In the newest episode of Understanding Men, Luke and Fraser explore uncertainty. Highlighting the importance of tolerating uncertainty that was key to their recovery journey, they share the practices they have in place that enable them to stay present and embrace the possibilities of each day.
They discuss the joy, hope and excitement that uncertainty can bring, and how often the best thing that one can do is focus on the current moment and then go from there. They also highlight how gaining perspective and caring less about an outcome can lead you to be able to live more freely.
Luke and Fraser also want to hear from you! Let us know the subjects you'd like to hear more about, and what would help you start having those difficult conversations. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram @understandingmenpod and YouTube.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the newest episode of Understanding Men, Luke and Fraser are joined by award-winning stand-up comedian, number 1 bestselling author and presenter, Dave Chawner. Dave struggled with anorexia for nearly 10 years before seeking treatment, made worse by the fact he found it difficult to explain what was going on.
Since then he has used the tools at his disposal to help him understand, accept and explain his eating disorder. He now teaches other people through his brilliant 6-week course, Comedy for Coping, to sensitively use humour to inform, educate & entertain to change the tone of the mental health conversation to one of optimism, hope and enjoyment.
Through the episode, Dave details his story with anorexia, about when he knew it had become a problem, addresses common misconceptions around anorexia and tells the guys what made him finally seek medical advice. Drawing similarities with addiction, Luke, Fraser and Dave talk about how isolation can worsen these issues, and address the non-linear path of recovery.
If you'd like to find out more about Dave's work, head to www.davechawner.co.uk and www.comedyforcoping.com
Trigger warning: This episode includes conversations around eating disorders and suicide, which some individuals may find distressing.
Luke and Fraser also want to hear from you! Let us know the subjects you'd like to hear more about, and what would help you start having those difficult conversations. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram @understandingmenpod and YouTube.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Understanding Men, Luke and Fraser are joined by former English teacher and middle leader Mike Nicholson. Mike has a wide range of experience across the educational spectrum and early in his career developed a reputation for his ability to have a positive impact on boys and young men deemed ‘difficult’ and ‘challenging’. Mike developed and delivers the Progressive Masculinity Program which aims to give young men the freedom and confidence to reconstruct a healthier and more open-minded understanding of what it can mean to be ‘a man’.
Through the episode, Mike, Luke and Fraser discuss the positive impact of male role models, the importance of male-female allyship, misconceptions around masculinity and the negative impact of pornography and social media. Alongside this, Mike highlights the significance of modelling language and communication for young men and how parents can approach difficult conversations around body image and consent.
If you'd like to find out more about Mike's work, head to progressivemasculinity.co.uk
Luke and Fraser also want to hear from you! Let us know the subjects you'd like to hear more about, and what would help you start having those difficult conversations. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram @understandingmenpod and YouTube.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the latest episode of Understanding Men, Luke and Fraser discuss the pressures that men may feel around their physical appearance. Addressing the change in beauty standards over the years, and also the increased access to cosmetic procedures, both of them share instances where they have become more conscious of how they look, and how they wish to present themselves to the world.
Breaking down the idea of the (potentially) inevitable 'dad bod' and what health and wellness actually looks like, they discuss the role of social media, not only on the expectations around male and female bodies, but also as a tool for information around fitness and self development. Finally, they talk about the use of steroids, and how misuse of these substances can lead to poor mental and physical health.
Luke and Fraser also want to hear from you! Let us know the subjects you'd like to hear more about, and what would help you start having those difficult conversations. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram @understandingmenpod and YouTube.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Understanding Men, Luke and Fraser discuss the role of community in our lives, and share how it's helped them throughout difficult periods in their lives, including addiction and poor health. Drawing on the evolutionary purpose of community, they discuss why groups of people are so often and easily driven apart by difference of opinion, and address communities that emerge to take advantage of vulnerable people.
They also talk about the importance of community as we age, and how they regularly feel the positive effect of community on their own mental health. Finally, they discuss the role of social media in creating new and instant community, and how this has been both positive and negative in equal measure.
Trigger warning: This episode includes conversations around suicide, which some individuals may find distressing.
Luke and Fraser also want to hear from you! Let us know the subjects you'd like to hear more about, and what would help you start having those difficult conversations. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram @understandingmenpod and YouTube.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.