The GMC Podcast: Gay Man's Coaching & Personal Development

Keegan Hirst, Gay Men's Coach & Former Rugby Player
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Authentic gay conversations on personal development, life coaching, and mental health. Join Keegan Hirst, founder of Gay Man's Coaching and former professional rugby player, for weekly real talk about gay lifestyle, coming out, relationships, business, and authentic living. Deep, honest conversations that help gay men build confidence, find community, and create vibrant, unapologetic lives.

  1. May 25

    Matt Print: Two Breakups, a Zumba Class, and Why Gay Men Need Gay Friends

    Matt Print has been coaching for 15 years. He came into fitness sideways, through a breakup and a Zumba class at the back of a studio, then a second breakup that got him lifting properly. He lost four stone and kept it off without obsessive tracking or rigid rules, which shaped everything about how he coaches now.  In this episode Matt and Keegan get into what actually draws gay men to coaching, what keeps them stuck, and why the fear of letting your coach down is one of the most destructive patterns in a coaching relationship. Matt is honest about his own journey, including the part where he used to wear "you don't look gay" as a badge of honour and now sees it for exactly what it was. What's covered: Why community, specifically gay community, matters more than most gay men will admitThe perfectionism trap: why clients go quiet exactly when they should be leaning inEngineering your environment so consistency isn't a willpower battleWhat's different about coaching gay men, and why having straight coaches in the mix matters tooThe old belief that no longer fits the evidence, and what to do when you notice the gapFind and connect with Keegan and the GMC Community:  Instagram GMC Instagram Email: keegan@gmanscoaching.com  Click here to subscribe to Keegan's weekly newsletter For more behind the scenes content about Keegan and GMC, watch him on YouTube

    28 min

  2. May 11

    From the Beige Buffet to Marathon Finisher: Dan McFarland's 6-Year Rebuild

    When Dan first contacted Keegan in 2020, he was a senior leader at a school eating Greggs 27 days out of 31, drinking way too much, and wondering if he wanted to be here at all. Six years later he's 10 stone lighter, runs marathons, has rebuilt his career around his life rather than the other way round, and has just completed prep for a photo shoot weeks before he turns 40! In this episode Dan and Keegan walk through the process of the rebuild. Not just the highlight reel. The bit where Dan had to learn that 30 seconds of running was a starting point, that 'plan your week' was a foreign concept, and that the small stuff (water, sleep, getting up on the first alarm) was what changed everything. They also talk about what hasn't gone away: the self-talk, the stress, the days that aren't full of rainbows. What's covered: Why 'I can do hard things' is the belief everything else gets built onThe low-hanging fruit Dan started with, and why crash plans never stickWork pressure, boundaries, and the slow move from people-pleasing to saying noThe voice that still tells Dan he's not enough, and what he does with it nowWhy success leaves clues, and how to use that when motivation isn't thereFind and connect with Keegan and the GMC Community:  Instagram GMC Instagram Email: keegan@gmanscoaching.com  Click here to subscribe to Keegan's weekly newsletter For more behind the scenes content about Keegan and GMC, watch him on YouTube

    33 min

  3. Apr 21

    Why I Refuse to Believe You're Stuck

    Keegan's recording this one from the car, driving back from LA, fresh off a GMC weekend that included photoshoots, high rope climbs at UCLA, and conversations he's thinking about on the way home. The big one: why so many people feel like nothing they do actually matters. Not just in life generally, but in their own life. Their own body. Their own future. And how that feeling doesn't come from nowhere. It's fed to us constantly, by algorithms, by the news, by the general atmosphere of the world right now. Ross came into GMC hating mirrors. Hated having his photo taken. Felt completely stuck in a job that was grinding him down. This weekend he did a photoshoot in California. Keegan uses his story to make a point he feels strongly about: GMC didn't do that. Ross did. That distinction matters more than it sounds. He also gets into what coaching actually is and what it isn't. Why being nice and being supportive are not the same thing. Why there's no programme on earth that works for everyone the same way. And why he will argue until he's blue in the face that nobody is too far gone to change. You can out more about Gay Man's Coaching and find Keegan here:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keeganhirst GMC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaymanscoaching Email: keegan@gmanscoaching.com  Website: gaymanscoaching.com Subscribe to newsletter: https://gaymanscoaching.com/subscribe/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thekeeganhirst

