Episodes

What happens when fame fades, money runs out, and identity slips away? In 2005, Anthony Hutton became an overnight celebrity after winning Big Brother. aged just 23. Within days, he had agents, photo shoots, and hundreds of thousands of pounds in the bank. But when the cameras switched off, eventually life unravelled into drink, drugs, and even passive thoughts of suicide. Today, his story looks very different. As a barber, keynote speaker, and founder of the Never Throw In The Towel Project, A...

What happens when the life you’ve built no longer feels like the life you’re meant to live? At 54, Erik walked away from a long marriage, left the country he’d called home for 25 years, rebuilt in Spain, survived a stroke, and is now creating a new business in AI. His story isn’t one of reckless reinvention, but of deliberate choices, awareness, and courage to face change head-on. In this conversation, Erik and I talk about: Letting go with respect - how to end a marriage without bitterness, ...

What if the root of many problems faced by middle-aged men - burnout, broken relationships, anxiety, aggression - stemmed from something hiding in plain sight: entitlement and narcissism? In this fascinating conversation, psychologist and Dean of the University of Wollengong in Australia, Simon Moss explains why our culture's emphasis on status, dominance, and self-importance might be making us miserable, and what we can do about it. Drawing on decades of research, Simon introduces his new pro...

Tik Maynard is an internationally respected horseman, author, and dad who hit midlife before realising that life is less about striving and external validation and more about understanding who you truly are and how to live from that place with honesty and purpose. Through his journey training wild horses for a high-stakes competition, Tik uncovered something deeper: how presence, vulnerability, and authenticity are not just essential in horsemanship - they’re essential in life. This is a conver...

What happens when the big job ends and no one’s lining up to offer another? For Andrew Middleton, that moment sparked an identity crisis, financial panic, and ultimately, a radical reinvention. In this honest and hopeful episode, Andrew shares how it felt to be “airlifted out of relevance” in his 50s, facing ageism, self-doubt, and the loss of structure that once defined his life. But he didn’t stop there. Instead, he built something new: a portfolio career based on curiosity, joy, and meaningf...

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 anythi...

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 tra...

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...

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 do...

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, Ad...

Trigger 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...

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...

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 ...

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, ...

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...

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,...

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....

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...

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 h...

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 hi...

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 - ca...

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 - str...

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. Wa...

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 open...