Toxic Masculinity - Behind The Mask

Chazz Scott is an author, speaker, mindset and resilience coach. He works with under-privileged young people, running workshops on mental health and helping to equip them with the tools for the demands of everyday life. Chazz also coaches executives.

We spoke about the importance of developing a morning routine by setting aside a few minutes each day, how our thoughts create our future, and how a negative mindset can affect our beliefs. Chazz also talked about overcoming depression and how applying the principles that are now in his book "Success Starts Within" got him back on track.

I had a great time talking to Mac about his early introduction into the world of martial arts which lasted over 30 years. We talked about the positive teachings and role models, and how that helped to shape and form his ideals. We also talked about his book "Positive Masculinity Now" and how patriarchy and toxic masculinity limits and hurts us all. Mac is a well-known activist and speaks on gender and sexuality issues.

You can find out more about Mac and his work at: positivemasculinitynow.org 

In this episode, Joe shares with me his story of bringing up three boys aged 11, 15 and 17 one of whom has Asperger's, another has ADHD and the other son suffered with depression. It's a tough call for most parents and we talked about the importance of setting firm boundaries and expectations centred in love. Joe has also written a booked "Everyday Excellence" which is a daily reflection on where you are, what you need and how you are going to master your day.

You can find out more about Joe at www.everyday-excellence.com.

Drop me a line if you would like to share your story with me shari@sharilewisonfrisch.com.

Lawrence Prestidge is a successful children's book author who has struggled with depression and alcohol abuse, and who lost his job as a primary school teacher because of the stigma around mental health.

Arguably, mental health is a topic more widely discussed today than perhaps 5 or 10 years ago, but it doesn't mean that people are any more comfortable dealing with someone suffering from depression and struggling with their mental health. The stigma is still there but less apparent.

Lawrence decided to write an autobiographical book about how he overcame depression and alcohol addiction called "The Boy Who Lost His Smile". He spoke candidly about his everyday struggles to stay alive and connected to the world without the aid of alcohol. Living with the knowledge that one day he would take his own life, an inevitability which he said he had come to terms with - a matter-of-fact.

Slowly Lawrence learned to forgive himself, to make the changes necessary and to reach out for help. Now, he says, he's at peace, surrounded by people who love and support him, and raise his energy.

Lawrence's story is a deep look into the many faces of depression and how faith got him through.

This is a fascinating and intriguing look at how an absent or abusive father can leave psychological scars on his daughter's psyche that we aren't even aware of. The father-daughter relationship is pivotal in the life of a woman, and she grows up with a hole in her heart that she can't fill when she is denied that relationship. 

The absent father affects her mind, body and soul and it alters the way in which the daughter sees herself in the world, how she interacts in her close relationships and her ability to love herself.

This is a story that everyone needs to listen to as we are all, in some way, affected by it. Whether we had our fathers in our lives but he wasn't there emotionally for us or he wasn't a part of our lives at all.

In this episode, I talk with Bill about the 6 years he spend at a military boarding school in Nigeria where he quickly learned that crying was weak. You got more respect when you didn't cry during the regular beatings -being tough was something admirable. The toxic environment taught Bill how to become self-sufficient from an early age and what he had to do to stay out of trouble.

In order to survive, Bill had to grow up fast. What the experience taught him was resilience and to keep trying no matter how hard. Fortunately, it looks like he's turned out to be a level-headed, ambitious young man.

If you would like to share your story, drop me an email at shari@sharilewisonfrisch.com.

In this episode, I talk to Gabriela a world-leading fertility specialist and clinical researcher, and the author of 4 books on fertility. With a 20+ year career in reproductive sciences, Gabriela gives us some incredible insights into the journey that couples have been on just to have a child of their own.

Gabriela can boast a 78% success rate which is a phenomenal result! As someone who also struggled with infertility, before finally becoming a mother, I found myself relating to these couples.

Gabriela's approach is holistic and looks at the bigger picture of each of the people involved - their mental state, their diet, their lifestyle - and she puts together the puzzle pieces to create a programme which is unique and individual to each couple. 

We also talked about the way men and women approach infertility and how men's perception of themselves is so intricately woven into their virility and how they see themselves.

I'm sure you are going to enjoy this episode as much as I did.  

In this episode, I talk to Tim about his traumatic childhood, his long career in the sports and entertainment world and how, despite the outward appearances of success, deep down Tim was struggling. It was only when he had almost lost everything, that Tim sought help and was diagnosed with severe depression. Tim speaks openly about his self-destructive behaviour and why its so important for men to talk to each other about the real stuff and to reach out for help and support.

Its a thought-provoking discussion about men and their men health. So leave a comment or a review and let me know if you enjoyed this episode.

In this episode, Jack and I talk about what equality for men looks like when it benefits both sexes and encompasses the strengths that both men and women inherently possess. It's an open and very candid look at masculinity viewed from a different lens where men can also feel seen and heard.  

In this episode, I talk with Justin about how he went from being clinicaly depressed, an alcoholic, using drugs and planning how he wanted to end his life to a becoming a proud father, podcaster and men's mental health coach.

Justin's story should inspire every man out there to reach out for help and tell someone he's struggling.

Let's get that conversation started.