    17 min

  4. Apr 13

    From Stuck to Record Months ft. Lee Brooks

    This week Keegan sits down with GMC client Lee Brooks, a 44-year-old finance director from the Southeast of England, who joined GMC at the lowest entry point and completely turned his life around. In under a year, Lee has lost 15kg, gone self-employed, is hitting his best billing months on record, and has done the internal work to match the external changes. He came in dealing with a divorce, a new health diagnosis, and a deep belief that he simply wasn't good enough. He leaves this conversation as someone who barely recognises the man he used to be. They get into what it actually takes to make changes that stick, why implementation beats motivation every time, how working with GMC psychotherapist Jon Bell changed things for Lee in ways he didn't expect, and the three bits of advice he'd give to himself this time last year. If you've ever done the boom and bust thing, tried to go all in and ended up back at square one, this one's for you. Stay safe, look after yourselves, and don't eat and drink at the expense of how you want to look and feel. If today's episode resonated with you, here's how to find out if GMC is the right fit. Gay Man's Coaching is a premium coaching programme built specifically for gay men who want to transform their lives, not just their bodies. Our members lose weight, build muscle and get in the best shape of their lives. But the changes that mean the most go beyond the physical. Careers shift. Confidence grows. Relationships improve. The way they talk to themselves changes. It's a complete overhaul, done properly, with the right support around you. You get two dedicated coaches, a private community of like-minded men, weekly workshops, access to the GMC psychotherapist team and Keegan himself in your corner throughout. If you want to know more, the best first step is a conversation. No pressure, no hard sell. Just a good chat about where you're at and whether GMC can help. Email Keegan directly at keegan@gmanscoaching.com or reach out on Instagram. You can find Keegan on Instagram as @keeganhirst and GMC at @gaymanscoaching, or tap the link below to open a chat straight away. Chat with us here!

    28 min

  5. Mar 23

    Being in the Trenches With Chris Annakin - Why Real Coaching Requires Human Connection

    In this episode, Keegan sits down with Chris, GMC's Head of Performance and one of his oldest friends. Chris shares his powerful journey from professional rugby to recovery, and why his dad's story became the catalyst for his work at GMC. They explore the real coaching principles that create lasting transformation: meeting clients where they're at, empathy over perfection, and the power of being "in the trenches" alongside the people you're helping. Chris opens up about his own sobriety, how to recognise mental health challenges in clients, and why isolation is often the biggest roadblock to progress. If you're struggling, have tried everything, or feel like you're stuck, this episode offers practical wisdom on small, consistent steps and why the right community changes everything. A must-listen for anyone ready to do the real work.

    31 min

  6. Mar 16

    What My Daughter Taught Me About Rushing Through Life

    Are you constantly rushing through life waiting for the next big thing? The promotion, the relationship, the milestone? Keegan gets real about our obsession with speed and efficiency, and why the mundane Tuesday mornings matter more than you think. In this episode, Keegan breaks down why we're all in such a hurry to get nowhere, the difference between ambition and anxiety, and why joy isn't found in fireworks but in presence. From clicking the fast forward button on life to learning what really counts when you zoom out, this one will make you rethink how you're spending your days. Key takeaways: Why rushing is costing you your actual lifeThe truth about growth (spoiler: trees don't measure progress daily)How to find meaning in the ordinary momentsA simple practice to bring presence back into your routine

    21 min

  7. Mar 9

    Owain's Journey from Anger to Action

    Owain joined GMC a few years ago at his lowest point. After a medical misdiagnosis led to major surgery, he spiraled into depression, anger, and blame. He was stuck in a victim mentality, radiating rage at the world around him. In this episode, Owain shares how he rebuilt his identity from the ground up. We talk about the uncomfortable truths he had to face, the toolkit he built to manage his mental health, and how he went from being unable to visualise a future to confidently tackling challenges he never thought possible. This conversation gets into the practical side of transformation. How do you actually build a new identity? What does it look like day to day? And how do you move from thinking too much to doing enough? If you've ever felt stuck in circumstances beyond your control, or found yourself blaming the world for where you're at, this episode is for you. Owain proves that with the right support and willingness to do the work, you can completely change the trajectory of your life. Key topics covered: Moving from victim to ownershipBuilding awareness of triggers and responsesCreating a personalized mental health toolkitThe power of community and shared purposeLearning to believe you can do hard things

    31 min

  8. Mar 2

    What If The Problem Isn’t What You’re Missing?

    This week, Keegan shares something personal. Over the past year, he’s been quietly struggling. Days feeling heavy. Isolating. Questioning himself. Eventually, that struggle was given a name. But this episode isn’t about labels. It’s about a perspective shift that changed everything:  What if you’re not lacking the things you want… what if you’re blocking them? So many gay men chase more. More confidence, more love, more money, more peace. But what if the issue isn’t absence? What if it’s the emotional armour, outdated protections, and survival patterns that once kept you safe… but now keep you stuck? Keegan breaks down: Why high-functioning men often feel empty even when life “looks good”The hidden ways we block love, connection, health and abundanceHow independence can become avoidanceWhy peace can feel unsafe when chaos is familiarThe difference between happiness and contentmentThe question that exposes self-sabotage instantlyThis is both vulnerable and practical. Personal and direct. You don’t need to become someone new. You need to stop protecting yourself from the life you actually want. If you’re part of GMC, all upcoming event details are in the Hub, including Leeds event this weekend and our upcoming Massive Action Days. If you’re not part of GMC and want to experience being in a room that challenges you, supports you, and gets you out of your own way, reach out to support@gmanscoaching.com for more information about how you can join.  A rising tide lifts all ships. See you in the room.

    25 min
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About

Authentic gay conversations on personal development, life coaching, and mental health. Join Keegan Hirst, founder of Gay Man's Coaching and former professional rugby player, for weekly real talk about gay lifestyle, coming out, relationships, business, and authentic living. Deep, honest conversations that help gay men build confidence, find community, and create vibrant, unapologetic lives.

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