The Man Hug
The monthly Men’s Mental Health Podcast.
Each month the 4 hosts interview special guests to talk about themes that affect men's mental health. There is discussion, lived experience and signposting for services and organisations that can help.
Please visit the Hub of Hope app to see what mental health support is in your area.
Episodes
34 episodes
The Man Hug - Ep034 - Theme: 'Gym Culture' with special guests Sam Gelling and Liam Starkey
On this episode we are joined by two more amazing guests to talk all about 'Gym Culture'. We dive in to topics about fitness, wellbeing, steroids, testosterone, community, inclusivity and accessibility. Sam Gelling is a coach...
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Episode 34
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1:32:41
The Man Hug - Ep033 - World Mental Health Day Special. Special Guests Becky Arrowsmith & Dr Gary Lamph
David Dineley’s My Brain & Other Beautiful Disasters is a story about identity, friendship, and the complicated beauty of living with a mind that doesn’t play by the rules, for anyone who has ever felt “too much,” “not enough,” or ...
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Episode 33
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56:30
The Man Hug - Ep032 - Food - Guests MP Ian Byrne & Chris Guy (Mersey Mind Project)
On this episode we focus on the theme of food. We are joined by MP Ian Byrne. Ian Byrne is the Member of Parliament for Liverpool West Derby. Before entering Parliament, Ian worked as a taxi driver and trade union...
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Episode 32
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1:25:38
The Man Hug - Ep031 - Community Work. Special Guest Joe Kiney Whitmore
In this episode we are joined buy special guest artist Joe Kiney Whitmore. Joe is an oil painter dedicated to the mastery of classical techniques. Though he holds a Fine Art degree, he considers himself largely self-taught, drawing upon centuri...
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Episode 31
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45:55
The Man Hug - Ep030- Male domestic abuse
On this episode we focus on male domestic abuse. We are joined by Kevin Crimmons, a senior lecturer and nurse who spent years practising as a nurse in war zones. He was deployed to Belfast during the troubles, Belize, and the first ...
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Episode 30
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1:34:15
The Man Hug - Ep029 - Bereavement Special Guests Joe & Agnes Williams / Andrew Okell (Paul's Place)
On this episode we focus on the theme of Bereavement. In 2015 Joe and Agnes used the Beacon Counselling Trust as service users, following the tragic loss of their son, Paul, to suicide. In 2017 they co-founded Paul’s Place Suicide Bereavement S...
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Episode 29
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1:35:20
The Man Hug - Ep028 - Gambling; Special Guests David Quinti & Lauren Campbell.
David Quinti is a founding member of the Gambling Lived Experience Network (GLEN) and as well as acting as co-lead of Operations at GLEN he also works for BetKnowMore, another leading charity in the sector. He is a member of the Lived Experienc...
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Episode 28
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1:04:17
The Man Hug - Ep027 - Reflection: Special Guests Steve Pilgrim & Jake Mills
We are joined by two more incredible guests for our 2nd Birthday to talk about reflection. Our first guest Steve Pilgrim is a drummer and singer-songwriter. With 4 released solo albums and being Paul Weller's drummer for over a decade Steve has...
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Episode 27
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1:27:35
World Bipolar Day Special - special guest Theo James
World Bipolar Day is observed annually on March 30th to raise awareness about bipolar disorder, reduce stigma, and promote understanding of the condition, which is also the birthday of Vincent van Gogh, who is believed to have had bipolar disor...
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Episode 26
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54:14
The Man Hug - Ep025 - Awareness: Special Guests Chris Sibley & Jess Gallier
In this episode we are joined by two amazing guests who having both been bereaved by suicide and found a desire to dedicate their lives to suicide awareness and prevention.Chris Sibley is one of the founders of the OLLIE Foundation. Havi...
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Episode 25
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1:23:47
The Man Hug - Ep024 - Guests Kristoffer Hughes & Hannah Todd
On this episode we focus on the theme of Death and Dying.We are joined by two more amazing guests: Kristoffer Hughes is chief of the Anglesey Druid Order, an author, Drag Queen and TV presenter. Kris worked as a coroner for 30+ years and...
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Episode 24
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1:13:24
The Man Hug - Ep023 - Young People - Special guests Juliette & Ryan from YPAS
In this episode we explore the Adolescent brain, the current mental health landscape for children and adolescents and we are joined by two fantastic guests. Juliette and Ryan work in YPAS = Young Persons Advisory Service. They discuss the servi...
