Mid-life Men: the mental health podcast

Philip Briscoe
  • 4.0 (8)
  • 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. What If Life Doesn’t Go the Way You Planned? with Seejai

    2D AGO

    What If Life Doesn’t Go the Way You Planned? with Seejai

    Seejai was a Division I basketball player with a professional future in his sights. Then, without warning, his body started telling a different story. What he thought were manageable breathing issues became a serious heart condition, the end of the sporting path he had spent years working towards, and eventually two heart transplants. In this conversation, Seejai talks openly about the shock of watching life veer away from the plan you had in your head and the mental toll that comes with trying to process that while still pretending you’re coping. We talk about denial, drinking, anger, regret, and the strange pressure men put on themselves to stay strong when privately they feel frightened and completely out of control. This is also a conversation about resilience, but not in the neat motivational sense. More the reality of waking up each day and deciding to keep going when your body has let you down and your future no longer looks familiar. Seejai reflects on facing mortality twice, the survivor’s guilt that followed, the people who gave him strength when he needed it most, and why music became an outlet when almost everything else had been stripped away. His circumstances are unusual. The experience of having life not go the way you planned is not. This episode is for any man who has had to rethink who he is, where he’s heading, and how to keep moving when none of it looks the way he expected. If you want to listen to Seejai’s music, you can find him on Spotify, Apple Music,  YouTube and on other channels. You can also find his book: The Transplant Journey Journal on Amazon.

    40 min
  2. Am I Sleepwalking Into A Health Crisis? with Dr. Kenneth Ro

    APR 18

    Am I Sleepwalking Into A Health Crisis? with Dr. Kenneth Ro

    Most men know something is wrong before anything goes seriously wrong. The sleep getting worse. The energy is not quite there. The body that used to be forgiving and now isn't. The sense that somewhere along the way, you stopped being a priority even to yourself.  Dr. Ken Ro has spent decades in emergency medicine watching men arrive at crisis points that, in nearly every case, had been building for years. Not because they were careless or ignorant, but because the way men are wired - to provide, to absorb, to keep going - makes it almost impossible to stop and take inventory before something forces you to.  In this conversation, Ken talks honestly about what he saw in the ER, what he saw in himself, and what he now does about it.  This isn't an episode about quick fixes or supplements or hitting the gym five times a week. It's about something harder and more useful: understanding why men end up where they do and what it actually takes to change course.  What you'll hear in this episode:  Ken explains the "triple provider effect" - the invisible pressure that puts men in the middle of everyone else's needs with nothing coming back in and why the healthcare system is structurally set up to miss them entirely.  He talks about the physical warning signs men consistently dismiss as normal ageing - fractured sleep, afternoon crashes, declining eyesight, erectile dysfunction - and why these aren't just inconveniences but early signals of something systemic that can be addressed.  He challenges the idea that motivation is what you need to change. It isn't. He explains what actually works and it's simpler and more uncomfortable than most men want to hear.  He talks about identity. About how the story men tell about who they are - provider, problem solver, the one who holds it together - becomes the thing that prevents them from getting help. And about what it looks like to rewrite that story without losing yourself in the process.  And he shares what he tells men who feel like they've left it too late. They haven't. But the window doesn't stay open indefinitely.  If you're in your forties or fifties and you've been putting yourself last for long enough that you've stopped noticing you're doing it, this conversation is worth 40 minutes of your time.  Dr. Kenneth Ro is the author of Prime: Winning the Second Half of Life and practices at KennethRoMD.com.

