Men’s mental health

Autism awareness

Parent mental health

Single dads

Neurodivergent parenting

TikTok mental health lives

South Africa mental health

Raw Minds Podcast

Candice Ninja

Ninja Talks

What happens when a woman creates a space where men finally feel safe enough to open up?

In this Raw Minds Podcast episode, Erick sits down with Candice, also known as Ninja, from South Africa.

Candice is the voice behind Ninja Talks, a growing mental health and awareness movement built around real conversations, autism awareness, parenting, neurodivergence, and emotional support.

This conversation fits the heart of Raw Minds because Candice has created a space where men, fathers, parents, and people carrying silent pain can speak without being judged.

She talks about raising her son Denver, who is on the autism spectrum, navigating ADHD, sensory struggles, parenting pressure, depression, online hate, and the reality of trying to help others while still carrying your own battles.

Erick and Candice also talk about why men’s mental health matters, why many men stay quiet, what single dads go through, and how online communities can become a real support system when they are built with honesty and care.

This episode is for the men who do not know how to speak.

It is for the parents trying to hold everything together.

It is for anyone raising a neurodivergent child and feeling lost.

It is for the people who carry pressure quietly and still show up for others.

If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone who needs it. That is how we reach the people who struggle in silence.

Guest:

Candice “Ninja”

Founder of Ninja Talks

Mental health advocate

Autism awareness advocate

South Africa

Follow Ninja Talks:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ninjatalks/

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

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

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ninjatalks-live

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

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:51 Welcome Candice “Ninja”

02:23 Where to find Ninja

03:12 Who is Candice and how Ninja Talks started

04:44 Autism, sensory struggles, and early signs

06:44 Parenting, postpartum, and trauma

08:18 Men can struggle after birth too

10:41 Injury, surgery, depression, and isolation

13:34 Missing her son’s milestone

16:23 Starting Ninja Talks

18:16 Online hate and internet trolls

20:06 Why men’s mental health matters to Ninja

21:12 Erick opens up about being a single dad

23:21 How men started opening up in her lives

27:20 Building trust with vulnerable conversations

31:17 Chris and the Ninja Talks support team

35:50 Building a real TikTok community

39:13 Odie’s story and finding safe support

45:04 Erick shares a personal win for his daughter

48:17 Autism support in South Africa

51:45 Canada health care, waitlists, and support gaps

54:38 School systems and neurodivergent kids

57:20 Final thoughts and thank you

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, addiction, or suicidal thoughts, reach out.

Canada Crisis Line:

Call or text 988

You are not alone.

Follow Raw Minds Podcast:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ci?si=GyaUB-JNhmxF-tv1

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3I7hBJgYDdS8UQpbMl9bdt

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcast?_t=8rM6xvJfjKZ&_r=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcast?igsh=MXI2cmh3cmUzcHNuMQ==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qh/

Contact Raw Minds:

rawmindspodcast@gmail.com

Website:

www.rawminds.ca

Subscribe, comment, and share this episode with someone who needs a real conversation today.

men’s mental health, bullying trauma, childhood bullying, army bullying, male depression, alcohol recovery, rock bottom recovery, suicide prevention, survival story, Raw Minds Podcast

What happens when a man spends his whole life being mocked, bullied, broken down, and still finds a way to survive?

In this episode of Raw Minds Podcast, Erick sits down with Steve Beaumont, author of The Story of a Short Ginger Kid: Bullied to Near Extinction, for a raw conversation about bullying, trauma, the British Army, alcohol, self destruction, recovery, and the power of finally speaking out.

Steve grew up in Yorkshire as the short ginger kid who became an easy target. The bullying started young. The jokes, the names, the shame, the isolation. To survive, he became the joker. He laughed first so nobody could see what was really happening inside.

Running gave him an escape. The army gave him identity. But the pain followed him.

Steve talks about being bullied again while serving, losing his army career, falling into alcohol, hitting rock bottom, and slowly finding his way back through the outdoors, adventure, purpose, and eventually writing his book.

This conversation is about more than bullying.

It is about what happens when men stay silent too long.

It is about the damage people carry when nobody checks on them.

It is about alcohol, depression, trauma, shame, recovery, and the hard truth that asking for help can save a life.

Steve’s story is painful, honest, and powerful. But it is also proof that your life is not over because of what happened to you.

