I am Sam Thomas, founder of Different Hats.
For years, I chased the version of success we are all sold. The titles. The turnover. The external validation. From the outside, it looked like I had it figured out.
But success built on those foundations has a cost. Burnout. Disconnection. The pressure to perform while carrying struggles you never talk about. I know that cost personally.
Different Hats grew from that experience. First as a podcast exploring what success really means through conversations with entrepreneurs, leaders and people brave enough to be honest. Then as something bigger.
The "You Alright Mate?" campaign started because I saw what happens when men do not check in. With themselves or each other. 75% of suicides in the UK are male. That is not an abstract statistic. It is personal.
Now, through the "You Alright Mate?" Masterclass, we take that simple question into workplaces and schools. Not as a one-off talk or tick-box exercise, but as a genuine intervention that changes how people think about success, vulnerability and connection.
Because being vulnerable is not weakness. It is strength.
And asking "you alright mate?" can save lives.
Creator of the Five Pillars of Success framework. Host of the Different Hats Podcast. Lived-experience, storytelling-led approach to emotional wellbeing.
Founder of IceBreakers Brighton, a community of over 150 men reconnecting through cold water. Built and exited a £3M business. Founder coach blending business wisdom with nervous system work and mental fitness.
Founder of Life Education.
Together, we blend deep expertise with human connection.
Redefining Success: A journey for men
The Challenge
In today's workplace, many men feel constant pressure. To provide. To perform. To stay strong. While holding everything together on the outside, they carry silent struggles within.
Stress. Burnout. Disconnection. The fear of appearing vulnerable. These have become the norm.
The truth? Being vulnerable is strength, not weakness.
The Programme
This is not a wellbeing course. It is a catalyst for culture change.
Over three to twelve months, participants take part in a journey of reflection, connection and growth. Through storytelling, journaling and guided conversation, we create a safe environment where vulnerability becomes a bridge to strength.
Building resilient, self-confident and fulfilled young people
The Challenge
Young people today face unprecedented pressure. Identity challenges. Social media comparison. Academic stress. A lack of emotional literacy.
We are creating a generation struggling to navigate their inner world.
Prevention is better than cure. By building emotional resilience and redefining success early, we change outcomes before crisis point.
The Programme
An adapted version of our corporate masterclass, designed for young people. Using the same Five Pillars of Success framework, we help students develop emotional literacy, self-awareness and healthier definitions of success.
Delivered in partnership with Life Education and Max Marshall.
Copyright 2025 Sam Thomas