Don't Let The Old Man In

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/

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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 Rohr
• Iron John by Robert Bly
• Falling Upward by Richard Rohr

Also referenced:

• Poetry of David Whyte and Rumi
• Documentary: The Manosphere
• Bruce Springsteen on "trying to get home to a home he never had"

Other men's work mentioned:

• Men's Tables — David Pontin
• Men's Circles UK — Pascoe Ashton
• Mongrels 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

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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/

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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

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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

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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 doctors
• The Orca Effect — Thea's program for women navigating menopause in the workplace
• Thea's men and menopause survey — link in show notes and newsletter
• Elizabeth 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

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Earlier this week on Don't Let the Old Man In, we sat down with Kerri Sackville to explore the world of dating in midlife, including all the nuances and common mistakes that men make when jumping back into the dating scene.

In this follow-up Actions episode, host Pod O'Sullivan breaks down the 3 most valuable lessons form his conversation with Kerri, and tells you exactly how you can make them work for you.

Watch the full episode with Kerri Sackville here: https://youtu.be/udlgHdnMiDk

Listen to us as a podcast: https://linktr.ee/dontllettheoldmanin

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In this episode of Don't Let the Old Man In, we sit down with Kerri Sackville, author of Out There: A Survival Guide to Dating In Midlife, to unpack the truth about navigating relationships and dating in the next stage of life.

We discuss the power of solitude, why people return to dating before they're ready, how to manage your own baggage, and the challenges men in particular face.

Suggest a topic for us to cover: https://dontlettheoldmanin.com/suggestions/

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontlettheoldmanin.com/subscribe/

In this episode, we cover:

• Why dating after divorce demands emotional robustness
• The difference between loneliness and solitude (and why it matters)
• Why men so often lack emotional support networks post-separation
• Red flags that reveal themselves on the very first date
• How to build a relationship with yourself before seeking one with someone else
• The honesty test: why it solves 90% of dating problems
• What midlife dating actually looks like ... without the sugar-coating

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Navigating Emotional Needs Post-Separation

05:47 The Dynamics of Dating in Midlife

11:55 Honesty and Boundaries in Dating

17:45 Lessons Learned from the Dating Scene

25:18 The Essence of Relationships

27:12 The Fear of Solitude

30:29 Transformative Alone Time

32:30 Self-Discovery Through Solitude

36:29 The Impact of Social Media

38:10 Understanding Solitude vs. Loneliness

39:59 Practical Steps to Embrace Solitude

42:11 The Role of Purpose in Life

45:01 Navigating Loneliness and Grief

48:08 Accepting Aging and Life's Cycles

50:27 Finding Meaning in Good Moments

Listen to this episode as a podcast: https://linktr.ee/dontllettheoldmanin

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Earlier this week on Don't Let the Old Man In, we sat down with Aneace Haddad to unpack the myth of the midlife crisis, the four stages of adulthood, as well as the newfound "superpowers" that people have access to once they reach midlife.

In this special follow-up episode of DLTOMI, host Pod O'Sullivan is sharing the key lessons from his conversation with Aneace and the exact ways you can add these to your daily life.

The best parts from this week's episode, all in one short video.

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Is the "midlife crisis" really our most powerful transformation yet?

Former tech entrepreneur turned executive coach Aneace Haddad joins the show to unpack the 3 stages of adulthood, the winds of change that drive midlife transformation, and the hidden strengths that emerge as you enter your next chapter.

If you're a man over 40 feeling the ground shift beneath you, this conversation will change how you see the midlife "crisis".

In this episode:

• Why your brain in midlife is actually becoming more powerful (not less)
• The "happiness curve" and why 47 is often the lowest point before things get better
• How to let go of old identities without losing yourself
• The "Who will I be at 100?" practice for finding your North Star
• Why midlife reinvention isn't about starting over, it's about becoming who you always were

Whether you're navigating a career shift, questioning your purpose, or just feeling the weight of change, this one's for you.

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