Stories of Men: Beneath the Surface Alex Melia

As a queer man, Matt had always found the barbershop to be a particularly hyper-masculine space. He’d got on with everyone there, particularly the owner, but he had never felt comfortable enough to truly open up and be himself.
It was to his great surprise, then, that when entering the barbershop one day he was introduced to a new employee: a flamboyant Brazilian, who seemed to embrace all of the aspects of his personality that Matt had striven so hard not to reveal.
Had Matt misjudged his need to keep his authentic self hidden? And why had Matt originally found it necessary to mask his own form of masculinity in order to fit into this space?
Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.
We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Matt. His openness in discussing the challenges he and many in his community face is both enlightening and poignant. It also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world. [Original air date: July 11th, 2023]
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Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this story
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A Fascinate Production

Mentioned in this episode:
Take The Man Test here: https://bit.ly/som_the_man_test

David was exploring the world while scaling the heady heights of multi-sports journalism. In only his second “proper job” post-university, he found himself unexpectedly appointed editor of a new magazine specialising in all-terrain vehicles. As this was the only magazine of its kind, David received invites from manufacturers the world over in order to assess and review their products.
 It was as a result of such an invitation that David found himself speeding through a vast expanse of heathland in Quebec on a brand new quad bike. The problem was, however, that he was feeling highly uncomfortable. He couldn’t see the terrain well enough to feel safe and, the longer the ride continued,  the more vulnerable he began to feel.
What was it that underlay the vision problems that David was experiencing? And would he be able to extricate himself from such a perilous situation without experiencing serious harm?
Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.
We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, David. His humility, bravery and frankness while telling his story make for a powerful experience. It also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world.
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Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this story
We're also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
A Fascinate Production

Mentioned in this episode:
Take The Man Test here: https://bit.ly/the_man_test

Mark had spent many years working as a traffic police officer. During this time, he had experienced countless tragic sights. His response to these had been to bottle up his feelings. This had led to him becoming desensitised and uncaring. Dedicated counselling had been required to help Mark remove the barriers that had prevented him from dealing with the pain that had built inside.
When experiencing inflammatory arthritis then, Mark became devastated when he realised that the same pattern of erected barriers had become repeated, this time via an addiction to opioids.
What had led Mark to walking down the very path he had been determined not to retread? And what could our health care system do differently to support people like Mark more effectively in the future?
Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.
We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Mark. His frank and eye-opening reflections on the challenges he has faced are shared with both bravery and wisdom. They also provide a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world. [Original air date: June 27th, 2023]
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Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this story
We're also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
A Fascinate Production

Mentioned in this episode:
Take The Man Test here: https://bit.ly/the_man_test_som

Dale Pollitt was 17 years old and appeared to be going nowhere. He’d just dropped out of school and was working at KFC. Like so many teenagers on the estate in which he lived, he spent most of his spare hours smoking weed and playing computer games. But one day he would receive some tragic news that would change his entire outlook on life.
He received a phone call from his mum telling him that he needed to come over to the house. He was panicked and sweating as he drove frantically to join her. When he arrived, he saw his mother, his father, his sister and a police officer waiting to receive him.
What would Dale discover that would lead to a complete evolution in his view of life? And what would Dale learn about becoming a man in the process?
Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.
We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Dale. His bravery and generosity in talking about such a tragic and transformative moment in his life is both inspiring and profoundly appreciated. It also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world. [Original air date: June 20th, 2023]
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Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this story
We're also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
A Fascinate Production

Mentioned in this episode:
Take The Man Test here: https://bit.ly/som_the_man_test

Steve seemed to have a charmed life. After graduating from university, he began travelling around Europe. He then found himself settling at a holiday resort and, in a few short years, went from being the cleaner to becoming the Area Manager. He was living the dream and making the most of what life had to offer. But one day everything would change for good.
He was visiting a friend in Germany as part of a birthday surprise. On the way, however, he tripped and fell over the balcony railing. He landed awkwardly and soon realised that he couldn’t move.
Steve would later discover that he would no longer be able to walk. But, instead of this being the end of Steve’s journey, it proved to be a new beginning. He would go on to discover a new sport, a new vocation and a new level of achievement.
Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.
We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Steve. His courage and determination and his ability to adapt to the circumstances he has faced in the best possible way is nothing short of inspirational. It also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world. [Original air date: June 13th, 2023]
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Check out the Stories Of Men website for more on this story
We're also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
A Fascinate Production

Mentioned in this episode:
Take The Man Test here: https://bit.ly/the_man_test

Sam was 27 years old and in the midst of embarking upon his American adventure. He had just arrived in New York and was meeting up with some friends he’d made online to help him stay awake and beat the jet-lag. After a meet-up involving the consumption of copious amounts of hotdogs and beer, Sam began to feel very queasy. He went to the bathroom but the feelings of pain would not subside.
Four years later, Sam’s condition had worsened. His weight had fallen to around 7 stone. He was in constant pain and found it difficult to get out of bed. Finally, he decided he had no option but to seek medical help. On arrival at the hospital, he discovered just how risky his delay to see the doctor had been. But why did he feel the need to wait until a crisis had occurred before seeing the doctor? And why are so many men reluctant to seek medical attention when they need it?
Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.
We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Sam. His frankness and willingness to discuss a phobia so many men can relate to is deeply appreciated. It also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world. [Original air date: June 6th, 2023]

Mentioned in this episode:
Take The Man Test here: https://bit.ly/the_man_test_som