Pete Wicks has launched the second series of his Man Made podcast, with Stephen Manderson, known as Professor Green, as his first guest.
The episode explores personal experiences around mental health, identity and fatherhood, with both men sharing reflections on their lives.
The musician, rapper and mental health advocate Stephen discusses his upbringing and long-standing fear of abandonment. He explains, “I think I still carry those feelings. I just wanna feel safe. I don’t feel safe in my own body. I don’t feel safe in my own head. I don’t feel safe in my own home.”
He also speaks openly about receiving an autism diagnosis and the challenges of how people perceive him. “I’ve been diagnosed as autistic. That’s difficult. People are gonna go, you are clearly not autistic because of how I can show up. That’s exhausting. But that’s been learned,” he says.
The conversation also focuses on Stephen’s experiences with education and neurodivergence, reflecting on difficulties completing formal qualifications despite being academically bright.
He explains how becoming a father has reshaped his perspective and sense of responsibility. “I didn’t know I could do it. I had no experience with kids… So, to find my way to it now it’s, yeah, it was scary,” he says, describing how parenthood has influenced his approach to relationships and self-awareness.
Pete Wicks also shares deeply personal memories during the episode, including how his childhood experiences shaped his own fears around mental health.
He recalls: “One of my biggest fears is that my mum tried to take her own life when I was 11 and I found her… I never want to leave people because I’ve felt it.”
Man Made features open conversations around masculinity, mental health and emotional wellbeing, with this episode setting the tone for the new series. It’s available to list on all podcast platforms or to watch on YouTube.
