Don’t Hawd Yer Weesht

In this episode I am catching up with Andrew Brock, a former high school class mate from Lenzie Academy back in the 90's.

We discuss Andrew's journey to date. A career in Stockbroking/Banking. The heart breaking loss of his dearest friend. A quite astonishingly toxic & abusive relationship & his new career path as a Life Coach, which is way more than a job.

Andrew is amazingly open & honest in his accounts & again, we at the 'Don't Hawd Yer Weesht' podcast show that no one has to suffer in silence.

Episode 24 sees me catch up with Jack McGuire, a lad from Banknock, which is a small village within the Falkirk Council area. I first met Jack around a year ago through the 'Max Kolbe Movement' which is a mental health support group which partakes in everything from boot camps to hill walking to cold water therapy.

On my outings with the group, I've found Jack to be a prominent figure who has a presence & self confidence which inspires others. Mentally & physically strong I was intrigued to know more of Jack's story & his journey to date.

We discuss his thoughts & fears as a young boy, his first experience of substance abuse & ultimately his road to a suicide attempt & being admitted to a mental health ward in hospital which is where Jack's road to recovery would begin.

Episode 23 sees me catch up with former British & Commonwealth Champion Kash Farooq. Kash originated from Pakistan, before arriving in the UK as a 6yr old boy with his parents & 2 siblings, firstly to Croydon, London, before moving North of the border to Glasgow.

We discuss Kash's early memories of adjusting to life in Glasgow, his route into Boxing as a 14yr old kid & his fantastic but short professional career, which saw him win Scottish, British & World Level titles.

Unfortunately devastation would strike at just 25 years old forcing Kash into early retirement & the bright lights of Las Vegas snatched away in the most cruellest of circumstances.

An honest, admirable & inspiring interview from the man they called ‘The Untouchable’.

The 2nd Episode of 2022 is here & it is well worth the wait folks. I catch up with an amazing gentleman called Gerry Murphy.

Gerry was raised in the Gorbals in Glasgow as one of 7 children from a single parent household & grew up in a life of poverty, fear & violence. By the time he reached his mid 30's, Gerry had been in out of several mental institutions as well as prison & had made several attempts at taking his own life. He was gripped with fear & suffered from drink & drug addiction & things were severely bleak.

However, despite tragically losing 3 close family members in quick succession, Gerry found an inner strength to turn his life around & we discuss that process & some of the amazing work he has done to help others over the past 25 years.

Despite not being able to read or write in his mid 30's Gerry went on to gain several qualifications such as Diplomas & Degrees before realising he still hadn't educated himself & truly found happiness within.

He has since portrayed this in his own book 'Now I Understand' which we discuss in great detail & cover topics such as the Innocence of a child, Learned Behaviours, Expectations, Power of our thoughts, Acceptance & Fear.

A real informative & educational episode that you simply cannot be better off for having listened. Enjoy!

The first Episode of 2022 is here as I catch up with former professional Boxer Mitch Prince.

We discuss Mitch's upbringing in Johannesburg, South Africa & the sudden passing of his father. Moving to Glasgow as a 13yr old kid. His amateur career which included the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games & a total of 66 bouts.

We also chat Mitch turning Pro & fighting Willie Limond, a scrape with the authorities in Las Vegas & a chance meeting with "Mommy's Boy" Denis Douglin.

I ask Mitch for his thoughts on some upcoming bouts such as Eubank Jr v Liam Williams, Kell Brook v Amir Khan & the current mix up in the Heavyweight Division.

A must listen for Boxing enthusiasts.

The year was 1984 & at 1yr old, a delightfully plump Andrew Smith was sat on the chair beside his brother for a Nursery photoshoot. Fast forward to 2021 & a full 37 years later & again I am on the chair but this time at the other side of the microphone.

For this years 'Xmas Special' I've teamed up with the 'Did Ye Aye' Podcast with Liam posing the question of just who is 'The Man Behind The Mic'?

Listen in as I hope to give my listeners an insight into myself, my upbringing, my reasoning behind the Podcast & aspirations for it.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone & a Happy New Year. x

Stephen Law is a 36yr old lad from a small village which lies between Cumbernauld & Kilsyth known as Croy. We first touched base just one week ago when a mutual friend suggested we hook up & record an Episode together. I was ensured Stephen was a charismatic guy, full of positive energy & would make a great guest. He didn't disappoint.

Stephen's main objective for the episode was to discuss his journey into recovery from years of drink & drug abuse & how he feels the 12 step recovery program has ultimately saved his life.

We discuss Stephen's upbringing, the teenage years of designer clobber & clubbing. The partying & the excessive drug abuse & ultimately the impact that would have, which would lead him to several attempts at taking his own life.

A real honest, energetic & powerful episode, with plenty laughs & banter along the way.

Episode 18 is here & sees me catch up with Ross Makein, a 39yr old lad from Cupar in Fife. Ross has recently launched his own clothing brand, Find Your Voice (FYV) with a concept of raising mental health awareness & breaking down stigmas. This is something which is close to Ross' heart, not only for his love of fashion but more importantly from self experience as someone who has suffered greatly from depression & anxiety for over 30 years & was unable to speak out until recently.