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Episode 23
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55:10
The Man Hug - Ep022 - Resilience - Christopher Lee Power & Helen Gilbert (Samaritans)
In this episode, we are joined by actor/director Christopher Lee Power. Christopher gives us an honest account of his childhood and youth in which there were numerous traumatic events such as sexual abuse, witnessing a murder, and issues with a...
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Episode 22
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1:29:25
The Man Hug - Ep021 - Abstinence - Ben Taylor The Magic Mod, Sam Batley & Dr Walter Tasosa
In this episode we concentrate on the theme of abstinence. We have three more incredible guests. Ben Taylor aka The Magic Mod tells us his story of aspiration, rock n roll magic and his story of abstinence following a struggle with alcohol. Ben...
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Episode 21
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2:05:45
The Man Hug - Ep020 - Change ft guests George Riley (State of Mind) & Debbie Rogers (Sean's Place)
Episode 20 - Theme: Change.On this episode we are joined by two more fantastic guests. George Riley, who is an award-winning broadcaster and rugby league commentator who joined the State of Mind charity in 2018. George specialises ...
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Episode 20
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1:55:07
The Man Hug - Ep019 - Aspirations - Special Guests Ian Knott & Kit it Out!
On this episode, we are joined by ex-professional rugby professional Ian Knott. Ian represented GB at Academy level and played Professionally for 13 years with Warrington Wolves, Wakefield and Leigh. During his time at Leigh, he captained...
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Episode 19
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1:16:20
The Man Hug - Ep018 - Special Samaritans episode
In this special one-off Man Hug our Conleth is on set at the latest Samaritans film. The film has been created as part of world suicide prevention day and whilst they were filming Conleth got to interview the wonderful people behind it includin...
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Episode 18
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55:27
The Man Hug - Ep017 - The Arts with guests Mersey Wylie, Martin Wallace & Tim Taylor.
Theme: The Arts.In this episode we have three more amazing guests who all discuss the arts and mental health with personal stories and discussion.We are joined by the wonderful Mersey Wylie. Mersey is an incredible musician who talks ab...
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Episode 17
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1:47:24
The Man Hug - Ep016 - Neurodiversity
In this episode we are joined by 4 amazing guests with the theme being: Neurodiversity. We are joined by Stephen Wynne, who lives with ADHD and works as a neurodiversity coordinator for Everton in the Community. We are also joined by Lynsey Bog...
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Episode 16
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1:06:33
The Man Hug - Ep015 - Comedy with Sam Avery
Theme: Comedy. In this episode, we are joined by Comedian, author, and artistic director of the Comedy Trust Sam Avery. Sam talks about his journey in comedy, and parenting which led to the creation of his book 'Confessions of a Learner Parent'...
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1:21:23
The Man Hug - Ep014 - Life After Suicide, with Angela Samata and Alfie Fitzsimmons
In this special episode we are joined by Angela Samata. Angela presented the BBC1 BAFTA nominated and winner of the Mind Media Award for Best Factual TV documentary, ‘Life After Suicide’. The film encouraged discussion and exploration of mental...
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51:12
The Man Hug - Ep013 - The Mind - Dr John Parrington and Jake Mills
Theme: The Mind.We are joined by special guest Dr John Parrington, associate professor in cellular and molecular Pharmacology at University of Oxford. John has published numerous books on subjects such as the Mind and Consciousness. John an...
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58:01
The Man Hug - Ep012 - Masculinity - Jeff Charles of the Masculinity Unplugged and filmmaker Tom Van Den Hurk
Theme: Masculinity.We are joined by Jeff Charles of the Masculinity Unplugged Podcast. Jeff’s story is one of inspiration and hope. Jeff discusses falling into criminal activity, finding comfort in food and battles with binge eating and the...
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1:34:02
The Man Hug - Ep011 - Pivotal Points - Michael Branch and Paul Gladwell
We are joined by ex-professional footballer Michael Branch who shares with us his journey from academy player to professional at his boyhood club Everton and the pressures that came with. He openly discusses how he fell out of love with playing...
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1:14:56
The Man Hug - Ep010 - Tragedy - Sheila Coleman from the Hillsborough Justice Campaign and Phil Roberts of JourneyMEN Wirral
This months Man Hug is on the theme of Tragedy, events in which we can not predict. We are joined by two wonderful guests.Sheila Coleman from the Hillsborough Justice Campaign who talks to us about the effects that such a tragedy had on...
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1:28:00