On The Mend

High Performance
  • 4.7 (17)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

On The Mend is the podcast where we look back at life’s hardest moments to understand how to move forward, with honesty, heart, and hope. In each episode, Matt Willis explores recovery, resilience, and mental strength through open and honest conversations. Some episodes feature guests sharing powerful stories of personal transformation. Others bring in expert voices offering practical tools and insights, and in solo episodes, Matt reflects on his own journey through addiction, identity, and healing. This is a space for anyone navigating life’s challenges. On The Mend is your companion through the highs, lows, and everything in between. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. ​​HOW TO HEAL LOW CONFIDENCE, SELF-DOUBT AND NEGATIVE THOUGHTS: MARISA PEER’S METHOD

    17 HR AGO

    ​​HOW TO HEAL LOW CONFIDENCE, SELF-DOUBT AND NEGATIVE THOUGHTS: MARISA PEER’S METHOD

    Matt sits down with world-renowned therapist Marisa Peer to dismantle the self-sabotaging loops that keep us stuck. If you’ve ever felt like your brain is working against your recovery, this conversation provides the ultimate manual for reclaiming control. We explore the "Ladder of Looping Thoughts" and the powerful truth that you weren’t born broken, you learned it. Marisa explains the link between creativity and addiction, showing how high suggestibility can lead to deep-seated shame. Healing is framed as stripping away these learned layers to reactivate your original sense of self. This discussion also provides practical tools like the AAA Method (Aware, Accept, Articulate) and simple language shifts to resolve internal conflict. This episode covers the following themes: Language, Beliefs, Worth, Addiction, and Self-Awareness. Marisa Peer's new book 'Your Mind, Your Rules,' is out now: https://amzn.eu/d/08ebrG3Y Need Support? Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org Narcotics Anonymous: na.org Alcoholics Anonymous: alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk Mental Health Mates: mentalhealthmates.co.uk Shout: https: giveusashout.org IAPT: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults/nhs-talking-therapies/ Better Help 👉 Join Matt in Saying It Louder with 10% off Betterhelp Therapy. Click here: https://highpfrmc.com/otm-betterhelp-au  AG1 👉Head to drinkag1.com/onthemend to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, Vitamin D3 + K2 and five travel packs Postcode Lottery 👉 Discover how Postcode Lottery players are Powering Hope Together. Click here to find out more: https://highpfrmc.com/otm-postcode-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  2. WHEN WAS YOUR HARDEST TIME? HONEST Q&A ON MENTAL HEALTH, THERAPY, GRIEF & RECOVERY

    11 MAY

    WHEN WAS YOUR HARDEST TIME? HONEST Q&A ON MENTAL HEALTH, THERAPY, GRIEF & RECOVERY

    In honour of Mental Health Awareness Week, this special compilation episode curates life-changing insights from people who have faced addiction, grief, anxiety, and personal struggle firsthand.  Featuring conversations with Tony Adams, Roy Stride, John Robins, Matt Haig, Marisa Peer, Simon Thomas, and other leading voices, this episode explores what it really means to recover, rebuild confidence, and find hope during difficult moments. From radical honesty and vulnerability to practical tools for improving mental resilience, these stories highlight the importance of connection, self-awareness, and asking for support. Together, they offer a powerful reminder that while recovery is never easy, change is possible and healing can begin with a single conversation. This episode covers the following themes: Mental Health, Vulnerability, Sobriety, Resilience, Honesty, and Healing. Need Support? Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org Narcotics Anonymous: na.org Alcoholics Anonymous: alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk Mental Health Mates: mentalhealthmates.co.uk Shout: https: giveusashout.org IAPT: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults/nhs-talking-therapies/ Better Help 👉 Join Matt in Saying It Louder with 10% off Betterhelp Therapy. Click here: https://highpfrmc.com/otm-betterhelp-au  Postcode Lottery 👉 Discover how Postcode Lottery players are Powering Hope Together. Click here to find out more: https://highpfrmc.com/otm-postcode-au  Heights👉 Join Matt in getting your energy back with Vitals. 20% off here: https://highpfrmc.com/au3-OTM20 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 2min
  3. Things Men Don't Say Out Loud

