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.

In this episode, I break down a harsh but necessary mindset shift: the realisation that no one is coming to save you. If you’ve been feeling stuck in life, struggling with motivation, battling depression, low mood, or waiting for things to “get better on their own,” this episode will challenge that thinking and help you take back control.

I talk about how I used to blame circumstances, people, and timing for where I was in life, and how that mindset kept me stuck for years. It wasn’t until I started taking responsibility for my thoughts, habits, and daily actions that things actually began to change. I also connect this with principles from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), especially the link between thoughts, behaviours, and outcomes.

This is not about toxic positivity or pretending things are easy. It’s about ownership, accountability, and small consistent actions that actually build momentum. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, lack of direction, or just feeling lost, this episode is about shifting from waiting mode into action mode.

Topics covered:

• Depression and feeling stuck in life
• Why motivation doesn’t come before action
• CBT principles for mindset change
• Taking responsibility and ownership
• Building discipline through small habits
• Breaking victim mindset patterns
• Personal growth and mental resilience

If you’re trying to improve your mental health, build better habits, or understand how to move forward when life feels stagnant, this episode will give you a direct, no-fluff perspective shift.

In this episode, I talk honestly about my experience with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and how it completely changed the way I understand my thoughts, emotions, and mental health.

At first, I was deeply sceptical about therapy. I genuinely believed that talking about what was going on in my head would make things worse or even lead me down a path I wasn’t comfortable with. I thought CBT was something extreme or clinical—but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

CBT helped me take ownership of my thoughts and behaviours, challenge negative thinking patterns, and understand how my mindset was shaping my reality. It taught me practical tools for managing depression, anxiety, overthinking, grief, and emotional regulation, and helped me develop a more balanced perspective on life.

This episode explores:

• What CBT actually is and how it works in real life
• My personal experience overcoming scepticism about therapy
• How CBT helped with depression, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts
• Learning accountability and breaking negative thought cycles
• How to reframe life using cognitive behavioural techniques
• Living with grief and emotional challenges in a healthier way
• Why CBT is not what most people think it is

I also reference research-backed benefits of CBT, which is widely recommended as a first-line treatment for depression and anxiety by mental health professionals in the UK and globally.

This is not a “life is perfect now” story. It’s about learning to carry life better, not pretending everything is fine.

If you’re struggling with your mental health, overthinking, or feeling stuck in negative patterns, this episode may help you see things from a different perspective.

Mental health support (UK): Samaritans – 116 123 (24/7, free)

In this brutally honest episode, I talk about one of the darkest periods of my life—when I was deep in depression, struggling with suicidal thoughts, and secretly planning to take my own life without telling anyone.

This isn’t a polished story. It’s what it actually feels like when your mind turns against you. When depression convinces you that you’re a burden, that your family would be better off without you, and that disappearing is somehow the “logical” option.

I break down how it affected my role as a father and husband, the guilt I carried daily, the lack of sleep, panic attacks, and the constant internal battle just to get through the day. I also talk about the reality I couldn’t see at the time—how my wife and parents stepped in, carried the weight with me, and refused to let me disappear into it alone.

This episode covers depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and what it actually means to hit a breaking point mentally. More importantly, it challenges the idea that you are a burden when you’re struggling.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck in your own head, or like you’re failing the people around you, this will resonate.

You are not a burden. You are unwell—and there’s a difference.

If you’re struggling right now, support is available through Samaritans (call 116 123, free, 24/7) or text SHOUT to 85258 via Shout for confidential support.

Depression nearly broke me.

And I know how mad this sounds… but I’m grateful for what it taught me.

In this episode, I open up properly about my experience with depression—what it actually felt like, how it affected my mindset, my behaviour, and the people around me… and how it forced me to take a hard look at myself.

This isn’t a polished, perfect story. It’s real.

We get into:

• What depression really feels like (beyond just “feeling sad”)
• Why so many men struggle in silence with mental health
• How I went from avoiding my problems to taking accountability
• The role fitness, running, and discipline played in my recovery
• How depression pushed me into self-improvement and personal growth
• Why I’m now more aware, more resilient, and still fighting every day

I also talk about how this journey led to starting this podcast—to raise awareness, help others feel less alone, and have honest conversations about mental health.

If you’re dealing with depression, feeling stuck, or just not yourself right now—this episode is for you.

You’re not alone… even if it feels like you are.

My Daughter – The Best Worst Thing to Happen to Me | Fatherhood, Personal Growth & Mental Health

What happens when you become a dad before you’re ready?

In this raw and honest episode, I open up about becoming a father at a time when I couldn’t give my daughter the best version of myself. This is a real conversation about fatherhood, personal growth, mental health, and self-improvement—and how having a child can completely change your life.

I talk about the guilt, pressure, and self-doubt that comes with stepping into parenting unprepared, and how those challenges forced me to grow, mature, and take accountability. This episode dives deep into men’s mental health, mindset shifts, responsibility, and becoming a better man—not just for your child, but for yourself.

My daughter didn’t just need me… I needed her.

If you’re navigating fatherhood, struggling with identity, dealing with mental health challenges, or trying to become a better version of yourself, this episode will hit home.

In this episode:

- The reality of becoming a dad before you feel ready

- Dealing with guilt, pressure, and self-doubt

- How fatherhood can trigger personal growth

- Mental health, accountability, and mindset shifts

- Becoming the man your child needs

Keywords: fatherhood, becoming a dad, young dad, personal growth, self improvement, men’s mental health, parenting struggles, life lessons, mindset, accountability, real talk, mental health podcast, parenting podcast, self development

Follow for more real, unfiltered conversations on mental health, self growth, and life experiences.