Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health

The past few years have been a tumultuous time for masculinity… 

We’ve witnessed the furore whipped up by the manosphere, and the fear that we’re raising a generation of Andrew Tate clones…

We’ve had Primary prevention programs brought in to schools, spurred by the will to reduce Australia’s appalling rates of domestic violence. 

Men under 30 just played a major role voting Donald Trump back into power, influenced by his appearances on the world’s most popular male-led podcasts.

And swirling around all of this social discourse is one pervasive word that’s stuck to young men like a curse - toxic

With me to talk through this and more is psychologist and Movember Director, Dr Zac Seidler, a preeminent researcher and thought leader working to evolve men’s mental health in Australia. 

This is Dr Zac Seidler...

___

We’re grateful to be producing our latest series in partnership with Credit Union SA – a proudly local team who love supporting the community and helping South Australians thrive through banking. Their support is critical in helping us shed light on men’s mental health.

Sometimes going through the worst pain you’ve ever experienced sets you on a path to becoming something greater than you ever imagined. 

A decade ago, Jed’s leg was crushed in a brutal workplace accident; and now he’s a 2024 Paralympic gold medalist… 

Now 38, Jed’s life experience extends far beyond being an elite athlete, he’s a family man, a leader and a dude who just keeps on learning.

This is Jed Altschwager…

___

We’re grateful to be producing our latest series in partnership with Credit Union SA – a proudly local team who love supporting the community and helping South Australians thrive through banking. Their support is critical in helping us shed light on men’s mental health.

Imagine if your world suddenly went dark and you had to learn to live without the ability to see; That’s what happened to Ian when he was shot at the age of 21… 

Having lived half his life without his eyesight, Ian’s had to adapt in every way and has dedicated himself to becoming a mentor to young men through his youth work role at Top Blokes Foundation. 

This is Ian Clements…

----- We’re grateful to have produced this episode in partnership with Credit Union SA – a proudly local team who love supporting the community and helping South Australians thrive through banking. Their support is critical in helping us shed light on men's mental health.

Grief can take you to a dark place you never imagined, especially when it's wrapped in guilt. Drew spent a long time believing if he'd done more, his brother Mat might still be alive...As a teenager and an adult, Mat was often teetering on the edge, dealing with his inner turmoil by shutting down and keeping everyone out.

For more than a decade Drew knew something wasn't right with his brother, but couldn't penetrate the walls he put up. 

Drew self-destructed after Mat's death, using drinking and drugs to numb himself into oblivion, with ugly consequences. 

Finding purpose, deepening his connection with his mum and meeting his wife has made space for much brighter chapters in his story; all written down in his book, Until The End. 

This is Drew Westfield...

————

----- We’re grateful to have produced this episode in partnership with Credit Union SA – a proudly local team who love supporting the community and helping South Australians thrive through banking. Their support is critical in helping us shed light on men's mental health.

No matter how hard he tried, Nik never felt good enough in any area of his life. Always craving respect and approval from his father that wasn’t forthcoming, he grew up believing any love he was to receive was conditional on what he could deliver.

Nik manufactured a version of himself based on his idea of what the people around him wanted him to be; and spent years in the cycle of escaping reality on the weekends.

The journey from self-hatred to self-love has been a painful and challenging one, but so much better than staying stuck.

This is Niko Diamond...