The Modern Journey

What if the thing that helped you succeed is not the thing that can sustain you?In Episode 5 of Season 2, I sit down with clinical psychologist Dr Matt Slavin for a deep and practical conversation about mental health, high performance, burnout, change, rest, self-awareness and what it really takes to build a life that is sustainable.Matt returns to The Modern Journey after moving his family from London to New Zealand, and we talk about what that move has taught him about pace, patience, family, health and learning to live with more intention.We also unpack the shift from “The Burnout Psychologist” to Mental Advantage, and why real transformation is not just about tips, hacks or performance content. It is about understanding yourself, building actual skills, and learning how to change patterns that may have once protected you but no longer serve you.Matt opens up about why flexibility is a sign of strength, why change often feels worse before it feels better, why rest can feel unsafe for high performers, and why insight alone does not create lasting change.This episode is for anyone carrying a lot, trying to grow, trying to change, or learning that success without sustainability eventually becomes expensive.Please note: this conversation is for reflection and education, not a substitute for therapy or professional mental health support. If you are struggling, please speak to a qualified professional or someone you trust.Follow Dr Matt Slavin:Website: www.drmattslavin.comNewsletter: www.drmattslavin.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmattslavinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmattslavin/Follow The Modern Journey:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernjourneyhqTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernjourneyhqNewsletter: https://modernjourneyhq.comHamza Idris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamzaidrisChapters:00:00 Preview00:38 Welcome back Dr Matt Slavin00:58 Moving to New Zealand03:18 Building a sustainable life05:39 Why balance comes in seasons07:19 Flexibility as strength07:52 From burnout to Mental Advantage10:04 What Mental Advantage means11:19 Why performance advice is not enough13:57 Psychology and high performance15:54 Old survival techniques18:28 When success strategies stop sustaining you20:20 Why change feels uncomfortable22:47 Rewiring the brain through repetition24:43 Change inside organisations27:09 Why rest can feel unsafe28:22 Noticing old thoughts and patterns32:39 Why progress is not linear34:20 Why we need mirrors and support35:30 Why change feels worse before better39:48 Fear, excitement and the stories we tell42:39 Processing after the fact44:40 What to do if you cannot journal47:08 Insight is not the same as change49:29 Insight, behaviour and reflection50:32 What psychological strength looks like52:39 Where to start if you are carrying a lot54:16 Permission to stop and pause55:09 What life is asking of Matt now57:38 Choosing family, health and what matters59:08 Matt’s final encouragement01:01:41 Final thoughtsIf this conversation resonates with you, follow The Modern Journey and share the episode with someone who needs to hear it.#TheModernJourney #MentalHealth #Burnout #PersonalGrowth #PsychologicalStrength Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to keep creating before the rewards show up?In Episode 4 of Season 2, I sit down with Marvellous Michael Anson, solutions architect, filmmaker and author of Firstborn of the Sun, for a conversation about storytelling, discipline, Yoruba mythology, creative identity, publishing, imposter syndrome and what it really takes to build a sustainable creative life.We talk about writing across deadlines, balancing a full time career with creativity, why stories need to be lived as much as written, and the journey from self publishing to landing a fantasy trilogy with Penguin Michael Joseph.Marve also opens up about the cultural foundation behind Firstborn of the Sun, the importance of Yoruba oral storytelling, writing for Yoruba readers first, her relationship with her grandmother, the pressure of book two, and why rest matters when you are building something meaningful.This episode is for anyone trying to create anyway, even when life is busy, the industry is hard, the doubts are loud, and the work still needs to be done.Follow Marvellous Michael Anson:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justmarvewritesTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@justmarvewritesWebsite: https://www.justmarve.org/homePreorder Marve’s new book, The Heir of the Shadow:https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/462761/heir-of-the-shadow-by-anson-marvellous-michaelFollow The Modern Journey:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernjourneyhqTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernjourneyhqNewsletter: https://modernjourneyhq.comHamza Idris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamzaidrisChapters:00:00 Preview00:46 Welcome to Marvellous Michael Anson03:13 Watching TV as a filmmaker06:03 Congratulations on submitting book two07:28 Little Marv and the beginning of storytelling10:30 What kept her faithful to writing12:45 Wearing many hats13:05 What balance looks like in real life16:49 Why life outside writing matters20:18 From self publishing to Penguin Michael Joseph21:38 Learning to negotiate creative decisions24:31 When she felt like an author26:38 Choosing business school over film school31:13 What aspiring authors misunderstand35:57 Discipline behind the writing life37:37 Firstborn of the Sun38:44 Yoruba mythology and world building40:20 Oral storytelling and cultural memory43:25 Writing for Yoruba readers first46:19 Reverence, imagination and creative freedom49:03 When characters surprise you52:45 Her grandmother’s influence57:30 What to expect from book two59:20 The Heir of the Shadow01:01:45 What makes a story unmistakably Marv’s01:02:36 Imposter syndrome and the final chapter01:04:04 Researching fight scenes01:07:15 What she will protect as a writer01:08:53 Diversity in publishing01:11:36 What this season requires from her01:13:27 Final thoughtsIf this conversation resonates with you, follow The Modern Journey and share the episode with someone who needs to hear it.