Ben and Frazer are joined by footballing legend Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock. Fresh off his re-debut in the public eye after shedding seven stone, Razor shares some insights from his health journey and tales of his storied footballing career in the Premier League and his post-retirement escapades in reality TV.
Both Ben and Frazer remark on Razor’s weight loss and his new healthy glow. His health journey began when training for the second series of the reality show Harry’s Heroes. He began experiencing dizziness and other adverse health effects.
His resting heart rate was above 130, and the doctor informed him he had been caught at the right time. He was likely a couple of months away from a massive heart attack.
Men’s Mental Health
The conversation turns to men’s mental health, and how Razor’s macho man persona affected his ability to talk to people about his issues both with his physical health and mental health. He describes his drinking behaviour as ‘mad bad glad sad’ syndrome, in that he would use feeling mad, bad, glad or sad as an excuse to drink.
Ben says he’s proud of Neil for making the changes he has, and Neil says that he is proud of himself, which allows him to keep going as when he isn’t proud of himself is when he can slip back into the mad bad glad sad cycle.
The podcast rounds up with some discussion of Razor’s playing career and the parallels of sport and business, including a debate on the best XI Razor ever played with and the management style of Terry Venables, who always adapted his advice and criticism to individuals. Razor remarks that the line between advice and criticism is very nebulous, and the same words can be construed differently at different times.
