All Segments
Thierry Henry: I Was Depressed, Crying & Dealing With Trauma!
22 segments available
If you enjoy hearing about the beautiful game, I recommend you check out my conversation with Frank Lampard, which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEDzn83BxFo 0:00 Intro 02:28 Your Early Context 06:01 The Streets You Grew Up On 10:52 Life Inside Your Home 16:41 When Did Football First Come Into Your Life? 23:06 "I Was Always Looking For Approval From My Dad" 27:08 "I Had No Time To Be A Child" 31:43 Life After Football, Trying To Adapt To Normal Life 35:36 Relationship With Arsene Wenger & How He Became A Father Figure 37:37 My Dad Was Always Putting Me Down 41:19 What Were The Values That Made You A Success? 46:44 At My Core I Was Always Trying To Please My Dad 52:50 Who Taught You To Love? 57:36 Ads 59:34 The Moment You Realized Your Playing Career Was Over 01:02:48 The Moment I Realized I Was Struggling With Life 01:12:09 "I Was Trying To Balance Inner Child, I Didn't Know Who I Was" 01:21:48 The Moment I First Felt Loved 01:30:24 Always Looking For Solutions & Challenging The Way Things Are Done 01:43:22 What's The Next Chapter? 01:47:23 The Last Guest's Question Get tickets to The Business & Life Speaking Tour: https://stevenbartlett.com/tour/ FOLLOW ► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steven/ Twitter: https://x.com/StevenBartlett?s=20 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-bartlett-56986834/ Sponsors: Huel: https://my.huel.com/daily-greens-uk WHOOP: https://join.whoop.com/en-uk/CEO
Segments Timeline
The Weight of Expectations
Thierry Henry opens up about his struggles with depression despite being a record-breaking footballer. He reflects on his childhood, where he felt a lack of love and affection from his father, who instilled in him the pressure to succeed. This segment explores how these early experiences shaped his identity and fueled his desire for approval.
"I was lying a very long time because Society wasn't ready to hear what I had to say but I will be honest with you I was H record breaker history maker Arsenal's record goal scorer throughout my career..."
Growing Up in a Modest Home
Henry shares insights into his upbringing in a modest household, emphasizing the importance of context in understanding his life. He discusses the challenges faced by his immigrant parents and the cultural pressures to fit in, which influenced his childhood experiences and shaped his worldview.
"know that you have to understand his context especially his early context I think we're all products of our earliest context I certainly am and having spent a very small amount of time with you I know..."
Life on the Streets
In this segment, Thierry describes the environment of his neighborhood, filled with both challenges and diversity. He reflects on the impact of gangs, drugs, and the vibrant mix of cultures, highlighting how these experiences contributed to his understanding of the world and shaped his character.
"what was life like outside of the four walls that you lived in outside of the home the streets you grew up on just a normal neighborhood if I can use the word normal neighborhood with everything that ..."
The Role of Family and Protection
Henry discusses the protective role of his older brother during his childhood, which helped him navigate the challenges of growing up in a tough neighborhood. He reflects on the unwritten rules of protection that came with being recognized for his football talent, providing a unique perspective on his early life.
"going back inside your home what was what was life like inside the walls of your home I always think that we learn you you kind of gave a hint to it there we learn emotion inside the walls of our home..."
The Absence of Affection
Thierry delves into his family dynamics, revealing the lack of affection and emotional support in his home. He shares how this absence affected his ability to express emotions and connect with others, highlighting the long-term impact of his upbringing on his adult relationships.
"this oh I early dolls dolls my my dad this is and I said it so many times this is exactly what he said the first time he took me in his arm he didn't say as people joke about it up until now because t..."
The Pressure to Please
In this segment, Henry reflects on the constant pressure he felt to please his father and others throughout his football career. He discusses the emotional toll of seeking approval and how it influenced his happiness and sense of self-worth, even amidst his successes.
"you're progressing or it's always no you miss this or you miss that or so for a very long time up until not that long ago always my thing was to please people because I never got that access that acce..."
Childhood Sacrifices
Thierry shares his feelings about missing out on childhood experiences due to the pressures of his football career. He discusses the sacrifices he made and the internal conflict of balancing his ambitions with the desire for a normal childhood.
"well because I was reading about CLE Fontaine is it's considered to be the elite sort of Academy in France I read that around 1,600 trial for the program and out of which 23 are selected per year yeah..."
Life After Football
Henry opens up about the challenges of adapting to life after his football career. He reflects on the difficulties of transitioning to a 'normal' life and the emotional struggles that accompanied this significant change.
"interesting comparison to make but when you hear people talk in these terms you think of someone that had been incarcerated in jail or you think of someone that went off to maybe the military and then..."
