Man vs Mind

Christmas time, mistletoe and… panic attacks.In this festive episode of Man vs Mind, Tim and J get properly honest about Christmas – not just the cosy fairy lights version, but the pressure, money stress and forced fun that come with it. They talk about trying to keep the magic alive for their kids (and the emotional gymnastics of the whole Father Christmas lie), the logistics of in-laws and long-haul family politics, and why the build-up to the big day can feel heavier than the day itself.They get into Secret Santas, gift-giving anxiety, being skint in December, office Christmas music wars, broken trees, exploding lights, and that weird guilt that comes with presents you never use but can’t quite throw away. And, because it’s still Man vs Mind, they land on the small, quiet moments that actually make Christmas feel worth it – kids in terrible Christmas pyjamas, twinkly lights, croissants and coffee, and seeing how much the people you love love this time of year.Oh and Tim's radical idea for making Christmas more manageable for parents...There’s also a Patreon-only Man vs Mind Uncut bit after the main episode – no ads, and some extra chat. If you want to support the show and get the full thing every time, head to patreon.com/manvsmindpod.

Can we ever be 100% unapologetically authentic all of the time?In this ep, Tim and J look back at the different versions of themselves they’ve tried on, and ask how much of it was real… and how much was playing along or trying to fit in?We all like to think we’re totally authentic throughout our lives. But were there moments where the mask slipped? Times we performed a bit, adapted a bit, acted a bit, or tried on a persona that didn’t quite fit?Expect stories about post-uni rebellion, ski season escapism, dabbling with corporate personas, ridiculously expensive wine, parenting authenticity, and the unexpectedly revealing new segment: Real or Superficial? (And, yes, there's a new jingle too...)If you want the extended edition, check out Man vs Mind Uncut on Patreon – ad free, extended, and usually even more honest (just don't ask Tim about his neon dreadlock phase...)

School. That smell of anxious teenage fear, disinfectant, plastic chairs and wooden floors. For many it invokes stress, more fear, anxiety, deep-seeded trauma. For others it was the time of their lives. Today, Tim & J introduce a new game to go through the highs and lows of school life, and how it shaped our adult selves: Formative or Traumative?From rogue teachers who really needed sacking, to years of bullying, the positive life experiences and the lifelong lessons learned about self-assurance, they go through it all... they needed a therapy cat in the room for this one.And in Man vs Mind Uncut – J tells us how a house party he went to as a teenager resulted in all of the house's doors getting lost... seriously. YOU can get in on the Uncut (and ad-free) action by signing up to the Man vs Mind community on Patreon! Just $5 a month – just something to consider (and click on). www.patreon.com/manvsmindpod

We all get angry. In context, controlled anger is normal, and a healthy expression of having a balanced state of mental health.But what about when that anger is disproportionate? What do you do if your day is ruined by stubbing your toe, or stepping in a puddle, or if someone cuts you up on your drive to work? Today, Tim & J go into the trials and tribulations of the Red Emotion. From outbursts to introspection, they explore the range of emotions that exist between pure happiness and a state of rage. Tim explains how he tries (tries) to keep a lid on the little things that wind him up, and how he does his best to take a beat and reflect when he can feel his blood pressure rising. J, meanwhile, is like a still breeze on an open lake. Just calm AF, baby. Except when there's a sandwich press nearby, then all hell breaks loose. Get ad-free and extended episodes by becoming a Friend of the Show on Patreon, for just $5 per month!

Become a Friend of the Show on Patreon to listen to Man vs Mind Uncut (!) every single week... and without the annoying ads, all for just $5 a month! Click here to sign up todayWell, it was smooth sailing for Tim this week, riding the crest of a wave as a monumental life event nears...... until one thing sent him spiralling while sitting on the toilet. Today, Tim & J go through the inevitability of trying to remain relentlessly positive and happy. It works, to an extent, but eventually crippling reality finds a way of coming back to bite you in the---But, they talk it out, the highs, the lows, the everything, and reflect on why we do, in fact, need those fallow periods. And if you become a Friend of the Show on Patreon, you'll hear about how J spend 3 glorious hours living a life from 300 years ago. Sort of. But it's worth it, so sign up now!

Become a Friend of the Show on Patreon to listen to Man vs Mind Uncut (!) every single week... and without the annoying ads, all for just $5 a month! Click here to sign up todayI'm in the mooooood for [insert appropriate activity here].Today we're exploring why a good mood can feel suspicious to an anxious brain and how our state shifts across an ordinary day: from the joy of the school run to the hard switch back into dad mode after a day at work.Tim’s been on top of the world, and J’s smashing through a lesser-spotted productivity streak, so while they're both freakishly optimistic they decide to question it, and unpack mood triggers, how therapy and meds can widen the gap between feeling and reaction, and why refusing to let road-rage or stray comments set the tone can save your entire mood.We also revive our “fake it till you make it” experiment — not toxic positivity, just testing whether behaviour can nudge emotion without turning you into that insufferably chirpy colleague. Plus, there's a nod to spreading good vibes at work (through an unrelenting abundance of high-fives).Oh, and Lewis Capaldi, if you're listening, we'll give you a high-five mate.

Sometimes you don’t need to take a flight. You just need five days where no one emails you.This week, Tim’s on annual leave – the holy grail of rest and recovery – except it’s somehow turned into a DIY bootcamp that's causing him and his wife too much anxiety.We’re talking all about what it really means to take a an actual break from at least one major responsibility. We go over the guilt, the need, and the bit where you realise “resting” often means doing all the jobs you’ve been putting off for six months. But hey, being a fully functioning adult is fun, isn't it... right?From burnout warning signs and therapy analogies to toddler chaos and varnishing planter boxes, this episode is a reminder that rest isn’t laziness — it’s maintenance.Elsewhere, Tim explains how he repeatedly ended up in hospital, J describes his dream break (surprise, the pub is involved) and to all you October Christmas music players: we see you, and J has a few choice words...

In the words of the great Catatonia: you give me road rage.Who they sang about is anyone's guess. But as far as Tim's concerned, it's basically every other road user. Today, Tim & J give wildly contrasting opinions about attitudes towards their fellow drivers and what pure, unrelenting anger says about the broader state of their mental health. Does driving angry equal living angry? When (if ever) is it justifiable to drop the C-bomb at another driver? And what if there's nothing wrong with us, it's just that everyone else is an idiot?Meanwhile, Tim gets tailgated by a grannie on the A30 out of Cornwall; J gets banged up by, you guessed it, an idiot; Tim cries (again); and J has a traumatic week chasing copious amounts of bodily fluids, getting into a car accident, and getting taken to hospital in an incident that has nothing to do with the car crash. His wife couldn't get back fast enough...