If you’ve lost a pet, this is the podcast for you! - Matt Johnsons on Pet Grief, Masculinity & Finding Purpose

What happens when you finally say how you feel, after years of not having the tools, the language, or the permission to do so?

In this deeply honest and emotional episode of Love Purpose Connection, Estelle is joined by Matt Johnsons for a conversation about men’s mental health, masculinity, grief, and the unexpected ways love finds us, even through the heartbreak of losing a pet.

Matt shares how growing up without emotional tools as a working-class man left him struggling in silence, how speaking about his feelings quite literally saved his life, and how spaces for honest male connection helped him feel less alone. He opens up about depression, shame, masculinity, and the courage it takes to be sensitive in a world that often tells men not to be.

At the heart of this episode is grief, particularly the profound heartbreak of losing his beloved pug. Matt reflects on how having a dog gave him purpose, eased loneliness, and ultimately taught him unconditional love. Losing him broke his heart, but also cracked it open in a way that forever changed how he loves himself and others and how this lead to his RSPCA campaign to help people grieving a pet have a voice.

In this episode - Men’s mental health and emotional honesty How talking about feelings can save lives Masculinity, sensitivity, and redefining strength Depression, shame, and self-reflection Grief and the heartbreak of losing a pet Purpose, loneliness, and responsibility What pets teach us about unconditional love

This is a conversation about vulnerability, hope, and the quiet power of choosing connection, even when it hurts.

Subscribe for more heartfelt conversation in 2026!

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