Boom! We're live.

No better way to kick off the new season than a re-introduction to a fan favourite, Tom Boyd.

Tommy joined us 18 months ago for his first episode with Bottled Up and has taken the courageous step to get back into the arena. Glad we didn't scare him away the first time. 😉

What's changed? Not much, other than the fact that his picked up two new hats, one as a Father, and the second as an Author.

On this episode we touch on many new topics, including:

• The process and journey he has been on behind his new book, Nowhere to Hide: A memoir of football, mental health and resilience.
• An even deeper dive into his mental health journey and life after football. Tom talks candidly about his mindset right after high school, and then again after hanging up the boots.
• Reflections on COVID-19 - losing his source of income, bouncing back, and the renovation of his new house.
• What lies ahead as he embarks into fatherhood with a beautiful young girl.
• And many more topics.

Buckle up and enjoy the listen. 💙

______________

In case you're wondering, who is Tom Boyd?

Tom Boyd lived the dream of many young Australians. As the 2013 AFL number 1 draft pick, he was marked as a future superstar in his sport. Fame and money were guaranteed, all the more so when he returned home to Melbourne to join the Western Bulldogs on a record-breaking $7 million contract.

But success as a footballer came at a cost Tom wasn't prepared to pay. The intense scrutiny from media and the public added to the enormous expectations he placed upon himself, creating a toxic cycle of insomnia, anxiety and depression. Even being part of the Bulldogs' famous drought-breaking Premiership win in 2016, when Tom arguably played the greatest game of his career, could not fundamentally change the chronic mental health issues he was experiencing.

Tom decided to make one of the bravest calls of his life and walk away from the team he loved, from his hugely lucrative contract, from celebrity and adulation. He did it because he knew he was much more than the sum of these things, and that mental wellbeing was the one essential he could not ignore.

Tom is now a public speaker and mental health advocate and recently released his first book, Nowhere to Hide.

______________

You can learn more about Tom (and find his book) here:

instagram.com/tomboyd17

https://www.booktopia.com.au/nowhere-to-hide-tom-boyd/book/9781761065491.html

https://www.millennialtranslator.com.au/

______________

There are some sensitive topics we touch on regarding mental health so if there are any triggers for you please know there is support and there will be plenty of links in access below.

LifeLine - Ph: 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Banksia Project - https://thebanksiaproject.org.au/

Mr. Perfect - https://mrperfect.org.au/

______________

As always, Bottled Up is a passion project to help provide a voice to those many men who are going through the peaks and troughs of life. We are not trained professionals and if you're worried about someone close to you and their mental wellbeing, it's important to get professional advice.

Start a conversation with them and let them know that they're not alone and that there are many support resources out there - including friends, family, school chaplains and plenty more!

If you're feeling distressed or overwhelmed, Beyond Blue has a number of trained mental health professionals available 24/7 on 1800 512 348.

For immediate support, call Lifeline on 13 11 44 and in an emergency, always dial 000.

______________

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

______________