50 WTF?!

Laurence McCahill & Karl Parton
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We are two men in midlife. We have a lot in common but live very different lives. Laurence is happily married with 2.4 kids and a white picket fence. Karl followed a different path and didn't get married, have kids or put down roots (but he gets to go snowboarding when he wants). Together we explore what life on the other side of the fence is really like. What can we learn from each other? What advice can we give each other? We'll invite guests to reflect on their life to date and consider what they want the second half of their life to look like. We’ll touch on some big topics but with lots of LOLs, a few beers and who knows, maybe even some tears.

Episodes

  1. 12/30/2025

    Season 1 wrap up

    For this final episode we gathered at the roof terrace of our usual haunt to reflect on our first series of 50 WTF?!  We discussed our prolific journey so far (6 episodes in 12 months...), the surprising response from listeners, and plans for the second season/series (we still don't know!).  Looking back over the last year, we explored the importance of companionship and vulnerability in our conversations, amidst the lightness and silliness. We shared our favourite snacks and the challenges of recording in a pub, while teasing new ideas for season two, including quizzes, and more engagement from all you lovely listeners.  Oh and a need for Cherry to get her own mic... (calling all sponsors!). Hope you enjoy this episode, it was a lot of fun recording it. And yes, we'll be back in the new year.  Until next time!

    31 min

  2. 11/04/2025

    Fave bands at 50

    In this episode, Karl and Laurence reunite at the Walrus pub for a deep dive into their lifelong love affair with music - from their earliest influences to how they're discovering new sounds in their 50s. How our older siblings shaped their musical DNA (hint: one went full goth overnight)The Manchester bands that became instant common ground when they first metTheir journey through the indie-dance crossover era of the early 90sUnforgettable gig experiences that still give them goosebumpsHilarious disaster stories involving abandoned friends and onstage meltdownsA particularly emotional moment involving Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide"Laurence's failed attempt at stardomCreative ways they're staying connected to new music as they get olderWhy cassette mixtapes still hold a special place in their heartsWhether you're reminiscing about your own gig-going glory days or curious about the evolution of music formats from vinyl to streaming, this e captures the magic of what live music and great bands can mean across the decades. We hope you enjoy it.  We'd love to know your favourite bands and gigs. Let us know in the comments.

    48 min

  3. 07/21/2025

    Friends at 50

    Reflecting on friendships: making, maintaining and missteps. After returning from a month-long hiatus – and another month to get round to editing this episode Karl got a job!) – we discuss what we been up to, including trips to Portugal and the Alps. We then dive deep into the topic of friendships, sharing personal experiences and stories on how hard it can be to make and maintain friends, particularly when you hit midlife.  We cover work friends, hobby friends, fleeting friends, female friends and lifelong friends. We also explore the challenges of friendship within work contexts, communication breakdowns (ghosting anyone?), and the importance of shared experiences to build deeper connections.  Finally we reflect on the qualities that make valuable friendships and the importance of having difficult, but necessary conversations – especially for men. 00:00 Introduction and Catching Up00:11 Travel Stories and Experiences01:46 Discussing the TV Show 'Friends'02:48 Podcasting and Audience Engagement04:20 Snack Time and Reveals05:23 Challenges of Making Friends in Midlife11:07 Work Friendships and Business Partnerships21:44 Defining Company Values22:14 Balancing Family and Business22:58 The Happy Startup Journey23:25 Qualities in a Friend24:44 Honesty and Integrity in Friendships26:30 Regrets and Lessons Learned27:19 Communication Breakdown31:06 Lifelong Friendships38:25 Energy and Connection in Relationships41:18 Wrapping Up and Reflections Links: - Mark Steadman https://www.hellosteadman.com/services/- Friends https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/70153404- The Happy Startup School https://thehappystartupschool.com/

