Episode Summary

In this raw and eye-opening episode of The Onward Shift podcast, Zak Wilkinson opens up about his harrowing journey through steroid use, addiction and recovery. What started as a quest for the "perfect physique" at just 16 years old spiralled into a near-death experience that left Zak in a coma and forever changed his life.

Zak sheds light on the mental and physical toll of steroids, the pressure young men face from social media-fuelled body image ideals and the stigma around mental health in male-dominated industries like construction and fitness. With honesty and courage, he speaks about the darkest moments of his addiction and the long, often painful, road back to health, purpose and self-respect.

This episode is more than a warning it's a message of resilience, responsibility and hope for anyone facing similar struggles.

Key Takeaways

• Steroid use is dangerously common among young men, especially in fitness and trades.
• The desire for fast, visible results can drive long-term addiction.
• Steroids have severe mental and physical side effects including life-threatening complications.
• Zak began using steroids at just 16 and ended up in a coma.
• Mental health is often overlooked in fitness culture and construction trades.
• Recovery is not linear but support, honesty and self-awareness are essential.
• Social media warps male body standards and fuels insecurities.
• Family support and mentorship play a key role in recovery.
• There is no failure only lessons.

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Intro: The Steroid Epidemic
02:49 – Steroids 101: The Benefits and Risks
05:33 – Zak’s Story: From Curiosity to Dependency
08:34 – The Coma: A Near-Death Reality Check
11:14 – What Recovery Really Looks Like
13:53 – Coaches, Accountability & Culture
16:44 – Words to Young Men: Don’t Chase the Lie
19:28 – Family, Forgiveness & Rebuilding Trust
29:03 – Strength in Vulnerability: Fitness + Mental Health
30:49 – Living with Mental Health Challenges
33:58 – Mental Health Stigma in the Trades
35:08 – Inside the Mind of Steroid Addiction
37:27 – Instagram vs Reality: Body Image Today
41:18 – Warning Signs of Steroid Abuse
44:48 – Life After Addiction: Struggles & Progress
48:19 – Spreading Awareness & Owning Your Story

🎙️ 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭.

🎙️ 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬.

Follow Us On:

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onwardshift/

- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@onwardshift

- LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onward-shift/

- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onwardshift/

Find out more about Onward Shift and the mental health support we offer here- https://onwardshift.com

Learn more about Zach Wilkinson here - https://www.tiktok.com/@recoveryisnorace?lang=en-GB

In this powerful second episode with counsellor Will Hamilton, Vishal dives deep into one of the most pressing issues facing men today: loneliness. With over 8 million men in the UK experiencing loneliness weekly, this conversation tackles the root causes, the societal pressures and what we can actually do to reconnect both with ourselves and others.

Will explores the three types of loneliness emotional, social and environmental and explains how early childhood experiences, toxic role models, remote working and masculine norms can all contribute to this silent epidemic. From the construction site to the therapist’s chair, this episode brings hard truths, surprising insights and practical tools for men who feel stuck, isolated, or emotionally overwhelmed.

Vishal and Will also unpack:

• Why male loneliness is often masked by addictions, workaholism and emotional shutdowns
• The danger of not having real role models and how to become one yourself
• The importance of understanding your core values VS behaviours
• How breathing techniques can diffuse anger in high stress moments
• Why emotional literacy is the key to building healthier connections
• How small steps like walking or joining a local club can be life changing

This is not just a conversation. It’s a lifeline. For men navigating silence, shame and the invisible weight of expectation this one’s for you.

💬 Trigger warning: This episode contains candid discussions about loneliness, mental health, and emotional distress. Please listen with care.

Book a 1 to 1 session with Will here-

https://onwardshift.com/counselling/person-centred-counsellors/will-hamilton-person-centred-counsellor/

🎙️ 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭.

🎙️ 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬.

Follow Us On:

- Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/onwardshift/⁠⁠

- TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@onwardshift⁠⁠

- LinkedIn Page: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/onward-shift/⁠⁠

- Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/onwardshift/⁠⁠

Find out more about Onward Shift and the mental health support we offer here- ⁠⁠⁠https://onwardshift.com⁠⁠

In this episode of Onward Shift, Vishal sits down with Eve Lameks commercial manager, quantity surveyor and co-founder of Tender Trainers for a real, grounded and empowering conversation about all things tendering, business growth and thriving in the high-pressure world of construction.

