Stories of Men: Beneath the Surface

Phil had taken financial risks and had fallen into debt. But he was the man of the house and he had to find a way forward. He began working harder and harder. He found ways to keep pushing himself further in pursuit of success.One night he was taking the night time drive home. It was 45 minutes along the motorway. He’d taken the trip countless times before but this time his eyes were feeling a little too heavy, he was afraid he might lose concentration. Then he opened his eyes and realised that he was speeding straight towards a lorry. He slammed his foot against the brakes.There was a cacophony of horns around him. How had he got to a stage where his lifestyle had brought him so close to disaster? And in what way would this experience shape his actions going forward?Alex Melia and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Phil. His personal and frank revelations about how his previous mindset was shaped and how this has since evolved are of immense value. His reflections also provide a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.

You are a social worker and you are working with a young boy who has no experience of being told what to do. He has committed a crime and he is about to go face-to-face with a magistrate. If he does not behave himself, he will only make his situation worse.You are straining to convince him that his best option is to follow the magistrate’s instructions, but the boy continues to act up. After being reprimanded, he throws a pencil at the magistrate’s face. You know this is his final chance.Your training has not prepared you for this. What can you say to finally get through to the boy? Could it be that your experience of being a man might be the very connection you need to use to help this boy change? Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Tim. His eloquence and thoughtful reflection on the meaning and importance of connection is both refreshingly honest and insightful. It also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.

You are a lawyer and you find yourself unemployed for the first time in two decades. You’re sitting on your sofa in your underwear. You feel like you have failed. Feeling that you need to express your disappointment, you decide to reveal your true thoughts to the world. You write a post on LinkedIn.  You pour out your heart. You worry that you may be burning your professional bridges but something compels you to take the risk.After a few hours, it becomes clear that your post has had an impact in a way that you could never have imagined. It has opened the door to the next phase of your life and career. But why did your post have the impact that it did? And what does this say about our society more generally?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Howard. His candour and openness is deeply appreciated and is sure to strike a chord. It also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.

You are a boxing fanatic. You have been obsessed with the sport ever since you were a child. As a teenager you have one overriding ambition: to work for the most prestigious boxing magazine in the country, “Boxing News”.Now you are a young man. You tell your brother that you have plans to emigrate to Australia. You tell him there’s only one possible outcome that could prevent you from doing so: being offered a job at the magazine you have idolised for so long. Then the phone rings. Your brother answers it. He tells you the editor of “Boxing News” is on the line.Is this call just a coincidence? Could Claude really end up getting his dream job at such a key moment in his life? Was all of this simply meant to be?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Claude. His openness in communicating the unique way in which his life has evolved is fascinating to listen to. His reflections also provide a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.

You are travelling with your childhood sweetheart and her family. You met her at school when you were just 17 years old and you’ve been together for 10 years. You have made plans for the future. You’re engaged to be married. You’re playing eye-spy on the roadside together. And then a tragic accident takes her away from you forever. You are distraught. Everything that the future was supposed to be has now changed. How could this have happened? What are you meant to do now?Today we’ll be asking: is it possible to learn to live with such a debilitating loss? And how can our ability to accept the past provide a pathway to being able to make the most of the present?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Jonathan Wilson. His bravery, wisdom and openness while discussing such profoundly tragic events is both deeply moving and inspiring. His story also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

You’re in your favourite blues bar. You’re dancing to the melodic guitars. You see a woman across from you. She captures your attention. You capture hers. You speak to her outside of the bar. You discover that the connection is real.Over the next few months, you fall in love. But she’s seen something on your leg: a small bump. She thinks you should get it checked out. You tell her it’s nothing. But the bump is getting bigger. Eventually, you follow her advice and you receive the diagnosis which is going to change your life.Today we discover how Lewis reacted to receiving his unexpected diagnosis and we ask, why is it that men can often be so reluctant to seek medical advice even when we know that something isn’t right?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Lewis Matthews. His humour, honesty and unfiltered account of both falling in love and discovering his ill health is fascinating to behold. It also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Your biological father disappeared from your life when you were a young child. You have been raised by another man who has been a father to you in every way you could possibly imagine. But, many years later, your biological father returns.You find that you have a lot in common with him. But your relationship is not that of father and son. He’s more like a best friend. You’re playing computer games in his flat one night. The next day you receive a phone call. It’s about the man who left and so recently returned to your life. It will not be good news.Today we discover how Tom’s relationships with both his biological and non-biological fathers have shaped him as a man. And ask, what is the best way to process grief when it occurs in our life?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Tom McGillicudy. His honesty, humility and reflection on such difficult experiences is both admirable and deeply appreciated. His story also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

You’re 20 years old. You’ve been hiding your sexual identity from all of those around you. But now you find yourself on a journey towards your first ever gay bar.You’re excited but you’re also terrified. You’re terrified that someone who recognises you will see you enter the bar. You’re terrified that your secret will finally be revealed. You circle the bar 6, 8, 10 times, checking each time that no-one you know will see you enter. You go into the bar and finally the journey of discovering your authentic self begins.Today we’ll find out how Stephen’s journey into gay culture helped him to make sense of himself as a man. And we ask, how can men be supported in today’s world to live a life that is true to themselves?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Stephen K Amos. His honesty, generosity and passion in sharing an important personal story of struggle and acceptance is profoundly appreciated. It also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

