Explore every episode of the podcast The Assist Podcast

There's a phoenix tattooed on Harvey's neck, and it tells you everything before he speaks. This is a man who has burned down to ash more than once, and risen every time.

He grew up in South London, kicking a ball alongside Clinton Morrison, certain football was his future. His father, a professional bodybuilder, drilled toughness into him. His mother Welsh and Sierra Leonean gave him something deeper: mental steel and the belief that one person's opinion does not define your life. He'd need every ounce of both. The rejections came. Then a stabbing. Twenty-seven stitches in his neck. He survived because he was fit enough to keep breathing.

While football was slipping, something else was rising. A meeting with Romeo in a South London pub. A call from EMI. Eleven members, each given twenty-one seconds on a track, a video shot like Hollywood had come to the council estate and suddenly So Solid Crew were a cultural earthquake. Platinum album. Eleven top ten hits. Quarter-of-a-million-pound contracts landing on a kid who'd been scraping the National League.

And with it came the cost. Threats. Rival crews. He moved to Hertfordshire just to breathe famous, rich, untouchable on stage, and looking over his shoulder every time he stepped outside. Football saved him again. AFC Wimbledon, under Dave Anderson, became a sanctuary. The away terraces gave him everything they had; he used it as fuel. That club mattered enough that they later held his mother close when he needed it most.

Because losing her was the wound that hasn't fully closed. He speaks about his mum with a tenderness that catches you off guard the cancer, the goodbye, the friends like Hayden Mullins who refused to let him fall. Out of that grief came a vow: to honour her by being a better father, a better man. A charity match at Plymouth Argyle planned, so her memory keeps walking with him.

He doesn't dress the rest of it up either. The infidelity. The weed he started smoking in his twenties to quiet the anxiety. Never Class A, never owned by alcohol but never the rapper-cliché hero either. He owns his mistakes out loud because that's how you raise children to be shepherds, not sheep. He sits across from Romeo and they cry openly now two men who once carried untouchable street swagger, dismantling toxic masculinity in real time. Strength through struggle. That was always the motto.

His proudest achievement isn't the platinum plaque or the West End nomination alongside Spacey and Swayze. It's rebuilding himself when his own father resented his success. It's his daughter, a brilliant footballer, and telling her loudly that the game has no gender. It's a partner a mental health nurse who holds him on the days the motivation won't come.

This episode is a powerful and honest conversation with Ben Coker, a footballer whose 18-year career was built not on hype or natural advantages, but on resilience, mindset, and persistence. As the only professional player at the time competing in the EFL while managing type 1 diabetes, Ben’s story offers a rare and refreshing perspective on what it truly takes to survive in professional football.

Rather than focusing solely on achievements, the episode digs into the realities of the game: academy releases, non-league wages, working manual jobs to get by, and the mental strain of repeated setbacks. Ben speaks candidly about nearly being written off early, moving to Sweden at 18 to keep his dream alive, and slowly earning his way back into the professional leagues through hard work and consistency.

A major strength of the episode is Ben’s openness around adversity. From managing diabetes daily to suffering a career-threatening ACL injury at the worst possible moment, he explains how discipline, routine, humor, and perspective helped him navigate the darkest periods of his career. His ability to separate football from his identity, lean on family support, and maintain joy in the game stands out as a defining trait.

Beyond football, the episode explores life, relationships, and purpose. Ben reflects on the importance of his wife and family, the value of planning for life after football, and why having balance off the pitch can actually extend a playing career.

Overall, this episode is not a fairytale success story—it’s a real one. It’s about longevity, mental toughness, and showing up every day despite uncertainty. Whether you’re a footballer, athlete, or someone facing long-term challenges, Ben Koker’s story is deeply relatable, grounding, and genuinely inspiring.

What happens when the dream you’ve chased your entire life suddenly disappears?

In this episode, we sit down for an unfiltered conversation with Jacob Blyth about football, identity, and the hidden cost of chasing success. From playing men’s non-league football at 15, earning a move to Leicester City, and training alongside Premier League winners - to injury, isolation, public scrutiny, and the darkest period of his life.

This is not a story about fame or money. It’s about pressure, mental health, mistakes, and the reality that footballers - like all of us - are human beings, not robots. We talk openly about failure, alcohol, relationships, and what it really takes to rebuild when everything falls apart.

A powerful, honest episode about losing purpose - and finding something more important on the other side.

