Also available at your local Woolies, Big W and Priceline
Free shipping when you spend $69.00
Purchase any Value Bundle and save 10%
Your cart
Related

Podcast Recap: Bailey Smith on Identity, Injury and Mental Health

By Stuff That Matters Team |
Podcast Recap: Bailey Smith on Identity, Injury and Mental Health

 
We often see Bailey Smith as the high-profile footballer
- the flair, the hair, the headlines. But in the latest episode of
the Real Stuff podcast by Stuff That Matters, we meet someone else entirely: Bailey the person. 

In an unfiltered and deeply honest conversation with host Hunter Johnson, Bailey opens up about the moments no one sees - the silent struggles behind his ACL injury, the loneliness before his exit from the Western Bulldogs, and the mental health challenges that followed. 

He describes how losing footy, teammates and routines - even briefly - sent him spiralling and forced him to confront what was going on beneath the surface.  Bailey speaks candidly about panic attacks, body image pressures, perfectionism, and feeling scared and empty when he looked inward.  

But what started as a crisis became a turning point. Bailey shares how those rock bottom moments led him to rebuild, slowly and deliberately, through intensive mental health therapies, meditation, cultivating community, and finding a strong sense of identity and purpose outside of football.

Now settled at Geelong and off to a strong start in 2025, Bailey is more than just a footballer - he’s an advocate for a new kind of strength. One grounded in self-awareness, healthier coping mechanisms, and the courage to speak up. Bailey is doing the work - and speaking out so others might feel less alone.  

In the wake of the recent Selwood tragedies and broader national crisis around men’s mental health, this conversation has never felt so important.

Bailey, thank you for your courage, honesty, and friendship.

Why This Podcast Matters

Right now, men’s mental health in Australia is at a tipping point. Suicide remains the leading cause of death for young men, and too many suffer in silence - weighed down by outdated expectations of toughness and emotional suppression.  

That’s why the Real Stuff podcast by Stuff That Matters is so important. It creates space for raw, honest conversations that challenge traditional ideas of masculinity and remind men they’re not alone. Featuring voices like Bailey Smith’s - athletes, leaders, and everyday blokes opening up about what’s really going on - the podcast is helping to normalise vulnerability and encourage help-seeking behaviours.  

Buying Stuff That Matters products directly supports The Man Cave, a preventative mental health charity delivering life-changing programs to teenage boys. Together, these organisations are not just starting conversations - they’re building a movement that empowers boys to grow into healthy, emotionally intelligent men. And that’s something we all benefit from.

🎧 Listen to the full episode now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or below:



If you’ve ever felt the pressure to keep it together… if you’ve ever wondered what’s really going on behind someone’s bravado… or if you just want to hear two mates talk honestly about life, purpose, and getting through the tough stuff - this one’s for you.

 

Bailey Smith's Favourite Stuff™

SAVE 10%
Face Moisturiser - Lightweight SPF50+ Four Pack

Face Moisturiser - Lightweight SPF50+ Four Pack

Regular price $80.00 Sale price $72.00
SALE
Mix Antiperspirant Deodorant Six Pack

Mix Antiperspirant Deodorant Six Pack

Regular price $54.00 Sale price $32.40
SAVE 10%
Confidence Full Routine Bundle

Confidence Full Routine Bundle

Regular price $98.00 Sale price $88.20
hero-apparel-1

Regular price