⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains topics of mental health and suicide attempts, that may be harmful or traumatising to some audiences. If you’re affected by any of the topics discussed, please make sure you reach out to the helplines listed below. ⚠️

“Nothing prepared me for that loss of identity that I had without football.”

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a professional footballer in England?

And what life looks like once you decide to retire from your career in sport?

In this week’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Clarke Carlisle, former professional footballer, mental health advocate and ambassador for the mental health charity Mind.

Clarke has had an illustrious football career, having played for a number of top clubs, including Leeds United, Watford and Burnley, and winning three caps for England under 21s.

Alongside all the successes, Clarke also had to deal with plenty of hardship, including serious injuries, his battle with depression and attempted suicide.

Clarke has been refreshingly open about his professional and mental health journey, and shared with us:

➡️ The misconceptions that come with being a professional footballer [03:17]

➡️ His biggest failure and biggest success all wrapped up into one [07:21]

➡️ Why football needs to be treated more like a workplace [09:45]

➡️ Signing his first professional football contract [14:23]

➡️ Winning his England U21 caps [17:29]

➡️ More about our sponsor, Alchemist [22:10]

➡️ Bouncing back from a setback [23:22]

➡️ Why you need to stop searching for happiness [29:14]

➡️ Retirement from professional football [31:42]

➡️ Attempting suicide and ongoing mental health battles [36:26]

➡️ Advice on opening up about your mental health [45:29]

➡️ Improving mental health at work [48:29]

⛳ Helpful links:

➡️ More about Clarke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarke-carlisle-and-carrie-carlisle-765aa749/

➡️ Check out the work Clarke & Carrie are doing: https://www.clarkeandcarrie.com/

➡️ Mind Charity: https://www.mind.org.uk/

➡️ Mental Health Foundation - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk

➡️ The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123

➡️ And for local help and support, call the Mind Infoline at 0300 123 3393 or text 86463

💙 A big thank you to our Sponsors:

Alchemist - an industry leading learning and development company, whose learning journeys and experiences help organisations who want to grow, change or transform by putting the learner first to optimise organisational performance.

To learn more about Alchemist and see how they work with some of the most innovative companies in the world, head over to https://thisisalchemist.com/40minutementor/ to find out more.

🏆 Want to partner with us?

Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene?

Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on hannah@jbmc.co.uk

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