Six sessions of therapy made me realise I don't actually know myself as well as I thought I did.

And the strange thing is, the biggest realisation wasn't some huge revelation.

It was something incredibly simple:

I wasn't paying much attention to how I was actually feeling.

I'd become very good at getting on with things. Work, family, responsibilities, whatever needed sorting — I'd just crack on.

But somewhere along the way, I'd stopped noticing what was happening inside my own head.

My therapist gave me a simple exercise: pause at different points during the day and ask myself how I'm feeling.

And when I actually started doing it, I began noticing things I'd normally just push through — stress, frustration, anger, exhaustion and even boredom.

Then therapy uncovered something else I hadn't really understood about myself.

I'm a person who needs growth.

I like learning. I like improving things. I like spotting problems and figuring out how to make them better.

But when that stops, something changes.

I withdraw.

I lose motivation.

I stop making the effort.

I feel stuck.

Understanding that has made me look at parts of my life very differently.

I also came away from therapy with another realisation that genuinely surprised me:

I'm actually comfortable with who I am.

Not arrogant.

Not "fuck everyone else, this is me."

Just comfortable enough in myself that I don't need everyone to agree with me, approve of me or understand me.

And perhaps the biggest lesson was that understanding yourself doesn't mean making excuses for yourself.

It means recognising your patterns, taking ownership and deciding what you're going to do differently.

This isn't an episode about me claiming therapy has fixed everything.

It hasn't.

Six sessions haven't given me all the answers.

But they have given me a much better understanding of how I work, what I need and how I can approach things differently.

It's an honest conversation about therapy, mental health, self-awareness, personal growth, accountability and what can happen when you finally slow down enough to listen to yourself.

Because sometimes the first step towards changing something isn't finding the answer.

It's realising there's a question you haven't been asking.

What A Time To Be Alive.

Follow for more honest conversations about real life, mental health, work, relationships, getting older, personal growth and all the shit we don't always talk about.

Stay safe, take care, and I'll see you in the next one.

Apparently, I’m The Problem.

My brother and I were once best friends. We grew up together, shared the same parents, lost our sister and experienced the same childhood. Yet today, we barely speak.

In this episode of What A Time To Be Alive, I talk honestly about family estrangement, sibling relationships, grief, resentment, childhood, family conflict and growing apart from someone you once loved.

I explore the choices that changed our relationship, the impact they had on my parents, why I never saw family as a competition, and the belief that I was somehow the “golden child” who was given everything.

I also reflect on becoming a father myself and how that changed my understanding of my own parents, unconditional love and treating your children equally.

This isn't an episode about reconciliation. I don't want a relationship with my brother anymore. It's about trying to understand why the resentment exists, what I supposedly did wrong, and how two brothers who were once inseparable became strangers.

And perhaps the biggest lesson is that being related to someone doesn't automatically make them family.

If you've experienced family problems, sibling conflict, toxic family relationships, estrangement, grief, resentment or falling out with someone close to you, this one may hit closer to home than you expect.

Sometimes you can love the memories of someone and still choose to leave the relationship in the past.

I’m 35… And I Still Haven’t Figured My Life Out

I’m 35 years old — and I still haven’t figured my life out.

When I was younger, I thought 35 would look very different. I imagined having the nice car, the big house, plenty of money, a successful career and the freedom to do whatever I wanted. I assumed that by this age, I’d have life, success and happiness all figured out.

I was wrong.

In this episode of What A Time To Be Alive, I look back at the expectations I had for adulthood and how dramatically my definition of success has changed.

From leaving school without a clear direction, working in jobs I hated, getting into debt and becoming a dad at 21, to building a career, starting a family and learning more about myself through counselling and some difficult periods of life — this is an honest reflection on what turning 35 has taught me.

I talk about getting older, personal growth, mental health, work-life balance, fatherhood, marriage, ambition, financial mistakes, career expectations, success, happiness and finding purpose in life.

Because the things I thought would make me happy when I was 18 aren't necessarily the things I value today.

At 35, success means something different.

It’s less about having the best car or impressing other people and more about having control of my time, creating memories with my family, being present for my children and building a future where I have more freedom and choice.

And perhaps the biggest lesson is this:

You don't have to have your life figured out just because you thought you would by now.

You’re allowed to change.

You’re allowed to change direction.

You’re allowed to realise the dream you were chasing no longer fits the person you've become.

If you’re in your 20s, 30s, 40s or beyond and feel like you're behind in life, this episode is for you.

Because maybe you're not behind.

