Full Festival Programme
Keynote Speakers
Drum roll please for our fantastic keynote speakers!
See below for details of the top quality speakers who will present at 'Go Mental' 2025...
Paul C Brunson
Paul C Brunson is a global relationship expert and coach, author, speaker and host.
With a global platform spanning television, podcasts, and bestselling books, Paul helps
individuals navigate their past to take control of their future, empowering them to build the
healthy, fulfilling life they deserve.
Recognised globally for his expertise in relationship counselling, matchmaking and personal
development, his roles as co-host on the twice BAFTA-nominated Married at First Sight UK
and Celebs Go Dating, in addition to his contributions as a relationship expert on Lorraine,
highlight his influence on contemporary discussions about love and partnership.
Holding the position of Global Insights Director for Tinder, Paul C. Brunson is a key player in
shaping the future of online dating. He earned endorsement from Oprah Winfrey for his
impact co-hosting the world’s largest social experiment on relationships, Lovetown USA, on
the Oprah Winfrey Network, where he highlighted how love can positively change entire
communities.
His entrepreneurial ventures, including founding and selling a matchmaking agency,
investing in Sutton United Football Club and Bay Atlantic University in Washington DC, along with his role as a USA TODAY columnist, underscore his adeptness at integrating
relationship wisdom with business acumen.
Dr Emily Prpa
Dr Emily Prpa is an award-winning nutritionist and TEDx speaker with a PhD in Nutritional Sciences from King’s College London. Her research focuses on advancing our understanding of how the gut microbiome impacts various aspects of overall health and wellbeing. Her work has been presented internationally, published in high-impact journals, and has contributed to shaping UK food policy.
Today, Emily is a Visiting Lecturer at King’s College London and one of the UK’s leading voices in nutrition science and health research. Known as The Nutrition Reporter online, Emily makes women’s health and nutrition science accessible, relatable, and genuinely fit for real life – sharing what women need to know alongside food they’ll actually want to cook (and have time to).
Ben West
Mental Health Campaigner, Best-Selling Author, Strategic Advisor and Influencer Ben is one of the most engaging and inspiring young male voices mental health advocacy on a global scale. He is the founder of the viral suicide prevention project ‘Reasons To Stay’.
In 2018 Ben very unexpectedly lost his younger brother to suicide. It was a horrific experience that left him trying to grapple with grief, guilt and complete confusion at only 17 years old.
In January 2026, Ben launched ‘Reasons to Stay’, a suicide prevention project which aims to help reach people who are at difficult moments through anonymous letters written by volunteers. In less than a month, the website has delivered over 1 million letters to visitors and Ben’s videos have been viewed on a global scale, reaching over 18 million people on social media.
Known for his raw, honest videos on social media including dealing with grief and how to speak to those struggling with their own mental health, Ben has become a leading voice in the movement to break stigma, improve education and support, and drive real change.He has collaborated with international brands, developing meaningful and creative content for companies such as Dacia, CASIO, Toblerone, and LADBible.
Athena KO
Athena KO is one of the world’s leading Gong Master and Meditation Teacher.
Athena taught Meditation in the psychiatric wards at Nightingale Hospital, the leading private Mental Health Hospital in London. She is also the resident Gong Master and Spiritual Well-being coach at One Hyde Park. Her public classes could be found at Love Supreme Projects studio in Nottinghill, and Sacred Tones in Parsons Green. She has partnered and collaborated with highly regarded brands inc Estelle Manor, Rosewood Hotels, Bulgari Hotels, Northacre, Mauli Rituals, Bamford, Welleco and played at top Wellness events including The Harvest Series, The Balance Festival and Wanderlust. Recently she was guest speaker at the ‘Mental Health in the Post Digital Age’ panel and led a sound meditation at ‘All The Feels: After Hours’ event at The Design Museum as part of their highly acclaimed ‘Weird Sensations Feels Good; The World of ASMR’ exhibition. She was listed on ‘Tatler’s Best in Wellness’ in 2020 and 2023.
Dr Alex Partridge
Alex Partridge is one of the pioneers of social media content the way we know it today. At age 21, he founded UNILAD and LADBible, two of the most popular social news and entertainment Internet companies in the world with an astonishing following of 100 million people around the globe.
At 34 years old, Alex was diagnosed with ADHD and has quickly become a leading voice on social media around neurodiversity. His impassioned views on entrepreneurship and neurodiversity has quickly amassed him a following of over four million people.
Alex now hosts the award winning podcast, ADHD Chatter. He shares everything he’s learnt about ADHD in his Sunday Times Bestselling Books entitled ‘Now It All Makes Sense and Why Does Everybody Hate Me?’.
Dr Gemma Newman
Dr Gemma Newman is a doctor, speaker and author. She has worked in medicine for over 20 years and is the Senior Partner at a family medical practice. She has a specialist interest in holistic health, plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine. She is also a Shihan (teacher) of Jikiden Reiki, the original healing method taught in the Japanese Reiki tradition.
As a presenter she has been featured on ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky News Sunrise as well as BBC Radio with Gaby Roslin and the Chris Evans Virgin Radio Breakfast Show. She has spoken at the European Commission in Brussels as well as at the House of Commons. She has spoken on many podcasts including The Rich Roll Podcast, ‘Feel Better Live More’ by Dr Rangan Chatterjee, The Deliciously Ella Podcast and Mo Gowdat’s ‘Slo-Mo’ Podcast.
She hosted five seasons of ‘The Wellness Edit’ which was nominated for Podcast of the Year by the PPA Awards. Dr Gemma has written two bestselling books – ‘The Plant Power Doctor’ and ‘Get Well, Stay Well.’ both designed to give you the tools you need for the most vibrant and healthy life possible!
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