In this episode, we sit down with Adebayo “Bayo” Akinfenwa, one of English football’s most iconic and respected figures. Across a 20-year professional career, Bayo scored over 230 goals, earned promotions with clubs including Wycombe Wanderers, AFC Wimbledon, and Northampton Town, won silverware with Swansea City, and was recently awarded the Tom Finney Award for his contribution to the EFL and the game as a whole.

But this conversation goes far beyond football. Bayo opens up about authenticity, identity, resilience, and self-belief—from facing racism early in his career, to embracing being different in a sport that often demands conformity. He speaks powerfully about dressing-room dynamics, leadership, managing energy, and why football was always something he did, not who he was.

We explore his transition out of the game, lessons on handling criticism and social media, the importance of self-care and rest, and his philosophy on legacy—being remembered not for achievements, but for how you made people feel. Honest, grounded, and deeply human, this episode is about owning who you are, backing it with work, and living on your terms.

A must-listen for athletes, leaders, and anyone navigating identity, purpose, and life beyond labels.

#lifeafterfootball #akinfenwa #growthmindset

Dudley Tal Stokes’ journey from a boy in rural Jamaica to Olympic bobsledder is a story of serendipity, resilience, and relentless work ethic. His military training equipped him with crucial skills to control fear and perform under pressure. Despite limited resources and a compressed timeline, Dudley’s instinctive feel and dedication allowed him to compete at the highest level in one of the most dangerous sports.

Beyond sport, Dudley’s philosophy emphasizes the inseparability of physical and mental health, the foundational role of nutrition, sleep, and movement, and the power of authenticity and reflection in life. His approach to fear—“Breathe, Accept, Commit”—offers a practical framework for managing anxiety and uncertainty.

Dudley also challenges modern trends that over-rely on technology and quick fixes, advocating instead for deep connection to human instinct, body, and spirit. His legacy transcends Olympic fame, focusing on living with purpose, courage, and resilience while inspiring others to realize their full potential.

This interview is a rich exploration of human potential, mental resilience, cultural identity, and the power of authentic living, grounded in Dudley Tal Stokes’ extraordinary life and ongoing mission to help others thrive.

#Dudleystokes #mensmentalhealth #lifeaftersports #inspiringstories #mentalhealthawareness #breakingthestigma

In this powerful episode, former professional footballer Mason Spence shares his deeply personal story of how the highs and lows of football led him into a destructive gambling addiction.

He opens up about the emotional toll of trying to prove himself, the isolation that came with constant setbacks, and how betting became his escape from every emotion — anger, happiness, loneliness, and guilt. Mason describes how addiction made him manipulative and disconnected, turning even friends and family into tools for feeding his habit. He speaks candidly about hitting rock bottom, the psychological battle of living with the “addict” inside him, and the daily work it takes to stay in recovery.

Now several years clean, Mason reflects on how recovery has given him empathy, perspective, and purpose — helping others who are still trapped in the same cycle. He credits Sporting Chance for giving him the understanding and support that ultimately saved his life, and he hopes his story can help others realise they’re not alone in their struggles.

#MasonSpence #gamblingaddiction #mensmentalhealth #footballpodcast #addictionrecovery #sportingchance #lifeafterfootball #inspiringstories #mentalhealthawareness #breakingthestigma

Here we go again! Series One was such a success that we’re back for Series Two!

We’re welcoming new sponsors and looking to connect with like-minded brands that share our values. We’re excited about the guests we’ve lined up and grateful to Carl at Podspace for our new look and home.

This series will focus more on solutions — offering guidance and reflection through the stories shared. The response to Series One has been incredible, showing how much this movement is helping, supporting, and strengthening both listeners and guests alike.

In this episode, Craig Mackail-Smith and Jim Burnside discuss feedback from a listener that helped shape the foundation of what Assist hopes to achieve. Recorded during a busy summer, both Craig and Jim open up about balancing coaching, personal commitments, and their own growth journeys.

Jim shares a breakthrough moment in his relationship with his mum after learning about Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD), something he deeply relates to. They explore how RSD shows up in football and how shifting focus toward small daily positives can build resilience.

The topic of identity also surfaces — how evolving goals can blur self-worth and prevent people from celebrating their achievements. Craig reflects on the loss of creativity in football and questions whether the game still celebrates individuality.

Craig opens up about his darkest moments — from losing his home and career to rebuilding himself, one day at a time. His story of surrender and healing is deeply inspiring. Jim, meanwhile, shares how a simple moment of singing in his car helped him reconnect with himself and start “living a little” again.

