In this powerful and quietly revealing episode, Mike Flynn talks about a mid-life experience that will sound painfully familiar to many men: ticking all the boxes, doing everything “right”, yet feeling completely disconnected inside. Mike describes how success masked an emotional emptiness he didn’t fully understand until it almost broke him. He speaks candidly about the subtle slide into burnout, the role of people-pleasing and control, and the cost of never stopping long enough to feel anythin...
Jul 05, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 61
In this extraordinary episode, Kenny Mammarella-D’Cruz - known as The Man Whisperer - opens up about a life that began in chaos and fear: fleeing Idi Amin’s Uganda, growing up in a refugee camp, and becoming the emotional crutch for his family at just seven years old. He shares how these early traumas buried his identity and left him riddled with compulsions, anxiety, and isolation. It’s not just survival. It’s the slow, deliberate undoing of a life built on fear. Kenny takes us inside his trans...
Jun 23, 2025•46 min•Season 1Ep. 60
What happens when the body that carried you through life starts to break? For Waldemar, an architect and explorer from Mexico City, who built his identity around physical endurance, the answer wasn’t to stop moving but to start moving differently. In this powerful conversation, Waldemar shares how knee surgeries shattered not just his meniscus, but his sense of self. What followed was a deep personal reinvention from adrenaline-fuelled guide to founder of the Wildflow Method , a movement philoso...
Jun 17, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 59
In this episode, we're joined by Josh Fineman . Josh had the career, the young family, the success but behind it all was exhaustion, self-doubt, and a relentless voice asking, “Is this it?” In this honest and revealing conversation, Josh shares how growing up as the ‘good boy’ in a high-achieving North London household shaped his adult identity. He talks about the unspoken grief that filled the family home, the hidden cost of seeking approval, and the endless comparisons that wore him down. What...
Jun 06, 2025•45 min•Season 1Ep. 58
Trigger warning : This episode includes honest discussions about suicide attempts, mental illness, domestic violence, and trauma. Adam Smith’s story is unlike anything you’ve heard - and exactly what so many men need to hear. Sectioned at 11. In prison by 21. Found unresponsive in a car after trying to end his life. This could’ve been the end - but it wasn’t. Instead, Adam’s journey is one of remarkable survival and a relentless mission to make his pain count for something. In this episode, Adam...
May 29, 2025•54 min•Season 1Ep. 57
T rigger warning: includes frank discussion of eating disorders, body image, and mental health. How do you find laughter in something that nearly kills you? In this episode, comedian and mental health advocate Dave Chawner takes us on a bold, brutally honest - and often hilarious - journey through his experience of living with anorexia. But this isn’t your typical “overcoming adversity” tale. Dave doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of his eating disorder. He talks openly about how it began not with f...
May 16, 2025•41 min•Season 1Ep. 56
In this episode, we’re joined by Mark Lawry, a former lawyer and long-time stay-at-home dad, who offers a frank and considered account of what it’s like to live with depressive illness across much of adult life. Mark brings a calm, articulate perspective to a subject often misrepresented or oversimplified. He speaks plainly about how symptoms first appeared, why he delayed seeking help, and what it means to maintain a functioning exterior while privately struggling. We explore the difficulty of ...
May 05, 2025•46 min•Season 1Ep. 55
In this powerful and compassionate conversation, we explore what really happens when life knocks down every support structure you thought you could rely on. We talk to Matt, a qualified therapist and podcaster about his own lived experience of emotional collapse in his twenties, the slow journey into therapy, and how healing unfolds - not through instant fixes, but through trust, honesty, and rebuilding from within. Matt demystifies common myths about therapy, shares honest reflections on what i...
Apr 28, 2025•50 min•Season 1Ep. 54
In this episode, we meet the incomparable John Ryan, award-winning comedian, social commentator, and all-around force for good. With a sharp tongue and a massive heart, John has made it his mission to reach people on the topic of mental health where they least expect it: through laughter. We explore how John’s stand-up shows have turned into standing-room-only sessions on suicide awareness, PTSD, loneliness, and resilience. From army barracks to working men’s clubs, from prisons to boardrooms, J...
Apr 21, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 53
This episode of Mid-Life Men includes open and honest discussions about mental health challenges, including suicide. Some listeners may find this content distressing. In this frank and powerful episode, we hear from a man who has walked through unimaginable darkness and emerged not just surviving, but speaking with purpose and compassion. Through heartbreak, rejection, success, loss, and silence, Chris shares his lived experience of growing up as a Black British man navigating racism, identity, ...