ep 14: You get a phone call from a friend who’s asking to be picked up. He has a reputation as a dodgy character but you agree to help him out. Before you know it, you’re being pursued by a police car. It’s now that your friend tells you he’s carrying something he shouldn’t be.You think about driving away but you suddenly find yourself surrounded. You and your mate are dragged out of the car and the police find cocaine. You will end up being sentenced to 32 months in prison. And you will share a cell with the person who brought this chaos into your life to start with.Today we discover how Grant dealt with having his freedom taken away. And ask, how has Grant’s perception of himself as a man been altered since spending time in prison?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Grant. The humility, magnanimity and calmness  he shows in talking about extremely difficult moments in his life is inspirational to witness. His story also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Ep 13: You’re finishing a night-shift at work. You receive a text from a family member. The person is requesting to see you right now. They need to talk and it is not a conversation that can happen over the phone.You arrive at the family member’s house. They are visibly upset. Then they break down. They are crying in front of you. It is at this point that they tell you their truth. As you listen to their story, you are deeply shaken by its familiarity. And you realise that it’s time to unburden yourself of a secret of your own.Today we discover how being forced to live with the secret of child abuse has impacted Jacob’s perception of himself as a man. And ask, what can be done to help other male victims of child abuse speak their truth?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Jacob. His courage, strength and sensitivity while talking about such traumatic experiences is inspirational and deeply appreciated. His story also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Ep 12: You’ve grown up in a provincial Irish town. You’ve known that your sexuality is different to those around you since you were a teenager. But, as you grow up, you find that you do not fit the stereotype of what a gay man is perceived to be and you are reluctant to define yourself by your sexual preference. One day, however, you realise that one of the people you love most does not truly know you. Your father is an old-school man whose values belong to generations past. You’ve never spoken to him about sex, never mind your sexuality. How will you approach finally telling him about your true self? And will he accept you once he knows?Today we discover how Larry’s sexuality has influenced his perception of himself as a man. And ask, why is it that so many “masculine men” feel the need to hide their sexuality when they happen to be gay?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Larry Meyler. His candour, courage and generosity in sharing such a personal story of identity and acceptance is profoundly appreciated . His reflections also provide a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.Link to first book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Being-Brave-Journey-Through-Depression/dp/1546473076 *********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Here is a special re-released episode of Stories of Men for the New Year.You’re facing down 15 angry men. It’s just you and your dad. You clamped their cars earlier and you’ve been waiting for the men to arrive. You knew they weren’t going to be in a good mood. They’re glaring at you; screaming; shouting. Your father demands the men pay the money before you unclamp the cars. You make one small mistake. The next thing you know, your father is lying unconscious in your arms.Daniel Collins was a slightly built 18-year-old boy who was travelling around the country clamping cars. He hated the job but his father seemed to relish it. It was just a small mistake Daniel made, but it spurred on his dad’s attacker.How badly would Daniel’s dad be hurt? And would Daniel ever be able to go back to his job after this?Today we discover how he reacted to this situation. And ask, has Daniel’s perception of masculinity changed after witnessing what happened to his father?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Daniel Collins. His honesty, resolve and courage in reliving such a horrific and terrifying moment is a sign of genuine strength and is profoundly appreciated. It also provides a vital insight as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Here is a special re-released episode of Stories of Men for the Christmas period.You’re a soldier driving through a warzone. You pass through a deserted village. Later you see a lonely crucifix in a field. You find out what it symbolises: one night all of the people in the village were dragged outside of their homes and executed. How do you react? Do you dare to show emotion? Do you dare to show compassion?Jed Irving was a man’s man. He had been trained to keep his emotions in check. He didn’t react to finding out about the village massacre. He suppressed his feelings. But, years later,  that memory from the past was triggered. This time he felt a depth of compassion he had not been able to access before. But would Jed finally allow himself to express the emotions he had previously denied?Today we discover how Jed dealt with being confronted by the past. And ask, has Jed’s perception of masculinity changed as he has grown older? And what does it truly mean to be a “tough guy” in the 21st century?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Jed Irving. His vulnerability, openness and sincerity in talking about bearing witness to such a tragic scene shows inspirational courage. It also provides meaningful reflection as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

ep 11: It’s Christmas Eve. You’re 6 years old. Your father is taking you shopping for an early Christmas present. He buys you a dictionary, a symbol of his wish for your future education.It’s the next day and you’re woken up by a commotion in the bathroom. You get out of bed and see your father on the toilet clutching his chest. Your mum lies him down and starts performing CPR. She tells you to call 999. You call the ambulance but it will not be enough to save him. You are going to lose your dad on Christmas day.Today we learn how Shaun was impacted by the trauma of losing his father at such a tender age. And we ask, how is a man affected by not having a male role model in his life as he is growing up?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Shuan Flores. His insight, candidness and bravery in sharing such a traumatic experience is both powerfully moving and inspiring. It also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

ep 10: You’re estranged from the mother of your child. You’re jobless. You have no permanent home. You find yourself living in your ex-mother-in-law’s spare room surviving on £20 a week. You’re lying under your duvet. You’re contemplating ending it all.Then you get a phone call from your father. You’re reluctant to answer. You know that his judgement will only add to your misery. But, for some reason, you accept the call and you receive an offer that is going to completely change your fortunes.Today we discover how reconnecting with his father allowed Bode to find renewed direction in his life. And ask, how can we as men recover from the wounds of childhood in order to become role models for our own children?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Bode. The charisma, frankness, and wisdom he shows in talking about the darkest and most inspiring moments of his life is a wonder to behold. His story also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.(References made to his book: “Fatherhood by Papa B”)*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

ep 9: You’re 29 years old and you get the worst news you could ever imagine receiving. It’s about your best friend, the person you’ve known since you were a child. He’s ill and he isn’t going to recover.It was a friendship that had lasted a lifetime. Anthony and David had known each other since they were 8. They’d played together at school and they would relive the energy and innocence of those days every time they met. Yet, at the tender age of 29, David would be diagnosed with terminal cancer. Anthony was about to lose one of the most important people in his life.Today we discover how Anthony came to terms with this loss. While asking, what is it that a man goes through when he loses his best friend? And how can we be more appreciative of the male friendships in our lives?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Anthony. His energy, generosity, and courageousness in talking about such a tragic experience is inspirational. It also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

ep 8: You’re struggling at work. Your energy levels are perilously low. You’re losing confidence. Even the minutest of challenges feels like a massive hurdle. On the train ride home, you are in paroxysms of tears. Something isn’t right.You get home and your wife asks if you’re OK. You tell her no but you don’t want to talk about it. The next morning you wake up with a heavy feeling in your stomach. You realise that the situation is coming to a head. You cannot keep going on like this.Today we discover how Mike was finally able to acknowledge his experience of burn-out at work. And ask, how can men begin to recognise early on when enough is enough and step away from a situation which is causing them mental distress?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Mike. His openness, sensitivity, and bravery in retelling moments of profound distress is truly appreciated. It also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

ep 7: You’ve just been out partying with your friends. You’re walking home and it’s late at night. You hear footsteps behind you. They seem to be getting louder with each stride. Do you turn around to see who it is? Do you run away as fast as you can? Or do you carry on and hope that there’s nothing wrong?Nicco had only just arrived in the UK and he was trying to fit in. He didn’t want to come across as paranoid or be seen to over-react to his surroundings. But he hadn’t felt comfortable. He’d felt as if he were being pursued. That very night he and his friends would suffer a violent, unmotivated attack by a group of men. Now he asks himself, why didn’t I listen to my instincts? Why didn’t I escape the situation while I  had a chance?Today we discover how Nicco has dealt with the trauma following the attack. And ask, has his perception of masculinity changed since being the victim of such motiveless violence?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Nicco. His perceptiveness, generosity, and tenacity in retelling this traumatic moment in his life is inspirational. It also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

ep 6: You’re working in a job that you hate. It’s become so bad that you’ve started searching for other vacancies during working hours. But one day you get called into the office and you’re told that you’ve lost your job. How do you react?Jay Smith was sat in that office in front of his two male superiors and his reaction was to cry. He thought about his financial commitments. He thought about how he would be perceived as a man who was now unemployed. But, immediately, he began to feel ashamed. Why had he revealed his emotions so nakedly to these men? Wasn’t it wrong for a man to cry in public?Today we discover how Jay dealt with both losing his job and losing control of his emotions. And ask, has his perception of masculinity changed after revealing his vulnerability?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Jay Smith. His honesty, self-reflection and magnanimity in retelling this pivotal moment in his life is richly appreciated. It's also a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

