The Meaning of Men

What if starting to treat depression was as simple as putting on a headset at home?

In this episode of The Meaning of Men, we're exploring the groundbreaking wearable technology backed by the NHS that’s transforming depression treatment.

Joining me is Kultar Garcha, a GP and chief medical officer at Flow Neuroscience, the team behind a wearable headset designed to treat depression safely from home. We unpack the science behind its ...

How can men start getting the most from therapy?

In this episode of The Meaning of Men I'm joined by Chris Hemmings. Chris is a former BBC journalist whose own struggles with grief, addiction and depression led him to retrain as a psychotherapist and build Men’s Therapy Hub — a platform connecting men with male therapists across the UK.

Chris explains that many men aren’t avoiding therapy because they don’t care — but because they ...

What do boys and young men actually need from us right now?

In this episode of The Meaning of Men, I sit down with Lorraine Candy — journalist, editor and bestselling author — to explore what boys really need in today’s digital, headline-driven culture.

From emotional regulation and developmental vulnerability to social media, gaming and the “toxic masculinity” narrative, this conversation cuts through the panic and brings clarity ...

Why are Black men in America living 13 years less than their healthiest counterparts?

In this episode of The Meaning of Men, I sit down with Professor Derek M. Griffith, leading public health researcher and global expert on Black men’s health, to unpack the crisis hiding in plain sight.

From life expectancy gaps and suicide rates to structural racism, economic inequality and the commercial determinants of health, this conversation ...

What do you do when staying where you are feels safer—but moving forward is the only way to survive?

In this episode of The Meaning of Men, I'm joined by Marine Corps veteran Jeremy Stalnecker to explore the life-defining philosophy of March or Die. Drawing from Jeremy’s combat experience in Iraq and his work supporting veterans, first responders, and men in crisis, this conversation goes deep into identity, trauma, resilience, and...

What is misogyny really all about, and why do rigid ideas of masculinity harm boys and make them vulnerable to radical narratives?

In this episode of The Meaning of Men, I'm joined by Cynthia Miller-Idriss, one of the world’s leading experts on extremism, gender, and online radicalisation, to explore the deeper meaning of misogyny and why it matters for men’s mental health, belonging, and purpose.

Together, we unpack how misogyny o...

Why are men so often discouraged from caregiving roles?

In this episode of The Meaning of Men, I sit down with Joss Cambridge Simmons (aka Jossy Care), a male nanny and caregiver who is redefining what it means to be a man in today’s world. Together, we explore the rarely discussed role of male nannies, the stigma men face in caregiving roles, and why love, presence, and emotional safety are not weaknesses, but essential human stre...

Why is it still so hard to believe that men can be victims of sexual abuse?

In this episode of The Meaning of Men, I sit down with Duncan Craig OBE, founder of We Are Survivors, the leading UK charity supporting male survivors of sexual violence. Together, we explore the hidden reality of sexual abuse, exploitation, and violence experienced by boys and men—and why silence, stigma, and outdated assumptions keep so many suffering alo...

What if the data shaping our understanding of gender equality is telling only half the story?

In this episode of The Meaning of Men, we’re exploring some of the most uncomfortable—and most necessary—questions in the conversation about men and boys. I’m joined by George TheTinMen whose work in this space has become a lightning rod for honest, data-led conversations about men, boys and gender equality. 

Together, we take a 30,000-foo...

What an incredible year it has been!

In this special year-end wrap-up episode of The Meaning of Men, I reflect back on the first amazing 12 months of the podcast, revisiting the conversations that shaped a deeper, more honest exploration of modern masculinity.

Sixty episodes in, the defining question at the heart of the show feels more relevant than ever: what does it truly mean to be a man today?

Featuring highlights from some of ...

What if masculinity influencers aren’t the real problem, but a symptom of something much deeper?

Across the world, boys and young men are being pulled into the Manosphere in huge numbers. But behind the clickbait headlines and media panic lies a more important question: why are so many boys going there in the first place?

In the Season 3 finale The Meaning of Men I speak with psychotherapist Will Adolphy, who brings a rare, first-h...

What happens when men in suicidal crisis finally get the right kind of help, fast? Across the UK, thousands of men are reaching breaking point, yet most don’t know where to turn.

In this episode of The Meaning of Men, I speak with Andrew Noon, Head of Centre at James' Place, a pioneering charity delivering life-saving therapy to men in suicidal crisis. Andrew reveals why suicide remains the leading cause of death for men under 50, ...

What if the doctor you finally opened up to about your mental health had no training to actually help you?

In this episode of The Meaning of Men I'm joined by Dr. Bob Smith, physician, researcher, and author of Has Medicine Lost Its Mind?, to uncover a shocking truth about modern healthcare: most primary care doctors receive almost no formal training in mental health. For men, who are already less likely to seek support and more li...

In this special episode of The Meaning of Men, host Simeon Atkins reacts to a landmark moment: England’s first-ever national Men’s Health Strategy. After years of conversation and awareness-raising, this strategy signals a major shift toward systemic, long-term action to improve the health and wellbeing of boys and men.

We break down the key themes from the newly released report, which openly acknowledges the unique challenges men ...

Are young men in Britain facing a silent crisis? Education dropout rates, workforce withdrawal, and worsening men's mental health suggest something deeper is going on.

In this episode of The Meaning of Men, I'm joined by Mark Brooks OBE, Director of Policy & Communications at the Centre for Policy Research on Boys and Men and co-author of The Missing Men report; one of the most comprehensive studies on the state of men and boys...

What does it really mean for a man to feel enough? Many men struggle with identity, purpose and self acceptance, often tying their worth to performance, achievement and strength.

In this episode of The Meaning of Men, I speak with Jim Galvin, former Royal Marine and international athlete, about his lifelong search for belonging and meaning. Jim brings a rare perspective on masculinity, resilience and personal growth shaped by both ...

What happens when science takes on one of men’s most taboo topics?

In this episode of The Meaning of Men, I speak with John Boghossian, co founder of Kadence Bio, the biotech company developing what could become the first FDA approved treatment for premature ejaculation (PE). John discusses his mission to close what he calls the intimacy gap, the three to one difference in average climax time between men and women, and why solving ...

What’s the mask you wear, and what might be hiding underneath it?

In this episode of The Meaning of Men, I speak with Ashanti Branch, founder of The Ever Forward Club and creator of the Million Mask Movement. We explore the emotional lives of boys and men, the feelings we hide, the stories we learn to tell ourselves, and what it truly takes to live with authenticity, purpose and emotional honesty.

Ashanti shares his journey from gr...

When, and how, does a boy truly become a man?

In this episode of The Meaning of Men, I speak with Ewan Corlett, a men’s guide and therapist who specialises in masculinity, rites of passage and the transition from boyhood to manhood. We explore one of the most overlooked and misunderstood stages in modern life: how a boy develops the emotional maturity, self leadership and grounded identity required to live as a healthy, integrated ...