Eve breaks down the tendering process in simple, actionable steps perfect for tradespeople and subcontractors ready to move from small jobs to major projects. She shares real-world strategies for avoiding overwhelm, managing risk and building profitable businesses, especially when navigating payment delays, QS relationships and those massive tender packs that can scare off even seasoned professionals.

But this conversation goes deeper. Eve opens up about the mental health pressures of running a business in construction, the stress and stigma faced by quantity surveyors and the impact of long payment terms on cash flow and wellbeing. She also discusses what it’s like being a woman in a male-dominated industry and how she’s built respect and resilience on some of the UK’s toughest sites.

Whether you're a subcontractor wanting to scale, a startup founder entering the commercial space, or just someone curious about what really goes on behind big construction projects, this episode delivers insight, support and encouragement in spades.

Topics include:

• How to win work without race-to-the-bottom pricing
• Understanding payment terms and protecting your business
• Why commercial clarity is essential for mental health
• The truth about corruption, backhanders and bidding culture
• Life on site as a woman in construction
• Practical tips to create a tender that win and makes profit

If you’ve ever felt out of your depth with tenders, this is the episode that’ll bring you back in.

Learn more about The Tendering Trainers Here - ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thetendertrainers⁠ ⁠

🎙️ 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭.

🎙️ 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬.

Follow Us On:

- Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/onwardshift/⁠

- TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@onwardshift⁠

- LinkedIn Page: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/onward-shift/⁠

- Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/onwardshift/⁠

Find out more about Onward Shift and the mental health support we offer here- ⁠⁠https://onwardshift.com⁠⁠

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of Onward Shift, Vishal sits down with Gemma Cousins, life coach, former professional actress and founder of Core Coaching for a deeply honest conversation about self-confidence, limiting beliefs and what it really takes to rediscover your true self.

Gemma shares how her journey from the stage to coaching transformed her understanding of confidence from performance-based validation to genuine self-trust. Together, she and Vishal unpack how identity is formed, the hidden scripts we unconsciously live by and how comparison culture and social media warp our sense of self-worth.

With practical tools, lived empathy and a refreshing sense of humour, Gemma explains how to break free from self-sabotaging thoughts, why values are your personal compass and how a single word change can interrupt destructive patterns.

Whether you’re struggling with imposter syndrome, stuck in the scroll cycle, or just tired of feeling “not good enough,” this episode is your reminder that you're not alone and that self-trust is a skill you can build.

Tune in for a raw, relatable and empowering chat that’s full of insight, warmth and real strategies for inner growth.

🎙️ 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭.

🎙️ 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬.

Follow Us On:

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onwardshift/

- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@onwardshift

- LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onward-shift/

- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onwardshift/

Find out more about Onward Shift and the mental health support we offer here- https://onwardshift.com

This week on Onward Shifts Podcast, Vishal welcomes Alan Bates, a seasoned construction director and devoted father, for one of the most vulnerable, courageous and eye-opening conversations to date. Alan’s story is not just about physical illness. It’s about identity, purpose and survival in the face of life-altering trauma.

From a humble start working on building sites in his teens to leading multi-million-euro projects across Europe, Alan had carved out a successful, fast-paced life but everything changed when he developed Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Syndrome a rare spinal condition that struck without warning and left him with permanent disabilities, chronic pain and the need for catheters and mobility aids.

What followed was more than a health crisis it was a complete breakdown of the life he knew. In this episode, Alan opens up about the mental toll of disability, the isolation, the rage, the shame and the suicidal thoughts he battled daily but he also shares how therapy, community and the power of vulnerability became lifelines and how his role as a father became the anchor that kept him here.

Alan talks candidly about breaking masculine norms, the stigma of invisible illness, toxic workplace dynamics and why more men need to speak up before they reach their breaking point. Now writing a book titled If It Can Happen to Me, he’s on a mission to raise awareness, spark honest conversations and offer hope to anyone who’s ever felt like giving up.