    8 MAY

    Things Men Don't Say Out Loud

    This special roundtable episode explores the vital role of mental fitness in reaching and sustaining peak performance.  In this special roundtable episode, in partnership with BetterHelp, hosts Jake Humphrey, Spencer Matthews, and Matt Willis reframe therapy as an essential "performance tool." By comparing mental maintenance to physical training, the trio highlights how proactive support is key to navigating the pressures of modern life and sustaining peak performance. This conversation explores personal breakthroughs, from Jake’s experience with "Pure O" to Matt’s discovery of the power in asking, "How do I feel?" They discuss the value of having a "mental adult" in the room, a confidential professional who allows you to offload internal noise without the fear of burdening friends or family. Whether you are facing a crisis or simply seeking self-understanding, this episode demonstrates that therapy provides the clarity needed to show up as your best self. It is a raw, unscripted reminder that seeking support is a proactive choice for anyone committed to long-term resilience and growth. Better Help 👉 Join Matt in Saying It Louder with 10% off Betterhelp Therapy - CLICK HERE Need help? If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E now If you need urgent help for your mental health, get help from NHS 111 online or call 111: https://111.nhs.uk/triage/check-your-mental-health-symptoms Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You will not be wasting anyone's time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min
  4. ROY STRIDE (SCOUTING FOR GIRLS) ADMITS ALCOHOL PROBLEM, ANXIETY AND RECOVERY JOURNEY

    4 MAY

    ROY STRIDE (SCOUTING FOR GIRLS) ADMITS ALCOHOL PROBLEM, ANXIETY AND RECOVERY JOURNEY

    Scouting for Girls frontman Roy Stride achieved global fame and number-one albums, but behind the scenes, he was wearing a mask. For 25 years, he used alcohol to bridge the gap between his public persona and a deep-seated feeling of never being "enough," eventually spiraling into a high-functioning nightmare of secret drinking and pre-show panic attacks. In this episode, Roy pulls back the curtain on the exhaustion of the "secret life." He reveals the extreme lengths he went to hide his addiction, from filling non-alcoholic cans with real beer to drinking 30 units a day while on tour.  Roy also discusses the moment his dream became a prison, his initial skepticism of recovery, and how leaning into the "weirdness" of AA saved his marriage, his career, and his life. This is a powerful exploration of why life in recovery is infinitely better than the "belonging" found in a bottle. This episode covers the following themes: Addiction, High-Functioning Anxiety, Recovery, and Finding Belonging. 'Scouting for Girls' new album These Are The Good Days' is out now Need Support? Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org Narcotics Anonymous: na.org Alcoholics Anonymous: alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk Mental Health Mates: mentalhealthmates.co.uk Shout: https: giveusashout.org IAPT: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults/nhs-talking-therapies/ Heights👉 Join Matt in getting your energy back with Vitals. 20% off here: https://highpfrmc.com/au3-OTM20 Postcode Lottery 👉 Discover how Postcode Lottery players are Powering Hope Together. Click here to find out more: https://highpfrmc.com/otm-postcode-au  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min
  5. GRIEF LED ME TO ALCOHOL | Sky Sports' Simon Thomas

    27 APR

    GRIEF LED ME TO ALCOHOL | Sky Sports' Simon Thomas

    Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas delivers one of the most raw and honest accounts of grief and addiction ever shared in the public eye. Following the sudden death of his wife, Gemma, Simon faced a years-long battle with secret drinking while navigating the pressures of public life and parenthood. In this episode, he exposes the "release valve" of alcohol that promised an escape but led to a darker reality. Simon also shares the complexities of finding love again with his partner Doina, the crushing weight of "being strong," and the powerful realization that while life will never be the same, it can, and will, be good again. This episode covers the following themes: Grief, Addiction, Resilience, Fatherhood, and Recovery. Need Support? Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org Narcotics Anonymous: na.org Alcoholics Anonymous: alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk Mental Health Mates: mentalhealthmates.co.uk Shout: https: giveusashout.org IAPT: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults/nhs-talking-therapies/ Heights👉 Join Matt in getting your energy back with Vitals. 20% off here: https://highpfrmc.com/au3-OTM20 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min
  6. NOBODY KNEW I WAS GOING TO REHAB | LULU’S SECRET ADDICTION STORY

