The Modern Journey

Hamza Idris

The Modern Journey is a platform for honest conversations on the human experience. Hosted by Hamza Idris, the podcast explores growth, identity, healing, relationships, purpose, and modern life, with faith woven in when it’s real. These are the quiet conversations with loud impact. New episodes every other Monday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 2d ago

    HARD MODE DAD with Ollie Harris

    Content warning: this conversation includes discussion of childhood trauma, abuse within the home, alcoholism, drug addiction, family breakdown, homelessness and the emotional weight of parenting through difficult circumstances. Please listen with care and feel free to pause, skip ahead or stop listening if you need to. If this conversation brings anything up for you, or if you are worried about someone you know, support is available. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency services. Support resources: Samaritans: 116 123 NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 Talk to Frank: https://www.talktofrank.com Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk In Episode 3 of Season 2, I sit down with Ollie Harris for one of the most honest and vulnerable conversations we have had on The Modern Journey. This episode is about fatherhood, childhood trauma, becoming a single dad, growing up around abuse, learning boundaries, raising a child with autism, and trying to break cycles instead of repeating them. Ollie opens up about becoming a father during Covid, the emotional weight of being separated from his son straight after birth, being forced to take on adult responsibilities too young, and how fatherhood changed the way he sees himself as a man. We also talk about his son Oscar, autism, labels, emotional capacity, saying no, protecting peace, and what it means to grow through failure. This episode is for anyone who has had to grow up too quickly, anyone trying to break cycles, and anyone learning that being present is not always easy, but it matters. Follow Ollie Harris: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-m-harris-6a0b37134 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olliej21 Follow The Modern Journey: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernjourneyhq TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernjourneyhq Newsletter: https://modernjourneyhq.com Hamza Idris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamzaidris Chapters: 00:00 Content warning 00:35 Preview 01:26 Welcome to Ollie Harris 03:42 What season of life is Ollie in? 11:57 When fatherhood became real 12:19 Becoming a dad during Covid 18:09 How fatherhood changed him as a man 18:51 Boundaries and learning to say no 20:40 Emotional capacity and protecting peace 24:21 Being a single dad 24:49 Growing up around abuse, alcohol and drugs 26:46 Being relied on too young 27:34 Peace and guilt after detaching from family 30:46 Choosing himself and his son 33:49 Finding out who his father was 37:32 Being told the truth through a DNA test 41:52 Protecting himself through distance 43:43 How childhood shaped his fatherhood 44:57 Not becoming what hurt you 46:48 Understanding pain without excusing harm 51:43 Why he apologises so much 55:20 Raising a child with autism 58:03 Hearing his son speak for the first time 01:02:44 Asking himself who he really is 01:05:00 Labels, ADHD and seeing children differently 01:08:28 The beauty of an organic personality 01:14:56 Advice for parents navigating autism 01:17:04 Finding community and trusting the process 01:22:37 What this season requires from him 01:23:15 Growth disguised as failure 01:26:17 Final thoughts If this conversation resonates with you, follow The Modern Journey and share the episode with someone who needs to hear it. #TheModernJourney #Fatherhood #TraumaHealing #AutismAwareness #BreakingCycles Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 27m
  2. May 25

    NO BACKUP PLAN with Patricia Olufemi

    Success can look like having many gifts, many titles and many open doors. But what does it look like when God asks you to move before you fully understand the plan? In Episode 2 of Season 2, I sit down with Patricia Olufemi, also known as NC, for a deeply honest conversation about faith, creativity, obedience, grief, community and what it means to live as a multi-hyphenated child of God. We talk about music, voice acting, working in tech, moving seasons, starting small, losing her mum, building community, and learning how to keep trusting God when life does not unfold the way you prayed it would. Patricia opens up about: • Moving from Ireland to the UK in obedience • Building a creative life without losing herself • Starting voice acting under a duvet and in an IKEA cupboard • Why creatives need to understand the business side • The cost of being multi-hyphenated • Grieving her mum while still carrying responsibility • The power of community, church and honest prayer • Why this season requires prophetic precision This episode is for anyone who feels called to more than one thing, anyone navigating grief, and anyone trying to trust God in a season they did not plan. Follow Patricia Olufemi: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciaolufemi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ncgrey TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ncgrey Website: https://stan.store/vocalgoldmine Follow The Modern Journey: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernjourneyhq TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernjourneyhq Newsletter & Updates: https://modernjourneyhq.com Follow Hamza Idris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamzaidris Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:43 Welcome to Patricia Olufemi 01:21 Coming back from America and the meaning of home 02:04 Building community as adults 03:08 Being a multi-hyphenated child of God 04:33 Moving with God in different seasons 06:02 Mourning the life you thought you would have 06:48 Leaving Google and moving in obedience 09:06 The cost of doing many things well 10:31 What could life look like with fewer talents? 12:16 The personal sacrifices behind creativity 14:43 How music first began 16:05 Discovering voice acting during lockdown 18:36 Opening your mind to how God can use your gift 19:23 When one door closes, look around 20:20 Unlearning the need to control the plan 22:17 Starting small in voice acting 23:13 Recording under a duvet 25:04 Voice acting with a stutter 26:25 Resourcefulness and humble beginnings 27:48 Charging less to learn and build experience 30:01 What voice acting gave her that music could not 30:54 Why music can be heartbreaking 32:43 The financial cost of making music 34:38 Being a multi-hyphenated woman 36:50 Staying grounded when life pulls you in many directions 37:32 Losing her mum and moving through grief 38:04 How grief reshaped her understanding of community 40:59 You cannot build community only when you need it 42:10 Learning she cannot do everything alone 44:21 Being honest about grief instead of burying it 47:09 Processing loss as a Christian 48:27 Why stepping away from God was not an option 49:26 What God actually promised 50:51 Holding grief and hope together 55:20 Grieving while still carrying responsibility 56:12 Why workplace grief policies need to change 59:24 Protecting herself in this next chapter 01:01:48 What this season of her journey requires 01:02:01 Prophetic precision If this conversation resonates with you, follow The Modern Journey and share the episode with someone who needs to hear it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 4m
  3. May 11

