Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health

The past few years have been a tumultuous time for masculinity…  We’ve witnessed the furore whipped up by the manosphere, and the fear that we’re raising a generation of Andrew Tate clones… We’ve had Primary prevention programs brought in to schools, spurred by the will to reduce Australia’s appalling rates of domestic violence.  Men under 30 just played a major role voting Donald Trump back into power, influenced by his appearances on the world’s most popular male-led podcasts. And swirling around all of this social discourse is one pervasive word that’s stuck to young men like a curse - toxic With me to talk through this and more is psychologist and Movember Director, Dr Zac Seidler, a preeminent researcher and thought leader working to evolve men’s mental health in Australia.  This is Dr Zac Seidler... ___ We’re grateful to be producing our latest series in partnership with Credit Union SA – a proudly local team who love supporting the community and helping South Australians thrive through banking. Their support is critical in helping us shed light on men’s mental health.

Sometimes going through the worst pain you’ve ever experienced sets you on a path to becoming something greater than you ever imagined.  A decade ago, Jed’s leg was crushed in a brutal workplace accident; and now he’s a 2024 Paralympic gold medalist…  Now 38, Jed’s life experience extends far beyond being an elite athlete, he’s a family man, a leader and a dude who just keeps on learning. This is Jed Altschwager… ___ We’re grateful to be producing our latest series in partnership with Credit Union SA – a proudly local team who love supporting the community and helping South Australians thrive through banking. Their support is critical in helping us shed light on men’s mental health.

Imagine if your world suddenly went dark and you had to learn to live without the ability to see; That’s what happened to Ian when he was shot at the age of 21…  Having lived half his life without his eyesight, Ian’s had to adapt in every way and has dedicated himself to becoming a mentor to young men through his youth work role at Top Blokes Foundation.  This is Ian Clements… ----- We’re grateful to have produced this episode in partnership with Credit Union SA – a proudly local team who love supporting the community and helping South Australians thrive through banking. Their support is critical in helping us shed light on men's mental health.

Grief can take you to a dark place you never imagined, especially when it's wrapped in guilt. Drew spent a long time believing if he'd done more, his brother Mat might still be alive...As a teenager and an adult, Mat was often teetering on the edge, dealing with his inner turmoil by shutting down and keeping everyone out. For more than a decade Drew knew something wasn't right with his brother, but couldn't penetrate the walls he put up.  Drew self-destructed after Mat's death, using drinking and drugs to numb himself into oblivion, with ugly consequences.  Finding purpose, deepening his connection with his mum and meeting his wife has made space for much brighter chapters in his story; all written down in his book, Until The End.  This is Drew Westfield... ———— ----- We’re grateful to have produced this episode in partnership with Credit Union SA – a proudly local team who love supporting the community and helping South Australians thrive through banking. Their support is critical in helping us shed light on men's mental health.

No matter how hard he tried, Nik never felt good enough in any area of his life. Always craving respect and approval from his father that wasn’t forthcoming, he grew up believing any love he was to receive was conditional on what he could deliver. Nik manufactured a version of himself based on his idea of what the people around him wanted him to be; and spent years in the cycle of escaping reality on the weekends. The journey from self-hatred to self-love has been a painful and challenging one, but so much better than staying stuck. This is Niko Diamond...

The quality of our mental health is intertwined with our sense of connection to each other and the world around us. Humans are social creatures; we need community wherever we can find it, and being lonely makes us more likely to be mentally ill. Ben is a musician on a mission to create connection his own way. Since April, he's been taking his guitar down every single street in the Adelaide CBD singing and striking up conversations while raising money for charity.Ben's got his own mental health story, and is so passionate about that he's taken the Concrete Connection Project on as a full time job, without the payThis is Benjamin Roberts...

You might be shocked to hear a third of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by another child... It's not the stereotype that comes to mind when this topic gets brought up, but it's what happened to Shannon Molloy from the age of five... An accomplished journalist and author, Shannon investigated male child sexual abuse for his book 'You Made Me This Way', interviewing experts and other survivors in an attempt to better understand his own trauma.  Viciously tormented by bullies over his sexuality during his school days, Shannon's younger years were coloured by shame, secrecy and self-loathing. Despite always having felt broken in some way, he's gone on to create happy life for himself and his family, while building a successful career and bringing crucial light to ugly issues that've been in the dark for too long.  This is Shannon Molloy...

Grinding out a successful career as a young lawyer, Brian thought he knew the path laid out before him, until one particularly confronting case changed everything…Back then Brian had no idea embarking on his mental health journey would ultimately lead him to create a unique mental health support service called BCognitive.Brian’s got a great story, he’s doing phenomenal work and listening to him talk will put a smile on your face.This is Brian Njuguna...

Most of us have had times in our lives when we’ve felt like we don’t fit in, but what if you always felt out of place no matter where you are? That’s the reality for many people on the Autism Spectrum, who are known as 'neurodivergent' a name given to those whose brain processes information in a way that’s different to the majority. At 28, Callum Reid is only now accepting the reality of living life as someone who’s not neurotypical. It’s taken a lifetime of self-torment, trying to force a square peg in a round hole, for him to realise everything that’s great about being just the way he is. He works a 9 to 5, but his true passion is producing electronic music under the name ‘Lezen’. This is Callum Reid…

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is often misunderstood. We commonly think of OCD as a need to keep things in order or being a germaphobe, but the reality can be far more life altering.   Matt’s experience of OCD was coloured by a constant barrage of intrusive thoughts so intense that it drove him to make an attempt on his life. It was the peak of the crescendo in his story, but thankfully not the climax. It's been a hard road for Matt since that dark day in 2020, but he's come a long way thanks to therapy, his fiancé and the coping strategies he’s put into practice. Now he’s earned himself a psychology degree and he’s on a mission to help people. This is Matt Forrester...

Countless young Aussies grow up playing sport, dreaming of life as a professional athlete. Making a career out of playing the game you love sounds perfect; but as Tom Jonas will tell you, there’s more to it than meets the eye. The former Port Adelaide captain's 13 season AFL career came to an end in 2023 after a rollercoaster year of inner turmoil. Tom's had to come to terms with hanging up the boots, and figure out how to evolve after footy.  We chat about the AFL's ongoing shift in mental health culture and the broader impact of players showing vulnerability. Plus, Tom gives his insight on managing the mental and emotional side of professional sport.   This is Tom Jonas...

Many of us go through life believing we’re the ones in control; that nothing is going to go terribly wrong if we do the right thing and look after ourselves. But sometimes, when we least expect it, life can be cruel and wildly unfair, reminding us of the fragility of our existence.   Everything was ticking along nicely for Kish, enjoying a night out with friends last October, when out of nowhere he started feeling overwhelmingly sick. Like anyone of us might, he brushed it off as food poisoning, but the reality was unfathomably more sinister… Since his diagnosis, Kish has been through hell, enduring weeks in the ICU, gruelling chemo and needing to have his bowel totally removed. Now he faces the daunting prospect of a bone marrow transplant to save his life; and despite everything he’s going through, he’s courageously campaigning to raise awareness and funding for the Leukaemia Foundation.  The Leukaemia Foundation encourages all Australians impacted by blood cancer, and those interested in finding out more, to go to bloodcancer.org.au where stories and resources will be shared during Blood Cancer Month in September. You can donate to Kish's appeal here: https://gofund.me/41b3d3d2 This is Kish Modi’s story…

How much porn are you watching? And how much sex are you having?...They're questions that'll get your guard up like nothing else; and although sex and porn are experienced by most people on Earth, when it comes to taking a frank look at our own sexual behaviour, many of us feel the pressure to minimise, exaggerate or avoid it altogether.  In this episode we're putting porn and sex addiction under the microscope; how to recognise if you've got a problem, the potential psychological damage it can do to you and others, and what can be done about it.  We also discuss stigma, secrecy and the ever evolving integration between A.I and real life.  Here to help us piece all this together is Dr Paula Hall, a psychosexual therapist specialising in helping people reclaim their lives from these addictions. Paula’s published multiple books on the topic, and developed her own self-help recovery program, Pivotal Recovery, which is now available at pivotalrecovery.org This is Dr Paula Hall...

Raising two daughters with his wife in a happy home, Warren Gunns never could’ve predicted the devastating chain of events that would befall his family. His eldest, Maddie was 13 years old when she was sexually assaulted on a holiday, a trauma that led to a life-threatening eating disorder, which put pressure on her parents relationship.  Maddie had a special bond with her dad, who would’ve been 63 this August if he hadn’t taken his life… Desperate to escape the pain, Maddie turned to meth to cope; with the drug sweeping her up in an addiction that nearly took everything.    This episode shows how the ripple effects of suicide can forever alter the lives of those left behind in ways you’d never expect.  In the face of soul crushing hardship, Maddie’s become a great mum, business owner, marathon runner, and a shining example that it’s never too late to turn your life around.     In May 2025, she’s running 21 half marathons in 21 days to mark the 10 year anniversary of her dad’s passing.  Partnering with The Outback Mind Foundation, Maddie’s ‘Steps 4 Strength’ campaign aims to raise 210k to fund community mental health initiatives and a documentary. This is Maddie Mortimer’s story… -------------- You can support Maddie's cause here: https://donorbox.org/steps4strength

Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health is the award-winning volunteer video podcast dedicated to young men's mental health.This life-changing archive of lived experience exists to share authentic stories of hardship, resilience and recovery, told by men under 40 and their loved ones from all walks of life; proving that no matter what you're going through, you're not alone!Jump in and let host, Cal MacPherson guide you on a journey that goes right to the heart of being human, with relatable guests who will leave you feeling inspired and informed.

Love, it's something we all want and need; something most of us are either trying to find or trying to hold on to...We feel love as an emotion, we love others as an action... we can be in love and fall out of love; it's life's most powerful mystery and we can't solve it alone! Today's guest is Nicholas Purcell, a psychotherapist specialising in couples counselling. Our conversation is about relationships, the good, the bad and the ugly...We cover what leads to relationship breakdown, what you can do to build a stronger connection with your partner, the key to long lasting love and much more. This is Nicholas Purcell... ------- You can find Nicholas here: https://www.nicholaspurcell.com.au/

Surrounded by violence and despair from the moment he was born, Luke’s childhood memories are riddled with pain and darkness… Sexually abused at the age of 5, and again at 14, confusion and fear became primary emotions as his life quickly spiraled in the fight for survival. Despite having his mother's enduring loved, Luke seemed destined for incarceration or early death; when everything changed… Becoming a Christian at the age of 18, Luke’s path took a miraculous turn, as he found purpose through religion and social work. Today, he’s the founder of Paylos Adventures, a mentoring business taking young people who’ve suffered hardship on life-changing adventures. This is Luke Wilson’s story…

We all want to be happy... it's the ultimate goal most of us would say we're always shooting for; but what actually is happiness? And is it even attainable? My guest today is Dr Matthew Iasiello, he's a researcher dedicated to better understanding all the elements of wellbeing and how to build it.In his spare time, Matt hosts his own podcast, 'Researching Happy' where he chats to experts all over the world about this topic, so he's got a fair bit of knowledge to tackle some of the big questions. This conversation is a deep dive into the thoughts and behaviours that orient us on our life path and make us who we are; often without us realising. We discuss happiness, meaning, spirituality, how to increase your mental strength and be more satisfied with what you have. This is Dr Matt Iasiello...

For the past five years, this podcast has shared the stories of young men whose lives have been altered by mental health challenges and suicide. According to Lifeline, the ripple effect of each suicide death can be felt by up to 135 people connected to that person. Of those people, direct family members are the most significantly impacted. Today's guest brings us a sister's perspective on the tragedy of suicide. Natasha lost her brother Kristopher last year, leaving her and her family's lives forever changed. She's sharing her story to represent the voice of women left devastated by the suicide of men they love, and speak to those struggling to help someone close to them. This is Natasha Rofe story... ------------- Young Blood - Men's Mental Health is a volunteer community service. If you enjoyed this podcast, the BEST thing you can do to support the show and help me keep it going, is to rate/review on Apple Podcasts: Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health on Apple Podcasts and Spotify: Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health | Podcast on Spotify And if you haven't already, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE here and on YouTube! Cheers! - Cal

Sitting alone in a half built dream house after his marriage breakdown, trying to keep his business as a builder afloat during Covid, while managing co-parenting - Dave was thinking to himself, how had it all come to this?  A middle child with a chip on his shoulder, Dave was always trying to prove people wrong and do it all.  That mentality led him to overcommit and under deliver, crushing his identity in the process.  This is the story of a bloke who had it all planned out at 30, and yet is living a very different reality at 40…after a lot of self reflection, he’s admitted his mistakes, learned some hard lessons, and ultimately changed for the better.  This is Dave Menner’s story... ------------- Young Blood - Men's Mental Health is a volunteer community service. If you enjoyed this podcast, the BEST thing you can do to support the show and help me keep it going, is to rate/review on Apple Podcasts: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health on Apple Podcasts⁠ and Spotify: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health | Podcast on Spotify⁠ And if you haven't already, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE here and on YouTube! Cheers! - Cal

Quality sleep is the top of the waterfall from which all of our health flows. Better sleep equals better everything else, and whether you've got waking woes, or you're happy with how you're laying your head, there's simple things we can all do to make tonight's sleep the best yet.  My New Years resolution for 2024 was to improve my sleep performance. I use wearable a sleep tracker, a consistent early bed time, blue light blocking glasses, ear plugs, the works and I still have a hard time getting a true eight hours.  Fortunately for me and you, today's guest on the Young Blood Experts Series is internationally renowned sleep expert, Professor Michael Gradisar.  Michael worked for twenty years as a clinical psychologist, directing Adelaide's Child and Adolescent Sleep. These days he helps people treat insomnia and adjust their circadian rhythms online and is the Head of Sleep Science at 'Sleep Cycle'; a one-stop solution sleep tracker with 50 million users worldwide. This episode features good news for gamers, why playing Call of Duty before bed isn’t as bad for sleep as you might’ve thought... Find out how much shut eye you really need, the difference it makes if you’re not getting enough, is mouth tape all hype? and are you a good judge of your own sleep quality? Listen all the way through this one to find out all that and more with our sleep guru, Professor Michael Gradisar. ------------- Young Blood - Men's Mental Health is a volunteer community service. If you enjoyed this podcast, the BEST thing you can do to support the show and help me keep it going, is to rate/review on Apple Podcasts: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health on Apple Podcasts⁠ and Spotify: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health | Podcast on Spotify⁠ And if you haven't already, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE here and on YouTube! Cheers! - Cal

