Don't Let The Old Man In

Pod O'Sullivan
  • 1.0 (1)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

DLTOMI is a podcast brought to you by Pod O’Sullivan, where he has real and candid conversations with experts, celebrities and ordinary men about navigating midlife. The ups, the downs, the surprises, the opportunities, the secrets and how to do it on your terms, gracefully or even disgracefully! Pod will explore ways to take charge of your health, to divorce well, to reinvigorate your sex life, to find ways to lift your spirit, to join new communities, to make sure you have enough money for retirement, to laugh, to cry if needed, to change perspectives, and most importantly, to ensure your second act is even better than the first. Pod O’Sullivan has been fascinated with transitions and personal reinventions for most of his life. His career has seen him in the medical industry, in sales and marketing, consulting industries, being self-employed, being an entrepreneur who successfully sold businesses, being an educator at Sydney Business School, an author, an Executive Coach to 100’s of CEO’s all over Asia, a podcaster, the owner of a "failed" tech start up and now the co-founder of The Wisdom Vault and host of this podcast. He is also a Doctoral student in Oxford research how men navigate midlife and how they (we) might do it better. Migrating from Ireland and England to Australia taught him many lessons. Divorcing with two young kids threw a few more his way. Remarrying and creating the ‘Brady Bunch’ with Carole, his two children and three new daughters, topped off many great life’s lessons. Pod knows the harsh reality of life’s ups and downs and firmly believes that mid-life, while tough on many levels, can also be lonely on others and downright confusing on yet others; it can also include the best stages in life. He is here to explore and find those! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 5h ago ·  Bonus

    3 Actions To Fight Burnout In Midlife

    Earlier this week, we sat down with psychologist and author Dr Marny Lishman to learn the truth about burnout, including what it feels like, how it shows up in men and the reason we feel more exhausted as we enter midlife. In this follow-up Actions episode of Don't Let the Old Man In, host Pod O'Sullivan breaks down Marny's advice and provides his top three ways to fight burnout from creeping in. These methods tell you all you need to know from Marny's years of experience. Watch the full episode with Dr Marny Lishman here: https://linktr.ee/dontllettheoldmanin Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontlettheoldmanin.com/subscribe/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    8 min

  2. 3d ago

    Why You're Miserable In Your 40s (It's Not Your Fault) with Dr Marny Lishman

    What does a psychologist do when she hits her own midlife fog? She writes a book about it. Marny Lishman is a psychologist, author, columnist, and media commentator who has spent years helping people navigate the messy middle of adulthood. Her books Crisis to Contentment and Only You: The Unexpected Gift of Being Alone grew out of her own lived experience — from recognising herself in Ben Affleck's cigarette-and-dead-eyes paparazzi shots, to finding genuine contentment in solitude while the rest of the world rushed to swipe right. In this conversation, Marny brings her signature warmth and directness to some of the big questions of midlife: Why are we statistically most unhappy at 47.2? Why do grumpy men make the best clients? What is burnout actually telling us — and what's the one word she says to everyone who has it? Why can't men make deep friendships? And why is loneliness one of the most useful emotions you can feel? This is a conversation for anyone who's ever stared at the cereal aisle and genuinely could not choose. You're not broken. You just need to stop. 00:00 — Welcome 01:44 — The grumpy Ben Affleck moment 03:12 — The U-curve: you're unhappiest at 47.2 05:57 — What grumpiness is really hiding 09:22 — Crisis to Contentment: the framework 11:14 — Burnout: signs, symptoms & just stop 20:51 — Why men can't make deep friendships 23:47 — Learning the language of emotions 29:36 — Only You: the gift of being alone 43:08 — Grab a backpack and go You'll learn: The science behind the U-shaped happiness curve and why midlife is the statistical low pointWhat grumpiness is actually communicating — and why Marny loves a grumpy clientThe four dimensions of burnout (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) and how to recognise it before you hit the wallWhy men struggle with deep friendship and what psychological safety has to do with itHow to talk about your emotions when you don't have the wordsThe case for staying single long enough to actually find yourselfWhy loneliness is a signal, not a sentenceMarny's one piece of wisdom for every middle-aged man: grab a backpack and go📚 Content & People Referenced Books Crisis to Contentment — Marny LishmanOnly You: The Unexpected Gift of Being Alone — Marny LishmanResearch The U-Shaped Happiness Curve — Professor David Blanchflower (Dartmouth College). Research drawn from 500,000+ data points across 132 countries showing life satisfaction follows a U-shape, with the low point around age 47.2. Referenced in Crisis to Contentment. Organisations Mentioned Men's Table — CEO David Pointon cited; research shared on how men's participation reduces anger and aggression in the homeMongrels Men — men's community organisation mentioned as part of the broader shift in men's mental health cultureJust One Reason — men's mental health/suicide prevention organisation mentioned Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min

