What happens when two people on opposite sides of the world, with completely different lives and struggles, arrive at many of the same conclusions about healing, self-worth and recovery?

In this episode of The After The Fall Show, I sit down with author, hiker, nomad and creator of the Self-Care Savage movement, Scott Tatum of YouCan Outdoors.

After a childhood shaped by abuse, decades of self-sabotage, people-pleasing and feeling like he was never enough, Scott reached a point where he had given up on himself. Then he found a trail.

What followed was a journey that would see him walk thousands of miles, tackle the Appalachian Trail, build an audience of hundreds of thousands and discover a simple truth:

Know Your Worth.

Together we explore childhood trauma, self-worth, survival mode, personal responsibility, journaling, nature as therapy, mental health, healing through movement and why so many people feel disconnected from themselves in today's world.

For Scott, healing came through trails, forests and mountains becoming Self-Care Savage.

For me, it came through movement, mindset and self in Street Therapy.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

🎙️ CHAPTERS

00:00 - Introduction
00:39 - Meet Scott Tatum & YouCan Outdoors
04:28 - From Victim To Healed
14:20 - Childhood Trauma & Survival Skills
18:41 - Self-Sabotage, Identity & Self-Worth
22:45 - The Trail That Changed Everything
26:00 - Walking As A Path To Recovery
33:58 - The Appalachian Trail Journey
41:45 - Advice For Beginners
44:51 - Why Journaling Matters
50:28 - Fear, People & The Real Dangers We Face
55:49 - Know Your Worth
58:49 - Why Self-Care Isn't Selfish
01:01:04 - "There's No Home Without You"
01:05:11 - Final Reflections

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

🌲 SCOTT TATUM | YOUCAN OUTDOORS

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/UcanOutdoors

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ucanoutdoors

TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@ucanoutdoors

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ucanoutdoors

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

🔥 ICARUS | STREET THERAPY

Website:https://www.streettherapy.co.uk

The After The Fall Show:https://www.afterthefallshow.com

TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@Icarus_Works_UK

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/icarus.works.uk

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559594633422

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share it with someone who might need to hear it.
#AfterTheFallShow #ScottTatum #YouCanOutdoors #SelfCareSavage #MentalHealth #MensMentalHealth #Recovery #SelfWorth #TraumaRecovery #BurnoutRecovery #NatureHeals #Hiking #AppalachianTrail #StreetTherapy #IcarusWorks

The conversation delves into the journey of wellness and fitness, exploring the impact of fitness on mental health, the challenges of navigating the gym environment, and the transition to professional training. It also highlights the holistic approach to fitness and wellness, emphasizing longevity through fitness and the importance of building a community at the gym. The conversation covers the impact of independence on health, the importance of bodyweight exercises, advice on training programs, understanding core muscles and stability, starting fitness at any age, and the benefits of fitness for children and adolescents. It also discusses the differences between group fitness classes and personal training, emphasizing the importance of consistency and the life-changing impact of the kettlebell swing.

Takeaways

• Longevity through fitness
• Building a community at the gym Consistency is key
• Start with bodyweight exercises
• Long-term athlete development model for children
• Group fitness classes may not be suitable for beginners
• Kettlebell swing is a life-changing exercise

Chapters

• 00:00 The Holistic Approach to Fitness and Wellness
• 30:51 The Impact of Independence on Health
• 39:31 Starting Fitness at Any Age
• 49:31 Fitness for Children and Adolescents
• 55:18 Group Fitness vs. Personal Training

Some people survive bullying.

Some people survive hiding who they are.

Some people survive both.

In this episode of After The Fall Show, I’m joined by Dom — someone I’ve personally worked with — for one of the rawest and most honest conversations we’ve had on the show so far.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion around suicide attempts, bullying, sexuality, sexual assault, depression, and mental health struggles. Please listen with care. If you are struggling, please reach out to someone you trust or contact a support service such as Samaritans in the UK on 116 123.

From being bullied as a child, through confusion around sexuality, isolation, suicide attempts, pressure, identity, and the fear of disappointing the people around him, Dom shares the reality of what it felt like trying to survive while carrying everything alone.

This is not a polished conversation.

It’s a human one.

We talk about growing up feeling different, the emotional weight of hiding parts of yourself, the pressure of expectations, and how silence slowly becomes unbearable when you carry too much for too long.

Dom also speaks openly about his suicide attempts, the moment his family finally realised how serious things had become, and how talking — whether to family, friends, strangers, or services like Samaritans — became one of the biggest turning points in his life.

But this episode is also about rebuilding.

About finding identity, friendship, rugby, community, love, and learning that healing doesn’t happen instantly — it happens gradually, through connection, honesty, and allowing yourself to finally be seen.

What we cover:

• Growing up bullied from nursery through school
• Moving schools and still feeling isolated
• Realising he may not be straight
• The pressure of family expectations
• Using work and business as emotional escape
• Suicide attempts and emotional collapse
• The fear of speaking honestly to loved ones
• Coming out to parents and family
• Relationships, self-acceptance, and rebuilding identity
• Rugby, friendship, and finding community
• Toxic experiences and staying safe
• Why strangers sometimes become lifelines
• The importance of support services like Samaritans
• Why “it’s okay to talk” may save someone’s life

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction
00:39 – Dom’s Early Life & Bullying
02:00 – Moving Schools & Starting Again
03:30 – Sexuality & Family Pressure
05:45 – Suicide Attempts & Emotional Collapse
07:11 – Relationships & Opening Up
09:02 – Coming Out to Family
11:30 – Suicidal Thoughts & Coping Mechanisms
14:15 – Night Walks & Honest Conversations
15:53 – Beginning to Rebuild
17:37 – Calling Samaritans
18:27 – Self-Acceptance & Identity
20:00 – Finding Community Through Rugby
21:15 – Toxic Experiences & Staying Safe
22:50 – Rejoining West Country Wasps
25:20 – Advice for Others Exploring Identity
27:24 – The Power of Human Connection
30:05 – “It’s Okay to Talk”
31:41 – Final Reflections

Guest:

Dom is a rugby player, creative professional, and survivor of bullying, suicidal thoughts, and identity struggles. In this episode, he shares his journey through sexuality, pressure, self-acceptance, and rebuilding his life through honesty, community, and conversation.

Final thought:

Sometimes the heaviest thing a person carries…
is silence.

And sometimes the bravest thing they can do…
is finally speak.