It’s taken me 4 years to get to the place I’m in now, where FINALLY things feel like they’re happening for me.

Talina Naviede - Presenter, Actress, & Mental Health Activist

Talina Naviede is a force to be reckoned with. We spoke to the Presenter, actress and mental health activist about ‘Mouth Wide Shut’, her rapidly growing mental health and art therapy platform for the first of our ‘Young Blood’ interviews with exciting women under 25. Always open and honest about her own mental health struggles Talina is powering through the stigma around these issues through podcasts, IGTV shows, and a new BBC Radio Oxford show (‘Getting Mouthy About Mental Health’ - which we highly recommend!) She is forging a space for herself and other people with mental health issues online and IRL and recently hosted her first ‘Mouth Wide Shut’ event with inspiring talks from a panel of yet more amazing women and an exclusive docu-series screening. We found out about what fuels her ambitions and who inspires her work, and got some golden tips about the importance of meditation, the benefits of productivity and the power of just carrying on. Always humble, passionate and unapologetically real while she lends her voice to those who need it, Talina is a true example of a girl boss. So have a read of her interview below if you need a bit of girl power inspo today! 

Tell us about your work?

I like to think that my work is pretty eclectic! I’m an actress, presenter, radio DJ, mental health advocate AND professional over-thinker. At the moment I’d say my main focus is on mental health, raising awareness and supporting people who are having mental health troubles. The main way in which I do this is through my mental health and art therapy platform, Mouth Wide Shut. A podcast and IGTV video series which focuses on encouraging no-filter conversation around mental health and self-expression through art! I’ve taken this work further, and now present a show on BBC Radio Oxford, “Getting Mouthy About Mental Health”, which focuses on sharing stories and offering support for mental health issues.

What fuels your ambition?

I’m so so passionate about what I do with Mouth Wide Shut, because I struggle on a daily basis with my mental health. Whether that be managing the repercussions of my eating disorder, battling obsessive thoughts, or just getting into a dark place out of the blue. For me, communicating and talking about how I’m feeling massively helps me, and so I want to offer that support to others. By talking about mental health issues so publicly, I strongly believe it makes the topic way less taboo and way more “normal.”

Who do you look up to in your respective industry and why?

My two biggest idols are Maya Jama and Adwoa Aboah. Maya, purely because she has the most amazing energy and doesn’t give a crap what anyone thinks, she’s so so real and authentic. Her career is hugely aspirational to me, working on the radio as well as presenting a bunch of different TV shows. Maya is doing exactly what I would love to be doing, she’s a great expander for me! Adwoa is so freaking cool in every way, but what really gets me about her is how open she’s been about her journey and struggles. She’s used the darkness she has faced to create a super supportive platform, Gurls Talk. Adwoa is someone I absolutely dream of working with! 

What advice would you give to other girls looking to pursue a similar path to you?

To carry on. Even if you feel you’re not getting anywhere, if you love what you’re doing don’t give up. It’s taken me 4 years to get to the place I’m in now, where FINALLY things feel like they’re happening for me. Also, don’t wait for other people to give you opportunities...make your own! Create your own content, when you’re creating opportunities for yourself, more opportunities will come.

What does a typical day look like in the life of Talina?

I wake up around 7-7.30 and do a 15 minute mediation, it sets you up for the day so so nicely! I usually will go to the gym or go to a yoga class, and then have a steam/sauna afterwards. Exercising in the morning creates such an upbeat vibe for the day. For me each day is different, whether I’m having a “desk day”; focusing on getting through emails/composing ideas for brand new content, taking meetings, or filming content. My days are always super full, even on quiet weeks I make sure I’m being productive. In the evenings I usually see friends for dinner, or have a long bath with incense and have some proper “me” time...sometimes this consists of having a good cry, crying is THE BEST! If my mind is feeling a bit wild I’ll sometimes sit down with a glass of red wine and do some painting, it’s so so calming and focuses your energy! Before I sleep I ALWAYS do a relaxing meditation for about 10 minutes, as well as writing in my journal any looping thoughts I’m having!