#TheModernJourney #Writing #Creativity #YorubaMythology #FirstbornOfTheSun Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Content warning: this conversation includes discussion of childhood trauma, abuse within the home, alcoholism, drug addiction, family breakdown, homelessness and the emotional weight of parenting through difficult circumstances.Please listen with care and feel free to pause, skip ahead or stop listening if you need to.If this conversation brings anything up for you, or if you are worried about someone you know, support is available. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency services.Support resources:Samaritans: 116 123NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000Talk to Frank: https://www.talktofrank.comMind: https://www.mind.org.ukIn Episode 3 of Season 2, I sit down with Ollie Harris for one of the most honest and vulnerable conversations we have had on The Modern Journey.This episode is about fatherhood, childhood trauma, becoming a single dad, growing up around abuse, learning boundaries, raising a child with autism, and trying to break cycles instead of repeating them.Ollie opens up about becoming a father during Covid, the emotional weight of being separated from his son straight after birth, being forced to take on adult responsibilities too young, and how fatherhood changed the way he sees himself as a man.We also talk about his son Oscar, autism, labels, emotional capacity, saying no, protecting peace, and what it means to grow through failure.This episode is for anyone who has had to grow up too quickly, anyone trying to break cycles, and anyone learning that being present is not always easy, but it matters.Follow Ollie Harris:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-m-harris-6a0b37134Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olliej21Follow The Modern Journey:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernjourneyhqTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernjourneyhqNewsletter: https://modernjourneyhq.comHamza Idris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamzaidrisChapters:00:00 Content warning00:35 Preview01:26 Welcome to Ollie Harris03:42 What season of life is Ollie in?11:57 When fatherhood became real12:19 Becoming a dad during Covid18:09 How fatherhood changed him as a man18:51 Boundaries and learning to say no20:40 Emotional capacity and protecting peace24:21 Being a single dad24:49 Growing up around abuse, alcohol and drugs26:46 Being relied on too young27:34 Peace and guilt after detaching from family30:46 Choosing himself and his son33:49 Finding out who his father was37:32 Being told the truth through a DNA test41:52 Protecting himself through distance43:43 How childhood shaped his fatherhood44:57 Not becoming what hurt you46:48 Understanding pain without excusing harm51:43 Why he apologises so much55:20 Raising a child with autism58:03 Hearing his son speak for the first time01:02:44 Asking himself who he really is01:05:00 Labels, ADHD and seeing children differently01:08:28 The beauty of an organic personality01:14:56 Advice for parents navigating autism01:17:04 Finding community and trusting the process01:22:37 What this season requires from him01:23:15 Growth disguised as failure01:26:17 Final thoughtsIf this conversation resonates with you, follow The Modern Journey and share the episode with someone who needs to hear it.#TheModernJourney #Fatherhood #TraumaHealing #AutismAwareness #BreakingCycles Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Success can look like having many gifts, many titles and many open doors.But what does it look like when God asks you to move before you fully understand the plan?In Episode 2 of Season 2, I sit down with Patricia Olufemi, also known as NC, for a deeply honest conversation about faith, creativity, obedience, grief, community and what it means to live as a multi-hyphenated child of God.We talk about music, voice acting, working in tech, moving seasons, starting small, losing her mum, building community, and learning how to keep trusting God when life does not unfold the way you prayed it would.Patricia opens up about:• Moving from Ireland to the UK in obedience• Building a creative life without losing herself• Starting voice acting under a duvet and in an IKEA cupboard• Why creatives need to understand the business side• The cost of being multi-hyphenated• Grieving her mum while still carrying responsibility• The power of community, church and honest prayer• Why this season requires prophetic precisionThis episode is for anyone who feels called to more than one thing, anyone navigating grief, and anyone trying to trust God in a season they did not plan.Follow Patricia Olufemi:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciaolufemiInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ncgreyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ncgreyWebsite: https://stan.store/vocalgoldmineFollow The Modern Journey:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernjourneyhqTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernjourneyhqNewsletter & Updates: https://modernjourneyhq.comFollow Hamza Idris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamzaidrisChapters:00:00 Intro 00:43 Welcome to Patricia Olufemi 01:21 Coming back from America and the meaning of home 02:04 Building community as adults 03:08 Being a multi-hyphenated child of God 04:33 Moving with God in different seasons 06:02 Mourning the life you thought you would have 06:48 Leaving Google and moving in obedience 09:06 The cost of doing many things well 10:31 What could life look like with fewer talents? 