ep 5: You’ve just started at a new school. You’re standing in the playground. You’re minding your own business. Suddenly, you’re attacked by three boys. They fling you to the ground. Your nose hits the floor. You’ve been humiliated, and embarrassed. How do you respond? Do you assert yourself and try to stand up to the bullies? Or do you stay quiet and risk being picked on again?Scott Johnston decided to assert himself and he was attacked even more viciously. It was at the end of the attack that he discovered the motive. He’d been picked on because he was overweight.Today we discover how Scott used this attack as motivation to survive in a febrile school environment. And ask, how has dealing with bullying and body image concerns influenced his sense of being a man and his perception of masculinity?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Scott. His frankness, confidence, and courage in retelling moments of genuine vulnerability is profoundly appreciated. It also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

ep 4: You’re at a party with your girlfriend surrounded by your closest friends. You’re smiling and laughing and appear to be having a great time. But, after this moment of celebration, it is your intention to say goodbye. Nobody else knows it but you plan on ending your life that very night.Before taking his life, Luke is driven to make a phone call to a man who he hadn’t spoken to in a long time. He is also being watched by a kind stranger who can see that something isn’t right.  How will the kindness of an old friend and a perfect stranger unite to save Luke’s life? And will Luke eventually be able to appreciate how much he has to live for?Today we will discover the importance of kindness. We will also see how necessary it is for men to speak out when they are at their most desperate.Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Luke Scott. His frankness, courage and generosity in sharing such a painful story is an inspiration to behold. It also provides a vital insight into how pivotal kindness can be as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

ep 3: You’re facing down 15 angry men. It’s just you and your dad. You clamped their cars earlier and you’ve been waiting for the men to arrive. You knew they weren’t going to be in a good mood. They’re glaring at you; screaming; shouting. Your father demands the men pay the money before you unclamp the cars. You make one small mistake. The next thing you know, your father is lying unconscious in your arms.Daniel Collins was a slightly built 18-year-old boy who was travelling around the country clamping cars. He hated the job but his father seemed to relish it. It was just a small mistake Daniel made, but it spurred on his dad’s attacker.How badly would Daniel’s dad be hurt? And would Daniel ever be able to go back to his job after this?Today we discover how he reacted to this situation. And ask, has Daniel’s perception of masculinity changed after witnessing what happened to his father?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Daniel Collins. His honesty, resolve and courage in reliving such a horrific and terrifying moment is a sign of genuine strength and is profoundly appreciated. It also provides a vital insight as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

ep 2: You’re a soldier driving through a warzone. You pass through a deserted village. Later you see a lonely crucifix in a field. You find out what it symbolises: one night all of the people in the village were dragged outside of their homes and executed. How do you react? Do you dare to show emotion? Do you dare to show compassion?Jed Irving was a man’s man. He had been trained to keep his emotions in check. He didn’t react to finding out about the village massacre. He suppressed his feelings. But, years later,  that memory from the past was triggered. This time he felt a depth of compassion he had not been able to access before. But would Jed finally allow himself to express the emotions he had previously denied?Today we discover how Jed dealt with being confronted by the past. And ask, has Jed’s perception of masculinity changed as he has grown older? And what does it truly mean to be a “tough guy” in the 21st century?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Jed Irving. His vulnerability, openness and sincerity in talking about bearing witness to such a tragic scene shows inspirational courage. It also provides meaningful reflection as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

ep 1: Your dad’s on life support. Do you turn it off? All eyes are on you to make the ultimate decision. What do you do? Alexander Lindsay was struggling with burnout. Having just left the job he loved, he received a phone call nobody is ever prepared for. On getting to the hospital Alexander found himself in a room with both his mum, and his dad’s lover. But with doctors needing answers, this was no time for family drama. As the oldest male in the family, all eyes are on you. Would you decide to take your dad off life support to see if he survives by himself? Today we discover how he dealt with the situation. And ask, has Alexander’s perception of masculinity changed after the pressure of that decision?Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest Alexander Lindsay. Their openness, candour, and bravery in retelling this tough moment in their life for us is awe inspiring.It's a vital part of the puzzle, as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Traditional ideas of masculinity are dead, and now men struggle to find their place in the world. In Stories of Men, Alex Melia speaks to men who’ve overcome challenging circumstances to find out what they’ve learned about being a man in today’s world.Alex Melia is a businessman and podcaster. From humble beginnings in Greater Manchester, he built a business which now employs over 30 people. Ten years in, and the company sustains him without his involvement. He now travels the world on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life - and wants to help others from similar backgrounds do the same. *********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

We're changing direction. After 98 episodes and 2 years making Our Voices, I've decided to switch the focus of the show. It will now be called Stories of Men: Beneath the Surface. I want to continue our positive impact, but challenges around the theme of masculinity have been present throughout my whole life. It's where my passion currently lies, and it's where I feel I can have the biggest positive impact. Thank you for your support so far, and I'm looking forward to growing this community with a sharper focus, and a deeper connection.

Darren openly discusses the plethora of negative feelings that contributed to his emotional breakdown on his way to work. He was working in finance. It was an industry that had provided him with the good life. However, he knew that something deep down was not right. He had been drinking too much and struggling to sleep at night. All of this came to a head on one fateful morning. “I physically stopped. I stopped and I looked at this big glass building and these big doors that I've walked in so many times. I couldn't. It was as if my legs had grown roots.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Tim discusses his struggle with expressing emotions. He also talks about the way in which his outbursts of temper are linked to societal expectations. Working as a delivery driver, Tim already had a strained relationship with his manager but, after a particularly bad day at work, he found himself losing control in a way which would make him deeply reflect on both his emotions and his identity.“I literally have a switch in my brain go off… I went off like a bloody rocket.  And I shouted at her and I must have shouted for like two seconds. But I said, don't you bloody tell me to calm down.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Kenny discusses his struggles with drinking and his battle to stay alcohol-free. He reflects on how alcohol use damaged his relationships with his wife and children. He also discusses how support from Andy’s Man Club has helped him to turn his life around. Through the simple act of talking about his experiences, Kenny has learnt to take control of his drinking and become the husband and father he always wanted to be.“There's actually a photo on my Facebook of me sat on the living room floor. And it was my youngest daughter at the time, putting stickers all over my face… But my daughter is having the time of her life, whereas I'm sitting opposite not wanting to be there, not wanting to live.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

John discusses a particularly intense confrontation caused by the expression of an unpopular opinion. In Leeds in 1981, John was taking part in a local council meeting. The debate that was taking place was in regards to travellers. John would be the only person in that room to stand up for a maligned constituent of the local community and he would be forced to confront the consequences of expressing his views. “I felt quite threatened really, you know, I thought, is this guy going to come? And are we going to have an open fight at the back of the council meeting? And I kind of felt, well, we've gone beyond words here.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