Both co-hosts are embracing life more fully, encouraging others to do the same — to reflect, be present, and celebrate every win, big or small.

Thank you for watching, listening, reading, and supporting Assist.

If you’d like to reach out, we’d love to hear from you in the comments, via our social media or info@assist-uk.co.uk

You are enough.

Assist Podcast

On this week's episode we speak with Laurie Walker, Goalkeeper at Solihull Moors. We discuss family dynamics and the impact it had on his career and personal life growing up. Football was a great escape but it didnt come without its challenges some of which were the most extraordinary experiences we’ve heard in a while.A real feel good story from being let go at a club in your teens to then making your debut for the same club a decade on. A ‘you’ll never be good enough’ comment left Laurie striving to prove them wrong and more himself right this episode will showcase how one simple comment can carry such an incredible impact and burden on someone’s life.

Listening to Laurie talk about his time at Kettering and how they didn’t get paid for months and months will give you an insight to how strong his desire was to succeed at being a footballer.

When going through his tough times he highlighted how important it is to have a partner alongside you that can help guide you the testing moments and in Lauries case how his partner help him to find purpose outside of football and find himself again.

This episode has highs and lows, twists and turns but highlights Lauries resilience in tough situations and his desire to not allow past comments to dictate what he can achieve

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by former professional footballer Aaron McLean.

From the very start of the episode, it becomes clear that a central theme in Aaron’s journey is how embarrassment and early setbacks shaped his drive and decision-making. He opens up about his formative years at Chelsea, the unexpected release from the club, and the deep sense of shame that followed. Looking back, Aaron reflects on how that early disappointment became a powerful motivator—fueling a successful career both on and off the pitch.

Aaron also speaks candidly about his experiences with racism throughout his career, both as a player and now as a broadcaster. His openness, resilience, and perspective on life, football, and personal growth are truly inspiring. It's a remarkable conversation with someone who continues to be a powerful role model on and off our screens.

Please Like, Subscribe and get involved below in the comments!

Follow us on socials @assistpodcastuk

Let's connect Follow @jimburnside13

Follow @craig_mackail_smith

Jim Burnside provides a warm welcome for Jim Stevenson to join the Assist podcast for this episode and it immediately kicks off with Craig Mackail-Smith and Jim Stevenson not remembering if they have been in the same team at the same time but agreeing they were quite literally in their own personal struggles at that time.

Craig and Jim Stevenson spent time together (they think) at Luton Town during their careers and they both discuss with Jim Burnside the physical and mental demand they would put on their bodies after team training had finished and what they would do the night before a game, is this a healthy obsession they had?

As Jim Stevenson takes us on a journey of his fitness pursuit outside of football he shares that he couldn’t allow himself to socialise with teammates (unless fitness was involved) and how dedicated he was. As he reflects he also shares these moments that he looks back on as delusion but he was so consumed at the time.

Jim Burnside asks a really interesting question to both Jim Stevenson and Craig Mackail-Smith regarding providing self praise at any point in their footballing career. Both responses are incredibly honest and shows the places they were at personally.

All three provide tips on how not to have a successful relationship with their Girlfriends/ wives as their fitness obsessions consume movie nights, dinners out, holidays and so much more! Have you experienced these and what about the FIFA statement, can you resonate??

Not making the first team and being released from clubs (finding out via social media) is a bitter pill to swallow but something that is not uncommon in football. It was in this moment Jim Stevenson found his new pathway but it also included an abundance of inner work that he openly talks about and how that shaped his current work, relationship and self.

Its becoming more and more clear that the conversations The Assist Podcast co hosts Craig Mackail-Smith and Jim Burnside are having are uncovering some incredibly personal journeys but as Jim Stevenson says, its now time that these stories are shared and a healing journey can begin.

Sharing different therapies and methods tried, works for some, work in that moment, and resets happen but the resilience and passion to know they all deserve a better future is what was a key message between Craig Mackail-Smith, Jim Burnside and Jim Stevenson.

Jim Stevensons advice was truly impactful and we’d love to hear how this resonates with you!

Todays guest joining Craig Mackail-Smith and Jim Burnside is John Bitting whose current role is at MK Dons as PDA Academy lead and interim manager of the ladies team who is an ex player and strives to improve the wellbeing and productivity of young players.

JB has played an incredible part in some players progression into their professional careers whilst not forgetting some who haven’t been able to go as far as they would have hoped. JBs approach and bespoke model to this has been packaged for each individual players wants and needs in terms of support.

