UNMASKED: What Self-Care Strategies Should Leaders Adopt? (A Real-Life Story)

In this Unmasked bonus episode, we rewind to Season 1, Episode 1 - where I (Gary Parsons) was the one being interviewed.

Sarah asks me a big question:

“What self-care strategies did you adopt as a leader?”

What follows is a deeply personal story - one I hadn’t shared publicly until then. I talk openly about a time I was struggling in silence, the pressure of leading through burnout, and the practical steps I took to start prioritising myself again.

This isn’t about bubble baths or to-do lists. It’s about:

- Recognising the warning signs that most leaders ignore

- The raw truth behind my breakdown moment

- What ‘real’ self-care looked like (and didn’t look like)

- Learning to stop performing and start healing

This is the story behind the brand. The moments most leaders keep hidden.

What is Unmasked?

It’s our new short-form series between full episodes - offering unfiltered insights, reflections and honest answers to the questions we don’t talk about enough.

Leaders in Disguise is a ground-breaking podcast dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and wellbeing, for business leaders. Each fortnightly episode delves into the hidden struggles of successful leaders who, on the surface, appear to have it all together but have battled mental health challenges behind the scenes. The podcast serves as a platform for leaders to share their personal journeys, uncovering the realities of what it takes to succeed while managing mental health issues. Visit https://garyparsons.uk for more information.

• No. of episodes: 28
• Latest episode: 2025-04-29
• Health & Fitness Mental Health

Where can you listen?