Tom Stroud and Dan Shrigley are the co-founders of Shoulder to Shoulder, a values-led community of over 1,700 men built around connection and purpose. The pair initially connected after Tom's appearance on 'Love Is Blind', when a viral clip of him speaking about masculinity and emotional openness landed in Dan's inbox. Since then, the pair have supported countless men experiencing loneliness, delivering keynotes on long-term happiness, workplace connection and men's mental health.
What began as coffee between two strangers soon turned into a fortnightly walk-and-talk. Today, Shoulder To Shoulder is a nationally recognised community, hosting more than thirty events each month. In less than two years, the community has been featured in The Times, The Independent, Cosmopolitan and BBC Radio 4, and has garnered millions of views across social media.
Within their keynotes, both Tom and Dan draw on personal stories to create a safe space for audiences to reflect, connect and engage in meaningful conversations. Tom openly explores his complex and unresolved relationship with his absent father, while Dan reflects on his father's battle with severe depression and psychosis, including a six-month hospitalisation.
Ideal for conferences, summits and workshops, Tom and Dan inspire audiences from all backgrounds and share practical strategies that can be implemented immediately. Their work has attracted national recognition, with The Independent describing Shoulder to Shoulder as "the modern men's club fighting loneliness" and The Times hailing it as an "anti-manosphere community". To secure Tom and Dan for your next event, contact Champions Speakers today!
Tom Stroud and Dan Shrigley's official speaking topics are listed below:
Shoulder to Shoulder: Why Connection Is the Most Important Predictor of Long-Term Health and Happiness
The core S2S talk. Using their own family stories and the lessons learned building a 1,700-member community from scratch, Tom and Dan unpack why connection and purpose matter more than diet, exercise, or income - and give audiences practical ways to build both.
Building Belonging: What a 1,700-Man Community Taught Us About Connection at Work
A corporate-facing version focused on wellbeing, retention and culture - what makes people feel like they belong at work, and how leaders can create the conditions for real connection in their teams.
The Cost of Silence: Male Loneliness, Mental Health and Modern Masculinity
A media and panel-friendly talk on the male loneliness epidemic, the risks of the 'manosphere', and what a healthier, more connected model of masculinity actually looks like.
From Coffee to Community: An Entrepreneurial Journey Built on Purpose
The founder story - how two strangers, a coffee and a shared 'why' grew into a nationally recognised community in 18 months. A talk on purpose-led entrepreneurship, resilience and building culture from scratch.
Official Feedback From In-Person & Virtual Events:
“Thanks to Tom and Dan for their brilliant and inspiring talk. It clearly hit home for many of the team, I had so many people reach out to me who wanted to feedback how well thought out the talk was, and how inspired they felt following. The work they’re doing is clearly incredibly impactful to so many people. I shouldn't have favourites - but it was the best one yet.”- Lucy Peek, Operations Manager, Uncovered
“We had the pleasure of Dan and Tom speaking at a business event with several hundred clients and partners in attendance. In my opinion, Shoulder to Shoulder was the highlight of the speaking sessions, with loads of positive feedback. We're already looking for future sessions where they could play a role. Big thanks to Dan and Tom for their professionalism, authenticity, and ability to connect with a wide audience.” - Matthew Eschert, Head of Sector, Reddit
“We worked with Dan and Tom to host a men’s mental health panel as part of the UK launch of an internationally-recognised journal brand. They were incredibly collaborative, allowing us to shape topics which were relevant to men across the country, hosted with authority and sensitivity, and gave all attendees incredible insights into their work with Shoulder to Shoulder and the broader challenges facing men today.” - Sophie Coughlan, Founder, Coconut PR
- 2026 - Accepted to officially march as a community at Pride in London to showcase inclusive male allyship
- 2026 - Secured a premier community partnership with B Corp healthcare company, Sons, to spark male hair loss awareness
- 2026 - Featured in The Times as a crucial third-space solution combatting the modern UK friendship recession
- 2026 - Expanded their digital network to over 1,700 highly engaged members within one year of building the community
- 2025 - Collaborated with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on a prominent anti-manosphere public support campaign
- 2025 - Co-delivered an emotional keynote presentation on social connection alongside mental health agency Good Chat
- 2025 - Co-founded Shoulder to Shoulder, launching its first public walk and coffee event in Hyde Park to fight adult male loneliness
How to hire Tom Stroud & Dan Shrigley
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Tom Stroud & Dan Shrigley for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
