In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by George from TheTinMen to discuss what it really means to be a man in modern society — and why so many men feel lost, lonely, and unheard.

We dive deep into the double standards men face, from dating culture and sexuality to emotional expression and mental health. With male suicide remaining one of the leading causes of death for men under 50, we explore why current approaches to mental health often fail men — and what actually needs to change.

George shares his perspective on modern masculinity, the rise of loneliness among men, and why phrases like “man up” still do so much damage. We also discuss controversial but unavoidable topics like toxic masculinity, Andrew Tate’s influence, the “ick” trend, and unrealistic dating expectations fuelled by social media.

This episode isn’t about blaming anyone — it’s about honest conversation, nuance, and finding better solutions for men moving forward.

If you care about men’s mental health, masculinity, dating, or the future of society, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss

📲 Join the Big Lad Mailing List for exclusive content & early access: https://mailchi.mp/799f9d66ee7f/the-big-lad-podcast

George's Instagram - https://instagram.com/thetinmen

The Big Lad Podcast - https://instagram.com/thebigladpodcast

Substack - https://substack.com/@thebigladpodcast

Neutonic - GEORGE10

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to George and The Tin Men

02:57 The Importance of Men's Health Issues

06:03 Exploring Double Standards in Society

08:50 Defining Manhood in Modern Society

12:12 The Impact of Career on Personal Life

15:06 Understanding Male Suicide and Mental Health

20:49 The Role of Therapy in Men's Mental Health

29:34 Community Support and Alternative Approaches

33:53 The Power of Men's Sheds

36:14 Understanding Male Loneliness

40:44 The Stigma Around Men's Groups

44:00 The Importance of Male Friendships

48:11 The Impact of Community on Mental Health

53:51 Friendship Dynamics in Adulthood

56:32 The Complexity of Male Suicide Rates

56:51 Debating Toxic Masculinity

01:04:05 The Influence of Andrew Tate

01:04:48 The Duality of Andrew Tate's Influence

01:07:43 The Need for Positive Male Role Models

01:09:42 Education and Gender Disparities

01:16:02 The Impact of Dating Trends on Relationships

#MensMentalHealth #ModernMasculinity #MaleLoneliness #MentalHealthAwareness

Why do so many people start the gym in January… only to quit by February?

In this episode of The Big Lad Podcast, I’m joined by Josh (@joshfituk) as we break down the real reasons people fall off their fitness journey — and more importantly, how to build a sustainable gym habit that actually lasts.

Between us, we’ve spent over three decades in the gym, made every mistake possible, and learned what truly keeps people training long-term. This conversation isn’t about motivation, quick fixes, or extreme transformations — it’s about consistency, mindset, identity, and playing the long game.

We cover:

• Why motivation fades (and why that’s normal)

• The biggest beginner gym mistakes that cause burnout

• How to train sustainably without quitting

• Why discipline beats motivation every time

• A stoic, identity-based approach to fitness

• How to make the gym fit your life — not consume it

• Practical advice for new gym starters who want results without burning out

If you’ve ever struggled to stay consistent, felt overwhelmed in the gym, or quit and restarted more times than you can count — this episode is for you.🎙️

The Big Lad Podcast explores personal growth, mental health, stoicism, discipline, and self-development — helping you build a stronger body and a stronger mind.

Takeaways

- 80% of New Year's resolutions fail by mid-February.

- People often quit the gym because they seek instant results.

- Building small, sustainable habits is key to long-term success.

- Motivation is fleeting; discipline is what keeps you going.

- Finding enjoyment in fitness activities is crucial for sustainability. Stop being a wimp and ask someone if you need help.

- The fitness community is very much about support and camaraderie.

- Don't overcomplicate it; start simple and stick to basics.

- Be curious and stay interested in your fitness journey.

- Don't expect instant results; fitness is a long game.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and New Year Gym Rush

02:09 Understanding Motivation Behind Gym Attendance

04:59 The Importance of Starting Small

08:43 Building a Routine Over Motivation

11:06 Finding Enjoyment in Fitness Activities

13:32 Personal Fitness Journeys and Evolution

18:05 The Role of Supplements in Fitness

27:24 Navigating Gym Etiquette and Advice

29:13 Caffeine and Pre-Workout Habits

32:41 The Importance of Routine in Training

34:50 Overcoming Gym Intimidation

39:44 Building Community in the Gym

41:50 The Value of Asking for Help

51:19 Workout Plans and Cardio Efficiency

53:35 Maintaining Fitness After Years of Training

55:09 The Shift in Fitness Priorities

58:39 The Struggles of Finding Clothes for Big Lads

01:00:05 The Reality of Influencer Culture

01:04:52 The Shadow Side of the Fitness Industry

01:07:17 Quick Fire Advice for Beginners

#gym #gymmotivation #gymlife #howtogetfit #howtobefit #strengthtraining #strengthandconditioning #fitness #fitnesspodcast #healthpodcast #howtobeconsistent #consistency #consistencyiskey #consistencywins

In this episode, I share my top 10 lessons learned from 2025, emphasising the importance of personal growth, accountability, and mental health.