Apr 14, 2025•49 min•Season 1Ep. 52
What happens when a man spends decades surviving, but never truly living? In this powerful and deeply personal episode, poet, coach, and men's trauma specialist Rick Belden joins us to explore how childhood wounds - especially those inflicted by emotionally absent or unsafe parents - can shape and limit a man's entire adult life. Rick shares his journey from high-achieving student to sawmill worker, reluctant software engineer, and ultimately, to a man who rediscovered his true self through art,...
Apr 07, 2025•46 min•Season 1Ep. 51
Have you ever wondered why you feel physically unwell when you're emotionally stressed, or why even small lifestyle changes can dramatically impact your mental and physical health? In this episode, we dive into the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit with Christian Elliot, holistic mind and body health expert . We explore how unresolved emotional baggage and toxic thought patterns can profoundly affect physical well-being, leading to chronic illnesses and persistent health challenges. Y...
Mar 27, 2025•40 min•Season 1Ep. 50
In this episode, my guest is Ian Morgan Cron, bestselling author, psychotherapist, and Enneagram expert. Most people hear “12 Steps” and think of Alcoholics Anonymous. But what if we told you this programme isn’t just for people struggling with alcohol or drugs? What if it could help anyone - including you - break free from unhealthy patterns, destructive habits, or even the little things that keep you stuck? Ian dives into what the 12 Steps are really about, why they work, and how they can be l...
Mar 17, 2025•41 min•Season 1Ep. 49
In this deeply personal episode, Will Castle shares his experience of losing his father to suicide and the years of silence that followed. He reflects on the complexities of his childhood, his father’s struggles, and the moment everything changed. Will speaks openly about the grief, isolation, and self-destructive behaviour he experienced in the aftermath. He explains how he felt compelled to show no emotion even at the funeral, as well as the unspoken pressures that made it harder to ask for he...
Mar 10, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 48
In this compelling episode, two-time Olympian Jack Green shares his raw and deeply personal journey through elite sport, mental health struggles, and the pursuit of fulfilment beyond medals. At the peak of his career, Jack was competing on the world’s biggest stage, yet behind the scenes, he was battling depression, anxiety, and bipolar tendencies. His story is a stark reminder that success doesn’t always mean happiness - even for those who seem to have it all. Jack speaks candidly about how his...
Mar 03, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 47
In this episode, I'm joined by Cedric Bertelli as we dive deep into the hidden mechanics of emotional pain, trauma, and healing. Our guest shares his insights from years of research on how the brain forms destructive emotional patterns - like anxiety, fear, and self-doubt - and, more importantly, how we can break free from them. Why do we numb our pain with alcohol, overwork, or other destructive behaviours? The answer might not be what you think. Discover how trauma - big or small - can leave e...
Feb 21, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 46
What does it take to survive bullying, internalised shame, and two suicide attempts and then go on to run 401 marathons in 401 days ? In this raw and inspiring episode, we sit down with Ben Smith , whose remarkable journey from a troubled past to a world-record-breaking challenge is nothing short of extraordinary. Ben opens up about the pain of childhood bullying , the devastating impact it had on his self-worth, and the years he spent hiding his true self. He takes us through the dark times - s...
Feb 08, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 45
In this episode, join us for an unforgettable conversation with Warren McKee, an Iraq War veteran who came home to face the depths of PTSD, addiction, and homelessness, only to rise as a resilient entrepreneur and life coach. In this raw and inspiring episode, he shares his harrowing journey from the battlefield to rock bottom and how he rebuilt his life from the ashes. We delve into the unseen battles of trauma, the chaos of addiction, and the struggle to reconnect with family and identity. War...
Feb 01, 2025•54 min•Season 1Ep. 44
In this episode, I am joined by Tom Oxley, a workplace mental health consultant, trainer, and support specialist whose TEDx talk on mental health has inspired over three-quarters of a million viewers. Years ago, while forging a fast-paced career in advertising, marketing, and PR, Tom hit a wall. His relentless schedule and lifestyle eventually caused a profound mental health crisis, leaving him tearful, unable to focus, and uncertain where to turn for help. In this candid conversation, Tom opens...
Jan 20, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 43
In this powerful episode, Patrick Sperry reflects on how perfectionism created an endless cycle of striving and dissatisfaction. From giving up a promising professional soccer career to chasing a dream of being a rock star in Hollywood (and a stint as David Beckham’s body double) his journey took him through heartache, creative highs, and personal reckoning. Along the way, yoga became a lifeline - initially a form of escape but ultimately a path to inner alchemy and profound self-discovery. Thro...
