These Lads Are Mental

This weeks episode shares the incredible story of Hugo Toovey. Hugo is an army captain who has successfully beaten cancer twice. He has since become a well recognised advocate for mens health through his organisation 25 Stay Alive. This story is very inspirational and the impact Hugo is now having in the health space because of it is phenomenal.

This week's episode is with the hugely popular Darragh Byrne aka ' The Conscious King'.  Darragh is a leading mindset coach who is renowned for the remarkable psychological transformations he's made with his clients. Helping them live a happier, more fulfilled life simply by changing the way they think. Darragh gives us some insight about his upbringing in Ireland, how his life drastically changed from 'living for the weekend' to living for the moment. Additionally, he dives into his own 5 step process that he uses with all of his clients. @darragh.b.y.r.n.e @theseladsaremental

This weeks episode we talk about 'anxious about being anxious' with the fascinating and chilled out integrative healer Chev Kelly. Chev is quite literally changing lives through her amazing work with people struggling with mental health and as you'll learn she has a wide range of skill sets through her studies and experience in the health and wellness space.

Cecile Caminade has her own podcast called ‘Asking for a Mate’, where she interviews Aussie blokes on all things from masculinity to emotions, and societal constructs. In fact, in this episode, we chat a lot about what ‘masculinity’ actually means, how certain ‘norms’ have been applied to it and how in many ways we might actually have to change our entire perspective on it. Have we had it all wrong? Listen to find out.

The lads are at the half way mark of their inaugural season of These Lads Are Mental podcast. A show about normalising the topic of mental health in a light hearted fashion, with expert guests, everyday people and some laughs along the way. Sure isn't that what life is all about? Hopefully, one day in the not too distant future, we can talk about mental health just like we would anything else in our everyday lives. That's our goal. In this mid season review episode, Neil & Gary take a look back at the guests already aired on the show; their highlights, key takeaways, as well as common trends coming through. The episode also gives a teaser of what and who is ahead for the second half of the season. Get your Irish & more so, Scottish, accent listening machines at the ready, Australia here we go again.  #mentalhealthawareness

Todays episode is the unique, incredible story of Joe Williams. Joe is an Australian sportsman who played rugby league and boxed professionally. His football career spanned from 2004 to 2008 and included appearances with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League competition. Apart from being involved with professional sport for over 15 years, Joe, a suicide survivor, and mental health advocate, now spends his time working to inspire youth through motivational speaking workshops here in Australia and across the globe. Show Notes - What is mental health to Joe - Being a young pro athlete in the city, a dangerous recipe. - From rugby to boxing to mental health struggles, how it unfolded - How re-connecting with aboriginal roots changed Joe's life - Talking about the "Enemy within" - Advice for the younger generation - Quick Fire https://www.joewilliams.com.au/ @joewilliams_tew @theseladsaremental

On this week’s show we have Ben Evans, former international Wales rugby union player. A prop, he has played for Ospreys, Cardiff Blues and Calvisano. He has played for Jersey and Moseley RFC and, Dan Parks, a.k.a. “Compass”, the Australian-born former Scotland international rugby union player and now coach. This show is packed with laughs, insights into the highs and lows of elite performance and the boys personal mental health stories. SHOW NOTES - Talking squid games - Welcoming Dan and Ben - Ben avoiding being shot - Dan's story and thoughts on mental health - Bens unravelling - How feeding the homeless can change your mental health - Making mountains out of molehills - High's and lows of rugby career - Dealing with the end of successful rugby careers....what was next? - Ben's hilarious, must listen to story - The reaction to crying on TV and keeping a cool head - Almost beating the All-Blacks and taking fan abuse - Family impact on mental health - Quick fire questions - Where to find Dan and Ben on Linkedin Follow Us - @theseladsaremental

Paul McVeigh is a former professional and international footballer, with X caps for his country Northern Ireland, as well as over X appearances with clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur, Norwich City, Burnley and Luton Town. In 2010, he won his second league title with Norwich helping them gain promotion back to the Championship before calling a day on his professional career later that year. Norwich fans sing a song dedicated to the popular McVeigh; to the tune of Frankie Valli's Can't Take My Eyes Off You, it notes the fans' love of him "despite your lack of height". He's now gone on to forge a very respectable career in public speaking and personal coaching. SHOW NOTES - Neil and Gary drink of choice - What is mental health to Paul? - How many things can mental mean? - The three D's of high performance - From Dublin to Tottenham Hotspurs - Psychology of becoming an elite footballer - A story about Rory Allen... - Developing A mental edge from a young age - From pro sport to finding balance in everyday life - How an achievement log can change your life - Being grateful for where you are in life - What is a belief? - Everything in life comes back to mindset & psychology - Teaching high performance psychology in sport & business - How to work with Paul - The most impactful book Paul has ever read - Gratitude journal is a game changer - Where to find Paul Pauls Website - https://paulmcveigh.co.uk/ Paul McVeigh - paulmcveigh77 Follow Us - @theseladsaremental

Verushka Darling is a Hall of Fame inducted draq queen extraordinaire. She's smart, funny, and an entertainer. She burst onto the scene in the early 90’s as a fashion model with ultra-long hair and an hourglass figure. She’s written and performed in award winning stage shows and has produced internationally acclaimed dance parties. She made history in 1999 when she became the first Drag Queen in Australia to host her own TV show Verushka’s Closet on MTV. She's also appeared in internationally awarded advertising campaigns and today shares the mental health journey of working in the performance industry as a drag queen. - Neils new look - A book recommendation - A sunscreen story - Welcome Verushka - How lockout laws affected the performance industry - The employment domino effect of locking down performers - Mental health in the gay and lesbian community - Making history as an MTV TV show host  - A crazy law and trend that killed members of the gay community - Is alcohol a problem or revealing an underlying issue? - Masculinity isn't a bad thing - Why being gay doesn't mean you have to be part of the gay and lesbian community - 'Being non-binary is very rare' - Confusing gender expression with gender identity - Simple but amazing life advice from Verushka - Where to find her Versushka Darling - @verushka.darling Follow Us - @theseladsaremental