The Reset by Sam Delaney

David Chidgey had enjoyed a successful and fast paced career in the TV industry for 30 years. Then, in his fifties, he decided to change direction completely and train and as a counseller and psychotherapist. We talked about the joys and challenges of devoting your life to helping others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Darren Blewitt looked destined for first team success at his boyhood club, West Ham. But when they suddenly rejected him after 12 years he was left in the wilderness. Struggling to cope with life outside of football, he fell into addiction and eventually tried to take his own life. Now, two years sober, he tells the story of his miraculous recovery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

When my kids were little I’d take them to places like Rhyme Time in the local church hall. It was kinda fun for them but also a bit lonely (I was almost always the only dad) and really boring for me. Dan Flanagan is making life brighter for dads with his non-profit organisation, DaD La Soul - which makes spending time with your kids actually fun and enjoyable - and might also help you make a few n...

Paul Minter fought in Iraq and Afghanihstan, narrowing escaping death on several ocassions. He enjoyed military life but trying to readapt to civilian ways took its toll. Having lost 14 friends to suicide, he feared he could be next and decided to leave the army. Now, he has set up the charity Head Up to help other soldiers recover from PTSD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...

The Secret Drug Addict  is a a Twitter legend - dishing out sage advice, life changing wisdom and brilliant support to the recovery community and beyond. Also, he’s very funny. No wonder his account has over 38k followers. He agreed to be a guest on The Reset if we preserved his anonymity. Chatting to him was entertaining and educational in equal measure. A recovering addict with fifteen year...

Jonathan Asser worked as a psychodynamic counsellor inside prisons, helping g some of the most violent men in the system. He went on to write the 2013 prison drama ‘Starred Up’ with Jack O’Connell. I spoke with him about him about shame, violence and belonging. Here is a link to a short film about Jonathan’s work in prisons Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Johnny Daukes was the victim of sexual abuse during his adolescence. It took him several decades to understand just how deeply the experience had impacted upon his life, his family and his career. Now, in his unflinching and powerful memoir - ‘Shadowman - Records Of A Life Corrupted’ - he tells his story with bittersweet honesty. He joined me to speak about recovering from abuse and understanding...

James Brown created one of the greatest magazines of all time: when it launched in the 90’s, Loaded was revolutionary - inclusive, smart and funny. But celebrating constant hedonism could only last so long. Eventually, James had to face his demons and get sober. His new book ‘Animal House’ tells the full story of his career and his personal struggles with drink and drugs. It’s as funny as you’d ex...

Soldier T served in the British army for over two decades. After witnessing a horrific war crime in Bosnia, his developed severe PTSD. He spoke to me about the debilitating impact of his condition, his recovery journey and the way in which Britain neglects its struggling veterans. For help with PTSD and other support for military veterans, visit https://combatstress.org.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See ac...

A free taster of my new weekly podcast for paid subscribers to the Reset Extra. If you like it, why not upgrade! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest this week is the writer, comic, broadcaster and author of  ‘Billy No Mates - How I Realised Men Have A Friendship Problem.’ Studies show that men find it harder to maintain close friendships than women do. When Max realised he was running out of mates, he went on a mission to find out why this was happening and what we could do to fix it. This was a really enlightening chat that made...

Irvine Welsh became a spokesperson for the rave generation when he first published Trainspotting. But his books are about more than drugs and parties: they are a sympathetic and poignant depictions of the working class male psyche. He joined me to discuss addiction, why joblessness has created a mental health epidemic and what he did when his mate started crying in the pub. Buy his excellent new n...

The man known simply as ‘Ex’ became a Twitter phenomenon within the football community. But success came with a price: constant abuse from trolls. We spoke about the heavy toll it’s taken on his mental health; the death threats that forced him off line; and the addictive aspects of social media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Todd Von Joel is an actor whose credits include Eastenders, Holby City and Silent Witness. He is also a good pal, with an uncanny and disarming ability to be vulnerable. He spoke to me about working as a painter and decorator, toxic relationships, quitting booze and his spell in prison. Find out more at  toddvonjoel.com  and listen to Todd on  Fix It radio Hosted on Acast. See acast...

In his new book, Oliver estimates that the average human will enjoy four thousand weeks of life. Once we accept that our time here is limited, he says, we can be a bit more realistic about the amount of stuff we can actually achieve. He joined me for a fascinating chat about our obsession with productivity, how convenience has made us impatient and how to live a more ‘meaningfully productive’ life...

The Reluctant Carer was 48 when he found himself divorced, in professional strife and living back at home with his elderly parents. Becoming their full time carer was by turns frustrating, fulfilling, lonely and hilarious. He joined me to tell me how he coped. Buy his brilliant book here  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chip Sommers is one of the best regarded names in addiction therapy. He has helped countless people turn their lives around with his down to earth and relatable approach to recovery. He told me about his own struggles with addiction, how he got better and why he decided to us what he’d learned to help others.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James McMahon was a star writer at the NME before becoming the editor of Kerrang magazine. But while his career was flying high he was wrestling with obsessive compulsive disorder - a complex, debilitating and misunderstood condition. He joined me for an honest chat about his struggles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the seventies and eighties, when football violence in England was at its height, Bill Gardner became a legend. First at his club West Ham, then across the country, he was renowned as the toughest man in football. Now in his sixties, he is reflective about his past, honest about his vulnerabilities and passionate about encouraging others to open up. Bill is no ordinary terrace hard-man: this...

Daniel Lavelle left care aged 19 and experienced homelessness not long after. His new book  ‘Down And Out - Surviving The Homelessness Crisis’  offers a first hand account of the link between homelessness and mental illness. His life story is extraordinary and, at times shocking. His insights are really powerful and he’s a warm, funny bloke. I really enjoyed chatting to him. Hosted on Ac...

About A Son is the brilliant new book by David Whitehouse, about the brutal murder of 20-year old Morgan Hehir in Nuneaton in 2015. Told from the perspective of Morgan’s father Colin Hehir, it’s a powerful and moving account of trauma, grief and love. This beautifully written story had a real emotional impact on me. I was delighted to speak with David about how he came to write the book, the impac...

Simon London spent the early years of his life in a children’s home before going on to conquer the London media scene. He went from Fleet Street journalist to TV presenter, award winning producer and BBC exec. But ten years ago, workplace stress drove him to the verge of a breakdown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Hancock was a fixture on TV in the nineties and synonymous with the laddish culture of the times. But temptations were plentiful and he wound up struggling with drink and drug addictions. He joined me to talk about his recovery, fame, middle age and the recent loss of his mother. A funny and insightful chat with one of the smartest men in showbiz. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...

Dr Richard Vincent is a psychologist who works at Alain De Botton’s School Of Life. The school’s new book, ‘Mental Illness - What Can Calm, Reassure And Console,’ explores ways in which we can look after ourselves and others in times of stress, sadness and trauma. In this chat, Richard explains how love, connection and understanding is key to all of this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

Mike O’Hara’s career in the RAF was flourishing. But he was secretly overcome by anxiety and depression. He spoke to me about the challenge of admitting to mental health problems in the macho environment of the military. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.