Stories of Men

how power of words with people close to him changed his life

How the power of words shaped Roger Frampton’s career

“When you're with someone, really be with them, really be present, really listen to the words that are leaving their mouth, because those words can be gold dust. And you could be looking back on a conversation in 10 years’ time going, oh I really needed to hear those words.”

How the power of words shaped Roger Frampton’s career

In this episode of Our Voices, we are taken on the evolving journey of the life of Roger, a former model and now a public fitness coach. Roger’s life has had a uniquely interesting trajectory. He recounts some of his life-changing conversations and how the power of words has shaped him along the way.

A deceptive appearance

Despite having a public schoolboy demeanour and currently living in a cottage in rural Gloucestershire, Roger grew up as one of eight children to working-class parents. He also didn’t like school and left without any GCSEs. 

Part of the reason for this was due to the difficulty of relocating to east London from a small village in Northamptonshire at the age of 13. “I literally went from a school in a village to a school where we were getting scanned for knives and guns. It was quite scary, as a kid, because I didn’t know what I’d walked into.”

Following his father’s example


While Roger would go on to acknowledge the power of words, it was initially the power of example which influenced him. His dad was a carpenter and Roger took the opportunity of learning his trade. 

His dad was a sublime role model as an example of conscientiousness and work ethic. “He was very methodical about his work. And so that’s definitely a characteristic that I’ve taken from him.”

Robert shares experiences that prove what is said and heard is important.


An irresistible opportunity

Becoming a carpenter proved only to be the beginning of Roger’s story, however. While in the pub one day, he found himself scouted by one of London’s biggest modelling agencies and the potential opportunities excited him.

 “So I was like, oh, hang on a minute. You mean I can travel to New York, Paris, Milan, have people taking pictures of me. Or I can just sit here and graft my way through life…” 

Global success

The decision proved to be a no-brainer, and Roger spent the next period of his life enjoying global success. He modelled brands including Calvin Klein and Aquascutum. Yet he was acutely aware of the fact that, as a model, his career would have a limited shelf-life. He also did not particularly enjoy modelling. 

He craved a career in which he could develop and improve. By contrast, modelling was completely based on Roger’s appearance and “you can’t change it, you can’t control it, you can’t get better at it.”

A life-changing conversation put Robert on the path of being a trainer, as this is what he loved doing.


The power of words


Roger’s dissatisfaction with modelling led him to have a life-changing conversation. Talking to his uncle, Campbell, Roger confessed that he wasn’t sure where he was going in his life and that he knew modelling was not going to provide him with a long-term career. Campbell asked Roger what he enjoyed doing. 

To which Roger replied “I love going to the gym. But, you know, that’s my hobby, that’s different.” And then Campbell uttered the words which would change Roger’s life forever, he said “You can do what you love for a living, you know?” The power of these words would change the trajectory of Roger’s life.

Starting a new company

The conversation developed and Campbell suggested that Roger should look into becoming a fitness coach. Roger jumped at the idea and he rushed out to get the relevant qualifications. He then set up his own company “Remodel Me”, a play on his past career and elite success.

He showed great dedication to his new venture, literally running across London from Knightsbridge to Paddington and everywhere else in between in order to train his clients. 

The first few years flew by but then Roger realised he still hadn’t quite hit upon the perfect career. “When people are being coached, they don’t necessarily like it, they don’t necessarily want to be there… And that becomes frustrating because you realise you love it, and it’s your passion.” 

Roger Frampton on the power of words


An honest conversation


Roger was feeling the desire for another change of direction. It was at this moment that one of his clients, Dominic, shared some more powerful words which helped him move on to the next level. Dominic pointed out the fact that Roger’s company was inappropriately named. He said to Roger

 “You’ve done all this. You’ve done all these extra courses, and you’re very specified in terms of what you do… Why are you not putting your name to this? Why is this not called Roger Frampton or Roger Coach?”

Recognising insecurities

This set Roger to think about the motivation behind his decision to hide behind a name that was not his own. He realised that, to a large extent, this stemmed from insecurity, a sense of impostor syndrome. Part of this was due to leaving school without any qualifications. 

“It was this story that I had created in my head where I was essentially not good enough, or not smart enough or not qualified enough.”

However, this moment of clarity allowed Roger to reflect on the past with a sense of pride. Perhaps he had not followed the traditional route through life, but he had found a pathway that had worked for him. 

Being true to yourself


Dominic sensed that Roger could benefit from a further change in perspective. So he suggested that Roger do a special 3-day-course.

 “Basically they force you to phone people and have conversations with people that you’ve had arguments with in the past, and to clear up any stuff that you’ve got going on, any hatred or any anger towards other people. They had this sentence, it was: ‘You are of your word’… So really be true to yourself.” 

Releasing a TED Talk

These life lessons helped Roger to really discover the power of words when he put together and performed his own TED talk. The talk focused on the dangers of leading a sedentary lifestyle. He also provided advice on movement and stretching exercises that would help people to become more flexible and to have healthier bodies. 