    48 min
  3. How Far Would You Go To Fix Your Life? with Cam Cordin

    APR 10

    How Far Would You Go To Fix Your Life? with Cam Cordin

    Most men are good at one thing: Keeping going.  Through stress. Through pain. Through things not quite working.  Until eventually, it all starts catching up.  In this episode, I’m joined by Cam Cordin, who at 44 found himself physically broken, in constant pain, his marriage collapsing, his work unstable, and at a point where he didn’t want help.  Instead, he made a private contract with himself: 911 days to rebuild his body and his life, or he was out.  What followed wasn’t a dramatic turnaround. It was a slow, methodical rebuild, built on simple, repeatable actions rather than big promises.  What makes this episode different. This isn’t about motivation or mindset.  It’s about doing basic things properly, consistently and how much difference that actually makes.  Cam talks about things most men overlook:  being chronically dehydrated and how it affects your thinking, stress levels and energy how clutter — physical and mental — creates constant background pressure why making decisions all day drains you more than you realise the importance of having simple systems so you don’t rely on willpower why trying to do too much too fast usually leads to burnout Why you should listen   Because a lot of men aren’t broken. They’re just:  tired overloaded running on empty trying to think their way out of problems instead of simplifying things This episode is a reminder that sometimes the fix isn’t complicated, it’s about getting the basics right. What you’ll take from this conversation why dehydration is more common than you think — and how it quietly affects mood, focus and stress how clearing your environment can reduce mental noise almost immediately why planning simple routines removes pressure and decision fatigue how small, structured actions can stabilise things when life feels off why discipline works best when it’s simple and repeatable This is a conversation about stripping things back. Not adding more. Not chasing motivation. Just making your life easier to manage so you can think clearly again. If you want to find out more about Cam, visit his website savagechillstyle.com. You can find his book Savage Chill, Die to Live by Cam Cordin on Amazon.

    42 min
  4. My Life Is Fine… So Why Am I Not? with Kenyada Meadows

    APR 1

    My Life Is Fine… So Why Am I Not? with Kenyada Meadows

    What if nothing is wrong in your life… but you don’t feel anything anymore?  Some men don’t break down. They just go numb. They keep working, providing, showing up… but inside something has quietly switched off.  In this episode I speak with Kenyada Meadows, a former Wall Street executive who calls this “hollow man syndrome” - when you look successful on the outside but feel empty inside.  Kenyada talks openly about the slow realization that success doesn’t always equal fulfillment, the pressure many men feel to stay strong while feeling disconnected, and why so many men withdraw rather than speak when something isn’t right.  What makes this conversation different is the way he breaks down how men become “hollow”, not through failure, but through years of putting expectations, work, and responsibility ahead of themselves until they lose touch with who they are.  What we explore:  Why many successful men still feel unfulfilled The hidden cost of always being “the strong one” Why men often express pain through silence rather than words How career success can sometimes mask deeper dissatisfaction Why many men don’t realise they’re struggling until relationships start to suffer How to start rebuilding a life that actually feels like yours.Why might want to listen if you recognize any of these signs:  Feeling flat when life should feel good Losing excitement for things you used to enjoy Feeling pressure to keep going even when something feels off Wondering if this is just what adulthood is supposed to feel like.This episode is about recognising those signals early and asking better questions about how you want to live not just what you’re expected to achieve. You can find out more about Kenyada by visiting his website The Executive Parent Company or you can listen to his podcast Executive Dad on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other channels.

    42 min
  5. Why I Kept Trying to Make It Work, with Simon Verhage

    MAR 22

    Why I Kept Trying to Make It Work, with Simon Verhage

    Some men don’t just go through one difficult relationship.  They find themselves asking a harder question: Why do I keep ending up in the same situation with different people?  In this episode, Simon Verhage talks honestly about growing up feeling unheard, carrying that need for connection into adult life, and how that led him into relationships he hoped would finally give him the stability he was looking for.  What makes this conversation different is how openly he talks about the pattern, not just one breakdown but several, and the difficult realisation that until he understood himself better, the same outcomes were likely to repeat.  We talk about things many men recognise but rarely connect together:   how early family dynamics can shape the partners we choose  why some men stay too long trying to “make it work”  how self-worth affects the relationships we accept  what it takes to step away from environments that aren’t healthy  simple ways to start rebuilding stability from the inside.Simon also shares how these experiences led him to create Men’s Mind Cave, a space where men can talk openly about relationship breakdown, stress, separation, and rebuilding without feeling judged. This episode isn’t about blaming partners or reliving the past. It’s about something more uncomfortable and more useful: recognising patterns, taking responsibility for your own direction, and learning how to stop repeating what isn’t working. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, "How did I end up here again?” This will probably resonate. If you want to find out more about Simon and the Men’s Mind Cave, visit his website https://mensmindcave.co.uk/ and you can also find him on Facebook or Instagram under Men's Mind Cave.

