THE PODCAST FOR MIDLIFE MEN

AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle Man is the show that helps men, and their partners, understand and navigate the challenges of midlife to lead more joyful, rewarding and meaningful lives.

In their 40s and 50s, many men experience deep feelings of frustration, resentment and unhappiness. We feel as though our lives lack purpose and we feel lost. We wake up one day, look around and think “is this it?”

And yet the transition that most men struggle with is something that is ridiculed as a ‘midlife crisis’. So we bottle up our feelings and we battle on. Is it any wonder that middle-aged men are more likely to die by suicide than any other age group?

Middle Man aims to flip the script. We talk to psychologists, health and wellbeing experts, midlife coaches and career change specialists about the issues men face. And we create a safe space for normal midlife men to share their own stories for the benefit of men and their partners everywhere.

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LATEST EPISODES

Midlife Stories: My Father’s Death Changed Everything, with Ben Veal

26th March 2025

The gradual ageing and then passing away of our parents is inevitable during midlife. But navigating the grief and the emotional turmoil that comes with the death of our fathers is incredibly complex. It can be the catalyst for many profound male midlife experiences, including both reflection and transformation. This week’s show features a deeply […]

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We Don’t Need More Mental Health Awareness; We Need More Action – Luke Ambler on Preventing Suicide

19th March 2025

It is often repeated that ‘men don’t talk’ and that, if they did, there would not be a mental health crisis among midlife men. Luke Ambler established ANDYSMANCLUB in 2016 following the tragic loss of his brother-in-law to suicide. Recognising the urgent need for safe spaces where men could open up without judgment, he started […]

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Retirement is a Dangerous Illusion – Ken Valledy on Midlife Careers

12th March 2025

There’s very little more soul destroying for a midlife man than working in a job or a career for which he has lost his passion. And yet we tell ourselves the story that everyone has to do this, that it’s only for another 15 or 20 years, and that then we can retire and enjoy […]

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Most Doctors Have Never Even Heard of Andropause! – Ross Tomkins on Low Testosterone

5th March 2025

The andropause, or the male menopause, is the decline in testosterone that occurs naturally in men from their mid 30s onwards. Unlike the female menopause, the hormonal changes we experience are slow and subtle. And unlike the menopause, andropause is not a widely recognised medical condition. But the impact of low testosterone can be significant […]

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Midlife Stories: Reinventing Life, with Paul Flynn

26th February 2025

Life changes can come thick and fast during midlife. From changes to family set up, whether that be having children or marriage break ups or kids leaving home, to shifts in career, to changes in location and social dynamics, to parental illness and death, midlife can be a tumultuous time when it is easy to […]

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Cold Water Immersion: Science v Sensation, with Dr Heather Massey

19th February 2025

Cold water immersion has gained a reputation over the last few years as a bit of a cure-all for both physical and mental wellbeing, whether that’s wild swimming or a plunge pool or cold showers. But what does the science actually say?  This week Paul talks to Dr Heather Massey, an environmental physiology researcher at […]

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Therapy Should Not Be a Last Resort, with Bill Sullivan

12th February 2025

When it comes to therapy, men are reluctant to seek help. Most will only turn to psychotherapy when they hit crisis point, and even many of those who do seek out help will only do so because they’ve been given an ultimatum by their partner.  This week Paul talks to Bill Sullivan, a psychotherapist who […]

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Loneliness is as Harmful as Smoking – David Robson on Social Connection

5th February 2025

Loneliness among midlife men is at epidemic levels. One in five men report having no close friends, and loneliness is reported to be as bad for you as smoking or drinking excessively. Some argue that it is more dangerous than cancer due to the sheer number of people it impacts and its mental and physical […]

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We Are Catastrophising Sleep! – Stephanie Romiszewski on Sleep in Midlife

29th January 2025

Sleep is something that it’s incredibly important we pay close attention to for our physical health and mental wellbeing. Or so we are led to believe by the media. But acclaimed sleep physiologist Stephanie Romiszewski has a different take on this. She says that we have to stop worrying about sleep, as this is doing […]

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Add 10 Years to Your Life Just by Changing Your Diet! – Dr Federica Amati on Midlife Nutrition

22nd January 2025

There is an overwhelming amount of content out there about what we should eat and how we should eat it. A lot of it is confusing and contradictory, and most of us simply want down-to-earth, practical advice that we can use every day to help us live healthier and longer lives. Dr Federica Amati is […]

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Hi, I'm Paul. I am the Middle Man.

I’m the guy who woke up in his early 50s and felt utterly miserable and completely lost.

From the outside everything looked great. I have an amazing wife, three great kids, a dog, a couple of cats and some chickens. I live in a beautiful 250 year old former coaching inn in the middle of the Oxfordshire countryside. And I have a successful business that I fashioned to allow me to be present for my family.

And yet beneath the surface I was deeply unhappy. I had lost interest in my work and I felt completely trapped. I had no sense of purpose other than continuously driving my kids to and from school and sports clubs.

I felt unappreciated and isolated. And I had no sense of who I was or what my place in the world was. I had become a mediocre husband, a mediocre father and a mediocre consultant.

And then I found my mission. To learn, to share and to become a better person. To bring the challenges of midlife for men into the open. To start conversations that would benefit both middle aged men and their partners. 

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