Diego Sanchez was one of the top male models in the world — fronting major campaigns and living a life of global travel, status, and success.

But at 29, something cracked.

In this episode, I sit down with Diego to talk about the quiet breakdown that happened behind the success… and the journey that followed.

From the catwalks of the fashion world to the forests of Uruguay, Diego now works as a somatic therapist and retreat leader helping others reconnect with their bodies and nervous systems.

We explore:

• Letting go of ego and external validation
• What happens when the body says no
• The life-changing moment Diego first discovered shiatsu
• Touch, trauma, and the power of nervous system work
• Why so many high performers feel hollow

Show Notes:

Life on the Catwalk

• What modelling gave him
• How success masked deeper disconnection

The Moment Everything Changed

• Turning 29 and hearing a word that cracked something open
• Why shiatsu marked the start of a new life

The Power of Touch

• How our nervous system holds emotion, memory and truth
• Why talk therapy alone isn't enough for real transformation

Grounding, Presence, and Somatic Wisdom

• What Diego teaches today through his retreats and 1:1 work
• How leaders can move from the head back into the body

A New Definition of Masculinity

• Leading from softness, not force
• Reclaiming power without the armour

The diagnosis that changed everything: Keith McGuinnes on cancer, masculinity, and the power of receiving

What happens when a fit, healthy yoga teacher steeped in Eastern practices, meditation and spiritual growth is suddenly diagnosed with cancer?

In this episode, I sit down with Keith McGuinnes, founder of Awaken Intimacy and co-founder of The Open Institute, to explore how a life-threatening illness forced him to stop pushing, start receiving, and finally open to the deeper lessons of intimacy, vulnerability and connection.

We talk about:

• The shock of receiving a cancer diagnosis at 40
• Why he chose chemotherapy (even as a holistic health practitioner)
• How the experience broke his lone wolf mentality
• The power of receiving love
• What men are missing when they stay stuck in hyper-masculinity
• His work today helping men and couples reclaim intimacy, polarity and presence

This is a raw, real and powerful conversation about grief, grace, and growing up.

Show Notes

Keith’s Cancer Diagnosis

• What happened at age 40 and the symptoms he ignored
• Why chemo was the right choice (even as a long-time yogi)
• How the experience forced him to slow down, reflect, and receive

The Emotional Journey

• Grieving the years he couldn’t receive love
• Learning to express emotion and let people in
• How it shifted his relationship to his own body and energy

Masculinity, Polarity and Intimacy

• The trap of hyper-masculine giving and the strength in receiving
• Letting go of lone wolf energy in favour of connection
• Why true intimacy requires openness — not just strength

Post-Cancer Purpose

• Moving from survival to service
• Keith’s work through Awaken Intimacy and The Open Institute
• Building community, relational depth, and sacred spaces in modern life

Why are so many men exhausted, disconnected, and running on empty — even when they look like they’ve got it all together?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr Emmet Byrne - a former Ireland rugby international turned men’s health doctor - to unpack what’s really going wrong with modern masculinity, medicine, and mental health.

We explore:

• Why the medical system is failing men
• The truth about testosterone decline (and why TRT isn’t a quick fix)
• The link between movement, strength, and emotional health
• Why we’ve normalised feeling average — and how to break out of it
• How to spot the signs you’re treating symptoms, not solving the root

From elite sport to holistic medicine, Emmet’s journey is proof that reinvention is possible, and necessary.

A must-listen for any man who wants to feel strong again. On the inside, and out.

Or watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu96RkgMYq0

Show Notes

From Pro Rugby to Medicine

• How Emmet went from the Ireland jersey to medical school
• What rugby taught him about pressure, pain, and purpose
• Why performance delays but doesn’t erase inner struggles

The Medical System Isn’t Working

• Why most men are treated only when they’re broken
• The failure of the symptom-focused model
• How GPs are unequipped to deal with whole-person health

The Testosterone Crisis

• Why so many men are seeing their energy, drive, and mood collapse
• What’s causing low T and what isn’t
• When testosterone replacement can help… and when it can’t

Movement Is Medicine

• Why sedentary living is quietly wrecking men’s wellbeing
• The link between physical strength and emotional resilience
• What Emmet recommends for men over 35

A New Model for Men’s Health

• From functional medicine to full-spectrum care
• What men really need to thrive
• How OptiMan is trying to change the story