Figuring It Out

Dr Alex George

Having amassed millions of downloads with his hugely successful Stompcast podcast, Dr Alex George is putting down his stomping boots to try and answer life’s big questions. But he’s not alone. Dr Alex is joined by research scientist Dr Kathryn Bates. Combining their two worlds to answer the questions we all carry around with us, about our minds, our relationships, our choices and our health. We Google them at 2AM, we talk about them with friends and we wonder if we’re the only ones. Each episode arrives in three parts from Monday to Wednesday. Part One tackles the Big Question. Part Two answers a real dilemma sent in by a listener. Part Three puts the most common claims to the test in Myth, Fact and It’s Complicated.

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628 episodes
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Episodes628

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Nov 3, 2025 · 28 min
Pt 1: From Rugby Star to Paralysis: The Moment That Changed Everything for Ed Jackson
Ed Jackson is a former professional rugby union player turned adventurer, whose life was completely changed after suffering a serious spinal cord injury in 2017. Ed’s had a phenomenal journey since his accident, and most recently completed the world’s first disability summit, ascending up a previously unexplored mountain in Kyrgyzstan. In part one, Ed joins Dr Alex George to discuss his path into professional rugby, how easily sport can become your identity and explains how jumping into a swimming pool changed his life forever… Plus, Ed explains how his values have changed since his accident and unpacks the importance of understanding the differences between hope and expectations. Follow @edjackson8 and check out his Millimetres 2 Mountains Foundation. Order Alex’s latest book Happy Habits - out now! Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 29, 2025 · 21 min
Pt 3: The Winter Self-Care Routine That Actually Works | Suzy Reading
In part three, Suzy Reading shares some valuable advice for supporting your mental health this winter, and reveals the true antidote to stress… Plus, Suzy and Dr Alex George discuss the benefits of being outdoors for your stress levels and explain why it’s important to alter how you show up depending on the season of life you’re currently in. Follow @suzyreading and pre-order her latest book How to Be Selfish: 7 steps to taking back your power, out 20 November 2025. By using our affiliate bookshop you’ll help fund Stompcast by earning a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too! Order Alex’s latest book Happy Habits - out now! Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 28, 2025 · 37 min
Pt 2: How to Advocate for Yourself | Suzy Reading
In part two, Suzy Reading discusses the importance of learning to advocate for ourselves, explains how to build more positive self-talk and why we need to think of selfishness as a coping mechanism, not a virtue… Plus, Suzy takes Dr Alex George through some useful somatic holds which can quickly boost your mood when you’re feeling low. Follow @suzyreading and pre-order her latest book How to Be Selfish: 7 steps to taking back your power, out 20 November 2025. By using our affiliate bookshop you’ll help fund Stompcast by earning a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too! Order Alex’s latest book Happy Habits - out now! Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 27, 2025 · 33 min
Pt 1: Why You Need to Be More Selfish | Suzy Reading
Suzy Reading is a psychologist, self-care expert and author, whose latest book focuses on selfishness, and what it actually means to be selfish. In part one, Suzy and Dr Alex George unpack what selfishness actually is, why being selfish has been demonised in the past, and why our self-care practices need to be more honest. Plus, Suzy discusses the impact low self-worth can have not just on our own wellbeing, but on our wider relationships too. Follow @suzyreading and pre-order her latest book How to Be Selfish: 7 steps to taking back your power, out 20 November 2025. By using our affiliate bookshop you’ll help fund Stompcast by earning a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too! Order Alex’s latest book Happy Habits - out now! Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 22, 2025 · 24 min
Pt 3: What Men and Women Can Learn From Each Other | Caitlin Moran
In part three, Caitlin Moran and Dr Alex George discuss what men and women can learn from each other, how mid-life crises differ between genders and why we need to look for the good news when the world feels dark. Plus, Caitlin shares why she’s chosen to rebel in her 50s, by deliberately choosing to be happy even when things get hard. Follow @mscaitlinmoran and check out the books mentioned in this episode: How To Be a Woman and What About Men?. By using our affiliate bookshop you’ll help fund Stompcast by earning a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too! Order Alex’s latest book Happy Habits - out now! Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 21, 2025 · 31 min
Pt 2: Is it Shameful to Be a Man in 2025? | Caitlin Moran
In part two, Caitlin Moran and Dr Alex George discuss why we desperately need to talk about men’s mental health, how we can rebel against toxic masculinity and unpack why men rarely visit the doctor without being prompted… Plus, Caitlin shares the backlash she received after announcing her most recent book was about men and highlights why we need to focus on the many positive elements of being a man instead of the negative ones. Follow @mscaitlinmoran and check out the books mentioned in this episode: How To Be a Woman and What About Men?. By using our affiliate bookshop you’ll help fund Stompcast by earning a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too! Order Alex’s latest book Happy Habits - out now! Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 20, 2025 · 30 min