A Father Figure in Wenger
Thierry discusses his relationship with Arsène Wenger, who became a father figure to him during his time at Arsenal. He reflects on the guidance and support he received from Wenger, contrasting it with his own father's influence.
"for arson became it seems from reading your story a bit of a substitute father for you at one point when you moved to s Monaco after C font yeah so you were 17 years old when you moved there Aron's th..."
The Impact of Criticism
In this segment, Henry reveals how his father's critical nature affected his self-esteem and performance. He discusses the lasting impact of being constantly reminded of his shortcomings and how it shaped his drive to succeed.
"have you got specific memories of when you thought you played well but he just oh so many I mean it's that one also is very famous in France people still talk to me about it they still when they see m..."
Values of Success
Thierry reflects on the core values that contributed to his success as a footballer. He discusses the lessons learned from his upbringing and how they influenced his approach to the game and life.
"the values he he gave you and you learn growing up up until you you know you ultimately move on to you know in Arsenal the values that made you successful in hindsight when you look back what are thos..."
Pleasing His Father
Henry shares his deep-seated desire to please his father, which remained a driving force throughout his life. He explores the emotional complexities of this relationship and how it shaped his identity and motivations.
"you think you were going to be the player you become no how do how do you how do you how do you look look I just wanted to please my dad how am I going to think that I you fast forward are going to ha..."
Learning to Love
In this poignant segment, Thierry discusses who taught him to love and the challenges he faced in understanding affection. He reflects on the importance of love in his life and how it has evolved over time.
"also when you went off to when you went off to Barcelona an adjustment period took place and you were married at the time and then you went through a divorce this question of love comes back into the ..."
Realizing Career's End
Henry shares the moment he realized his playing career was over, reflecting on the emotional weight of this realization. He discusses the impact of this transition on his identity and mental health.
"sponsored by and people often ask me why I chose whoop over all of the possible wearable options and I've tried many of them but whoop for me stands out for several reasons a because of its non-invasi..."
Struggling with Life
Thierry opens up about his struggles with life after football, revealing the emotional turmoil he faced. He discusses the challenges of balancing his inner child and the search for his identity.
"you know that you were struggling when I wasw because the cape was always my thing to make sure that I when I felt the struggle coming Cape so I knew it before but I was lying to myself or I was going..."
The First Time He Felt Loved
In this heartfelt segment, Henry recounts the moment he first felt loved, exploring the significance of this experience in his life. He reflects on how love has shaped his journey and personal growth.
"remember the first time I experienced something that would be considered a mental health issue and I remember the the almost the shame I felt because I never thought that as a young CEO at the of 21 I..."
Seeking Solutions
Thierry discusses his ongoing quest for solutions and his desire to challenge the status quo. He reflects on the importance of self-discovery and personal growth in navigating life's challenges.
"remember my kids saved me and I'm not saying that just like that but literally I'll explain yeah I'll explain I don't know where I was going mentally I don't know really I don't know where I was I was..."
The Next Chapter
In this segment, Henry contemplates what lies ahead in his life. He discusses his aspirations for the future and the lessons learned from his past experiences.
"that's been through to therapy because you use terminology that I've typically heard from therapists things like the inner child and no that's something that I've since I'm young oh really I always kn..."
Final Thoughts
Thierry wraps up the conversation by addressing the last guest's question, reflecting on his journey and the insights gained throughout his life. He shares his hopes for the future and the importance of resilience.
"the new tiar what's the what was born out of those ashes what's the next chapter for me my my biggest challenge now is to be a good dad I don't really care about the rest I do understand what I'm sayi..."
Lessons from Regret
When asked about childhood regrets, Henry insists he has none, but emphasizes the importance of enjoying life. He reflects on how mistakes contribute to personal growth and the significance of happiness in the journey of life.
"enjoy it I'm trying to accept you know when people say something to me like I I never used to take a compliment well as you can imagine because what used to trigger me the most was what I didn't do we..."
Transcending Through Struggles
Henry shares a powerful encounter with a fan who expressed how he changed his life. This moment reinforces Henry's belief in the importance of sharing struggles and being honest about one's journey, highlighting the impact of vulnerability and authenticity.
"question before I'm going to ask you instead because I already asked you that what things are you doing that are contributing to keeping you stuck or stopping you from progressing in the way that you ..."
The Legacy of Vulnerability
In closing, Henry reflects on his legacy, emphasizing the importance of being remembered for authenticity and the ability to connect with others through shared struggles. He expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share his story and inspire others to embrace their vulnerabilities.
"matters more than anything else be honest stop lying and I did lie for for a very long time because you have to because Society wasn't ready to hear what you have to say especially in my world uh but ..."