Sam Thomas

How heavy is the glass you’re holding right now? At first it’s light. You can carry it. You’re fine. But hold it for an hour… A day… A week… And suddenly it consumes everything. The weight hasn’t changed. But the longer you carry it alone… the heavier it becomes. This moment in tomorrow’s episode stopped me in my tracks. This is a game-changing conversation about masculinity, mental health, joy, community… and why we were never meant to carry it all ourselves. 🎙️ New episode with the truly inspirational, legend, Paul Jukes, Outta Puff Daddys drops tomorrow. If you’ve ever said, “I’m okay…but you’re not” This one’s for you. Comment ‘OKAY’ and I’ll send you the link directly to the episode. This is so fitting for today’s YAM Monday post and hope it resonates with you as much as he did with me.. Paul will join us on the panel for next weeks You Alright Mate? Sussex Gathering. We still have a few tickets left if you would like to join us, link 🔗in Bio #YouAlrightMate #MensMentalHealth #DifferentHats

When was the last time you answered “You alright mate?” honestly? This one sets the bar. Not just for this series. For the whole You Alright Mate? journey. “I’m okay… but I’m not all right.” That line alone stopped me in my tracks. In this game-changing conversation with the truly inspirational Paul Jukes, @outta_puff_daddys we talked about masculinity, mental health, joy, community, and why men were never meant to carry it all alone. We laughed. 🤣 We cried. 🥲 We were real. ❤️ This isn’t theory. It’s lived experience. It’s honesty. It’s hope. If you care about redefining success, supporting the men in your life, or simply answering “You Alright Mate?” a little more truthfully… This episode is for you. Plus find our what Paul would do if he was Prime Minister 😳 🎙️ Out now.. On all podcast channels link 🔗 in Bio Sponsored By Brown Bear Studios Rivervale Carpenter Box, part of the Sumer Group Produced By H2 Productions Ltd Martin Leppard #YouAlrightMate? #ReframingSuccess #MensMentalHealth

Please can you spare just 2 mins of your time... This is a CTA 👇 Watch This... Then check in on a mate 🙏 Thanks 🙏 as always for your support and joining me on this journey 🫶 #YouAlrightMate #ReframingSuccess #DifferentHats #5Pillars #Balance Authenticity Presence Fulfilment Relationships YAM

On Friday I asked a room full of people to take ‘ACTION’ 👇 This week has been Mental Health Awareness Week and whilst awareness around mental health has grown massively… the reality is we are still in a crisis. Especially when it comes to suicide. The numbers are unacceptable. Things have got to change. Friday at The Big Fat Greek Club, I delivered my first official talk under the You Alright Mate? banner. The conversation was held brilliantly by my good friend Lyndsey Clay who started by asking me one simple question… “You Alright Mate?” And for the first time in front of nearly 50 people… I answered honestly. Why? Because vulnerability is strength. And sharing honestly how you’re feeling might just give someone else permission to do the same. Truth is… I’m okay. But building a movement this year has come with challenges. A lot of self doubt. A lot of push back. A lot of letting go of an older version of me. But this week also gave me perspective. I attended the funeral of an incredible man, Gavin O’Donoghue, who sadly lost his battle with cancer. One thing Gavin said to me on the podcast during his battle was: 👉 “I get to choose how I show up today.” And we all have that choice. We may not choose what happens to us. The adversity. The setbacks. The pain. BUT… We do choose how we respond. His words and legacy will stay with me forever. After sharing my story on Friday, I asked the room to take ACTION today by messaging three people: 1️⃣ Check in on someone: “You alright mate?” 2️⃣ Tell someone you see them and you’re proud of them. 3️⃣ Tell someone simply: “I love you.” ❤️ Mental Health Awareness Week may be ending… but this message matters every single week. So if you’re reading this post, maybe take ACTION today. Because that message might land at exactly the right time. If you were at the event and messaged someone, comment ACTION below 👇 Huge thanks to Kyriakos Baxevanis, Penina Shepherd and Lyndsey for the opportunity and for holding the space so beautifully. And thank you to everyone who continues to support this journey ❤️