Maybe you're just still becoming the person you're supposed to be.

🎙️ What A Time To Be Alive — real conversations about mental health, personal growth, family, fatherhood, work, ambition, relationships and trying to make sense of modern life.

Follow the podcast and join me for the next episode.

#PersonalGrowth #LifeAt35 #LifeLessons #MentalHealth #SelfImprovement #Fatherhood #WorkLifeBalance #Success #Happiness #PersonalDevelopment

I Forgot How GOOD THIS Can Be

Sometimes you don't realise how much you've been missing until you finally slow down.

In this episode of What A Time To Be Alive, I reflect on something I didn't expect to realise: I'd forgotten how good life can actually be.

For years, I've been focused on the next thing — career, money, success, home improvements, personal goals and becoming a better version of myself. But constantly chasing the future can make you completely overlook the present.

A few days away camping, spending time outdoors, paddleboarding, exploring Wales and being with my family made me stop and think about what actually makes life feel good.

Not the next promotion.
Not earning more money.
Not having the perfect house.
Not constantly being productive.

The simple stuff.

Time with your family. Laughing with your kids. Getting outside. Going somewhere new. Sitting around doing absolutely nothing. Having conversations that don't involve work. Creating memories instead of constantly worrying about what comes next.

This episode explores happiness, mental health, burnout, work-life balance, family, fatherhood, ambition, personal growth and finding meaning in everyday life.

Because what's the point of working so hard to build a better life if you're too busy working to actually live it?

Maybe we don't always need to change our lives.

Maybe we just need to slow down long enough to realise that the life we've already got might be pretty fucking good.

If you've been feeling burnt out, stuck in a routine, constantly chasing the next goal or struggling to appreciate the present moment, this episode might give you a different perspective on what it means to live a good life.

What A Time To Be Alive is an honest podcast about real life, mental health, personal growth, relationships, work, family, fatherhood, ambition, burnout and the search for happiness in an increasingly busy world.

🎧 Listen now — and ask yourself: have you forgotten how GOOD THIS can be?

#MentalHealth #PersonalGrowth #WorkLifeBalance #Burnout #Happiness #Fatherhood #SelfImprovement #WhatATimeToBeAlive

Have we all forgotten how to slow down?

After a week away at Dubbed Out Festival and exploring the stunning landscapes of North Wales, I came home with one question: why do we feel happier when life is simpler?

In this episode of What A Time To Be Alive, I reflect on camping, paddle boarding, family time, the kindness of strangers, and the unexpected moments that reminded me what really matters. From surviving two days without a shower to helping a family member through an injury, this holiday became a lesson in gratitude, perspective, and appreciating the small things we take for granted every day.

If you've been feeling overwhelmed by work, constantly chasing the next goal, or struggling to switch off, this episode is a reminder that happiness isn't always found in having more—sometimes it's found in slowing down.

In this episode:

• Why modern life keeps us constantly busy
• Lessons learned from camping and travelling around Wales
• The importance of family and community
• Why kindness from strangers still matters
• Finding gratitude in everyday moments
• How slowing down can improve your mental wellbeing

If this episode resonated with you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Keywords: slowing down, mental health, mindfulness, self improvement, work life balance, happiness, gratitude, family, camping, Wales, Dubbed Out Festival, paddle boarding, kindness, wellbeing, personal growth, motivation, life lessons, modern life, podcast, What A Time To Be Alive

I Didn't Realise Work Was Changing Me Until It Was Too Late | Burnout & Counselling

Have you ever felt like work was changing who you are?

In this honest episode of What A Time To Be Alive, I open up about one of the toughest periods of my life. Between moving house, repeated job rejections, poor workplace feedback, toxic leadership, overwhelming work stress and the pressure of constantly proving myself, I slowly became someone I didn't recognise.

I was more irritable, short-tempered and frustrated than ever before. What I didn't realise was that the stress wasn't just affecting my career—it was affecting my mental health, my relationships and the people closest to me.

This episode explores how workplace burnout can build up without you even noticing, why counselling became one of the best decisions I've ever made, and the lessons I've learned about resilience, personal growth and protecting your mental wellbeing.

We also discuss the research behind counselling and therapy, why talking to someone works, and how understanding your personal values can completely change the way you deal with stress.

If you've ever experienced work stress, burnout, anxiety, career rejection, toxic workplace culture or simply feel stuck in your job, this episode is for you.