This episode is raw, moving and deeply human a story of loss, resilience and the fight to rebuild a life of meaning when everything falls apart.

💬 Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions around mental health struggles, suicidal ideation and medical trauma. Please listen with care.

Find out more about Onward Shift and the mental health support we offer here- https://onwardshift.com

In this powerful episode of The Onward Shift Podcast, host Vishal Narbheram sits down with therapist Will Hamilton to unpack the emotional, messy, and transformative journey from boyhood to manhood.

From teenage confusion to fatherhood fears, from midlife panic to relationship breakdowns, this is a no-fluff, real-deep dive into what men actually go through but rarely talk about.

They explore the mental load men carry silently:
💬 The pressure to “man up”
💬 The anxiety of becoming a dad
💬 The social silence around men's mental health
💬 The impact of social media and unrealistic expectations
💬 Divorce, midlife crisis and rebuilding identity

If you’re in construction, business or just feeling overwhelmed by the quiet pressure to “have it all figured out,” this one’s for you. This is the episode every man needs to hear and every partner needs to understand.

Because being a man isn’t about pretending you’re fine it’s about figuring out how to actually be okay.

Book a 1 to 1 session with Will here- https://onwardshift.com/counsellors/pick-your-counsellor/will-hamilton-person-centred-counsellor/

Find out more about Onward Shift and the support we offer here- ⁠https://onwardshift.com

Money struggles are real, especially in the construction industry. Delayed payments, unpredictable income, living paycheque to paycheque and feeling like you're always one van breakdown away from chaos… sound familiar?

In this straight-talking episode of The Onward Shift Podcast, host Vishal Narbheram is joined by Rachel Harte, co-founder of Money First Aid, to tackle one of the last great taboos: talking about money.

With over 15 years in financial services, Rachel knows the pressure people face and she’s on a mission to make financial education accessible for everyone, especially those working in tough, shift-based industries like construction, retail and hospitality.

Together, they unpack:

• Why budgeting isn't about restriction, it's about freedom
• How to start saving when you feel like you’ve got nothing to spare
• The hard truths about credit cards, Klarna and ‘buy now, pay later’ traps
• Why so many tradespeople are stuck in debt and how to break the cycle
• What you really need to know about pensions, savings and compound interest

• 
  

This is real talk. No fluff. No judgment.

Just solid, actionable advice from people who get it. If you’ve ever felt embarrassed about money, stuck in financial stress or unsure where to even begin this episode is your wake-up call.

Books:

Rich dad poor dad - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rich-Dad-Poor-Teach-Middle/dp/1612680194

How to own the world- https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Own-World-life-changing-bestseller/dp/1473695309

Websites:

Boring money- https://www.boringmoney.co.uk/

Money helper- https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en

Find out more about Onward Shift and the support we offer here- https://onwardshift.com

In a world where tough conversations are often avoided, Onward Shift brings them to the forefront. Hosted by Vishal Narbheram, this podcast is dedicated to shedding light on critical social issues, challenging the norms and inspiring change through raw, unfiltered discussions.

In this powerful episode, Vishal sits down with James from JT MOTIV, a passionate advocate for mental health and addiction recovery to take on the controversial topic of zero tolerance policies in workplaces. Should employees battling addiction be immediately dismissed or is there a better way to offer support and rehabilitation?

Through personal experiences and hard hitting insights, they explore the impact of workplace culture, the importance of second chances and how companies can shift from punishment to meaningful intervention.But the conversation doesn’t stop there. Vishal and James also tackle the ever growing influence of social media and how it fuels addiction, manipulates our attention and even alters our mental health. They discuss the addictive nature of constant notifications, the pressure of online validation and the fine line between using social platforms for good versus falling into the trap of endless scrolling. Can we break free from the cycle or has social media become the new silent addiction?

Whether you're an employer, an employee or someone struggling with mental health, addiction or digital overload, this episode is a must listen. Onward Shift isn’t just a podcast, it’s a movement for real talk, real awareness and real change.

🎧 Listen now to the Full Story!

Find out more about Onward Shift and the support we offer here- ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onwardshift.com ⁠