An overweight red-head with ADHD, learning difficulties and no self confidence, Adam Blum was always an easy target... Ridiculed by the bullies who called him, 'Blum', Adam was tormented and belittled from the moment he started school, all the way into his twenties. The way Adam used to see life, he was a victim, desperately yearning for a different life, while convincing himself he was powerless to create it. For decades, Adam believed all the nasty voices telling him he was useless, including his own, and it almost killed him.. But Adam chose to change the narrative; and although he's tried and failed many times on the journey to becoming Adam 2.0, he's never given up. I've just read his book, you can find that and the link to his podcast, True Blue Conversations, below. This is Adam Blum's story... Easy Target - Taming the Black Dog: https://www.booktopia.com.au/easy-target-adam-blum/book/9781923004825.html True Blue Conversations podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0YS0ZqW624g6guM03JKwEI ------------- Young Blood - Men's Mental Health is a volunteer community service. If you enjoyed this podcast, the BEST thing you can do to support the show and help me keep it going, is to rate/review on Apple Podcasts: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health on Apple Podcasts⁠ and Spotify: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health | Podcast on Spotify⁠ And if you haven't already, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE here and on YouTube! Cheers! - Cal

You hear about mental illness and suicide a lot more these days, especially if you follow this podcast; but are things actually getting better or worse? We live in a time with more awareness and acceptance of mental health issues than ever, yet it's not obvious all the attention is moving the needle in the right direction. Young Blood exists to share the stories of everyday men, and that won't change; but my guest today brings us the facts and a unique perspective you won't find anywhere else. Professor Nicholas Procter is Australia's representative to the International Association for Suicide Prevention Council, he literally wrote the textbook for mental health education in this country, and has dedicated his long career to mental health research.In other words, he is the man when it comes to suicide prevention... In this conversation, you'll learn what's at the core of so many men taking their lives, and the progress our society is actually making in this area. We'll cover what does and doesn't work for men in managing our mental health; the impact of suicide bereavement on those left behind, and is the truly system broken? Find out on the Young Blood Expert's Series. ------------- Young Blood - Men's Mental Health is a volunteer community service. If you enjoyed this podcast, the BEST thing you can do to support the show and help me keep it going, is to rate/review on Apple Podcasts: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health on Apple Podcasts⁠ and Spotify: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health | Podcast on Spotify⁠ And if you haven't already, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE here and on YouTube! Cheers! - Cal

All children deserve to feel safe, loved and cared for, but for far too many, that's not the reality.The effects of enduring childhood abuse and neglect are profound, shaping the adults that kids turn into and often perpetuating the cycle. My guest today is a first generation Australian, raised in a broken home, caught in the crossfire of his mother and father fighting each other and battling their own demons. Bereft of support when he needed it most, Jason has grown up to build his life around caring for others.He's the Co-owner of the industry disrupting disability support provider, Vana Care; a husband, and a father of three, who's had the guts to pursue his dreams; and the humility to forgive. This is Jason Wisniewski's story... ------------- Young Blood - Men's Mental Health is a volunteer community service. If you enjoyed this podcast, the BEST thing you can do to support the show and help me keep it going, is to rate/review on Apple Podcasts: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health on Apple Podcasts⁠ and Spotify: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health | Podcast on Spotify⁠ And if you haven't already, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE here and on YouTube! Cheers! - Cal

Have you ever been to a psychologist? I'm seeing one at the moment, and by last count, around 2 million Aussies have seen a health professional for their mental health in the past 12 months. As a society we're becoming much more open talking about mental health and going to therapy, but what actually happens when you go for your first appointment and how does it all go down? My guest today on the Young Blood Experts Series is, Dr Ian Zajac, a clinical psychologist specialising in men's mental health and the Director of MensPsych Psychology Services in Adelaide. He also does a lot of work on the research side of things and is just all around bloody good to chat to. Our conversation covers everything from what to expect when you're sitting in a psychs office, to the common struggles young men are facing, the root causes beneath the bad behaviours we want to change, how to have better communication with your partner, how childhood abuse and neglect impacts us later in life, what we can do to build self-respect and much more. This is Dr Ian Zajac... ------------- Young Blood - Men's Mental Health is a volunteer community service. If you enjoyed this podcast, the BEST thing you can do to support the show and help me keep it going, is to rate/review on Apple Podcasts: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health on Apple Podcasts⁠ and Spotify: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health | Podcast on Spotify⁠ And if you haven't already, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE here and on YouTube! Cheers! - Cal

Over the next six months we’ll be releasing the first 'Young Blood - Experts Series', 10 episodes of interviews with researchers, psychologists, psychiatrists and authors who can give us the facts and insight we’ve never had before.  If you listen to Young Blood for the stories of every-day blokes, don’t worry! We’ll still be bringing you a new one of those each fortnight, and every week in between we’ll hear from an expert to teach us something new.

It’s a strange thing to lose someone close to you to suicide and to have that tragedy put you on a path to finding purpose. It’s what happened to me, and it’s also what happened to Varad, whose life has been shaped by the suicide of his friend Michael in university; something he still feels guilty about. Varad’s a youth mentor who facilitates mental health workshops for students through Western Australian not for profit, Man Up and has contributed his insight to the creation of new mental health resource website, RightByYou. RightByYou is a straight-forward, easy to navigate tool that serves as a great starting point if you need help with your own mental health, or if you're looking for guidance in how to support someone. Go to rightbyyou.org.au This podcast is about mateship, grief, guilt, meaning, hope and how you can spot the signs someone you care about might be struggling much more than you think. This is Varad Mukhedkar’s story… ------------- Young Blood - Men's Mental Health is a volunteer community service. If you enjoyed this podcast, the BEST thing you can do to support the show and help me keep it going, is to rate/review on Apple Podcasts: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health on Apple Podcasts⁠ and Spotify: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health | Podcast on Spotify⁠ And if you haven't already, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE here and on YouTube! Cheers! - Cal

In the aftermath of suicide, there’s questions that will never be answered and things that don’t make sense.Those left behind often blame themselves for something that ultimately wasn’t in their control, a feeling that can endure for years after.

Imagine one minute you're sitting down chatting to your mates, and the next you're knocked unconscious by someone you've never met... That's what happened to Blake on a night out in 2012, and it's had a life-changing impact on the now 32 year old.  Blake's ordeal put him through the ringer physically and mentally, and recently becoming a father himself has given him another perspective on just how devastating that attack could've been for his family and community.  His desire to be a role model for other coward punch survivors and young men is the motivation behind his current attempt to break the world record for Most Consecutive Days completing an indoor triathlon; which stands at 77.  This isn't just a story about a senseless assault, it's about valuing your life and making the most of it.  This is Blake Manwaring's story... ------------- Young Blood - Men's Mental Health is a volunteer community service. If you enjoyed this podcast, the BEST thing you can do to support the show and help me keep it going, is to rate/review on Apple Podcasts: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health on Apple Podcasts⁠ and Spotify: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health | Podcast on Spotify⁠ And if you haven't already, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE here and on YouTube! Cheers! - Cal

A comedian, turned artist, turned comedic artist; this guy's story is truly out of the box… He quit stand-up comedy after a decade on the local circuit and unsure what to do with himself, made the unusual decision to hire out a warehouse and start painting… Living on three hours sleep for 6 months, letting his imagination run wild and trying to make his dreams manifest on canvas, Sam Kissajukian had no idea he was living in an extended manic episode... Diagnosed with bi-polar disorder soon after, Sam went from never having painted before, to completing 300 paintings illustrating the lens through which he was seeing the world.  He went on to create a unique mental health comedy show built around trying to explain those paintings to the audience, literally putting all his flawed thinking on display to show the funny side and connect. Sam lives with a mental illness, but his story is proof that it's not all bad; and that you don't have to be afraid to share who you really are with the world. In fact, people might just love you for it.  This is Sam Kissajukian's story... ------------- Young Blood - Men's Mental Health is a volunteer community service. If you enjoyed this podcast, the BEST thing you can do to support the show and help me keep it going, is to rate/review on Apple Podcasts: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health on Apple Podcasts⁠ and Spotify: ⁠Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health | Podcast on Spotify⁠ And if you haven't already, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE here and on YouTube! Cheers! - Cal

Jack Brown's world was flipped upside down when his cousin Matty died by suicide. The tragedy leaving him devastated, confused and desperate for a way to numb the pain.  Fortunately, with the love of his friends and family and a drastic change in life direction, he was able to turn it around.  Since 2018, Jack's been one of the people running the trailblazing nationwide mental health charity #talk2mebro. Scroll back to May 2022 in our podcast library for the full story.

The local barbershop is a place you'll often find men opening up about what's really going on in their lives. Sure, we go for a skin fade and a shave, but many of us also go for a chat; and a barber you'll keep going back to is one who knows how to listen...Grant is one such barber, using the chairs at his shop not just to make a living, but as a safe place for blokes to talk.Grant's personal experience includes a period of suicidality after being catfished. He faced a major uncertainty moving from London to Australia; and now juggles the challenge of being a first time dad while running a business. He's also the son of a recovered drug addict, who's been helping people overcome addiction for more than 3 decades. All this has got Grant inspired, and on April 14 he's going to be cranking out haircuts for 24 hours straight to raise money for mental health through The Shaka Project. Hit the link to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/24-hour-haircut?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customerThis is Grant Freedman's story...

Glenn's relationship with gambling and drugs started at a young age and exploded in his twenties. He pumped hundreds of thousands through the pokies, once winning a 50k jackpot, only to lose it all in a matter of months. For more than a decade he lived pay cheque to pay cheque chasing cheap highs, and desperately lacked love and purpose in his life. It was a road that was leading to a sad end, but fortunately for Glenn, he found a strong enough reason to change and pulled himself out of a tailspin.You can scroll all the way back to August 2020 in our podcast library for the full story, There's More to Life Than Drugs & Gambling | Glenn Draper

It's been 18 months since the last solo episode, and it feels like high time to check-in! In this pod, I rant at length answering all the listener questions sent in to our @youngbloodmensmentalhealth Instagram. Some serious, some not so serious, and overall, hopefully worth your time. Even producer Rory makes a special cameo appearance! Thanks to everyone who got involved and all of you who follow the show! We're all in this together.

Raised by a mother who battled severe illness throughout her life and a dad who was her carer, the pressure took a toll that split up Dale's family, and eventually left him looking after both parents.In recent years he's endured the loss of not only his mother and father, but also a son...stillborn at 28 weeks. Battling with overwhelming stress and anxiety, Dale's done everything he can to process his pain and forge a healthy path forward - standing resolutely alongside his wife no matter what comes. This is Dale Rush's story.

For years, South Australian local legend Marc Ryan aka The Beautiful Bogan, has been using stand-up comedy as a vehicle to open up conversations around mental health in a very special way. Marc is himself a survivor of childhood abuse and battles the black dog day in and day out. He's a dedicated dad, a man who loves and downright Aussie battler who loves nothing more than putting smiles on the faces of others. Scroll back to April 2021 for the full story - Childhood Trauma Is No Joke | Marc Ryan

Living his entire life with no idea he had autism; it was his son's diagnosis that led to his own and a whole new perspective on life. Carter's been on a challenging journey with his mental health dating back to his childhood; and it's a big part of why he cares so much about helping others now. A husband and father to 3 young children with his own podcast centred on parenting and mental health, Carter's life is full of joy and meaning that never existed before.He does it all while navigating disability and is proud to be the dedicated dad he's become. This is Carter's story. Produced at PodBooth Adelaide

“When sailors were coming home from a stint on the ocean, they would put their anchor upside down on the front of their boat and that would tell all other ships, get out of our way, we’re going home to our families.”

Growing up with an absent father and an alcoholic, drug abusing mother. Dropping out of school. Becoming a dad and a business owner. Losing his mum to suicide, bringing down a 12-year relationship by self-destructing and finally building himself up stronger than ever... That's Jesse's story in a nutshell, but there's much more to it than that... I guarantee you'll leave this episode feeling more inspired than when you found it. So please give it a listen and let me know what you took away from our conversation. This is Jesse Trout...

Jesse grew up with an absent father and mother who was a slave to alcoholism and drug abuse. It was a scary and confusing environment to grow up in and has resulted in him spending most of his life feeling on edge, waiting for something to go wrong…While plenty has gone wrong, he’s done everything in his power to make sure even more goes right and today is proudly the devoted parent he never had.

This week's Memorable Moment is a follow up from last week's main episode with Sean Phillip, Founder of The Shaka Project. This clip takes you back to 2021, when Sean was first on the podcast, to share his intense and inspiring origin story, which includes drugs, violence, trouble with the law and miraculously surviving a suicide attempt to go on and do great things.

Sean Phillip is the Founder of The Shaka Project, an increasingly recognisable charity doing big things for mental health in Australia. Sean shared his personal story on the podcast 3 years ago, so this time around we spoke about what life’s been like since then, the highs and lows of working in this space, and our thoughts on where men's mental health is at now.Sean dedicates his days to travelling around the country presenting talks to many different organisations and he does it all while being a dad, a partner, a son and a mate.Sean also takes it upon himself to personally console the loved ones of those who've recently died by suicide, who reach out to The Shaka Project for support every week.Each heartbreaking loss hits him hard, but he and the rest of the Shaka Project team keep pushing on to change the future of mental health for the better. ------ This episode is proudly sponsored by our mates at The Shaka Project.  The Shaka Project was designed to ignite the conversation around mental health.  Encouraging connection, mateship and brotherhood through the Shaka. Inspired by a dads love for his mates and his kids.  Go to theshakaproject.com to find out more about the epic work these guys are doing, grab yourself some merch and follow their journey @theshakaproject on Instagram

Imagine making four separate phone calls to offer an ear and support to people who've just lost a loved one to suicide... That's all in a day's work for Sean, the young founder of The Shaka Project, a national mental health charity that evolved out of his own close call with suicide and recognising Australia's need for a louder mental health conversation.

For more than a decade, Luke McLean was controlled by a gambling addiction he couldn't escape. He was 17 when he got hooked after his first win at the TAB and went on to spend just every cent he ever earned on online sports betting. The habit made him hate himself and very nearly claimed his life. Fortunately he found a way to finally break free before it was too late. Go back to June 2021 in our podcast library to listen to Luke's full story titled, Gamble (Ir)responsibly | Luke McLean

Kian Rafie is a junior lawyer who got the dream start to his career that he'd always wanted, when a mental health crisis threatened to completely derail it... Renowned for being a cut-throat, high pressure industry with little room for error and lofty expectations, the legal profession has been known to chew up new graduates and spit them out.  Kian was confronted by an office culture and various unexpected challenges that sent him into a tailspin, with his mental state spiraling out of control. Thankfully, Kian's in a much better space now, still pursuing his dream of being the best lawyer he can be.  It's taken a lot of soul searching, therapy and self-awareness to get to where he is - becoming a man worthy of his own love.

It wasn't long after Kian started his law career interstate that his mental health started imploding. Pride and embarrassment stopped him going to his family for help, even though he knew they'd be supportive. He felt like it was on him to solve the problem alone, because he didn't want to burden anyone.