In this episode:
• Workplace stress and burnout
• Job rejection and career setbacks
• Toxic leadership and difficult managers
• Mental health and emotional wellbeing
• My counselling journey
• The science-backed benefits of therapy
• Personal growth and self-awareness
• Building resilience after setbacks

If this episode resonates with you, follow What A Time To Be Alive, leave a rating and share it with someone who might need to hear that they're not alone.

#MentalHealth #Burnout #Counselling #Therapy #WorkStress #Career #PersonalGrowth #SelfImprovement #Resilience #MentalWellbeing #WorkplaceCulture #Podcast

After more than a month away from the microphone, What A Time To Be Alive is finally back.

In this return episode, I talk honestly about where I’ve been, why the podcast disappeared, and everything that’s happened over the last few weeks.

From an unforgettable family holiday in the Lake District, to the chaos of moving house, to being involved in a serious work vehicle crash that left me dealing with whiplash, life has been anything but quiet.

But this episode isn’t just an update.

It’s about how quickly life can change, why disruption affects us more than we realise, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is stop waiting for the perfect moment and simply start again.

We’ll talk about:

• Moving house and dealing with life disruption.
• Family holidays and making memories in the Lake District.
• Recovering from a work accident and living with whiplash.
• Mental resilience during stressful periods.
• Why routines matter more than we think.
• Returning after losing momentum.
• Finding gratitude in the middle of chaos.
• The meaning behind What A Time To Be Alive.

Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, struggling to get back into a routine, dealing with stress at work, or simply trying to navigate modern life, this episode is a reminder that life isn’t meant to be perfect—it’s meant to be lived.

If you enjoy honest conversations about mindset, mental health, personal development, self-improvement, resilience, motivation, work-life balance, productivity, stress, wellbeing, family life, confidence, discipline and building a meaningful life, you’re in the right place.

Subscribe, follow the podcast, and join me each week as we make sense of this brilliant, chaotic, unpredictable thing called life.

Because despite the setbacks, the stress, the wins and the madness…

What a time to be alive.

What actually changes when you stop drinking alcohol for 30 days? This episode breaks down the real physiological and psychological effects of a 30-day alcohol break — from sleep quality, liver function, and energy levels to mood stability, cravings, and cognitive clarity.

We explore what happens during alcohol withdrawal and early sobriety, how the brain recalibrates dopamine and reward pathways, and why the first few weeks can feel both difficult and surprisingly rewarding. It also covers common timelines people experience when cutting out alcohol, including improved hydration, reduced anxiety, better focus, and changes in body composition.

Whether you’re considering a sober challenge, doing a 30-day alcohol detox, or simply curious about the effects of stopping drinking, this episode gives a grounded, realistic look at what actually happens when alcohol is removed from your system for a full month.What Actually Happens When You STOP Drinking for 30 Days - same again for this 

Most people don’t struggle to quit drinking — they struggle to stay quit. This episode breaks down the real reasons people fail to stop alcohol long-term, moving beyond motivation and willpower into the deeper psychology behind alcohol dependence and habit formation.

We look at how dopamine loops, stress response, social pressure, and identity all reinforce drinking behaviour, even when someone genuinely wants to change. It also explores why “just stop drinking” rarely works, and what actually needs to shift for long-term alcohol recovery and sobriety to stick.

Whether you’re cutting down, attempting alcohol detox, exploring sobriety, or trying to understand your relationship with alcohol, this episode gives a clear, no-nonsense breakdown of what keeps people stuck — and what finally helps them break free.

In this episode, I talk honestly about my relationship with alcohol — from drinking in my late teens to fit in and escape what was going on in my head, to “normal” social drinking in my mid-20s, and eventually making the decision to quit completely in 2020.

This isn’t an anti-alcohol rant. It’s a grounded reflection on how easy it is to drink out of habit, social pressure, or as a way to switch your mind off without ever really questioning it. I break down why I stopped drinking, what changed when I did, and why I don’t believe alcohol is necessary to have a good time or be social.

I also explore the social side of not drinking — the reactions, the comments, and why choosing a non-alcoholic drink in certain settings still feels “weird” to people, even though it’s becoming more common.

If you’ve ever questioned your relationship with alcohol, felt pressure to drink, or wondered whether you actually enjoy it or just follow the crowd, this one will resonate.

In this episode:

• Drinking to fit in and social conditioning
• Alcohol as escapism vs enjoyment
• Quitting alcohol in 2020 and the mindset shift
• Life without alcohol and what actually improves
• Social pressure around not drinking
• Honest thoughts on alcohol culture in modern life

A raw, direct conversation about awareness, habits, and making intentional choices about how you live.