Big Fellas

About Big Fellas

Big Fellas is the men’s weight loss podcast for anyone who’s ever said, “Right, I’m starting again on Monday.” Hosted by Mark Hall, the show brings honest conversations about losing weight, getting healthier and navigating life as a bigger bloke. Having faced his own struggles with weight, Mark understands the diets, the setbacks, the confidence knocks and the effort it takes to get going again. With humour, curiosity and a willingness to talk about the difficult stuff, Big Fellas explores what helps men make lasting changes—and why knowing what to do doesn’t always make doing it easy. The show features three types of episode: BIG LOSER STORIES Personal conversations with men who have lost significant weight. How did they get started? What changed? What helped them keep going, and what are they still finding difficult? These episodes explore the person behind the transformation, including the setbacks, everyday habits and victories beyond the scales. EXPERT GUESTS Conversations with people who bring professional knowledge and experience to men’s weight loss, health and wellbeing. Mark asks the questions listeners want answered, exploring different approaches and making complex subjects easier to understand. From nutrition and exercise to mindset, medication and surgery, the aim is to help you feel better informed. SHARED EXPERIENCES & NEWS Episodes exploring the everyday realities of trying to get healthier, alongside news and developments that matter to men. Expect personal reflections, fresh starts, honest discussions about motivation and habits, and a look at the stories getting people talking. Across every episode, the conversation goes beyond the number on the scales. Confidence, mental health, body image, fatherhood, relationships and the pressures of everyday life all have a place here. So do the achievements a weigh-in can’t measure: keeping up with the kids, feeling comfortable in a photograph or saying yes to something you once would have avoided. There’s no assumption that everyone’s journey should look the same. Big Fellas makes room for different experiences, different approaches and the reality that progress can be messy. Whether you’re taking your first step, maintaining a weight loss or picking yourself up after another setback, you’re welcome here. You don’t need to have it all figured out to join the conversation. Think of it as a chat with mates who understand the struggle: open, encouraging and willing to talk about the things men often keep to themselves. Follow Big Fellas and join Mark Hall for real stories, expert insight and honest conversations about men’s weight loss, health and life.

Publisher

Mark Hall

Category

education · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

22 Aug 2024

Latest episode

2 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

104 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Nov 2026

   Don't Wait Until It Breaks: Dr Fraser Gordon on Men's Health After 40

   Men's Health Over 40 with Dr Fraser Gordon | Big Fellas Podcast Hosts Mark and Chris talk to Dr Fraser Gordon about the health questions that arrive at 40. Chris turns 40 on 2 September, and this episode follows on from last week's. Fraser covers the numbers worth tracking, GLP-1 medication, BMI, hormone myths and when to seek help. Guest Dr Fraser Gordon is a consultant physician still working in the NHS. He started as a scientist, with a degree and PhD in pharmacology and adverse drug reactions. He also runs a private business, Xvera Medical, focused on midlife health in men and women, including testosterone and menopause. He describes his work as "the messy area of medicine". Key topics Why men put off health checks: a UK study of about four million people found working-age men have about a third fewer GP consultations than women Most health concerns develop silently, so blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and waistline matter Fraser's "free machine" analogy: the body lasts 80-90 years with occasional checks, and middle age is like a classic car Excess weight raises the risk of insulin resistance, diabetes, vascular problems and fatty liver Walking 2,000 to 7,000 steps a day is linked to about 25% lower cardiovascular risk Lowering the top blood pressure number by about 10 cuts serious risk by about 20% A waist-to-height ratio under 0.5 means about 39% less risk of cardiovascular death GLP-1 weight loss medication is "a game changer" but a tool, not a magic bullet BMI is a useful rough guide but oversimplified "Cortisol belly" tests and supplements sell a manufactured diagnosis Timestamps (0:11) Welcome, Mark's five weeks in a row at Man v Fat, and meeting the guest (2:20) Fraser's background: NHS consultant, pharmacology PhD, Xvera Medical (4:11) Chris on turning 40 and men avoiding the doctor (4:54) Why men delay care, and the four million person UK study (7:09) Warning signs that develop silently (8:30) The "free machine" analogy (12:57) What excess weight does to insulin, vessels and liver (14:42) How much damage is already done after losing 12.5 stone (17:49) Steps, blood pressure, waist-to-height ratio and resistance training (21:35) GLP-1 medication: stabilisers on a bike, not a magic bullet (31:26) Why BMI is oversimplified (35:17) Fraser's four key numbers and marginal gains (37:44) Cortisol belly and hormone snake oil (44:07) Stress, sleep and alcohol, and Mark's story of staying off drink (48:04) Sleep, sleep apnoea, late alcohol and caffeine (50:20) When to seek help (52:32) Risk perception: a stroke patient who refused statins (55:03) Fraser's three takeaways Main takeaways You're not on your own. Support exists, including lifestyle support, medication and communities. Keep it simple. Focus on four numbers: blood pressure, cholesterol, HbA1c (a glucose measure) and waist-to-height ratio. Buy a blood pressure monitor or get a well man check from the GP. Success is built on habit. Make tiny changes every day. Worth knowing Piece of string test: halve your height, and that length of string should go round your waist. GLP-1 medication: it mimics a gut hormone to make you feel fuller. Fraser described a patient who regained weight after stopping because their lifestyle hadn't changed. His three steps are to understand the diet link, get support and build habits. Seek help when something starts affecting your everyday life.