    23 APR

    NOBODY KNEW I WAS GOING TO REHAB | LULU’S SECRET ADDICTION STORY

    Heights👉 Join Matt in getting your energy back with Vitals. 20% off here: https://highpfrmc.com/au3-OTM20 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    9 min
  7. ARSENAL CAPTAIN TONY ADAMS: GIVING UP, SURVIVING RECOVERY AND REACHING 30 YEARS SOBER

    20 APR

    ARSENAL CAPTAIN TONY ADAMS: GIVING UP, SURVIVING RECOVERY AND REACHING 30 YEARS SOBER

    Arsenal legend and former England captain Tony Adams joins us to reflect on 30 years of sobriety, and the moment he realised that despite having everything, he didn’t know who he was. He opens up about the reality behind the legendary football career, the blackouts, the hidden struggles, and the breaking point where he no longer wanted to be alive. Tony also shares the specific, raw moment of surrender that finally led him to an unexpected encounter, offering him a sense of peace he’d never known. This is a conversation about identity beyond the pitch and the daily work of recovery, proving that one decision can change the trajectory of a life forever. This episode covers the following themes: Addiction, Identity, Sobriety, Recovery, Mental Health. Tony will run the London Marathon on 26th April for The Forward Trust, where he is the new Chair, helping people overcome addiction and offending. Read more on Tony's work with Six here: https://www.sixmha.org/staystopped ‘1996: Reflections on the Year that Changed My Life’ by Tony Adams is out now: https://amzn.eu/d/07jIgx95 Randox Health 👉 Take care of your health today and into the future. Save 20% on all health checks now with the code OTM20 at: https://highpfrmc.com/OTM_Randox_yt2  Heights👉 Join Matt in getting your energy back with Vitals. 20% off here: https://highpfrmc.com/au3-OTM20 Need Support? Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org Narcotics Anonymous: na.org Alcoholics Anonymous: alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk Mental Health Mates: mentalhealthmates.co.uk Shout: https: giveusashout.org IAPT: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults/nhs-talking-therapies/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 3min
  8. WHAT IT’S REALLY LIKE BEING THE CHILD OF AN ALCOHOLIC | VICKY PATTISON

    13 APR

    WHAT IT’S REALLY LIKE BEING THE CHILD OF AN ALCOHOLIC | VICKY PATTISON

    TV personality, author and radio presenter, Vicky Pattison, discusses her journey through self-care, addiction, and healing from the trauma of being a child of an alcoholic. She opens up about how her mantra “you can’t pour from an empty cup” became crucial for managing anxiety, and the pain of realising she’d been an enabler to her father. Vicky also talks about using her second chance on I’m a Celebrity to reshape her life and break free from shame, encouraging others to speak out about addiction. This episode covers the following themes: addiction, family trauma, self-care, stigma, and transformation. Need Support? Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org Narcotics Anonymous: na.org Alcoholics Anonymous: alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk Mental Health Mates: mentalhealthmates.co.uk Shout: https: giveusashout.org IAPT: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults/nhs-talking-therapies/ Randox Health 👉 Take care of your health today and into the future. Save 20% on all health checks now with the code OTM20 at: https://highpfrmc.com/OTM_Randox_yt2  Saily 👉 Download SAILY in your app store and use our code mend at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For further details go to https://saily.com/mend Heights👉 Join Matt in getting your energy back with Vitals. 20% off here: https://highpfrmc.com/au3-OTM20 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
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Hosts & Guests

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

On The Mend is the podcast where we look back at life’s hardest moments to understand how to move forward, with honesty, heart, and hope. In each episode, Matt Willis explores recovery, resilience, and mental strength through open and honest conversations. Some episodes feature guests sharing powerful stories of personal transformation. Others bring in expert voices offering practical tools and insights, and in solo episodes, Matt reflects on his own journey through addiction, identity, and healing. This is a space for anyone navigating life’s challenges. On The Mend is your companion through the highs, lows, and everything in between. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Channel
    High Performance
  • Creator
    High Performance
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    73
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © High Performance
  • Show Website
    On The Mend
  • Provider

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