Roger on stage during his Ted talk on why sitting down is dangerous


Going online

He followed this up with harnessing the power of words in their written form by writing two books. He also established a popular online community in which people can move and stretch together. The online venture particularly took off during the pandemic. It was not long after this that Roger received a call from Dominic.

 “He was just saying how proud he is of what I’ve done, that I’ve put my name to it, that I’m not hiding behind a brand. But I’m doing what I love, putting it on video and allowing other people to try it and see how they get along.”

The power of conversation


Reflecting on his success, Roger believes that the most important things in life are the power of words and being open to opinions. He believes that what is said and heard can truly make a difference in your life.

 “When you’re with someone, really be with them, really be present, really listen to the words that are leaving their mouth, because those words can be gold dust. And you could be looking back on a conversation in 10 years’ time going, oh I really needed to hear those words.”

Share this episode

Listen Longer

Our Voices Plus members get access to ad free episodes, plus many bonuses including early access episodes, bonus episodes and more. Click below to learn more.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

           PROFESSIONAL
 

Laura is the mix engineer for the Stories of Men podcast. She has a BA in Music from Nottingham University and an Advanced Diploma in Music Production and Sound Engineering from Abbey Road Institute. Alongside working for Our Voices she is a freelance sound designer and technician. Her highlights include sound design for JK Rowling audiobook ‘The Christmas Pig’, and sound effects editing on The Outlaws, on the BBC.

For the Stories of Men podcast, Laura is typically provided with a Voice Over and interview. She then cleans the dialogue, integrates the podcast intro and outros, chooses the music that will add to the storytelling and pacing of the episode, then bring all the elements together in the mix, followed by mastering and then delivering the final edit.

Experience in Industry: 3

                 PERSONAL
 

Favourite Food: Potatoes

Favourite Sport: Wild swimming

Favourite Show: Anything Marvel

Favourite Movie: Anything Marvel

Favourite City: London

Hobby: Music

Favourite Book: Northern Lights

           PROFESSIONAL
 

I’m the community manager at Stories of Men. I spend most of my time focusing on the implementation of our marketing strategy, achieving goals and KPIs, and the rest of the time listening to the amazing stories of our guests. What I love most about working for Stories of men is the impact it has on peoples’ lives. It requires a lot of courage to tell your story out loud so I make sure these stories are heard by as many people as possible.

I was born and raised in Pakistan and I’ve been living in Hungary for over two years now. I have a Master’s degree in Marketing and I live for mastering the art of digital marketing.

Industry experience: 3 Years

                 PERSONAL
 

Favourite Food: Biryani – introduced by the Mughal rulers in the Indian subcontinent; this dish is an absolute delight. Also, can never say no to a good burger – extra cheese!

Favourite Sport: Cricket – I grew up playing and watching cricket with friends and family.

Favourite Show: Stranger Things – I love how an odd group of friends fight against challenges bigger than themselves.

Favourite Movie: Harry Potter – The only movie I can watch over and over again!

Favourite City: Prague – Absolutely love the Baroque and Gothic vibe of this city.

Hobby: Netflix, Travelling, and Eating- I want to try different cuisines from every country once in my lifetime!

Favourite Book: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown – A fast-paced thriller that keeps you hooked from the first page to the last.

           PROFESSIONAL
 

I run Fascinate Productions, the production company behind the Stories of Men podcast. I’ve had a wide variety of roles in media, from underwater videography, to live televised sporting events around the world. But since listening to my first audiobook in 2016, I’ve been all about audio and jumped in with two feet. Podcasts are enabling the world to democratise its most valuable information. They’re about spreading messages, and sharing ideas, and it’s my mission to help those holding the knowledge, to distribute it far and wide.

When Alex approached us with the idea of making a short stories podcast, with a big social impact, he got our attention. As the producer of the show, I’ve heard his guests’ highest highs, their lowest lows, and the moments of change that made them who they are – it’s been a privilege helping to craft their most intimate experiences into stories for you to enjoy.

 Experience in Industry: 5 years

                 PERSONAL
 

Favourite Food: Ice cream. It’s just the greatest culinary invention.

Favourite Sport: Rugby. I played from the age of 5 until 26 when a dislocated shoulder put me out of action. Still like to watch now though.

Favourite Show: The 100 – I love those ‘what if humans nearly got wiped out?’ type shows.

Favourite Movie: Gladiator

Favourite City: London. As a country boy from Yorkshire, I never thought I’d enjoy living here.

Hobby: Listening to podcasts while on long walks with my dog Alfie.

Favourite Book: I love to read anything business/startup related… One of the most recent great ones was Good Strategy/Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt

          PROFESSIONAL

 

Richard Willan is the CEO of Fascinate productions, a podcast production and promotion company. Before starting Fascinate, he worked an audio engineer, mastering tracks for artists on major and independent labels.

He is an executive producer for ‘Stories of Men’ where he assists with production, creative direction of the show, and marketing strategy.  