I discuss the value of embracing solitude, recognising burnout, and the impact of what we consume on our well-being. I encourage you to step out of their comfort zones, manage distractions, and take responsibility for their mental health.

I highlight the fear of judgment and the significance of finding purpose in life, ultimately concluding that raising personal standards can lead to transformative changes.

📲 *Join the Big Lad Mailing List* for exclusive content & early access: https://mailchi.mp/799f9d66ee7f/the-big-lad-podcast

*My Instagram* - https://instagram.com/gw_fit

*The Big Lad Podcast* - https://instagram.com/thebigladpodcast

*Substack* - https://substack.com/@thebigladpodcast

*Neutonic* - https://www.neutonic.com/?sca_ref=9779609.7usx9KEZn4hy&utm_source=uppromote&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=263773

*Twitter*: https://twitter.com/gw_fit96

*MyProtein*: https://prf.hn/l/6neGLNl

GWFIT for 37% off

Chapters

00:00 Embracing Solitude: The Power of Going Alone

01:47 Recognising and Overcoming Burnout

05:07 The Impact of Consumption on Mental Health

08:07 Growth Through Discomfort: Leaving Your Comfort Zone

10:55 Distractions vs. Time Management

14:24 Building Self-Respect Through Accountability

17:30 Taking Responsibility for Mental Health

19:25 Overcoming Fear of Judgment

22:00 Finding Purpose to Combat Loneliness

23:52 Raising Your Standards for Life

*Reflection and Goal Setting Template* - https://mailchi.mp/a301117ba339/reflection-goal-setting

Welcome back to The Big Lad Podcast! The first episode of the year and episode 101!

In this episode I'm going to talk you through the tips, tricks and habits that I've used over the last decade to help me get everything done!

I have used my experience in multiple backgrounds from 11 years in the corporate world, to deep conversations with guests on the podcast, over 14 years in the gym and even all the way back to being a GB trialist when I was rowing in High School and College.

This episode is going to help you succeed in 2026. Let me know your goals for the year in the comments below!

📲 *Join the Big Lad Mailing List* for exclusive content & early access: https://mailchi.mp/799f9d66ee7f/the-big-lad-podcast

*My Instagram* - https://instagram.com/gw_fit

*The Big Lad Podcast* - https://instagram.com/thebigladpodcast

*Substack* - https://substack.com/@thebigladpodcast

*Neutonic* - https://www.neutonic.com/?sca_ref=9779609.7usx9KEZn4hy&utm_source=uppromote&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=263773

*Twitter*: https://twitter.com/gw_fit96

*MyProtein*: https://prf.hn/l/6neGLNl

GWFIT for 37% off

Chapters

00:00 New Year, New Habits

02:00 Building Sustainable Routines

04:53 Financial Discipline and Budgeting

07:53 Controlling Inputs and Outputs

10:00 Embracing Discomfort for Growth

13:08 Setting and Breaking Down Goals

15:28 Physical and Mental Discipline

17:59 The Importance of Sleep and Nutrition

20:45 Surrounding Yourself with Positivity

23:14 Tracking Progress, Not Perfection

#successmindset #successtips #changeyourlife

EPISODE ONE HUNDRED OF THE BIG LAD PODCAST

A milestone episode where I reflect on what I’ve learned from 100 episodes, share some behind-the-scenes stats, and highlight some of my favourite conversations so far.

This podcast started during lockdown with a work laptop, a dodgy headset, and no real plan — and has grown into a platform for real conversations with real people, covering mental health, fitness, recovery, resilience, stoicism, addiction, travel, and personal growth.

In this episode, I talk about:

➡️ What 100 podcast episodes has taught me about consistency, discipline, and patience

➡️ Why less than 5% of podcasts ever reach episode 100

➡️ How the podcast grew to over 120,000 YouTube views

➡️ The power of introspection and learning from other people’s stories

➡️ My thoughts on stoicism, emotional control, and mental resilience

➡️ Why you never know what someone else is going through

➡️ My goals for the podcast in the year ahead

➡️ My favourite guest episodes (including stories of addiction recovery, cancer survival, elite sport, mental health, and adventure)

Whether you’re thinking of starting a podcast, working on your mental health, or just enjoy honest conversations — this episode is for you.

