men’s wellbeing
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I Wish You’d Met Me Before Everything Changed
I Wish You’d Met Me Before Everything Changed. That line stuck with me. Not because it was deep or clever. It wasn’t really. It was one of those throwaway Facebook lines with zero context, designed to get a few likes and a comment or two from people who thought they’d just read something profound –…
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When Helping Other Men Started To Hurt
For the past three years, I’ve walked into a room on a Monday night, pulled on a black and white AMC t-shirt, and, along with other facilitators (we have several now) tried to hold space for other men. I care about them. I care about the group. For a couple of hours a week, I…
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The Loudest Voice in the Room
Wearing the black and white doesn’t make you the most important man in the room. It doesn’t mean you should be the loudest voice. It doesn’t mean you should be the most knowledgeable voice. It definitely doesn’t mean you should fill every silence. The most important voice in the room is always the man holding…
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What Happens After Andy’s Man Club Ends at 9 O’Clock
Monday night. Andy’s Man Club. A dozen blokes, maybe more, in a circle. Serious stuff gets said. Real stuff. And then it’s 9 o’clock, and everyone heads home. Except it doesn’t always work like that. Not for me, anyway. And from what I’ve heard, from other facilitators and even some members, not for others. Sometimes…
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The Car Park Moment That Matters More Than You Think
It was a Monday night. Just before 7pm. Cold. I was outside, doing the sweeper role at Andy’s Man Club. The sweeper role is exactly what it sounds like. You’re out front. You’re the first face someone sees. And more often than not, you’re the reason a new man doesn’t just drive straight past and…
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The Night a Stranger Walked In and Already Knew Me
It was another Monday night at Andy’s Man Club, and I was on sweeper duty. That means standing outside, being the first face people see when they arrive. I do it a lot. I don’t mind it. There’s something about that role that suits me. A new guy turned up. We had a brief chat…
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Why Men Stop Going to Andy’s Man Club
Last time I wrote about Andy’s Man Club, I ended with “I don’t know yet.” I still don’t know. But I did what I always do when I can’t make a decision. I went looking for information. Read about how it works. Read about the research behind peer support. Read about what actually happens in…
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A Man Club – Should I Trust It or Not?
I keep hearing about this thing called Andy’s Man Club. Monday nights. Men only. Talking. Apparently it’s everywhere now. Loads of groups all over the country. Thousands of men turning up each week. On paper, that sounds impressive. But here’s the problem. I’m in a mess. 2022 has probably been the worst year of my…