The Matalan People Podcast

In this special Pride edition of Proud Chat, we move beyond definitions and dive into something more personal: what Pride truly means to each of us . From visibility and authenticity, to allyship, education, and the lived realities behind the headlines, our panel share honest reflections on how Pride shows up in their lives—at work, at home, and in society. The conversation explores: Why visibilit...

Welcome to the Matalan People Podcast, celebrating the everyday heroes who make Matalan what it is. This episode is brought to you by the Proud Colleague Network. Today, we’re diving into a powerful conversation about Pride—where it began, what it stands for, and why it remains so important. From the history of the Stonewall riots to the realities faced by LGBTQ+ communities today, our colleagues...

Welcome to the Matalan People Podcast — celebrating the everyday heroes who make Matalan what it is. This episode is brought to you by the Maskateers Colleague Network. In this episode, we mark Deaf Awareness Week with an honest conversation about lived experience, accessibility, and inclusion. Sophie Bell is joined by Cassie from our Talent Development team, who shares her journey of living and w...

Today, we’re marking International Men’s Day and celebrating the first anniversary of the MataMen Network! To honour the moment, Dual Site Manager Fliss Jones sits down with Lauren Smith from the Retail Trust — a support service available to all Matalan colleagues, even though we know men often turn to it less than others. In this episode, they’ll explore what the Retail Trust does, who they can s...

October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month — a time to recognise those affected, celebrate the survivors, and raise awareness about early detection, treatment, and support. In. this episode, Abbie Clements sits down with Julia Hassall, who shares her personal journey with breast cancer — from the moment she was diagnosed, to how she managed work during treatment, through to her surgery and eventu...

In this episode, Andrew Leong sits down with Debbi Rogers, the inspiring founder of Sean’s Place, a mental health charity created in memory of her brother, Sean, who tragically lost his life to suicide. Debbi shares her deeply personal journey, the challenges she faced, and the determination that led her to build a safe, supportive space for men struggling with their mental health. We talk about t...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Rachel Howley, Development Manager at The Samaritans of Liverpool and Merseyside, to explore the incredible, life-changing work carried out by this vital charity. The Samaritans are dedicated to preventing suicide through the power of human connection. Their trained volunteers offer a lifeline to those in crisis — always listening, never judging. Whether...

Carl and Gary are back! In honour of Alcohol Awareness Week, they’ve opened the doors to the Matamen Arms — a virtual pub serving up a wide range of alcohol-free drinks. In this special tasting session, the duo sample and rate a huge selection of alcohol-free options, sharing honest reviews to help you find the best picks for cutting back or going alcohol-free. Whether you're sober curious or look...

Jake Mills is a Liverpool-born stand-up comedian, writer, and mental health advocate who transformed personal adversity into a mission to improve mental health support across the UK. In 2013, after battling depression and surviving a suicide attempt at the age of 24, Jake publicly shared his experience. The overwhelming response from others facing similar struggles highlighted a critical gap in ac...

This week, we speak to Carl Heathcote and Gary Gagen from the Matamen network. They talk about their lives without alcohol and what affect its had on them.