This Complex Life

• Breakups, Masculinity and Men’s Mental Health

  Breakups can be hard on all of us, they can shake our sense of self in ways we don't expect. For men, the emotional impact is not something that's often spoken about. They’re taught to suck it up and get on with it. In this episode of This Complex Life, I sit down with Michael Wilson, a Research Fellow focused on men’s mental health and suicide prevention to talk about why men often struggle silently during breakups and how society’s ideas about masculinity shape the way they cope.We explore how shame, identity loss and isolation can build after a relationship ends, and why many men do not seek help until they reach a crisis point. There is another way to move through it. Understanding, connection and emotional honesty can help men rebuild their sense of self with more clarity and confidence.In this conversation, we talk about • Why breakups can shake men’s identity • How conditioning around masculinity affects emotional expression • The role shame plays in silence • What men wish they could say but feel they cannot • How to support men without jumping into solutions • Ways to rebuild confidence after a relationship endsIf you are working through a breakup or navigating a season of change, you do not have to do it alone.Connect with Michael Wilson: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-wilson-4b2090164/ Michael Wilson is a Research Fellow focused on men’s mental health and suicide prevention, based with Orygen at the University of Melbourne.Since 2018, Michael has published and presented research both nationally and internationally across a range of subjects, including healthy masculinities and mental health in young men, improving training for mental health practitioners around engaging and responding to help-seeking men, and understanding risk and protective factors associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviours in men.His research currently focuses on men's mental health and suicide risk in the context of intimate partner relationship breakdown.Resources: Main paper: https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2026-40673-001.html Other research: https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=avSkawsAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&authuser=1&sortby=pubdate Mental Health Academy course on understanding men's suicide risk post breakup: https://www.mentalhealthacademy.com.au/catalogue/courses/breaking-up-breaking-down-understanding-and-addressing-mens-suicide-risk-in-the-context-of-intimate-relationship-breakdownConnected Teens https://marievakakis.com.au/connected-teens/Connect with Marie https://thetherapyhub.com.au/ https://marievakakis.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/Submit a question to the Podcast

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• Rethinking Who You Are After Having Kids with Bronte Taylor

  People often imagine that parenthood clicks into place the moment a baby arrives. For many, the emotional changes, the exhaustion and the adjustment to a new sense of self are far more complex than expected.In this episode, I speak with Accredited Mental Health Social Worker Bronte Taylor about what it really feels like to lose and rebuild parts of yourself after becoming a parent.We talk about how motherhood can bring joy and pride while also bringing grief, disorientation and a sense of invisibility. Bronte shares her own experience, the concept of matrescence, and why mums often feel guilty when they try to meet their own needs.We explore:What matrescence is and why more people need to know about itWhy motherhood can shake your sense of identityHow childhood and family patterns show up in parentingWhy mums struggle to put themselves firstHow to start setting boundaries without drowning in guiltThe power of being seen, heard and validated instead of being fixedConnect with BronteInstagram: @bronte_heartfelttherapyCentre Self CollectiveHeartfelt TherapyResources mentionedIf Women Rose Rooted by Sharon BlackieDr Sophie Brock’s Motherhood StudiesMotherkind Book by Zoe Blaskeyhttps://www.heartfelttherapy.com.au/https://centreself.com.au/ Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood Book by Lucy Joneshttps://self-compassion.org/Connected Teens https://marievakakis.com.au/connected-teens/Connect with Marie https://thetherapyhub.com.au/ https://marievakakis.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/Submit a question to the Podcasthttps://forms.gle/nvNQyw9gJXMNnveY6

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• Making Sense of ADHD in Therapy

  ADHD is often misunderstood, especially in therapy. In this episode of This Complex Life, I talk with ADHD coach Ron Souers about what happens when therapy meets the realities of living with ADHD.We explore what it means to understand ADHD beyond the label, how it impacts emotions, relationships, and self-worth, and why self-compassion and curiosity make all the difference.You’ll hear about:The emotional side of ADHD (and how grief can show up after diagnosis)Common misconceptions in therapy and how to address themThe importance of validation, empathy, and communicationHow to support emotional regulation and connectionWhy therapy needs to focus on skills, not just medicationListen now wherever you get your podcasts.Resources:Listen to previous ADHD episode:Turning ADHD Struggles into Strengths: How understanding your ADHD brain and practicing self-compassion can help you thrive.Connect with Ron Souers:Don’t Mind Me, I Just Have ADHD PodcastConnected Teens https://marievakakis.com.au/connected-teens/Connect with Marie https://thetherapyhub.com.au/https://marievakakis.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/Submit a question to the Podcasthttps://forms.gle/nvNQyw9gJXMNnveY6

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• Turning ADHD Struggles into Strengths

  ADHD can bring creativity, energy, and passion, but it can also make everyday life feel chaotic or overwhelming.In this episode of This Complex Life, I talk with Ron Souers, ADHD coach and host of Don’t Mind Me, I Just Have ADHD. We explore how understanding your ADHD brain can turn struggle into strength, and how self-compassion plays a huge role in that process.You’ll hear about:Why ADHD is more than distraction or forgetfulnessThe emotional side of ADHD (and why self-blame makes it worse)What happens when we stop trying to “fix” ourselvesPractical ways to work with your brain, not against itHow support, structure, and self-understanding build confidenceWhether you’ve been recently diagnosed or you’ve always suspected your brain works a bit differently, this episode will help you feel seen, supported, and hopeful.Resources:Ron Souers – https://dadhdwss.com/Don’t Mind Me, I Just Have ADHD podcastConnected Teens https://marievakakis.com.au/connected-teens/Connect with Marie https://thetherapyhub.com.au/ https://marievakakis.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/Submit a question to the Podcasthttps://forms.gle/nvNQyw9gJXMNnveY6

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• Growing Yourself Up with Dr Jenny Brown - Encore

  We all like to think of ourselves as grown-ups, but what does it really mean to grow yourself up? And how does that shape every relationship you have at home, at work, and with the people you love most?In this encore episode, I’m joined by Dr Jenny Brown, author of Growing Yourself Up: How to Bring Your Best to All of Life’s Relationships. We explore what maturity actually looks like in practice, why we can’t change others without first managing ourselves, and how family patterns shape the way we love, work, and connect.You’ll hear about:The difference between genuine maturity and “borrowed” maturityHow family systems influence the way we manage stress and relationshipsWhat self-differentiation really means (and why it’s so important)Why emotional independence isn’t the same as disconnectionHow to stay calm and connected during family stressWhy growing up is a lifelong process, not something we finish in adulthoodIf you’ve ever found yourself reacting to your family dynamics or wondering why certain patterns keep repeating, this conversation will help you see yourself and your relationships in a whole new way.Learn more about Dr Jenny Brown: https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Resources:Previous conversation: Building Stronger Parent-Child Relationships: A Conversation with Jenny Brown Connected Teens https://marievakakis.com.au/connected-teens/Connect with Marie https://thetherapyhub.com.au/ https://marievakakis.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/Submit a question to the Podcasthttps://forms.gle/nvNQyw9gJXMNnveY6

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