An exciting collaboration is happening at Fight for Peace, bringing together our Young Creatives team and male-only personal development group Man Talk. Supported by Movember and Equimundo, our new podcast brings together young people, youth workers, combat sports athletes and men’s wellbeing experts to explore men’s mental health, masculinity and the pressures young people face today.

At the forefront of this project is Fight for Peace member, Life Champions Coach, and Man Talk regular Yedidya, who is co-hosting the series alongside Fight for Peace Coach and Youth Worker Michael. We checked in with him to find out what this opportunity means to him, how his own experiences have shaped his perspective, and why these conversations are so important.

Finding the confidence to share his voice

“Taking part in Fight for Peace’s Man Talk podcast answers a part of my life that I previously wasn’t able to fulfil. A while back, I tried starting my own podcast that tackled the big topic of mental health. I wanted to equip young people with the tools to manage their emotions and share that knowledge with their loved ones. However, I struggled to get it off the ground, mainly due to a lack of resources and failure to prepare.

One thing the Man Talk Lead, Jason, loves to say is, ‘If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.’ That was something I realised at the time, but I didn’t take it too well and eventually gave up on the project altogether. Yet, somewhere at the back of my mind, I still had hope for that dream.

When Fight for Peace asked me to co-host, I was hesitant. Even after saying yes, I still had doubts. But the opportunity meant so much to me because it showed me that my voice has value and is recognised by the people around me. I felt I couldn’t let another obstacle hold me back from being part of something that could support the wellbeing of younger men who, like me, need someone to help them embrace the side of themselves that society often expects them to hide.”

Challenging expectations of masculinity

“Men’s mental health is important to me because of my own experiences. Emotional neglect left me spending a lot of time in my own head, which often left me feeling discouraged and inadequate. I felt that way simply because I was a boy who didn’t fit the status quo of what society defines a ‘man’ to be.

Man Talk challenges that definition. What I hope the show will do is help young men and women understand that men are emotionally complex, and that the stories shared by our guests, Michael and myself, will show the different ways men develop and carve their own paths in life. I think the podcast could give them an idea of what a role model and a healthy male relationship are meant to look like.”

Learning from different perspectives

“Michael, the podcast lead host, is a Fight for Peace coach, youth worker and fellow Man Talk member who has always been someone who challenges my opinions and outlook on the world. Every time we get to dive into conversations, I feel like I’m growing in knowledge thanks to his perspective as a coach and as a Black mentor I can look up to.

We bounce off each other well, which can be seen in our podcast, and even though we can laugh and banter, I can count on him to push me to think about things deeper and reflect on my values. As someone from a similar background, we can relate on so much despite our differing opinions, but I also believe that’s what makes us work together so well, too.”

The relationship between Yedidya and Michael highlights the value of cross-generational perspectives, with their dynamic sitting at the heart of the podcast. Beyond the conversations themselves, the mentoring relationship has been a pleasure to see develop. 

Yedidya has grown in confidence, understanding the value that his voice brings to a space while embracing opportunities he was initially hesitant about – demonstrating his commitment to growth and inspiring others.

Launching in late November, the Man Talk podcast will bring these conversations to a wider audience, exploring the experiences and challenges that shape how young men see themselves and the world around them. Follow our social media channels for upcoming content and a first look at the series, and if you’d like to join our Man Talk group, it runs every Wednesday 5:30pm till 7pm, at our Academy in North Woolwich.

Fight for Peace is one of nine funded partners across the UK, Canada, the US and Australia working with Movember through the Young Men and Media Collective (YMMC), a global initiative bringing together organisations, creators and communities to build healthier, more positive conversations about masculinity online.