When the end of his AFL career coincided with the breakdown of his marriage, the effects of alcohol abuse and improperly medicated bipolar disorder, Heath Black spiralled dangerously out of control to point where anything could've happened, and part of him was hoping for the worst. Scroll back to October 2020 in our podcast library for the full story - A Recipe for Disaster | Heath Black

Brad Wright very nearly wasn't here to tell this story... His teenage years were a mess; with the combination of depression, crippling low self-esteem and refusing help almost costing him his life.He had to learn how to walk again and even that paled in comparison to working out how to love himself for the first time.Now six years on from what could've been the end; Brad's helping teenagers and young adults to realise their value.

There was a time Brad thought no one would care if he died... After miraculously surviving a suicide attempt, he got the chance to realise just how wrong he'd been.

Dylan Conway is the creator of 'Brothers N Books', a popular Instagram page that grew into a charity, raising funds to install community libraries all over the country, which has since become a downright phenomenon! Dylan got hooked on books while he was stuck in hospital for over a year recovering from an unlikely condition. Reading gave Dylan something constructive to when he desperately needed it. Since then he's never looked back, leading a national crusade to improve mental health and resilience by making reading great again. Scroll back to November 2021 in our podcast library for the full episode - The Power of Reading For Your Mental Health | Dylan Conway

2023 marks 10 years since Locky Miller was involved in a horrific car crash that changed the course of his life in an instant.  Locky lives with a brain injury and chronic pain that he’s had to learn to adapt to. It’s set him on a path he never expected to be on and it’s been an uphill battle.   Through grit and determination Locky has made a remarkable recovery and found community and purpose in helping others living with brain injuries.

By all odds, Locky shouldn't be alive.

Construction has some of the highest suicide rates of any industry and as psychologist and former construction worker Simon Tyler will tell you, that's partly down to the hyper masculine culture that exists on work sites. Simo’s good mate Richie Welch has been in the construction game for more than two decades and there was a time both men were saved by a single conversation, so they know as well as anyone the power of speaking up and being heard. After enduring a multitude of suicides within their tight knit community, they decided enough is enough and have since gone above and beyond to create their own mental health charity, 'The Next Step Australia' - a volunteer service that's been helping to save lives for years, acting as a first port of call for blokes who need help. ------------- Scroll back through our podcast library to June 2020 for the full podcast titled, 'Mental Health In Construction | Simon Tyler and Richie Welch

That’s Nathan Schulz, he’s a mountain of a man who was scary to watch flying into fits of rage when he was living with uncontrollable anger and didn’t know why…  With a history of being severely bullied during his school days, Nathan fell into a depressive slump for many years and had no idea what was behind it; the distress only increasing his feelings of inadequacy and shame.It all came to a head in 2020 when he made an attempt on his life. Thankfully he survived and has since been able to find the tools he needs to live a fulfilled life, be a loving father and help his mates while he’s at it.

It took coming close to death for Nathan to realise he wanted to live…Luckily he still had the chance and since then he’s been making the most of it.

Tyran Mowbray is a former footy player, bricklayer and mineworker and for a long time, his main focus was getting smashed and having as much sex as possible.  Tyran had deep-seeded intimacy issues, made all the worse by a porn addiction he couldn't kick; and by his late twenties he was so detached and desperate, that he took off across the world in search of himself.  He went from one extreme to the other, from pushing himself to survive alone in the wilderness, to living in a Buddhist ministry and even joining a sex cult... What he experienced was brutal, bizarre and beautiful, and what he discovered transformed him forever. Produced at PodBooth

Young Blood creator and host Callum MacPherson joins ABC radio for Mental Health Month, to share the Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcast origin story and talk men's mental health with host Sonya Feldhoff.

Charles Brice's life changed forever when a motorbike accident shattered his spine and left him a quadriplegic. He was 19 when he was told he'd never walk again. His isn't a story of a miracle recovery, but it is one of incredible grit and heart. Having adapted to his restrictions and rehabilitated himself to the point of independence, Charles is now striving for more. ------------- Scroll back through our podcast library to November 2019 for the full story titled, 'The Reality Of Life As A Quadriplegic | Charles Brice'

Toby Whittle is a personal trainer and on the surface, a confident, easy-going dude. But on the inside it's not all smooth sailing. In fact throughout his life Toby's increasingly struggled with anxiety that eventually manifested in frequent panic attacks. And in 2020 a combination of social isolation, stress and confusion threatened to drive him over the edge, Toby's brother's also gone through his own struggles with mental health and that hit Toby hard too. He's learned a lot over the years about how to manage himself and be there for others. Now he's an ambassador for The Shaka Project, pushing the messages that've helped him get through. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

When Toby first started having panic attacks he had no idea what was happening or what he could do to stop it. He kept it all to himself, but that only made it worse.

Angus Wood is a 25 year old knock about bloke from Melbourne, who not too long ago didn't think he'd still be here at all; let alone creating the positive change he is now. Gus has struggled intensely with his mental health since his late teens, going down a dark path of drug and gambling addiction. By the age of 23, it was either going to be the end or a new beginning - thankfully everything started to change when Gus sent a txt to a mate asking for help. Now nearly 2 years sober, Gus is running his own mental health movement 'The Lost and Found Project' and sharing his story to show others a better life is possible if you make it happen. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood⁠

“There’s been days where I wanted to quit, there’s been days where I cried, there’s been days where I thought I was gonna relapse, there’s been days where I’ve gone to the gym and just let all the anger out… But I’M HERE, I’m alive and I’m showin’ the people how to live a better life with addictions and mental health. I’ve been there, I’ve thought there was no hope, I’ve thought of taking my own life, I’ve thought of never being on planet earth again… But I reached out, I got the help and now I am living proof to people what can be done. Now I can speak from the heart and say I was there, but no look where I am…why can’t you?” - Angus Wood

Edan van Haren is one of bravest young men you’re ever likely to meet… He's a survivor of child sexual abuse, one of many to be preyed upon by convicted paedophile, Maurice Van Ryn. Ashamed and confused, Edan internalised the horrendous trauma and didn’t tell a soul for seven years, with the unimaginable pain manifesting in uncontrollable anger and deep depression. When he was 21, he found the courage to tell his family what he endured. Now 27, spent years in court fighting for compensation he deserves and standing up for the rights of all child sexual abuse survivors. *TRIGGER WARNING* This is an extremely heavy episode. If you or someone you know have been sexually assaulted, you can call 1800 RESPECT for support. Or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Sign the petition below to stand with Edan in his mission to change the law: Petition · Strip paedophiles of their superannuation and give it to survivors of child sexual abuse · Change.org --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood⁠

From the age of 14, Edan suffered repeated sexual abuse at the hands of a convicted serial paedophile and spent seven years hiding the truth of what happened from everyone he knew. Finally telling his family was a giant first step in his recovery.

West Auckland native Zane Munro never met his birth father and grew up putting on the tough guy front as he struggled to define his identity. Charging into young adulthood, Zane moved away from everyone he knew and found himself very much alone. He rapidly developed addictions to drugs and gambling in an attempt to fill the hole. It led him down a dangerous path that he believes would've been the end of him if he hadn't crashed so hard into rock bottom and met the woman who made him want to be a better man. Zane started a movement to help other men going through their own adversities. 'For All The Brothers' now has a huge following on Instagram and has become an incredible community for tens of thousands of men to look after themselves and support each other. If you want to hear Zane's full story, scroll back through our podcast library to episode #25 - Vulnerability Saved My Life, published on May 5 2020.

(Dave) Porter is a very different man today to the lost boy he used to be...Porter’s had a colourful life to put it mildly, finding himself stuck on a lonely, confusing path from a young age. It led him to live under a dark cloud of drug addiction and chronic depression for a decade; spurred on by crippling low self-esteem. His quest to understand himself took him half-way across the world to Peru, where his experiences deep in the jungle would leave him forever changed. Now in his mid 30s, Porter spends his days building custom Harley Davidson's and living the kind of life he never thought possible; a fulfilled one. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

Memorable MomentsJack Nagle was a nice, middle-class kid from a supportive, loving family. Not the background befitting the stereotype of those who destroy their lives on drugs…but that didn’t matter.  Jack ended his teens and started his twenties as the most hardcore drug addict imaginable and the fact he’s lived to tell the tale defies all probability.   Shooting up ice and heroin and swallowing fists full of prescription pills, he was brought back to life by paramedics after dealers left him to die of an overdose, only to go straight back to those same people for more drugs after checking out of hospital.   He was as hopeless as hopeless gets… but there’s always hope. Not in a fantastical, too good to be true way, but the kind of hope that against all odds can one day manifest into a rich, rewarding life that most in the grip of addiction would think impossible.But Jack proves IT IS possible. Now more than a decade clean and running drug education and media business @realdrugtalk being the person he really needed when he thought he was beyond all help.Scroll back through our podcast library to episode #62 published on September 4 2021 for the full story.

Matt Kovatchis went through school, college and most of his 20s as a closeted bi-sexual, only coming out around a year ago. An athlete raised in a hyper masculine and sometimes homophobic environment, Matt lived with deeply ingrained guilt and shame which he projected onto others, as a bully. For the longest time, he couldn't accept and love who he really was, so he did all he could to be someone else. Pushed to breaking point, Matt finally came out to his sisters and has worked hard in therapy to evolve into the much happier man he is now. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

For so many years, Matt denied his sexuality to himself and the world. He was so terrified of accepting who he really is, that he thought it would be better to just live a lie and it turned him into someone he hated.

This October Cooper Hough is running the entire 1200km of the Heysen Trail for mental health! Cooper's been touched by suicide indirectly through friends and family who've lost people.Like many of us, his experiences have made him feel helpless and desperate to do something to make things better.He's an outdoorsman and fitness fanatic who's channeling his passion into pulling off the biggest challenge of his life. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood⁠

There's a misconception that people only get depression when something terrible happens.But for some, depression slowly takes hold for no obvious reason at all.What would you do if all the experiences and people that have always brought you joy suddenly didn't anymore?Luke is a proud survivor of the darkest chapter in his life that no one ever saw coming and now that he's on the other side, he's never been more grateful to be alive. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

Chris Blowes is one of the very few people on earth to literally escape the jaws of death... In 2015 Chris was surfing at Fishery Bay in Port Lincoln, South Australia when he came face to face with every surfers worst nightmare, a great white shark. Surviving the horrific attack defied near impossible odds that to this day Chris still can’t fully comprehend. The ordeal deeply affected his mates, his family and everyone who helped save his life that day - not to mention the impact on Chris. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

Cancer doesn’t care that you have your whole life ahead of you. It affects everyone and can target anyone. Harry Malcolm was just your average easy going bloke cruising along in life when out of nowhere he had a seizure at work. From then on, Harry endured seizure after seizure, with the culprit soon revealed as a brain tumour the size of a golf ball...Fortunately the surgery to remove the tumour was a success; but Harry now has to live with the fact it could return...In the face of this frightening possibility, Harry's making the most of each day and staying positive. He's even going above and beyond to help others as an ambassador for New South Wales cancer treatment centre, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse. You can support Harry's 'Go The Distance' fundraising challenge here: https://www.gothedistance.org.au/fundraisers/HarryMalcolm/go-the-distance-2023 --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

Harry's a 22 year old go-getter living a full and active life. He's also got a slow growing brain tumour he can't get rid of.

Ben Hirst; on the 12th of July he'll be climbing twice the height of Mount Everest, by trekking up and down the slopes of Mount Wellington in Hobart. It's the latest in a long line of ultra endurance challenges that he's been pumping out over the past 8 years to raise awareness and funds for mental health. His passion comes from living through his own struggles, which've included a drinking problem, lack of purpose and suicidality. At his lowest, Ben made the split second decision to end his life; when he happened to see a bumper sticker that stopped him. A decade on, he's a fulfilled father of two, working in suicide prevention for the Tassie charity, Speak Up! Stay ChatTY.  You can support Ben's campaign here: https://lnkd.in/gWTh4tBF --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

This August, Blake Bourne is running 380km across the Simpson Desert to raise money for mental health. Blake has a long history of mental health struggles dating back to childhood; that culminated in multiple suicide attempts when he was just a boy. Thankfully he found boxing; giving him years of direction and confidence as he became an adult. But frustration and politics brought his progression in the sport came to an untimely end and in 2021, Blake was suddenly suicidal again, coming close to losing his life... This time when he woke up in hospital, it was seeing the pain on the faces of those who love him that convinced him to change his life for good. Now he's on a mission to raise $38,000 for mental health and he needs our support! You can make a donation to Blake's cause at Blake's Big Red Run (blakesbigredrun.com) --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood

Take a look back at a Young Blood moment that'll stay with you... Episode 36 - The Conversation That Saved A Convicted Ex-Cop with Matt Newlands Matt Newlands is a former police officer turned mental health worker, community leader and podcast host. During his decade in the force, Matt was confronted by distress and violence on a daily basis and the more he became the uniform, the more he lost touch with who he was outside of work. It was an intense experience of depersonalisation that ultimately lead to some very dark days and a conversation that saved his life. Scroll back to September 2020 in our podcast library for the full episode. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

Teon Lolesio aka Turquoise Prince, is a Canberra rapper and singer with Tongan heritage and to say his life's been a rollercoaster barely begins to describe it... Teon was always a wild kid, but it wasn't until he experienced bouts of psychosis as an adult that he started to understand the impact Bipolar disorder was having. It took him years to realise bipolar was fueling his drug abuse, leading to paranoid delusions and eventually landing him in the psych ward with schizo-affective disorder. In the blink of an eye, Teon went from an emerging artist making money from music, to living a nightmare he couldn't escape...But he weathered the storm and with the help of his mum who never quit on him; he's done all the right things to still be here today - reborn... --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood⁠

When people first heard Turquoise Prince they saw him as a rising star full of potential ⭐️🎙️ Then when he suffered a mental breakdown, he was cast aside as just another sad example of wasted talent.But that was then…and stars rise again 💫

Take a look back at a Young Blood moment that'll stay with you... Episode 21 - A Soldier's Silent Battle with Australian Army Veteran Luke Adamson In 2011 Luke Adamson was a Lance Corporal in the Australian Army serving as a Combat Engineer on a tour of Afghanistan. Enduring the deaths of his fellow soldiers and suffering an anxiety induced heart attack, Luke was diagnosed with PTSD and discharged from defence. It caused the breakdown of his marriage and led him to turn to alcohol and prescription drugs to numb the pain. It’s a story that’s all too common among the men and women transitioning to civilian life and part of the reason there’s been more than 400 ADF veteran suicides since 2001. Scroll back to March 15 2020 for the full story. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth

Zane Kirkwood is a new dad, a husband and one of the most decorated SANFL state league footy players of all time. Zane's also a big mental health advocate, because he's lived with varying degrees of anxiety and depression throughout his life and knows the toll it can take. An anxious lad from a young age, Zane found space to breathe out on the footy field, until panic attacks threatened to take it away. Zane was a textbook example of how hiding the way we're really feeling can lead down a dark path; thankfully he's since been on a much brighter one and that's mostly down to him. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

The thoughts racing non-stop through Zane's mind interfered with his sleep to such an extent that he started hallucinating and considering suicide.

