*Trigger Warning | Please not that this episode contains references to suicide.

*Trigger Warning | Please not that this episode contains references to self harm*

*Trigger Warning | Please not that this episode contains references to self harm*

*Trigger Warning | Please not that this episode contains references to suicide*

On this Man Date, I met up with storyteller Dan Sedgwick. We chatted about Hip Hop, recovery through AA and how running and Parkrun now allows him to live with a passion for life.

For more from Dan please check out his Instagram and his organisation, Chapter 82.

Need to talk? The Samaritans- Call 116 123 CALM - Call 0800 58 58 58 SHOUT - Text SHOUT to 85258 All these services are free, Anonymous & non-judgmental (UK only)

IMPORTANT: Always speak to your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a mental health or other medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or across my social media.

Hi, my name is Ross and for most of my adult life I have faced challenges with my mental health. Sometimes triggered by events and sometimes out of the blue for no real reason.

Now today, that's not a unique statement and maybe you can relate to that too, but for a long time I felt that I had read every book, invested in every training and listened to all the podcasts I could and although they all had their merit, the one thing I had always seemed to dodge was talking about it, one on one, especially with other men.

It felt strange to me that I could feel comfortable talking to a therapist, even to groups of people I sometimes didn't even know, but to other men? It just doesn't come naturally.

So I'd like you to join me in my new project. I'll be somewhat reluctantly leaning into this subject and chatting to men about their own mental health and their experiences of conversations around the subject.

Some of my guests you'll know and some you won't but my hunch is that many will have similar experiences. Or maybe not, we'll see.

The podcast is called Man Dates. A term that has been bandied around for a while, often delivered with a smirk, but in fact what I'm starting to realise is that it's what many men are missing.

Intentional time with a friend. Time to talk about anything and everything, without distractions nor Judgement.

What is more, it's accessible, doesn't cost anything and can be done anywhere.

Could men be sleeping on a resource that could be really helpful in our day to day?

My hope is that, like me, it may encourage other men to set up their own man date. 'Time with a friend that doesn't have the distraction of a sport or the furor of a night on the town.

Men need to talk. period. I hope you can join me.

#onamandate

*Trigger Warning | Please not that this episode contains references to suicide*

On this Man Date, I headed over to FYN (For you now) wellness centre in Ipswich, to chat with the owner Lenny Pack. We chatted about his journey from YTS youngster to professional footballer, how a a notebook changed everything one day, and how he finds benefits in running these days.

Need to talk? The Samaritans- Call 116 123 CALM - Call 0800 58 58 58 SHOUT - Text SHOUT to 85258 All these services are free, Anonymous & non-judgemental (UK only)

IMPORTANT: Always speak to your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a mental health or other medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or across my social media.

Hi, my name is Ross and for most of my adult life I have faced challenges with my mental health. Sometimes triggered by events and sometimes out of the blue for no real reason.

Now today, that's not a unique statement and maybe you can relate to that too, but for a long time I felt that I had read every book, invested in every training and listened to all the podcasts I could and although they all had their merit, the one thing I had always seemed to dodge was talking about it, one on one, especially with other men.

It felt strange to me that I could feel comfortable talking to a therapist, even to groups of people I sometimes didn't even know, but to other men? It just doesn't come naturally.

So I'd like you to join me in my new project. I'll be somewhat reluctantly leaning into this subject and chatting to men about their own mental health and their experiences of conversations around the subject.

Some of my guests you'll know and some you won't but my hunch is that many will have similar experiences. Or maybe not, we'll see.

The podcast is called Man Dates. A term that has been bandied around for a while, often delivered with a smirk, but in fact what I'm starting to realise is that it's what many men are missing.

Intentional time with a friend. Time to talk about anything and everything, without distractions nor Judgement.

What is more, it's accessible, doesn't cost anything and can be done anywhere.

Could men be sleeping on a resource that could be really helpful in our day to day?

My hope is that, like me, it may encourage other men to set up their own man date. 'Time with a friend that doesn't have the distraction of a sport or the furore of a night on the town.

Men need to talk. period. I hope you can join me.

#onamandate

On this Man Date, I had the pleasure of chatting with Andrew Laws (YeSEO) at his office in Suffolk.

