Sometimes you don’t need to take a flight. You just need five days where no one emails you.

This week, Tim’s on annual leave – the holy grail of rest and recovery – except it’s somehow turned into a DIY bootcamp that's causing him and his wife too much anxiety.

We’re talking all about what it really means to take a an actual break from at least one major responsibility. We go over the guilt, the need, and the bit where you realise “resting” often means doing all the jobs you’ve been putting off for six months. But hey, being a fully functioning adult is fun, isn't it... right?

From burnout warning signs and therapy analogies to toddler chaos and varnishing planter boxes, this episode is a reminder that rest isn’t laziness — it’s maintenance.

Elsewhere, Tim explains how he repeatedly ended up in hospital, J describes his dream break (surprise, the pub is involved) and to all you October Christmas music players: we see you, and J has a few choice words...

If you’re enjoying the show PLEASE consider leaving us a 5* rating and a few words to review the show - the algorithm loves it and it’ll help more people find the show ❤️❤️

Head to our Patreon for exclusive bonus content! Just click here or search for Manvsmindpod on Patreon today!

Get in touch! Email us with your questions or comments at [email protected], send us a message (or a voice note!) on Instagram @ManvsMindPod, and head to www.manvsmindpod.com for our full list of episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the words of the great Catatonia: you give me road rage.

Who they sang about is anyone's guess. But as far as Tim's concerned, it's basically every other road user.

Today, Tim & J give wildly contrasting opinions about attitudes towards their fellow drivers and what pure, unrelenting anger says about the broader state of their mental health. Does driving angry equal living angry? When (if ever) is it justifiable to drop the C-bomb at another driver? And what if there's nothing wrong with us, it's just that everyone else is an idiot?

Meanwhile, Tim gets tailgated by a grannie on the A30 out of Cornwall; J gets banged up by, you guessed it, an idiot; Tim cries (again); and J has a traumatic week chasing copious amounts of bodily fluids, getting into a car accident, and getting taken to hospital in an incident that has nothing to do with the car crash. His wife couldn't get back fast enough...

If you’re enjoying the show PLEASE consider leaving us a 5* rating and a few words to review the show - the algorithm loves it and it’ll help more people find the show ❤️❤️

Head to our Patreon for exclusive bonus content! Just click here or search for Manvsmindpod on Patreon today!

Get in touch! Email us with your questions or comments at [email protected], send us a message (or a voice note!) on Instagram @ManvsMindPod, and head to www.manvsmindpod.com for our full list of episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when your mind suddenly turns against you?

In this powerful episode of Man vs Mind, Tim shares the story of the day his life changed and his mental health collapsed – the exact moment that sparked nearly a decade of anxiety, self-doubt, and (eventually) recovery.

From a life-altering mental breakdown at work to months of fear, depression, medical confusion, and a lost identity – this is the raw, unfiltered account of how one morning changed everything forever.

It’s about vulnerability, diagnosis, therapy, medication, and the courage to finally ask for help.

If you’ve ever felt “not yourself,” or wondered where your anxiety began, this episode is a must-listen.

(Warning: This episode contains particularly strong language, and detailed descriptions of mental distress.)

If you’re enjoying the show PLEASE consider leaving us a 5* rating and a few words to review the show - the algorithm loves it and it’ll help more people find the show ❤️❤️

Head to our Patreon for exclusive bonus content! Just click here or search for Manvsmindpod on Patreon today!

Get in touch! Email us with your questions or comments at [email protected], send us a message (or a voice note!) on Instagram @ManvsMindPod, and head to www.manvsmindpod.com for our full list of episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of World Mental Health Day – 10 October, we sit down with Mark Rowland, CEO of the Mental Health Foundation, for an honest conversation about why men struggle to ask for help — and how we change that. Mark shares a deeply personal story that shaped his life’s work, and we dig into the cultural, generational and biological forces that keep men silent, the cost of staying on autopilot, and the payoff of doing the hard thing: vulnerability.

