READING FC legend Dave Kitson will appear on Royals’ fan Johnny Hunt’s ‘Talking Royals’ podcast which helps people open up about their mental health challenges.
Johnny, who has also been a cohost on the 1871 Reading FC podcast, set up Talking Royals last year to offer help and support to fans going through mental health issues.
In an interview on the official Reading FC website, he said: “It means a lot to me to be able to do something which hopefully in some way helps people, and using Reading FC as the talking point to start that. I have bipolar disorder and supporting Reading, probably like any club, has been very up and down.
“It’s an online peer to peer support group where people can talk with each other about football, amongst other things. But also, it’s a chance for people to support each other’s mental health.
“I don’t want this kind of thing to be seen as something negative for people who struggle. I know how these events can bring people together and help each other. The fact it’s under the umbrella of Reading Football Club is just a bonus for us.”
Former Royals Graeme Murty and Dylan Kerr have already appeared as guests on Talking Royals and Kitson is booked in as a future guest.
Mark Roach, who hosted the 1871 podcast with Hunt – and now runs The Dave Kitson Academy – added: “What Johnny is doing with Talking Royals is fantastic. Dave has faced his own challenges with mental health, so was only too happy to lend his support.”
Hunt added: “It’s roughly once a month. We’ve had ex-Royal Dylan Kerr join, Graeme Murty recently and the Reading Samaritans. We’ve consciously invited different people on to talk about a wide range of topics whether it be in football or anything else.
“It’s all just healthy conversation that is open for anyone to contribute or simply just listen if they prefer. We just aim for it to be a place for people to go and hopefully get a little bit of support from others. It’s not professional support and we are very clear in that – it’s peer support where we all have Reading FC in common.”
The next Talking Royals session is taking place from 7pm on Thursday, February 22.
If you’d like to join the podcast, you can contact Johnny at: [email protected]
