Mid-life Men: the mental health podcast

Philip Briscoe
  • 4.1 (9)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Have you ever felt like you’ve become lost in your own life? Many men struggle to talk about their problems and mental health and grew up believing that to do can be perceived as a sign of weakness or failure. There is also a lack of open discussion in society around men’s mental health, especially aimed at mid-life men.  As a result, at times many men can feel alone and lost in their own lives. In this podcast series, I talk to mid-life men about their stories; the challenges, the turning points, and the support received to help them find their way so that others who may be suffering in silence or don’t know what to do next, realise that they are not alone and there is help available. Stories will cover a whole range of challenges faced by mid-life men mainly relating to the causes of mental health issues including feelings of isolation, depression, job dissatisfaction, addiction, PTSD, and long-term illness.The podcast is NOT a replacement for professional support and we signpost to organisations and their contact details by episode. If you have a story you would like to share or any feedback on the podcasts, please email me: midlifemen01@gmail.com.

  1. 1d ago

    Antidepressants Didn't Work for Me, with Erik Peers

    Most of us assume antidepressants are there to help. For many people, they do. But for Erik Peers, the experience was very different. In this deeply personal conversation, Erik shares how he was prescribed antidepressants during a stressful period in his life, despite believing he wasn't depressed. What followed was nearly ten years of medication, repeated attempts to stop, severe withdrawal, and a growing realisation that the treatment he trusted was actually keeping him trapped. Today, Erik helps others who are trying to safely come off psychiatric medication, and in this episode he explains what happened to him, what he wishes he'd known, and why he believes people should be fully informed before starting treatment. This is Erik's story. It isn't an argument against antidepressants, which many people say have helped them. It's an honest conversation about another experience that deserves to be heard. In this episode, we discuss: Why Erik says he was prescribed antidepressants when he didn't think he needed them. The horrific withdrawal symptoms that he experienced time and time again.  How medication affected his work, relationships and family life. Why he believes dependency on antidepressants isn't talked about enough. His long journey to come off medication. What he learned about recovery, lifestyle and emotional wellbeing. The advice he gives to anyone questioning whether their medication is right for them. You can contact Erik and find out more about his work by visiting his website www.erikpeers.com.  Please note: This episode reflects Erik's personal experience and opinions. If you're taking antidepressants or other psychiatric medication, never stop taking them without first speaking to your doctor or another qualified healthcare professional.

    Antidepressants Didn't Work for Me, with Erik Peers

  2. Jul 17

    The Men We Think Are Fine... But Aren't, with Alfie Ruffell

    From the outside, many of the men Alfie Ruffell knew looked like they were doing just fine. They were working, laughing with their mates and getting on with life. But behind the smiles, some were carrying struggles no one else could see. Several of them would later take their own lives.  After experiencing his own breakdown and losing close friends to suicide, Alfie realised that awareness alone isn't enough. The real challenge is reaching the men who never say they're struggling in the first place. In this conversation we explore why so many men stay silent, what finally pushed Alfie to ask for help, and why he believes the current approach to men's mental health often misses those who are most at risk. Rather than offering easy answers, Alfie shares the practical lessons he's learned through building Speak and working with men in one of the UK's toughest industries: construction. We also discuss recovery, accountability, community, the importance of being heard, and why small changes can become the first steps towards rebuilding a life. In this episode you'll learn: Why outward success can hide overwhelming internal pressure. Why many men never tell anyone they're struggling. What Alfie learned from losing friends to suicide. How speaking openly changed the course of his own life. Why trust, not just awareness, is essential before many men will ask for help. What genuine recovery can look like beyond simply getting through the day. Small practical steps that can help when life feels overwhelming. If you've ever wondered why some men never reach out, or if you've ever found yourself pretending everything is fine when it isn't, this conversation offers insight, hope and a reminder that no one has to carry everything alone. If you'd like to learn more about Alfie and Speak, visit the website https://speak-uk.com, where you'll find practical mental health support, resources, information about campaigns and how to join the SPEAK community.

    The Men We Think Are Fine... But Aren't, with Alfie Ruffell

  3. Jul 11

    The Conversation We Never Thought We'd Have, with 'Friends in Low Places' podcast

