We are taken on the evolving journey of the life of Roger. He was a carpenter who went on to become a model and is now a public fitness coach. Roger’s journey has taken him around the world and seen him work with some of the biggest global brands. He recounts some of his life-changing conversations and how the power of words has shaped him along the way.

“When you're with someone, really be with them, really be present, really listen to the words that are leaving their mouth, because those words can be gold dust. And you could be looking back on a conversation in 10 years’ time going, oh I really needed to hear those words.”

*********************

Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this story

We're also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

A Fascinate Production

Sara Sutcliffe is the current CEO of the Royal Yachting Association. She has had an eventful and fascinating career, including working on the team that secured London’s bid for the 2012 Olympics. She discusses working with prominent politicians such as the late Tessa Jowell and the current Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. She also provides her reflections on the role models who have had the biggest influence on her throughout her journey.

 “The first thing I say to people who work with me is: you have absolute permission to make mistakes, what you don't have permission to do is to try and cover them up. Please just be honest.”

*********************

Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this story

We're also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

A Fascinate Production

This season, we're looking at the impact of role models.

How people found their role models, what happens when you grow up without a role model, and how to be a good one for others.

Here's to all the Role models out there, you know who you are, and you're great!

Keep on paying it forward.

Ciara was born with a learning disability but she has refused to accept the limitations that society has outlined for her. Despite having struggles at school and being told that she would not be able to live a full life, she has drawn inspiration from others, including her supportive and successful cousin, The Edge from U2. This has helped her to find a way to unleash her own potential.

“Just because you have a learning disability, it doesn't make you any different. It just means you might need some extra support in your life. And everybody has some kind of difficulty in their life. Everybody has barriers.” 

*********************

Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this story

We're also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

A Fascinate Production

Ben, a 17-year-old student with autism is preparing for his A-levels, and excited about the prospect of going to university. He's fortunate to have a big sister, Ruth, who has been giving him advice on how best to prepare for the next potential phase of his life.

“The best way for me to describe it is it means I think differently, and my brain is wired completely differently to anyone else. It's a different way of living, a different way of seeing the world. And the reason why it's a disability is because the world is not built for autistic people. It's built for non autistic people.”

*********************

Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this story

We're also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

A Fascinate Production

Since contracting polio as a child, Ric has been in a wheelchair for most of his life; however, he has proven himself to be particularly resourceful. With his personal mantra of “there’s no such word as can’t”, Ric has found a way to do things that many would assume would be beyond his ability; including, raising his children as a stay at home dad and competing in the London Marathon.

“Having a disability is just an impairment. It's not the end of your life or anything. It's just something that needs to be addressed. And far more of what makes you disabled is the social environment around you, rather than what you can't do.”

*********************

Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this story

We're also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

A Fascinate Production

Issy is a woman who is living with Fibromyalgia. She talks about her powerful imagination and the uniqueness that characterises her personality. She also reflects on the way that her differences have made her life particularly challenging as both a child and an adult. More recently she has been able to make her voice heard and she plans to use it to fight for a more empathetic and inclusive society.

“I sat there, and I just cried. I said, I am just so proud of myself, that I have been able to ignore my inner saboteur and my inner demons and that I've got myself to a position where I can be interviewed for a job role that I am desperately wanting to do, and a job where people are gonna listen to me. And I'm going to be able to impact other people's lives and make a difference and make a change.”

*********************

Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this story

We're also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

A Fascinate Production

As a child, Seema was a big fan of cars. Her father was a car mechanic and she would roam around his garage and pretend to drive the cars. “My passion was being able to drive. I always thought, when I grew up, I'll have a car, I'll be able to stop at the petrol station, I’ll go and stop and get some shopping. So I used to roleplay all this sort of stuff when I was about 6, 7, 8.”

“The thing is, when you have a disability, you have so many restrictions already. When COVID-19 hit, basically, it made life much more difficult for people who are vulnerable and disabled. It exacerbated the situation of people like myself… I was sick and tired.. I just wanted to have my own freedom back.”

*********************

Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this story

We're also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

A Fascinate Production

Gavin is someone who is passionate about promoting disability awareness. He has also made fighting for equality and fairness a principle objective in his life. After working with people with disabilities for a number of years he became aware of how much discrimination such individuals often face due to simple ignorance. He has now made it his mission to change attitudes towards disability by using technology.

“What we are doing when we make sure everybody in our society has access to information is we are changing the way society interacts. Now, this is such a big idea. It's massive.”

*********************

Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this story

We're also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

A Fascinate Production

Alexandra is a British-Jamaican woman who suffered a life-changing injury as a teenager and went on to become an award-winning Paralympian. Following a diving accident while swimming in Jamaica, it took many months of rehabilitation and readjustment for Alexandra to be able to relearn how to be independent. Her story shows her ability not only to adapt to the circumstances of her disability, but to find a way to prosper.

“I basically ran into the water and dived. And the next thing I knew, I opened my eyes and I was looking at the sea floor… I tried to move, I couldn't, I tried again to move, I couldn't. And at that point in time, I knew what had happened.”

*********************

Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this story

We're also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

A Fascinate Production