Take a look back at a Young Blood moment that'll stay with you... Episode 14 - The Night My Mum was Murdered Arman Abrahimzadeh OAM is a husband, a father and anti-domestic violence campaigner. His life changed forever the night his father tracked down and murdered his mother Zahra in public after they fled the family home. Scroll back to December 18 2019 in our podcast library for the full story. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood⁠

Allan Ball is the National Director of White Ribbon Australia, part of a global movement to eradicate violence against women.  Allan's got his own story of navigating trauma and tragedy, having lost his mother in a house fire when he was just a child.  He's had a relish for social justice from a young age and now stands at the forefront of Australia's mission to stop one of our most devastating problems.  It's difficult to talk about domestic violence from a male perspective, but there's no doubt we as men need to be engaged in the conversation if things are going to get better.  --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

A few years back, Warren Hubbard aka Wazza was at breaking point; having been dominated by drugs and alcohol for most of his life.His addiction came before everything else, even his daughter, who was going through the pain that Wazza experienced from his own father.After a downward spiral more than a decade long, Woz finally drew a line in the sand, said "NO MORE" and meant it...Now he's 19 months sober, he's got a job, he's repaired his relationship with his daughter and for once in his life, he's proud of who he is. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

Michael Cullen is a soon to be qualified psychologist, who was inspired to pursue a career in the field after spending months in a mental health facility at a time when he didn't see any future for himself. Michael was faced with intense racial abuse from a very young age, something that continued into adulthood; causing him to hide his Aboriginality... He never met his father and had no examples of healthy relationships growing up, leaving him with no idea how to develop his own. It's hard to fathom the pain Michael's been through and harder still to believe that despite it all, he's become the man he is today - but here he is. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood⁠

Alexander Arthur is a young man living with cerebral palsy who wants you to know there's more to disability than how it's often portrayed. Alex had a tough time of it growing up, struggling with bullying in his younger years and his mental health as he's gotten older. He's made major strides through therapy and committing to self care, learning how to love who he is and manage the tendencies that don't serve him. Alex's unique take on disability caused me to question my own perceptions and I think you'll learn something valuable too. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

These laid-back chats are a different vibe to our studio episodes and your opportunity to share your thoughts with the Young Blood community! It works like this... We ask a mental health related question on the @youngbloodmensmentalhealth Instagram page, you comment your answer on the post and we'll soon follow up with one of these podcasts reading out all of your responses and sharing our thoughts. Hosted by Callum and partner Mary. Here's your take on our latest question, 'How has the podcast helped you?’ Help us make Question Time a thing by commenting on our next question! 🙌 --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

There was time when Ed Fowler thought he might never recover from his acquired brain injury... He faced an immense challenge and stacked up the little wins one day at a time. Five years later he’s the fittest he’s ever been, has a career he loves and is living the life he wants to live.

Five years ago, Ed Fowler sustained a brain injury in a car accident that threatened to take everything from him. It’s not the only trauma Ed's lived through..when he was finishing high school he was there when someone he knew got struck by lightning. Ed ramped up the partying and drinking without realising he was partly doing it to cope with what he’d seen and that’s partly what led to him being barely conscious in the back of a ute on the night of the accident Thankfully that wasn't the end of the story. Ed's pushed on through immense adversity to find a career he loves and create the life he wants to live, one small step at a time. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

Two years ago, Zak Hausler lost his little brother Luke to suicide. Luke struggled with his mental health throughout his younger days, but it seemed like that all changed for the better when he met his partner Zoe. Luke and Zoe had just had a baby girl and gotten engaged when he died. It was an inconceivable shock to Zak and the rest of his family who never saw any warning signs. Zak's pushed on through the aftermath of tragedy and adapted to life with his brother, but a part of Luke will always be with him.  --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

It's Question Time! These laid-back chats are a different vibe to the main podcast and your opportunity to share your thoughts with the Young Blood community!  It works like this... We ask a mental health related question on the @youngbloodmensmentalhealth Instagram page, you comment your answer on the post and we'll soon follow up with one of these podcasts reading out all of your responses and sharing our thoughts. Hosted by me, Callum and my partner Mary.  Here's your take on our latest question, 'How have you changed for the better?’ We’d love you to be part of our next Question Time video by commenting on our next question 🙌 --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Nick Stacey's life was torn apart by an opioid addiction and it's taken more than a decade for him to piece himself back together. As millions of people do, Nick started taking prescription drugs to cope with the pain of a shocking  sports injury and as he endured surgery after surgery, use turned to abuse. Nick lost his marriage to addiction and diagnosed with cancer soon after, all while trying to raise two young children and hold down a job. It took many years, therapy and a lot of bravery for him to face the fact his plight was linked to the sexual abuse he suffered as a child. In the face of terrible adversity, Nick's found a way to survive, put one foot in front of the other and make life worth living. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

Surviving child sexual abuse… Surviving a decade long prescription drug addiction… Surviving cancer… all while trying to be a good father. Nick’s carried more weight on his shoulders than most could bear. Yet he has endured and never given up hope.

For more than a year, Ben Hampton was constantly sick, in pain and out of sorts. The scariest part was, he had no idea why... All the doctors and all the tests told Ben there was nothing wrong with him. But he didn't feel right and started to believe it was all in his head. It  wasn't till a friend suggested he test for coeliac disease that he finally got an answer and a whole new way of life - gluten free. Ben's a busy father of two who's had to learn to adapt his life around coeliac disease and a big part of it is sharing his story. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

Coeliac disease flies under the radar and it could be the elusive answer to why you're not feeling right...

Welcome to question time! These laid-back chats are a different vibe to the main podcast and your opportunity to share your thoughts with the Young Blood community!  It works like this... We ask a mental health related question on the @youngbloodmensmentalhealth Instagram page, you comment your answer on the post and we'll soon follow up with one of these podcasts reading out all of your responses and sharing our thoughts. Hosted by me, Callum and my partner Mary.  Here's your take on our first question, 'What's the most important mental health lesson you learnt in 2022?' --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Ben Wade is a passionate personal trainer and a dedicated father; who's also a recovering drug addict. Ben went from first trying ice to using every day and his life soon fell apart around his habit. His marriage broke down and the possibility of not being able to see his young son became very real. But Ben bounced back; replacing drugs with fitness and finding purpose that set him on the path to becoming the man he always wanted to be.   --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

Will and Mitch are a couple of mates and recovering alcoholics who host The Last Drinks Podcast. As is the case for many young Aussies their drinking started in their early teen years and snowballed from there. Drinking goes hand in hand with Aussie culture, but how much is too much and how do you know you've got a problem when it's so accepted? A lot of us like a drink, myself included and it's easy not to question it until you're suffering from another hangover. Will and Mitch are setting the example that there's another way and it doesn't have to mean giving up all the fun. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

James Alexander is a young dad, an expert strength and conditioning coach and a community leader with a great life ahead of him.  None of it would’ve happened if there’d been a different result to the attempt James made on his life in 2019…   He’s been through a divorce; switched careers and learned to navigate single parenting, all by the age of 30.   James does intense physical challenges to raise tens of thousands for mental health and his next one’s coming up in early 2023 - click the link to donate: https://join.ruok.org.au/fundraisers/takingtheweightoffmental --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

Around a year ago, Will Plagakis lost his father Stalios to suicide.  Will’s dad was always his hero and as he grew into a man, he was his best friend too.  Stalios endured decades of pain and mental distress caused by fibromyalgia - that Will felt hopeless to help with. His death has had an enormous impact on his son, but it was his life that’s made Will the man he is today. Having just finished psychology honours at university, Will plans on forging a career in suicide prevention.   --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

Will lost his dad to suicide, following a decades long struggle with fibromyalgia, a divorce and other traumas.  He was his hero and his best friend.

If you met Shannon Archbold now you wouldn't think he's a guy who's had more than his fair share of mental health struggles and that's why he's sharing his story. Shannon endured an abusive childhood and normalised living with symptoms of depression and anxiety throughout his life. He made a career as a pilot, only to have that identity pulled out from under him when COVID hit. Shannon's past trauma multiplied by the stress he was under, manifested in behaviour that wasn't like him at all... But he found the courage to reach out for help and has put in the work to rebuild himself a better man. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood⁠

It's taken 100 episodes for me to share my story in detail.  I created Young Blood to be a space for men to talk openly about what we struggle with and how we process emotions and like most men, I have a hard time doing it myself! In this solo episode I get into: My past and personal life What it was like for me to lose a friend to suicide How the podcast journey has gone so far and why I do it What I find challenging and what I'm working on  My perspective on vulnerability and men's mental health. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth

Pat Di Domenico was once one of a growing number of single fathers in Australia. Pat’s parents were separated when he was growing up and he was deadset on avoiding a repeat with his relationship - but it didn’t work out that way. He’s been put through the ringer in the family court system and has had a steep learning curve. Now Pat’s a husband and father of 3, helping single dad’s navigate co-parenting and be the best they can be. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood⁠

Brandon's a FIFO worker who's big on mental health. He's been to a dark place himself... when he was only 19, he was on the verge of suicide when a phone call from his mum saved his life. He's taken on the pressure of becoming a young dad, all while having to navigate a relationship that wasn't working. Brandon’s been dragged through the family court system trying to stay close to his boy, and if that wasn't hard enough, he also lost his best mate to suicide. Throughout it all, Brandon's been inspired to help support others. He's an ambassador for Mineset, a not for profit supporting mental health in mining and he's made it his mission to look after his mates. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood⁠

Jordan Fielding is a champion Muay Thai fighter and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, who could also break your ribs with a single kick... Jordan had a rough life growing up and he's had to battle to beat the odds and make something of himself. He's never been one to share his past, focusing on the present and letting his fists do most of the talking. But Jordan's telling his story now to show other young men who come from nothing, there's a better life out there waiting if you keep fighting for it. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood⁠

Anders Villani endured severe sexual abuse as a child, beginning when he was just 5 years old. The abuse shaped the young man Anders grew into, deeply impacting his development and relationships, without him even realising. Anders suppressed what had happened to him all the way into adulthood, denying it to himself and never sharing it with anyone. Then, when he was a student at university, Anders was groomed and taken advantage of again - this time by a notorious paedophile who's since gone to prison. It's taken Anders many years to process his trauma, something he's been able to do through his poetry, the latest of which has just been published in his new book 'Totality'. Anders has shown outstanding bravery in sharing his story, on a topic that affects so many and is voiced by so few. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood⁠

It all started with a bicep tear in the gym... In the days after his initial surgery to repair the injury, Gabe Lieschke was overcome by necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating virus that suddenly pushed him to the brink of death. He was put in a 10 day coma and had his right arm amputated in a desperate attempt to stop the disease spreading. Gabe survived, but the physique he'd built through a decade of bodybuilding was torn apart and with it, his identity... Each morning Gabe would wake to see a living nightmare staring back at him in the mirror, but he was determined not to let it break him. Then, while already carrying more weight than most could bear, the unthinkable happened, Gabe's best mate suddenly passed away. The shocking loss shook Gabe to the core and lit a fire within him to honour his friend's memory by becoming his best self and set the goal to be the best in the world at para-cycling.  For Gabe and his goals it's a matter of when, not if. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood⁠

A year ago Seb Steel's leg was crushed under a forklift in a workplace accident.    The brutal moment of Seb’s injury was only the beginning of the immense  mental and physical pain that followed.  Surgery after surgery led to let down after let down and when Seb finally got his wish of a leg amputation, it didn't go the way he’d imagined…  In the face of all that adversity, Seb now sees himself as a better man - proud of who he is and ready to inspire. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood⁠

I promise you've never met anyone quite like Chance... The Congo native fled his war-torn homeland as a child, leaving his family and everything he'd ever known behind him. When Chance finally made it to Australia he thought he'd be in paradise, but in reality, life was hell... Homeless, traumatised and a world away from the only people who loved him, Chance had every reason to give up, but that's not how this story goes. Now he's running his own mental health and disability care business and he's just published a book on mentoring, solidifying his true passion for helping others. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood⁠

TDrew is Co-Founder of 1AND1 Life, an African American owned mental health and wellness performance company based in New York City. Thomas went through more than his fair share of mental health struggles during his schooling days... He was regularly victimised by bullies; ending up so distressed that he became suicidal. Thomas had a hard time learning to love himself and stop hating the fact he was different. When he figured out how to use that individuality to his advantage, life changed. Since graduating from college, Thomas has been striving to set a unique example for young black men as an entrepreneur working to empower his community. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood⁠

Dave Edwards is a father of two who’s really struggled with post-natal depression.  Dave was rattled from the moment his now 8 year old son was born.  He soon developed anxiety and depression as the pressure and reality of being a father hit home.  Putting on a brave face for his partner, Dave was ashamed to share how he was really feeling.  He’s not alone - around 5% of new dads develop postnatal depression in their child’s first year of life.  You don’t hear much on this topic - that’s why we’re talking about it. --------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join us on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth Produced at PodBooth ------------ If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, AG1 is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE TRAVEL PACKS with your first purchase. Go to ⁠⁠⁠drinkAG1.com/youngblood⁠

Cam Taylor knows a dozen people personally who've died by suicide since 2018, most of whom were connected to his FIFO work in the mines.     He lost one friend on the job, then had the misfortune of finding the body of another just a short time later.     In an attempt to numb the pain, Cam was drinking and partying to excess, refusing to confront the massive trauma he was enduring.    When he did finally find the courage to talk, things started to change...  Now he's the founder of 'Chin Up Mental Health', a clothing brand created to spark conversations that could save lives. --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Marcellus Enalanga is a gay Aboriginal man who's faced prejudice on all sides. Marcellus had a lot to grapple with growing up in Port Pirie. Figuring out who he was and how to be himself was no easy task. He had some very dark days that culminated in attempting suicide. But thankfully Marcellus's story was only beginning. Since then, he's gone on to help make significant improvements to Aboriginal youth services and education; and most importantly, become proud of everything he is. --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Abdul Abdullah is an Aussie artist who's fascinated by the concept of being an outsider, something he identifies with personally.  Abdul Is a 7th generation Australian-Muslim with Indonesian and Malay heritage. He's a man who can't be put into a box by any one definition.   Working across portraiture, photography and painting, Abdul vividly expresses the experience of growing up Muslim in Australia in the post 9/11 era, confronting the prejudices that've marginalised Muslim youth.  His provocative art has struck a cord around the world and even been censored by politicians, who've accused him of attacking culture.  Abdul's part of a the new ABC TV series, Space 22, which explores art therapy as a means of improving mental wellbeing.   A picture paints a thousand words and Abdul's got a lot to say... --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

I met Cain Dover a few months back at one of the breath work, meditation and ice bath sessions he regularly runs as a way of helping people connect. Cain struck me as a man who’d been through something  significant, come to a life changing realisation and taken the necessary action to evolve. And I wasn’t wrong…  Until a few years ago, he was under the shadow of a strained relationship with his father. A relationship that was void of emotional connection and responsible for much of his pain and confusion. He’s lived the life of a money hungry corporate high flyer, burning the candle at both ends until it all came crashing down… He’s been on a plant medicine induced odyssey of self discovery deep in the amazon jungle, having visions that defy all rational explanation. And he’s rebuilt his value system and replaced the rigid definition of what he was taught it meant to be a success - emerging as something else entirely. --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Steve White grew up without a father after his dad abandoned him as a young boy.  The hurt of that rejection ran deeper than Steve realised, until he himself became a father and much to his horror, became caught in a cycle of repeating the same behaviour he swore he'd never subject his own family to.  He never had anyone around to teach him how to process his emotions and was made to feel like sharing his feelings wasn't how a man dealt with difficulties. So when Steve tragically lost his best mate to suicide in his early twenties, he had no way of coping outside of an on and off dependency on drugs and alcohol, a rollercoaster that ultimately left him burnout and desperate for answers.  Steve's not perfect but he's bloody trying his best to do the work, learning from his mistakes and no longer playing the victim.  It's not about getting everything right. It's about knowing where you're going wrong and picking yourself back up again, because no else is going to do it for you.  Check out the Brothers N Others Podcast, another great platform for every day people to share stories of what they've been through, hosted by Steve and his brother Chris.   --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

After being named 2022 South Australian Young Achiever of the Year, Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcast host, Callum MacPherson, chats with Fresh 92.7 Breakfast Show presenters, Davo, Tom and Callum about the podcast's origin story, how to be there for someone who's struggling and what we can all do to contribute to the positive mental health revolution. 

