James Shrager & Matthew Halstead on the sidekick story

Welcome to the very first episode of the sidekick stories podcast. In true sidekick style, we encourage an open and honest conversation with co-creators, James Shrager and Matthew Halstead. Putting their values to the test by diving under the skin of how sidekick became what it is today.

1:18: The becoming of sidekick- James and Matt let us in on their friendship and how sidekick was born. We gain a deeper understanding of their personal experiences with mental health, their coping mechanisms, and the importance of talking.

7:40: Combining industry knowledge- how much experience do you need to build an app from scratch? James shares his experiences in building apps and the skills gained from these projects. Although not a developer, Matt shines a light on how he gained his knowledge in technology from an unexpected overseas project.

14:45: Turning passion into something real- we learn that sidekick is bringing together a community of volunteers, based on passion across the board. The need for accessible therapy is one of the key issues sidekick are addressing, through a library of tools.

19:05: Mental health awareness- encouraging conversations about mental health is one of sidekick’s key aims. We touch on ensuring you’re open to these conversations and the difference it can make.

24:17: User first mentality- sidekick is completely free, yes really. The mental health industry is huge and to many a money-making scheme. Matt explains to us how they are differentiating themselves in an overcrowded market place through attribution and sharing information - even if that means potentially losing their audience.

26:10: Co-creation- everything sidekick does, is done in partnership. Creating a safe and friendly environment where every voice is heard is in their dna, as shown in deciding on a name for their app.

28:51: Community is key- the sky is the limit but, for now, sidekick is focusing on the next 6 months. We learn more about the six priorities that have been put in place and the increasing size of a very talented community James and Matt have built around them. Community means everything for sidekick, and it shows.

40:40: What to expect- we know everything about the why, the vision, the community. But what actually does sidekick do and how does it work? We get an introduction to the exercises, topics, and functionalities within the app. sidekick is all about introducing and trialling new methods to boost your mood, in a non-pressurised environment. Finally, a personalised toolkit can be created with all the methods that are most valuable to you.

45:36: Tried and tested exercises- everything sidekick is built on, comes from personal (therapy) experiences for both Matt and James. The co-creators share some of the exercises that have been eye-opening or provided a lasting impact on their mental health.

50:58: Tailoring content- user data is private within sidekick, but, as with everything these days, there are analytics set up to support the community with making key decisions on content. If users are giving their usage data, James believes they should be giving them something back for that. It’s all about making the content easier to find and use, without being overwhelming.

55:16: Get downloading- we task the sidekick co-creators with the ultimate question - why should somebody download sidekick? Choice, safety, space to explore support are some of the reasons to give it a go and find out your wellbeing preferences.

59:37: The highs- James and Matt look back on the journey to date and identify their personal highlights during this project. Matt shares one of his favourite poems and how it’s been applicable to their journey.

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