Och, Brothers! Where Art Thou?

Ross & Pietro

The purpose of Och, Brothers! is to host a transparent, honest space for men to explore what it means to be a man today. Positive conversations around manhood, brotherhood, parenthood, and masculinity, eschewing outdated stereotypes and celebrating a broad range of perspectives. En vogue or otherwise. We’ll be sharing stories, building and fostering networks, and redefining strength, helping men show up for themselves and learning from each other as we go. Come with us, you’re very welcome. Och, Brothers! Where Art Thou?

Episodes

  1. 10/28/2025

    Episode 2: From War Zones to Wild Places | Colin Kirk-Potter

    This week on Och, Brothers! Where Art Thou? we sit down with Colin Kirk-Potter, former Royal Marine Commando, ultra-runner, writer, endurance coach, postman, husband, and father of five, for a raw, funny, and deeply human conversation about identity, recovery, and what masculinity really looks like when the bravado falls away. Colin takes us from growing up in Derbyshire to life in the Royal Marines, serving across conflict zones and discovering the intense camaraderie of a brotherhood forged under pressure. He speaks honestly about how that structure gave him purpose, and what happened when a PTSD diagnosis in 2013 forced him to confront life beyond the uniform. We talk about alcohol, denial, counselling, EMDR therapy, and the slow, difficult work of putting memories back into order. Colin reflects on rebuilding himself through running, the wild landscape of Dartmoor, and creating community through Run Venture, a business born from generosity and passion, and the pain of watching it fail in a world that values convenience over connection. Along the way, we explore modern masculinity: strength without shouting, discipline without domination, kindness backed by action. From ultra-marathons and military downtime to parenting, community loss, and learning when to be tough, and when to kneel down and listen, this is a conversation about resilience that doesn’t flinch from vulnerability. A powerful episode about service, survival, failure, and choosing not to be a dick, even when life gives you plenty of reasons to be one.

    48 min
  2. Episode 1: Druid Wisdom for Modern Men | JJ Middleway

    10/04/2025

    Episode 1: Druid Wisdom for Modern Men | JJ Middleway

    In our first full episode of Och, Brothers! Where Art Thou?, we sit down with JJ Middleway for a deep, moving and often unexpected conversation about manhood, belonging and what we have quietly lost along the way. JJ is a poet, musician, druid elder and mentor who has spent decades working with boys and men through rites of passage, outdoor ritual and community based work. He joins us fresh from a powerful weekend spent helping young men step towards adulthood in a world that rarely shows them how. What unfolds is not a neat how to guide on masculinity, but something richer and more human. We talk about the hunger for male role models, the importance of men only spaces, vulnerability and strength existing side by side, and why discomfort can be just as necessary as safety. JJ shares stories of grief, initiation, nature, song and service, alongside reflections on fatherhood, responsibility and forgiveness. We explore spirituality without dogma, tradition without nostalgia, and the idea that being a man is not about dominance or silence, but about courage, humility and showing up for others. From ancient wisdom and campfire songs to modern fatherhood and social media burnout, this is a conversation about slowing down, reconnecting and remembering what really matters. A thoughtful, generous and challenging opening chapter for the podcast, and a reminder that becoming a man is not a moment, but a lifelong practice.

    51 min

About

The purpose of Och, Brothers! is to host a transparent, honest space for men to explore what it means to be a man today. Positive conversations around manhood, brotherhood, parenthood, and masculinity, eschewing outdated stereotypes and celebrating a broad range of perspectives. En vogue or otherwise. We’ll be sharing stories, building and fostering networks, and redefining strength, helping men show up for themselves and learning from each other as we go. Come with us, you’re very welcome. Och, Brothers! Where Art Thou?