Stephen Hall – Psychotherapist and Founder of Stand Tall

Stephen Hall is a UK-based psychotherapist and founder of Stand Tall Therapy and Stand Tall Empower CIC. He specialises in working with men under pressure, supporting them to build emotional resilience, reconnect with purpose, and strengthen their mental fitness. Drawing on lived experience, body-based practice, and nature-informed approaches, Stephen brings a grounded and honest perspective to conversations about masculinity, burnout, trauma, and growth. His work focuses on helping men stand tall in their lives rather than simply survive them.

Key Points of the Episode:

• How he had no male role models in his early life, and what he was healthily obsessed with.
• The violence he experienced at the hands of his Mum, and the resulting experience from it.
• The challenges he faced with his identity, and his default back to the understandable narrowing of his perspective and shutdown.
• How he did not have the vocabulary to talk about it, or the skills to process his trauma, nor the community as it was interconnected with the job role that he left.
• What pulled him back from the brink of suicide.
• What empowered him to set up Stand Tall and Empower.
• The gap he hopes to fill in the "marketplace".
• An interesting take on Chi Kung and how he utilises it.
• A simple breathwork exercise.
• The activities on the retreats he hosts.
• The typical issues the men he works with struggle with.
• His vision for Stand tall and Empower.
• On parenting.
• A pithy message of hope that is much needed.

Website: https://www.standtall.org.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenhalltherapist/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standtallwalktall

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@standtallwalktall/shorts

Mentioned in the podcast Ben West - Reasons to Stay.

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Steve Judge is an award-winning international keynote speaker, twice world champion paratriathlete, and the author of Don’t Lean on Your Excuses and GOLD. After a near-fatal car accident left doctors saying he might never walk again, Steve defied the odds — turning setbacks into stepping stones and becoming a two-time Paratriathlon World Champion, representing Great Britain on the global stage. His compelling journey from wheelchair to world champion and beyond now fuels powerful keynotes and workshops that inspire audiences to overcome barriers, unlock their potential, and pursue meaningful goals with courage and clarity. A TEDx speaker celebrated for his resilience-centred messaging, Steve has worked with organisations including Rolls-Royce, Toyota, NHS, HSBC and the University of Edinburgh, helping individuals and teams turn challenges into achievement.

Key Points of the Episode:

• His early inspirations in his life.
• His take on modern day influencers.
• The near fatal accident in 2002.
• How he found his fighting spirit based on the diagnosis of a doctor.
• His difficult yet ultimately victorious healing journey.
• "The Progress Principle"
• No such thing as "normal" - drop the comparison!
• His take on contemporary masculinity.
• How he manages burnout.
• Sleep. And its profound importance. Not just length but quality.
• A message of hope.

Reach out here: www.steve-judge.com or google Steve Judge.

Or, Linked In

Do reach out. He wants to help.

See his TEDx Talk here

If you enjoyed listening, please leave a review and recommend us to your communities. To find out more about Andrew's work, check out...

www.andrewpain.co.uk

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpain
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewpain1974

David Maywald is father to a son and daughter, husband, board member, volunteer, author, and passionate advocate for boys and men. He worked for two decades as an analyst and Portfolio Manager in the investment management sector, and is qualified as a Chartered Financial Analyst. His extensive studies include two degrees, an Honours thesis, and the Boardroom Mastery program with the Australian Institute of Company Directors. David has served as Chair, Treasurer, and committee chair, with governance contributions to twenty organisations during the last three decades. He founded the Awards for Men in Leadership in 2023, and launched Celebrating Masculinity in 2025. His recently released book is called The Relentless War on Masculinity: Does it Ever End?

Here are links:

David Maywald at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmaywald/

Personal profile at X: https://x.com/DavidMaywald

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@davidmaywald4173

David Maywald’s book The Relentless War on Masculinity is available from these distributors (and others): https://books2read.com/trwom

Amazon product page for the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1764339703

The book has over 100 five-star ratings across Goodreads, Amazon, and other readers: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/244119645-the-relentless-war-on-masculinity

Celebrating Masculinity at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebratingMasculinity/

Substack for Celebrating Masculinity: https://celebratingmasculinity.substack.com/

TikTok videos: https://www.tiktok.com/@celebratingmasculinity

Key points of the Episode:

• UK Vs Australia, who is further ahead in a balanced debate on mens well bring.
• The remaining pockets of resistance in Australia.
• The momentum behind writing the book.
• The second wave of feminisation.
• The mixed response to the book.
• The 4 Horsewomen of modern feminism.
• Some forward thinking parenting tips.
• Gamma bias- what is it?
• A beautiful philosophy

Reach out: Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmaywald

Or Google "The Relentless War on Masculinity"

If you enjoyed listening, please leave a review and recommend us to your communities. To find out more about Andrew's work, check out...

www.andrewpain.co.uk

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpain
Twitter:https://twitter.com/andrewpain1974
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewpain1974