Rollie and Hamish unload their invisible backpacks once again and have all bases loaded on this weeks The Toolbox. First they have a chat with MA Mental Health Nursing student Eddie about an upcoming mental health awareness event at the University of Sunderland. Rollie then chats with the Head of the University of Sunderland Psychology Department Dr Becky Owens about the role of testosterone on male psychology. Join the lads as they learn more about testosterone
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie & Hamish unload the invisible backpack and catch up on their new years resolutions. Rollie talks to Professor Scott Wilkes, a practicing GP and Head of the University of Sunderland Medical School to ask questions about testosterone. What is it? Does it only exist to tell men to shag it or fight it? Can testosterone replacement therapy be used as a workaround for doping in sport? Professor Wilkes answers all these and more!
Mar 04, 2025•51 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Saddle up and get your talking boots on as Rollie & Hamish unpack their invisible backpacks with two top queers, Jay Sykes & Kosti Tsapanidis, who share their experiences of coming out and also how their younger selves navigated their identities in a heteronormative society. Jay is an audio producer whose work has been played on BBC Radio 4, and Kosti is a performing arts student. They are also a beautiful couple.
Feb 25, 2025•50 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie unloads the invisible backpack this week with Sam Clark of Lights, Camera, Action! The movie show on Spark. The lads talk about depictions of mental health on screen and how it's improved over the years.
Feb 19, 2025•43 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie & Hamish unpack the invisible backpack once again after a hectic week. They talk about targeted ads and how ridiculous they are and why people should laugh at them. They also delve into their Christmas stockings and talk their favourite Christmas films. The Toolbox fun fact: Rollie & Hamish's dream is to co-own a monster truck called Big Boy
Dec 17, 2024•36 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this week Rollie & Hamish talk about feeling festive, reactions to suicide and also give out the phone numbers for organisations that help people having a tough time of it during the Christmas period.
Dec 10, 2024•45 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie is a solo polo this week as he drops some ice in his Baileys and opens up about loneliness heading into Christmas, through the wild world of bad Christmas films as he counts down to his first Christmas away from home. He also speaks to Dave Taylor from the University of Sunderland's Wellbeing team.
Dec 03, 2024•31 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast This week Rollie & Hamish unload their backpacks and talk about their time at the Student Radio Awards and their upcoming graduation. Then Rollie gets personal as the lads talk about antidepressants and his relief once he was medicated.
Nov 26, 2024•35 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie's rotten soldier, his sweet cheese, his good time boy Hamish isn't with him this week so he's drafted in Grace and Michaela Jane from In Her Element , Spark's women's' show. They unpack the backpacks and ask each other questions in an episode of The Toolbox like none ever seen before. The Toolbox Fun Fact: Hamish likes a nice curry
Nov 19, 2024•43 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie & Hamish are back unloading the invisible backpack before Rollie chats to mental health researcher and ex-teacher Dave McPartlan about a whole school approach to mental health. If you want to donate to Rollie and Hamish's Mo-space the link is on the link tree in The Toolbox instagram bio @toolboxradio Just because the conversation stops doesn't mean the conversation stops. The number for Samaritans (UK) is 116 123. If you would prefer peer to peer support you can find your local Andy'...
Nov 12, 2024•47 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie & Hamish unload their invisible backpacks once again and reveal the caterpillars on their top lips as they start Movember. The lads then talk about lad culture in the wake of the recent announcement of the Oasis reunion, and what men can do to make everyone safer. If you want to donate to Rollie and Hamish's Mo-space the link is on the link tree in The Toolbox instagram bio @toolboxradio
Nov 05, 2024•39 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie & Hamish unload their backpacks and talk about coping mechanisms, both healthy and unhealthy. The lads also talk about checks and balances by asking themselves five important questions.
Oct 29, 2024•42 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast This week Rollie & Hamish are giddy because they've been nominated for Best Creative Speech Programming at the Student Radio Awards. They've been surfing the internet and entered the manosphere and The Toolbox fun fact: Rollie & Hamish both like a Nice Curry
Oct 22, 2024•39 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie & Hamish unpack the backpack once again. The boys talk toxic masculinty and red flags. Chatting about how toxic masculinity makes things harder for men and why moving away from traditional ideas of masculinity is to our benefit. They also examine common red flags in relationships and friendships, and talk about their experiences with red flags. Toolbox fun fact #005: When Rollie was a child he wanted to be a dog groomer
Oct 15, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast After a short break Rollie & Hamish are recharged and ready to go and they have brought you a packed show. There's the return of our invisible backpack check ins! We hear interviews with Game of II Halves, Impact North East and Sunderland MIND who were all at the Beacon of Light before Sunderland AFC's fixture with Derby County. We also hear from Bob Malpeidi, Studio Manager of Chilli Studios an arts charity that combats negative mental health through art. The Toolbox fun fact 004: Rollie ap...
