In episode 366 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked back in with Jamie Dennis.

Jamie Dennis is the Founder and CEO of Mandem Meet Up, a grassroots charity which promotes, corrects and improves the conversation around men’s mental health and wellbeing. They provide an open, inclusive community for all men, integrating a range of social, holistic and more ‘traditional’ forms of clinical support.

We first checked in with Jamie in JCIP #268 in December 2024, where we discussed MMU’s origins, his experience of being a survivor of abuse, social class, and a big turning point in life when he could have gone to prison.

Since then, MMU has gone from strength to strength, changing men’s lives for the better and becoming a pillar of the community across Manchester, Wolverhampton and the wider North West and Midlands.

In this Part 2, we discuss a new youth-oriented programme Jamie has created called ‘Youtdem’ and the impact its had on the young men who've accessed it.

We also discuss social class and the confidence he has as a CEO from a working-class background, the pride in that achievement and staying authentic and true to himself.

We then discuss a collaboration MMU have done with great friends of VENT We Are Survivors and our mutual close friend Duncan Craig OBE, who have created a Survivor Allyship programme to encourage professionals to receive enhanced training for working with male survivors from sexual harm.

A massive recent development for MMU has been taking lease of five acres of land in Wolverhampton, which they aim to turn into the UK’s first nature space specifically for men and boys.

After we checked in with Jamie, we had Leigh Edwards on from MMU Wolves, who ran an incredible 10 marathons in 10 days in June 2025 to raise money for MMU. We discuss that achievement and what Leigh’s fundraising has been invested into.

We then reflect on the growth MMU has done that people might not see: the infrastructure, the hiring of more staff, and the steps Jamie has taken to grow the organisation and the responsibility he has to continue that progress.

And finally, we touch on a few issues in the men’s space which MMU advocate on, including the recent Men’s Health Strategy from the UK Government, which was published in November 2025, and the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, which still counts male survivors of abuse as women, and Jamie’s views on that.

For Jamie’s continued mental health journey, since we last checked in, he has gotten married and become a father, and we discuss these two massive life changes, the benefits its brought him, but also just as importantly, the challenges of fatherhood and how parenthood can impact a relationship.

As always, #itsokaytovent

You can find out more about Mandem Meetup here.

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In this episode of Behind The Decks we checked back in for a third time with Australian DJ and producer, Jafunk.

Lachy was the very first special guest on Behind The Decks when we launched the series all the way back in June 2020!

Lachy then came back on again in May 2023, and three years later he has joined the esteemed group of guests who have checked in for a hat trick of appearances!

Since we last checked in, Jafunk’s career has continued to go from strength to strength. At time of recording, he has amassed over 197,000 followers on Instagram and over 103,000 followers on TikTok!

He has also released two EPs, ‘Disco Nights’ in 2024 and ‘Classic’ in 2025, toured with Australian peers Cosmo’s Midnight, supported another Australian peer and huge artist Young Franco, refreshed his brand identity, launched his own record label AND published his first book called ‘The Independent Artist’s Playbook’ in 2025!

In this episode we discuss this chapter in his musical journey, establishing himself as one of the biggest and most respected disco producers in the scene right now, evolving his sound from Dance-R&B to Disco and Funk, and the two massive achievements of publishing the book and launching his own record label.

We also discuss the tragic deaths of two producers and DJs in the music scene in the last few years, DJ titan Jackmaster’s death in October 2024 and Roche Musique label owner Kartell in March 2025. We discuss these deaths solely in the context of how they impacted Jafunk and how they shaped his attitude towards life, music and his career.

For Lachy’s continued mental health journey, we discuss burnout from making social media content, and finding the right balance between music and social media when both are his livelihood now.

We also discuss the proud moment of having his parents come to a hometown show back in Australia.

We finish with a special section where Lachy checks in with our Founder Freddie about his journey and their relationship over the last six years!

As always, #itsokaytovent

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In episode 365 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked back in with academic Dr Emily Setty.

Emily is currently Associate Professor in Criminology at the University of Surrey. Emily has a particular focus on young people’s online and offline sexual behaviours and the evolving challenges of digital sexual cultures.

We first checked in with Emily in JCIP #210 in November 2023.

In that podcast we talked about her wider academic journey and a whole range of issues she’s passionate about, including: the fear of false allegations young boys have, breaking down the myth of 'oppressor vs oppressed' paradigm and how we bridge the divide between young men and young women..

For Emily’s mental health journey, we discussed the sudden death of her father when she was 21 years old and why it was one of several factors which led to her developing an Eating Disorder, which thankfully she overcame.

In Part 2, we discuss the continued work she’s done with men and boys, particularly around the issue of consent.

She is also about to start a new project about how men and boys engage with online content. Emily adopts a mantra of ‘less pathologising, less problematising’.

In addition, Emily is working on a new educational model designed to help all young people and can provide a framework for teachers and educators working with young people.

And finally, Emily is working with a charity about sexual harms online for young boys – both in how they can become victims of it, and what impact does online grooming have on young boys with additional needs or vulnerabilities.

For Emily’s continued mental health journey, she became a mum in October 2025, and we discuss how her life has changed from that moment.

We finish by talking about how she feels about the conversation around motherhood online, particularly given the advocacy of great friend of the pod Freya India and her highlighting of 'The Femosphere’, which she spoke about first in her landmark book GIRLS. This work was then popularised by the viral piece in the New Statesman, which we also discuss.

As always, #itsokaytovent

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