Thank you for listening, sharing, commenting, and supporting The Big Lad Podcast.

We’re only just getting started.

📲 *Join the Big Lad Mailing List* for exclusive content & early access: https://mailchi.mp/799f9d66ee7f/the-big-lad-podcast

*My Instagram* - https://instagram.com/gw_fit

*The Big Lad Podcast* - https://instagram.com/thebigladpodcast

*Substack* - https://substack.com/@thebigladpodcast

*Neutonic* - https://www.neutonic.com/?sca_ref=9779609.7usx9KEZn4hy&utm_source=uppromote&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=263773

*Twitter*: https://twitter.com/gw_fit96

*MyProtein*: https://prf.hn/l/6neGLNl

GWFIT for 37% off

Chapters

00:00 Celebrating 100 Episodes

02:52 The Journey of Podcasting

05:33 Lessons Learned from Podcasting

09:18 Guest Highlights and Impactful Stories

25:27 Looking Ahead: Future Plans and Goals

We live in the most convenient era in human history — yet anxiety, depression, burnout, and dissatisfaction are everywhere.

In this solo episode of The Big Lad Podcast, I explore The Hidden Cost of Convenience and why easy living may be quietly making you miserable.

Modern life has removed friction, effort, and discomfort, the very things that once built resilience, confidence, and meaning. Drawing on stoic philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and lived experience, this episode breaks down how comfort culture rewires the brain, weakens mental health, and leaves many people feeling numb, unmotivated, and lost.

This episode covers:

➡️ Why convenience increases anxiety and dissatisfaction

➡️ The dopamine trap of modern life

➡️ Stoicism and voluntary discomfort

➡️ Why comfort erodes confidence and self-respect

➡️Meaning vs pleasure

➡️How avoidance fuels poor mental health

➡️ Practical ways to reintroduce healthy struggle

If you feel stuck, restless, or empty despite life being “easy,” this episode will challenge how you live — and help you rebuild resilience, purpose, and inner strength.

🎧 Listen, reflect, and decide where comfort is costing you more than it’s giving.

📲 *Join the Big Lad Mailing List* for exclusive content & early access: https://mailchi.mp/799f9d66ee7f/the-big-lad-podcast

*My Instagram* - https://instagram.com/gw_fit

*The Big Lad Podcast* - https://instagram.com/thebigladpodcast

*Substack* - https://substack.com/@thebigladpodcast

*Neutonic* - https://www.neutonic.com/?sca_ref=9779609.7usx9KEZn4hy&utm_source=uppromote&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=263773

*Twitter*: https://twitter.com/gw_fit96

*MyProtein*: https://prf.hn/l/6neGLNlGWFIT for 37% off

Chapters

00:00 The Hidden Cost of Convenience

02:26 The Psychological Impact of Convenience

04:54 Pleasure vs. Meaning

09:09 Voluntary Struggle as a Solution

12:37 Avoidance and Its Consequences

15:35 Embracing Discomfort for Growth

#easyliving #discomfort #comfortzone

Motivation is unreliable. Discipline isn’t.

In this solo episode of The Big Lad Podcast, I break down the myth of motivation and explain why discipline will always outperform inspiration when it comes to personal growth, mental health, and long-term success.

We’re constantly told to “wait until we feel motivated” — but what if that advice is keeping us stuck? Drawing from stoic philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and real-world experience, this episode explores why motivation fades, how discipline is built, and why consistent action matters more than fleeting inspiration.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

➡️ Why motivation is emotional and inconsistent

➡️ How discipline creates confidence and self-trust

➡️ The stoic approach to effort, discomfort, and control

➡️Why action creates motivation — not the other way around

➡️How discipline can support mental health, not harm it

➡️Practical tools to build discipline even on bad days

This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, overwhelmed, unmotivated, or tired of starting over.

🎧 Listen now and ask yourself:

Who could you become if you stopped waiting to feel ready?

📲 *Join the Big Lad Mailing List* for exclusive content & early access: https://mailchi.mp/799f9d66ee7f/the-big-lad-podcast

*My Instagram* - https://instagram.com/gw_fit

*The Big Lad Podcast* - https://instagram.com/thebigladpodcast

*Substack* - https://substack.com/@thebigladpodcast

*Neutonic* - https://www.neutonic.com/?sca_ref=9779609.7usx9KEZn4hy&utm_source=uppromote&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=263773

*Twitter*: https://twitter.com/gw_fit96

*MyProtein*: https://prf.hn/l/6neGLNl

GWFIT for 37% off

Chapters

00:00 The Myth of Motivation

01:20 Understanding Discipline

03:45 The Role of Stoicism

05:49 Action Over Motivation

06:26 Understanding Cognitive Dissonance and Self-Image

07:06 The Role of Discipline in Personal Growth

08:21 The Power of Consistency and Implementation Intentions

#discipline #disciplineequalsfreedom #disciplineovermotivation

In today’s solo episode, we dive deep into one of the biggest challenges facing men right now: the modern masculinity crisis.