  3. Jun 26 ·  Bonus

    3 Actions To Be Fulfilled In Midlife

    This week on Don't Let the Old Man In, we sat down with Dan Foster, CEO of The Centre For Men and Families, to unpack the problems men are facing in the transition to midlife and why so many men feel unfulfilled. In this special follow-up episode, host Pod O'Sullivan shares the top things he wants our listeners to take away from Dan Foster's episode, and provides three actions you can do at home to take his wisdom on board. Watch the full episode with Dan Foster: https://linktr.ee/dontllettheoldmanin Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontlettheoldmanin.com/subscribe/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    9 min

  4. Jun 22

    What Men Carry (And How To Put It Down) | Why Unprocessed Grief is Costing You More Than You Know with Dan Foster

    Dan Foster is the CEO of the Centre for Men and Families, a rites of passage organisation heavily influenced by the work of Richard Rohr. After spending years in ministry and theology, Dan found himself in the middle of his own midlife deconstruction — which is exactly where his work now lives. The Centre runs two programs: one for young men navigating the first half of life, and one for men in midlife and beyond who've ticked all the boxes and still feel the ache. This conversation is for every man who's hit 40, 45, or 50 and quietly wondered — is this all there is? It's also for the man who's been carrying something for decades and hasn't yet found a safe enough place to put it down. Books mentioned: Adam's Return by Richard RohrIron John by Robert BlyFalling Upward by Richard RohrAlso referenced: Poetry of David Whyte and RumiDocumentary: The ManosphereBruce Springsteen on "trying to get home to a home he never had"Other men's work mentioned: Men's Tables — David PontinMen's Circles UK — Pascoe AshtonMongrels Men Sydney — Tim Houston Connect with Dan Foster & the Centre for Men and Families: [centreformenandfamilies.com] 00:00 — Intro & Welcome 02:35 — Richard Rohr, Adam's Return, and the 5 Hard Truths 07:14 — You're not in control — and why that's actually good news 08:27 — Mens Programs - Forged (18–30) and Men's Rite of Passage (30+) 15:05 — Why rituals work — the 3 reasons men open up 20:25 — Men communicate better side by side — fire, circles, and brotherhood 24:44 — What men actually leave with: relief, peace, self-acceptance 31:36 — The manosphere, elders, and what young men are really hungry for 41:39 — Whatever you don't process, you project Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min

  5. Jun 18 ·  Bonus

    3 Small Actions That Will Help You Live Longer

    Earlier this week, we sat down with longevity educator and author Professor Scott Fulton to discover the top secrets about improving your healthspan that most people will never know about. In this follow-up episode of Don't Let the Old Man In, host Pod O'Sullivan reflects on the key lessons from Scott's years of expertise, and provides you with the three things you can take with you into your own life. Watch the full interview with Scott Fulton here: https://youtu.be/8MyxAgoS5-g Let us know what topic you'd like us to cover: https://dontlettheoldmanin.com/suggestions/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    10 min

  6. Jun 15

    One Number That Predicts Your Future with Professor Scott Fulton

    Professor Scott Fulton is a research engineer turned functional health span expert, author of the #1 bestselling book Function, and chair of the National Aging and Place Council in the US. After a career troubleshooting complex systems across industries, Scott turned his engineering mind to the one system nobody was looking at properly: the aging human body. His work draws on over 700,000 participants and 10 million person-years of data to answer a question most men don't think to ask until it's too late: what will actually determine how well you function in the second half of your life? This conversation is for every man over 40 who thinks being fit means being healthy. It's also for the man who's never tested his balance, flexibility, or reaction time, and doesn't yet know that one of those is quietly becoming his weak link. Book mentioned: Function by Scott Fulton — available now, currently #1 bestseller Connect with Scott Fulton: scottfulton.ca 00:30 — Why You Should Listen 04:28 — Why Runners Can't Walk: The Biomechanics Explained 09:34 — The Statistic That Will Change How You Walk Today 13:10 — Falls Aren't a Strength Problem — They're a Reaction Time Problem 16:39 — The 5 Domains of Functional Health Span 21:42 — If You Don't Demand It, You'll Lose It 26:12 — The Top 4 Self-Assessments to Do This Week 35:28 — Why Disease Is Not Your Biggest Threat — Function Is (2:1) 40:04 — Why Men Lose Their Social Network the Day They Retire 48:18 — What Your 80-Year-Old Self Is Asking of You Right Now Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min