We talk practicals — how to spot the signs you need support, the “safe first step” to opening up, what to do if you’re not ready to talk yet, and the mindset shift toward intention and psychological flexibility. We cover mates, families, workplaces and services; why strong relationships are the biggest protective factor; and how to move from minimising feelings to naming them and acting.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of suicide and self-harm.

Resources & Links

• THAT film from Brighton & Hove Albion FC https://www.instagram.com/reel/DO0YkToDbAV/

• Mental Health Foundation — initiatives and WMHD info: mentalhealth.org.uk

• Contact us: [email protected] · Instagram @ManvsMind

If you’re struggling right now (UK): Samaritans 116 123 (free, 24/7). In an emergency, call 999. You’re not alone.

If you’re enjoying the show PLEASE consider leaving us a 5* rating and a few words to review the show - the algorithm loves it and it’ll help more people find the show ❤️❤️

Head to our Patreon for exclusive bonus content! Just click here or search for Manvsmindpod on Patreon today!

Get in touch! Email us with your questions or comments at [email protected], send us a message (or a voice note!) on Instagram @ManvsMindPod, and head to www.manvsmindpod.com for our full list of episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all need it — that little bit of personal space. Alone time. Breathing room.

This week on Man vs Mind, Tim and J dive into the craving to just be left alone for a while. From panic attacks sparked by being constantly “on,” to carving out an hour to decompress after bedtime routines, they explore why personal space is essential — and what happens when you don’t get it.

But can too much alone time tip into isolation? Is it a slippery slope into avoidance or even agoraphobia? The lads unpack the balance, the guilt, and the subtle line between restorative solitude and shutting yourself off from the world.

Along the way:

– Sandwiches, video games, and “prescribed” PlayStation therapy

– Why partners often struggle to take space without guilt

– How alone time shapes identity beyond parent/partner/employee roles

– The extroverted introvert paradox

– And the Non-Certified Therapy Club returns, with raw listener feedback on panic attacks, masculinity, and the models of modern masculinity (dad bods included).

If you’re enjoying the show PLEASE consider leaving us a 5* rating and a few words to review the show - the algorithm loves it and it’ll help more people find the show ❤️❤️

Head to our Patreon for exclusive bonus content! Just click here or search for Manvsmindpod on Patreon today!

Get in touch! Email us with your questions or comments at [email protected], send us a message (or a voice note!) on Instagram @ManvsMindPod, and head to www.manvsmindpod.com for our full list of episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a recent, explosive episode, we break down the anatomy of a panic attack. And, crucially, how to break out of one.

What can set one off (stress, overstimulation, caffeine, loss of routine), what’s happening in your body and brain, and what it actually feels like in the moment.

J shares a raw first-hand account of a huge attack that hit him during his recent travels – from racing heartbeat and pins-and-needles to the unshakable feeling of “I’m dying”.

Then there are the aftershocks: how the fear of it happening again can make it happen again, the avoidance traps we fall into, and why anxiety is sticky until we reach the deeper why.

We also cover practical tools to break the cycle — grounding, paced breathing, and the cold-water/ice-cube reset — and how the ideal First Responder helped walk J out of it all unscathed (relatively).

If you’re enjoying the show PLEASE consider leaving us a 5* rating and a few words to review the show - the algorithm loves it and it’ll help more people find the show ❤️❤️

Head to our Patreon for exclusive bonus content! Just click here or search for Manvsmindpod on Patreon today!

Get in touch! Email us with your questions or comments at [email protected], send us a message (or a voice note!) on Instagram @ManvsMindPod, and head to www.manvsmindpod.com for our full list of episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why does getting control of money feel like such a weight off your shoulders? In Part 3 of our Money mini-series, Tim takes you through the painstaking breakdown of his finances: line-by-line audits, subscription purges, disaster funds, bulk-buy planning, and the relief of finally having a monthly strategy.

