Stories of Men: Beneath the Surface
Traditional ideas of masculinity are dead, and now men struggle to find their place in the world. In Stories of Men, Alex Melia speaks to men who’ve overcome challenging circumstances to find out what they’ve learned about being a man in today’s world. Each guest shares a story from their life that has had a big impact on them.
Alex Melia is a businessman and podcaster from Atherton, Greater Manchester. He has built a business which now employs over 30 people. Ten years in, and the company sustains him without his involvement. He now travels the world on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life.
This podcast was previously Our Voices.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 20 minutes
- Episodes
- 200
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2024
The moment a man decided life was worth living again
Luke was at a party with his girlfriend surrounded by his closest friends. He was smiling and laughing and appeared to be having a great time. But, after this moment of celebration, it was his intent…
How to confront violent people when they almost killed your father
Daniel Collins was a slight 18-year-old boy who was travelling around the country clamping cars. He hated the job but his father seemed to relish it. One day, they clamped the car of a man that showe…
Can your dream job kill you?
William was 21 years old and working on a superyacht travelling from Malta to the Maldives. He was living a young man’s fantasy, the life he’d dreamed of since being a young boy.
His shift had just co…
When a dreaded hangover can have nasty effects you didn’t expect
Ross was the life and soul of the party. Working as a national radio presenter, he was able to hang out with the rich and famous at awards ceremonies and red carpet events. But he was hiding a secret…
Growing up without a father: what type of man do you become?
It was a day out with the family. Despite not knowing where they were going, Paul and his brother were extremely excited to be taken out by their relatives; they didn’t usually get taken out at all.
…
What we think about when we think about dying
He was lying in bed, restless, in a fever, struggling to catch his breath. He was shivering one moment and then attempting to kick off his duvet the next.
He saw a woman coming through the door. She s…
Don't ignore your body's signals - It might just save your life
Darren openly discusses the plethora of negative feelings that contributed to his emotional breakdown on his way to work. He was working in finance. It was an industry that had provided him with the …
You'll stop complaining about your life after you hear this man's story
The air was so chillingly cold that he could feel it in his bones. The billowing and the roaring around him was so loud that he was unable to hear. As he stood there waiting for the inevitable, his …
How a man's excessive focus on work almost ruined his marriage
For David, the dream was just beginning. He and his wife were in their early 20s and had just moved from Canada to Switzerland to start a new adventure.
At work, David was also having the time of his …
The decision that still haunts this man 30 years later
It was Cup Final day against the school’s most fierce rivals. Andy was 12 years old and nervously waiting to hear if he would be included in the team. He looked to his dad watching from the sidelines…
Do men thrive more living in the city or in the countryside?
When it comes to idyllic childhood’s one would be hard-pressed to think of a more harmonious one than James’. He was raised in Villefrance, a town in the Alps located along the French and Italian bo…
The high risk gambler that bet with his own life
Speeding along the motorway listening to music from his youth, Andy was reflecting on happier times. He was thinking about a holiday in Ibiza when he was 19 years old and hadn’t a care in the world. …
The moment a soldier unexpectedly broke in tears
You’re a soldier driving through a warzone. You pass through a deserted village. Later you see a lonely crucifix in a field. You find out what it symbolises: one night all of the people in the villag…
This man's wallet hid a secret that almost ruined his friendships
It was his first summer holiday with the boys in Spain. Alan and his mates were bragging about all the money they’d brought with them for their two weeks in the sun. Yet, while his mates all seemed t…
Staying in a job you hate for reasons you wouldn’t expect
After the previously independent company that he’d worked for had been bought up by a much larger one, Anuj had begun to lose his passion for his job. The one benefit that had remained was his team, …
The professor who applied this winning mindset to show that nothing is impossible
Jonathan was daydreaming while his chemistry professor was putting chalk to blackboard. He’d snuck his NME magazine into the lecture theatre and was reading about an upcoming gig: Alice in Chains, a …
The surprising secret to improving the relationship with your siblings
It was cup final day and Sumit and his brothers were dreaming of victory. They had all travelled to Kiev to watch Liverpool play the final match in Europe’s premier competition. All the brothers had …
The worst thing you can do if you're feeling depressed
*Content warning: This episode contains graphic details of suicide*
George had been struggling with anxiety and depression for a while and he was beginning to lose hope that he would ever feel better …
Are we as men battling a silent war with food?
It was as ordinary a situation as you could imagine: Steve and his girlfriend were in Subway purchasing a sandwich. Steve had decided to go for the healthiest option available: a sandwich which was u…
Can men really let go of always wanting to control?
Adam is driving his teenage daughter to Oxford. During the 1-hour journey, a few meaningful looks are exchanged. He is trying to be strong, but he feels nervous about the future, nervous about the p…