The Graft Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

How do you transition from a 9-to-5 job to a thriving comedic career? It’s not just about skill or strategy it's about something completely different. 

In this episode, we’re sitting down with Justin Moorhouse, a seasoned comedian who shares how he feels grateful for his career at every moment - even when that includes eating a cold pakora on the last bus home. 

He talks about the importance of graft, creativity, and the behind-the-scenes effort required in any creative profession. From navigating the early days of freelancing to creating a brand that stands out, Justin’s journey is all about embracing change, staying committed, and showing up even when things get tough.

Listen as we discuss...

(00:00) - Justin’s early days in comedy: navigating the transition from full-time employment

(04:45) - The challenges of building a reputation from scratch

(15:30) - How Justin learned the value of resilience and why quitting wasn’t an option

(27:10) - Balancing work-life dynamics: staying motivated and focused

(38:25) - The importance of networking and building meaningful relationships

(47:00) - Justin’s tips for overcoming self-doubt and keeping momentum

(55:10) - Why success in comedy isn’t just about the work—it’s about persistence and mindset

...and more!

GUEST

Justin Moorhouse -  Comedian, radio DJ and actor

FOLLOW JUSTIN

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What does it take to build a successful football career from the ground up? It's not just about talent or luck—it's about pure graft.

In this episode, we’re catching up with Richard Duffy, footballer turned manager, and all-around embodiment of resilience and grit.

From playing for some of the UK’s biggest clubs to leading Congleton Town with vision and heart, Richard’s story isn’t your typical sports tale. It’s about reinvention, staying grounded, and showing up fully even when the game changes.

Listen as we discuss...

(00:00) - Breaking into professional football as a 16-year-old at Swansea

(05:00) - The shock of moving to Portsmouth in the Premier League at just 18

(12:00) - The reality of constant loan moves and living out of hotels

(24:55) - Hitting rock bottom and rebuilding his career at Exeter

(34:20) - From player to manager: building a winning team at Congleton Town

(44:35) - Why chasing the dream versus chasing money always ends in disaster

(50:22) - What true graft means in football—and why it's never a given ...and more!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Professional Resilience: The reality of football careers and navigating setbacks when clubs try to force you out.

Personal Growth: Recognising when to look in the mirror and take responsibility for where you're headed.

Mental Toughness: Developing the mindset to overcome rejection and uncertainty as a professional footballer.

Management Philosophy: Understanding that playing systems must adapt to the players available, not the other way around.

Work Ethic: Why hard work isn't automatic and must be built in both playing and management.

GUEST

Richard Duffy - Former professional footballer with Swansea City, Portsmouth, and several other clubs. Current player-manager at Congleton Town where he's led the team to a league and cup double.

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RESOURCES MENTIONED 

Welsh FA Coaching Badges: Richard discusses how these courses helped shape his management perspective.

Non-League Football: The importance of local support in building a thriving community club.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to balance ambition, family, and personal growth while carving a unique path? It’s not just about following the traditional route, it’s about living life on your own terms with purpose.

In this episode of The Graft Podcast, we’re joined by April Wild, a powerhouse entrepreneur who has transformed her life by embracing a relentless "can-do" attitude.

From overcoming childhood anxiety to becoming a successful business owner and community leader, April’s story is a testament to resilience, self-discovery, and finding strength through life’s toughest challenges.

Listen as we discuss...

(00:00) - April’s journey from battling anxiety to finding her purpose in business

(05:00) - How motherhood reshaped her perspective on work and success

(12:00) - The power of community: building a network and giving back

(24:55) - Embracing failure and using it as a springboard for success

(34:20) - The importance of staying authentic and true to your values in business

(44:35) - Finding balance between ambition and family

(50:22) - April’s advice on breaking free from traditional moulds to create your own future

...and more!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Personal Growth: Overcoming self-doubt and embracing the journey of reinvention.

Community Impact: The power of lifting others as you rise and creating spaces for connection.

Work-Life Balance: How to stay true to your values while balancing business and family life.