We dig into:

• Why a lack of control fuels money anxiety
• How systems and habits ease the stress
• The gaping hole in financial education — was that neglect, or design?
• The debt spiral of credit cards, interest-only payments, payday loans
• Why the system feels rigged, and how to fight back
• How to actually teach kids (and yourself) money discipline

Disclaimer: We’re sharing personal experience — not financial advice. Lessons learned the hard way, and hopefully a bit of peace of mind for anyone in the same boat.

If you’re enjoying the show PLEASE consider leaving us a 5* rating and a few words to review the show - the algorithm loves it and it’ll help more people find the show ❤️❤️

Head to our Patreon for exclusive bonus content! Just click here or search for Manvsmindpod on Patreon today!

Get in touch! Email us with your questions or comments at [email protected], send us a message (or a voice note!) on Instagram @ManvsMindPod, and head to www.manvsmindpod.com for our full list of episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Money is one of the biggest causes of stress in our lives — yet it’s the one thing we almost never talk about openly.

In Part Two of the Man vs Money mini-series, Tim and J dig into the taboo of talking about finances, why we go silent when asked about money, and how cultural differences shape whether we’re open or closed about it.

From social pressure to “keep up,” to the shame of saying “I can’t afford it,” and the awkwardness of borrowing from family or friends, this episode explores how money impacts friendships, marriages, and self-worth.

Tim opens up about having to borrow from his parents, J shares the struggles of surviving gatherings with nothing in the bank, and both reflect on the mental load of finances when raising kids.

We also hear some unforgettable stories — from car rental disasters to near-death work trips in the US — and why even “good” financial news can be hard to share with friends.

If you’re enjoying the show PLEASE consider leaving us a 5* rating and a few words to review the show - the algorithm loves it and it’ll help more people find the show ❤️❤️

Head to our Patreon for exclusive bonus content! Just click here or search for Manvsmindpod on Patreon today!

Get in touch! Email us with your questions or comments at [email protected], send us a message (or a voice note!) on Instagram @ManvsMindPod, and head to www.manvsmindpod.com for our full list of episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the start of a new mini-series, and this is a big, devisive, tabooish, and expensive one: money.

The root of all evil today, or so they say.

Today, J and Tim get stuck into our early perceptions of money: our younger years exposure to money, how it shaped out attitudes towards it, and what it means to have (or not to have...) the coin.

Does not having money encourage you to graft, to work harder and harder? Or is it traumatising?

For many people, it's both. And the lads go into their earliest or most significant financial traumas in quite unflinching detail.

We know it's taboo, but we'll be running loads of polls on this over on our Instagram account (@manvsmindpod) because money plays such an ENORMOUS role in mental health - for so many people.

Enjoy the ride - for richer or poorer.

If you’re enjoying the show PLEASE consider leaving us a 5* rating and a few words to review the show - the algorithm loves it and it’ll help more people find the show ❤️❤️

Head to our Patreon for exclusive bonus content! Just click here or search for Manvsmindpod on Patreon today!

Get in touch! Email us with your questions or comments at [email protected], send us a message (or a voice note!) on Instagram @ManvsMindPod, and head to www.manvsmindpod.com for our full list of episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You're not the only one who overthinks, who spirals, who obsesses over that argument or the funny look someone gave you after you cracked a "joke".

Today, Tim & J go over the "Oh my god if only I said that..." or the "jeeeez, what did that look mean? Did I just say something terrible? What if I've mortally offended them? It was just a joke, I didn't mean anything by it – so why did they look at me like that? What's wrong with me? What does that say about me as a person?"

...oh wait... it was actually fine.

And it's a return of the Non-Certified Therapy Club. Get in touch today – terrible advice GUARANTEED!

If you’re enjoying the show PLEASE consider leaving us a 5* rating and a few words to review the show - the algorithm loves it and it’ll help more people find the show ❤️❤️

Head to our Patreon for exclusive bonus content! Just click here or search for Manvsmindpod on Patreon today!

Get in touch! Email us with your questions or comments at [email protected], send us a message (or a voice note!) on Instagram @ManvsMindPod, and head to www.manvsmindpod.com for our full list of episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.