Dean Allen is the kind of lecturer you’d like to have in your university - friendly, down to earth, all for encouraging everyone to use their critical thinking and a genuinely good person. He’s been building his career between the UK and South Africa, but in the past few years his heart and opportunities have grounded him and his family in the Eastern Cape.
As a historian and an author of the bestselling book “Empire, War & Cricket” Dean has been giving lectures and speaking extensively on the influence of sports. Coincidentally, I’m publishing this episode on the 18th of July, the Nelson Mandela day. Nelson Mandela is someone Dean mentions in his talks with utmost respect and admiration.
However, this conversation is much bigger than Dean’s studies and lectures. He approached me as he also wanted to share his own mental health journey to remind us to not take everything at its face value. While on the outside looking like he was having the time of his life, Dean had to go through a number of darker periods to get to where he is today.
This episode has two equally important parts. We start by exploring Dean’s personal mental health journey and his experience with support available in the academic space and then we chat more about his research on how sports are not only a great entertainment, but also a power that can influence social, cultural and even political direction.
Find Dean Allen on:
His website: https://www.deanallen.co.za/
Instagram: @dr.deanallen
Facebook: Dr Dean Allen
LinkedIn: Dr Dean Allen
To learn more about me go to:
Instagram: @conversations.with.my.mind
LinkedIn: Ance Vanaga
Website: https://conversationswithmymind.buzzsprout.com
Lovely music created by: Harlowe King