In this episode, James Doolan of Higher Level MMA talks about growing up in Carstairs Village, South Lanarkshire in Central Scotland. From growing up next to an institution for the criminally insane ‘State Hospital’ to being ruthlessly bullied in primary school, James takes us through the real psychological and physiological responses to the threat of confrontation. He shares the lessons he has learned about life through his professional role in the Martial Arts scene in the UK and globally as both a fighter and a coach. We talk about James' sense of purpose, running an inclusive community-based Martial Arts gym, 'Higher Level MMA'. We chat about the gang violence epidemic that Scotland continues to face in the working-class districts, and James discusses his own experiences with 'postcode warriors'. We also touch on the chronic mental health situation, particularly among men, in Scotland.

Content warnings: Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Violence, Drug and Alcohol abuse.