Pt 1: Why Feminism Matters to Everyone | Caitlin Moran
Caitlin Moran is an award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster who has written extensively about feminism - particularly in her seminal book How To Be a Woman, which became an instant success in the early 2010s. In part one, Caitlin joins Dr Alex George to discuss how feminism has progressed since the 1990s, why women need to talk to men about their fears and why she believes vocabulary is the biggest hindrance to people labelling themselves as feminists… Plus, Caitlin discusses why art is an invaluable form of human expression and gives some helpful advice for how we can all become better listeners. Follow @mscaitlinmoran and check out the books mentioned in this episode: How To Be a Woman and What About Men?. By using our affiliate bookshop you’ll help fund Stompcast by earning a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too! Order Alex’s latest book Happy Habits - out now! Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 15, 2025 · 21 min
Pt 3: What Disasters Teach Us About Coping with Life’s Toughest Moments | Professor Lucy Easthope
In part three, Professor Lucy Easthope joins Dr Alex George to share what dealing with major disasters has taught her about managing personal crises. She discusses the importance of realising the ever-changing nature of life and reveals why we have so much more individual control than we may think… Plus, Lucy unpacks the difference between good and bad help and highlights the value of celebrating your wins, no matter how small they are. Follow @LucyGoBag and check out her latest book ‘Come What May: Life-Changing Lessons for Coping with Crisis’. By using our affiliate bookshop you’ll help fund Stompcast by earning a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too! Order Alex’s latest book Happy Habits - out now! Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 14, 2025 · 35 min
Pt 2: How to Stay Hopeful When the World Feels Heavy | Professor Lucy Easthope
In part two, Professor Lucy Easthope gives some valuable advice for finding hope in times of hardship, unpacks her concept of ‘the lasagne effect’ and explains why it’s important to live ready, but not scared. Plus, Lucy and Dr Alex George challenge ideas about toxic positivity that arise within grief, and Lucy shares how we can prepare ourselves for power outages and cyber attacks. Follow @LucyGoBag and check out her latest book ‘Come What May: Life-Changing Lessons for Coping with Crisis’. By using our affiliate bookshop you’ll help fund Stompcast by earning a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too! Order Alex’s latest book Happy Habits - out now! Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 13, 2025 · 39 min
Pt 1: The UK’s Top Emergency Planner on How We Heal After Disaster | Professor Lucy Easthope
Professor Lucy Easthope is the UK’s leading authority on recovering from disaster, and has been an advisor on nearly every major disaster of the last 20 years, including: 9/11, the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, the 7/7 bombings, and more recently events such as Grenfell and the pandemic. So many of us may avoid watching the news because it can feel like there’s always something scary happening, but a large part of Lucy’s work is helping people recover and heal from these horrific events and continue to find hope for a brighter future. In part one, Lucy joins Dr Alex George to discuss what an emergency planner actually does, her experience working in the aftermath of 9/11 and why what we do after a disaster matters more than we think… Plus, Lucy shares the secret dangers of heroism and gives some helpful advice for parents on how to talk about world events with your children. Follow @LucyGoBag and check out her latest book ‘Come What May: Life-Changing Lessons for Coping with Crisis’. By using our affiliate bookshop you’ll help fund Stompcast by earning a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too! Order Alex’s latest book Happy Habits - out now! Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 8, 2025 · 27 min
Pt 3: The Power of Being Understood | Izzy Judd
In part three, Izzy Judd and Dr Alex George unpack some of the most common issues that neurodivergent children face at school. They delve into the importance of recognising and embracing our differences, and consider whether labels around neurodivergence are helpful or harmful… Plus, Izzy shares some of the joys of raising neurodivergent children and opens up about how parenting has deepened her sense of empathy. Follow @mrs_izzyjudd and check out her podcast Let’s Talk Neurodivergent Kids Order Alex’s latest book Happy Habits - out now! Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 7, 2025 · 31 min
Pt 2: How Music Helps You Heal | Izzy Judd
In part two, Izzy Judd opens up about the everyday challenges of raising neurodivergent children and shares the deeply personal story of how music became a powerful healing tool for her family after a life-altering trauma… Plus, Izzy and Dr Alex George discuss what they’d change about the education system to make it a more diverse and welcoming space for all. Follow @mrs_izzyjudd and check out her podcast Let’s Talk Neurodivergent Kids Order Alex’s latest book Happy Habits - out now! Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 6, 2025 · 30 min
Pt 1: How Neurodivergence Brings Brilliance | Izzy Judd
Izzy Judd is a musician, content creator and mum of three who recently launched her podcast ‘Let’s Talk Neurodivergent Kids’. Neurodivergence is a common theme on Stompcast, but we’ve never delved into what it’s actually like to raise neurodivergent children. In part one, Izzy joins Dr Alex George to discuss her difficult journey to motherhood, what her experience of raising a neurodivergent child has been like and why she believes that with difference comes amazing brilliance. Plus, Izzy shares why she’s not a fan of the word ‘mindfulness’ and explores the concept of pathological demand avoidance. Follow @mrs_izzyjudd and check out her podcast Let’s Talk Neurodivergent Kids Order Alex’s latest book Happy Habits - out now! Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 1, 2025 · 27 min
