Ed & Rob sit down with Marc Svensson, founder of the queer mental health nonprofit You Are Loved, to explore the intersection of identity, purpose, loss, and healing.

Marc shares his journey from growing up in a small Swedish town and working in fashion design, to pivoting into psychology and LGBTQ+ mental health advocacy. Along the way, he opens up about personal transitions, the rising mental health crisis in queer communities, and why grief needs more space, especially among gay men.

They talk chemsex, stigma, suicide, and the systemic gaps that You Are Loved is working to fill. They also explore what it means to rediscover your magic at midlife, how identity evolves, and how to turn frustration into fierce community service.

If you’ve ever questioned your path, felt disconnected from who you were becoming, or wondered how to support queer lives more meaningfully - this conversation is for you.

About Marc Svensson

Marc Svensson is a published social psychologist and a leading advocate for LGBTQ+ mental health. He is the founder of You Are Loved, a non-profit organisation established in 2024 to raise awareness about the high rates of deaths in the LGBTQ+ community from suicide and drugs, whilst tackling the root causes.

Marc is a respected speaker and advocate, frequently addressing issues related to queer mental health and chemsex, as well as the impact of stigma, shame, and loneliness. He appeared in the ITVX news documentary After the High: Chemsex, Beyond the Myths. He is originally from Sweden but lives in London, UK, with his husband Luca and their boxer Dexter.

Links

• You Are Loved: https://youare-loved.com/ and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/youareloved.cic
• Article: “Why We’re Losing So Many Gay Men to Suicide + Drugs” in Attitude Magazine: https://www.attitude.co.uk/life/gay-men-chemsex-suicide-472683/
• Follow Marc on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marc.svensson

In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with the legendary Ben Cooke—celebrity hair stylist, co-founder of Lockonego, and creative force behind some of the most iconic looks in pop culture. But this isn’t a conversation about fame—it’s about finding magic in real life.

Ben opens up about:

• Losing his father at 13 and the way grief shaped him

• Coming out later in life and discovering freedom in Australia

• Becoming a parent through adoption—and navigating teenagehood times two

• What he’s learned from decades behind the chair, from supermodels to Saturday clients

• Why a good haircut is about way more than hair

• And the unexpected power of being the same person for everyone—whether it’s Victoria Beckham or Susan from Hertfordshire.

He also shares what lights him up now, what he’s still learning, and why salon chairs are the original therapy couches.

With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Ben Cooke is one of London’s most respected and in-demand hair stylists. As co-founder of the award-winning salon Lockonego, he’s known for his effortless, glamorous style and his down-to-earth approach that keeps clients returning week after week.

Ben’s enviable career has included styling A-listers like David & Victoria Beckham, Leona Lewis, Nicole Scherzinger, Saoirse Ronan, and Olivia Rodrigo, alongside creative campaigns for Pantene, Head & Shoulders, and Living Proof. Despite his global success, he still works hands-on at Lockonego—cutting, chatting, and laughing with clients every Saturday and Monday.

This is a conversation about creativity, reinvention, friendship, and staying rooted in who you are—even when the world wants something else. Ben’s warmth, humour and grounded presence will leave you laughing, tearing up, and ready to reconnect with what really matters.

• Follow Ben on Instagram: @bencooke_lockonego

• Learn more about his award-winning salon: www.lockonego.com

In this very special episode—the first in our Behind the Magic series—we turn the mic on ourselves. Fresh from hosting our first Find Your Magic retreat exclusively for gay men, we sit down just days after the retreat to reflect on everything that went down: the magic, the messiness, the late sign-ups, and the moments of deep connection that reminded us why we do this work.

This is the real, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to create spaces of transformation, joy, and deep reset. If you've ever wondered what happens on a retreat, how we choose the program, or what it's like to hold space for a group of gay men from all over the world—this one’s for you.

We talk about:

• The stress and uncertainty that led up to the retreat (and how we handled it)

• What actually happens on the first day and how a group of strangers became a family

• The magic of structured spontaneity and why we don’t share the schedule in advance

• Creating space for joy, intimacy, and expression

• What we learned as facilitators (and as partners)

• Our dreams for the future of FYM retreats for gay men—and mixed groups

This is the first of our ‘Behind the Magic’ conversations—a new format within the podcast where we’ll share real talk about the work we do, how we do it, and what we’re learning as we go.

Next gay men’s retreat: June 5–12, 2026 | Crete, Greece

The Midlife Reset retreat: September 20-27, 2025 | Crete, Greece

Let us know what you think of this new format. We’d love to hear from you.

Ed & Rob xx