Resilience: The strength found in pushing through adversity and staying committed to your vision.

GUEST

April Wild - Entrepreneur, Wellness Advocate, and Founder of WILD & WILD events. 

FOLLOW APRIL

Join the WILD & WILD community

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RESOURCES MENTIONED

Sound Therapy: The benefits of crystal sound bowls in promoting relaxation and stress relief.

Yoga Retreats: How yoga can create personal growth and connection with others.

Sara Davison is a five-time best-selling author and the UK’s leading divorce coach, but her expertise wasn’t born in a classroom - it was forged on her bathroom floor.

Overnight, Sara’s life as she knew it was annihilated. She discovered her husband - her business partner and the father of her one-year-old son - was not only leaving her but was "madly in love" with a woman 12 years younger who was already pregnant.

The trauma was compounded when the new couple moved into the same apartment development, forcing Sara to watch her "soulmate" move on in front of her eyes every day.

In this raw and deeply practical conversation, Sara sits down with Ben to share the "Balmoral Beach" moment that changed everything. They discuss the physical pain of heartbreak, the "Functionally Friendly" toolkit for navigating toxic exes, and why divorce - if handled with conscious parenting - can actually be a valuable life lesson for children.

This is an operating manual for anyone who has ever felt powerless and decided to say: "screw you, watch this."

🎧 Listen as we discuss…

(01:55) How a personal betrayal created "The Divorce Coach" (02:49) The "Ugly Cry": Dealing with a life that changes in 24 hours

(04:33) The "Elephant in the Room": Why friends don't know what to say

(05:36) The Cockatoo Moment: Choosing to no longer be defined by pain

(06:56) Using yourself as a "guinea pig" to build a recovery toolkit

(09:15) Conscious Coping: Why we aren't taught resilience in school

(12:50) The Fear of Never Being Loved Again: Addressing the #1 human need

(14:14) The Loneliness Trap: Why being alone is better than being in the wrong relationship

(16:15) Learning to trust yourself instead of searching for someone to trust

(21:00) The "Waitress Test": Identifying red flags on a second date

(31:35) Why high-performing men prefer coaching over traditional therapy

(32:49) Controversial Parenting: Turning divorce into a toolkit for your children

(46:25) Post-Separation Abuse: Navigating the "Casino" of the family court system

(51:52) The "Functionally Friendly" Tool: How to attend events with a toxic ex

KEY TAKEAWAYS

"Functionally Friendly." You don't have to be a saint, but you must be a role model. Use visualization to "run the movie" of a successful interaction with an ex before you step into the room.

Trust Yourself, Not Them. Recovery isn't about learning to trust other people again; it’s about rebuilding the internal trust that you can make better decisions for your own future.

Loneliness is Relative. You will always feel lonelier being rejected by a partner in the same house than you will ever feel alone on your sofa. Intimacy is a human need, but a toxic connection is a debt you can't afford.

The "Screw You" Leverage. Use the anger and the pain as fuel. When you hit the bottom, the most powerful decision you can make is to refuse to stay a victim and instead say, "Watch this."

GUEST

Sara Davison - Globally acclaimed Divorce Coach, best-selling author of Uncoupling and Screw You, Watch This, and founder of the International Divorce Coach Centre of Excellence.

Matt Wing spent 32 years as a high-performing, "functional" drinker. To the outside world, he had it all—a successful career, a loving family, and a rigorous fitness regime.

But inside, he was living in a state of "double stress," using alcohol to quiet the noise of undiagnosed ADHD while pushing his body to the brink of a stroke.

In this raw conversation, Matt and Ben dismantle the myth of the "social drinker". They explore the physiological trap of the reward-based drink, the reality of "selfish drinking," and why sobriety in your 50s is the ultimate investment in your "health pension".

Quitting alcohol takes courage - and a commitment to the messy, disciplined process of starting over.

Listen as we discuss...

