Saving Lives Through Men's Mental Health Awareness and Comedy with John Ryan

For this episode Danny Hurst is joined by John Ryan who describes himself as a men´s health comedian, healthcare professional and podcaster who has won multiple awards, including the Scottish Mental Health and Arts Film Festival Best Short Documentary Award and the NHS Regional Health and Social Care Award for Mental Health and Well-being. He has performed extensively across the UK and abroad, hosts a radio show, and has had a research paper published in a psychiatric journal. He runs the website "Happy to Health" with his partner Natasha Donovan, and does extensive work in healthcare, including TED talks and presentations. If you can´t get enough of these podcasts, head to https://www.patreon.com/DannyHurst to access my exclusive, member-only, fun-filled and fact-packed history-related videos. KEY TAKEAWAYS A lot of people on the comedy circuit are quite vulnerable. Being a comic is challenging. Often, the pay is poor, so it is hard for comedians to make a steady living and be financially secure in older age. John grew up in a very ethnically mixed part of Hackney, which gave him a lifelong love of different cultures. As a kid, John noticed that a lot of the men in his Irish family died a lot younger than other men, which fuelled his interest in men´s mental health. Most men´s sexual health issues are connected to poor mental health. Society still encourages men to take risks and push themselves beyond healthy limits. Making it hard to live a balanced life. Creating a safe physical space helps men to open up and talk more. Banter can do more damage than you realise. Humour breaks down barriers and helps people to open up and talk. Talking protects your mental health. Aim for contentment in life. BEST MOMENTS “I always wanted to find a way to bridge the gap between comedy, communications and men's health.” “Rowdy. But, you know, rowdy, you can out shout them, out shock them, or just go quiet.” “I managed to talk my way out of it by putting on a silly accent and pretending I was an Orient fan.” “Health is the real leveller, whether you are black, white, Asian, Chinese.” “Life is about learning to let go of unnecessary items.” “We are trying to take haha to aha.” EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.instagram.com/comedyjohnryan https://happytohealthyou.com HOST BIO Historian, performer, and mentor Danny Hurst has been engaging audiences for many years, whether as a lecturer, stand-up comic or intervention teacher with young offenders and excluded secondary students. Having worked with some of the most difficult people in the UK, he is a natural storyteller and entertainer, whilst purveying the most fascinating information that you didn't know you didn't know. A writer and host of pub quizzes across London, he has travelled extensively and speaks several languages. He has been a consultant for exhibitions at the Imperial War Museum and Natural History Museum in London as well as presenting accelerated learning seminars across the UK. With a wide range of knowledge ranging from motor mechanics to opera to breeding carnivorous plants, he believes learning is the most effective when it's fun. Uniquely delivered, this is history without the boring bits, told the way only Danny Hurst can. CONTACT AND SOCIALS https://instagram.com/dannyjhurstfacebook.com/danny.hurst.9638 https://twitter.com/dannyhurst  https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-hurst-19574720 This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/