Tom Tilley is one Australia's most recognised journalists and he's just written a fascinating book called, Speaking in Tongues, a memoir about his life growing up in a Pentecostal sect that believed it was the one true church. The church was based around speaking in tongues, with members believing they could receive the holy spirit and speak directly to God in their own divine language.    Tom was split between two worlds, with his life inside the church butting up against everything on the outer till there wasn't room for both...   Tom's had to question everything in his pursuit of the truth and rebuild himself as a man without God.  It's a fascinating story, one that should be heard by anyone struggling to choose the life they want to live. --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Jack Brown is one of the guys running the trailblazing nationwide men's mental health charity #talk2mebro. It's an early intervention program underpinned by the ultimate aim of reducing suicide through informing and empowering men. The organisation was launched by Jack's friend, Kristy Hajjar, following the loss of her husband and Jack's cousin, Matt, to suicide. Jack's world was flipped upside down when Matty died. The tragedy leaving him devastated, confused and desperate for a way to numb the pain.  Relying on self-destructive coping mechanisms to distract himself, Jack developed a gambling addiction and descended to the point he was suicidal himself.  Fortunately, with the love of his friends and family and a drastic change in life direction, he was able to turn it all around.  Not wanting anyone to ever feel like he felt, Jack has gone on to find profound meaning in the service of presenting and facilitating workshops on mental health to schools and groups around Australia, with the other members of the #talk2mebro team. Since 2018 he's spoken to more than 10,000 people about mental health and forged a career in the space he never thought he'd have.  Jack's as sincere as they come and just the kind of bloke we need leading the men's mental health revolution, a man who's been there, knows what it's like and will make you believe brighter days are ahead.  --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

  Deep down the singer song-writer has never felt good enough, always doing his best to cover up his insecurities and hide his true self.    Tim's grappled with a sex addiction in a never ending quest for validation and knows what it's like to become detached from who you really are.   Tim says light is found in the darkness and wants those going through it to believe life can be a whole lot better if we have the courage to face our demons and forgive ourselves. Tim Conlon has the voice of an angel and he's using it to share his struggles and show others they're not alone... --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Matt Caruana is a man in his early twenties who's had to show astounding spirit to survive and inspire. Matt put himself in a wheelchair from attempting suicide as a teenager... It was the end result of years of build up which saw him struggle constantly with his mental health from the age of 12. Matt used to feel so worthless that all he could think about was throwing his life away...now all he thinks about is how to make the most of what he's been blessed with. On his darkest days, Matt never imagined he'd be who he's become...but here he is. --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Jaxon Tippet is a model, influencer and podcaster who's always wanted to be the man...   Throughout much of his life, image meant everything to Jaxon and he was willing to go to extreme lengths for the sake of public perception, even if it meant compromising his health.    Jaxon's life revolved around the intense use of steroids from the age of 18, until it caused him major issues in his mid twenties.    Now he's sharing the ugly truth of his story to help young men understand the reality and encourage them not to make the same mistakes he did.    Next to no one in Jaxon's industry admits to using steroids, much less go into detail about the ill effects and that makes this message all the more important to hear. --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Ryan Waite is a Youth Worker who spends most of his days sharing his life experience to help guide young men in a positive direction. Just 25, Ryan has survived more hardship than most. After his mother passed away when he was 11, Ryan's dad descended into alcoholism and became abusive, forcing Ryan to move out of home with his brother as a teen. Ryan battled with anxiety and depression and even after finding a great psychologist, fell in with the wrong crowd and turned to drugs to avoid facing his emotions. In his early twenties, Ryan's dad died of cancer and he felt so lost he planned on suicide; but fortunately it wasn't to be the end. Throughout it all, Ryan has been living with ADHD, a condition he views as his super power. Now he's a Muay Thai fighting weapon and inspiration to many, with a heart of gold he's deeply thankful is still beating. --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Zac Cannell is a transgender man who lived the first 25 years of his life as a woman. Zac felt like he didn't belong in his body from a young age and it made growing into adulthood very confusing. Fortunately, he was supported by his family when he came out, but the same can't be said for everybody. Research shows people in the LGBTIQ+ community experience a disproportionately high rate of mental health challenges. As an advocate, facilitator and health professional, Zac has seen it all. --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Nic Bloom is a mental health trainer and speaker who lives to hit the message home to young people. Nic witnessed his mum's mental health struggles throughout his youth and was fascinated by the problem he couldn't fix... He was there for a close friend throughout his 20's, who ultimately died by suicide after years of distress, a tragedy that's had an immense impact. The last 24 months has been a transformational time for Nic. Motivated by the difficulties faced by those close to him and the desire to something more, he stepped away from an unfulfilling career and took the leap into the mental health space where he's now having an impact at schools and organisations across Australia. --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Brendan Walsh is an adventure athlete who holds the Guinness World Record for the Fastest Crossing of America By Bicycle, one of the great feats of endurance he’s taken on in the name of raising mental health awareness. Brendan’s just published a book, 'For Those Who Can't', chronicling his remarkable journey from his long struggle with mental illness and suicidal ideation, to taking on the world on his bike. Brendan’s lost friends to suicide and very nearly lost himself, but he’s still here and he’s on a mission to help make a change. --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Damien Rider is a multiple world record holding adventure and extreme sports athlete and a world renowned wellness and mindset coach.  This man recently skydived off the top of a hot air balloon at 7 and a half thousand feet - he’s pushed a 3 tonne truck down the Gold Coast highway - skateboarded for 56 days through the Mojave desert and completed an entire marathon carrying a mattress on his shoulder and that's not all… Damien pulls off these mind-blowing feats to prove nothing is impossible and he does it all in the name of raising awareness for survivors of complex trauma like himself.  Damien suffered horrific child abuse throughout his young life and grew up without the tools to make sense of what happened to him… He abused drugs to try to escape and ultimately made multiple attempts on his life before beginning his truly extraordinary turnaround. He’s been crowned Men’s Health Man of the Year and is a 2 time Australian of the Year nominee. You’d be hard pressed to find a story more worth hearing than this one… --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Corey Boutwell is a very different man to who he was not all that long ago… These days Corey’s a professional fitness model, a high performance coach and a content creator dedicated to building and promoting all aspects of health. But when he was 16 he was diagnosed with depression and spent much of his teenage years in a fog.  Things spiraled in his early twenties when Corey found himself unable to break out of  being suicidal - hiding it from everyone until he told the right person.  Corey used to wake up and go to sleep not wanting to be here. Now all he wants is more time to live the life he’s built.  No man is free who is not a master of himself… --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Sam Koslowski is co-founder of The Daily Aus, Australia’s leading social-first news service, delivering news geared towards a younger audience with an emphasis on positivity. Sam broke away from the the path he was on, feeling like he was playing a role that wasn’t right for him, working as a corporate lawyer and hating it. As someone with his own history of anxiety, the constant negativity and fear mongering of mainstream news was particularly noticeable to Sam and he realised those same feelings were making other young people switch off from the 24 hour news cycle. So Sam and Zara Seidler made the bold move to launch their own news platform - that’s now an Instagram page, newsletter and podcast that reaches a quarter of a million young Aussies each day. The Daily Aus is the disruptor proving it’s possible to stay informed and stay positive. --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

For decades, Matt Sinkovitz had a porn addiction that hung over his life like a dark cloud, until he found the tools and the discipline to master his compulsion.  Now Matt’s on a mission to help men everywhere end their damaging relationship with porn and get their lives back.  He’s adopted Buddhism and uses meditation, mindfulness and purpose to help men break free of the habits that hold us back.  He’s the host of the making peace with porn podcast and run’s a men’s support group of the same name on Facebook.  Porn poses a serious problem for many young guys around the world and its insidious influence is constantly growing.  We may not realise it but our relationship with porn flows into the rest of our lives, and can negatively affect us in many different ways - but if its an issue for you, you don’t have to be a victim. --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Dr Zac Seidler is a psychologist, a leading mental health expert and the Director of Mental Health Training at Movember. Zac has dedicated his career to better understanding men’s mental health and building programs to reshape how clinicians approach working with men in distress. Zac and Movember’s goal is to reduce the male suicide rate by 25% by 2030. How we create a world with less suicide is highly complex - and it’s going to take research, preventative health strategies, crisis support and the every day person all working together to get us there. November is of course Movember, that special time of the year when the majestic mo’s are flowing, so whether you’re growing one yourself or donating to a great cause, find a way to get involved, and do it for the boiz! --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Dylan Conway is the creator of 'Brothers N Books', an Instagram community based on sharing lived experience stories that’s on a mission to make reading cool. Dylan got hooked on books while he was stuck in hospital for over a year recovering from an unlikely condition. Reading gave Dylan something constructive to when he desperately needed it. Unable to work on his body like he always had, he leveled up his mental fitness instead and it’s changed his life. Brothers N Books invites followers to share stories about tough times they’ve been through, linked to the books that’ve helped them overcome their struggles. It’s a great idea and Dylan is great bloke - you can tell I loved recording this one - hope you enjoy it too. --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Arman Vestad is Young Blood’s first international guest, hailing all the way from Norway. He’s been a drug addict, a dealer and all round criminal who was in the game for a decade till he did time in prison after being caught supplying guns used in a murder…   Arman was lost and hopeless till someone showed faith in him and gave him a chance to apply the skills he’d developed in the underworld to business. Since those dark days, Arman’s gone on to become a family man, a public speaker and a mental health advocate who’s currently running across his home country on tour.  Arman’s proof that it’s never too late to change your life.  --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Happy World Mental Health Day! This is a story for anyone who’s ever felt like a fish out of water with nowhere to go and no one to talk to...   Jahin Tanvir is just starting his twenties and he’s already a multi award winning youth advocate, policy advisor and keynote speaker - a man living out his passion, giving a voice to those who deserve to be heard.   A first generation migrant who came to Australia from Bangladesh in the early 2000s, Jahin was in his younger days, one of the only children of colour in his school and his neighbourhood… facing racism and alienation that caused him severe anxiety.   As far back as he can remember, Jahin felt like an outcast who didn’t fit in, in Australia. He was never comfortable in his own skin and for a long time, wanted desperately to be someone other than himself. The worst part was, he was convinced no one could ever know how he really felt inside for fear or being rejected by his own family. Jahin says the culture he hails from has been critical of mental health issues, quick to judge those who’re struggling and prone to labelling people crazy - so he buried his distress with everything he had. --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Jordan Hackett is a Sexologist and Men's Sex Coach who specialises in helping men build intimacy and connection with themselves and their partners. Like many of us growing up; Jordan didn't know the first thing about how to communicate with girls and felt like he was missing out on a part of life he had a deep need to experience.  After discovering porn as an outlet for his frustrations before his teenage years began, Jordan soon developed a reliance and found himself further away from the kind of real intimacy he was actually chasing.  Jordan's fascinated by everything to do with sex and all the ways humans navigate it.  So much so that he's made a career out of it as a somatic sex educator, a trauma-informed, body based form of sex therapy.  Blokes joke about sex all the time, but how often do we really talk about it? and reflect on what it is about who we are and how we feel about ourselves that significantly impacts our sex lives?  Yeah, not often... --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Today is World CML (chronic myeloid leukaemia) Day. CML is a rare form of blood cancer that just over 300 Australians are diagnosed with each year. In 2019, Michael Bowen was one of them...   He was on his way to work one day when he got an urgent call to come into the emergency department. Minutes later his life changed in an instant when he was suddenly hit with the diagnosis. The man of the house, supporting a young family, Michael's first thoughts were of his baby daughter, confronted with the question of if he was going to live to be there for her.    No one could be prepared for the hardship in the years that followed. The immense mental and physical difficulty of living with cancer and the self applied pressure to get back to being the man he thought he was, sent Michael spiraling into a deep depression. But step by step and with great support from friends and family Michael slowly dragged himself out of the pit of despair that'd all but swallowed him.   Now Michael's in remission and sharing his story as an ambassador for the Leukaemia Foundation.   September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month so if someone you love is diagnosed with blood cancer, please reach out to the Leukaemia Foundation on 1800 620 420 or visit leukaemia.org.au for help.    --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Jack Nagle was a nice, middle class kid from a supportive, loving family. Not the background befitting the stereotype of the kind of people who destroy their lives on drugs…but that didn’t matter.   Jack ended his teens and started his twenties as the most hardcore drug addict imaginable and the fact he’s lived to tell the tale defies all probability.   Shooting up ice and heroin and swallowing fists full of prescription pills, he was brought back to life by paramedics after dealers left him to die of an overdose, only to go straight back to those same people for more drugs after checking out of hospital.    He was as hopeless as hopeless gets… but there’s always hope. Not in a fantastical, too good to be true way, but the kind of hope that manifests into a rich rewarding that most in the grip of addiction would think impossible. But it’s not impossible…   Now Jack’s 10 years clean and running drug education and media business Realdrugtalk being the person he really needed when he thought he was beyond help. --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Dan Pronk served 4 tours of Afghanistan as a Special Operations doctor, spending many days saving and losing fellow soldiers through more than 100 combat missions. Dan, his brother Ben and veteran, Tim Curtis, have just released their book, ‘The Resilience Shield’ - A mix of enthralling stories and practical instructions breaking down methods we can all use to build genuine resilience. Dan thrived in the most extreme high stress environments and found the rampant intensity of battle so enticing that he felt he had to keep going back for more.  When he was in the thick of it, witnessing all the death and destruction destruction seemed like water off a ducks back, but Dan’s trauma was building all along till it finally caught up with him.  Dan is a prime example of post traumatic growth, the positive flip side of post traumatic stress we don’t often hear about.  Very few of us have survived the worst of the worst like Dan has, but we all faces challenges in our lives with the potential to break us and we all need a Resilience Shield.  --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Nick Bracks just published his first book 'Move Your Mind' - it's both his personal story of struggling with mental health throughout his life and a guide on how we can better equip ourselves to handle the challenges inevitably coming our way, all based on countless conversations with experts, advocates and every day people he's had over the past decade.   The son of the former Premier of Victoria, Nick always put a lot of pressure on himself to be exceptional but unfortunately that went hand in hand with a constant stream of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours that drove him to self destruction.   Through sheer repetition and desire, he's built himself up from being a guy who was terrified to speak in front of anyone, to presenting more than a thousands talks on mental health to audiences around the world.   He's an actor, an entrepreneur, a business owner and now an author, but perhaps most impressively, he's managed to still not be up himself.... that's because he hasn't forgotten why he does what he does in the first place.   Nick's a genuine operator and his book is well worth reading, but don't take my word for it, You can hear for yourself!    ***TRIGGER WARNING*** This video discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is suicidal, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the suicide prevention hotline in your country. --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Shane Mitchell is one of Australia's most dangerous men in the octagon with a 12 and 4 professional Mixed Martial Arts record.   In the cage he's known for his savage knockout power...not what anyone expected from a shy kid growing up without much confidence in Adelaide's northern suburbs...   Shane's been a pro fighter since 2013 and now touching 30, he's still grinding to realise his dream of making it to the UFC. He's had to overcome more than his fair share of adversity on the hard road to becoming a champion; it's taught him what matters and what he needs to stay focused.   From the outside looking in, we only see the glory or failure in the end result; when years of work boils down to a moment that can be over in minutes and sometimes even seconds... But rarely do we get to see inside the heads of those who have what it takes to put themselves in the arena. --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Matt Morris is the chair of the South Australian Rainbow Advocacy Alliance, working for the rights of the LGBTIQ community.   Matt realised he was bisexual/pansexual in his teens, but it took him years to work up the courage to come out. Fortunately his sexuality was accepted by his friends and family but that hasn’t been the case for others he knows.   Matt’s always felt called to help those who really need it, he’s worked the phones for Lifeline in suicide prevention, advocated for the homeless and was fired up to step into his current role after witnessing the damaging impact of homophobia and transphobia during the marriage equality debate.

