Episode 25 Guest Interview with Anthony Astbury - Men, Difficult Conversations & the Cost of Silence

Dare to Speak Interview with Anthony Astbury - Men, Difficult Conversations & the Cost of SilenceAnthony Astbury spent nearly two decades in finance in the City before founding the Whole Man Academy, a personal development organisation for ambitious professional men who feel the distance between where they are and where they want to be. He runs events across London, the Cotswolds and Winchester, offers private coaching, books, a podcast, a membership programme, and corporate talks at companies including Spotify, Lloyds Bank and Credit Suisse.In this episode, Anthony and I talk about what it actually costs men to avoid difficult conversations, why grief is routinely misdiagnosed as depression, and what the male suicide statistics reveal about the consequences of getting that wrong.We cover what shifts in a relationship after a baby arrives, how physical intimacy erodes when it becomes conditional, and what John Gottman's research tells us about those early weeks of parenthood as a predictor of long-term conflict. We talk about the mental load as a project management problem, generational trauma made visible through fatherhood loss, and why most couples are working entirely from the communication patterns their own parents handed them.We also get into the neuroscience of speaking out loud, the Listen, Speak, Lead framework, and why tolerating discomfort in conversation is one of the most underrated skills in any relationship.Anthony also shares a question, passed on by a Californian police detective, that opens up a genuine conversation between partners. The gap between what you think your partner needs and what they actually need is usually significant.Connect with Anthony Astbury:Website: www.wholemanacademy.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anthony-astburyThank you for listening. If you would like to comment or share a difficult conversation topic for a future podcast, please message me.🫶✨️Connect with Eve StanwayIf this episode has resonated with you, the conversation does not have to stop here.Website: www.evestanway.co.ukEmail: [email protected]: @evestanwayFacebook: Eve StanwayLinkedIn: Eve StanwayYouTube: @evestanwayTikTok: @evestanwaySubstack: Eve StanwayIf you are navigating separation and want to approach it with clarity rather than conflict, visit www.evestanway.co.ukDare to Speak: Difficult Conversations That Change Everything is hosted by Eve Stanway, Difficult Conversations Expert and creator of the Listen, Speak, Lead Framework.Eve is the author of Dare to Speak: Navigate Difficult Conversations with Confidence and Clarity, available at www.evestanway.co.ukComing September 2026: Dare to Listen: The Hidden Years, Difficult Conversations with Young Adults in Your Life.