John discusses his vulnerability when experiencing financial stress and his reluctance to open up about his financial situation to his family. He talks about his initial desire to hide the reality of his difficult situation from his family. He then describes the subsequent feelings of guilt when he realised that he was cutting out the people he should have been doing his utmost to let in. “I struggled for breath. I could feel it. It's a horrible feeling, almost like you're drowning. And you want to reach out for something, you know, reach out for that lifebelt… I was desperately trying to think - where can I get some money from to make this problem go away.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Adam speaks about his difficulties in letting go of control after being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. He talks about the initial concerns of being unable to resolve his health problems. He then goes on to discuss his fears about how having a chronic condition could impact both his family life and his career. Eventually, he reveals how learning to talk about his problems gave him the tools to get his concerns into perspective. “We're all weird. We're all strange, because we're all individual. No two people are really ever the same. But we've all got extremely similar experiences.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

A dangerous and intense storm thrashed the boat. Leon at the helm, with his crews life in his hands. Today, we hear about Leon Ward’s fear of letting people down as he talks about the actions he took, or didn't take that day. The storm occurred while he was participating in an annual sailing competition and he saw that it posed a genuine danger to his and his team-mates’ lives. He discusses feeling, for the first time, as if he had fundamentally reached his limit.“I did everything I was supposed to do except for this one thing. And this one thing just sits there as a problem for me… I let everybody down.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Alex Melia, the founder of the Our Voices podcast, discusses the traumatic experience of being the victim of a brutal attack on the streets of Mexico. He also reveals how, in the aftermath of the attack, he began to experience panic attacks for the first time in many years. All of this caused him to reflect on the expectations of masculinity and saw him go on a journey which led back to unresolved childhood trauma.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

This season, we're asking what does it mean to be a man in the modern era? and how can we become better every day. I’m to discover how men are dealing with conflicting expectations. And I’m going to take you along for the ride.We’ll learn how to process failure, and deal with confrontation. When to stand up for what you believe in, and how to manage being on the brink of bankruptcy. But first up, I’m going to tell you my story. It's about an event, just a couple of months ago, that made me reassess, and question everything.Join me, Alex Melia as we discover what it means to be a man in 2022.

Esther was a model student at school. She was a member of multiple extra-curricular groups and she excelled in all of her subjects. Well, there was one exception: maths. If it hadn’t been for a particularly dedicated teacher, Esther may never have learned how to make sense of this subject. But not only did Esther achieve an improbably high maths grade, she also became a maths teacher herself. “I guess it's just a testament to what perseverance and a change of mindset can do. I'm not going to claim by any stretch that I was suddenly some miraculous wiz at mathematics; that was hard work, graft and a lot of patience from a very committed teacher. But that day I was just shaking.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Abigail was born with one arm and faced pressure from both her doctor and the wider community to wear a prosthetic arm in order to fit in. But Abigail has never been particularly interested in fitting in. Instead, she has found a way to live her life on her own terms. She describes her sense of confidence and single-mindedness as largely being inspired by her mum. “A group of people who were like minded came together and were able to build something that changes people's lives. And that, for me, is an important part of my life. And it's a result of all of the people who've touched it.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Tinu talks about her experiences of growing up and experiencing racism at school. At the time, racism was institutionalised and virtually ever-present in Tinu’s school life. However, there was one place where Tinu felt safe and there was one special teacher whom she had always remembered fondly. It wasn’t until she returned to her old school for a final reunion that she realised how her special teacher had actually let her down. “It’s the moment where everything you thought you knew about something completely changes. They say when you're dying that your life flashes in front of your eyes. It's that sort of experience in reverse where basically you sort of unwind a whole history, a whole narrative.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Siobhan is a proud single mum who founded The Positive Birth Company. She talks about her difficult relationship with her mother as a teenager and how she had to make a life-changing decision when discovering she was pregnant as a young single woman. She also discusses the ways in which her attitude towards her mum has developed as she has begun to see the positive influence she has had.“I absolutely wanted to prove that you're all wrong. It was only my mum that was saying it, but I felt like the general kind of societal attitude towards me was, ‘you're going to be a young single good for nothing mother’. And I was determined to not be that.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

We learn about the special bond between father and daughter. Sunetra recounts how her father, Dhruba, has been a life-long inspiration. She also discusses how she and her own daughters have embraced the values he espoused. It all began back in India when she would discuss politics and art with her father and his friends. Now she has a fulfilling career in the UK and her father’s influence continues to loom large.“your real goals are to achieve happiness, fulfilment, and to be able to care for others and to be able to do something that makes you feel like you’ve achieved your purpose in life. And that's not something anyone can endorse externally.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

James talks about how the power of technology can create a sense of community. He recalls the unifying role the radio played while living in a remote village in Somerset. He then goes on to discuss how a shared appreciation for technology created opportunities for bonding at school. Finally, he details how he has pursued his love of communications technology in the workplace, a journey which has taken him all the way to Australia. “Radio and audio are able to give you an awful amount of community feeling, an awful amount of company, companionship.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

We are taken on the evolving journey of the life of Roger. He was a carpenter who went on to become a model and is now a public fitness coach. Roger’s journey has taken him around the world and seen him work with some of the biggest global brands. He recounts some of his life-changing conversations and how the power of words has shaped him along the way.“When you're with someone, really be with them, really be present, really listen to the words that are leaving their mouth, because those words can be gold dust. And you could be looking back on a conversation in 10 years’ time going, oh I really needed to hear those words.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Sara Sutcliffe is the current CEO of the Royal Yachting Association. She has had an eventful and fascinating career, including working on the team that secured London’s bid for the 2012 Olympics. She discusses working with prominent politicians such as the late Tessa Jowell and the current Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. She also provides her reflections on the role models who have had the biggest influence on her throughout her journey. “The first thing I say to people who work with me is: you have absolute permission to make mistakes, what you don't have permission to do is to try and cover them up. Please just be honest.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

This season, we're looking at the impact of role models. How people found their role models, what happens when you grow up without a role model, and how to be a good one for others.Here's to all the Role models out there, you know who you are, and you're great! Keep on paying it forward.

Ciara was born with a learning disability but she has refused to accept the limitations that society has outlined for her. Despite having struggles at school and being told that she would not be able to live a full life, she has drawn inspiration from others, including her supportive and successful cousin, The Edge from U2. This has helped her to find a way to unleash her own potential.“Just because you have a learning disability, it doesn't make you any different. It just means you might need some extra support in your life. And everybody has some kind of difficulty in their life. Everybody has barriers.” *********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Ben, a 17-year-old student with autism is preparing for his A-levels, and excited about the prospect of going to university. He's fortunate to have a big sister, Ruth, who has been giving him advice on how best to prepare for the next potential phase of his life. “The best way for me to describe it is it means I think differently, and my brain is wired completely differently to anyone else. It's a different way of living, a different way of seeing the world. And the reason why it's a disability is because the world is not built for autistic people. It's built for non autistic people.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Since contracting polio as a child, Ric has been in a wheelchair for most of his life; however, he has proven himself to be particularly resourceful. With his personal mantra of “there’s no such word as can’t”, Ric has found a way to do things that many would assume would be beyond his ability; including, raising his children as a stay at home dad and competing in the London Marathon.“Having a disability is just an impairment. It's not the end of your life or anything. It's just something that needs to be addressed. And far more of what makes you disabled is the social environment around you, rather than what you can't do.” *********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Issy is a woman who is living with Fibromyalgia. She talks about her powerful imagination and the uniqueness that characterises her personality. She also reflects on the way that her differences have made her life particularly challenging as both a child and an adult. More recently she has been able to make her voice heard and she plans to use it to fight for a more empathetic and inclusive society.“I sat there, and I just cried. I said, I am just so proud of myself, that I have been able to ignore my inner saboteur and my inner demons and that I've got myself to a position where I can be interviewed for a job role that I am desperately wanting to do, and a job where people are gonna listen to me. And I'm going to be able to impact other people's lives and make a difference and make a change.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