    45 min

  4. 05/27/2025

    Football at 50

    In this episode, we reminisce about our relationship to the beautiful game – from childhood until the present day. Even if you loathe football, we encourage you listen to this episode in the hope it might open your mind to why it creates so much joy and connection (and heartache) for so many on this planet. Football often gets a bad wrap, and Cherry shares her own experiences about how intimidating it can feel to be around lager-fuelled football fans. It has a darker side which we discuss. Laurence talks about his love of Chelsea, the buzz of match days why he can't imagine living without it, in spite of the emotional highs and lows it brings. Karl talks about how he doesn't having any particular affinity for any one team, having moved house so many times over his early life. But he does talk about how he comes to life when England get to a major tournament, with Kevin Keegan being an early childhood hero. We also discuss the sense of community and shared experiences that football offers, and how father-son bonding often happens through football. Links: - The Walrus https://thewalrusbrighton.com/private-events/ - Bogan Bingo https://www.boganbingo.co.uk/ - Monster Munch https://www.walkers.co.uk/our-range/family-snacks/monster-munch-pickled-onion/ - Boost https://www.cadbury.co.uk/products/cadbury-boost-chocolate-bar-48.5g/

    45 min

  5. 03/14/2025

    Fatherhood at 50

    In this episode we touch on a topic that affects every man whether you're a parent of not – fatherhood. Our fathers influence us more than we realise. We explore how many of our behaviours and values come from our upbringing, and how our own own Dads shaped us in different ways. We explore our often complicated relationships with them, the generational differences in expressing emotions and what life lessons we have learnt from them – even many years after they have both passed. We share some personal stories, including when we saw rare moments of vulnerability, and how they showed love in their own ways. We end on parenthood, with Karl reflecting on his choice not to have children and Laurence sharing his experiences as a Dad. Links: - Gruntled Pork Scratchings https://www.getgruntled.co.uk/ - The Walrus, Brighton ⁠www.thewalrusbrighton.com - Vision 20/20 https://vision.happystartups.co/

    50 min

  6. 02/08/2025

    Freedom and fragility at 50

    Last time we left you on a bit of a cliffhanger. In this episode we hear what happened to Karl that New Year's Eve, and how his plans, and world, turned upside down. We get into some thorny topics – health challenges, the pandemic, even death. So tread carefully if you're feeling a little tender today Karl hasn't talked about his experience openly like this before, and it's a raw, personal account. But one we both felt was an important conversation to have. It feels good to have this out there. We hope you enjoy it. Links: - Icebreakers Brighton https://www.instagram.com/icebreakers.brighton/ - Salty Dogs snacks https://saltydog-grrr.com/ - The Walrus, Brighton ⁠www.thewalrusbrighton.com

    53 min

  7. EPISODE 1

    50 WTF?! Trailer

    50 WTF?!

    1 min

  8. 12/18/2024

    First impressions at 50

    In this first episode, Karl and Laurence discuss the journey of starting this podcast, including their initial meeting and the evolution of their friendship. They touch on Karl's ongoing struggle to launch his creative projects and Laurence's role in supporting him. Whilst munching on plentiful snacks over a beer they cover societal expectations, personal growth and why the hell they are doing this in a pub, not a studio (which would have been a hell of a lot easier). Links: - This week’s snack: ⁠Burton’s Fish & Chips www.burtonsbiscuits.com/our-brands/fish-n-chips/  - The Walrus, Brighton ⁠www.thewalrusbrighton.com - Producer Cherry 'Chezza' Jordan www.linkedin.com/in/cherry-jordan-thebrainspa2023/ - Podcast artwork Dan Woodward www.danwoodward.art - The Happy Startup School www.thehappystartupschool.com - Karl prototyping from his van from 2014 https://bit.ly/karl-in-van

    38 min

Trailer

About

We are two men in midlife. We have a lot in common but live very different lives. Laurence is happily married with 2.4 kids and a white picket fence. Karl followed a different path and didn't get married, have kids or put down roots (but he gets to go snowboarding when he wants). Together we explore what life on the other side of the fence is really like. What can we learn from each other? What advice can we give each other? We'll invite guests to reflect on their life to date and consider what they want the second half of their life to look like. We’ll touch on some big topics but with lots of LOLs, a few beers and who knows, maybe even some tears.

Information

  • Creator
    Laurence McCahill & Karl Parton
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Laurence McCahill & Karl Parton
  • Show Website
    50 WTF?!