A while back I caught up with Stuart Dixon about all things rugby at the Academy. I thought I had lost the recording but then located it in the depth of my laptop so here it is.

If you are unsure why I am running a podcast please continue reading.

To see all that is going on and to donate please follow my bio linktr.ee/2022in2022Challenge

Well I decided to raise £2022 by running/walking 2022km for Mental Health in Rugby to fundraise for two fantastic charities Brave Mind, and Head for Change. I will be interviewing guests from around the globe who work are either experiencing either are or have suffered from concussion and other connected illnesses, guests family members, Mind Mentors, and people who have either have lost family members to mental health, or are working in that space. I want to make talking about vulnerability is ok, and to ensure that everyone in our fantastic game feels that there is help there. I need your support. Please give a little to help a lot.

Thanks so much.

I had a catch up with Mike who is currently Executive Director of the Pacific Rugby Players Welfare, Director of Rugby at Bishop Burton College, and former Rugby Super Star from Wainuiomata in New Zealand who represented Manu Samoa at the Rugby World Cup. 

He shared his journey, the twists the turns, his culture, the experiences that have shaped him. We also speak about what life has been like for Pasifika people who have been offered the opportunity to play overseas and the realities of living in a foreign land.

Most importantly Mike is a great guy and it was so great to catch up with him   

So why am I doing this?  Well to see all that is going on and to donate please follow my bio linktr.ee/2022in2022Challenge

Why am I podcasting? Well I decided to raise £2022 by running/walking 2022km for Mental Health in Rugby to fundraise for two fantastic charities Brave Mind, and Head for Change. I will be interviewing guests from around the globe who work are either experiencing either are or have suffered from concussion and other connected illnesses, guests family members, Mind Mentors who have either have lost family members to mental health, or are working in that space. I want to make talking about vulnerability is ok, and to ensure that everyone in our fantastic game feels that there is help there. I need your support. Please give a little to help a lot.

Over Easter I spoke with John Quinn the Canterbury Crusaders Mental Skills Coach and a top bloke. We covered dealing with adversity, being present, and a whole host of really interesting topics. 

John is very well regarded internationally, his messages are clear, concise and actionable. I hope you enjoy the episode. 

To see all that is going on and to donate please follow my bio linktr.ee/2022in2022Challenge 

Why am I podcasting? Well I decided to raise £2022 by running/walking 2022km for Mental Health in Rugby to fundraise for two fantastic charities Brave Mind, and Head for Change. I will be interviewing guests from around the globe who work are either experiencing either are or have suffered from concussion and other connected illnesses, guests family members, Mind Mentors who have either have lost family members to mental health, or are working in that space. I want to make talking about vulnerability is ok, and to ensure that everyone in our fantastic game feels that there is help there. I need your support. Please give a little to help a lot.

I hope you enjoy my chat with Mr David Thatcher Assistant Headteacher at The Piggott School in Berkshire and I am sure you will see the benefit of running mental wellness courses in schools. David has witnessed how much of a positive impact that the sessions have had with the students. 

I am so glad to bring this episode to you as I have often said that Brave Mind does great work out in the public arena, David is an advocate as am I. Is there any reason in this day and age why wouldn't we want our children to be able to talk about their wellbeing?

To see all that is going on and to donate please follow my bio linktr.ee/2022in2022Challenge Why am I podcasting? Well I decided to raise £2022 by running/walking 2022km for Mental Health in Rugby to fundraise for two fantastic charities Brave Mind, and Head for Change. I will be interviewing guests from around the globe who work are either experiencing either are or have suffered from concussion and other connected illnesses, guests family members, Mind Mentors who have either have lost family members to mental health, or are working in that space. I want to make talking about vulnerability is ok, and to ensure that everyone in our fantastic game feels that there is help there. I need your support. Please give a little to help a lot.

Today we speak with Simon Trower who is the Founder of a fantastic charity Brave Mind, they aim to improve mental health within rugby by creating environments which encourage people to talk about their vulnerability. They can be contacted at www.bravemind.co.uk.

Why am I podcasting? Well I decided to raise £2022 by running/walking 2022km for Mental Health in Rugby to fundraise for two fantastic charities Brave Mind, and Head for Change. I will be interviewing guests from around the globe who work are either experiencing either are or have suffered from concussion and other connected illnesses, guests family members, Mind Mentors who have either have lost family members to mental health, or are working in that space. I want to make talking about vulnerability is ok, and to ensure that everyone in our fantastic game feels that there is help there. I need your support. Please give a little to help a lot.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/2022in2022challenge Head for Change you can also go to their website by clicking on the name.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/2022in22challenge Brave Mind you can also go to their website by clicking on the name.

Please share, like, and subscribe, everything I am doing this year is voluntary, so it will make the journey so fantastic when I reach or surpass the challenge with your help.

You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter on @2022in2022challenge

In todays episode we talk to Harry Marshall about how he has dealt with loss, and how part of that loss stemmed from his brother being unable to reach out for help.

It is a story of loss and strength and Harry conveys it with courage and resilience. Harry is also undertaking his own challenge to raise funds for a local charity It's Worth Talking About. Please give a little to help a lot. I hope you enjoy our chat. 

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/365daychallengeforcharity It's Worth Talking About

What am I doing? Well I decided to raise £2022 by running/walking 2022km for Mental Health in Rugby to fundraise for two fantastic charities Brave Mind, and Head for Change. I will be interviewing guests from around the globe who work are either experiencing either are or have suffered from concussion and other connected illnesses, guests family members, Mind Mentors who have either have lost family members to mental health, or are working in that space. I want to make talking about vulnerability is ok, and to ensure that everyone in our fantastic game feels that there is help there. I need your support. Please give a little to help a lot.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/2022in2022challenge Head for Change you can also go to their website by clicking on the name.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/2022in22challenge Brave Mind you can also go to their website by clicking on the name.

Please share, like, and subscribe, everything I am doing this year is voluntary, so it will make the journey so fantastic when I reach or surpass the challenge with your help.

You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter on @2022in2022

In 2022 I decided to raise £2022 by running/walking 2022km for Mental Health in Rugby to fundraise for two fantastic charities Brave Mind, and Head for Change. I will be interviewing guests from around the globe who work are either experiencing either are or have suffered from concussion and other connected illnesses, guests family members, Mind Mentors who have either have lost family members to mental health, or are working in that space. I want to make talking about vulnerability is ok, and to ensure that everyone in our fantastic game feels that there is help there. I need your support. Please give a little to help a lot.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/2022in2022challenge Head for Change you can also go to their website by clicking on the name.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/2022in22challenge Brave Mind you can also go to their website by clicking on the name.

Please share, like, and subscribe, everything I am doing this year is voluntary, so it will make the journey so fantastic when I reach or surpass the challenge with your help.

You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter on @2022in2022challenge.

If you know of someone  who  you believe would be a good fit for my podcast  please drop me a line on [email protected] or via any of  the social media channels.

Again, thanks for listening, and please be safe, and be nice.

Stay well.

Regards, Craig.