“I Thought Therapy Couldn’t Help” - Join us in this powerful episode featuring Daniel Middleton, better known as DanTDM, the UK’s most-followed YouTuber with over 29 million subscribers.
Dan shares the untold story behind his rise to fame — from navigating childhood challenges such as social anxiety and the divorce of his parents, to his struggle with severe postnatal depression during early fatherhood.
Learn how Dan overcame his mental health struggles through therapy and his advice on how to protect ones mental health through difficult times.
If you’re affected by anything discussed in this episode, please contact the below organisations and charities who can provide support:
Samaritans - https://g2ul0.app.link/1CRhatR7mPb
CALM - https://g2ul0.app.link/YvmzhM17mPb
MIND - https://g2ul0.app.link/d72yzu7jJOb
Follow Dan here:
YouTube - https://g2ul0.app.link/tjSbVHz7mPb
Instagram - https://g2ul0.app.link/MEkgFAI7mPb
X - https://g2ul0.app.link/341f8KC7mPb
Follow me here:
https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk
https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod
Sections:
00:00 Introduction To The Episode
02:16 Being Compared To Michael Jackson
02:46 The Origin Of The Name “Dan TDM" Explained
03:34 Balancing Two Personalities
04:33 A Look Back At Dan's Childhood
05:27 How Divorce Shaped Dan's Childhood
07:46 Surviving Secondary School
12:53 How Dan Started His YouTube Career
16:43 What Is Minecraft? A Beginner’s Guide
18:32 How Minecraft Transformed Dan's Life
21:18 When Dan Realized YouTube Could Be A Career
22:49 Transitioning To Full-Time YouTube
27:07 Why Dan Is One Of YouTube's Most Successful Creators
34:48 Breaking Down The 2017 Forbes Article On Dan
37:56 How Dan Coped With Sudden Fame
42:33 Managing Fame As An Introvert
44:06 Why Dan Is A Positive Role Model For Fans
44:59 Dan’s Impact On His Young Audience
47:39 Behind The Scenes Of Dan's Live Show
51:17 Inside Dan's Relationship With His Wife
54:20 Why Dan Got Married At 21
55:26 How Dan's Wife Influenced His Success
58:43 How Becoming A Father Changed Dan's Life
01:01:26 Huel Sponsorship
01:02:28 Tinder Ad Spot
01:03:24 Dan Advocates For Men’s Mental Health
01:06:16 Struggling With Mental Health During Lockdown
01:09:18 Hitting Rock Bottom
01:10:55 Dan's Honest Experience With Anti-Depressants
01:12:05 Dan Opens Up About Suicidal Thoughts
01:15:21 How Dan Shared His Feelings With His Wife
01:17:45 Exploring Why Dan Felt The Way He Did
01:20:01 What Early Fatherhood Taught Dan
01:24:10 How Therapy Helped Dan Overcome His Struggles
01:27:11 Creating YouTube Content While Battling Depression
01:31:06 How Being A Man Shapes Dan’s Views On Mental Health
01:34:18 Dan’s Advice For Those Struggling With Mental Health
01:36:38 What’s Next For Dan? Future Plans Revealed
01:41:38 Is Being A YouTuber A Sustainable Career?
01:44:07 Dan’s Top Tips For Growing A Successful YouTube Channel
01:46:43 How Many Subscribers Does Dan Have Today?
01:47:02 Dan’s Most Memorable Conversation Ever
01:49:48 Key Takeaways From This Episode
01:52:33 Adobe Sponsorship
Sponsored by:
Adobe: https://www.adobe.com/uk/express/
Tinder: https://tinder.com/en-GB/
Huel: https://huel.com/paul/ use code PAUL
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices