Episodes

  • S1 E47 Harun Rabbani -When Men Break Down: Why It’s the Beginning, Not the End
    May 14 2025

    Harun Rabbani is a serial entrepreneur, mentor, and retreat leader who has spent over two decades helping high-performing individuals recover from burnout, reconnect with purpose, and lead with renewed clarity.

    After navigating the emotional toll of building multiple businesses while hiding behind a mask of success, Harun experienced a personal breakdown that became the catalyst for profound transformation. Today, he works closely with leading experts — including embodiment teacher Nelia Freitas and forensic psychiatrist Dr Ali Ajaz — to create powerful healing spaces for men and women seeking a deep reset, especially those with ADHD and other forms of neurodiversity.

    Harun’s work blends science, spirituality, and leadership — with one clear message: Your breakdown isn’t the end of your story. It’s the beginning of your true leadership.

    Key Points of the Interview

    • How burnout is misunderstood.
    • His burnout experience and what he learned from it.
    • Signs of burnout.
    • Our "male intuition" and how we ignore it....
    • ....and why we do it.
    • Relationships, and how to save them!
    • Nature or Nurture? The ongoing debate.
    • His incredible retreats and what happens on them.
    • How as human beings we hold onto emotions and we need to let them go.

    Reach out and get a free gift (navigating ADHD) on

    To contact him - www.harunrabbani.com

    If you enjoyed listening, please leave a review and recommend us to your communities. To find out more about Andrew's work, check out...

    www.andrewpain.co.uk

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpain
    Twitter:https://twitter.com/andrewpain1974
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewpain1974



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    50 mins
  • S1 E46 | How to nurture boys into healthy, young men, without banning social media!
    Apr 30 2025

    From his website:

    In 2013, following many years of working with local young people through martial arts Richard Pomfrett created ‘Stay Safe! Workshops’. His vision was to help educate and protect as many young people as possible on the subjects of bullying and staying safe in their community. It was by starting off working closely with a handful of local schools, that gave him the opportunity to develop and create such unique and effective programmes for both.

    Since 2013 Richard’s passion for his work as pushed him to continually evolve and shape ‘Stay Safe! Workshops’ to fit the needs of young people today.
    It is through these specialised and unique sessions, that we aim to educate as many young people as possible. Raising awareness and passing on vital skills and knowledge at key stages in their development and helping prevent them from becoming part of the future dire statistics.

    Reach out on thestaysafeinitiative.org.uk

    www.boyz-2-men.org.uk

    Key points of the episode:

    • His growing up experiences and influences.
    • How he loves what he does, working with young people in schools, and how contrasting his school experience was.
    • How some school situations still to some degree affect him now.
    • How martial arts became a part of his life.
    • The anti-bullying and peer mentorship programmes he runs in schools.
    • How Andrew Tate and so much more have influenced teenage boys.
    • The age that boys begin to be influenced by social media.
    • The biggest online influence problems.
    • The impact of the 2025 series "Adolescence"
    • How the "Incel" movement and Tate are not connected at all.
    • The best time to chat with your kids about online influences/
    • HIs thoughts on the Australian Social Media ban


    If you enjoyed listening, please leave a review and recommend us to your communities. To find out more about Andrew's work, check out...

    www.andrewpain.co.uk

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpain
    Twitter:https://twitter.com/andrewpain1974
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewpain1974



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    55 mins
  • S1 E45 | Why the motherwound stops men from growing up and realising their profound potential
    Apr 16 2025

    Rick Belden is a poet, author, artist, and men's coach, and a respected explorer and chronicler of the psychology and inner lives of men. He helps men who are feeling stuck get their lives moving again by drawing on over 35 years of experience with men's issues, masculine psychology, and recovery from trauma. Rick is also one of the foremost experts on the Mother Wound in men. As a men’s coach, he has worked with an international clientele that includes hundreds of men of all ages and various backgrounds in 30 states in the USA and 23 nations worldwide.

    Find him on Instagram (rickbeldencoaching), Bluesky (rickbelden), and TikTok (rickbeldencoaching).


    The Huffington Post article he referenced during the podcast is called "Men and the Mother Wound" and it's available here.

