Topical Tuesdays – The Power of Male Friendships / Why Male Loneliness Matters – and what we can do about it with Max Dickins OP (2001 – 2006)

The Topical Tuesdays series sees guest speakers from the St Paul’s Community share their take on the current environment.

Ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week, listen in to this Topical Tuesday hosted by Max Dickins.

When Max Dickins decided to propose to his girlfriend, he realised there was no one he could call on to be his best man.

He quickly learned that he wasn’t the only man struggling with friendships. For decades, countless studies from across the world have confirmed that men have fewer close friends than women – and the problem gets worse the older men get.

Listen in to hear Max’s findings on why this happens and what men can do about it.

In this amusing and fascinating talk, you will learn:

• The link between social connections and mental and physical health.
• The nature of men’s friendship problem and its three main causes, and some practical solutions.
• Why masculinity isn’t ‘toxic,’ but can get in the way of intimate relationships.
• What the differences are between the male and female social worlds – and why it’s important to understand these.
• What we can all do to have more – and more fulfilling – friendships.

Max Dickins

Max Dickins is the author of Billy No Mates, which has been translated into multiple languages and is currently being adapted for television. On the page, his writing has been featured in the Observer, Sunday Times, Daily Mail, and GQ. On the stage, Max’s critically acclaimed play Man on the Moor has toured nationally. On the airwaves, his radio show on Absolute Radio was nominated for a Sony Award. While on screen, Dickins has appeared numerous times on BBC One’s Michael McIntyre’s Big Show. In his other life, Max is also director of Hoopla, the UK’s first dedicated improvised comedy theatre and school. Oh, and once he accidentally got addicted to Groupon deals: this sad (if quite amusing) experience spawning his first book, My Groupon Adventure.

You can find out more at http://www.maxdickins.com

Find out more about St Paul’s Topical Events here.