Podcast episode · 14 May 2026

The Quiet Struggles We Carry Alone

For Mental Health Awareness Week, we speak with Charlie Mackesy about anxiety, grief, loneliness and the quiet struggles so many of us carry alone. The…

We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson podcast cover
29 min

About this conversation

For Mental Health Awareness Week, we speak with Charlie Mackesy about anxiety, grief, loneliness and the quiet struggles so many of us carry alone. The bestselling author of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse speaks openly about anxiety attacks, loss, vulnerability, male loneliness and why asking for help matters.

In this open and honest conversation, Charlie reflects on the dark periods that shaped him, the friends he has lost, and the inner critic so many of us live with. He also shares the practical tools that helped him through anxiety, and why connection, honesty and feeling loved matter more than perfection. We're Talking Mental Health

If you’re struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. We’ve included support charities below:

Episode summary and show notes supplied by the official We Need To Talk feed.

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Chapters from the official episode notes. Timings may vary when adverts are inserted.

More from the official show notes

Samaritans - call on 116 123 or visit https://g2ul0.app.link/xghDmmYV4Wb

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): https://g2ul0.app.link/npaQKXUV4Wb

Notes from Paul

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