A real powerful, emotional episode, which comes from the heart as Ross shows tremendous courage in speaking about his troubles & an event from his childhood which would have devastating consequences for the rest of his life.

Mary McClung was raised in 'the scheme' in Kilmarnock. A notorious housing estate previously depicted in an infamous documentary highlighting its poverty, violence & drink & drug culture. It was previously declared one of the worst places in Scotland to raise a family. However from a very young age Mary recalls having a determination not to allow this to hold her back & had a drive & ambition to succeed.

This success would come around at a very young age & in the form of athletics. Mary discovered she had a real talent as a runner & this would see her head to The University Of Georgia in the USA for a scholarship in Athletics.

Listen as Mary reminisces of her Uni days, the highs & lows of her running career, her brief stint working with the police force & her career today as a highly successful Mental Fitness Expert & High Performance & Transformational Coach.

Mary currently works with Elite Athletes in helping them fine tune their success from a psychological & emotional perspective. She has a Masters Degree in Performance Psychology.

A very interesting & informative Episode. A must listen.

We're back! The first Episode of Series 2 sees me catch up with Comedy Writer/Actor Mr Stuart Hay. Stuart is best known for his hilarious sketches mocking fans of the Old Firm (Rangers & Celtic).

We chat his upbringing in Coatbridge, his love of music, some of his mundane jobs he's fulfilled & ultimately his path into comedy.

Stuart's work in recent years has seen him become a bit of a social media sensation with sketches going viral, some having millions of hits. This has undoubtedly been a positive as his career progresses, however there has also been a more sinister, negative reaction to his works.

Stuart currently works for the BBC & has recently written sketches for the well known football show 'Only An Excuse'.

Andrew Feeney is a Glasgow lad in his mid 30's who reached out to me keen on telling his story. His Facebook group "Andrew's Journey" with 6.5k followers raises awareness for men's mental health & stillborn babies & gives you an insight into the man.

Currently embarking on the 'NC500' or "wee walk" as Andrew likes to call it seems courageous & admirable but at the same time ludicrous & insane. Walking 516 miles around the North Coast on his tod with a tent & bare essentials is something you'd expect to see on the latest Ant Middleton TV show but this all too real. The same real as males poor mental health, depression, suicide & the likes.

Listen in as I hear of Andrew's backstory & how one day he found himself sat with a gun in his mouth ready & willing to pull the trigger until his companion & pet 'Staffy' dog 'Kai' disturbed him at the vital second.

We chat mental health, depression, suicide, homelessness & some of the epic adventures Andrew partakes in, all in the aid of raising awareness.

Serious but plenty laughs along the way. A must listen.

STS - Shatter The Silence. An online paedophile hunting group with 55k followers on FB. A quick glance at the profile on any given day & you will find the latest monster from anywhere in Scotland who has been named, shamed & prosecuted.

There is something about the word 'paedophile' that makes you instantly uneasy. A shiver, a feeling of disgust & an immediate urge to move onto another topic. However, the reality of that grim word is it involves way much more than a collection of letters. It is real life, it is rife & it is also all around us more than we'd care to imagine.

This episode sees me catch up with 'Mags Hunter' & her friend/colleague 'Chris' as we discuss just how the operation of STS works. Mags explains the groups purpose, how it came about, her own background & how she came to be involved in such a dangerous, gut wrenching field such as paedophile hunting.

We also discuss how the group collaborate with the authorities such as Police Scotland, the role of a 'decoy', sting operations & put to bed some common myths such as 'vigilante groups' & 'entrapment'. Mags & Chris also explain in great detail what all parents can do to help safeguard our children & how best to monitor their devices & apps.

Not for the faint hearted but an absolute must listen in ensuring we keep our children safe.

Tony Pang is a PT & Business Coach from Glasgow. However he is not any old PT, he is a real elite level operator. In an industry that seems to be ever growing, (we all know a PT or ten) Tony really is a cut above your average Joe. A quick look at his own physique tells you everything you need to know & he is a bit of a walking billboard.

Having began training as a hobby Tony quickly developed into a sponsored fitness model, competing at weightlifting shows & forging a career as a young ambitious Personal Trainer. Now with 14 years experience & a real hunger to be the best at what he does Tony has forged an unbelievable reputation & has recently set up his own High Performance Academy teaching other PT's how to develop their own personal skills & grow their business.

An enthralling chat & one that gym goers, health & fitness enthusiasts & PT's alike will thoroughly enjoy.

Alan Rankin is a Physiotherapist from Glasgow. We actually lived in the same estate in Lenzie, but with a ten year age gap our paths never really crossed. However I do recall seeing this man in his official Rangers club suit & thinking "Wow, that guy actually works for Rangers”. Indeed he did & as a Rangers supporter, Alan was living the dream & his career as a Physiotherapist was underway.

Alan would be working as the Youth & Reserve team Physio, however he would regularly be involved with the first team & be looking after the likes of ‘Gazza’, ‘McCoist’ & ‘Durrant’ to name just a few. Of course, as young junior Physio, he would also be on the end of a prank or two.

