In the end, Matt Nable wished his brother would give in.
Motor neurone disease had taken everything, except his brother’s will to live.
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Joining us in the studio today is writer, actor, boxer, and former rugby league player, Matt Nable.
Recognisable for playing infamous tough guys on screen (Arrow, Underbelly, The Dry), Matt’s experience of loss and mental ill health has starkly redefined what he believes it is to ‘be a man’.
Using the analogy of a ‘double edged sword’, Matt explains his experience with bipolar and hypomania, and how those periods have lead to the best, and worst, decisions of his life.
Matt is incredibly generous in sharing his experience of biological melancholia depression, and explores with Josh just how quickly everything can seem to unravel.
Matt speaks about the immense grief he carries for his brother who passed away MND, and how he was able to move through this grief to find purpose and compassion.
*Content Warning: today's episode includes a discussion about psilocybin. In Australia, psilocybin is a controlled substance. Outside of authorised clinical settings, its use, possession and supply are illegal. This episode is not medical advice, and we're not encouraging or endorsing illegal drug use. Psilocybin can carry serious risks, particularly when taken without professional screening and supervision. Our guest's experience is their own and won't be typical of everyone's. This episode also mentions suicide. If you're struggling with grief or your mental health, please speak with your GP or a mental health professional.
🚨If you, or someone you know, are experiencing suicidal thoughts call lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call 000.
Chapters
00:00:00 – TRAILER
00:02:48 – Childhood shapes who we are
00:03:40 – What does it really mean to be tough?
00:07:38 – Why Matt doesn’t think he is a tough man
00:09:21 – Redefining Masculinity, and Rejecting the Manosphere
00:12:00 – Letting Go of Ego
00:13:34 – Losing his brother to MND
00:20:40 – A Psilocybin Retreat for Grief: Matt’s Experience
00:23:08 – Meeting his younger self
00:24:09 – Reaching Acceptance
00:28:34 – Figuring out what really matters
00:35:12 – A brother’s love: Hugh & Josh reflect
00:38:55 – Finding humour in grief
00:40:34 – A Parent’s Grief vs a Sibling’s Grief
00:41:30 – The Meaning of Matt’s Tattoos
00:42:10 – Bipolar II + Melancholic Depression Diagnosis
00:43:46 – Hypomania: The Double-Edged Sword
00:46:52 – Matt’s rise to fame
00:51:10 – Bipolar vs Depression: The Crash, Exhaustion + Regret
00:52:34 – Sitting with someone in the dark
00:54:08 – The Quicksand of Men’s Mental Health
00:56:02 – Standing on the Edge: Josh’s Story
00:58:01 – Finding Joy in the Small Moments
01:01:29 – Writing as an Anchor Point
01:07:29 – Why men need to be vulnerable
01:07:59 – Journaling Club “How would you like to be remembered?”
Some other great resources are below
Black Dog Institute - https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
Beyond Blue - https://www.beyondblue.org.au
📚Things to read
Mire, by Matt Nable - https://bit.ly/4hYglT0
Other books by Matt Nable - https://bit.ly/4dI1uut
📺 Things to watch
The Final Winter - https://bit.ly/4s3EYSC
Things to donate to
Fight MND - https://fightmnd.org.au
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🩵To purchase our journal (or your novel) My Imperfect Life, click here - theimperfects.com.au/shop
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The Imperfects is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment. The advice given in this episode is general in nature, but if you’re struggling, please see a healthcare professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14.
Trailer footage sourced from Mr Inbetween.