Jan 12, 2025•48 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Ever wondered how to stay calm and grounded while pivoting careers in the midst of chaos? Meet Adrian de Coursey , whose professional path took him from corporate strategy at Shell and Johnson & Johnson to running a small family business during the height of the global financial crisis. In this candid interview, Adrian reveals the high-stakes challenges he faced - burning the candle at both ends, juggling every aspect of the company, and grappling with the reality that his work-life boundari...
Jan 07, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Are you craving more energy, deeper relationships, and a stronger sense of purpose, yet somehow, you are caught in a cycle of “unshakable unhappiness”? In this illuminating conversation, I sit down with psychologist and Silicon Valley executive coach Dr. Adam Dorsey to explore how tapping into the power of authentic connection can transform every area of your life. Drawing on his personal journey and clinical experience with high-achieving men, entrepreneurs, professional athletes, and global te...
Dec 23, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 40
In this raw and powerful episode, we talk to Mike Skrypnek, an international bestselling author, men’s mental health advocate, CEO of Grow Get Give Coaching, and founder of the Unlimited Worth Project. Once a successful investment manager, Mike reveals how a combination of unaddressed childhood trauma and the relentless pressure for achievement nearly drove him to end his life. Amid the chaos of the pandemic, as business collapsed and isolation tightened its grip, he found himself at a breaking ...
Dec 15, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Join me for a powerful conversation with Craig Hamilton, a man whose life story transcends boundaries and stigma. A celebrated sports broadcaster and former coal miner, Craig faced his greatest challenge not underground or behind the microphone, but within himself. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder after a psychotic episode on the eve of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Craig has spent the past two decades turning his personal battles into a mission of awareness and hope. In this episode, Craig opens up ...
Dec 07, 2024•35 min•Season 1Ep. 38
In this open and honest episode, we're joined by Patrick Donnelly, who discusses the often-unspoken struggles men face when the weight of life feels overwhelming and futile. Patrick bravely shares how anxiety and depression took root after becoming a father, amplifying his long-held belief that nothing he attempted would succeed. His story reveals the toll of a lifetime spent avoiding risks, taking the easiest paths, and resigning himself to failure before even trying. Through therapy and a tran...
Nov 26, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 37
In this compelling episode, we dive deep into the silent struggles many men face in expressing themselves—emotionally, verbally, and even creatively. Joined by Dr Danny Brassell, a dynamic speaker, author, and first and foremost, a teacher, we explore the roots of men’s anxiety around vulnerability, confidence, and connection. Danny shares personal stories of overcoming a childhood stutter, life-changing encounters, and his transformative work with men in high-pressure careers and everyday life....
Nov 18, 2024•46 min•Season 1Ep. 36
In this episode, David Westgate shares his deeply personal journey with bipolar 1, reflecting on how the disorder manifested in his life and the impact it had on his relationships, career, and daily routines. He describes the struggle of living with undiagnosed bipolar disorder, where periods of extreme highs felt like "true happiness," only to be followed by profound, often debilitating depression. From early symptoms in his twenties through a pivotal moment that led him to seek medical help, h...
Nov 05, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 35
In this episode, I’m joined by Russ, a third-generation tradesman, business owner, and host of The Talking Tradesman podcast. Russ has spent a lifetime in construction, a sector known for its tough culture and silent battles, especially around mental health. He shares his powerful journey, starting with his childhood, where he was raised by his father after his mother left the family, leaving Russ to grow up fast and take on responsibilities beyond his years. At just 17, Russ took over the famil...
Oct 27, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 34
In this episode, I'm joined by Jeff to discuss his long battle with mental health challenges. Jeff shares how his depression stems from childhood, living in a chaotic home environment, and how it revisited him regularly throughout his life. He describes how, after many years of struggle, he found solace in both medication and exercise, specifically running and cycling. Jeff talks about how his depression was also linked to seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and how discovering the positive impact...
Sep 16, 2024•47 min•Season 1Ep. 33
In this compelling episode, we sit down with Shawn Bergeth, a former corporate executive who radically transformed his life after 17 years in supply chain management. Shawn opens up about his unexpected job loss, which he saw as a gift, and how it catalysed his journey toward mental health advocacy. From battling anxiety and depression to becoming a psychotherapist, Shawn shares how he embraced vulnerability and deep self-reflection. Shawn takes us on a fascinating exploration of alternative hea...
Sep 08, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 32
