Season 1
Men - It's Okay to Fail
I Thought My Life Was Over at 21
What if some of your best lessons in life didn’t come from winning, but from failing? As men, we often struggle to stand up for ourselves, speak our truths, or feel like we are enough. We look for shortcuts, we make assumptions, and we take things personally. But what happens when you step into a community like ABandOfBrothers that changes those rules entirely? This episode brings together three men across different generations, ranging from 29 to 55 years old, to have a raw, honest conversation about mentorship, vulnerability, and what it truly means to "do the work." One guest opens up about spending a lifetime suppressing his voice, only to discover at 55 that when he speaks his truth, the world actually values it. Another shares how he overcame a childhood defined by an abusive father to find himself at 29 years old, backed and elected to a national role in ABandOfBrothers by a room of forty men. This isn't an episode of unearned advice. It’s an exploration of walking side-by-side, learning from younger generations, and running daily life decisions through a framework of radical integrity. If you are a young man who has ever felt like you are fighting against the world alone, this conversation is an open invitation to stop hiding. ABandOfBrothers is a national mentoring charity for men. Find out more and get involved at abandofbrothers.org.ukContent Warning This episode includes honest discussion of childhood trauma, domestic abuse, and personal struggles with worthlessness and self-doubt. These conversations are part of a broader journey toward healing, community integration, and mutual support. Please listen with that in mind. If you are struggling right now, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day on 116 123, or visit samaritans.org.
What do you do when the criminal justice system swallows you whole and spits you out without answers? When you ride a thousand miles and come home to nothing? When you have spent years in prison and realise you never really knew how to deal with your own emotions? This episode is four men being honest about the moments that broke them, and what they found on the other side. One came out of prison and found a community that changed the direction of his life entirely. One sat alone after a 1,000-mile bike ride and realised he had never once felt like he belonged. One was 21 years old, in his final year of university, caught in a system he did not understand, and reached the point where he did not want to be here anymore. These are not tidy stories with neat endings. They are still in progress. But if you are a young man who has ever felt like you are drifting, like the world is carrying on around you and you are just going through the motions, this one is worth your time. ABandOfBrothers is a national mentoring charity for men. Find out more and get involved at abandofbrothers.org.uk Content Warning This episode includes honest discussion of mental health crisis, suicidal thoughts and the criminal justice system. These conversations are part of a story of recovery and growth, but please listen with that in mind. If you are struggling right now, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day on 116 123, or visit samaritans.org.
In this first episode, hosts Scott and James are joined by Stuart and Corey to talk about how they each found ABandOfBrothers and why they stayed. Between them, they cover mental health referrals, a friend's years of encouragement, and one man who walked through the door straight after leaving prison. What united them wasn't a dramatic turning point, but a quiet decision to do something different. They touch on the 22-week mentoring programme, the Rite of Passage quest weekend, and what it means to go from being mentored to mentoring others. If you've ever felt like you're going through the motions without really knowing why, this one's worth your time. Content advisory: Brief references to mental health challenges and the criminal justice system.