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 15 YEARS

                 PERSONAL

 

Favourite Food: I love Indian food – My favourite dish is a Dansak. It’s a rich combination of hot, sweet and sour flavours, made from lamb and lentils.

Favourite Sport: I enjoy watching combat sports like MMA – Isreal Adesanya is my favourite fighter at the moment, due to his Tae Kwon Do base and speed. 

Favourite Show: Succession – an American satirical drama. The character development is incredible, and the writing is top notch. 

Favourite Movie: True Lies. I find it amazing that someone who can’t act (Arni) has so many great films.

Favourite City: London, because it is a melting pot of culture and the music scene is amazing. 

Hobby: Making music, going to gym and eating out. 

Favourite Book:  The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I love the world she created, and the incremental path the characters take into darkness. It’s amazing.

           PROFESSIONAL
 

I am responsible for writing blog articles for the Stories of Men podcast. I have the privilege of listening to fascinating stories on the topics and issues regarding men that are of greatest relevance to our society today. Once I’ve done this, I create articles that provide an overview and description of the conversations in order to help spread them to the widest possible audience. My job is to make these articles as engaging as the conversations themselves.

As an English teacher who has worked with students from all over the world for over 10 years, I have got used to successfully communicating with those from different backgrounds and cultures. This has helped me to appreciate the value of connection across borders and boundaries. It has also helped me to appreciate that we are all able to learn from each other’s experiences.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 10 YEARS

                 PERSONAL
 

Favourite Food: Chocolate. It’s an indulgence, I know, but it tastes so good. I particularly enjoy dark chocolate for its richness and smoothness. 

Favourite Sport: Football.Unfortunately, my local team (Nottingham Forest) is not in that top league but I hope that one day it will be.

Favourite Show: The Wire. 

Favourite Movie: The Godfather. 

Favourite City: Reykjavik. I had the pleasure of spending two weeks there a number of years ago and I loved the place for its beauty, culture and calmness. It’s rare that you can be in a capital city and experience genuine space and peace and quiet. There’s also a black sand beach to walk along, although, due to the cold, I wouldn’t recommend bathing in the sea!

Hobby: Watching films. I love films, foreign films, classic films, contemporary films, just all good films.

Favourite Book: “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer. 

           PROFESSIONAL
I’m the Editor of Stories of men. I craft compelling narratives from the stories of our fantastic guests, editing their interviews and scripting the episodes. I’m a freelance journalist and audio producer from Northern Ireland, currently based in California. I cover social issues, health and gender – with reporting in The Guardian, Vice, NPR, Cosmopolitan and many others. My focus is shining a light on the communities and initiatives that improve people’s lives. I have a background in the nonprofit space, having worked in communications for a mental health charity, as well as an education start-up. I mentor young female writers and sit on the board of an NGO that empowers women in global supply chains. 
 
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE: 11 YEARS
                 PERSONAL

Favourite Food:  In a word, sandwiches. The possibilities are endless.

Favourite Sport: Show jumping. When I was little I wanted to be a professional horse-rider, and I still get a kick out of watching the pros in action.

Favourite Show: Fleabag: the writing and acting create a thrilling kind of intimacy I haven’t seen anywhere else.

Favourite Movie: Victoria is an incredible German thriller that’s all shot in one take – it’s a real trip. Plus it’s beautifully soundtracked by Nils Frahm.

Favourite City: Very hard to choose, but it’s got to be Barcelona. The food, the pace of life, the winding streets – there’s nowhere else like it. 

Hobby: exploring city streets on my bike – preferably while listening (safely!) to a podcast – is when I’m at my happiest. 

Favourite Book: Bernadine Evaristo’s Girl, Woman, Other is a stunning, utterly unique portrait of womanhood, race, ageing and the principles we choose to live 

           PROFESSIONAL
 
I am the host of Stories of Men. I help to find men that have a powerful voice to share and then I speak to them and help to tease the stories out of them that will have a positive impact on the listener. 
 

While running Swoosh English, an online English school from 2013 – 2021, I had the opportunity to meet men from all walks of life and many of these guys had incredible stories. This inspired me to start ‘Stories of Men’ because I wanted to give these men a platform to share their stories with the world.

I love the detail that people go into and how people craft stories in different ways. My dream and vision for the future would be countless people messaging to tell us how a particular episode has changed their lives!

                 PERSONAL
 

Favourite Food: Avocados – an incredibly delicious fruit that can be used in so many dishes. My favourite is guacamole with nachos!

Favourite Sport: Boxing and football (couldn’t choose one!)

Favourite Show: 2 comedy series: Alan Partridge and The Office (UK version). I just love English humour!

Favourite Movie: Shawshank Redemption: An unbelievable journey full of twists and turns.

Favourite City:  New York – Living there for a year in 2008 changed my life. It made me believe that anything in life was possible if you want something badly enough.

Hobby: Football, boxing, reading, learning Spanish, travelling and watching fascinating conversations on Youtube.

Favourite Book: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts – a book about an incredible journey.