  7. Jun 11

    3 Actions For A Better Marriage During Menopause

    Earlier this week on Don't Let the Old Man In, we spoke with menopause educator and researcher Thea O'Connor to discuss what you need to know about menopause, including how this turbulent time can put a strain on your relationship. In this follow-up episode, host Pod O'Sullivan is breaking down the best parts of Thea's interview and distilling the exact ways you can implement her advice. Check out the full interview with Thea O'Connor here: https://linktr.ee/dontllettheoldmanin Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontlettheoldmanin.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/dontllettheoldmanin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    14 min

  8. Jun 8

    She’s Not Angry At You! What Men NEED to Know About Menopause with Thea O’Connor

    Thea O'Connor is a menopause educator, workplace consultant, and researcher who has spent years doing what almost nobody else was doing — talking to men about their experience of menopause. After her own disorienting perimenopause journey derailed what she'd planned as her "power decade," she went public on national radio in 2018 at considerable professional risk. What followed was a body of work that now reaches boardrooms, Senate inquiries, and international standards organisations. This conversation is for every man who has ever felt confused, rejected, helpless, or like he was spending a lot of time in the doghouse without knowing why. It's also for the women in their lives who want them to understand. Resources Mentioned Australasian Menopause Society — directory of menopause-informed doctorsThe Orca Effect — Thea's program for women navigating menopause in the workplaceThea's men and menopause survey — link in show notes and newsletterElizabeth Cady Stanton — American suffragist quoted by Thea: "We shall not be in our prime before 50, and after that we shall be good for 20 years at least." Connect with Thea O'Connor 🌐 Website /survey: https://www.thea.com.au/ Timestamped Overview 00:26 — Why Every Man Needs to Hear This 02:03 — Thea's Own Menopause Derailed Her Power Decade 03:12 — Why She Went Public at Professional Risk 05:06 — What Menopause Actually Is — The Basics 07:27 — The Symptoms Men Miss or Misread 09:28 — Dishwasher Rage — And What It Really Means 10:30 — How a Man's Attitude Affects Her Symptoms 14:39 — What Men Misinterpret as Personal Rejection 18:07 — What Men Actually Said in Thea's Interviews 19:53 — You're Still Allowed to Set Standards 22:47 — Menopause in the Workplace — The Manager's Role 29:13 — Orca Whales & Why Menopause Is a Promotion 35:16 — Fixing Hormones Won't Fix a Bad Marriage 38:34 — How Thea Feels as a Post-Menopausal Woman 40:48 — Final Words: Embrace the Change Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min
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About

DLTOMI is a podcast brought to you by Pod O’Sullivan, where he has real and candid conversations with experts, celebrities and ordinary men about navigating midlife. The ups, the downs, the surprises, the opportunities, the secrets and how to do it on your terms, gracefully or even disgracefully! Pod will explore ways to take charge of your health, to divorce well, to reinvigorate your sex life, to find ways to lift your spirit, to join new communities, to make sure you have enough money for retirement, to laugh, to cry if needed, to change perspectives, and most importantly, to ensure your second act is even better than the first. Pod O’Sullivan has been fascinated with transitions and personal reinventions for most of his life. His career has seen him in the medical industry, in sales and marketing, consulting industries, being self-employed, being an entrepreneur who successfully sold businesses, being an educator at Sydney Business School, an author, an Executive Coach to 100’s of CEO’s all over Asia, a podcaster, the owner of a "failed" tech start up and now the co-founder of The Wisdom Vault and host of this podcast. He is also a Doctoral student in Oxford research how men navigate midlife and how they (we) might do it better. Migrating from Ireland and England to Australia taught him many lessons. Divorcing with two young kids threw a few more his way. Remarrying and creating the ‘Brady Bunch’ with Carole, his two children and three new daughters, topped off many great life’s lessons. Pod knows the harsh reality of life’s ups and downs and firmly believes that mid-life, while tough on many levels, can also be lonely on others and downright confusing on yet others; it can also include the best stages in life. He is here to explore and find those! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Pod O'Sullivan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Pod O'Sullivan
  • Show Website
    Don't Let The Old Man In

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