    Key points of the episode:

    • Unpicking the "mother wound"
    • How he modelled himself on other people thinking they were more than him, but realised later they were doing exactly the same thing!
    • How he did not have a father he could talk with about anything.
    • How "back in the day" is somewhat romanticised.
    • How he wanted to make money to get out of the house, and to prove to his Dad he could do dangerous work like them. To prove he was a man.
    • How eventually he moved into IT but was still unhappy.
    • How men are desperate to be heard!
    • Why men in their early 20's are having trouble getting their lives started.
    • How your relationship with yourself is the most important thing.
    • How men are shamed when they try to follow the new advice of "open up and be vulnerable"
    • ...and why this needs to change. Fast.


    www.rickbelden.com

    www.rickbeldencoaching.com

    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/men-and-the-mother-wound_b_9720718

    https://www.youtube.com/@RickBelden

    If you enjoyed listening, please leave a review and recommend us to your communities. To find out more about Andrew's work, check out...

    www.andrewpain.co.uk

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpain
    Twitter:https://twitter.com/andrewpain1974
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewpain1974



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    42 mins
  • S1 E44 | Can Football Really Save a Man’s Life? These Guys Say Yes
    Apr 2 2025

    Matt Hudson, Associate Director of MAN v FAT


    Matt has been involved in sport, community, health and wellbeing for his whole career, firstly at Colchester United Football Club and latterly Thrive Tribe and MAN v FAT.

    As Associate Director of Marketing for MAN v FAT, Matt is part of the HQ team that has built a programme that supports over 8,500 men every week to improve their health and wellbeing as part of an incredible national community. And, with MAN v FAT Soccer going live last year, that community is transatlantic too!

    Matt also oversees the MAN v FAT customer service team as part of his role and retains his interest in putting the customer at the heart of all of his decision making.

    Born in Colchester, Matt remains an ardent U’s fan and continues to follow their fortunes closely whilst looking after his two daughters.

    You can find out more about MAN v FAT on their website and connect with Matt directly on Linkedin


    Key points of the interview:

    • How a lady inspired him.
    • How he lost his Mum somewhat young, and how it affected the family.
    • The need for female influence in his life.
    • What he did in his 18 years at Colchester, and his thoughts on the positive change in masculinity.
    • The importance of mental health awareness in sport.
    • The financial pressure in the game and in teams.
    • The 2 kinds of intelligence that football managers need for most effect.
    • The value of family support.
    • Man V Fat - what it is?
    • His last 5 and a half years there.
    • The main challenges the men they serve face.
    • Andrew's threat to wear Speedos!
    • How men worry about showing vulnerablilty.
    • The simple criteria needed to join.

    Reach out at www.manvfat.com

    If you enjoyed listening, please leave a review and recommend us to your communities. To find out more about Andrew's work, check out...

    www.andrewpain.co.uk

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpain
    Twitter:https://twitter.com/andrewpain1974
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewpain1974



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    43 mins
  • S1 E43 | Allyship and men: why it's a powerful, two-way process, NOT a fluffy woke term!
    Mar 19 2025

    Daniele Fiandaca is founder of Token Man Consulting, an inclusion and diversity consultancy which specialises in engaging men and senior leaders with I&D and inspiring them to become inclusive leaders and agents of change, creating workplaces that are truly inclusive and diverse. Clients include BNP Paribas, Channel 4, Colt, Flutter, HSBC, Merlin Entertainments, Monster Energy, Ogilvy and Wavemaker.

    Token Man Consulting was born from Token Man, an initiative he co-founded nearly a decade ago to engage men with the gender equity discussion. He is also co-founder of Masculinity in the Workplace, and is also co-founder of Masculinity in the Workplace, one of the few I&D events that is dedicated to engaging men and inspiring them to become better allies and agents of change.

    Previously he was co-founder of Utopia, an award winning culture change business that creates more inclusive, more entrepreneurial and healthier cultures for clients. Utopia’s top-to-bottom, boardroom to factory floor approach had clinched household names including Alexander McQueen, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Google, KP Snacks, Nestlé, Pepsico, Rolls Royce, Spotify, Unilever and Universal Music.

    He was named one of Management Today’s Top 30 Male Agents of Change, and most recently, one of the Top 50 Trailblazers in Gender Equality in the UK. He has also co-authored a number of best selling books including Creative Superpowers: Equip Yourself for the Age of Creativity.

    Prior to his career as an inclusion and diversity consultant, he worked in advertising where he was head of innovation and managing partner at Cheil Worldwide, CEO at Profero, co-founder of Creative Social and has won numerous awards including a Gold Cannes Lions.


    Key Points of the Episode:

    • His challenges growing up...
    • ..... and as a man.
    • How he found a side of himself he didn't really know existed.
    • How shifts are happening but nowhere near far enough, and how some woman do not have the tools to deal with a man showing his feelings.
    • How men need allies from all walks of life to be on their "journey"
    • A proper definition of "allyship"
    • Practical definition of allyship.
    • How the system is damaging men significantly.
    • "Bravespaces" - topics that men may not normally talk about.
    • How you can make a difference to someones life so easily.
    • Can women be allies for men?
    • The current (March 2025) in America and his take on it.
    • How he is breaking stereotypes (one nail at a time!)
    • A new definition of "manhood" for the modern day.
    • A message of hope for the listeners.
    • And the importance of self care.