As a child, Seema was a big fan of cars. Her father was a car mechanic and she would roam around his garage and pretend to drive the cars. “My passion was being able to drive. I always thought, when I grew up, I'll have a car, I'll be able to stop at the petrol station, I’ll go and stop and get some shopping. So I used to roleplay all this sort of stuff when I was about 6, 7, 8.” “The thing is, when you have a disability, you have so many restrictions already. When COVID-19 hit, basically, it made life much more difficult for people who are vulnerable and disabled. It exacerbated the situation of people like myself… I was sick and tired.. I just wanted to have my own freedom back.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Gavin is someone who is passionate about promoting disability awareness. He has also made fighting for equality and fairness a principle objective in his life. After working with people with disabilities for a number of years he became aware of how much discrimination such individuals often face due to simple ignorance. He has now made it his mission to change attitudes towards disability by using technology.“What we are doing when we make sure everybody in our society has access to information is we are changing the way society interacts. Now, this is such a big idea. It's massive.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Alexandra is a British-Jamaican woman who suffered a life-changing injury as a teenager and went on to become an award-winning Paralympian. Following a diving accident while swimming in Jamaica, it took many months of rehabilitation and readjustment for Alexandra to be able to relearn how to be independent. Her story shows her ability not only to adapt to the circumstances of her disability, but to find a way to prosper.“I basically ran into the water and dived. And the next thing I knew, I opened my eyes and I was looking at the sea floor… I tried to move, I couldn't, I tried again to move, I couldn't. And at that point in time, I knew what had happened.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Episode summary: Clare has taken a positive attitude towards disability. She was born with a neuromuscular condition which meant that she required a lot of support as a child. Yet she was also born into a loving family who did not view her condition as simply an inconvenience. As far as Clare’s family were concerned, she was no different to anyone else and she should have the aspirations of any other child.“As a child, I thought, I'm going to do something. I don't know what it is but I'm going to do something.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

The new season of Our Voices is out tomorrow!This season we'll be hearing what it's like to live in the UK with a disability. Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

We will hear a story about travel and self-discovery. Kate is a travel journalist and writer who lives in London. She talks about the origins of her love of travelling and about the difficult relationship she had with her mother while growing up. She also discusses how she found the confidence to take her own path in life, rather than following in the footsteps of her peers.“You can't rewrite your childhood, but you can start the next chapter on your own terms.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

This is an inspirational story of community. Elizabeth is a teacher and campaigner who lives in Kosovo. Originally she planned on living in the country for 6 months having joined her husband on a work placement. Sixteen years later and they are both still there. Elizabeth has established the third biggest charity in the country called “The Ideas Partnership”, where she helps those from the least privileged communities.“So I went to the Ministry of Education. And I said I think there's a misunderstanding, I think this head teacher is saying that this girl can't come to school. And the woman at the Ministry of Education said to me ah, no, they're just too hard to teach. And so that really drove me mad. The idea of any child being considered too hard to teach.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Lesley is a leading figure within the field of chemistry and has spent most of her career as a researcher at the University of Edinburgh. She has had to overcome sexism in order to achieve success at the highest level. We learn about her contrasting experiences while studying science at school and university. We also learn how she now believes the most important thing in life is giving back.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Karen was born and raised in rural Scotland and she has always had an appreciation for outdoor sports, particularly sailing. From a very young age, however, she had sensed that something was not as it should be in her life. Karen was living her life as a male but knew that she should’ve been born a girl.Here is the story of Karen’s long and challenging journey of self-discovery.“I was expecting the worst. I was expecting to be laughed at and ridiculed and never to be taken seriously again, but what I actually got was an outpouring of support and love from all these people I used to work with. It was one of the most empowering things I’ve ever had”Listener warning - this episode contains reference to suicidal thoughts.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Sylvia Mac, one of 2020’s Women of the Year, discusses the physical and psychological impacts of a horrific accident she experienced when she was just 2-and-a-half years old. She discusses the challenges of being a burns survivor. She also talks about how embracing her body has helped to provide psychological healing and given her the courage to challenge societal attitudes towards non-typical standards of beauty. “I don't blame her for anything. I don’t blame her for the accident. I just praise her for being that strong woman that brought me up, cared for me, because now I've got a really strong, caring, supportive character.”*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Athene is a pioneering female physicist who has had to overcome prejudice and discrimination as she has gone on to excel in her career. Her experiences show how males’ attitudes within the scientific community so often act as a barrier to women becoming involved in science. We learn how Athene has used her experiences and success to combat this and encourage women to pursue their scientific ambitions.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

This is a story about females triumphing against the odds. Nicola is 22 years old and is a senior instructor with the RYA - the UK’s Royal Yachting Association. She talks about growing up in a single-parent family and about how her mother has been a life-long inspiration. She also reflects on the times she has been underestimated by males. And how she has spectacularly forced them to reevaluate their assumptions.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Pinky Lilani is an entrepreneur who has a passion for food. She describes how she grew up in a culture in which men were supposed to be the breadwinners. She also talks about her anguish at experiencing hearing loss in the midst of her newfound career. Finally, she reflects on how support from a kind friend and an inner-determination to succeed saw her overcome these challenges to achieve lasting success.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

The new season of Our Voices is out tomorrow!This season we'll be Celebrating Women in the UK. Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

We hear a story of isolation and betrayal. We also learn how Stewart has taken motivation from his most hurtful experiences to try to create a better world for his children. Stewart is a black, Bafta-nominated director, who recently directed the film “Black and Scottish”. The film is very personal to his own experiences as he moved to Scotland at the age of two after being born in Kenya.  *********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