Pt 3: An Olympian’s Advice for Coping with Setbacks | Matty Lee
In part three, Matty takes us through a day in his life as a professional diver and reveals the importance of sacrifice when chasing success… Plus, Matty and Dr Alex George discuss how failure is a key part of success and unpack how to have ambition without it becoming your whole identity. Follow @mattydiver Order Alex’s latest book Happy Habits - out now! Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 30, 2025 · 28 min
Pt 2: Coping with Loss in the Spotlight | Matty Lee
In part two, Matty Lee opens up about losing his father suddenly in 2022. He shares how this loss impacted his diving career, why he thinks his later injuries were linked to grief and why he believes talking about those we have lost is so important for the healing process. Plus, Matty and Dr Alex George give their advice for coping with grief and discuss how therapy has helped them in their grieving journeys. Follow @mattydiver Order Alex’s latest book Happy Habits - out now! Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 29, 2025 · 36 min
Pt 1: Inside the Mind of an Olympic Champion | Matty Lee
Matty Lee is a former diver, who shot to fame after winning Olympic gold with Tom Daley at the Tokyo games in 2021. Matty has won everything there is to win in the world of diving, and earlier this year announced that he would be retiring from the sport. In part one, Matty joins Dr Alex George to discuss the highs and lows of his diving career, how he found being in a diving partnership with Tom Daley and takes us behind the scenes of his life-changing win in Tokyo… Plus, Matty shares how he navigated the pressures of elite sport and reveals why he decided to retire from the sport at 26 years old. Follow @mattydiver Order Alex’s latest book Happy Habits - out now! Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 24, 2025 · 15 min
Pt 3: Tools for Thriving in Sobriety | Hannah Viney
Trigger warning: This episode contains reference to drug addiction, substance abuse and related mental health challenges. In part three, Hannah Viney gives some actionable advice for people starting their sobriety journey and shares why practicing gratitude and establishing boundaries is so important when in recovery. Plus, Hannah and Dr Alex George discuss the concept of emotional sobriety and how doing things for others can be healing. Follow @hannahameliaviney and check out her podcast and guides on classapeople.com If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there is support available: The 12 Step Programme Alcoholics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous Turning Point Preorder Happy Habits here Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 23, 2025 · 28 min
Pt 2: What Boredom Teaches You About Yourself | Hannah Viney
Trigger warning: This episode contains reference to drug addiction, substance abuse and related mental health challenges. In part two, Hannah Viney shares what a day in her life looks like now she’s in recovery and explains how she’s reframed both loneliness and boredom since being sober. Plus, Hannah and Dr Alex George discuss the importance of being consistent and meeting yourself where you currently are - you don’t need to change your whole life in one afternoon! Follow @hannahameliaviney and check out her podcast and guides on classapeople.com If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there is support available: The 12 Step Programme Alcoholics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous Turning Point Preorder Happy Habits here Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 22, 2025 · 29 min
Pt 1: What No One Tells You About Addiction | Hannah Viney
Trigger warning: This episode contains reference to drug addiction, substance abuse and related mental health challenges. Hannah Viney is a content creator, storyteller and podcast who has built a following through sharing her journey in recovery from cocaine addiction. Her story has helped so many people, and she continues to make a difference through her platform Class A People, which offers resources for people struggling with addiction. In part one, Hannah joins Dr Alex George to unpack her journey so far: when she knew she needed to get sober, how she got started on TikTok and how her ADHD diagnosis changed the way she approached her addiction and subsequent recovery. Plus, Hannah discusses the importance of getting to know yourself on a deeper level, and shares her thoughts on what really constitutes an addiction… Follow @hannahameliaviney and check out her podcast and guides on classapeople.com If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there is support available: The 12 Step Programme Alcoholics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous Turning Point Preorder Happy Habits here Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 17, 2025 · 27 min
Pt 3: How to Give Back and Actually Make a Difference | Dr James Gough
In part three, Dr James Gough shares his advice for finding hope in times of hardship, and shares why he believes that every single one of us can make a tangible difference in the world. Plus, James and Dr Alex discuss what the future of humanitarian aid looks like and explain why they believe philanthropy is much more than just money… Check out the David Nott Foundation and watch James’ Ted Talk here. Preorder Happy Habits here Follow the podcast on Instagram @thestompcast Get the new, pocket guide version of The Mind Manual now Download Mettle: the mental fitness app for men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.