Oct 08, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Friend of the show and radio tour de force Auburn Langley comes in to talk to the boys about The Toolbox. Why it started, where it is and where it's going. Rollie, Hamish and Auburn recap some key moments from The Toolbox and play clips for a best of show with a difference. The Toolbox returns on 6 October 2024, only on Spark! The Toolbox fun facts #003: Rollie and Hamish have matching tattoos of Marge Simpson riding into Sunderland on the back of Jake Chappell.
Sep 10, 2024•1 hr•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast In an UNO reverse on last week, Hamish sails the good ship Toolbox into the waters of men's health. Jump aboard with Hamish as he plays interviews with prostate cancer sufferer Nick Lambert about advances in prostate testing, and revisits an interview Rollie had with Professor Scott Wilkes about testicular and prostate cancer. The number for Samaritans is 116 123. The Toolbox fun fact #002: Rollie & Hamish like beans on toast so much they hang out just to eat cheesy beans with sausage on toa...
Aug 27, 2024•43 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie pines for Hamish, who is back in Scotland recording for his Masters degree final project. Rollie talks ageing, facing up to your own mortality and how targeted ads go after our insecurities. Toolbox fun facts #001: Hamish is scared of onions Follow The Toolbox on instagram @thetoolboxradio
Aug 20, 2024•35 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie and Hamish talk about their routes into radio, stress and body image with fellow Sparky and University of Sunderland graduate Matt McGough. They also delve into their invisible backpacks and tease a future collaboration. Follow The Toolbox on instagram @thetoolboxradio
Aug 13, 2024•48 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie and Hamish talk about knife crime, an issue that has dominated the news cycle in the past few years and seems to be only one degree of separation away from most people. Rollie spoke to Simon Brown from the Connor Brown Trust. The lads also talk frankly about the violence and disorder that descended on Sunderland on Friday night, and discuss helping with the clean up on Saturday morning where they also spoke to residents and business owners from the city of Sunderland. This episode also in...
Aug 06, 2024•55 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie & Hamish unpack their invisible backpacks and talk about success, side hustles and the Olympics. Would Rollie make a good hammer thrower? Would Hamish look like one of the 118 men?
Jul 30, 2024•40 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast Hamish emotionally supports Rollie after he returns from a wedding in the Cotswolds. The lads are joined by friend of the show Jake Chappell as they check in on their invisible backpacks, talk about going live from a wedding, Ferraris & The Toolbox on the BBC.
Jul 23, 2024•40 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie and Hamish are reunited after Hamish's trip to Scotland. The lads do an invisible backpack check in, speculate on the outcome of England vs Spain in the Euros final and talk about the erosion of men's spaces, as well as the power of catharsis.
Jul 16, 2024•35 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast Your favourite folk devil Rollie is beside himself because he misses Hamish, who has gone to Scotland to visit family. Rollie explores boundaries, self worth and body image, body confidence and willys.
Jul 09, 2024•37 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie & Hamish return after a week off. Join the lads for an invisible backpack check-in, a chat about their walk from Jarrow to Sunderland along the Way of Learning, Rollie's excursion to prison and a mystery interview.
Jul 02, 2024•57 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast Join Rollie & Hamish as they do their weekly unpacking of their invisible backpacks. The lads talk about their Dads in honour of Fathers Day, fashion trends they've seen come and go and music.
Jun 18, 2024•55 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie breathes a sigh of relief as Hamish returns from illness. There's an invisible backpack check in. Sarah from Lighthouse Club, the construction industry charity joins for a chat about the issues impacting upon people in construction and the lads pay tribute to rugby league legend Rob Burrow.
Jun 11, 2024•51 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast There's no Hamish this week, so join Rollie as he brings in guest presenter Jake Chappell on an emergency loan for an invisible backpack check in and chats to former Sunderland AFC player Kieron Brady about his career, battles with alcoholism and mental health. Music from uppbeat.io Hartzmann - Grid
Jun 04, 2024•2 hr 31 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Join Rollie and Hamish as they chat about their mental health roadmaps and speak to Simon Gordon, finding out more about the new Andy's Man Club branch at Kayll Road, Sunderland. The lads also focus in on the unhealthy coping mechanisms they had in the past for a podcast exclusive. Music from Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/grid
May 28, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast Rollie and Hamish check in on each others invisible backpacks, get into the viral debate around men or bears and speak to Chris Smith, the Program Manager of Men's Pie Club, who is fighting social isolation in men through the power of pies.
May 21, 2024•40 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast 
