* Trigger Warning * This episode contains open discussion of baby loss, grief, depression, and burnout. Please take care when listening and skip this one if it isn’t the right time for you.
James Routledge helped build Sanctus into one of the UK’s most recognisable mental health brands, reaching over £2M in annual recurring revenue and working with hundreds of companies to bring mental health coaching into the workplace.
But behind that success was a personal journey filled with burnout, identity shifts, and in 2024, the loss of his unborn son, Teddy.
In this deeply personal episode, James opens up about the emotional toll of scaling a business, stepping away from the company he built, and navigating grief in the aftermath of devastating loss. We talk candidly about depression, burnout, and why it’s still so hard for men to talk about what’s really going on.
James doesn’t just share what happened - he reflects on how he’s rebuilding, what he’s learnt, and why he’s now using his voice to break the stigma around men’s mental health without falling into buzzwords or bravado.
Topics covered include:
If you’re a founder, leader or simply someone trying to find your footing after a setback - this one’s for you.