We hear the story of a devastating racist attack. We also learn how Dr Zainab Khan is using the trauma she has suffered to help others. Zainab has a PhD as a trained barrister and she is also Pro-Vice Chancellor at London Metropolitan University. But her journey to becoming a high-achiever has been made especially challenging by the discrimination and racial violence that she has suffered.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Natasha is the Welsh Senedd’s first woman of colour and has become one of the few representatives of ethnic minorities in Welsh politics. Yet it took five elections and a long battle against discrimination for her to achieve her goal. She also had to rethink her initial career ambitions. Her career path changed due to a particularly uncomfortable interview at the BBC and some words of wisdom from her father.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Mark, a serial entrepreneur and social activist, talks about how he has found a way to remain positive amidst the discrimination he has faced as a black man with a disability. He was born to Nigerian parents in Leicester in the 1960s. And, at the tender age of 5, he was given a 10% chance of survival after contracting polio. Since then, Mark has not only survived, he has thrived.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Graham is a veteran campaigner and activist, he is also Glasgow Council’s first ever Afro-Caribbean councillor. He was born in London to a Jamaican father and a Granadian mother and he is Rastafarian. Graham grew up with a sense of confidence in his multiple identities but he has found himself a victim of racist abuse on numerous occasions. Shockingly, his most recent experience is among the worst.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Andy is a police officer of both Malaysian and Northern Irish heritage. He is also a father of three children and president of the National Black Police Association, an organisation which represents police officers of ethnic minorities across the UK. In many ways, it is Andy’s experiences while growing up which have influenced his desire to stand up to racism as part of his profession.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Aisha is a Muslim and has been the victim of a form of discrimination which has caused particular strife in Britain; namely, Islamophobia. She was born and raised in the Middle East but she came to London initially to study. She talks about being made to feel different to others and how she has used her passion for skateboarding as a way to challenge preconceptions of Muslim women.*********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

This week we hear the story of Dina. She is an Iranian refugee who has had contrasting experiences of living abroad. She discusses the way in which she has been both brutalised and embraced in her adopted countries and her experience of racism in the UK.Life in IranDina grew up in Iran during the mid ‘80s. It was a time of revolution and, as a result, she had “a tumultuous childhood”. There were, however, positive memories of that period too. Dina remembers the time spent together as a family, at her grandparents house. With her grandfather’s rambling stories and her grandmother’s epic feasts. It was a happy time. A magical experienceYet, at 6 years old, Dina had the chance to travel to the UK. Her aunt, Who lived in London, was getting married. The plan was for Dina to spend a few months in London and then return to Iran after the wedding. Dina reflects on the “storybook houses” she saw in London and she speaks with great excitement about being able to eat fresh bananas for the first time. The confectionery of the UK was something she also appreciated. She describes Maltesers as “a miracle of culinary perfection.” She says being in London was “magical because it was so Western…so foreign”. During this time, Dina’s mother would convert to Christianity..... *********************Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this storyWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

The new season of Our Voices is out tomorrow!Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

In our sixth and last Christmas throwback:The first episode of “Our Voices” centres around one-time “nurse of the year” Joan, an intensive care nurse who was born in Barcelona and travelled to work in the UK after experiencing a lack of job opportunities in Spain. He tells a story of how caring for a patient after a motorcycle accident taught him that human connection is the most important and powerful tool a nurse has to offer.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

In our fifth Christmas throwback:Carlos is a single father of a 10-year-old daughter and a fifteen-year-old son. We hear about the struggles Carlos has faced trying to support his son in the midst of his son’s antisocial and violent behaviour. After threatening his mother with violence and being arrested by the police, it looked as if the situation had become completely untenable. Then lockdown intervened and became, possibly, the best thing that ever happened.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

In our fourth Christmas throwback:Here we get the rare opportunity of hearing the voices of children who have been impacted by lockdown. Andrea has spoken previously on the podcast but this time she is accompanied by her eldest daughter, 9-year-old Ella, and her son, 7-year-old Luke. Listening to their reflections we are able to hear how these children have been impacted by lockdown restrictions and how they have found ways of coping during these challenging times.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

In our third Christmas throwback:Katie is a Kid’s Doctor who describes the challenges that working in the NHS can pose. To address this, she became involved in establishing a forum called “NHS Million”. As well as creating a marketing campaign for the NHS choir to beat Justin Beiber to the Christmas number 1 spot, this forum provides NHS workers with a space in which they can talk about the psychological issues that they are facing.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

In our second Christmas throwback:This episode looks at the heartbreaking struggle of Ross: a son, father and fiancé, who took his own life in the midst of lockdown at the age of 31. We hear from Ross’s father, Mike, who reflects on the challenges his son faced and how, as a society, we could do more to help those who are battling serious mental health challenges.If you've been affected by any of the issues highlighted in this episode, please speak to someone. CALM and Samaritans are always there to help.Campaign Against Living Miserably - https://www.thecalmzone.net/Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org/Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

In our first Christmas throwback:Rema’s story introduces us to an incredible experience of conflict, suffering and survival. While working as a doctor in Libya, she recounts operating in the midst of a civil war. The starkness of this reality is made even more vivid by her description of colleagues dying in front of her and the threat of violence and death facing her while she was trying to do her job.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Today Producer Sam joins Alex to have a Christmas catchup and review the year. Listen out for Alex's announcement for what we'll be covering on in the upcoming season in the new year. Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Chris left school at the age of 16 but, very quickly, he found a stimulating project to get his teeth into. He began travelling to Africa and the Middle East to help them improve their farming methods. From there, he set up Sports Aid to help combat famine in Africa. Through a project called Earth Dive, he is now working on saving the entire planet.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Lee, who now dedicates his life to education and innovation regarding Climate Change, talks about his sense of mission first developing at an early age during conversations with his grandmother. He describes how she “spoke to me like an adult, not a child”. Interactions with his grandmother got Lee thinking: “how can I do something different that will help people and change the world.”Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Louise works for Stop Ecocide International, an organisation which is attempting to criminalise “mass destruction to ecosystems” at the International Criminal Court. Her love for nature came at an early age when she spent time rock-climbing and kayaking with her father. Her father also instilled in her a sense of global awareness. He insisted that she always ate her food because “every 5 seconds a child dies of hunger on earth”.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Steven is a professor and award-winning journalist who has developed a unique and enriching perspective of nature. From early childhood, he reports having a fascination with nature due to witnessing the extreme weather events taking place around him. He describes seeing tornadoes ripping up surrounding trees, some of which almost fell on his house. He also relates spending time with his mother indoors watching the majesty of a lightning storm and “their intense visions”.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Tara, a climate change influencer, content creator and young farmer has a particular affection for animals. Her interest in Climate Change came about when she came across a video of a turtle in a cup. This video highlighted the plight that animals such as turtles face due to the way in which human beings have changed the planet. “These innocent animals were being impacted by what we were doing as a species”.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Physics and sci-fi enthusiast, Simon Clark, has embraced modern communications in order to educate his audience on protecting the earth’s atmosphere. Simon describes himself as someone who was always extremely curious, even as a child. His curiosity extended to science. As a teenager, when deciding on his future studies, he noted “all the cool stuff is in physics… from that point on, I knew I wanted to do a Physics degree”.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Rollie Williams made the unlikely transition from young comedian to Climate Change activist.Originally from Colorado, Rollie moved to New York with the aim of becoming a successful comedian. He was beginning to make an impression and, pretty soon after arriving, he was asked to perform a show at Brooklyn Theatre. Not sure exactly what to do, Rollie decided he would experiment with a comedy routine based around Climate Change.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Dave began his journey of climate consciousness when he began building a cabin outside of his house for use as an office. As he was doing so, he attempted to install solar panels to reduce his carbon footprint and he made use of YouTube for advice on how to do this. However, his YouTube investigations soon went much further as he began to learn about Climate Change and its serious dangers.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

