The star of Off the Grid with Colin and Manu joins Paula Bennett on her Ask Me Anything podcast to discuss his relationship with food – and reveals the one trip that broke him.
Colin Fassnidge has spent years travelling the world, chasing great food and entertaining audiences with his trademark honesty and humour.
These days, one of the things the popular My Kitchen Rules judge is most passionate about has nothing to do with restaurants.
Speaking to Paula Bennett on her podcast href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1049-ask-me-anything-with-paul-101342730/" target="_self" rel="" title="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1049-ask-me-anything-with-paul-101342730/">Ask Me Anything, Fassnidge says too many men are still trying to battle through life’s challenges alone. Often because they’ve never been taught how to ask for help.
“I think coming from the Irish culture where harden up, don’t be a girl, don’t be a sissy, it’ll be alright, just plough on, or maybe have a drink, you’ll get through it. That was the Irish sort of culture,” he says.
For Fassnidge, the importance of those connections comes from personal experience.
“I’ve lost a lot of friends ... That’s getting back to the whole chefing industry. It’s a very hard industry and it can really drag you down if you don’t have the right people around you.”
TV chefs Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel. Fassnidge says men need to learn to reach out when they're struggling.
The importance of connection became even clearer for Fassnidge during a demanding period of international travel, when long stretches alone began to take their toll.
“The biggest thing is hotel rooms on your own,” he says.
“I was in this dark hotel room by the Mekong River, which is probably beautiful, but ... I was starting to go a bit crazy in the jungle, just because you’re left with your own thoughts all day.”
Eventually he sought professional help.
“I went and got therapy. I think every man should get it, especially Irish men, just to unpack your entire life.”
The chef has become a vocal advocate for men’s mental health through When No One’s Watching, a community organisation that brings men together for exercise, conversation and support.
“It’s just a great network,” he says. “There’s guys whose wives have got cancer or something and they’re like, ‘I don’t know how to deal with it.’ Then you’ve got 60 blokes going, ‘Well, do you know what? We’ll help you deal with it, and we’ll ring you tomorrow, and we’ll ring you the next day.’
