In one of the most vulnerable, profound, and creatively powerful episodes of Different Hats to date, Sam sits down with illustrator, storyteller, and creative genius Asis Patel.

Asis opens up about his journey growing up without a father, the bold decision his mother made to leave an arranged marriage, and how that shaped his identity, masculinity, and artistic expression.

In a raw and heartfelt conversation, Asis shares the first time publicly about standing on the edge, literally and emotionally, contemplating suicide, and how that moment became a portal to transformation. We dive into themes of presence, purpose, emotional honesty, creativity, and how self-awareness, community, and storytelling saved his life.

This episode is a reminder that creativity isn’t just about art, it’s about survival, identity, and expression. Asis is living proof that our stories can be our salvation.

00:00 – The Spider-Man Within: A powerful definition of success

03:06 – Introducing Asis: Creative genius and storyteller

05:29 – Taking the Mask Off: Living in alignment with your truth

10:04 – Fulfilment through curiosity, creativity, and sensory living

13:28 – Childhood, creativity & searching for alternatives

17:36 – Asis opens up: Growing up without a father

25:17 – Shame, identity & the language we lack as children

28:46 – What Does It Mean to Be a Man?

30:04 – Dancing with the Feminine: Redefining masculinity

34:06 – The power of men’s circles & being witnessed

41:34 – The masculine and feminine in harmony

45:49 – Asis' stammer, bullying, and finding his voice

53:47 – From Stammering to Stand-up Comedy

1:03:40 – Finding peace with his father’s absence

1:17:34 – Creating a life beyond pain: Turning adversity into purpose

1:24:44 – Asis’ Mental Health Struggles: The moment everything changed

1:37:55 – Suicide did happen that day… but so did rebirth

1:47:32 – The Inner Child & Walt Disney dreams

1:48:52 – Final reflections & the gift of storytelling

🎧 LISTEN TO MORE DIFFERENT HATS EPISODES:

👉 https://www.different-hats.co.uk/podcast

🔗 Connect with Asis Patel

Website: https://www.asispatel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asispatel

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asispatel

💡 If this episode resonated with you, please like, share, and comment below. Your support helps us spread this important message and change the narrative around success and mental health.

SPONSORED BY:

Search Seven www.searchseven.co.uk

Nostos Hove www.nostos-hove.co.uk

Rivervale www.rivervale.co.uk

Plus X https://www.plusxinnovation.com/

PRODUCED BY: H2 Productions: https://h2productions.co.uk/

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