The new season of Our Voices is almost here!Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

 Do you remember that iconic moment the first UK vaccine was administered? Well, here we hear the story of the nurse who provided it, her name is May Parsons. May was originally born in the Philippines. She had a challenging childhood in which, at just 5 years old, she witnessed the brutal murder of her father during New Year’s Eve celebrations. Recovering from this loss became the challenge of her childhood.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

As a child, Steven describes having a violently negative reaction to the very concept of consuming almost all food: “There were only about 5 different foods I’d eat as a child” these included bread, cereals, french fries and ice cream. This hardly provided Steven with the basis for a healthy diet but he was genuinely worried that having a piece of chicken or steak would bring about a severe allergic reaction.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Here we get the rare opportunity of hearing the voices of children who have been impacted by lockdown. Andrea has spoken previously on the podcast but this time she is accompanied by her eldest daughter, 9-year-old Ella, and her son, 7-year-old Luke. Listening to their reflections we are able to hear how these children have been impacted by lockdown restrictions and how they have found ways of coping during these challenging times.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Carlos is a single father of a 10-year-old daughter and a fifteen-year-old son. We hear about the struggles Carlos has faced trying to support his son in the midst of his son’s antisocial and violent behaviour. After threatening his mother with violence and being arrested by the police, it looked as if the situation had become completely untenable. Then lockdown intervened and became, possibly, the best thing that ever happened.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Phoebe is a nine-year-old girl who happens to have Down’s Syndrome. Her father, Matthew, describes how in so many ways she is just like any other little girl. Yet, he recounts the ways in which people often seem subconsciously conditioned to view his daughter as a condition rather than as a person. This is an attitude he is determined to challenge to provide the best possible future for his daughter.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Chrissy is a woman who has many strings to her bow, including being a tutor, a coach and a poet. She was living on her own in London when the lockdown was announced and she found herself feeling particularly isolated. As a result, when there was a call for people to help at her local food bank, she answered that call immediately and discovered her help was very much needed.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

This episode looks at the heartbreaking struggle of Ross: a son, father and fiancé, who took his own life in the midst of lockdown at the age of 31. We hear from Ross’s father, Mike, who reflects on the challenges his son faced and how, as a society, we could do more to help those who are battling serious mental health challenges.If you've been affected by any of the issues highlighted in this episode, please speak to someone. CALM and Samaritans are always there to help.Campaign Against Living Miserably - https://www.thecalmzone.net/Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org/Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

The new season of Our Voices is almost here!Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Tony grew up as a “tall, skinny, freckled kid” in Sunderland and went from being picked on at school to boxing for Great Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Much of Tony’s success was down to his father’s encouragement and insistence that he train and develop his boxing skills. When Tony eventually won his Olympic medal, the first person he would thank would be his father.Visit www.tonyjeffries.com to find out more about Tony.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Susie, a gold-medal winning former Paralympic swimmer, has overcome the odds on multiple occasions in order to achieve at the highest level. She was born with disabilities which have required her to wear prosthetic limbs since childhood. Rather than expressing regret, Susie articulates her gratitude to the support she received from the NHS. Right from her early years, it’s clear that Susie’s attitude has been one of positivity and possibility.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Tom is an Olympic race walker who holds three world best titles and six British records. Although Tom was involved in athletics from an early age, after his first race for Great Britain did not go well, he fell out of love with the sport and decided to follow his cousin’s suggestion to volunteer at a summer camp in America. This was a decision that would change his life.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Holly’s story allows us to take a contemporary look at the Olympic experience. She is a pole vaulter who is preparing to compete in her 3rd Olympic Games in Tokyo. Holly talks about the anxieties she experienced as a child when doing sport for the first time and how these anxieties resurfaced as she was exposed to the challenges that come with being a high-profile athlete.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Frazer, a superheavyweight boxer, has spent 12 years on the Team GB Olympic boxing team. It is a record period of time. During previous tournaments, he has lost out on making the Olympics to illustrious GB competitors, such as current unified Heavyweight Champion: Anthony Joshua, and current WBO mandatory challenger: Joe Joyce. But, despite not achieving his dreams on those occasions, Frazer has refused to give up on his ambitions.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Garry Cook is a former Olympic athlete who won a silver medal in the 1984 Olympic Games relay race. He is the husband of Kathy, a former guest of the podcast who also achieved Olympic glory. Just like Kathy, Garry attributes much of his success to the people who supported him as he was growing up. Speaking about his Junior Coach, he says “90% of my success was down to him”.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Kathy is a former Olympic sprinter. She is a three-time bronze medallist and competed for Great Britain at the 1980 and 1984 Olympic games. She recounts her journey into sprinting and the experiences that helped to shape her achievements. What is striking about Kathy’s story is hearing about the number of key individuals who were present at the right time to guide her towards her ultimate achievement.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

A new season of Our Voices is here! This time featuring Team GB Olympics athletes past and present.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesWe're also on Facebook, Twitter and InstagramA Fascinate Production

Katie is a Kid’s Doctor who describes the challenges that working in the NHS can pose. To address this, she became involved in establishing a forum called “NHS Million”. As well as creating a marketing campaign for the NHS choir to beat Justin Beiber to the Christmas number 1 spot, this forum provides NHS workers with a space in which they can talk about the psychological issues that they are facing.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Helen has “one of the best jobs ever.” Her job is to recruit nurses from abroad to work in the NHS. She describes her job as being very busy, with a daughter and three step-sons, she also has an extremely busy home-life, yet, she describes herself as being blessed: “I get to meet people with so many wonderful stories to tell from all parts of the world.”Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Ellie is an occupational therapist who began working for the NHS in July 2020 during the height of the pandemic. She describes her initial experiences as being a long way from what she had envisioned. She relates being confronted with ill patients who were ventilated on tubes and describes the psychological toll of having to deal with the death of both her patients and her own family members during the pandemic.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Sophie is an occupational therapist. During the height of the pandemic, she worked in an acute stroke ward where she was charged with caring for patients who had experienced significant cognitive, physical or sensory deficits. It was her role to help these patients attempt to regain independence in their lives. In this episode she reflects on the determination of a particular patient she cared for who presented in a severe condition.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Andrea is a laboratory pathologist who suddenly finds herself on the other side of the doctor-patient divide. Specialising in analysing and detecting changes in cells and tissue in the body, her main role is to identify diseases, particularly cancer. She had previously been able to detach herself from the potentially life changing news that she would give. Her perspective changed dramatically, however, when her husband was diagnosed with rectal cancer.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Dr Waheed is a former refugee born in Afghanistan, whose journey to reach the UK was fraught with danger and difficulty. Afghanistan was in the midst of conflict when Dr Waheed was born. Soviet troops had entered the country making it necessary for him and his family to flee on multiple occasions. As a small boy, he found himself living in conditions of extreme poverty in a refugee camp in Pakistan.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Rich is a critical care nurse who is a proud member of the LGBTQ community and identifies as non-binary.  They begin by talking about the experience which encouraged them to join the NHS. Their grandmother had dementia and eventually it was necessary to admit their grandmother to hospital. Rich was struck by the way the nurses cared for her. They knew at that moment that they wanted to provide the same care for others.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Rob is a paramedic who is now in his 20th year of service having started as a volunteer with St John’s Ambulance at the age of 13. He was clearly born to work in the healthcare profession. He describes having always wanted to “help people” and “be part of a community”. In his words: “very few things in life give you the return that helping somebody does”. Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Emily is a midwife from Southwest England who thrives on being able to connect with her patients. She begins by talking about how the pandemic has impacted the amount of time she actually gets to spend with them due to the time spent applying and removing her PPE. She longs for the time when doing this will once again become unnecessary so that she can go back to focusing only on her patients’ needs and concerns.Thanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereCheck out our website for the latest from Our Voices A Fascinate Production

