No Bullsh*t Mindset

What if fear isn’t something you need to overcome before you take action? In this episode of What A Time To Be Alive , I talk about something I’ve only recently realised about myself: for years, I was letting fear make decisions for me without even recognising it. I used to avoid risk, rejection and the possibility of failure. If I couldn’t guarantee the outcome, there was a good chance I wouldn’t...

Have you ever heard a song and suddenly felt like you were somewhere else? Not just remembering a moment, but actually feeling like you’ve been transported back to another time in your life? That happened to me recently. I was on holiday, cooking dinner with my wife, kids and extended family, when the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” started playing. And within seconds, I was thinking about my sister. I was...

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&#3...

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’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 epis...

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 b...

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....

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...

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...

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,...

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 ge...

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 yo...

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...

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...

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...

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 re...

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 hav...

“I called in sick… but I wasn’t actually ill.” This episode breaks down work stress, burnout, and mental health — and why so many people end up taking a mental health day but feel forced to call it “sick leave.” We talk about burnout symptoms, workplace stress, anxiety, and mental exhaustion , and how modern work culture is pushing people to the edge. If you’re dealing with job stress, toxic work...

Dementia is brutal. In this episode I talk openly about what it’s like watching a loved one slowly disappear through Dementia . This is a personal story about my grandma, her decline over the last few years, and the emotional impact it has had on me and my family. I cover: Dementia symptoms and behavioural changes in real life Memory loss, confusion, and personality shift Care home decisions and s...

Most men talk a big game… until life actually tests them. After watching that Netflix documentary on the manosphere, I couldn’t stop thinking about one question: What happens when your partner gets sick? All that talk about “being alpha,” staying detached, not showing weakness… sounds great online. But real life doesn’t give a shit about your mindset clips. I’ve been with my wife since I was 18. M...

Grief isn’t just sadness — it’s a full-body experience that affects your mind, your emotions, and the way you live every day. In this episode, I get real about what happens when you lose someone, something, or even a part of yourself. I share my personal experience, the raw struggles, and the lessons learned — because burying grief only makes it fester. You’ll hear about: How grief impacts your me...

f you keep staying quiet to avoid conflict, keep the peace, or not “rock the boat,” you’re slowly destroying your self-respect. In this episode, I break down why staying silent in relationships, friendships, and at work makes people lose respect for you — and how that silence turns into resentment, frustration, and low confidence. I talk about: Why people walk over you when you don’t speak up The...

Good employees don’t lose motivation — they get ignored. This episode breaks down why capable people stop speaking up at work. Not because they don’t care, but because their ideas get shut down, brushed off, or slowly killed by bad leadership and ego. I share a real experience from my own workplace and why silence at work is often a warning sign, not a flaw. If you’ve ever gone quiet at work to pr...

This episode is about real resilience — the kind you don’t post about. A mum who worked, sacrificed, stayed strong, and refused to let life break her. No victim mindset. No noise. Just grit, love, and showing up every single day. If you’ve never thought about what your parents went through before they raised you — start here. Stay safe, take care, and I’ll see you in the next one.

Why Trolls Live Rent Free In Your Head Trolls don’t live rent free in your head by accident — they get in because they trigger something unresolved. In this episode, I rip apart the psychology of trolls, bullies, and online dickheads, why your brain obsesses over negative comments, and how reacting keeps you trapped in their game. This isn’t “be positive” or “just ignore it” nonsense. It’s about t...