EPISODE 48
LIVE: BREAKING THE SILENCE
OUR MENTAL HEALTH JOURNEYS WITH BRANDON BLOCK, JAY MORTON AND CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH
Recorded live, completely unfiltered and brought to you by Deus Lodge & Sole Clinic. Today’s Off Script episode features three extraordinary men: Brandon Block, Chris Billam-Smith and Jay Morton who share their deeply personal journeys through mental health challenges.
From Brandon’s battle with addiction to Jay’s military experiences with PTSD and Chris’s struggles with perfectionism as an athlete, this episode offers a raw and compassionate look at men’s mental health.
Tune in to learn how to recognise personal struggles, the importance of community and the courage it takes to be vulnerable. Plus practical strategies for anyone facing their own challenges.
More than just a conversation, this episode is a testament to resilience, self-acceptance and the power of reaching out.
All proceeds from the live event went to Dorset Mind. If you enjoyed this episode, you can continue to support them by donating 👉https://dorsetmind.uk/donate/
LINKS & REFERENCES
Deus Lodge: https://www.deuslodge.com
Sole Clinic: https://www.instagram.com/_sole_clinic_/
Brandon Block: https://www.instagram.com/brandonblock/
Jay Morton: https://www.instagram.com/jay__morton
Chris Billam-Smith: https://www.instagram.com/chrisbillam
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
“Mental health doesn't discriminate. It doesn't know male, female. It doesn't know black, white. It doesn't know gay or straight. Like every single person in this room, I guarantee if you look to your left and your right will suffer and battle with it at some point in their life, if they haven't already.”
Ty Temel - 00:52
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“I wrote the book of excuses, of how I didn't have to stop, and I got to 1000 pages in my head of how to stop. And then I thought, I've run out of excuses, and I cannot possibly turn another page and carry on like this.” - Brandon Block - 05:39
“For me, that decision was so powerful. It had a purpose. You know, I had it meant something to me. And I realised then there wasn't going to be an easy way out. I had to face life and go, right, I'm going to find a way back in which I did by stopping.” - Brandon Block - 09:33
“If things that you're doing start causing problems in your life, and you see it... when things start happening, things start changing, you notice it. The key is here you can reach out. Don't feel bad about doing it. There's so much support out there.” - Brandon Block - 12:36
“It's hard for men to reach out when we're going through things, like, super hard, incredibly difficult. We kind of isolate and go inside ourselves and don't put ourselves out there. What we resist persists. It makes it worse and intensifies it.” Jay Morton - 14:12
“To excel at anything in life, to be the top 1%, you have to be fucking obsessed. You have to be - you can't get there otherwise. But I think if you're aware of it, like you're aware that you've got an addictive personality, so you're managing it.” - Ty Temel - 18:18
“We were never taught about PTSD. We were never taught about trauma and the effects. At 26 years old, you lack a connection with your body and your emotions, and you lack an awareness of what's going on inside.” - Jay Morton - 30:23
“I try to channel my addictive personality to the right things and get addicted to bettering myself, rather than the sins in life.” - Chris Billam-Smith - 17:50
“You see things all the time asking people on their deathbed what they wish. It's always the memories. Then it comes back to family.” - Chris Billam-Smith - 59:09