Ben is joined by Andrew Jenkins, who recently rose to prominence on season 2 of The Traitors. The series was one of the most popular shows of the year, and Andrew has used his newfound platform to raise awareness around mental health. You can listen to more podcasts from our Mental Health Awareness Week series.
Ben begins the podcast by asking Andrew about his early life. Born and raised in a small village in Wales, Andrew had a pleasant childhood which, while not marked by riches, he says taught him good morals and gave him a lifelong appreciation for sport and fitness. Rugby in particular was huge for his family, with he and his three brothers all playing to various levels. He admits that his hyper-competitive streak perhaps put him off trying some things due to a heightened fear of failure but appreciates the determination that his upbringing instilled in him.
Determined To Recover
In 1999, at the age of 21, he was in a very serious car accident that changed his life forever. He was even pronounced dead at the scene, but an operation to save him from the extreme brain injuries he had received was a success. Doctors still believed he would never walk again, but his determination to walk out of the hospital and help from a physio helped him recover his mobility. Despite his miraculous physical recovery, his mental health took a toll, and he realises now that he never truly confronted the trauma that resulted from his accident, turning down counselling when it was offered to him.
Following his accident, Andrew eventually recovered enough to return to employment and began working his way up the corporate ladder. However, he harboured a resentment about his accident, wondering what could have been if his life hadn’t been derailed. His family weren’t particularly open, and have only recently come to discuss the trauma they all share, with his Mum saying she thinks about the night of his accident every day.
Trauma Doesn’t Define You
He credits his recovery to two people, including a former partner. She harboured trauma of her own but refused to let it define her life. She helped Andrew stop looking back all the time, thinking about what could have been and instead begin to look forward, living his life in the moment. The other was his surgeon, Dr. Ling. Andrew felt the need to reach out to him twenty years after he saved his life, and they eventually met, with Dr. Ling happy to see that Andrew was so able despite the severity of his injuries.
Now, Andrew has found his ‘why’, which was missing for many years. He believes he can help people through trauma and strongly believes that anyone can turn their life around. His ‘why’ is just that: he wants to inspire people. To this end, he’s been studying neurolinguistic programming, an alternative therapy that aims to educate people in self-awareness and effective communication, helping them to better understand themselves and communicate their feelings to others.
The episode draws to a close with a discussion of Andrew’s time on The Traitors, including some insights on the gruelling filming schedule and the nature of the competition.
