Alan Farragher

Alan Farragher, Irish carpenter turned site manager and founder of Diamond Workwear, delivers one of the podcast's most personal and purpose-driven episodes. After his mother died when he was 17 and his father had a brain hemorrhage six months later (from business stress), Alan took over his dad's construction company with four employees. Now in NZ, he founded Diamond Workwear: hi-vis workwear that raises mental health awareness through design, with 50% of profits going to mental health charities. The conversation covers mental health access gaps (2-3 week wait for counselors in rural areas, workers don't know how to get help, fear of HR stigma), and how having children transformed Alan from an unempathetic supervisor to someone who sees coworkers as "someone's brother, someone's father." Mike King and his team have supported Alan's mission.

Key Topics Discussed

• Diamond Workwear. Hi-vis workwear designed to raise mental health awareness. Bold colours/designs pique curiosity and open conversations, "the icebreaker." 50% of profits to mental health charities. Self-funded from personal savings. Aim: free counseling access for everyone. "Invisibility orange", so much hi-vis no one notices it anymore, like mental health struggles that are everywhere but unseen.
• Mental health access gap. 2-3 week wait for counselors in rural areas is "a lifetime." Workers don't know how to access help. Don't want to go through HR (fear of labels, seen as incapable). Mates in Construction good but urbanized, can't reach rural frequently. Supervisors need mental health training. H&S officers should cover mental as well as physical.
• Personal transformation. After having kids (three boys: one 4, twins 3), stopped seeing workers as just workers. Started seeing them as "someone's brother, someone's father, someone's partner." Stopped getting frustrated when people took time off, started asking why. "I wanted to create a future for my kids where they don't have to jeopardize their mental health."
• Taking over dad's business at 17. Mother died at 41, father had brain hemorrhage six months later from stress. Took over with four employees at 17. Client called, was told about the hemorrhage, said "don't worry, we'll get someone else." Alan: "If he was to die that day, he wouldn't die happy if someone else finished his work."
• Being present with kids. Put phone down, fully engage 100%. Andy's wake-up moment: son kept saying "Daddy meeting, Daddy meeting." "The only ones that remember your long work hours are your kids."
• Mike King connection. Mike King's team has been supportive. "They see the value in what I'm doing." Alan: "He told me I was heading the right way."

Notable Quotes

• Alan: "If he was to die that day, he wouldn't die happy if someone else finished his work."
• Alan: "I started looking at them as someone's brother, someone's father, someone's mate... instead of getting frustrated, I started asking why."
• Alan: "Invisibility orange, there's so much orange out there, no one sees it anymore. Like the mental health struggles that people go through."
• Alan: "The only ones that remember your long work hours are your kids."

Guest Background

Alan Farragher is Irish, qualified carpenter. Took over father's construction business at 17 after mother's death and father's brain hemorrhage. Moved to NZ. Works as site manager by day. Founded Diamond Workwear (diamondworkwear.co.nz), self-funded mental health awareness workwear. Three boys (oldest 4, twins 3). Inspired by his children to create a better construction industry. Mike King has supported his mission.