Do What You Love, Love What You Do

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Mike Pagan to explore his mantra “do what you love, love what you do” through the lens of what he calls mental wealth. Mike explains how energy, motivation and enjoyment are closely tied to the people around us, and why isolation and loneliness can drain confidence, reduce creativity, and make change feel impossible.

The conversation centres on building a practical support network: mapping the people in your world, being honest about who really “has your back”, and intentionally recruiting the right mix of friends, peers and professionals for the next stage of your life. Mike and Joanne discuss vulnerability and the difficulty many people have asking for help, how accountability from trusted people can shift behaviour, and how small, consistent self-care habits can strengthen resilience over time.

They also reflect on real experiences involving suicide and suicide attempts, the role of timely connection, and how a single phone call can change outcomes. Joanne briefly references her own gender transition as part of a wider discussion about life transitions and how relationships evolve. The episode closes with a call to reach out directly to someone if your gut tells you they might need it.