A Kick Up the Arts Podcast with Emma Pollock, Jo Mango & Amy Duncan

Photos by Ingrid Mur

The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival teamed up with Nicola Meighan’s A Kick Up the Arts podcast for a special evening of conversation and music, bringing together three Scottish singer-songwriters whose work has explored various aspects of mental health. Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts.

SMHAF x A Kick Up the Arts

The live podcast was recorded at Civic House in Glasgow on Thursday 23 October 2025 as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival. The event was hosted by BBC Broadcaster and A Kick Up The Arts host Nicola Meighan, with Emma Pollock, Jo Mango and Amy Duncan.

About the Musicians

Emma Pollock

Emma Pollock has a long relationship with SMHAF and was co-founder of the Fruit Tree Foundation, a music project in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation which raised awareness about mental health through live concerts and an album featuring Frightened Rabbit, Karine Polwart, James Yorkston and many more. Her new album Begging The Night To Take Hold was released on 26 September 2025.

Amy Duncan

Amy Duncan will release Greetings from Gartnavel in January 2026, her her third collaboration with lyricist David Paton, an album of songs shining a light on Paton’s experiences of schizophrenia.

Jo Mango

Jo Mango has worked creatively with people living with various mental health diagnoses, as well as people who have experienced trauma as a result of the care system. Her new album The Lightswitch has a strong focus on mental health, exploring the ‘ghost voices’ of women who have left the music industry because of harassment, abuse or toxic environments.