Why do so many men feel lost, disconnected, or unsure of who they’re supposed to be?

Why are male loneliness and mental health struggles at an all-time high?

And what does healthy masculinity actually look like today?

In this episode, we explore:

- The identity crisis modern men face

- Redefining true inner and outer strength

- The role of emotional intelligence and vulnerability

- Why so many men struggle with purpose

- The impact of social-media extremes on masculinity

- The silent epidemic of men’s mental health

- What balanced, healthy masculinity looks like

- Practical steps men can take to level up their lives

If you’re a man on a journey of self-improvement, personal growth, stoicism, or mental wellness — this episode is for you.

Subscribe for weekly content on:

Masculinity • Mental Health • Stoicism • Self-Improvement • Personal Development • Inner Strength

📲 *Join the Big Lad Mailing List* for exclusive content & early access: https://mailchi.mp/799f9d66ee7f/the-big-lad-podcast

*My Instagram* - https://instagram.com/gw_fit

*The Big Lad Podcast* - https://instagram.com/thebigladpodcast

*Substack* - https://substack.com/@thebigladpodcast

*Neutonic* - https://www.neutonic.com/?sca_ref=9779609.7usx9KEZn4hy&utm_source=uppromote&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=263773

*Twitter*: https://twitter.com/gw_fit96

*MyProtein*: https://prf.hn/l/6neGLNl GWFIT for 37% off

Chapters

00:00 Understanding the Modern Masculinity Crisis

04:28 The Role of Sensitivity and Emotional Awareness

08:03 Cultural Narratives and Masculinity

11:30 Defining Healthy Masculinity

#Masculinity #MensMentalHealth #Stoicism #SelfImprovement #PersonalDevelopment #modernmasculinity

Are you craving clarity, creativity, or a deeper understanding of yourself?

In this solo episode of The Big Lad Podcast, we explore the power of solitude — intentional alone time — and how it can transform your mental clarity, emotional resilience, and personal growth.

We cover:

➡️ The difference between solitude and loneliness

➡️ Psychological benefits: self-reflection, emotional regulation, and identity clarity

➡️ Neuroscience: default mode network, prefrontal cortex, and memory consolidation

➡️ Historical & philosophical insights from Marcus Aurelius, Nietzsche, Thoreau, and Jung

➡️Practical ways to harness alone time for creativity and productivity

Whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, or somewhere in between, solitude can be a superpower.

🎧 Listen, reflect, and start experiencing the clarity that comes from being intentionally alone.

📲 *Join the Big Lad Mailing List* for exclusive content & early access: https://mailchi.mp/799f9d66ee7f/the-big-lad-podcast

*My Instagram* - https://instagram.com/gw_fit

*The Big Lad Podcast* - https://instagram.com/thebigladpodcast

*Substack* - https://substack.com/@thebigladpodcast

*Neutonic* - https://www.neutonic.com/?sca_ref=9779609.7usx9KEZn4hy&utm_source=uppromote&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=263773

*Twitter*: https://twitter.com/gw_fit96

*MyProtein*: https://prf.hn/l/6neGLNl

GWFIT for 37% off

Chapters

00:00 The Power of Solitude

04:26 Neuroscience of Solitude

04:35 The Power of Solitude

08:48 Practical Applications of Alone Time

In this episode of The Big Lad Podcast, I speak with Beth about her journey leading up to her 25th birthday, the pressures of societal expectations, and the importance of vulnerability in sharing personal experiences.

We discuss the impact of social media on mental health, the journey of therapy, and the challenges of navigating relationships with anxious attachment styles.

Beth opens up about her struggles with substance dependence, the importance of emotional expression, and the journey of self-discovery.

Beth also touch on the challenges of dating in the modern age, the healing power of music, and the significance of self-care and solo dates.

The conversation emphasises the importance of acknowledging one's feelings and seeking help when needed, ultimately highlighting the journey of growth and healing.

📲 *Join the Big Lad Mailing List* for exclusive content & early access: https://mailchi.mp/799f9d66ee7f/the-big-lad-podcast

Beth's Instagram - https://instagram.com/justbethmoody

My Instagram - https://instagram.com/gw_fit

The Big Lad Podcast - https://instagram.com/thebigladpodcast

Substack - https://substack.com/@thebigladpodcast

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gw_fit96

MyProtein: https://prf.hn/l/6neGLNl

GWFIT for 37% off