Onward Shift Podcast | Mental Health in Construction

In this deeply honest episode of the Onward Shift Podcast , Vishal Narbheram sits down with marriage coach Evan Hendricks to explore a conversation that goes far beyond relationships. Together, they unpack how childhood experiences, people pleasing, shame and societal expectations can slowly disconnect men from who they truly are. Evan shares his own journey growing up feeling like he had to earn...

In this thought-provoking episode of the Onward Shift Podcast , Vishal Narbheram sits down with Tom Gold to explore the growing crisis surrounding men’s mental health and the transformative power of nature, vulnerability and community. Tom shares his experiences working with men through outdoor experiences, bushcraft and community-led initiatives designed to help men reconnect not only with nature...

In this episode of The Hurt Locker Podcast, The podcast that opens a door into men's mental health. Real Men. Real Stories. Real Mental Health Conversations, host Yinka Yesufu sits down with Vishal Narbheram, founder of Onward Shift, for a powerful and honest conversation about mental health, identity and resilience. Vish shares his personal journey through mental health struggles while workin...

Summary In this heartfelt and compassionate episode of the Onward Shift Podcast , Vishal Narbheram sits down with award winning grief coach Kate Nudds to explore the many forms grief can take and how we learn to live alongside it. Grief is not limited to the death of a loved one. Kate explains how loss can show up through bereavement, estrangement, serious illness, pet loss and even anticipatory g...

Summary In this powerful and research-led episode of the Onward Shift Podcast , Vishal Narbheram is joined by Dr. Susie Bennett , whose academic work focuses on understanding male suicide and the deeper cultural factors that influence men’s mental health. Dr. Bennett unpacks the alarming reality of male suicide rates and explores how masculinity, loneliness, emotional suppression and societal expe...

Summary In this powerful episode of the Onward Shift Podcast , Vishal Narbheram sits down with Paul Nash to explore a deeply honest journey through gambling addiction, ADHD, mental health struggles and personal transformation. Paul shares how gambling began in his university years and gradually escalated into an addiction that would cost him an estimated £100,000 over time. He speaks candidly abou...

Summary In this powerful episode of the Onward Shift Podcast, Vishal Narbheram sits down with Brett Smith, Global Safety Director, to unpack a life defined not by tragedy but by resilience. At just 18 years old, Brett survived a horrific vehicle accident that left him without the use of his right arm. What followed was not just physical recovery but a far deeper battle with trauma, depression, add...

In this deeply moving episode of the Onward Shift Podcast , Vishal Narbheram is joined by Clive for an honest and inspiring conversation about family, resilience and navigating life through profound health challenges. Clive shares his life story from his upbringing and close-knit family life to facing serious medical diagnoses including a hole in his heart, motor neurone disease, prostate cancer a...

In this powerful and honest episode of the Onward Shift Podcast , Vishal Narbheram is joined by Craig Paton for a deeply human conversation about vulnerability, purpose, addiction and the urgent need for cultural change within the construction industry. Craig shares his personal journey from childhood influences and personal loss to navigating addiction and mental health challenges while working i...

Summary In this powerful and deeply human episode of the Men Are Human Too podcast, hosted by Valentin Moyo , guest Vishal Narbheram (founder of Onward Shift) opens up with raw honesty about the realities men face when dealing with mental health struggles. From suicidal thoughts and emotional burnout to navigating ADHD, OCD and the pressures of the construction industry, Vish shares what it truly...

Summary In this powerful and eye-opening episode of the Onward Shift podcast, host Vishal Narbheram sits down with Katy Wilson from the charity Bet Know More and Andy May , who courageously shares his lived experience of gambling addiction. Together, they unpack the hidden realities of gambling harm from the first bet to the deep personal, emotional and financial consequences that follow. Katie br...

Summary In this powerful episode of the Onward Shift podcast, the table turn when guest Vishal Narbheram sits down with host Jimmy Webb and opens up the first time about his personal journey with mental health and the challenges faced within the construction industry. He shares candid reflections on living with ADHD and OCD, the importance of vulnerability in breaking stigma and why cultural chang...

