The Yarns Men #18 - Jonathan Pederson

It's Good to Yarn. The Yarns Men hosts a Christchurch based men only monthly meetup.

This is an opportunity for men from all walks of life to hear an inspirational guest speaker and have a yarn over some food.

Our August speaker is Jonathan Pederson. JP is a natural Yarns Man. He's empathetic, reflective & not afraid to share the hard stuff. In this honest & powerful yarn, he opens up about life’s toughest moments: losing connection with his purpose, facing suicidal thoughts & being diagnosed with testicular cancer. It’s a story of resilience, perspective & rediscovering what matters most.

JP shares how tools like “monkey mind,” long walks & real yarns helped him move through the darkness & how small moments of awareness can create big changes.

Tickets are $22.50 to cover the cost of shared food - chicken wings, chips and beer (low, non-alc, cider or 2 soft drinks if preferred).

What to expect with The Yarns Men event:

• To run for approximately 1.5 hours

• Food from the Food Dude (who runs the food truck at Two Thumb Manchester Street)

• Hear JP's story

• Be open to having a yarn with new people

• The following questions will be posed to the group, and breakout into pairs to discuss:

1. What have you struggled with in the last week?

2. What’s something you want to work on next week?

3. What are you grateful for?

4. What gives you meaning?

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.