The Fellowman Podcast

** First up a warning.. in this episode we talk in some detail about the topic of suicide, so if this may be triggering to you please consider this before listening. **

Nick Frendo is a mental health activist and one half of ASCND, a London based cycling mental health advocacy project. Over the last few years he's raised a ton of money and awareness around the subject of mental health through some epic rides, kit collaborations and building a platform for others to share their own mental health experiences.

We talk in some detail about Nick's own battles with mental health issues and the work he's doing with ASCND to get more cyclists trained as Mental Health First Aiders. 

But what this podcast is really about is Nick's experience over the last week. We'd been chatting for a while about doing this podcast but after a serious mental health episode last week Nick got in touch and wanted to share what happened here on the podcast.

So what follows is a very open, honest and raw account just a few days after hitting rock bottom and attempting suicide. It's incredibly brave for Nick to share this so soon after it happened, and importantly he's got the immediate help he needs in a time of crisis. To use ASCND's own tagline, he's now back on the road to respair*.

* Respair is an old english word that means the return to hope after a period of despair.

ASCND Website.

Mental Health Support Resources (UK).

To speak with someone immediately, contact Samaritans on 116 123.

The Samaritans.

Mental Health Support Resources (USA).

Crisis Text Line. Text HOME to 741741

Project Healthy Minds directory of support resources (by Emotional State and Resource Type).

After a few months off to move across the country The Blackdog Cast is back with another episode featuring the story of my friend Kyle Duford.

A cyclist and successful executive and agency leader, Kyle has a really interesting and powerful story to share. Hitting the depths of depression and contemplating suicide, to as the title of his book says "getting a second chance at life".

Kyle's story has a couple of interesting themes, one of which is the role religion has played in his recovery. We talk in detail about this, which for me as someone who's not religious was a fascinating insight.

So, tune in to hear Kyle's story, and if you like what you hear check out his book which is available now on Amazon.

You can catch up with Kyle on LinkedIn or Instagram.

The Blackdog Cast is back after a few months, and in this episode I talk to former Garmin, BMC and Trek pro tour rider Pete Stetina on his recent transition from pro tour racer to gravel privateer. We talk in depth about some of the challenges he faced within the pro peloton including coming back from a career threatening injury and the murky world of rider deals and contracts.

Pete also talks in depth about what it's taken for him to strike out on his own to build a privateer gravel racing program in the US during COVID and why every gravel racer needs to fear Belgian breakaway specialist Thomas De Gendt taking up gravel racing!

Some links to items we reference in the podcast:

Shasta Gravel Hugger. https://www.gravelhugger.com/ 

More info on Blackdog and what we're about:

www.blackdog.bike

In this episode of The Blackdog Cast i'm joined by my friend and fellow cyclist Dr John Mahan. John is a clinical psychiatrist here in Southern Oregon and we get into the nuts and bolts of what a psychiatrist does, when you might need to consult one and how it differs from behavioural therapy / psychology.

We also talk bikes and why comparing yourself to other riders on Strava, Zwift or obsessing over your FTP might actually be detrimental to your mental health, and why a return to the great British 'club run' might be just what we need right now!