'Not enough people are listening': Boxing club launches men's mental health podcast

The four hosts are fighting the corner of men who struggle to speak about their problems.

Each of the men are members of Lions Boxing Club, Brierley Hill, with Kev Dhillon, the owner, Lee Cadman, a boxing coach, and Aren Dew and Craig Pinches.

Kev, 37, from Kingswinford, who came up with the podcast idea, said: "People are saying men should be talking more about their mental health.

"But the problem is not enough people are listening."

The boxing world has a number of high profile figures who have spoken publicly about their mental health, including Tyson Fury.

However having "average blokes", as Lee puts it, may be more effective in helping men to speak out.

Lee, 36, from Kingswinford, said: "Although they are speaking out, people can't relate to the Tyson Furys of this world, whereas me and Kev are everyday blokes."

Kev lost most of his vision aged just three after suffering meningitis and at the age of 11, he could no longer box, which was his passion.

He said this "sent him off the rails" and he has suffered anxiety as a result. But he got into coaching aged 18 and went on to open his own gym.

Lee has suffered with depression due to illnesses suffered by his five-year-old daughter Calla-Rose. She has a rare form of epilepsy, called Dravet Sybdrome, and stage one kidney failure.

For Kev and Lee, being able to talk about their problems has helped them out.

"The more I spoke out, the better I felt," said Kev.

He added: "Us four blokes can't stop cancer but we can help men to talk about mental health."

The podcast has a seen a number of interesting guests appear on the show said Kev.

One is a member of the travelling community while another was a boxing member of the gym, who went to prison over drugs, but turned to religion while inside bars.

The podcast, called Chewing The Fat with the Black Country Blokes, is available on Spotify and YouTube and has a growing audience.