When it comes to Aussie culture, punting has traditionally been right up there with having a cutla cold ones, watching the footy and chucking snags on the barby... In fact, 39% of Aussies gamble on a regular basis and Australia leads the world in gambling losses per capita, totaling around $25 billion per year. The pokies do the most damage overall, but in recent years the percentage of young men betting on sports and horse racing has also been increasing at an exponential rate. One of them was Luke McLean, who was controlled by a gambling addiction he couldn't escape for over a decade. Luke got hooked after his first big win at the TAB as a 17 year old and went on to spend just every cent he ever earned on sports betting. The habit made him hate himself and very nearly claimed his life, before he found the therapy that allowed him to finally break free. Now a Men's Coach, Luke is dedicated to helping give other men the tools to beat their own demons. --------------------- Looking for a simple way to take care of your gut? Athletic Greens can help! Check out the special offer for podcast listeners at athleticgreens.com/youngblood --------------------- You can find all Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcasts here: https://linktr.ee/youngbloodmmh Join our movement on socials! IG: @youngbloodmensmentalhealth TikTok: @youngbloodmentalhealth FB: Young Blood - Men's Mental Health

Nathan Bolton is a former soldier who served two tours of Afghanistan as a Special Operations Engineer in the Australian Special Forces. His primary objective was to find and clear improvised explosive devices planted across the battlefield by the enemy and it led to him to coming within literally an inch of death. Surviving such horror caused Nathan significant trauma, but he didn't know it at the time. Having never learned to process his emotions, he'd instead been conditioned to bottle it all up and get on with the job. After getting home from his second tour, Nathan wasn't the same... Suddenly he was experiencing fits of rage and being overwhelmed by a whirlwind of feelings and deep pain he couldn't understand. He was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depression. Another battle that almost claimed his life... But he held on - and through years of intense self-work, eventually rebuilt himself as a new man, capable of more than he ever imagined. Now the co-owner of Bolton Brothers psychology practice for men and a champion of positive mental health, Nathan shares the story of who he was, what he went through and who he's become - A stunning example of personal transformation.

Mitch McPherson lost his younger brother to suicide in 2013 and living through that tragedy was a major turning point that would come to define his future career. Mitch was a glazier by trade, but for the past 7 years he's been touring the country, sharing his lived experience story with thousands of people at hundreds of events, teaching everyone how to spot the warning signs when someone's at risk of suicide and inspiring organisations to change the way they think about mental health. Mitch founded his business, SPEAK UP Stay ChatTY to spread this crucial message as far and wide as possible and now leads a team of people delivering mental health programs at schools and sporting clubs. He was the 2017 Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year and his passion for saving lives is only burning brighter as the impact of his much needed work continues to grow.

Dylan Buckley is a former AFL player who's life has gone down a path he never imagined... Since his school days, Dyl believed he was destined to play professional footy and that belief turned into a reality when he was swept into the league as a teenager. With his self worth totally wrapped up in his on-field performance, he found himself struggling to keep it together when he wasn't playing up to his standards and didn't know who he was beyond the game. Eventually he was de-listed by Carlton after four years with the club and having put all his eggs in one basket, there was no back-up plan to turn to. Dyl was soon picked up by another club only to be de-listed again, but by that time he'd discovered an unlikely passion that would lead him on to bigger and better things - becoming the host of what is now one of the top podcasts in Australia, 'Dyl & Friends'. His twenties have been a rollercoaster of self-discovery and it turns out he's not who he thought he always had to be...He's better.

Marc Ryan is 'The Beautiful Bogan' and he’s not your typical standup comedian... He blends light hearted laughs with mental health advocacy - using his gigs as a platform to show people they’re not alone in the struggle. In between jokes, Marc shares the story of the abuse he suffered at the hands of a family member as a teenager and speaks openly about the trauma it caused him - damage he still deals with every day. Marc is a brave man who’s living for his kids and for his mission to let as many people as he can know that no matter how bad it gets, you’ve got to keep fighting.

Back in 2014 Hunter Johnson and a mate created The Man Cave, a program that supports adolescent boys on their journey to becoming men. It was in response to the toxic culture they had all been exposed to over the years and wanting to change things for future generations. Since it started, the man cave has grown to reach more than twenty thousand boys across Australia and is now established as a driving force, ushering in a new era of positive masculinity. There’s no doubt the seeds being planted in young minds by the program are changing how the men of the future view themselves and each other for the better. And the massive effort in making it all happen has turned Hunter into the man he needed to be. He’s also launched a personal care brand for men called, ‘stuff’, to help take care of the outside as well as the inside. This is a chat about boys, men and how we become who we are.

Chris Blowes is one of the very few people on earth to literally escape the jaws of death... In 2015 Chris was surfing at Fishery Bay in Port Lincoln, South Australia when he came face to face with every surfers worst nightmare - a great white shark Surviving the horrific attack defied near impossible odds that that to this day Chris still can’t fully comprehend. The ordeal deeply affected his mates, his family and everyone who helped save his life that day - not to mention the impact on Chris, who had to learn how to walk, live and eventually surf again. He’s written it all down in the recently published book, titled, ‘caught inside’, an epic tale he’s lived to tell...

John Denholm is the founder of South Australia's huge volunteer run men's support network 'SA Brothers'. John started the group back in 2017 on the back of going through his own mental health struggles and coming to the realisation that the men around him needed a platform to support each other. He never intended for it to be a big deal, but with so much demand, the network quickly ballooned out to include more than 25,000 active members. John now carries the massive workload of keeping SA Brothers running, alongside his right hand man Jarrad Wadmore, with help from a crew of lads who put their blood, sweat and tears into actively serving the community through volunteer work based on helping men locally. They also have the full time job of monitoring the Facebook page that's a constant stream of men looking for advice and support for everything from their mental health to needing help finding work or just looking for a chat. SA Brothers is the only group of its kind in the country and is a shining example of what's possible when men band together for no other reason than to help each other. The group makes a massive difference to thousands of lives each year, yet still struggles immensely to find the funding needed to cover costs. Sometimes the drive to do the right thing at all costs takes a heavy personal toll, but for these guys, it's simply too important to quit.

Michael Shafar is a glass half full kind of guy who's such a good comedian, he's been able to make his own harrowing battle with cancer funny. In 2017, Michael was busy making his mark as a stand up comic, when he made the costly decision to ignore one of his testicles growing to more than double the size of the other. By the time he went to the doctor, the testicular cancer had already spread throughout his body and he was only given a 50% chance of making it. But he was determined to make the most of that chance and never stopped performing throughout the grueling rounds of chemo. Comedy gives him purpose and surviving cancer has given him plenty of material. Michael's been in and out of remission and still isn't totally out of the woods, but he's not letting that hold him back.

Hesh Fernando is the founder of Melbourne start-up 'The Model Man' - a business dedicated to improving the lives of businessmen and doing something about the corporate world's traditional lack of regard for men's mental health. Hesh runs 'The Model Man' alongside his dad; and interestingly, the difficult relationship he had with his father throughout his young life has played a big role in bringing them together on this journey now. As a kid, Hesh was full of rage brought on by experiencing his dad mistreat him and his mother; and being powerless to stop it. Because of this, He grew up putting pressure on himself to try to fix problems that weren't his to fix, a trait that ultimately led to him getting bottled and put in hospital. Hesh deeply believes he's found his purpose in working with men and seeking to bring about organisational change. He's evolved in many ways as an individual since hitting rock bottom in his early twenties, but it's the total reversal of his relationship with his Dad that's even more inspiring.

If you heard Nathan Lymn's story from someone else, you'd be forgiven for thinking he's making it up... His life so far has been such a random series of events that it's hard to imagine all this stuff could happen to one person - but it's all true. Nathan was a self described 'street kid' living a chaotic life in and out of crisis housing through teenagehood, due to his parents mental illness leaving them unable to care for him. He was faced with the threat of extreme physical violence on a constant basis, growing up in a world where a looming sense of despair was the norm. He's survived by any means necessary and found work everywhere from helicopter hangars, to oil rigs to selling real estate and solar power - all while trying to find his elusive place in the world. Nathan's learned lessons from his life experience that can't be taught, he's a deep thinker, a philosopher and a young man with a heart of gold who's finally realised the meaning of his life - to serve. ***TRIGGER WARNING*** This episode discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is suicidal, please call Lifeline on 13 14 11 or the suicide prevention hotline in your country.

Ben Stamatovich is a man who's lived the kind of life many wouldn't survive... Growing up without either of his birth parents, Ben was sleeping rough on the streets from the age of 13 and stealing just to eat and stay warm, soon finding himself trapped in a cycle of homelessness that would dominate his young life. His resourcefulness, the will to survive and the hope that things would one day get better is all that kept him alive when the pressure of life brought him to his knees time and time again. He finally found his feet in his early twenties, only to become a drug addict and lose it all to meth - a crippling habit he eventually kicked by going cold turkey in a tent. Ben's thought about giving up too many times to count over the years but he's hung on...and dragged himself back out of the abyss that's always threatened to consume him. In the face of all the pain, he's found true love in his partner, his family and his surprising passion for drone photography - a hobby that came out of nowhere and has since grown to become one of Ben's biggest motivators -his work much loved by a huge following. He'd be the first to tell you he's not all fixed, life isn't that simple - though all the pieces have been glued back together. It's hard to put Ben's story into words, but he's given it a bloody good crack. ***TRIGGER WARNING*** This episode discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is suicidal, please call Lifeline on 13 14 11 or the suicide prevention hotline in your country.

Sean Weir is the man behind The Shaka Project, a movement that shares Young Blood’s mission to ignite the tough conversations around men’s mental health. It’s based on a clothing line stamped with the shaka hand gesture, symbolising the wearers willingness to be open about their own mental health and be there for their mates. Sean started The Shaka Project thinking it’d just be for his home town, but  the power of the project resonated so much, its quickly spread interstate and overseas. Sean’s now a young father, a successful business owner and an all around calm and compassionate bloke. The polar opposite of who he was not all that long ago. He still struggles from time to time, but 'it's all good bro' - so do we. ***TRIGGER WARNING*** This episode discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is suicidal, please call Lifeline on 13 14 11 or the suicide prevention hotline in your country.

Ilan Kidron is an ARIA award winning singer-songwriter responsible for writing the hit anthems for aussie dance music pioneers, the Potbelleez and plenty of tracks for big name artists. Ilan has lived the dream,  enjoying an action packed life on the road for many years that’s brought him great success. But he’s also had to endure immeasurable pain... Ilan’s wife took her own life in 2017, leaving he and his two children to pick up the pieces. Coping with such trauma while being a father has been confusing and unimaginably difficult for Ilan, but despite it all, he still focuses on all the good in the world, passionately living a full life with the belief that nothing is impossible. ***TRIGGER WARNING*** This content discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is suicidal, please call Lifeline on 13 14 11 or the suicide prevention hotline in your country.

Justin Westhoff is a former AFL star, but that’s not why he's on the podcast... For the past 5 years Westy and his business partner Scott Rogash have been working on a revolutionary concept that could completely change the lives of many people experiencing homelessness. They’re building compact, minimalist homes known as pods that can be placed together in vacant blocks of land to form micro-communities. But it goes much further than accommodation - these communities will be fully sustainable and host all the services necessary for someone to meet their needs and change their life for the better.

"The moment I attempted to take my life, I felt instant regret..." Josh Moorhouse is a social innovator, a speaker and a survivor; who's doing everything he can to get the most out of life - so it comes as a shock that just a few years ago he thought he wanted to die... Growing up, Josh always struggled with a deep-seeded feeling that he wasn't good enough - a lack of self worth that grew from persistent bullying. The only place he found solace was at the piano, where he focused all his time and energy from a young age in the hope making it into a career. And he did...Graduating uni with a degree in music and starting his own business teaching piano to school kids. Josh felt like he was doing what an adult was supposed to do, but something wasn't right... Before long he was experiencing episodes of feeling totally overwhelmed, exacerbated by a traumatic car accident that shattered his confidence. He went looking for help to deal with his unresolved trauma and get his life under control, but the supposed solution he was given had the opposite effect... Josh was put on a heavy regime of prescription drugs that made him feel like he was disappearing and gave him a crippling case of akathisia, an unbearable drug induced disorder that contributed to him attempting suicide and being admitted to a psychiatric ward. Thankfully, Josh is still here with us today; a gift he says he owes to finding the support of community, questioning professional opinion and finding new channels for the creativity he's always had.

