If you're a male under 50, the thing most likely to kill you is you.
It's a sobering statistic, and one that has a lot to do with feeling trapped, alone and like there’s no-one to talk to.
When Ben Akers lost his closest childhood friend, Steve, to suicide it started a journey that co-created Talk Club, a simple idea to get men talking more - and harming themselves less.
Talk Club is now all over the world helping Ben deliver on his goal of saving the next Steve.
In this episode of Goodtrepreneur, we explore:
😢 Story. The story of Steve that led Ben to co-found Talk Club
👍 Learning. How through trial and error he simplified each meeting down to four simple steps that are easy for anyone, anywhere to follow
⚽️ Football. The importance of meeting men where they are, whether that's on a football field, or in the pub
🍺 Beer. How he and the team dreamed up a new zero-alcohol beer and pitched it to Bristol Brewing Company, where it is now a best-seller and helps fund Talk Club
🥊 Boxing. How having supporters from musician Liam Gallagher to heavyweight champion Tyson Fury helps normalise talking and spread the word to blokes who might not otherwise do so.
To find a Talk Club near you, visit www.talkclub.org
Want to know more? Here's what AI had to say after we gave it a listen...
What if two honest questions could change the way men live and love?
We dive into the heart of Talk Club with co-founder Ben Akers and unpack how the loss of his closest childhood friend sparked a global movement helping men measure feelings, build mental fitness, and prevent suicide with simple, repeatable practices.
We walk through the four-round format that powers every group: a truth-telling check-in out of 10, a gratitude round that balances the day’s noise, a practical plan for the week built on sleep, diet, and exercise, and a check-out that proves talking lifts your number. You’ll hear how sport became a bridge—talk and run, talk and football, talk and surf—because connection lands faster where blokes already show up. Ben shares the continuity of care behind the scenes too: when repeated low numbers show up, Talk Club Therapy steps in with groups and subsidised one-to-one support.
We also explore a new model for funding purpose. Clear Head—the alcohol-free beer created with Bristol Beer Factory—does triple duty: normalises healthier choices in pubs, spreads the message on every can, and funnels 5% of sales back into the work. Add coffee and other everyday products and you’ve got a sustainable engine that scales impact without chasing endless grants. Along the way, ambassadors like Liam Gallagher and Tyson Fury help reach men who’d never step into a “mental health” space, while a tiny team and 700+ captains keep the community safe, honest, and growing.
If you’re ready to swap “man up” for something real, start with the truth questions: 'How are you? Out of 10?' Then share your number with a mate, join a group, or start one where you are. Subscribe, leave a review, and pass this on to someone who needs a nudge to check in today.
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