Don't Let The Old Man In

Pod O'Sullivan

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. 3d ago

    Reclaim Your Energy || Stopping Burnout Before It Starts w/ Dr Amantha Imber

    Reclaim Your Energy: Insights from Dr. Mantha Imber Discover practical strategies to boost your energy, prevent burnout, and prioritize your well-being. Dr. Mantha Imber shares her personal journey through exhaustion and her innovative approaches to managing energy better, emphasizing a shift from time management to energy management. In this episode: How energy is the most precious resource and why we often neglect itThe concept of the "getting hit by a bus" fantasy and recognition of burnout signsThe evolution of her "Never Again List" from humbling experiencesThe science behind scent, natural environments, and breathing techniques to boost energyHow to identify your energy "types" (Me Mode vs. Wii Mode; Ambition vs. Anxiety)The importance of protecting your energy with clear boundaries and "To Don't" listsSimple yet powerful "boost" and "rest" strategies, including peppermint scent and cyclic sighingThe benefits of nature immersion, like forest bathing, for mental resetTurning energy management into a gamified process to build sustainable habitsTransitioning into a healthier second act with energy awareness Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: Why energy is the ultimate resource 00:19 - Personal humbling and the "getting hit by a bus" fantasy 02:01 - Recognizing burnout through personal stories 03:46 - Lessons learned from public speaking mishaps and creating "Never Again" list 04:45 - The impact of alarm clock codependency 06:09 - Transition from control to awareness and boundary setting 07:36 - How exhaustion affects decision-making and daily routines 08:54 - Re-evaluating the role of writing and leadership in energy management 10:28 - Why endurance and "pushing through" might be harmful 12:04 - Recognizing the limits of pushing and the effects of chronic depletion 13:46 - Using humbling experiences to clarify boundaries and priorities 15:12 - The role of humility in recognizing what no longer serves you 16:07 - The "Never Again List" as a tool for boundaries 17:36 - Conscious decision-making with "To Don't" and "To Do" lists 19:36 - Society's normalization of exhaustion and its implications 20:42 - The importance of running energy experiments with a large group 22:03 - The Mi Mode and Wii Mode energy types and their significance 23:15 - Navigating between Drive and Anxiety-driven energy states 24:54 - Recognizing personal energy patterns and managing anxiety vs. ambition 27:37 - How body awareness can guide energy conservation 28:19 - Strategies: Fast energy boosts, rest, and protection tactics 31:02 - Peppermint scent and other quick resets for energy boost 33:52 - The power of gratitude practices and "Three Good Things" 36:11 - Breathing exercises like cyclic sighing for instant calm 38:25 - Forest bathing and the impact of nature on recovery 41:53 - Identifying and avoiding "energy vampires" with the Points Chart 44:54 - Practical tools for everyday energy management like cold water immersion and silent walks 50:19 - Making energy management a fun, experimental game 56:33 - Transitioning into the second-act energy mindset 62:16 - Final words: Prioritize your energy above allResources & Links: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Jul 6

    Starting From Scratch After 50 || How To Pivot Careers with Allan Tillack and Andy Sheats

    Allan Tillack and Andy Sheats were both executives at the heights of their careers, having reached the top of the ladder. But then, they walked away and left it all behind to design a life they could be content with. In this episode of Don't Let the Old Man In, Alan (ex-Country Head, Big Pharma) and Andy (ex-CTO, Silicon Valley) share the real story behind starting over at 50, including the doubts, the breakthroughs, and the blueprint they wish they'd had sooner. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction and overview of life transformation stories 01:01 The importance of grappling with life's big questions 02:23 Career reflections and the desire for meaningful work 04:45 Alan and Andy’s career journeys and pivotal moments 08:03 Recognizing burnout and the need for change 12:11 The impact of executive coaching on leadership development 17:00 The power of feedback and vulnerability in leadership 21:48 Designing a purposeful second half of life 26:14 The role of reflection and self-awareness in transition 31:30 The importance of authentic leadership and clear communication 37:19 Strength, vulnerability, and redefining what it means to be strong 44:28 Building a second half of life aligned with personal values 52:42 Practical advice for starting your life transition 01:00:26 The significance of knowing oneself and staying true 01:04:42 The importance of relationships and social connection 01:06:41 Final words of wisdom and encouragement 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.

  3. Jun 29

    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.

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.

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