(01:30) Chasing the reward vs. social drinking

(03:30) Quieting the noise: Undiagnosed ADHD and a 30-year habit

(06:30) The "Double Stress": Why training hard and drinking hard is lethal

(11:00) The Hilton Sign: How one drink after eight months led back to square one

(13:30) Building the "Health Pension": Why sobriety is an investment for your 60s

(24:00) The Blueprint: Replacing the 4 PM ritual with non-negotiable habits

(40:30) Identifying the "Why": Drinking to change how you feel

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Invest in your Health Pension: Sobriety in your 50s isn't about restriction; it's about putting work into a "pension pot" that allows you to be strong and present in your 60s.

The "Double Stress" Trap: You cannot "balance the scales" by exercising to offset heavy drinking. This creates a catastrophic physical collision that drastically increases stroke risk.

Play the Tape Forward: When the "4 PM voice" romanticizes a drink, visualize the 24-hour fallout instead of the 10-minute buzz

Stop at the First Drink: If you lose control after the first glass, the only battle you need to win is not picking up the first one.

When her dogs were stolen, Charlotte Robson hit a breaking point - then chose a different path.

Today she’s a motivational speaker, Positive Psychology coach, and co-founder of The Authentic Girls Club, helping women swap people-pleasing and self-doubt for confidence, clarity, and action.

In this episode, Charlotte sits down with Ben to share how a viral community effort brought her dogs home, why “be the change” became her personal reset button, and the practical self-coaching tools she now teaches: the Weekly Wake Up, the Self-Sabotage Shift, and a method for catching unhelpful stories in real time.

Expect candid talk on motherhood and identity, communication in relationships, and what it actually takes to step onto a stage and speak from the heart.

🎧 Listen as we discuss…

Follow Charlotte / The Authentic Girls Club on Instagram.

When Ben and Mary laced up their trainers in their forties, they never imagined it would lead to a YouTube channel with over 15 million views, a thriving global coaching community, and a brand new career after decades in the classroom.

Together, they are the duo behind This Messy Happy - a platform that helps everyday people fall in love with running and discover the life-changing strength it brings.

From grief, setbacks, and injuries to personal bests, global marathons, and HYROX competitions, Ben and Mary share their journey with honesty, humour, and the kind of wisdom that makes you want to grab your trainers and get out the door.

🎧 Listen as we discuss…(00:00) – From teachers to YouTubers: how This Messy Happy began(01:33) – Mary’s first 10K win, Ben’s early triathlons and discovering running as his “secret weapon”(06:44) – Running as therapy: infertility, eating disorders, and reclaiming strength(18:16) – Why running is the most accessible form of movement(22:26) – Getting started: first 5K, building consistency, and avoiding comparison(31:21) – Progressing to 10Ks, half-marathons, and beyond(35:02) – Running as exploration—why every route can be an adventure(38:04) – Marathons: fake pain, mindset plans, and the “rule of thirds”(44:24) – HYROX: strength, strategy, and why running is 75% of the event(55:15) – Growing up with asthma and becoming a marathon runner anyway(56:03) – Top three tips for anyone wanting to start running(58:14) – Inside the This Messy Happy coaching model: free resources, community, and 1:1 coaching

KEY TAKEAWAYS

GUESTSBen & Mary - Founders of This Messy Happy, a coaching and content platform inspiring thousands of people around the world to start running, keep running, and love running.

⁠Follow them on YouTube and Instagram

Join their community!

Trigger warning: brief talk of suicide.

From a medical discharge from the army to IVF struggles, debt, and sleepless 4am walks, Dave Carter’s path has been anything but linear.

Today he leads Men Walking & Talking in Sandbach, Cheshire - a simple weekly walk that’s become a lifeline for men facing grief, burnout, addiction, relationship breakdowns and suicidal thoughts.

In this episode, Dave sits down with Ben to share how a cold, rainy first meet-up of 13 strangers turned into a supportive community - and why movement, nature and no-pressure conversation help men open up.