    What do men really talk about when they're together? In this special crossover episode, I'm joined by the four hosts - Sean, Aaron, Mike and Niall - of the Friends in Low Places (FILP) podcast to have a candid conversation about topics they never thought they'd discuss. What follows is an honest, funny and surprisingly open conversation about the things men often avoid discussing - even with their closest friends. We explore why so many men find it difficult to open up, the unwritten rules of male friendship, and what happens when someone finally admits they're struggling. Along the way we talk about mental health, vulnerability, identity, relationships, getting older, and why the conversations that matter most are often the ones that never happen. There are plenty of laughs, a healthy dose of self-deprecating humour, and some thoughtful reflections on what it means to be a man in midlife. This isn't about having all the answers, it's about creating the kind of conversation many of us wish happened more often. Whether you're navigating your own midlife journey or simply curious about what men are really thinking, this episode offers a refreshing reminder that none of us are as alone as we sometimes feel. In this episode we discuss: Why men often keep their struggles to themselves.The role of humour in male friendships.Mental health and emotional honesty.The pressures and expectations placed on men.Why talking openly can strengthen friendships rather than weaken them.What we can all do to create better conversations.If this episode resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who might need to hear it. Sometimes the simplest conversation can make the biggest difference. You can listen to the Friends in Low Places podcast here.

    The Conversation We Never Thought We'd Have, with 'Friends in Low Places' podcast

  4. Jul 4

    Why Do Men Lose Themselves In Retirement? with George Jerjian

    For most of our lives, we're known by what we do. Our work shapes our identity, gives us purpose and often becomes the measure of our self-worth. But what happens when that chapter ends? When the career finishes, the business is sold or retirement finally arrives, many men are left asking a question they never expected: Who am I now?  George Jerjian has spent years helping people answer that question. But his own journey began after being told he had what doctors believed was a terminal bone tumour - a life-changing moment that forced him to confront his own mortality and rethink what a meaningful life really looks like. Thankfully, the diagnosis proved wrong, but the experience changed the course of his life forever.  In this conversation, George explains why so many men drift into retirement believing they'll finally be happy, only to discover they've lost far more than a job. They lose routine, purpose, confidence and, most importantly, a sense of who they are.  Drawing on his own experiences, his work with thousands of retirees and insights from more than 20,000 survey responses, George shares why this doesn't have to be the final chapter; it can become the most rewarding one.  In this episode you'll learn:  Why so many men tie their identity to work without realising it. What really causes loneliness, aimlessness and loss of purpose after retirement. How a near-death experience transformed George's outlook on life. Why curiosity - not comfort - is often the key to a fulfilling second half of life. Practical ways to start redefining your purpose long before retirement arrives. Whether retirement is twenty years away or you're already there, this conversation is really about one thing: building a life that's defined by who you are and not just what you do. If you'd like to learn more about George and his work, visit georgejerjian.com, where you'll find articles, podcasts and information about his DARE Method. You can also connect with George on social media by searching for George Jerjian or Retirement Rebellion.

    Why Do Men Lose Themselves In Retirement? with George Jerjian

  5. Jun 27

    Why Does My Past Still Control Me? with Paul Drugan

    In this episode, we talk to Paul Drugan, who carried the emotional scars of growing up with a father who, behind closed doors, was controlling, violent and emotionally abusive. From the outside, his family looked successful and respectable. Inside the home, he was living in fear, convinced that somehow he deserved what was happening.  Like many men, Paul never spoke about it.  Instead, he buried the pain beneath achievement, alcohol, drugs and a lifetime of believing he wasn't good enough. It wasn't until adulthood that he began asking the question that changed everything: What if the person still controlling my life was someone who'd been dead for years?  In this thoughtful and deeply moving conversation, Paul explains why forgiveness isn't about excusing abuse or letting someone "off the hook". Instead, he describes forgiveness as reclaiming your own life from someone who no longer deserves to shape it.  In this episode you'll learn:  Why childhood experiences can quietly shape adult relationships, confidence and self-worth. How unresolved trauma can lead to addiction, self-sabotage and emotional isolation. Why forgiveness isn't weakness and what it really means. How shame keeps men trapped in silence. Why acknowledging what happened is often the first step towards healing. This isn't simply a conversation about abuse. It's about freedom, identity and the possibility of living a life that is no longer defined by your past. Whether Paul's story mirrors your own or not, his reflections on shame, anger and forgiveness will resonate with anyone carrying emotional baggage they no longer want to carry.  If you want to find out more about Paul, visit his website: https://pauldrugan.com/ where you can find his book ‘Forgiving Mr Jekyll’ and you can also find it online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

