Welcome to our monthly guide of the best websites, apps, podcasts, workouts, You Tube videos and other recommendations to help you unwind and escape from the madness for a while. 

Listen: Declan McKenna – Zeros
Released last Friday (September 4) Zeros is Declan’s second album, and follows his 2017 debut What Do You Think About The Car? Futuristic and retro sounding in equal measure, 21-year-old Declan’s established sound and mature songwriting belies his age. Listen to him channel Bowie on tracks such as Beautiful People, Daniel, You’re Still a Child and The Key to Life on Earth (see below).

Podcast: Off Menu
James Acaster and Ed Gamble’s loosely food-related interview podcast is back for a third series. If you’ve not eaten with them before, the concept’s very simple: each guests picks their favourite starter, main, side, dessert and drink, and talks about their life and career in an enjoyably roundabout way.

Fitness: XHIT on You Tube
This channel is filled with a huge variety of workouts which can make up some of the best YouTube fitness programmes. Whether you need to start off simple with ‘how-to’ tutorials, or you’re looking for a more advanced exercise routine, you’ll find what you’re looking for on this channel.

Podcast: The Two Shot Podcast
A podcast about creative people and their lives. Each week, host Craig Parkinson sits down for a chat with an actor, musician, artist, writer, chef, DJ or other creatives to discuss what makes them tick. New episodes every Thursday morning.

Mindfulness: Headspace
The Headspace YouTube channel shares meditations, music for restful sleep and short videos that explore the world of mindfulness, guided by Andy Puddicome, Headspace’s co-founder and former Buddhist monk.

Podcast: Set Meals
If you’re into food but always feel several steps behind wherever’s cool on London’s restaurant scene, try this weekly update. Friends Sam Ashton and Taylor Fawcett dine out on your behalf – start with their cycling tour of London’s pasta restaurants and go from there.

Help and Support: The HR Team
As we continue to deal with the effects of the ongoing pandemic, it is more important than ever that we take care of ourselves and each other.

The COVID-19 outbreak is an enormous change to all our lives and our sense of certainty, so it’s perfectly natural to go through a wide range of emotions and there is no right way to feel. The health and wellbeing of our teams will always be a priority and we are here to support one another. With that in mind, if you are struggling or feel you need to talk, please email the HR team ([email protected]) and someone will give you a call back.

As a reminder, the below helpline is also available to all staff, working or furloughed. The helpline offers telephone counselling, health advice covering a wide range of medical and wellbeing issues, personal legal and financial information with an online portal system loaded with further information and templates for your use.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME
Call 0800 107 6147 or visit the online portal  www.colleaguesupport.co.uk (enter code 72135 as your username and password)