    Reach out on www.danielefiandaca.com

    Or ... www.linkedin.com/in/danielefiandaca

    If you enjoyed listening, please leave a review and recommend us to your communities. To find out more about Andrew's work, check out...

    www.andrewpain.co.uk

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpain
    Twitter:https://twitter.com/andrewpain1974
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewpain1974



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    47 mins
  • S1 E42 | Why I blanked out my r*pe for 15 years and why I stand for ALL victims of abuse
    Feb 26 2025

    Duncan is is the Founder and CEO of Survivors Manchester. Survivors Manchester is a survivor focused voluntary sector organisation that aims to create and facilitate safe spaces for male survivors of sexual abuse, rape and sexual exploitation across Greater Manchester providing access to quality assured support.

    Their work is focused on developing ways for individuals to empower themselves to work through personal and sometimes painful issues, guided and supported by their trauma-informed team, following the trauma and recovery model.

    In this episode we discuss how the charity started, Duncan’s role in it, the different projects they work on and why he was inspired to found the charity through his own story of surviving sexual abuse.

    Duncan is a gay man and was sexually abused as a child and later sexually exploited as an older teenager and young adult by a male perpetrator.

    It took him a long time to realise that what he went through was actually sexual abuse and we discuss the impact that it did or didn’t have on his sexuality and how that can be a common issue among victim-survivors.


    Key points of this episode:

    • How his Grandad was his greatest inspiration, friend and muse.
    • The importance of kindness and its relationship to mental health.
    • His time in the performing arts.
    • The life changing events, and his perception of same.
    • How it was like 2 lives - the light and the dark.
    • "As he grew up, the abuse grew up"
    • How much therapy helped and how the floodgates finally opened.
    • How his journey to becoming a therapist helped.
    • The creation of "We are Survivors"
    • Given the size of his home - Manchester - how he could not believe the lack of support there.....
    • .....and what he did.
    • His journey of healing.
    • How the organisation has expanded, and the reach of its work today.
    • The odd objections he gets from a minority.
    • How the data on these subjects can be convoluted and poorly curated.


    Reach out at www.wearesurvivors.org.uk

    If you enjoyed listening, please leave a review and recommend us to your communities. To find out more about Andrew's work, check out...

    www.andrewpain.co.uk

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpain
    Twitter:https://twitter.com/andrewpain1974
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewpain1974



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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • S1 E41 | Why Men Are Choosing Running Over Therapy
    Feb 12 2025

    Richard Loftus is the founder of Well Run Brum, the wellbeing running group for men and a non-executive Director at the historic Birmingham recording studios, Grosvenor Road Studios and has a career spanning two decades in the theatre and live music industry.


    Key Points of the episode:


    • How other people pretty much knew he was gay before he did!
    • His career in the arts.
    • How he experienced full on discrimination in some parts of America.
    • How a mental health crisis started and what he did about it.
    • How he got a great person on the phone at the doctors when he called for help.
    • How he recovered and now feels so much better.
    • The running club he now runs.
    • The difference between running away from your problems and running and "leaning in" to them.
    • How the run is designed for excellent male mental health.

    Learn more here:

    www.instagram.com/wellrunbrum
    www.strava.com/clubs/wellrunbrum
    www.wellrunbrum.co.uk

    Here's my personal IG:
    https://www.instagram.com/richardjloftus


    If you enjoyed listening, please leave a review and recommend us to your communities. To find out more about Andrew's work, check out...

    www.andrewpain.co.uk

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpain
    Twitter:https://twitter.com/andrewpain1974
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewpain1974



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    47 mins
  • S1 E40 | Masculinity, Burnout, and the Cost of Never Slowing Down
    Nov 13 2024

    Dan Glyde is a transformational coach specialising in men’s mental strength and emotional resilience. Through his unique Power Shift method and the Positive Masculinity approach (A New Way for Men to Thrive) Dan guides men in taking control of their lives. He works with those who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected, helping them gain clarity, build confidence, and find purpose. By addressing relationship challenges, self-doubt, and life’s pressures, Dan equips men with the tools they need to thrive and live with calm confidence, connection, and direction.

    Reach out here:

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/danglydecoach/

    https://danglydecoach.co.uk/



    Key Points of this episode:

    • What inspired him in his early years.
    • How his desire to "love everyone" was knocked out of him.
    • What he was told about his preferred thinking style in his early years - Hint: - not healthy!
    • His thoughts on bullying and how it has changed.
    • Why and how he got into media.
    • His thoughts on current media and why he left.
    • How he "woke up" and realised his inner life was not healthy- as a "man" was trained to do.


    If you enjoyed listening, please leave a review and recommend us to your communities. To find out more about Andrew's work, check out...

    www.andrewpain.co.uk

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpain
    Twitter:https://twitter.com/andrewpain1974
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewpain1974



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    50 mins