Corporate Speaking

A talk about the hidden struggles of midlife men, and why your organisation needs to pay attention.

Middle aged men are disproportionately represented in senior, client-facing or high-pressure roles. And that carries with it significant organisational risk when they burn out, disengage or exit unexpectedly.

Your organisation is almost certainly the same, and the chances are that many of them are struggling in ways they haven't told anyone about - not their manager, not HR, and often not even the people closest to them at home.

Midlife is a period of profound transition for men. Shifting identity, changing relationships, creeping disconnection, a quiet but persistent sense that something isn't right. Left unaddressed, this shows up at work as disengagement, reduced performance, increased absence and, at the more serious end, burnout and breakdown.

Most workplace wellbeing programmes don't reach these men. The conversations aren't happening. This corporate presentation addresses that head on.

"I just wanted to email to say thank you. I found it fascinating and very emotional. A few people have already asked me about it, and I will also be sharing this with my partner and encouraging him to listen.”

What The Presentation Is

This is a 45 to 60 minute interactive presentation delivered by me, Paul Sutton - host of the Middle Man podcast, and a man with lived experience. Drawing on my own midlife journey, research into male mental health, and stories from over 100 men, I open up a conversation that most organisations have never had. It's honest, direct and personal, and it consistently surprises audiences who expect something more clinical or corporate.

It is suitable for all-staff events, leadership away-days, wellbeing weeks and conferences. It works equally well as a standalone session or as the opening to a broader men's wellbeing programme.

What It Covers

The talk explores the often unseen emotional and mental health challenges men commonly face in midlife. These include:

feelings around lack of time, alignment, purpose and self-worth
a changing sense of identity
loneliness that builds quietly behind a busy life
emotions that men keep locked away
the gap between what men show the world and what they actually feel
changing behaviours both in the workplace and at home

It addresses the impact this has not just on the men themselves but on the colleagues, teams and partners around them. And it offers a framework for what organisations can do to create the conditions for these conversations to happen.

What Your People Will Leave With

A better understanding of what midlife men in your organisation may be experiencing
An appreciation of why this so often goes unspoken
Language and permission to start having these conversations
Practical signposts for support
And, for the men in the room, the relief of knowing it is not "just me"

CORPORATE WELLBEING LEAD, FINANCE ORGANISATION

"As part of our Wellbeing Programme we hired Paul to create and deliver a bespoke presentation. What unfolded was a deeply moving and eye-opening session exploring the emotional and mental health challenges men often face in midlife - frequently silently and in isolation - and the impact this can also have on the people who support them, both at work and at home. Paul offered valuable insights drawing from his own research along with stories from 100 men who have reached out to him."

ATTENDEE, LAW FIRM

"I just wanted to say thank you for your presentation. I found it fascinating and very emotional. A few people have already asked me about it, and I will also be sharing this with my partner and encouraging him to listen."

MANAGING DIRECTOR, ACCOUNTANCY FIRM

"Thank you, Paul, for helping us to better understand this topic, which remains largely undiscussed: the hidden struggles many men face as they navigate changing roles, shifting identities and a sense of disconnection, often without even knowing why."

Why Me

I am the host and creator of the Middle Man podcast - a show for midlife men and the people who love them. The show has 10,000 listeners per month. I have been speaking publicly for 20 years at organisations including Virgin, L’Oreal and MacMillan, and I have also appeared on ITV News at Ten, BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire and Channel 4 News, among others.

I established Middle Man after my own experience of a midlife transition - successful on the outside, quietly struggling on the inside - and my talks are highly personal. I bring no jargon, no corporate polish and no pretence. Just an honest account of what midlife actually feels like for men - and why that matters in your workplace.

To discuss your requirements and for information on availability and rates, please contact me at paul@middlemanpodcast.com or on +44 (0)7533 026066.