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This week on Mum, Dad’s Got Another Tattoo, we’re joined by Chris Hemmings – journalist turned therapist, author of Be A Man: How Macho Culture Damages Us and How to Escape It, and founder of the Men’s Therapy Hub.

👉 Check out Chris Hemmings:

• Men’s Therapy Hub
• Be A Man (book)
• Articles for the BBC, The Guardian, The Independent

Chris has spent years helping men untangle the rigid rules of masculinity, find better ways to express themselves, and make therapy feel normal instead of taboo.

In this episode we dive into:

• Rigid vs. toxic masculinity – why the language matters and why “toxic masculinity” misses the point.
• Why men don’t just need to “talk more” – and what tools actually help.
• Generational trauma – from wars to work culture, and how men carry hidden legacies of violence and silence.
• Therapy without the fluff – swearing, humour, calling out bullshit, and why laughing at ourselves is as important as crying.
• Soft hands, DIY disasters, and Capaldi’s LA toilet saga – yes, really.
• Finding a therapist that fits – why it’s like buying a winter coat, not a one-click Amazon order.

Chris also shares why humour and chaos belong in therapy, how to meet men “where they’re at,” and why being “soft” isn’t weakness – it’s strength with a different face.

If you’ve ever wondered why the phrase “man up” has caused more harm than good, why midlife often feels like a lonely uphill slog, or whether therapy is for “guys like you,” this episode is your sign to listen in.

Why “Blocked Toilet Wisdom”?

Because sometimes the stories that stick (and stink) are the ones that cut through macho myths. Lewis Capaldi’s honesty about being vulnerable – on stage and in real life – says more about masculinity today than a hundred inspirational quotes.

💬 What you’ll take away:

• Men’s mental health is serious – but it doesn’t have to be po-faced.
• Therapy is less about lying on a couch, more about having the right tools.
• Success doesn’t need Bugattis and six-packs. Sometimes it’s just showing up.
• You are not alone in feeling stuck, soft, or “not man enough.”

👉 Support the CALM Campaign:

We’re proud to be part of Stay Tuned – raising money for CALM’s suicide prevention hotline. Just £12.20 funds a potentially life-saving call. The donation link is in the description.

🎧 Subscribe to Mum, Dad’s Got Another Tattoo for midlife chaos, male vulnerability, and the occasional world pea-throwing championship. Because self-improvement is better with swearing, laughter, and taking the piss out of yourself.

Keywords for search: men’s mental health, masculinity podcast, therapy for men, midlife podcast, Lewis Capaldi story, rigid masculinity, male vulnerability, Chris Hemmings interview, CALM Stay Tuned, suicide prevention, mental health awareness

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