A breakup two days before Christmas.
A father on the floor as paramedics burst through the door.
A man left staring at the ceiling, wondering what comes next.

This is Wayne’s story — and it’s not clean, polished, or packaged for comfort. It’s the story of a man who fell hard, and then slowly, painfully, built something worth standing on again.

In this episode, Dan sits with Wayne to unpack what happens when the floor disappears — and how you find your footing again through honesty, music, and movement.
Together, they talk about the unspoken corners of men’s mental health, the quiet battles of co-parenting, and the reality of being a “good dad” when systems, calendars, and distance all work against you.

Wayne doesn’t sugarcoat it. He shares what it’s like to lose contact with three of his five daughters, how he still celebrates their wins from afar, and the festival moment that stopped time — DJing shoulder-to-shoulder with his teenage daughter, music bridging everything words couldn’t.

This isn’t a redemption story with a soundtrack and neat ending. It’s a survival manual built from lived experience — the small, stubborn actions that keep your head above water:

• Seeing time as acceptance, not a cure
• Choosing sobriety over escape
• Turning shame into strength
• Using sea-front walks and simple routines to rebuild peace
• Learning how to be present, not perfect
• Remembering that memories beat material things every time

If you’ve ever smiled in public while breaking in private, been told to “man up” when you were just trying to breathe, or wondered how to show up when everything feels lost — this episode is a quiet hand on your shoulder.

It’s about finding life in the leftovers.
It’s about showing up for your kids, even when they can’t see it.
It’s about staying human in the mess.

🎧 Listen, share, and tag someone who needs to hear this.
Leave a short review with one thing you’re taking from Wayne’s story — because your words might be the reminder someone else is waiting for.

💬 Talk to Dan

If you’re going through your own storm — a breakup, co-parenting battle, grief, or that heavy silence that no one sees — come and talk about it. This space is for you.

📩 Email: onlydanlawrence@gmail.com

📱 Instagram: @DanLawrenceComedy
| @DefinitelyNotTherapyPod

📘 Facebook: Dan Lawrence

Because sometimes, talking about it isn’t weakness — it’s the start of healing.
This isn’t therapy. It’s something realer.

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