In today’s powerful episode, we sit down with the legendary Wayne Schwass. Wayne is a former AFL champion who played 282 games over an outstanding career with North Melbourne and the Sydney Swans. He’s a two-time premiership player, known for his tenacity on the field and respected as one of the game’s fiercest competitors.
But beyond his football accolades, Wayne has become a leading advocate for mental health awareness. After years of battling his own mental health challenges during the peak of his AFL career, Wayne has dedicated his life to breaking the stigma around men’s mental health. He is the founder of Puka Up, a social enterprise focused on mental health education, emotional well-being, and suicide prevention. Through Puka Up, Wayne works to create environments and conversations that allow people to speak openly about mental health.
What We Covered:
This episode delves deep into the emotional and mental battles Wayne faced both during and after his AFL career. Wayne shares his personal story of suffering in silence while trying to uphold the image of a professional athlete. From the highs of winning premierships to the lows of sitting in his car after training, overwhelmed and unable to talk to anyone, Wayne reveals the hidden struggles of mental health.
We tackle the topic of wearing a mask—how Wayne spent years hiding his emotions and the damaging toll it took on his mental health. He opens up about the outdated belief that crying is a sign of weakness, especially for men in sports, and how breaking this mindset has allowed him to embrace vulnerability.
Another key part of the conversation is the identity crisis Wayne experienced after retiring from AFL. For years, his career defined him, but today, he’s more focused on being remembered for his work in mental health advocacy through Puka Up. Wayne stresses the importance of finding your identity beyond your job and truly understanding who you are as a person.
We also dive into the importance of mental well-being, with Wayne emphasizing that mental health needs to be prioritized just like servicing your car. He explains how many of us neglect our mental health, despite it being one of the most crucial aspects of our overall well-being.
One of the most emotional parts of this episode is when Wayne opens up about his relationship with his father. He talks about the struggle to tell his 81-year-old dad that he loves him, and how those unspoken feelings have shaped their relationship. It’s a powerful reminder of how important it is to express love and emotions, even when it feels difficult.
Wayne’s raw and candid story reminds us that mental health struggles can affect anyone, no matter how successful they may appear. The episode challenges us all to take a step back, reflect on whether we’re hiding behind a mask, and prioritise mental well-being in our daily lives.
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