Breaking Stigma: Johnny Starr on Men’s Mental Health, Resilience & Fitness | YKMS

Episode Summary

This week we sit down with Johnny Starr – entrepreneur, fitness coach, and founder of Never Home. Johnny’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radical honesty about men’s mental health. From hitting rock bottom and multiple stays in a psychiatric ward to building a thriving brand with a powerful mindset message, Johnny shares how he’s learned to manage criticism, protect his self-worth, and turn personal battles into fuel for helping others.

We dive into the stigma men still face when opening up, the mental toll of tall poppy syndrome, the pressures of social media, and why fitness became Johnny’s lifeline. This is an unfiltered conversation about courage, growth, and using your platform to lead with integrity.

Key Discussion Points

• Johnny’s mental health journey – from online hate and drug use to suicidal lows and recovery.
• The impact of tall poppy syndrome – why success and positivity can trigger criticism, and how Johnny reframed it.
• Men and vulnerability – breaking the silence, seeking help, and the role of therapy.
• Fitness as a mental health tool – how routine, discipline, and physical wellbeing transformed Johnny’s life.
• Building Never Home – creating a brand rooted in mindset, resilience, and purpose.
• Social media pressures – separating self-worth from material status and external validation.

Listener Takeaways

• Seeking professional help can be life-changing – therapy isn’t just for crisis, it’s for maintenance and growth.
• Your self-worth can’t be tied to material possessions or public perception.
• Criticism often says more about the other person’s insecurities than about you.
• Fitness, routine, and self-care aren’t just physical – they’re powerful mental health strategies.
• Vulnerability is strength, and sharing your story can give others permission to speak up.

Links to Johnny:

https://www.instagram.com/johnny_starr/

https://www.instagram.com/teamneverhome/

Join the Conversation

How do you protect your self-worth when criticism or comparison hits?

We’d love to hear your thoughts – send us a DM, an email or leave us a voicemail.

Please join us on Patreon for our Sanity Checks - our short weekly episodes where we share what’s really on our minds. They’ve been part of the podcast since the very beginning - those little check-ins about what’s weighing on us, what we’re learning, and how we’re holding it all together. 

Join Us via this link:

https://www.patreon.com/14211197/join

Links:

• Follow YKMS Podcast on IG @youkeepmesane.pod
• Follow YKMS on FB https://www.facebook.com/YouKeepMeSanePod
• Email us at [e-mail]

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.youkeepmesane.com/subscribe/

Hosts: Aileen Harvey & Julie Fahy

See https://www.buzzsprout.com/privacy for privacy information

Disclaimer:

Remember, we’re two friends sharing our personal experiences and discussing everyday challenges. We’re not qualified coaches or therapists, and our content is for general information and supportive conversation only. If you need professional help, please seek advice from a licensed therapist.