Expect real stories, practical tools (from tiny wins to phone-free walks), and a blueprint for starting a group in your own town.

🎧 Listen as we discuss…

(00:00) – Why Dave started Men Walking & Talking

(01:22) – Army dreams, injury, IVF and the breaking point

(05:05) – The first walk: 13 men, rain, nerves… and relief

(07:48) – What a walk looks like (no phones, fresh air, confidentiality)

(10:31) – “I’m struggling” vs actually unpacking it

(13:06) – Why walking works: movement lowers the pressure to speak

(16:02) – Common themes: grief, debt, addiction, custody, loneliness

(19:44) – From listener to leader: the member who became a walk lead

(23:15) – Tools that help: tiny wins, positive self-talk, limit negative feeds

(27:28) – Meditation, journaling and the 10-minute rule

(31:09) – Partners & communication: learning to pause before reacting

(35:12) – Schools, social skills and teaching mental fitness early

(38:30) – Expansion plans across Cheshire & the North West

(41:22) – How to join a local group — or start one from scratch

(44:05) – If you’re in crisis: who to call and what to do now

(46:18) – What “graft” means in mental health: show up, keep walking

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Walking lowers the barrier: movement + nature make honest talk easier.

Admission isn’t action: “I’m struggling” must be followed by simple, repeatable steps.

Small wins compound: 10 minutes of journaling, a phone-free walk, one honest message to a friend.

Peer support works: let men find answers together — it builds ownership and resilience.

Reaching out is strength: help exists; you still have to take the first step.

GUEST

Dave Carter - Walk leader and community builder behind Men Walking & Talking, Sandbach, helping men connect through weekly walks and real conversation.

Follow Dave on ⁠Instagram⁠

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From hospital radio decks and nightclub residencies to Radio 1, talkSPORT, and TNT Sport, Adam Catterall’s career has been anything but straightforward. Known today as one of the sharpest voices in combat sports, his journey is a masterclass in graft, risk-taking, and staying the course when the easy option is to quit.

In this episode, Adam sits down with Ben to unpack his path into broadcasting, the mindset that’s carried him through rejection and reinvention, and his candid take on the state of boxing and MMA today. Expect behind-the-scenes stories from the Olympics, the Tyson Fury trilogy, and why “finding the piece of gold” is the most important part of any interview.

🎧 Listen as we discuss…
(01:08) - Hospital radio, DJ booths, and finding a voice on the mic

(05:00) - Winning a Pop Idol-style radio talent competition

(07:46) - Working multiple jobs and grafting without pay

(09:39) - Obsession, visualisation, and self-talk as fuel

(12:01) - The “piece of gold” rule of interviewing(14:07) - Breaking into sport and landing Radio 1

(18:13) - Risk-taking: leaving a top job without a guarantee

(21:00) - Belief, rejection, and proving people wrong(25:05) - The 2012 Olympics as a turning point

(30:05) - From Absolute Radio to talkSPORT

(35:13) - Boxing vs MMA: UK vs US, time zones, and meritocracy

(41:15) - Tyson Fury, Wilder, and the meaning of resilience(45:11) - Usyk, Dubois, and the difference between athletes and fighters

(49:49) - UFC highlights: Zhang Weili, Ronda Rousey, Charles Oliveira

(54:49) - Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones, and the White House fight rumour

(57:10) - Misfits, Jake Paul, and the blurring of boxing’s lines

(01:06:04) - What “graft” means to Adam

KEY TAKEAWAYS

GUESTAdam Catterall: Broadcaster, presenter, and commentator across TNT Sport, talkSPORT, and beyond.

Follow Adam on Instagram

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What happens when the host becomes the guest?

In this season wrap-up episode of GRAFT, producer Rebekah flips the script and interviews Ben.

They reflect on the journey of launching GRAFT, the emotional and professional lessons learned, and what it really means to “graft” in today’s world.

If you’ve been with us from the beginning - or are just jumping in - this is the perfect episode to hear what GRAFT is all about.

🎧 Listen As We Discuss...