After spending some time as a couple, Rob and Jodie had been friends for over ten years. He had seen her go through health challenges in the past and always re-emerge to be there by his side. It was with great shock then that Rob received a call from Jodie’s sister on his 40th birthday telling him that Jodie had suddenly passed away.

Rob went to Jodie’s funeral and found himself breaking down in paroxysms of grief. As he went to pay Jodie his last respects, he wracked his mind to think of the right words.

What could Rob say that would encapsulate everything that he had felt for her over the years he had known her? And how would he be able to come to terms with his grief following her passing?

Alex Melia, and the Stories of Men team are on a mission to uncover what it means to live an independent and meaningful life. We'll be sharing this knowledge with you every week.

We’d like to extend our appreciation to today’s guest, Rob. His openness in acknowledging how he was able to express such profound grief as a man is highly appreciated. It also provides a vital part of the puzzle as we try to piece together what it means to be a man in today’s world. [Original air date: May 23rd, 2023]

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Rob also has a podcast named "Sketchplanations".

His podcast is a series to accompany the collection of sketches at Sketchplanations.com; that explain stuff simply from the world around us.

Each week they select a different sketch and discuss how it applies in our lives and to society at large - with a little bit of silliness thrown in.

With friends for 25 years; Engineer & Broadcaster Rob Bell, Sketchplanations creator Jono Hey, and The Apprentice winner 2011 Tom Pellereau.

Listen here: https://tr.ee/U9BRt3bjcy

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