Rolleston Yarns With Scotty Brown

It’s Good to Yarn

The Yarns Men host a Christchurch based, men only monthly meetup.

A chance to hear a good yarn, share some food and have a few yarns with other guys. No pressure. No expectations.

This month’s speaker: Scotty Brown

Building it, nearly losing it all, and knowing when to walk away.

Scotty opened his own bike shop at 18 and has spent more than 30 years building it. At 25, everything nearly stopped. He fell seriously ill with a syndrome so rare only around 30 people were known to have had it, and he came close to dying. It left him with a rule he still lives by: live for now, not later.

He’s a dad of two, a car lover and collector, and a self-confessed socially awkward bloke who loves people anyway. He’s also open about his weight. He carried a lot of it until his son Hudson was born, and becoming a dad changed how he looked after himself. He’s since done some serious charity work, including riding 1,000km from Cholmondeley Children’s Centre to Marlborough’s Grape Ride, then six laps of the course.

Now 51, Scotty recently went through the process of selling his business to a global bike brand, and walked away. He’ll share what it’s like to come close to letting go of something that’s been part of who you are for most of your life, why he didn’t, and what being a dad means through all of it.

A real yarn about identity, health and what actually matters.

What’s in it for you:

• Hear how nearly dying at 25 shaped the way Scotty lives and works

  Get an honest take on going through a sale process and choosing to walk away

  Hear Scotty speak openly about weight, health and becoming a dad

  Have relaxed one on one yarns with other men

  Leave thinking about what you’re holding onto, and what you’d do if you lived for now, not later

What to expect

• Runs for around 1.5 hours

• Food & Drink included with the ticket

• The guest's story followed by simple guided yarns in pairs

• You choose how much you want to share

• Turn up as you are and head off when you’re ready

Ticket info

Tickets are $30 to cover food and a drink.

It starts with a story. It ends with a few good yarns.

The Way of The Yarns Men

1. Be a Good Bugger – Back your fellow Yarns Man, listen without judgment, treat everyone with respect.

2. Real Talk, No Bull – Honesty takes guts, and a good yarn goes both ways. Share your yarn and allow others to share theirs.

3. Give a Bit, Get a Bit – Share your wins, your struggles, and your time. You get back what you put in.

4. It Takes Guts to Be Real – Opening up isn’t weak, it’s brave. Dropping the mask makes for real connection.

5. Stay Curious, Keep an Open Mind – Every fella’s got a story. Ask questions, listen in, and share from your own experience. 
   
   

Disclaimer: The Yarns Men aren't therapists. We're men who care. Our role is to create space for genuine conversations and social connections. Think of our yarns as tips and advice from a mate, a place to explore new ways of engaging in conversations and building social connections. We do not provide clinical guidance. If you need help finding support, reach out to Matthew.