If you have ever been bullied, felt alone, used alcohol to numb pain, struggled with depression, or felt like nobody understood what you were carrying, this episode is for you.

Steve’s book:

The Story of a Short Ginger Kid: Bullied to Near Extinction

Buy it on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.ca/STORY-SHORT-GINGER-KID-Extinction/dp/B0GHZDSW89

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

02:17 Steve’s book and story

03:11 Growing up bullied

04:22 Becoming the joker to survive

06:06 Running as an escape

10:05 Family struggles and early drinking

12:24 Joining the British Army

13:42 Bullying inside the army

15:29 Depression, alcohol, and pressure

19:30 Losing his army career

22:17 Rock bottom and self destruction

24:43 The advert that changed everything

25:55 Outdoor pursuits and rebuilding

28:20 Writing the book

31:29 Why Steve never asked for help

33:28 What he would tell his younger self

40:26 Speaking out to help others

41:21 Why Raw Minds exists

44:41 Raising his granddaughter

47:59 Steve’s message: don’t be alone

49:19 Where to find Steve’s book

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, addiction, or suicidal thoughts, reach out.

Canada Crisis Line:

Call or text 988

You are not alone.

Raw Minds Podcast is built for real conversations around men’s mental health, trauma, grief, addiction, recovery, fatherhood, discipline, pain, and personal growth.

Subscribe to Raw Minds Podcast for more real conversations that actually matter.

Raw Minds Podcast links:

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ci?si=GyaUB-JNhmxF-tv1

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3I7hBJgYDdS8UQpbMl9bdt

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qh/

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcast?_t=8rM6xvJfjKZ&_r=1

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcast?igsh=MXI2cmh3cmUzcHNuMQ==

Email:

rawmindspodcast@gmail.com

Website:

www.rawminds.ca

#MensMentalHealth #BullyingAwareness #TraumaRecovery #RawMindsPodcast #MentalHealthMatters #RecoveryStory #SurvivalStory #MenTalkToo #StopBullying #SuicidePrevention

He had the career. The family. The success.Then his body shut down.In this episode of Raw Minds, Erick sits down with Gary Smart, a former high-performing tech leader who pushed through life for decades until he hit a full collapse.No warning. No slow down. Just done.Gary opens up about what happens when you ignore stress, suppress emotions, and live your life in constant grind mode.This is the side most men never talk about.From prescription medication dependency to rehab, depression, and rebuilding from nothing, Gary breaks down the reality of what it takes to come back when your entire identity falls apart.This conversation is about more than burnout.It is about facing yourself.If you feel like you are holding everything together on the outside but falling apart inside, this episode will hit.WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE• Why high-performing men silently burn out• The danger of suppressing stress and emotions• How pushing through can destroy your mental health• The reality of prescription medication dependency• What rock bottom actually feels like• Why most men avoid asking for help• The truth about recovery and rebuilding your life• How to give yourself permission to stop• The role of fitness and movement in recovery• How to rebuild your identity after collapseABOUT GARY SMARTGary Smart is a former tech leader turned coach who helps high-performing men reconnect with themselves before they hit burnout.After years of pushing through stress, ignoring his mental health, and relying on medication to function, he experienced a full physical and mental collapse.He rebuilt his life from the ground up and now works with executives and founders to help them avoid the same path.His focus is simple. Awareness, honesty, and real change.GARY SMART LINKSWebsitehttps://garrismart.com.auVIDEO CHAPTERS00:00 The Collapse That Changed Everything01:30 Meet Gary Smart03:00 Growing Up With “Push Through” Mentality06:00 Living As A High Performer10:00 The Slow Burn Of Stress14:00 Medication And Dependency18:00 The Moment Of Collapse22:00 Rehab And Reality Check26:00 The Truth About Recovery30:00 Depression And Suicidal Thoughts34:00 Rebuilding From Nothing38:00 Permission To Stop42:00 Finding Purpose After Pain46:00 Final AdviceFOLLOW RAW MINDSYouTubehttps://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ciInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcastTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcastFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qh/Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2DTczix6Egs7fscQiqCpfaWebsitehttps://www.rawminds.caEmailrawmindspodcast@gmail.comIf you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, addiction, or suicidal thoughts, reach out.Canada Crisis LineCall or text 988You are not alone.