“Anxiety Made Me Feel Like I Was Dying” The Creator of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse

We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson

FlightStory

Relationships, Society & Culture, Leisure

4.7 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 14 October 2025

⏱️ 116 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Oscar-winning author and artist Charlie Mackesy opens up like never before - about anxiety, grief, loneliness, and the quiet power of kindness.Content warning: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation. Charlie is the creator of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse - the longest-running Sunday Times bestseller in history, translated into over 50 languages and embraced by millions around the world. In this rare and deeply personal conversation, Charlie reflects on the moments that shaped both his life and his work - from the loss that changed everything to the drawings that helped strangers feel less alone. He and Paul talk about anxiety, friendship, and the radical courage it takes to be vulnerable. Charlie shares: ◽ The moment grief changed the course of his life◽ The story behind the illustrations that helped strangers stay alive◽ How he sketched his way around the world◽ How bad the anxiety got - and the breathing trick that helped him survive◽ The path to The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse◽ The journey to his new book, Always Remember◽ What it took to create his Oscar-winning film◽ How shame isolates men - and why kindness is the antidote Charlie Mackesy, We Need To Talk.If you’re struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. We’ve included support charities below: Samaritans - call on 116 123 or visit https://g2ul0.app.link/xghDmmYV4Wb Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): https://g2ul0.app.link/npaQKXUV4Wb Follow me here:https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod Support Charlie here:Instagram: https://g2ul0.app.link/llwkLT0jrXb Always Remember: https://g2ul0.app.link/l0I8zRXjrXb (00:00) Intro(02:38) Charlie's Upbringing in Northumberland(06:34) Changing Schools at 16(10:16) Why Charlie Started Drawing(19:02) Losing His Best Friend at 18(19:58) Moving to London and Starting His Career(23:12) Time in Manhattan(33:16) Picking Tea in Zimbabwe(35:13) Connection to Brixton(40:07) Adobe Express Ad(41:06) Shopify Ad(42:06) Creating *The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse*(55:48) The Book’s Commercial Success(1:02:43) Behind the Scenes of *Love Actually*(1:06:25) Making the Film Adaptation(1:08:42) Winning an Oscar(1:12:36) Concept Behind *Always Remember*(1:14:47) Love Better Tour Ad(1:15:46) Facing Darker Periods in Life(1:19:51) Managing Anxiety(1:27:55) Attention Span(1:29:30) Creative Process Demo(1:30:56) Friendships Past and Present(1:38:19) Thoughts on Faith(1:43:13) What Paul and Charlie Are Grateful For(1:45:18) Drawing Mantra(1:48:36) Latest Drawing Reveal(1:50:20) Paul's TakeawaysSponsored by:Shopify: https://www.shopify.co.uk/needtotalk Adobe Express: https://ADOBE.LY/PAUL Get Your Tickets to Paul’s Love Better Tour!Bristol - https://g2ul0.app.link/mt5I2RKhrXbCardiff - https://g2ul0.app.link/5mZIoBNhrXbGlasgow - https://g2ul0.app.link/FMk3N4PhrXbBirmingham - https://g2ul0.app.link/pJIj4XShrXbManchester - https://g2ul0.app.link/4SQwKDXhrXbBrighton - https://g2ul0.app.link/BO71HSZhrXbLondon - https://g2ul0.app.link/gm6iB91hrXb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	What was your first relationship like with money? Think back. Did you spend it, save it,
0:04.8	understand it? And was the mindset yours or did you inherit it? For most of us, our beliefs around
0:10.5	money are learned behaviors. And whether our parents were great with money or not, those early
0:15.4	experiences shaped how we think, feel, and behave with it. That's why financial literacy has become a real priority for me and Jill with our boys.
0:24.6	It's why I want to talk to you about our show sponsor, Go Henry, a money app and debit card
0:29.7	for kids 6 to 18 that builds their confidence in earning, saving, and spending.
0:34.7	Parents are still in control deciding how much they can spend and what they
0:39.0	can spend it on, but Go Henry is there to teach them healthier money habits. If you'd like to get
0:44.9	your kids started, visit gohenry.com slash we need to talk, and you'll get five pounds free pocket
0:51.2	money to help your kids start their money journey today. The GoHenry
0:55.3	card is issued by IDT Financial Services Limited, a principal member of Visa Europe.
1:00.8	Pst, hey, it's A.O. Just letting you know you've not visited us yet. It's okay, things are
1:06.7	busy. But that Christmas list won't sort itself. TVs for a film fanatic, tablets for a gadget
1:13.1	whiz or laptops for a super surfer, AEO's got it. Plus, with finance options available and delivery
1:19.7	to suit you, that's your Christmas list ticked off. And you didn't even have to leave the house.
1:25.2	Get your gifting sorted with A.O.com.
1:30.3	One of my best friends from school who was killed when I was 18. That's like a red line
1:36.0	in a life. How does that impact you? Your book is the longest running Sunday Times bestseller
1:42.3	ever. How does that make you through?
1:45.0	Drawing was a way of making sense of things.
1:47.0	At any moment, I could say, here's a drawing,
1:50.0	and it would communicate something.
	...

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