Jack Jones is Program Director at The Banksia Project, a free men’s mental health service built on training up every day blokes to help the men in their local communities. Jack’s come a long way in a short time...In his early twenties, he was in crisis, suffering from clinical depression that drove him to be suicidal. Growing up he relied on his sporting prowess for the validation and associated his identity with being that person who was always there to help others - the problem was he didn’t know how to look after himself. Through years of work Jack’s shifted his perception of what true success is and what a man should be. He’s changed from someone who hated being left alone with  his thoughts to someone who’s at peace with who he is - on a mission to put others in touch with their own personal power.

Heath Black is a former AFL veteran who spent 12 years as a midfielder for the Dockers and the Saints. On paper it sounds like every player’s dream, but the reality is he struggled greatly with undiagnosed bipolar disorder, anxiety and ADHD, conditions he didn’t know he had until he was 30. Through the second half of his career, Heath suffered through constant anxiety attacks and lost his love for playing the game. Off the field his life unraveled as his mental illness intensified, going untreated. It got worse before it got better...Heath’s marriage family life took a major his and he turned to drinking to numb the pain. At rock bottom, he narrowly avoided going to jail after a string of misdemeanours and assaults landed him before a judge. It took Heath years of work and the love of his family to get his life back on track and when he did, he had a new mission...Using everything he’s been through to help others overcome their mental health struggles. It hasn’t been pretty, but against the odds Heath’s turned his life a success story more meaningful than he could’ve imagined.

Kelvin Shone and Dan McDonald may be better known by their stripper names Jock Hardy and Taylor Mac, but there's a lot more to these guys than meets the eye. They've have been in the adult entertainment industry for 15 years combined and as you can imagine it’s been wild. But all that action comes at a cost... This line of work goes hand in hand with being objectified, degraded and pressured to perform in more ways than one. There’s a lot going on under the surface in this world and as the boys say, it can get ugly... They’re Beyond Blue advocates who've been through major ups and downs and are now all about bringing a strong mental health focus to an industry that's traditionally had everything but.

At 8 years old Taylor Harvey was diagnosed with Transverse Myleitis, a rare neurological disease, that initially paralysed one of his legs. Doctors said there was a chance it could’ve left him quadriplegic, but through rehab he regained partial function in the damaged leg and eventually found himself back on the sports field - competing against the able bodied without even realising he had a disability. Through his teenage years, Taylor was frustrated by his lack of athletic progress and as countless hours of practice failed to pay off, he viewed his leg as something to be embarrassed about. His life changed the day he was told he could qualify for paralympic sport...He soon excelled at soccer, rising through the ranks to play at international level and for the first time in his life, found somewhere to belong. But living with a disability is never easy. Taylor is very open about his struggles with body image and low self esteem that stems from living with a part of himself he doesn’t like. He’s the first to admit he hasn’t got it all figured out, but he’s working on it...

"I'd be in my room and it'd be blacked out. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I'd miss birthdays, I'd miss events...I just didn't want to see anyone, I didn't want to talk to anyone and I had to ask myself why am I feeling like this? I think I just had to face every single insecurity, every single fear about myself that I'd been putting off..." These aren't the words you might expect to hear from Elia Mitani aka Krunk, a DJ and producer known for big time bangers and bringing a whole lot of good vibes...But it's the truth. Elia's spent much of his young adult life riding the EDM wave into a fully fledged music career that’s allowed him to live the high energy lifestyle he loves. Enjoying years of success, he got used to performing and being on the scene - getting on flights every weekend, playing at clubs and festivals all over australia and overseas. Its been his release and his main source of connection to the fans he creates for. In 2020 it's all been taken away - and he’s been forced to come down off that high and face all the fears and insecurities he’d always been able to distract himself from. This period of deep reflection has dragged Elia through some dark moments and made him question everything - but its also ultimately made him a better man. He’s sharing his story for all the other artists doing it tough and showing that true strength comes from the finding the bravery to be vulnerable. ————— This episode has been made possible by Kookaburra Homes... The home builder that cares about the community. Kookaburra is big on investing in projects that support mental health and is an awesome supporter of blood’s mission to improve the lives of young men by opening up these conversations that we need to have

Matt Newlands is a former police officer turned ‘R U OK? Day’ ambassador and mental health advocate. During his decade in the force, Matt faced pain, distress and violence on a daily basis as he sought to protect the community. The job revealed an insight into the ugly side of humanity that only those who work in the emergency services can fully comprehend. It also led him to the worst day of his life and the unthinkable moment that will never leave him - being called to a suicide and finding it was his own mate... The horror sent him on a downward spiral that got almost ended his own life - but with the love of family and friends at his back and the calling to do something about the state of mental health in his heart - he rose from the abyss to become the man he is today...A light in the darkness guiding others towards a brighter future.

“It’s all about the art of separation, just deviate away from those who drain your inspiration...” Those are lyrics Glenn Draper wrote for a friend who was trying to get off drugs. Years later he realised he was writing it to himself. These days Glenn’s a dedicated family man who won’t touch a drink - a total 180 from the wildly destructive life he once lived. Glenn is a recovering drug and gambling addict who used to pride himself on pushing the limits of excess. His relationship with gambling started at a young age and exploded when he entered manhood. He pumped hundreds of thousands through the pokies, lived pay cheque to pay cheque chasing cheap highs and desperately lacked love and purpose in his life. It was a road that was leading to a sad end, but fortunately for glenn he found a strong enough reason to change and pulled himself out of a tailspin. There are few mistakes Glenn hasn’t made and many things he’s not proud of...But he’s not shying away from it and doesn’t let it define the man he is today. Glenn’s telling his story because he wants to be an example to others who are in that trap that there’s a way out and he wants to spread the message to young men that gambling isn’t a game ----- This episode has been made possible by Kookaburra Homes. Kookaburra is a great supporter of the local community and Young Blood's mission to improve the lives of young men.

17 year old Flynn Gill is one of less than 4,000 Australians living with cystic fibrosis - a genetic disorder that severely impacts the lungs and digestive system. Flynn was diagnosed with CF just a few weeks after birth and then with CF related diabetes (CFRD) at age 12. It’s a limitation that’s made his life complicated and often uncomfortable. COVID-19 has made things even tougher for Flynn, forcing him out of school and into isolation with the threat heightened for those with CF. Flynn’s been in hospital more times than he can count and has to take dozens of medications every day to try and stay healthy. It's stunted his growth and his social life and left him battling anxiety and depression. But Flynn’s not letting all the obstacles stop him working towards being the man he wants to be. He’s about to finish school, he’s already started his own business and with the help of his family and organisations like Cure4CF, he’s optimistic of finding a cure. --------- This episode is proudly brought to you by Beyond Bank Australia, one of Australia’s largest customer owned banks. Beyond Bank has a strong focus on supporting some of the broader challenges that impact our community and young people today - like cystic fibrosis, together with their customers they support Cure4CF to help them find a cure.

Exercise physiologist and former rugby league player Joshua Tree was bullied, beaten and belittled throughout his young life and found himself in desperate need of health support that wasn't readily available. He managed to survive his darkest days and it inspired him to be that support for others... Now he's the ‘Blokeologist’ and if there’s one thing he knows, it’s blokes. Young Blood is all about looking after yourself - and when we talk about taking care of our health, that has to include all aspects of it. Our mental, physical and emotional health all feed each other and when we can balance all 3 we set ourselves up to flourish. But as we know that’s not that simple... Fortunately josh is a jack of all trades in men’s health, with a unique understanding of how we can set up those important pillars of health so they work together to support our lives. Josh coaches pro-athletes and average joes alike and focuses on what we all share in common - wanting to be better. ----- This episode has been made possible by Kookaburra Homes. Kookaburra is a great supporter of the local community and Young Blood's mission to improve the lives of young men.

Youth detention is institutionalising young men from an early age - feeding a cycle of incarceration that repeats over generations. Although only around 5% of Australians aged 10-17 are indigenous, they account for around 50% of those being kept in youth detention nationwide - and in the Northern Territory it’s close to 100%... Jye Cardona grew up being conditioned to hate authority and watched his friends go in and out of the youth justice system. Now he works in detention centres running programs to get through to the kids who feel just as angry and neglected as he did. Jye has had to deal with post traumatic stress from his young life and learn how to reshape his perceptions. It’s been a tough journey thats fuelled the fire within him to be there for others facing similar struggles.

Dave Oliver has always lived and breathed rugby, a game known as one of the roughest and most hyper masculine on earth. He’s also gay and from the time he was a teenager until his early thirties, he hid his sexuality from everyone - horrified that he’d be found out and ridiculed by the community that means everything to him. Dave describes the burden he carried for the best part of two decades as 'toxic shame' - a form of self loathing that drove him to abuse drugs and self destruct. Dave’s since been through rehab more than once and has done a huge amount of work on acceptance and learning to love the man he truly is. Now he’s on a mission to help change the face of sexuality in male dominated sports by sharing his story with clubs, codes and men around the country them its time to change the game. Dave describes the burden he carried for the best part of two decades as 'toxic shame' - a form of self loathing that drove him to abuse drugs and self destruct. Dave’s since been through rehab more than once and has done a huge amount of work on acceptance and learning to love the man he truly is. Now he’s on a mission to help change the face of sexuality in male dominated sports by sharing his story with clubs, codes and men around the country them its time to change the game.

Men in construction have a history of struggling particularly badly with managing their mental health and as graduate psychologist and former construction worker Simon Tyler says, that’s due in part to the stereotypical hyper masculine culture that exists on work sites - now the focus of his PhD. Simon’s good mate Richie Welch has been in the construction game for more than two decades and both men have lived experience of going through immense struggle and surviving - becoming stronger and more sensitive to the need to reach out for help. After recently enduring a devastating spate of suicides within their tight knit community, they decided enough is enough and have gone above and beyond to create a new service called ‘the next step’ - a messaging service run through instagram that connects men who are struggling to the help they need. Having personally witnessed so much need for more mental health help and awareness within male dominated industries,  they’re now dedicated to serving that cohort that’s notoriously tough to reach. There was a time that both men were saved by a single conversation and they know as well as anyone the power of speaking up and being heard.

Half Fijian and half Australian, Alipate 'Bobby' Carlile grew up in Victoria confused about where he fit in... With no obvious cultural group to belong to, he felt like he was missing something; and he went looking for it in footy. From the moment he stepped on the field he started to gain the identity he longed for. As part of the team, it didn't matter what his background was, it only mattered that he could play the game... and Bobby proved himself a special talent, making it all the way to the AFL and playing for a decade with Port Adelaide Football Club. But his pro career almost didn't make it past the early stages when he found himself lost and searching for meaning. It was at this make or break moment that his undiscovered Fijian heritage called to him and led him on a journey of self discovery that enriched his perspective on life and reinvigorated his love of the game. Since hanging up the boots in 2016, Bobby has gone on to lead PAFC's Multicultural Program and empowered hundreds of multicultural youths to embrace the strengths in their culture and love all of who they are.

There's a misconception that people only get depression when something terrible happens to them... But for some depression slowly takes hold for no obvious reason at all. What would you do if all the experiences and people that have always brought you joy suddenly didn't anymore? How would your view of yourself start to change if every inconvenience that never used to bother you started to cause overpowering frustration? And how would you find the strength to carry on if every minute of the day became a debilitating battle in your mind that you couldn't understand? This is the nightmare that became Luke's reality. He'd always been happy and healthy. He'd grown up in a good home with a loving family and friends and he had a bright future ahead of him. But none of that made any difference to depression quietly seeping into his life and becoming a dark filter over everything he'd ever known. Luke is a proud survivor of the darkest chapter in his life that no one ever saw coming and now that he's on the other side, he's never been more grateful to be alive. This is his story.

How are you meant to respond when someone tells you they're having suicidal thoughts? This isn't something that was taught in school and it can be an understandably intimidating and even overwhelming to confront. There's no one size fits all solution when dealing with these situations but there are ways you can approach it that will make that person feel like you're really there for them, and as Jackson Goding explains, trust is the foundation. Jackson is a Psychotherapist with his own practice called 'Find Reason Therapy' in Sydney. Reconditioning men to love themselves and live better lives is his mission and it's one that, like many, was sparked by personal tragedy. Jackson was nearing the end of his psychology degree, Jackson Goding was undecided on what he was going to specialise on in his area of profession. That was until he endured the suicide of a friend and recognised the deep need for treating men's mental health. The pain he experienced inspired Jackson to want to be a changemaker and serve struggling men. He's overcome his own struggles with depression and anxiety over the years and now uses what he went through to inform his important work. Through years volunteering at Lifeline, he's taken countless calls from suicidal men and often felt the pressure of being the only support between life and death. As someone who has been faced with the suicide conversation on more than one occasion, I found Jackson's practical advice invaluable. It's knowledge that will stay with me and no doubt help me show up in a real way as a friend in the future. Everyone should take note of these simple tips that could help you save a life.

Ben O'Toole was the victim of a coward punch attack that left him minutes away from permanent brain damage and death. He's one of many young men whose lives have been changed forever by the split second decision of another to use extreme violence - turning a night on the town into a tragedy. To the amazement of his surgeon, Ben eventually recovered from his shocking head injuries and was so deeply affected by the trauma, he decided to dedicate his time to helping other men avoid experiencing such pain.     For years he's toured Australian high schools telling his story to the next generation, in the hope it'll be the difference between throwing a punch and walking away.

*Strong Language Warning* The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows... and neither is Zane Munro. But he is as genuine as they come. The West Auckland native never met his birth father and grew up putting on the tough guy front as he struggled to define his identity. Charging into young adulthood, Zane moved away from everyone he knew and found himself very much alone. He rapidly developed addictions to drugs and gambling in an attempt to fill the hole. It led him down a dangerous path that he believes would've been the end of him if he hadn't crashed so hard into rock bottom and met the woman who made him want to be a better man. Facing his demons and finding a positive way out of the darkness that once consumed his life was so inspiring to Zane that he started his own movement to help other men going through their own adversity. 'For All The Brothers' is built around finding strength in vulnerability, encouraging men to front up to their feelings and take responsibility for their health and the health of their mates. He's a rough diamond with a heart of gold, but as he tells it, he's just another brother.

Most of us are having a harder time than usual being happy right now and it can feel like that’s largely out of our control. But as my guest Dr Happy says, we shouldn’t rule out happiness, even with the odds against us. Dr Tim sharp is the man in positive psychology. He’s got a PHD and is the Chief Happiness Officer of the Happiness Institute, which he founded. That makes him him an internationally sought after authority when it comes to understanding and talking about happiness, he’s written well known books on the subject including ‘habits for happiness’ - basically it doesn’t get more happy than this guy - but even he gets depressed... Dr Happy might just have the prescription for your woes as you navigate this weird and troubling time - or if not a remedy, at least some reassurance and practical advice to lighten the load.

