S2E10: Emmet Byrne - Why Men's Health is Failing

Why are so many men exhausted, disconnected, and running on empty — even when they look like they’ve got it all together?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr Emmet Byrne - a former Ireland rugby international turned men’s health doctor - to unpack what’s really going wrong with modern masculinity, medicine, and mental health.

We explore:

• Why the medical system is failing men
• The truth about testosterone decline (and why TRT isn’t a quick fix)
• The link between movement, strength, and emotional health
• Why we’ve normalised feeling average — and how to break out of it
• How to spot the signs you’re treating symptoms, not solving the root

From elite sport to holistic medicine, Emmet’s journey is proof that reinvention is possible, and necessary.

A must-listen for any man who wants to feel strong again. On the inside, and out.

Or watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu96RkgMYq0

Show Notes

From Pro Rugby to Medicine

• How Emmet went from the Ireland jersey to medical school
• What rugby taught him about pressure, pain, and purpose
• Why performance delays but doesn’t erase inner struggles

The Medical System Isn’t Working

• Why most men are treated only when they’re broken
• The failure of the symptom-focused model
• How GPs are unequipped to deal with whole-person health

The Testosterone Crisis

• Why so many men are seeing their energy, drive, and mood collapse
• What’s causing low T and what isn’t
• When testosterone replacement can help… and when it can’t

Movement Is Medicine

• Why sedentary living is quietly wrecking men’s wellbeing
• The link between physical strength and emotional resilience
• What Emmet recommends for men over 35

A New Model for Men’s Health

• From functional medicine to full-spectrum care
• What men really need to thrive
• How OptiMan is trying to change the story