    44 min
  6. When You Know Something Has to Change, with Dr James Rouse

    MAR 16

    When You Know Something Has to Change, with Dr James Rouse

    In this episode I talk with Dr James Rouse, author of "No Days Off", about what that moment looked like for him. Growing up around alcohol, instability, and pressure to just get on with things, he followed a path a lot of men fall into: drinking too much, pushing himself hard physically, and trying to outrun how he felt rather than face it.  Some men don’t crash. They just reach a point where they quietly think: “I can’t keep living like this.”  What makes this conversation different is how honest he is about how change actually happened. Not a breakthrough. Not a rock-bottom moment. Just a slow realisation that if nothing changed, nothing was going to change.  We talk about things many men will recognise but rarely say out loud:  how easy it is to drift into habits you don’t feel proud ofwhy many men try to "outwork" their problems instead of talking about themhow small daily routines can start rebuilding self-respectwhy consistency matters more than motivationwhat to do when you don’t like yourself very much but still want things to improveJames also brings something unusual to this discussion. He’s not just speaking from experience, he’s spent decades understanding what’s happening in the brain and body when men feel stuck, flat, or fed up with themselves.   What comes through is simple but powerful: Change often starts before confidence does. Sometimes it just starts with doing one better thing today than you did yesterday. This isn’t an episode about dramatic transformation. It’s about something much more relatable: how ordinary men slowly get themselves back on track without making a big show of it. If you’ve ever looked at your life and thought “this isn’t where I wanted to end up”, this conversation will probably feel very familiar. To find out more about James, you can find him on Instragram: drjamesrouse, and his book "No Days Off" is available to buy online.

    41 min
  7. How to Let Your Body Release Stress, with Richmond Heath

    MAR 10

    How to Let Your Body Release Stress, with Richmond Heath

    Most men deal with stress the same way: push through, stay in control, and keep going. But what if the body already has its own built-in way to release stress, and we’ve simply been taught to suppress it? In this episode I speak with Richmond Heath, a physiotherapist and one of the pioneers of Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) in Australia. Richmond’s interest in this work began with his own experience of chronic pain and high-functioning anxiety, which traditional treatments never fully resolved. His turning point came during a meditation retreat when his body began to move and release tension on its own, an experience that led him to explore how the nervous system stores stress and how the body can regulate itself. We discuss what TRE is and how it works: a simple method that activates the body’s natural tremor reflex to help release deep tension and calm the nervous system. In this conversation, you’ll learn: why stress and trauma are not just mental experiences but physical patterns held in the body.how chronic tension can quietly drive pain, anxiety, and exhaustion.why humans instinctively suppress shaking and trembling even though it’s a natural recovery response.how TRE helps the body down-regulate stress and restore balance.why learning to let go of control can sometimes be more powerful than trying to manage everything.This episode is not about quick fixes. It’s about understanding how the body and nervous system actually recover from stress and how reconnecting with that process can change the way we approach well-being, resilience, and midlife transitions. For anyone feeling worn down by constant pressure or curious about the deeper connection between stress and the body, this conversation offers a thoughtful introduction to an approach that many people have never encountered before. To find out more about TRE just search online. To find out more about Ricmond, visit the website treaustralia.com and search for Richmond Heath.

    41 min
  8. The Price of Playing the Tough Guy, with Jacob Butchoff

    MAR 2

    The Price of Playing the Tough Guy, with Jacob Butchoff

    This is a difficult and honest conversation.  For years, Jacob played the tough guy.  Violence, intimidation, and control became a shield against something he could not face in himself. The price was prison, addiction, fractured relationships and a life built on concealing his true identity.  Adopted as a baby and raised in a loving, privileged home in North London, Jacob grew up with a persistent sense of not belonging. Alongside that was the realisation, from a young age, that he was gay. Instead of acknowledging it, he suppressed it. What followed was not confusion, it was deliberate rejection of himself. He constructed a persona built on aggression and intimidation. Violence became a way to avoid scrutiny. Crime became a way to reinforce the mask. That path led to prison, addiction, secrecy, and years of internal conflict. This episode does not romanticise any of it. Jacob speaks plainly about: Growing up adopted and carrying an unspoken sense of differenceThe exhaustion of maintaining two identitiesUsing violence as protectionThe psychological reality of prisonAddiction and isolation after releaseSearching for identity in the wrong placesCaring for his father with dementia and confronting what truly mattersComing to terms with his sexuality later in lifeThere are no easy lessons in this story. It is uncomfortable at times. But it is real. Why listen? Because while few men will follow Jacob’s exact path, many will recognise parts of it, the mask, the suppression, the anger, the attempt to prove strength instead of admitting fear. This episode is about the cost of self-rejection. It is about responsibility. It is about identity. And it is about the slow work of rebuilding a life once you decide to stop running. Jacob does not present himself as a victim. He accepts the consequences of his actions. What he offers instead is perspective: strength is willingness to live honestly, even after years of doing the opposite. This conversation will not be for everyone. But for those who are carrying something unspoken, it may resonate more than they expect.

    1h 13m
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4
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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.

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