Pete Wicks On Male Loneliness "I Don't Feel Like I’m Enough”
6/18/202624 min
In honour of Loneliness Awareness Week 2026, we explore loneliness, grief and men’s mental health through Pete Wicks’ honest conversation with Paul. Pete opens up about being an “outgoing loner,” losing his nan, learning to accept help, and the private battles people often hide behind a public image.
This episode looks at why loneliness can still exist when you’re surrounded by people, and why admitting you need support can be the first step towards finding peace.
Remember you're not alone. If you're looking for support, we’ve included links to resources below: Samaritans: https://linkly.link/2kE85 MIND: https://linkly.link/2dx8b CALM: https://linkly.link/2dx8H
(00:00) Intro
(00:32) Paul and Pete Talk About the Loneliness Epidemic Among Men
(04:38) What's on Pete's Horizon?
(06:43) What Made Pete Realise He Needed Help?
(11:20) The Loss of Pete's Grandmother and Its Effect on Him
(14:01) Paul Shares His Affirmations for Pete
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsPaul C. Brunson· Host0:00
Welcome to We're Talking. This Loneliness Awareness Week, we're joined by Pete Wicks to talk about the loneliness so many men carry. Pete opens up about being an outgoing loner and how losing his nan forced him to confront the pain he had spent years shutting down. [gentle music] You know, we're in a day and age, and I've heard you speak about this, write about this, where we are in a loneliness epidemic.
Pete Wicks· Guest0:36
Mm.
Paul C. Brunson· Host0:36
In particular, men. Uh, you know, in the research I was doing for this is, you know, you have 27% of men say they have no close friends.
Pete Wicks· Guest0:43
Mm-hmm.
Paul C. Brunson· Host0:44
Right? You have many men saying that they have no one that they feel as if they can turn to to support them.
Pete Wicks· Guest0:49
Mm-hmm.
Paul C. Brunson· Host0:49
So... And, and what's interesting is that you have those stats, then you have Pete Wicks over here, who has said that he... You are what, an outgoing loner? Is that it?
Pete Wicks· Guest0:58
Mm-hmm.
Paul C. Brunson· Host0:58
An outgoing loner.
Pete Wicks· Guest0:59
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Paul C. Brunson· Host1:00
You know, but yet you still have the friendship circles.
Pete Wicks· Guest1:03
Yeah.
Paul C. Brunson· Host1:03
And, and that's, that's critically important, I think, to our success and our mental health.
Pete Wicks· Guest1:08
Yeah. Ma- massively. There's the Pete that is on TV, which is still Pete, and it's still me. I've always done everything as me, right, wrong, or, or whatever else. But then there's the very private me that my friends know, and the people who know me, not on a camera know, and that is, uh... I mean, really the difference between those two people, despite the fact that they're kind of the same, is