John Milham, host of Kintsugi Heroes, had the successful life, the family, the script — until his wife's cancer diagnosis tore it up. What followed was grief, single fatherhood, parenting after loss, and the slow discovery that "I'm alright, mate" was the most expensive lie he'd ever told.

"Life is simple — love, connection, stories, and a little silliness"

"Does anyone even want to hear my story?"

"The world doesn't have a lot of resources for men who are left on their own"

John grew up in an Australian culture where men didn't do feelings. In this raw first episode, he shares what losing the life he'd built taught him about vulnerability, community, and why "I'm alright, mate" nearly cost him everything.

What we explore:

• The moment of crisis: a cancer diagnosis, grief, and confronting mortality
• How masculine conditioning shuts down men's emotional expression — and what it costs
• Vulnerability as the doorway to healing, not a weakness to hide
• The power of community, elders and authentic conversation in recovery
• Maslow's pyramid, self-actualisation and the simplicity of a life built on love, connection and a little silliness

Connect with John:

Website: kintsugiheroes.com.au

Instagram: @kintsugi.heroes

LinkedIn: Kintsugi Heroes

YouTube: Kintsugi Heroes

Facebook: facebook.com/kintsugiheroes

I spent 25 years building a life that looked successful from the outside, but within, it was the opposite. Everything was falling apart, and I was throwing fuel on that fire. The joy of life had fallen away. Late November 2018, I had to make a choice: live or die. I chose to live, and everything changed. I had to confront the pain I was carrying, look at the stories, and change. I built The Brave Man Project because there was nothing like this when I needed it.

Podcast website https://thebravemanproject.com/

Hamish's website https://hamishniven.com/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TheBraveManProject

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamishniven/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hamish.niven

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hamishniven/

Personal Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hamishniven