On this Man Date, I headed over to Orwell Housing Association in Ipswich, to chat with Simon Bennett. We chatted about how a pro rugby injury affected his mental health, co-parenting his daughter and how he found a new love in the sport through refereeing.

Need to talk? The Samaritans- Call 116 123 CALM - Call 0800 58 58 58 SHOUT - Text SHOUT to 85258 All these services are free, Anonymous & non-judgmental (UK only)

IMPORTANT: Always speak to your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a mental health or other medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or across my social media.

Hi, my name is Ross and for most of my adult life I have faced challenges with my mental health. Sometimes triggered by events and sometimes out of the blue for no real reason.

Now today, that's not a unique statement and maybe you can relate to that too, but for a long time I felt that I had read every book, invested in every training and listened to all the podcasts I could and although they all had their merit, the one thing I had always seemed to dodge was talking about it, one on one, especially with other men.

It felt strange to me that I could feel comfortable talking to a therapist, even to groups of people I sometimes didn't even know, but to other men? It just doesn't come naturally.

So I'd like you to join me in my new project. I'll be somewhat reluctantly leaning into this subject and chatting to men about their own mental health and their experiences of conversations around the subject.

Some of my guests you'll know and some you won't but my hunch is that many will have similar experiences. Or maybe not, we'll see.

The podcast is called Man Dates. A term that has been bandied around for a while, often delivered with a smirk, but in fact what I'm starting to realise is that it's what many men are missing.

Intentional time with a friend. Time to talk about anything and everything, without distractions nor Judgement.

What is more, it's accessible, doesn't cost anything and can be done anywhere.

Could men be sleeping on a resource that could be really helpful in our day to day?

My hope is that, like me, it may encourage other men to set up their own man date. 'Time with a friend that doesn't have the distraction of a sport or the furor of a night on the town.

Men need to talk. period. I hope you can join me.

#onamandate

On this Man Date, I made an evening trip over to just outside Stowmarket in Suffolk, UK to meet with Alex Cameron.

On this Man Date, I travelled over to chat with Rob Dodsworth at his home in Norfolk.

On this Man Date, I had the pleasure of sitting down with James Kindred (Big Drop Brewing Co.) at his home in Suffolk.

We chatted growing up and finding music as an outlet, his more recent journey in seeking an Autism diagnosis in his forties and setting your day up to work with your strengths.

For more info on James, please check out:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sketchybear/

https://www.bigdropbrew.com/

https://ipswich.love/

Need to talk?

The Samaritans- Call 116 123

CALM - Call 0800 58 58 58

SHOUT - Text SHOUT to 85258

All these services are free, Anonymous & non-judgemental (UK only)

IMPORTANT: Always speak to your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a mental health or other medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or across my social media.

Hi, my name is Ross and for most of my adult life I have faced challenges with my mental health.

Sometimes triggered by events and sometimes out of the blue for no real reason.

Now today, that's not a unique statement and maybe you can relate to that too, but for a long time I felt that I had read every book, invested in every training and listened to all the podcasts I could and although they all had their merit, the one thing I had always seemed to dodge was talking about it, one on one, especially with other men.

It felt strange to me that I could feel comfortable talking to a therapist, even to groups of people I sometimes didn't even know, but to other men? It just doesn't come naturally.

So I'd like you to join me in my new project. I'll be somewhat reluctantly leaning into this subject and chatting to men about their own mental health and their experiences of conversations around the subject. Some of my guests you'll know and some you won't but my hunch is that many will have similar experiences.

Or maybe not, we'll see.

The podcast is called  Man Dates. A term that has been bandied around for a while, often delivered with a smirk, but in fact what I'm starting to realise is that it's what many men are missing. Intentional time with a friend.

Time to talk about anything and everything, without distractions nor Judgement. 

What is more, it's accessible, doesn't cost anything and can be done anywhere.

Could men be sleeping on a resource that could be really helpful in our day to day?

My hope is that, like me, it may encourage other men to set up their own man date.

'Time with a friend that doesn't have the distraction of a sport or the furore of a night on the town.

Men need to talk. period.  I hope you can join me.

#onamandate