12:16 The personal sacrifices behind creativity 14:43 How music first began 16:05 Discovering voice acting during lockdown 18:36 Opening your mind to how God can use your gift 19:23 When one door closes, look around 20:20 Unlearning the need to control the plan 22:17 Starting small in voice acting 23:13 Recording under a duvet 25:04 Voice acting with a stutter 26:25 Resourcefulness and humble beginnings 27:48 Charging less to learn and build experience 30:01 What voice acting gave her that music could not 30:54 Why music can be heartbreaking 32:43 The financial cost of making music 34:38 Being a multi-hyphenated woman 36:50 Staying grounded when life pulls you in many directions 37:32 Losing her mum and moving through grief 38:04 How grief reshaped her understanding of community 40:59 You cannot build community only when you need it 42:10 Learning she cannot do everything alone 44:21 Being honest about grief instead of burying it 47:09 Processing loss as a Christian 48:27 Why stepping away from God was not an option 49:26 What God actually promised 50:51 Holding grief and hope together 55:20 Grieving while still carrying responsibility 56:12 Why workplace grief policies need to change 59:24 Protecting herself in this next chapter 01:01:48 What this season of her journey requires 01:02:01 Prophetic precisionIf this conversation resonates with you, follow The Modern Journey and share the episode with someone who needs to hear it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Success looks incredible from the outside.But what does it actually cost?In this episode, entrepreneur, investor and former Pareto FM founder Andrew Hulbert opens up about the reality of entrepreneurship, leadership, burnout, business growth and balancing success with family life.We talk about building a £50M business, the pressure of ambition, reconnecting with relationships after years of hustle, and what happens when the thing you spent years chasing finally arrives.This is one of the most honest conversations I’ve had on The Modern Journey.Andrew opens up about:• Sacrificing time with family while building his company  • Reconnecting with friendships after years of hustle  • Why being present matters more than status  • Leadership, vulnerability and building high performing teams  • Fatherhood, success and raising grounded children  • The future of Facilities Management and modern leadership  • Why volunteering and relationships matter more than networking tactics  This episode is for anyone chasing something big while trying not to lose themselves in the process.⸻Follow Andrew Hulbert:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhulbertInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_andrewhulbertTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hulbertandrewTomorrow Meets Today: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tomorrow-meets-today/Follow The Modern Journey:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernjourneyhqTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernjourneyhqNewsletter & Updates: https://modernjourneyhq.comFollow Hamza Idris on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hamzaidris⸻Timestamps:00:00 Intro  01:09 Buying a nature reserve for his children  05:02 Building a £50M business  06:03 Why success stopped mattering  09:35 The season of life Andrew is in now  12:09 Learning to be present again  14:34 What ambition gave him  17:34 What ambition took away  20:34 The real cost of success  23:33 Rebuilding friendships after business success  27:36 Why men need to talk more  28:22 When a business becomes bigger than you  30:24 Did he actually enjoy the lifestyle?  33:18 Fatherhood and raising grounded children  40:27 The danger of instant gratification  41:44 What people misunderstand about leadership  47:20 Why volunteering changed his career  52:34 What Facilities Management actually is  54:40 The future of the FM industry  59:54 Why young people should consider FM  01:02:17 Building teams with 100% retention  01:08:23 Why diversity in leadership matters  01:12:35 Succession planning and leadership ego  01:17:19 Advice for ambitious young people  01:23:50 What this season of life requires from him  01:24:48 Final reflections  Let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments.If this conversation resonates with you, follow The Modern Journey and share the episode with someone who needs to hear it.#TheModernJourney #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Fatherhood #Success Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You do not always get to feel ready before it is time to begin.In this Monday Diary, Hamza reflects on what it means to move while still feeling pressure, nerves, and uncertainty. With the live event this week, the podcast launch next week, and a recent career transition of his own, he explores the truth that readiness is often a moving target.This episode is about courage, perfectionism, overthinking, and learning to move before you feel fully impressive.Weekly question:What are you delaying because you think you need to feel more ready first?For deeper reflections and behind the scenes updates, sign up at modernjourneyhq.