    Why Does My Past Still Control Me? with Paul Drugan

  6. Jun 15

    I've Got Everything I Wanted so Why Am I Not Happy? with Bill Williams

    Many men spend decades chasing the next thing. The next promotion. The next pay rise. The next business success. The next milestone. The belief is simple: once I get there, I'll finally be happy. But what happens when you get there and something still feels missing? In this episode of Mid-Life Men, I talk to former CEO and executive coach Bill Williams about a question that many successful men quietly wrestle with: Why don't I feel happier? Bill shares the story of a life spent striving. From the death of his father at the age of nine, through a successful corporate career and into senior leadership, he was driven by a need to prove himself. From the outside, everything looked successful. Yet underneath, joy often felt out of reach. Together, Philip and Bill discuss: Why so many men tie their identity to achievementThe hidden cost of always chasing the next goalHow childhood experiences can shape adult behaviourWhy success doesn't always bring fulfilmentThe danger of waiting until retirement to start livingThe pressure of being the provider, fixer and leaderWhat happens when the career stops and the silence beginsWhy self-awareness can be more powerful than self-improvementPractical ways to reconnect with yourself through reflection, journaling and meditationHow to experience more peace, purpose and joy in everyday lifeThis is not a conversation about giving up ambition. It's a conversation about understanding what is driving it. If you want to find out more about Bill, visit his website: https://www.bwaadvisory.com. To access the three free foundational meditations that Bill references, visit the True Freedom Leadership website: https://www.truefreedomleadership.com/ and fill in the form on the About page.

    I've Got Everything I Wanted so Why Am I Not Happy? with Bill Williams

  7. Jun 8

    The Shame of Starting Over at 40, with Ryan McGuigan

    In this episode, I'm joined by Ryan McGuigan, whose life, from the outside, looked like a success. He had built a thriving business from scratch, was engaged to be married, enjoyed financial stability, and seemed to be living the life many men aspire to. But beneath the surface, something felt wrong. As the physical demands of his work took their toll and cracks began to appear in his relationship, Ryan found himself facing a reality he hadn't expected. Within a short space of time, his engagement ended, he moved into a shared house just months before turning 40, and the identity he had spent years building began to unravel. In this honest and thought-provoking conversation, Ryan shares the shame, anxiety and loss of identity that followed, how he struggled with the gap between how his life looked and how it actually felt, and the surprising discovery that helped him rebuild his confidence and sense of purpose. We explore what happens when the roles, relationships and achievements we rely on for our self-worth disappear and why many men find themselves questioning everything in midlife. In this episode we discuss: Why success on paper doesn't always lead to fulfilmentThe hidden impact of identity loss after relationship breakdownHow shame and fear can keep men stuckWhy many men struggle when life doesn't go to planThe difference between external success and internal self-worthHow guided meditation helped Ryan reconnect with what really matteredWhat he learned about purpose, confidence and starting againWhy it is never too late to redesign your lifeIf you want to find out more about Ryan and listen to a free 30-minute meditation, visit his website: https://ryanpaulmcguigan.com/.

    The Shame of Starting Over at 40, with Ryan McGuigan

  8. Jun 3

    What If The Drinking Isn't The Problem? with Brad Hill

    In this episode, we hear from Brad Hill. For most of his life, from the outside, it looked like he was coping, functioning, working, getting on with life. But underneath, he was carrying things he had never really dealt with: a father who wasn't there, childhood sexual abuse, feelings of inadequacy and a growing dependence on alcohol that became his longest relationship.  In this honest and powerful conversation, Brad shares how decades of buried pain, self-criticism and addiction eventually caught up with him and why getting sober was only the beginning of the real work.  We talk about:   growing up without the validation many boys need  becoming a "functioning" alcoholic and hiding it from the world  relapse, recovery and why change is rarely a straight line  the impact of childhood trauma on adult life  learning to stop seeing yourself as a victim  writing his book No One Is Normal and why telling the truth can be healing Most of all, this episode is a reminder that the struggles many men carry in silence are often far more common than we think.   What you'll learn: Why unresolved childhood experiences can shape adult behaviour  How to identify the triggers behind self-destructive habits  Why relapse doesn't mean failure  The importance of self-reflection, journaling and honest conversations  How accepting that "no one is normal" can be the first step towards healing To find out more about Brad, his podcast and is book - both called No One is Normal - visit his website: bradhhill.com.

    What If The Drinking Isn't The Problem? with Brad Hill
See All (105)

4.1
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Have you ever felt like you’ve become lost in your own life? Many men struggle to talk about their problems and mental health and grew up believing that to do can be perceived as a sign of weakness or failure. There is also a lack of open discussion in society around men’s mental health, especially aimed at mid-life men.  As a result, at times many men can feel alone and lost in their own lives. In this podcast series, I talk to mid-life men about their stories; the challenges, the turning points, and the support received to help them find their way so that others who may be suffering in silence or don’t know what to do next, realise that they are not alone and there is help available. Stories will cover a whole range of challenges faced by mid-life men mainly relating to the causes of mental health issues including feelings of isolation, depression, job dissatisfaction, addiction, PTSD, and long-term illness.The podcast is NOT a replacement for professional support and we signpost to organisations and their contact details by episode. If you have a story you would like to share or any feedback on the podcasts, please email me: midlifemen01@gmail.com.

Information