Summary In this episode of the Onward Shift podcast, Vishal Narbheram and George Bell dive into the complexities of masculinity, mental health and the importance of vulnerability and connection among men. George shares his personal journey with mental health challenges and how they connect to societal expectations of masculinity. Together, they explore why men must challenge outdated roles, embrac...

In this powerful episode of The Onward Shift , host Vishal Narbheram talks with career coach Stuart Blake about the often-overlooked link between mental health and job seeking. Drawing on over 30 years in recruitment and more than 4,000 coaching sessions, Stuart pulls back the curtain on today’s hiring landscape from the pitfalls of one-click applications and automated systems, to uncovering the h...

In this moving episode of  Onward Shift , host Vishal Narbheram sits down with Steven Kirby to confront a growing crisis—mental health in the construction industry. With suicide rates alarmingly high and mental health still a taboo topic on many sites, this conversation sheds light on the emotional struggles faced by thousands of workers across the UK. Steven shares his personal story, highlightin...

Episode Summary In this raw and eye-opening episode of The Onward Shift podcast, Zak Wilkinson opens up about his harrowing journey through steroid use, addiction and recovery . What started as a quest for the "perfect physique" at just 16 years old spiralled into a near-death experience that left Zak in a coma and forever changed his life. Zak sheds light on the mental and physical toll...

In this powerful second episode with counsellor Will Hamilton, Vishal dives deep into one of the most pressing issues facing men today: loneliness. With over 8 million men in the UK experiencing loneliness weekly, this conversation tackles the root causes, the societal pressures and what we can actually do to reconnect both with ourselves and others. Will explores the three types of loneliness emo...

In this episode of Onward Shift , Vishal sits down with Eve Lameks commercial manager, quantity surveyor and co-founder of Tender Trainers for a real, grounded and empowering conversation about all things tendering, business growth and thriving in the high-pressure world of construction. Eve breaks down the tendering process in simple, actionable steps perfect for tradespeople and subcontractors r...

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of Onward Shift , Vishal sits down with Gemma Cousins, life coach, former professional actress and founder of Core Coaching for a deeply honest conversation about self-confidence, limiting beliefs and what it really takes to rediscover your true self. Gemma shares how her journey from the stage to coaching transformed her understanding of confidence f...

This week on Onward Shifts Podcast , Vishal welcomes Alan Bates, a seasoned construction director and devoted father, for one of the most vulnerable, courageous and eye-opening conversations to date. Alan’s story is not just about physical illness. It’s about identity, purpose and survival in the face of life-altering trauma. From a humble start working on building sites in his teens to leading mu...

In this powerful episode of The Onward Shift Podcast , host Vishal Narbheram sits down with therapist Will Hamilton to unpack the emotional, messy, and transformative journey from boyhood to manhood. From teenage confusion to fatherhood fears , from midlife panic to relationship breakdowns , this is a no-fluff, real-deep dive into what men actually go through but rarely talk about. They explore th...

Money struggles are real, especially in the construction industry. Delayed payments, unpredictable income, living paycheque to paycheque and feeling like you're always one van breakdown away from chaos… sound familiar? In this straight-talking episode of The Onward Shift Podcast , host Vishal Narbheram is joined by Rachel Harte , co-founder of Money First Aid , to tackle one of the last great tabo...

In a world where tough conversations are often avoided, Onward Shift brings them to the forefront. Hosted by Vishal Narbheram, this podcast is dedicated to shedding light on critical social issues, challenging the norms and inspiring change through raw, unfiltered discussions. In this powerful episode, Vishal sits down with James from JT MOTIV, a passionate advocate for mental health and addiction...

In this compelling episode on Onward Shifts Podcast , Vishal Narbheram the host sits down with Rob Porter, a crane engineer whose career has been shaped by hard work, perseverance and overcoming some of life's toughest challenges.  From his humble beginnings in East London to a life-changing accident on the job, Rob’s journey through the construction industry is nothing short of extraordinary. Sta...

In this powerful episode of Onward Shift , host Vishal Narbheram sits down with Debra Stanway, wife of Mark Stanway, to uncover the often-overlooked impact of workplace accidents on families. Following Mark’s devastating fall, Debra found herself juggling not just his physical recovery but the emotional and psychological turmoil that followed. Debra opens up about the shocking lack of medical care...