Ged is a director for Health Education England and a clinical surgeon specialising in breast cancer. His path into medicine was anything but typical. As a high-achiever from a low-income family, he was accepted into an all-boys Catholic grammar school. After graduating, the two options that were suggested to him for his future career were either becoming a Catholic priest or becoming a doctor. He opted for the latter.Thanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereCheck out our website for the latest from Our Voices A Fascinate Production

David is a psychotherapist who specialises in end-of-life care.  In his unique position of seeing people in their final moments, he reveals that he “can become something of a secular priest”. The main regret his patients have is that they were “deferring their lives”. The most heartening expressions he has heard before death is that his patients have no regrets and that they did what they wanted to do while they could.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Tella is a nurse from the Philippines who has worked in the NHS since 2019. Her story reveals a surprising change in career-path from being on the point of completing a law degree and accepting a place on one of the most competitive internships in the country to deciding to become a nurse and to start a new life in the UK.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Sarah is a Critical Care Nurse from Jamaica who moved to the UK along with her 16-year-old daughter 2 years ago. The desire to pursue a doctorate in nursing encouraged her to make the move, yet she describes trying to manage the struggles of adapting to a new culture in the midst of global uncertainty and challenge. This challenge is made particularly difficult as Sarah has to repeatedly deal with the passing of her patients.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Misbah, a nurse from Pakistan, is adjusting to living in the UK while confronting the sadness and trauma of having lost her grandfather during the Covid-19 pandemic. Not being able to attend his funeral due to the global lockdown, she describes being constantly reminded of him when treating her patients. Misbah’s story is deeply connected to family. She also talks about her mother, who was a midwife, being her greatest inspiration.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click here A Fascinate Production

Honey is a nurse from India who, 6 months ago, decided to leave her one-year-old daughter and husband behind to work in the NHS. She describes making this decision as “the most painful thing” she has experienced. Despite this, she is motivated by the life that she is in the process of creating for her daughter and the opportunities that her sacrifice will be able to provide.Thanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Tara is a doctor from Nepal who has been working at Watford General Hospital for the last year. Initially, she had no intention of being a practicing doctor: she had studied a Master’s degree in Public Health in the UK and had intended to start a career in research. However, her daughter’s illness encouraged her to take a very different direction which saw her return to front-line practice.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Vishakha is a doctor who travelled from her home in India to work in the NHS just under one year ago. She talks about the struggles she experienced in her native country during her first years in the profession, particularly the pain of being unable to provide treatment to those who needed it because they simply did not have enough money: “Seeing people suffer, you want to help them but you can’t.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Unlike many other foreign nationals who join the NHS, Jelena came here for reasons other than her own professional advancement. In fact, it was her husband’s ambitions of working in the motorsports industry which brought her here. Jelena thus found herself struggling to adapt to a new environment and a new culture, initially describing herself as a “smiling penguin” as she struggled to gain the confidence to understand and speak in English.Thanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Rema’s story introduces us to an incredible experience of conflict, suffering and survival. While working as a doctor in Libya, she recounts operating in the midst of a civil war. The starkness of this reality is made even more vivid by her description of colleagues dying in front of her and the threat of violence and death facing her while she was trying to do her job.Thanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Marielle, a Filipino nurse, explains how she has been inspired by the courage and strength of two of the people closest to her. She first speaks about her mum, the person whose example encouraged her to become a nurse and who she credits as being the reason for her being “successful and happy”.  She then talks about the bravery of her friend who had to battle for her life while suffering from coronavirus.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Today we are given a powerful insight into a woman’s journey from a timid college student to a confident nurse. She describes two dramatic incidents which shaped her destiny, both involving the suffering of individuals that she was unable to do anything to prevent. After experiencing this, we learn how Resma made it her life’s mission to do something to save other people’s lives. Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Today we're introduced to Midhun, a nurse from Kerala, India who began a new life in Middlesbrough one year ago. Midhun’s challenge has not only involved adapting to a brand new life in the UK but also dealing with being separated from his wife and young son. He also talks about managing his most challenging patients. Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Samantha: a Sri Lankan nurse who came to work in the UK in 2018. She talks lovingly about her grandfather as the person who has been her greatest inspiration as well as detailing the personal health battles which have helped her connect more deeply with her patients.  Samantha also details the battles she has had both professionally and personally during the COVID crisis.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

The fifth episode of “Our Voices” tells the story of Cynthia, a nurse from the Philippines who left her home two years ago in order to live and work in the UK. Growing up as the daughter of a pilot, she describes how she was used to being on the move from a young age; however, her decision to move to the UK would be more than just another flight.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Today, we learn about Hussein: a Junior Doctor who has taken a winding journey through Africa, the Middle East and Northern Europe to practise medicine in the UK. Hussain recounts growing up during a time of civil war, talking about the violence and chaos he experienced as he and his family were forced to travel to escape from war, hunger, poverty and fear.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Today, we hear from Angel, a Filipino respiratory nurse who came to work in the UK two and a half years ago. She describes how a love for the Royal Family and an appreciation for James Bond motivated her move. She also talks about growing up in a family of healthcare professionals and the challenges she has faced in her nursing career.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

In the second episode of the series “Our Voices”, we hear the story of JV, a Filipino nurse who came to work in the UK after eight years’ nursing experience in his home country. He talks about the challenges he had to face in order to make his healthcare dreams become reality and the sacrifices that he has had to make along the way.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

The first episode of “Our Voices” centres around one-time “nurse of the year” Joan, an intensive care nurse who was born in Barcelona and travelled to work in the UK after experiencing a lack of job opportunities in Spain. He tells a story of how caring for a patient after a motorcycle accident taught him that human connection is the most important and powerful tool a nurse has to offer.Check out our website for the latest from Our VoicesThanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click hereA Fascinate Production

Real people. Telling real stories. In this series we'll be hearing from NHS professionals who have moved to the UK.A Fascinate Productions podcast