This is one of the most important conversations I’ve ever had. And honestly… I think it has the potential to save lives. This week on the podcast I sat down with the incredible Rose Rowkins to talk about suicide prevention, emotional literacy, masculinity, parenting, hope and the power of human connection. And one line from the conversation really landed: 👉 “Most people don’t want to die… they want the pain to end.” That distinction matters. As many of you know, this mission is deeply personal to me. There have been moments in my own life where I felt completely lost. Moments where I measured my worth through money, status, business success and achievement. Moments where I isolated myself. Moments where I genuinely believed everyone else had life figured out except me. And through this journey… through the podcast… through the You Alright Mate? movement… through conversations like this… I’ve realised how many people are carrying pain silently. Especially men. We’ve created a world where people often feel safer hiding their pain than speaking about it. That has to change. One of the biggest things I took away from Rose’s work and the ASIST training she delivers is this: 👉 Suicide prevention does not belong solely to professionals. It belongs to all of us. The way we listen. The way we check in. The way we ask questions. The way we create safe spaces for honesty. The way we remind people they matter. These things save lives. This conversation reminded me again that sometimes hope starts with one person simply saying: 👉 “Are you really alright?” If someone came to mind while reading this… Don’t wait. Reach out ❤️ Comment ‘HOPE’ below and I’ll send you the link 🔗 to the episode directly Thank you again Rose, for this conversation and for all the amazing work you do 🙏 That is genuinely saving lives ❤️

👉 Children are feeling anxious, stressed and scared about SATs at 10 years old… And we still think this system is working? 🤔 This week, as the twins prepare for their SATs, I’ve found myself thinking deeply about the messages we give children from such an early age. Lucy and Sienna were telling me some of their friends are feeling anxious. Worried. Stressed. At ten and eleven years old. And honestly? That makes me angry 😡 Because what are we actually doing here? Why are children already feeling like their value is attached to a score? Like success or failure can somehow be decided by a test paper on one particular day? And what damage does that do? What happens when a child gets a low score? What story do they begin telling themselves internally? 👉 “I’m not smart.” 👉 “I’m behind.” 👉 “I’m not good enough.” And yet these tests measure such a tiny fraction of who somebody is. Mainly: how much information they can retain and regurgitate under pressure. Meanwhile the things that actually shape a human life… Emotional intelligence. Self-worth. Kindness. Resilience. Creativity. Communication. Relationships… Barely get measured at all. And that’s why I feel so driven to continue this work. Because the real change happens when we start earlier. When children are taught emotional literacy. When they understand their feelings. When they learn self-worth beyond achievement. Because maybe then… we don’t just respond to the mental health crisis later in life. Maybe we help prevent parts of it in the first place. In the video below I share a poem I wrote called: “You Are Enough.” ❤️ 👉 What’s one thing you wish school had taught you about life or self-worth growing up? And maybe this week’s check-in… isn’t just for your mates. It’s for the kids sitting SATs too. Ask them: 👉 “You alright mate?”

Choose a card any card🃏 No I’m not dressed as Harry Potter or become a magician 🪄 This was me yesterday at the amazing Acumen Law🦓 business convention. For the past few years Sussex Business Times has had the honour of being media partners for what is one of the highlights of the year for the Sussex Business Community. As always Penina Shepherd, Alvin Ittoo and the team delivered what was a true spectacle, of inspiration, connection and community. I loved hearing talks from my good friend, the legend that is Robert Starr MBE as well as an inspiring talk from Mike Turner. Also enjoyed Matt Turner MBE talk 🗣️ reminding us all to be more creative as well as memorable (maybe that’s what my new look 👀 was all about 😂) 🤷‍♂️ Finally this year we had the honour of hosting one the breakout rooms and using our storytelling cards. Yesterday there was a lot of talk around AI 🤖 the good as well as the potential downside. BUT For me what the room yesterday proved was the importance of creating spaces for true human connection, we want it and need it right now, more so than ever. It also highlighted the power of storytelling. I’ve done a lot less networking than ever this year as I’ve been focusing on the mission but yesterday was wonderful to catch up with so many great people, and made me realise how much I needed it.. Thank you team Acumen Law🦓 🙏🫶 see you next year ❤️

How Much of Your Life Is a Performance?… and what does it really mean to be yourself? In this weeks episode of the podcast, I sit down with my good friend Craig Whiteley, West End performer, drama teacher, and someone who has experienced both the highs of standing ovations and the deeper lessons that come after. We explore the masks we wear, the roles we play, and the question so many of us avoid… 👉 Who am I… really? From performing on the West End to teaching the next generation, Craig shares powerful insights on authenticity, resilience, self-belief, and why success isn’t what we’ve been taught. This is an honest, emotional, and deeply human conversation between two close friends, about identity, kindness, and finding balance in a world full of noise. This episode was an emotional rollercoaster, as I cried with deep emotion and I cried through belly laughter in equal measure.. Thank you mate, for being an amazing guest and allowing me to share one of our many wonderful conversations with the world. You are definitely one of my people when I have a choice to make, I will ask... “What would Craig do?” Ps please watch the trailer until the very end... pure gold 😊 Comment ‘LEGACY’ (you’ll understand why) and I’ll send you the link 🔗 directly. #YouAlrightMate? #Success #Authenticity #YAM

