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Live, Laugh, Luke... with Luke Hamnett

Men's Mental Health, Marathons and a Million Reasons to Stay with Ben West

5/28/202657 min

Today’s guest is the incredible mental health campaigner and London Marathon legend, Ben West. A little heads up from us that this episode includes discussion around mental health and suicide. Ben tells Luke about how losing his 15 year old brother when he took his own life, became the catalyst for his campaign work around mental health, giving what he describes as a joyful end to a horribly tragic story. He talks about Reasons To Stay - a website where anyone can write a letter to someone considering suicide - that has become an invaluable resource for so many people. But it’s not come without its challenges! Alongside bereavement, Ben has handled early setbacks at Downing Street, and falling over at Mile 2 of the marathon :( Luke and Ben compare notes after going viral online; Ben deletes Instagram when it all gets a bit much and Channing Tatum and Jennifer Aniston are in the DMs after he cried to 60 million people, meanwhile Luke’s first thought is that he might look ugly. Plus - Ben tells Luke why you should never EVER tell a cabbie that you’re a mental health campaigner! If you've been affected by any of the issues discussed, you can find support: At reasonstostay.org, by texting SHOUT to 85258 or calling Samaritans on 116 123. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Clips

Brother Sam’s Tragic End
Email That Saved Life
Last Words ‘Fuck Off’
Therapy Lightbulb Moment
Flag Of Lost Loved Ones
Jennifer & Channing DM Chaos

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Speaker 10:00

    Spring just slid into your DMs. Grab that boho look for that rooftop dinner, those sandals that can keep up with you, and hang some string lights to give your patio a glow-up. Spring's calling. Ross, work your magic Welcome back to Live, Laugh, Luke.

  2. Luke Hamnett· Host0:17

    And I have got... only can be described as someone that's possibly changing the world. It's the one, the only Ben West. [clapping] [cheering] I want you to do like a big Thank you ... yee. [laughs] Also, th- you won't give a fuck about this, but this is a new set.

  3. Ben West· Guest0:32

    Yes, it is amazing. I mean, I have nothing to compare it against.

  4. Luke Hamnett· Host0:35

    Nothing But it is, it's lovely in here. Last one was a shit hole. [laughs] No, I'm joking. Sorry, producer. Sorry, Amy. [laughs] Sorry. Uh, yes, and the reason why I had such a big lead-up to that is about changing the world, big pause, Ben West, you are- Oh, thank you ... quite possibly changing the world.

  5. Ben West· Guest0:53

    Thank you. Thank you And when I, when I messaged you I was like, "I really fucking want him on this podcast 'cause I really wanna talk to you about it."

  6. Luke Hamnett· Host0:59

    And it's only be- uh, another reason is because for someone who, who suffers with mental health, it's good that someone who's male talk about it.

  7. Ben West· Guest1:08

    Yeah.

  8. Luke Hamnett· Host1:09

    Yes.

  9. Ben West· Guest1:09

    I know.

  10. Luke Hamnett· Host1:10

    So let's get into it.

  11. Ben West· Guest1:11

    Oh.

  12. Luke Hamnett· Host1:12

    You've been campaigning now for eight years?

  13. Ben West· Guest1:14

    Eight years.

  14. Luke Hamnett· Host1:15

    2018.

  15. Ben West· Guest1:16

    2018, yeah.

  16. Luke Hamnett· Host1:16

    I know a lot of people online, you've obviously gone viral. Um, for people that don't know, are j- are you okay going back to why?

  17. Ben West· Guest1:27

    Yeah, of course I am. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely.

  18. Luke Hamnett· Host1:28

    Yep.

  19. Ben West· Guest1:28

    So I mean, the fact that

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