In late February, Joe Patterson had just landed in an overseas country ready to start the next chapter of his life. Nothing could've prepared him for what came next... Just a few weeks later he was coughing up blood and gasping for air, quarantined alone in a room the size of a prison cell, battling the full force of Coronavirus after a mercy dash home. Joe got as sick as he's ever been, quarantined in a hotel room for 3 weeks with no face to face human interaction and nowhere to go. He went through hell and verged on losing his sanity but despite the monumental challenge to his physical and mental health, HE MADE IT. And now Joe's back in business with a helluva story to tell.

Tom Cronin is a world renowned meditation master and exactly the kind of guy you want to hear words of wisdom from when facing an unprecedented global catastrophe. Everywhere you turn there are triggers for anxiety, stress, pain and more reasons to be fearful and uncertain than you're likely to have ever had before.The last thing many of us are at the moment is calm and that's perfectly natural when confronted by a pandemic and economic crisis that's turned life as we know it on its head. BUT there are simple things we can do to adjust our mindset and practices we can adopt to ease what can feel like an overwhelming burden baring down on us. Tom is the man to show us how and it all starts with controlling something we're all already doing...breathing.

In 2011 Luke Adamson was a Lance Corporal in the Australian Army serving as a Combat Engineer on a tour of Afghanistan. That's when he died... While on patrol, Luke suddenly collapsed from what doctors could only describe as an anxiety induced heart attack. He flat lined for more than two minutes but miraculously survived. From that day on he was never the same. Luke returned home suffering from post traumatic stress. It ended his defence career, caused the breakdown of his marriage and led him to turn to alcohol and prescription drugs to numb the pain. It’s the kind of story that’s all too common among the men and women transitioning out of defence to civilian life and part of the reason there’s been more than 400 ADF veteran suicides since 2001. But Luke’s story doesn’t end there... He’s bravely gone on to run his own charity ‘Heroes On The Homefront’ - helping veterans connect to the services and community that’s vital to their wellbeing at home. It’s the mission that’s given him renewed purpose and a reason to live, after almost losing everything.

Thousands of Australia's volunteer firefighters put their lives on the line to defend our communities this summer, battling relentlessly through one of the worst bushfire seasons the country has endured. It's hard not to be awestruck by the bravery and selflessness of these men and women and many might question what compels them to voluntarily put themselves in danger to protect others. The way senior CFS firefighter Thomas Fogg tells it, it all comes back to pride in serving the communities that mean everything to them. It's a service that can have a deep impact on the mental health of those who are confronted with death, destruction and extreme danger and they've got to have each others backs. We call them heroes...but they say it's just the right thing to do.

Para-rowers Jed Altschwager and Will Smith are on the cusp of being selected for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. It's the lofty peak of a gruelling journey that neither imagined they'd have a very real chance to reach. Jed's world was turned upside down when he lost his leg in a workplace accident in 2015 and made the decision to take on life like never before. Will has been visually impaired since birth and has had his unshakeable resilience become second nature. While they're at a physical disadvantage, you wouldn't know it on the water. Together they've won international gold and silver medals, quickly becoming a formidable force on the world stage. They're also really down to earth blokes who are able to match humility and self-awareness with a steely focus and determination to be the best. These guys are absolute weapons in the boat, but they don't allow their desperation to win to consume them. Accountability, gratitude and consistency are the core values that make these inspiring men who fundamentally know it's about the journey, not just the destination.

Romance ain't dead but it can be tricky and according to love expert Jane Donovan young men these days need all the advice they can get... Luckily she's here to help! Putting a much needed woman's touch on this Valentine's Day episode, Jane is our guide through the murky waters of modern dating and into the world of relationships. She has the answers to what we need to do to find the love we deserve and the actions we've got to take to keep it growing. Communication is key!

Zaine Schmidt is one of the hundreds of thousands of Australians living life on the autism spectrum. As a child, he was diagnosed with a high functioning form of the disorder known as Asperger's syndrome. The developmental disability has had a profound impact on Zaine's daily life, making him a target for bullies through his schooling days and leaving him feeling like he's never going to fit in. He's been down many times, but not out. Rather than let all the voices keep him down, Zaine is following his passion of running a business while working on becoming the best version of himself - a man who aims to be an inspiration to others who share his condition. Zaine's outspoken about mental health and his own battles and it was brave of him to come on the podcast with a stranger and lay it all out there. He's made mistakes in the past and acknowledges he's far from perfect but he's doing everything he can to be better and not let his setbacks define his life.

Mike Worsman is a journalist and filmmaker who's dedicated his career to the pursuit of happiness. He's the founder of 'A Million Smiles' a project based on collecting video footage and photos of all the smiles worn by people around the world and the positive stories behind them. Mike has a burning passion for following the light in the darkness and finding a silver lining in even the most dire circumstances. His vision has been born out of his own intense struggles with mental health and his desire to connect as many people as possible with the true essence of what it is to be human. Mike's put it all on the line to chase his dream, even selling his home and possessions to fund the mission... he says it's all paid off too! This might be just what you need to hear to have a crack at your own dream. We talk the power of positivity, media agenda, love, travel, mental health and the meaning of it all.

Arman Abrahimzadeh is co-founder of the Zahra Foundation and has helped to change the lives of many women and children escaping domestic violence. He and his sisters set up the foundation after decades spent living in an abusive home under their father's violent tyrannical rule, which tragically ended with the brutal public murder of their mother Zahra in 2010. Now a married man himself, Arman has made a point of becoming everything his father was not. He's been a changemaker in shaping public policy to strengthen domestic violence legislation and uses his voice to empower other victims and inspire a shift in the way many men still treat women. This is crucial work here in Australia where domestic violence is an undeniable scourge on our culture. On average one woman is killed every week by her current or ex partner and one in three women will experience some form of abuse. Arman has been nationally recognised with an Order of Australia medal for taking such an influential stand against domestic violence and making prevention part of his life's work. He's a wonderful speaker with a story that should be heard by all men and women and it was a pleasure to sit down with him for this podcast.

Lachie Stuart is the kind of man we need. He's a men's coach on a mission to get blokes believing in themselves and putting in the work physically, mentally and spiritually to become who they want to be.That's why he founded 'The Man That Can Project', a podcast and movement all about empowering men to be the best versions of themselves. Lachie's mission is aligned with ours at Young Blood and I was excited to talk to him about men's health and what we can all do to improve it. He's been through his fair share of adversity and done some things he's not proud of. But he's owned up to his mistakes and is now dedicated to helping others try to avoid or at least learn from their own. We talk partying, fitness, relationships, finding a purpose and sticking to what you believe in. He's much more than just a massive, ripped unit and well worth your time.

In an instant, Charles Brice's life changed forever when a motorbike accident shattered his spine and left him a quadriplegic. The now 29 year old was 19 when he was told he'd never walk again. His isn't a story of a miracle recovery, but it is one of incredible grit and heart. In October, Charles handcycled 300 kilometres from the site of his accident to Adelaide, where he now lives alone and works. He raised $130,000 for spinal injury research and further proved to himself and everyone around him what was already abundantly clear - he's never going to quit. Having adapted to his restrictions and rehabilitated himself to the point of near independence, Charles is now striving for more. A full life with friends, family, a career, love, hobbies and even a Paralympic dream are all still his to have and despite his immeasurable struggle, Charles now counts himself lucky. If you've ever felt sorry for yourself, this podcast is for you.

When Mark Kelly's long time girlfriend dumped him in his early twenties his world was turned upside down and he didn't know what to do. The young man who'd always been active and happy suddenly spiraled into major depression, withdrawing from friends and drinking till he blacked out to cope. Mark avoided addressing his declining mental health for as long as he could, convincing himself he'd never get back to his former self, until his mum gave him the push he needed to get help. It was a dark chapter for the now 30 year old Sydney sparky, but through the pain he learned the tools to manage his mental illness, tools he's had to rely on years later after his marriage broke down. Despite all he's been through, Mark has found a way to find the good in bad situations. Now as a Movember ambassador he's passionate about helping other men work through their own mental health struggles, learning from experience that lending an ear to someone who needs it can make all the difference.

Brock Bentley is a passionate videographer who hadn't even made it to his twenties when his dreams suddenly came true. He found himself touring the world alongside Timmy Trumpet, one of the biggest names in EDM. The whirlwind adventure lead Brock to more than 40 countries, some of which he stayed in for less than 24 hours. He worked all day and night perfecting his craft and churning out endless video content amid the chaos of the ultimate party environment. But Brock eventually found out the fantasy couldn't last. Neglecting his mental and physical health caught up with him and sent him on a downward spiral that forced him to put everything on pause to reset. Brock's puts you in his shoes, taking us through his incredible journey that few could accurately imagine. His story is only just getting started but he's learned he needs to work on his health just as much as his career if he's going to get to the top of the mountain and stay there.

Sammy King is now a Peer Support Worker at Australia's leading youth mental health organisation, Headspace. The same group that helped him come to grips with a crippling anxiety disorder just a few years ago. Sammy was a master of masking his true feelings and convincing those around him that he was the happy go lucky, life of the party guy, who wasn't rattled by anything. But the reality couldn't be further from the truth; inside he was falling apart and spiraling towards a mental breakdown. Sammy was in his late teens when he started feelings anxious all the time and uncomfortable in his own skin. It only got worse as he went through uni and came to a head when he entered the workforce, forcing him away from the life he envision and into a dark depression. Sammy's story is one that millions of Aussies dealing with anxiety disorder will relate to. It's the most prevalent mental health condition in our society and also one that's not clearly understood by the majority. On this episode Sammy paints a picture of just how detrimental anxiety can become to someone's life. We talk about the difficulty of admitting you need help and the life changing benefits that can be achieved in going out and finding it. From enduring paralysing panic attacks to using all his strength just to get out of bed, Sammy shares his worst memories, his advice and his positive message for anyone going through the same thing.

Chance Ndume's story is one the world needs to hear and one that will blow your mind. His young life has been haunted by trauma since running for his life from militia who wanted him dead...and his troubles were only just beginning. Chance is a refugee from the Congo who hasn't seen his family since he was 9. He's had the world on his shoulders with everything against him, enduring suffering that would have been more than enough for most to give up...but he hasn't. He made it to Australia only to find himself homeless. Miraculously putting himself through school while sleeping on the streets...That was before he became a mentor for disadvantaged youth, in the hope of keeping others out of the darkness that threatened to swallow him whole. Chance's journey is a jaw dropping testament to the human will to survive and his commitment to living a life for the good of others is enough to inspire us all to do the same. He hasn't made it out unscathed by any means and bares psychological wounds that may never fully heal. Chance is passionate advocate for youth mental health and ending homelessness. He's now on a mission to change the world and the 21 year old will make you believe nothing is going to stop him now. This is the most astounding story I've ever been told face to face and I am truly grateful to share it with you.

All jokes aside, Mick Dwyer has been through the wringer. He's performed on the international comedy festival circuit for well over a decade, drinking and gambling away most of his career before wising up and getting sober. Now he's older and wiser and not afraid to paint a vivid picture of just how ugly life got, feeding the beast of his rampant addictions. Mickey is a cracker bloke with a big heart, a bigger smile and wit that's as sharp as ever. In this warm discussion he gives us a look into the dark side of comedy, including Robin Williams suicide and the struggle to separate stage persona from personality. Mickey has a burning passion for mental health and uses his story to teach those coming up what not to do. They say if you don't laugh you'll cry...

They don't come tougher than Hugo Toovey. At just 27 he's endured more suffering than most will in their lifetime. He put his budding career as an army officer on hold to battle testicular cancer and won, only to be struck down by bowel cancer 5 years later. But despite all that, he's still standing and he's not one to complain or see the glass half empty. Instead he's deadset on doing everything in his power to help other young men take responsibility for their health before it's too late. He does this in a big way as co-host of his own podcast '25 Stay Alive' which is also worth your time. Hugo made time for this conversation, despite preparing for yet another major surgery, in the hope that it'll encourage others to go to the doctor if they think something isn't right. That's the kind of man he is. Hugo is one of the most inspirational people I've had the pleasure of speaking to. But he's humble and wouldn't want to be thought of as anything more than a guy trying to get what he can out of life and make a difference. He will fire you up to make the most of what you’ve got and not take your health for granted.

Hundreds of thousands of Australian men identify as homosexual and many more still hide it... Zane Dean and Brandon Symes are two good friends who've had quite different journeys towards defining themselves as young gay men. They visited the studio together to lay it all out for us, covering the full spectrum of gay life from the anxiety of coming out to the beauty of learning to love yourself and be who you are. These guys don't hold back discussing what some might consider the more uncomfortable aspects of homosexuality. It's an enlightening conversation with heart and lots of laughs that might teach you a thing or two about yourself or someone in your life.

@markmattiazzocoach is a personal trainer and online health coach, dedicated to making people fitter and healthier from the inside out. He's a vocal advocate for the need to take care of our minds and bodies and approach fitness for the right reasons. But that hasn't always been a priority, it's a lesson Mark learned the hard way after abusing steroids, spiralling out of control and bringing himself back from the brink. In this revealing conversation he gives a no holds barred insight into his darkest days and the reality of using steroids. Mark is down to earth, engaging and genuine in telling it like it is. He's not afraid to shed an ugly light on the elephant in the room topic that many in the fitness industry shy away from. This episode also features a separate chat with world renowned endocrinologist, Professor Gary Wittert. He was kind enough to break down the facts about steroids and testosterone, answering many of the scientific questions that loom large.

Stephen Harfield dropped into the studio to break down the issues surrounding indigenous health. He’s spent his career so far working to improve access to health services for indigenous people and close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous rates of mental and physical illness. Stephen has been a researcher at the Health Department of SA Aboriginal Health Division and is currently a Research Fellow at the Wardliparingga Aboriginal Research Unit at SAHMRI. He has some insightful points to make about the impact of racism on health and tells the story of how his experience of growing up shaped his passion today.

Loveable larrikins Ben Harvey and Liam Stapleton are the now popular hosts of the Triple J Breakfast Show, one of the biggest radio gigs in Australia, but it wasn't always that way. The boys moved to Sydney to take over the job in their early twenties after quickly catapulting onto the national stage and were immediately faced with a barrage of heavy abuse from listeners that even included death threats. They endured many months of brutal criticism that nearly brought them to breaking point, but they weathered the storm to eventually earn the respect of their audience and gain bulletproof confidence in themselves. In this upbeat chat they talk about the highs and lows that've come with going a such a long way in a short time, as well as their own approaches to mental health and how they manage to perform under pressure every day with the ears of the nation listening.

Taylor Johnstone is a nationally recognised leader in the youth mental health space. He's a former youth research council member at Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health and an ambassador for Victorian charity 'Youth Live4Life'. His mission is to educate young people about mental health with the goal of improving wellbeing and preventing suicide. Taylor has survived his own struggle with suicidality and is now deeply passionate about helping others through early intervention. In this intense conversation, he opens up about his story, the hardships and pain he's gone through and the great joy he now feels in being alive.