How have we created a world where people feel safer hiding their pain than speaking about it? This was one of the questions that me and the inspirational and amazing Rose Rowkins explored on the podcast we recorded this week. (Episode coming soon) 👉 Why do we choose to suffer in silence instead of speaking about it? 👉 What stops us from reaching out when we are struggling? 👉 Why do we avoid checking in, and avoid an awkward conversation? I know when I have struggled in the past, I told myself I didn’t want to be a burden 😞 There is still for some crazy reason, so much shame around asking for help.. When the truth is, it is the bravest, most courageous thing you can do. However despite preaching this and knowing how important it is, I have still listened to old narratives at points lately, Withdrawn when I should reach out, Isolate myself when I should be around people, It is still a working progress to unlock years of learned behaviour, but we must keep trying.. Trying to break stigmas and change that narrative. I share some of my thoughts on this weeks episode of The Journal and the importance of checking in, and how having that awkward conversation might actually save someone’s life. So please don’t wait, 📲 Send that text message now, 📞 Pick up the phone and just ask.... You Alright Mate? Comment ‘JOURNAL’ below and I’ll send you a link to the episode directly. #YouAlrightMate? #StartTheConversation #CheckinChallenge

Thursday night at Soho House, something special happened 👇 We gathered to celebrate 500 issues of Sussex Business Times. Half a century of stories. 82 issues under my stewardship since 2017. But what happened was so much more… Standing there, looking around the room, I realised something profound: This wasn’t just a magazine celebration. It was proof of what happens when you create space for real connection. For years, I thought I was stewarding a publication. But actually, I was building bridges. Between success and struggle. Between achievement and authenticity. Between business and being human. I stood up to share the poem I’d written. At moments, my voice caught. Not from nerves. But from the weight of what this journey has meant. “Five hundred issues… what a moment to see. But this is no ending, just possibility.” In a world drowning in noise and AI-generated content, Thursday reminded me of something vital: People don’t crave more content. They crave connection. They don’t need more networking. They need real conversations. They don’t want your highlight reel. They want your truth. Standing in that room with the Sussex business community, I saw it clearly: We’re not just telling business stories. We’re giving people permission to be human in business. My deepest gratitude 🙏 To Lee Mansfield, who trusted me in 2017. To Jackie Irving-Wilkinson, who makes it all possible. To everyone who has shared their story. To everyone who joined us Thursday night. And thank you for helping raise £1,500 for Starr Trust ❤️ I’m more convinced than ever: The stories that matter most aren’t the ones about the biggest wins… They’re the ones that make someone else say: “Thank God it’s not just me.” Here’s to the next 500. Here’s to keeping it human. Comment STORIES below if you’d like the full poem 🔗 #SussexBusinessTimes #Storytelling #Community #Connection #YouAlrightMate

This is what a real man looks like 👇 Today is my amazing Dad’s 80th Birthday, throughout his life he has shown me first hand what it truly means to be a man 🙏 Watch with sound on 🔊 🥳 Happy Birthday Pops ❤️

👉 Have we been sold the wrong version of success? The one that tells us: More money = more happiness More status = more worth More achievement = more fulfilment Yet so many people reach it… and still feel empty. Good job. Nice house. Keeping it together. But underneath? Pressure. Disconnection. No peace. No real sense of self. This week on the podcast, I sat down with Volker Ballueder for a powerful conversation about what success really means. We explored: 👉 why achievement doesn’t always equal fulfilment 👉 why men silently struggle 👉 emotional intelligence 👉 comparison culture 👉 midlife awakening 👉 purpose, peace and alignment Because success that looks good on the outside… can still feel empty on the inside. Maybe real success is: Peace. Purpose. Connection. Being yourself. 🎧 New episode of Different Hats out now. Comment ‘SUCCESS’ and I’ll send you the link direct. #Success #MensMentalHealth #Podcast #EmotionalIntelligence #YouAlrightMate