2. 

   26 Oct 2026

   What Actually Works? With Guest Co-host Chris

   EPISODE 103: WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS? | WITH GUEST COHOST CHRIS There’s no shortage of weight loss advice—but what actually helps when you’re hungry, busy, surrounded by temptation or starting again? Mark Hall welcomes new guest cohost Chris for an honest conversation about their weight loss experiences: what worked, what didn’t and the everyday decisions that made a difference. Chris reflects on reaching the healthy BMI range and achieving “BMI Boss” status in July 2026, while Mark shares his experiences of restrictive diets, moving away from meal replacements and finding a more manageable way to eat. From birthday parties and family treats to travelling and working from home, they explore how to pursue your goals while still living your life. They discuss hunger, cravings, mindful eating and why one difficult meal doesn’t have to derail the rest of your week. The conversation also tackles accountability, the support of others and the responsibility that comes with encouraging people through their own weight loss journeys. Later, Mark and Chris share their perspectives on GLP-1 medications and the stigma surrounding them, the mental challenges that can remain after significant weight loss, and whether BMI tells the whole story about someone’s health and fitness. An open conversation about progress, setbacks and finding habits you can keep coming back to. IN THIS EPISODE • What helped Mark and Chris lose weight. • Moving beyond the search for a quick fix. • Managing hunger, cravings and everyday temptations. • Balancing family life, social occasions and personal goals. • How parenting can influence your motivation and habits. • Why accountability and support matter. • Personal responsibility when supporting others. • GLP-1 medications and attitudes towards their use. • Confidence, identity and the mental side of losing weight. • BMI, fitness and looking beyond the scales. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and new beginnings 06:11 Mark and Chris’s weight loss stories 13:02 Diet strategies and challenges 20:13 Mindful eating and family dynamics 22:23 Temptations at social events 24:08 Hunger and cravings 25:40 Balancing family and food choices 27:45 Parenting and healthy habits 33:58 Finding a turning point 38:01 Accountability and support 41:33 Leadership and personal responsibility 46:22 GLP-1 medications 51:29 The mental challenges after weight loss 56:47 BMI: does it tell the whole story? What has actually worked for you? Share your experiences, follow Big Fellas and pass this episode on to someone who’ll relate.

3. 

   19 Oct 2026

   Heiner 'Antonio' Salguero - Man V Fat Soccer in the USA

   This week on The Big Fellas Podcast, Mark is joined by Heiner ‘Antonio’ Salguero from the MAN v FAT Soccer League in Tampa, Florida, to talk weight loss, football and finding a community that has your back. Antonio shares his experiences of managing his weight, the challenges along the way and how MAN v FAT has brought friendship, support and a sense of belonging into his life. Together, they explore why progress means more than results on the scales—and why winning off the pitch matters just as much as winning on it. From the differences between football in the UK and soccer in the US to the shared experiences that bring players together, this is an honest conversation about motivation, family and making lasting changes. In this episode: • Antonio’s weight-loss journey and the challenges he has faced. • Finding friendship and accountability through MAN v FAT. • Taking a long-term approach to weight loss. • The influence of family and finding your personal “why”. • Football versus soccer: comparing experiences in the UK and US. • World Cup reflections and the growth of MAN v FAT in America. • Celebrating progress both on and off the pitch. Whether you’re getting started, finding your way back or working to keep going, join Mark and Antonio for a conversation about the difference a supportive team can make.

Who has been a guest on Big Fellas

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Sam Brown
• Ben
• Will
• Dexter
• Josh Deegan

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

128,686

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

1.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

11 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 79 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

94

Social presence

91

YouTube

82

Engagement

31

Contact Big Fellas

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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