremy Corbyn to Mykki Blanco. We caught up with Will on the road as he checks in with The Mind Map…
Hey Will, what are you working on at the moment?
Rehearsals for the musical Strictly Ballroom, launching series 2 of Homo Sapiens, writing my comedy on the pop industry and eating chocolate brownies – the last on that list is a full time job.
What has been your biggest life challenge – what did you do to overcome it?
Getting over trauma – I cried, went into treatment, spoke to friends and cried some more.
What would constitute a ‘perfect’ day for you?
It would be connecting on an emotional level to people, seeing my brother, spending time at my family home and driving a fast car, and being with my dogs.
For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
I am most grateful for my health and my happiness.
Complete this sentence: “Ace mental health for me means…”
Ace mental health for me means boundaries, connection and the freedom to be authentic.
What do you eat to stay healthy?
I like juicing and try to eat a lot of greens which basically means I am lying and I eat burgers.
Do you have a daily routine of exercise or do you make it up as you go along?
I don’t have a set daily routine; I love Reformer Pilates, stretching, running and dance.
Here at The Mind Map we remember playing football and ‘tag’ – running around the playground every day and loving it – can you share a similar memory?
We would play kiss chase and I would always pretend I didn’t want to get caught but I always did.
Do you think the egg and spoon race should be an Olympic sport as well as running for a bus?
Someone once told me never to run for a bus or a train and for some reason that has always stayed with me. I digress, yes to egg and spoon and also to sack race please – and the three legged race?
Who was your best friend at school? What was the funniest thing they did?
Ah Nicolas Castoro and Benjamin De Halpert – we weren’t good at cricket so became grounds men and basically got into trouble every single day. So many stories so little time.
Pumps or trainers for PE?
Pumps definitely
Name your top five best vegetables.
Carrots, potatoes, cucumber, celeriac and parsnips
Name your top five best fruits.
Bananas, mango, kiwi, raspberries and pineapple
What three songs lift your spirits?
Golden by Jill Scott, Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack and Let’s Dance by David Bowie.
What is your favourite self-help book, or motivational quote?
My favourite self -help book is ‘Healing the Shame That Binds You’ by John Bradshaw. My favourite saying is: ‘Don’t expect from others what they are not willing or capable of giving’ – it’s a seriously good piece of advice.
What advice do you offer to friends when they are feeling overwhelmed?
I ensure that they are safe now in the here and present. So much of our stressed and emotional reactions come from a basic primal feeling of not feeling safe. Something that isn’t explored enough in my opinion.
Homo Sapiens series 2 is available now, homosapienspodcast.com