This special milestone episode of Minds on the Mersey marks Episode 20 — a celebration of growth, graft, guests, and the community that’s carried the podcast from a small idea to a fully‑fledged platform for honest conversations about men’s mental health.

Sam and Richie kick things off with their usual chaos, laughter, and a bit of self‑roasting, before reflecting on how far the show has come. Across twenty episodes, they’ve hit 3,000+ streams, built a loyal following, partnered with three sponsors, and welcomed 22 incredible guests from all walks of life — from veterans and charity founders to football icons, podcasters, and people with powerful lived experiences. They revisit standout moments, favourite stories, unexpected lessons, and the guests who blew their minds, opened their hearts, or nearly set Richie on fire with hot sauce.

There’s plenty of classic MOTM humour too: broken chairs, blinding studio lights, ginger‑beard debates, and Sam’s heroic quest to build the new mindsonthemersey.com website — complete with merch, support resources, and every episode in one place.

Listeners also send in their Weekly Wins, from gym mishaps to reusable‑bag triumphs, proving that small victories matter just as much as the big ones.

Sam is then joined by Macaulay South, who talks about The Prevention Project CIC, gambling harm, recovery, and the reality behind an addiction that often hides in plain sight. Macaulay tells us all about his Crowdfunder and the reasons behind having to set it up.

In part two, the lads sit down with Max Ashken, who recently swam the English Channel solo in just over ten hours. Max shares the physical and mental battle behind the swim, the moment he nearly broke, how he trained for a year straight, and why he dedicated the challenge to his dad while raising over £20,000 for Mind. His story is raw, inspiring, and full of lessons about resilience, purpose, and pushing beyond what you think is possible.

This episode is a celebration — of the guests, the listeners, the growth, the graft, and the mission: breaking stigma, building connection, and keeping the conversation going.

Prevention Project CIC & Crowdfunder: https://www.thepreventionproject.co.uk/ https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-prevention-project

Max Ashken's Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/page/max-ashken-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

For full episode archives, guest links, support resources, merch, and more, visit https://www.mindsonthemersey.com. You’ll also find direct links to all our socials and a dedicated Contact Us section where you can reach out, share your story, or get involved with the podcast.

If you’re struggling, please reach out — help is always available 💛

In the UK, you can contact:

• Samaritans — free, 24/7 at 116 123

• Mind — mental health support via 0300 123 3393 or text 86463

• Shout — text 85258 for confidential crisis support

You are not alone. Talking saves lives. 💛

This week’s episode of Minds on the Mersey is a raw, honest, and emotionally charged two‑part conversation that moves from humour and everyday chaos to one of the most powerful interviews the show has ever hosted.

Part One opens in classic Sam‑and‑Richie fashion: tired, wired, and laughing through the madness of the week. The lads dive straight into Richie’s ADHD medication update. The pair unpack the realities of living with ADHD in a way only they can: unfiltered, relatable, and funny.

But the tone shifts sharply when Sam brings up a BBC story about Bethany Hewitt, a young mum from Runcorn who waited three and a half years for an ADHD assessment and tragically died by suicide just 19 days after telling her GP she was struggling. The lads break down the failings in the system, the backlog of assessments, the flaws in suicide‑risk scoring, and the wider issue of people dismissing ADHD as “made up.” It’s one of the most serious and heartfelt discussions they’ve had — highlighting how dangerous it is when people fall through the cracks.

Part Two begins with Richie’s “fantastic fuck‑up” of the week — accidentally peeing on the cat — before the episode welcomes a deeply special guest: John Bell, bereaved father, endurance athlete, founder of Walking for Hope, and creator of the “Dad‑Pool” bathtub challenges. John speaks openly about losing his 15‑year‑old son Jake, the year he spent planning to join him, and the brutal process of rebuilding a life after unimaginable loss.

He shares how extreme endurance challenges became his lifeline — from carrying a bathtub covered in rubber ducks across the UK, to climbing mountains, to chasing fastest‑known‑times — all to honour Jake and support others facing grief, trauma, and suicidal thoughts. John talks about mental toughness, the myth of the “alpha male,” why men struggle to talk, and how building a personal “toolbox” can save lives when no one else is around at 3am.

The conversation is emotional, inspiring, and full of moments that stop you in your tracks. John’s honesty, resilience, and commitment to helping others make this one of the most powerful episodes to date.

By the end, the lads reflect on charity work, self‑care, and the importance of checking in on yourself as much as you check in on others. It’s an episode that swings from laughter to heartbreak to hope — exactly what Minds on the Mersey is all about.

Walking 4 Hope website: https://www.walking4hope.org

Minds on the Mersey Website: https://www.mindsonthemersey.co.uk

Minds on the Mersey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindsonthemersey/

Minds on the Mersey Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584932450006

Minds on the Mersey TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@minds.on.the.mers

Merch can be found here: https://www.tshirtstudio.com/marketplace/motm

If you’re struggling, please reach out — help is always available 💛

In the UK, you can contact:

• Samaritans — free, 24/7 at 116 123

• Mind — mental health support via 0300 123 3393 or text 86463

• Shout — text 85258 for confidential crisis support

You are not alone. Talking saves lives. 💛

The latest Minds on the Mersey episode is a rollercoaster of emotion, humour, and raw honesty — starting with football hangovers and ending with a story that spans continents.

Sam and Richie open the show in classic form: hungover banter, football misery, and relentless digs about Liverpool’s performance. After the laughs, they dive head‑first into one of the most heartbreaking stories of the year: the closure of Papyrus, the UK suicide‑prevention charity behind the 24/7 Hopeline247.

The lads discuss what the loss means for people in crisis, how charities like Papyrus take pressure off the NHS, and why government support for mental‑health services is failing. They read statements from Papyrus trustees describing the unbearable decision to close after 30 years of saving lives. Their message is clear — suicide prevention isn’t optional; it’s a public‑health responsibility.

From there, Sam and Richie talk about Prince William’s visit to Merseyside to launch the On Your Side project, using sport to break stigma and open conversations around mental health. They reflect on their own experiences with the Mersey Mind Project, the power of men talking openly, and the growing community around their podcast.

Then, in part two, the energy shifts as they welcome Luke Leyland, the first Westerner to compete in Dambe — a thousand‑year‑old Nigerian combat sport. Luke recounts his wild journey: ignored warnings of danger, landed in Lagos to find a man holding an iPhone with his face on it, and fought in front of crowds who first doubted him but later embraced him. He lost the fight but won the hearts of the people, earning a tribal name and releasing his documentary Dambatori Kadawa on Amazon Prime.

Luke’s story is equal parts hilarious and profound — from spiritual rituals and black‑magic traditions to the moment he realised his “Birkenhead problems” weren’t so big after all. He closes by sharing his work with the Wick Foundation, a Merseyside group promoting walking, talking, and community support for mental health.

It’s an episode that captures everything Minds on the Mersey stands for: real talk, laughter, and life‑saving conversations.

Joel Evans Fundraiser in memory of his grandad Peter : https://www.justgiving.com/page/joel-evans-1

Minds on the Mersey Website: https://www.mindsonthemersey.co.uk

Minds on the Mersey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindsonthemersey/

Minds on the Mersey Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584932450006

Minds on the Mersey TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@minds.on.the.mers

Merch can be found here: https://www.tshirtstudio.com/marketplace/motm

If you’re struggling, please reach out — help is always available 💛

In the UK, you can contact:

• Samaritans — free, 24/7 at 116 123

• Mind — mental health support via 0300 123 3393 or text 86463

• Shout — text 85258 for confidential crisis support

You are not alone. Talking saves lives. 💛