Eventually Alan's ambition to become a First team Physio would see him move south & work with the likes of Charlton FC in the English Premiership & the Welsh national football team in European & World Cup Qualifying campaigns before returning north as he began his family life.

Listen as I catch up with Alan & hear of the quite remarkable career he has had which has also seen him work with the Scotland U21's & Hamilton Academical before branching further afield & working with Team GB Athletics, Gymnastics, Hockey & Skeleton teams in countries such as Japan, Russia, Germany & Australia as Britain competed in European & World Cups & Championships.

Plenty tales, laughs & interesting stories. As well as some advice for any young aspiring Physiotherapists out there from someone who has achieved so much. The life of a Physio! It beats working for a living eh Alan?

It's the first episode of the year & it sees me catch up with a former work colleague Jim Doherty. "Big Jim" as he's affectionately known as, is one of lives good guys. A big gentleman & gentle giant type however he's battled with his weight throughout his life & when it began to impact on his job prospects offshore Jim realised he had to make big changes.

We chat about Jim's upbringing in the East End of Glasgow, his love of football & most importantly his amazing journey over the last 5-6 months were he has shed an impressive 5st & is back in those designer glad rags!

A laidback episode discussing weight loss which so many can relate to. Well done big man.

Episode 10 is here & it's a Christmas Special! Back by popular demand, my most popular guest by far, Super Mario Arciello! Mario who was my premier episode & childhood friend went down a storm when telling us how he managed to turn his life around against the odds.

This time its a lot more laid back as we let the hair down & bring in the festivities. Listen as we chat Christmas memories, swap gifts, reminisce of the good old days & even tune up some of Mario's favourite tracks.

There is no real structure, no real substance but laughs, banter, carry on & shenanigans. The hope is it puts a smile on your face & makes you happy. We could all be doing with it after the year we've had.

Merry Christmas from the Don't Hawd Yer Weesht. Have a good one & stay safe. x

Brian Henderson is a lad from Cumbernauld on the outskirts of Glasgow. Having a passion for music from a young age, it was not all that surprising that 'Brido' would form a Rock/Indie band 'The Dykeenies' (2005) alongside his brothers Andy & Alan. What might have came as a surprise to some was the almost overnight success the band would achieve.

Having entered a music competition for aspiring bands through 'NME' which the lads would win, they were quickly selling out venues of 3-5 hundred in & around Glasgow & forging a reputation. This would attract interest from several labels, eventually landing the lads a Record Deal with Lavolta Records (subsidiary of Sony).

The next couple of years were a whirlwind & The Dykeenies would be suporting The Fratellis & Maximo Park & rubbing shoulders with the likes of The Killers, Kasabian, Arctic Monkeys, even Lady Gaga amongst others. Touring Britain & beyond playing gigs & festivals the crowds had reached 10,000 at the likes of TITP with the largest being 30,000!

Of course all good things come to an end & the band would split in 2011. However Brian's own personal battles with the likes of addiction, depression & a diagnosis of Bipolar would reach boiling point in 2018. Thankfully he is here to tell the story.

Plenty laughs, banter & raw emotion in Episode 9.

Ryan Coutts, a young lad from Falkirk now residing in Springburn, North Glasgow is my guest for Episode 8. At just 27 years old, Ryan is the founder of the Glasgow Mental Health Support Group.
Listen as i hear how Ryan has used his own life experiences such as a suicide attempt at just 13 years old, the suffering of depression & anxiety & a diagnosis of Bipolar to try & help others who may be struggling.

We also discuss the real struggles for folk trying to access professional help, the limited resources being made available & how this has been exasperated further during the current Corona Virus pandemic.

Episode 7 sees me interview my 2nd former professional footballer in a row (Sorry Ladies!). However, when the chance to interview one who has achieved so much & from such humble beginnings presents itself then it is not to be passed up. John McMaster an Aberdeen FC legend & one of Sir Alex's Ferguson's Gothenburg Greats has done it all. A European Cup Winners Cup winner, Super Cup winner, 3x Scottish Cup winner & twice a Scottish Premier League champion.

Listen as in hear about John's earliest memories growing up in Greenock as 1 of 8 children. The tragic passing of his father when he was just 5 years old. His first job as an apprentice plumber in the shipyards before his football talent would quickly be spotted & would see him venture up north. The rest is history as they say.

An absolute must listen for Aberdeen supporters & football purists alike.

From the outside looking in, Andy McLaren was living the dream. A professional footballer, playing the game he loved as a day job. In reality, the young lad was haunted. The victim of child abuse & the passing of his father at just 16 saw Andy abuse drink & drugs as a coping mechanism for the demons in his head. Despite it all he was flourishing at Dundee Utd & was a Scottish Cup winner at just 20 years old. However the reality of his trauma & suffering would come to the forefront & be played out publicly when he failed a random drugs test at Reading FC in the year 2000. Listen as Andy gives an honest account of his career & struggles & how he has manged to turn his life around.