JB came into football aged 11 and started playing for the year above teams). After turning 16 and being in some football programmes he found he enjoyed the coaching aspects. He shares his journey with dyslexia and the support he had by teachers & coaches. He started his coaching qualification at 15 and that lead him to getting B License at 19, working in schools & learning how to adapt and delegate in different scenarios such as dance routines!

Going back to the college JB played at, he then made his way through grassroots, non league. In his mid 20s he suffered 2 ACL injuries as well as a few other injuries but he spent a long time coaching, gathering his badges at MK Dons and some other football clubs gaining so much experience.

As JB had a front row seat watching the coaches facilitate the progression the likes of Dele Ali and the other team members go through and how they brought out a different side of the players positively.

Jim Burnside and JB meet each other at a step 5 team and Jim recalls how he was mesmerised by how JB held the training session as a coach even with Jims lack of attention! Putting the players needs and requirements have been at the forefront of training sessions and Craig Mackail-Smith, Jim and JB talk about how coaches have different styles of how they session plan and how much there really is to learn when putting ego to the side.

JB likes to take a different approach to getting a response from players and management. It hasn’t always been right but it does get noticed and results follow! Learning to listen to players and coaches enabled a new level of care into his career by understanding players levels and expectations.

JB shared that he came back from injuries quicker than he should have done and how it impacted his confidence and how he felt with football.

Signing up for marathons or ultra marathons helps him find his inner strength of going into thoughts and feelings that he may not have experienced.

2021 prompted JB to ask himself what direction he saw his career going in and if he was happy about it. He talks about a particular moment where he just couldn’t continue doing his job how he handled taking some personal time out and how it impacted his son, partner Carly and those around him.

In a strange twist of circumstances JB saved a family members life and he found his purpose of how he wanted to moved forward.

Question Time - A follower of the show asks JB How he prioritises progression over winning which takes Craig, Jim and JB on a journey of discussing supporting the player, their family and the club through grassroots. Academy and through the ranks and what is actually really important.

There’s times to be animated and being confident about making mistakes and looking at the different responses to the outcome/ how it could be better.

JB organised preseason games for academy boys playing mens teams knowing it will be a struggle and they learnt a lot as individuals and as a team.

Lots of insight is provided on methods JB and the team introduce to support the players integrate into mens football and how they can help the players and the families.

Looking into the skills and attributes of a good person and player is discussed and JB provides some great player advice no matter what your age!

Jim Burnside and Craig Mackail-Smith reflect on how the podcast is being received by people from all walks of life and it allowing them to open up about their own experiences.

The previous episode with Barry Fry showed us an insight to how he lives his authentic life and how this has enabled him to live out his version of a dream life. Barrys key message was to embrace being yourself.

This episode really takes a focus on how the media can make or break a footballer (or anyone) with their own process of how stories should be told and from what version. Mental health can really take its toll on those impacted and how people can be negatively impacted with those opinions shared in the media.

Non league teams are typically displayed as relatable people with day jobs and the further up the leagues you go there appears to get a wider divide and detachment of footballers not being relatable or having ‘normal’ lives & routines.

As Jim and Craig discover both of them have never been trained in media (responses to interviewers) Craig explains how he leant as he went along to say certain things to have a good rapport but nothing that could be taken out of context and used against himself or his teammates. This was then an automatic response he provided straight after games and talking to anyone which resulted in his true thoughts and feelings to be suppressed. This is then looked into with more common stories that Craig and Jim talk about.

Craig shares a personal heartbreak story of his time at Brighton & Hove Albion where his partner, Amber Fry experienced a miscarriage whilst they were out shopping for the day. Craig tells his version of events and the challenge they both faced being in a public place with no-one who could help in that moment. Minutes after, Craig was live on Talk Sport national radio to discuss an upcoming game of Scotland vs England and Craig once again switches his emotions and focus into work mode for media.

Not long after Craig suffered a breakdown whilst playing a game and on the pitch where this time his emotions couldn’t be suppressed and he cried in the changing room once the game had finished.

Jim holds space for Craig to share these never before told stories about how Craig & Amber navigated their way through this situation.

Craig reflects back in that moment, they highlight there are so many other men that may be going through their own personal pain and its not to compare stories with pain but acknowledge that they have gone through something and they may have not yet unpacked it for themselves.

Craig asks Jim about players going against the grain and the possibility of consequences as a result of doing so. Was there a difference in senior players vs youth players?

There’s some great players thrown into this and for reasons. You may not think!

