This week the ladies are here for a quick one. In a clip taken from episode 121, Dawn and Tracy are talking to property investor Micheal Wildig. When Micheal was caught up in a property scam that cost him over £150,000 he fell into a deep depression and contemplated suicide. In this short episode, Michael, Dawn and Tracy discuss the importance of speaking openly about mental health struggles, the stigma around men's mental health and how it’s possible, with love and support, to climb out of the deepest holes. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Through her martial arts classes, Dawn works with a lot of men that she can see are facing mental health issues. She discusses the need for men to speak out so that other men can see them as a role model and realise that it’s ok to not be ok. 
• When he decided to start his own business, Micheal faced opposition from his friends and family. And when things turned sour, he found it incredibly difficult to admit failure to them. He discusses how he kept these feelings inside. 
• Tracy and Micheal discuss the changing views in mental health over the last few years, why they think this has happened and the positives that have come from it. 
• Michael, whose partner was pregnant during his troubles, talks about his realisation that he had more to fight for than just himself, and how this gave him the strength to get through his drastic situation. 

BEST MOMENTS

“I took the whole thing on the chest, but I wish that I had spoken to more people. Don’t make that mistake, talk to people.”

“Sometimes it just takes one small thing to take somebody from being ok to being depressed.”

“Men have more trouble talking about their emotions because they are used to being the provider and the protector.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

Michael’s Instagram

Real Women on Instagram

Real Women Website

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Dawn and Tracy are real women who are fed up of all the “noise” out there in the real world. Life isn’t simply rainbows and unicorns, it's broken relationships, hard work, hot sweats and never ending laundry baskets.  But life as a real woman is also about being honest, having good gossip and speaking our truths. Whether it’s peeling yourself into your spandex for a night out, or running a business meeting barefoot because the heel has fallen off your stilettos, there is always something to laugh about in life. 

Dawn is mid 50’s mid menopause straight talking business maverick.  Four kids, three grandchildren, two businesses, one husband and a self proclaimed “hottie”.

Tracy is a mid 50’s awesome mum, business and property mentor. Proud of her raw, honest nature, “bonkers” sense of humour and good old-fashioned northern humility.

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

The business of being a real woman juggling life, love and work for many of us is pure sweat, grit & hustle. This podcast is for those of you who are tired of the “noise” and just want real down-to-earth gossip with no filters or fluff.  Dawn and Tracy bring heartfelt humour, raw honesty, spandex, stilettos, and intelligent conversion on being a real woman in today's world.