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Hamza reflects on a hard truth he had to learn about himself: sometimes the desire for love, closeness, and connection can make discernment blurry.Not just in romance, but in friendship, community, and life, emotional hunger can make almost anything that looks like comfort feel convincing.In this Monday Diary, he explores what it means to give people access before trust has been built, how survival mode can distort your choices, and why healthy love changes your definition of connection.Weekly question: Where in your life have you been giving access before trust has actually been built?For deeper reflections and behind the scenes updates, sign up at modernjourneyhq.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Starting over reveals more than it changes. It shows you who you are when the familiar disappears.In this Monday Diary, I reflect on moving from Nigeria to the UK at 17 and what that transition taught me about identity, courage, community, coping, and growth.What looked like independence on the outside was, in many ways, survival in real time. A new country. A new system. A new rhythm. And in the middle of it, lessons I did not fully understand until much later.In this episode, I share five honest things starting over taught me about myself:• I’m more adaptable than I thought• Community is not a luxury, it’s a need• Capability is not enough without wisdom• I was braver than I gave myself credit for• If I don’t choose healthy ways to cope, I will drift toward whatever is availableThis is a personal reflection on what change exposes, what survival can hide, and why telling yourself the truth matters when life shifts.Weekly question: What has starting over taught you about yourself?For deeper reflection and behind the scenes updates, sign up to the newsletter at modernjourneyhq.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the first Monday Diary of the new season.In this episode, I’m opening a new chapter of The Modern Journey and sharing why I wanted to create space for these diary style reflections alongside the main conversations.This season is not just about polished answers or big ideas. It is about honesty, growth, faith, identity, discipline, healing, and what it means to become more whole in real life.These Monday Diaries are a place for real time reflection. The lessons I’m learning, the questions I’m sitting with, and the kind of inner work that often happens quietly before anything changes publicly.If you’ve been navigating change, trying to stay grounded, or figuring out who you are becoming in this season, this one is for you.The Modern Journey is a podcast about the human experience, with honest conversations on growth, identity, and modern life.Follow the podcast and join the journey at modernjourneyhq.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“This season wasn’t about having answers. It was about asking better questions.”Every season deserves reflection.In this final episode of Season One, Hamza Idris is interviewed by his wife, Davina Oriakhi‑Idris, in an honest, unfiltered wrap-up of the journey so far.Together, they reflect on the conversations, the lessons, the growth, and the tension behind the scenes of building The Modern Man Podcast while navigating work, faith, marriage, leadership, and personal responsibility.This is not a highlight reel.It’s a debrief.A mirror.And a moment of gratitude and grounding before what comes next.This episode is for anyone who has followed the season, supported quietly, or is curious about the heart behind the platform.🔑 What you’ll take from this episode:• Why Season One needed to exist• The unexpected lessons from the guests• What challenged Hamza the most personally• Balancing ambition, faith, marriage, and rest• Where ego showed up and where humility was required• What Season Two will build on, not repeat⏱️ Episode Chapters00:00 Why a Season One wrap-up mattered02:10 Introducing Davina and switching roles05:40 How The Modern Man Podcast was conceived11:30 The original vision and early resistance17:20 Lessons that emerged across the season23:40 Conversations that challenged Hamza the most30:10 Masculinity, responsibility, and emotional honesty37:50 Faith, grounding, and staying aligned under pressure46:30 Marriage, support, and building alongside your spouse55:10 Burnout, capacity, and learning to slow down1:04:20 Creative doubt, discipline, and consistency1:13:00 How Season One changed Hamza personally1:22:40 Gratitude for guests, listeners, and community1:30:30 What Season Two will build on1:38:50 Advice to men walking a similar path1:46:10 Final reflections and closing the season📌 Mentioned in this Episode🎶 Check out Preyé’s music:⁠Preyé’s Live Show⁠: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQG4A9qb4nA&ab_channel=Prey%C3%A9⁠Preyé on Spotify⁠: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6dbTmlL5brq9B2fkUj2MQD?si=ahRPMnYVRkeBCZPCF7-7gQ🎧 Listen & SubscribeApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-modern-man-podcast/id1784333559Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4v7TSM63Rhmdd4GxpUlIEaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@modernjourneyhq?sub_confirmation=1Website: http://www.tmmpodcast.com🎙️ About The Modern Man PodcastHonest conversations about masculinity, mental health, work, faith, and the human experience.Less noise. More truth.#modernmanpodcast #seasonfinale #reflection #modernmasculinity #faithandlife #growthjourney #marriageandpurpose #menswork Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.