Embracing individuality is key and although it is tricky with so much media and social media around to distort real stories, is knowing what is your own truth and learning to stand in your own power.

Be sure to tune in for all the details on this weeks episode, lastly please subscribe and follow if you enjoy each episode.

Craig and Jim have a review of how well the podcast has been received and what responses they have had which has left them with moments of imposter syndrome.

They both go on a journey sharing stories of how they have had good moments but expecting something bad to follow - is this normal/common?

Exhausting pre game rituals, knowing it’s ok to have highs and lows. Exploring how recovery and recharge looks to their bodies when they allow themselves to be ‘rewarded’ for working hard or reaching an achievement.

In a world full of unpredictables and a sport with many unknowns to, Jim and Craig talk about trying to control the outcomes and how this takes them away from reaching Flow state which is where the magic happens in performance and life.

Authenticity becomes the main conversation point towards the end of the episode and explored in depth when Craig talks about his time at Wycombe and how the individuals were championed at being their authentic self which ultimately made the team and players more successful. Leading Wycombe to achieve 2 portions in 3 years from league 2 to the Championship.

Trigger Warning - this is an open, raw conversation that goes in every direction possible. Jim, Craig and Barry openly share and discuss aspects around suicide thoughts & attempts, drugs, alcohol, gambling, addiction, seeking mental health support (and at times not seeking support).

Want to connect with the lads?

Instagram:

Craig @craig_mackail_smith

Jim @jimburnside13

Twitter:

Craig @12CMS12

Jim @Jimburnside10

Interested in sponsorship opportunities?

Drop us a message info@assist-uk.co.uk

What an incredible opportunity and one Craig and Jim couldn’t let pass! An experience talking to Barry Fry (who has held almost every role in football over 65 years) about the start of his journey playing for England school boys, signing for Manchester United aged 16, ‘growing up’ with George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Matt Busby amongst some additionally equally gifted football heroes in the 1960s that he has held as close friends - decades later!

Barry shares his stories on how mental health has impacted himself, his friends, players and others around him. He shares experiences on addictions such as alcohol, drugs, gambling (his addiction) and what he has lost because of it.

Barry’s honest views on Governing Bodies and their stance on players mental health is interesting to discuss, as is when he talks about the importance of young scholars getting an education alongside their apprenticeship and why he has such a strong opinion on this matter.

The support and chances Barry has given people over the years comes from one place - he wants them to believe in themselves - he discusses this about Craig and Jim’s personal stories when they were at their rock bottoms as well Barry signing players who have moments before been released from jail…

One thing in this episode is clear - Barry believes in The Assist Mission to make changes to the game and individuals so they don’t feel they are on their own and for people to recognize there is always someone who cares that you are still here today. Even on the hard days when you don’t believe in yourself, someone believes in you and is by your side rooting for you.

Trigger Warning - this is an open, raw conversation that goes in every direction possible. Jim, Craig and Barry openly share and discuss aspects around suicide thoughts & attempts, drugs, alcohol, gambling, addiction, seeking mental health support (and at times not seeking support).

Want to connect with the lads?

Instagram:

Craig @craig_mackail_smith

Jim @jimburnside13

Twitter:

Craig @12CMS12

Jim @Jimburnside10

Interested in sponsorship opportunities?

Drop us a message info@assist-uk.co.uk

Introducing Assist. It’s time to change the narrative around Men’s mental health and the sporting world.

We’re ready to help guide men (in particular) in their journey to exploring and improving mental health and the journey of life - buckle up for some raw, heartbreaking confessions of their toughest moments and how it shaped them and their loved ones!

So who are @craig_mackail_smith & @jimburnside13

From grassroots to international football, Craig and Jim bring years of experience from their playing careers and work with athletes, coaches, and business leaders. Craig, a former pro for 13 years and debutant for Scotland against Brazil, is now Head of Performance Coach at Woking FC and runs Elev8tionUK, focusing on striker performance and holistic coaching.

Jim, a fitness studio owner, trains everyone from everyday fitness enthusiasts to international athletes, and has a great network of inspiring clients and friends. He also has a memorable story from playing at Wembley, ending up in a clinic just hours after the match!

Trigger Warning - in typical Craig and Jim style they provide a brutal honest first episode and openly share and discuss aspects around suicide thoughts & attempts, drugs, alcohol, addiction, seeking mental health support (and at times not seeking support). Of course there is also discussions around spells in prisons/cells, posing a threat to society, mental health diagnoses and medications to name a few!