    BUILDING AN EMPIRE with Andrew Hulbert

    Success looks incredible from the outside. But what does it actually cost? In this episode, entrepreneur, investor and former Pareto FM founder Andrew Hulbert opens up about the reality of entrepreneurship, leadership, burnout, business growth and balancing success with family life. We talk about building a £50M business, the pressure of ambition, reconnecting with relationships after years of hustle, and what happens when the thing you spent years chasing finally arrives. This is one of the most honest conversations I’ve had on The Modern Journey. Andrew opens up about: • Sacrificing time with family while building his company   • Reconnecting with friendships after years of hustle   • Why being present matters more than status   • Leadership, vulnerability and building high performing teams   • Fatherhood, success and raising grounded children   • The future of Facilities Management and modern leadership   • Why volunteering and relationships matter more than networking tactics   This episode is for anyone chasing something big while trying not to lose themselves in the process. ⸻ Follow Andrew Hulbert: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhulbert Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_andrewhulbert TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hulbertandrew Tomorrow Meets Today: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tomorrow-meets-today/ Follow The Modern Journey: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernjourneyhq TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernjourneyhq Newsletter & Updates: https://modernjourneyhq.com Follow Hamza Idris on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hamzaidris ⸻ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro   01:09 Buying a nature reserve for his children   05:02 Building a £50M business   06:03 Why success stopped mattering   09:35 The season of life Andrew is in now   12:09 Learning to be present again   14:34 What ambition gave him   17:34 What ambition took away   20:34 The real cost of success   23:33 Rebuilding friendships after business success   27:36 Why men need to talk more   28:22 When a business becomes bigger than you   30:24 Did he actually enjoy the lifestyle?   33:18 Fatherhood and raising grounded children   40:27 The danger of instant gratification   41:44 What people misunderstand about leadership   47:20 Why volunteering changed his career   52:34 What Facilities Management actually is   54:40 The future of the FM industry   59:54 Why young people should consider FM   01:02:17 Building teams with 100% retention   01:08:23 Why diversity in leadership matters   01:12:35 Succession planning and leadership ego   01:17:19 Advice for ambitious young people   01:23:50 What this season of life requires from him   01:24:48 Final reflections   Let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments. If this conversation resonates with you, follow The Modern Journey and share the episode with someone who needs to hear it. #TheModernJourney #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Fatherhood #Success Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 27m
  4. 05/06/2025

    The Wrap-Up | Season One Reflections (Ep. 9)

    “This season wasn’t about having answers. It was about asking better questions.” Every season deserves reflection. In this final episode of Season One, Hamza Idris is interviewed by his wife, Davina Oriakhi‑Idris, in an honest, unfiltered wrap-up of the journey so far. Together, they reflect on the conversations, the lessons, the growth, and the tension behind the scenes of building The Modern Man Podcast while navigating work, faith, marriage, leadership, and personal responsibility. This is not a highlight reel. It’s a debrief. A mirror. And a moment of gratitude and grounding before what comes next. This episode is for anyone who has followed the season, supported quietly, or is curious about the heart behind the platform. 🔑 What you’ll take from this episode: • Why Season One needed to exist • The unexpected lessons from the guests • What challenged Hamza the most personally • Balancing ambition, faith, marriage, and rest • Where ego showed up and where humility was required • What Season Two will build on, not repeat ⏱️ Episode Chapters 00:00 Why a Season One wrap-up mattered 02:10 Introducing Davina and switching roles 05:40 How The Modern Man Podcast was conceived 11:30 The original vision and early resistance 17:20 Lessons that emerged across the season 23:40 Conversations that challenged Hamza the most 30:10 Masculinity, responsibility, and emotional honesty 37:50 Faith, grounding, and staying aligned under pressure 46:30 Marriage, support, and building alongside your spouse 55:10 Burnout, capacity, and learning to slow down 1:04:20 Creative doubt, discipline, and consistency 1:13:00 How Season One changed Hamza personally 1:22:40 Gratitude for guests, listeners, and community 1:30:30 What Season Two will build on 1:38:50 Advice to men walking a similar path 1:46:10 Final reflections and closing the season 📌 Mentioned in this Episode 🎶 Check out Preyé’s music: ⁠Preyé’s Live Show⁠: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQG4A9qb4nA&ab_channel=Prey%C3%A9 ⁠Preyé on Spotify⁠: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6dbTmlL5brq9B2fkUj2MQD?si=ahRPMnYVRkeBCZPCF7-7gQ 🎧 Listen & Subscribe Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-modern-man-podcast/id1784333559 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4v7TSM63Rhmdd4GxpUlIEa YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@modernjourneyhq?sub_confirmation=1 Website: http://www.tmmpodcast.com 🎙️ About The Modern Man Podcast Honest conversations about masculinity, mental health, work, faith, and the human experience. Less noise. More truth. #modernmanpodcast #seasonfinale #reflection #modernmasculinity #faithandlife #growthjourney #marriageandpurpose #menswork Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 47m

About

The Modern Journey is a platform for honest conversations on the human experience. Hosted by Hamza Idris, the podcast explores growth, identity, healing, relationships, purpose, and modern life, with faith woven in when it’s real. These are the quiet conversations with loud impact. New episodes every other Monday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.