Don't Let The Old Man In

Tim Hewson hid crippling panic attacks for 20 years, suffering in silence every single day. Then a divorce shattered the life he'd built, and everything came crashing down.

In this week's episode of Don't Let the Old Man In, we sit down with Tim to have a raw and powerful conversation on men's mental health, Tim's own journey through isolation, and how he turned this dark chapter into a movement by founding the charity Mongrels Men.

This episode covers:

• The "masculinity masks" that men wear.
• Tim's journey from high functioning depression to self-discovery.
• How divorce forced Tim to change.
• Defining self beyond work: the shift in identity.
• Navigating loneliness: the unique struggles of men.
• Fighting for fatherhood: balancing work and family.
• Mongrel Men and building male support networks.
• How team sports are the key to connections
• The difference between Brave Spaces and Safe Spaces
• His Story: A Platform for Men's Voices

and much more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Don't let the Old Man In, we sat down with one of our most accomplished guests yet. Matt Bunker is an ex-SAS elite soldier who has seen firsthand the extent of human courage. He opened up about overcoming an abusive childhood, transitioning from soldier to ER Nurse, and learning to start from square one again.

In this reflection episode, host Pod O'Sullivan breaks down his conversation with Matt, listing his biggest takeaways from this week's episode, as well as providing an experiment for you to take home Matt's wisdom.

Watch the full episode with Matt Bunker here: https://youtu.be/iB5KEvAg56A

For more Don't Let the Old Man In, visit our website: dontlettheoldmanin.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when an elite SAS soldier walks away from the special forces to become an emergency nurse ... at 40? Matt Bunker's story is one of the most powerful conversations about midlife reinvention, men's mental health, and finding purpose we've ever had on this podcast.

In this episode of Don't Let the Old Man In, Matt opens up about his dysfunctional childhood, the brutal reality of SAS selection, a devastating breakdown in 2019, and how he rebuilt his identity from the ground up.

This conversation covers:

- The reality of SAS selection and what it takes to pass

- Why high-achieving men struggle with identity after leaving their career

- How childhood trauma shaped his path (and how he broke the cycle)

- The moment his wife told him the truth he needed to hear

- Why nursing in a chaotic ED is the closest thing to military operations

- Practical advice for any man facing a midlife career change

- Matt's views on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and men over 40's health

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Don't Let the Old Man In, we tackled the tough topic of marriage ending.

Gillian Coote, one of Australia's most respected family law attorneys, offers invaluable divorce advice for men, helping them understand the challenges and navigate the path forward.

She shares her personal divorce story, describing it as a devastating process, emphasizing how it can feel like having one's future and power taken away, leaving a broken heart in its wake.

This special reflections episode includes Pod's thoughts on his conversation with Gillian, as well ways to incorporate her teachings into your own life.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Divorce advice for men from a family lawyer who truly understands the male perspective. In this episode, family lawyer Gillian Coote explains why men rush divorce settlements, how to handle divorce grief, and the #1 mistake that can cost you your kids, your house, and your future.

If you’re a man facing separation or divorce, this conversation will help you slow down, protect yourself, and make smarter decisions. Jill combines decades of 66 family law experience with her own divorce story to give honest, practical 58 divorce advice for men in midlife.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why so many men just want to “get it over with”

• The grieving process of divorce

• How jumping straight into a new relationship can backfire legally and emotionally

• Why “50/50” isn’t always fair – and what you’re actually entitled to financially

• How to protect your kids emotionally during separation and avoid parental alienation

• The one rule Gillian has for every dad

• Rebuilding your identity when your role as husband and father suddenly changes

• Practical steps to stay calm, think clearly, and avoid decisions you’ll regret

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is walking away from a high-status career brave, or is it reckless? People talk a lot about success, but they rarely talk about the cost of success on the health of our relationships and ourselves.

In this follow-up from our interview with Matthew Lumsden, host Pod O'Sullivan breaks down the biggest insights from their conversation and what they actually mean for men in midlife. He also provides an experiment for our audience to test at home; a powerful tool to take Matthew's advice into their day-to-day lives.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is your career success costing you your peace of mind? If you’ve ever felt trapped by the corporate grind or wondered if you're going through a midlife crisis, this conversation is the wake-up call you need.

In this episode of Don't Let the Old Man In, we sit down with Matthew Lumsden, a former high-level executive at Vanguard who did the unthinkable: he walked away from the status and salary to save his sanity.

Matthew opens up about the reality of corporate burnout, the toll it takes on men’s mental health, and how the COVID pandemic forced him to re-evaluate what wealth actually means.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why a high salary, a big title, and corporate success can mask a deep, silent burnout
• The COVID "Fork in the Road": How the pandemic forced a choice between returning to a "normal" that wasn't working or blowing up the blueprint to start over.
• The reality of who you become when you hand back the title that defined you for 20 years.
• Why leaving a job feels like a death in the family
• Financial Freedom vs. Life Freedom: Practical insights on how to financially plan an "escape".
• Japanese Wisdom for Midlife Men: Shibui (Elegant Simplicity)
• Manzoku (Deep Satisfaction): Why chasing "happiness" is a young man's game, and why "satisfaction" is the superior goal for men in their 40s and 50s.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know 70% of cancer risk is linked to lifestyle, not just genetics? In this reflection episode, host Pod O'Sullivan breaks down his biggest takeaways from his conversation with Dr. Andy Tay on cancer prevention, immunotherapy, and the science of healthy aging.

We often think of health and longevity as things out of our control, but the data suggests otherwise. Pod shares the critical insights he gained from Andy Tay's experience, from the potential of immunotherapy to the daily habits that actually move the needle. If you're a man in midlife that is shifting focus to staying healthy, this video covers the practical know-how to do so.

IN THIS VIDEO:

- The 70/30 Rule: Why lifestyle choices matter more than your DNA.

- Immunotherapy Explained: The promising future of cancer treatment.

- Stress & Health: How managing stress is a physical necessity, not just a mental one.

- Actionable Longevity: Simple changes to your diet and routine for long-term well-being.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cancer. The word alone makes many of us shudder. We all know someone who has battled it, perhaps lost to it. Yet here's the paradox that should give us hope: whilst cancer rates are rising as we live longer, mortality rates are falling dramatically.

Dr Andy Tay is a Presidential Young Professor at the National University of Singapore, running a laboratory that literally turns our immune cells into warriors against cancer and infectious diseases. In this compelling conversation recorded in Singapore, Andy takes us on a journey from the fundamentals of cancer to the frontiers of treatment.

In this episode, we cover:

• What cancer actually is
• Why cancer rates are rising but mortality rates are falling
• How immunotherapy transforms your own immune cells into cancer-fighting machines
• The surprising connection between stress and cancer growth through the nervous system
• Why 70% of cancer risk is lifestyle-associated
• How artificial intelligence is accelerating drug development and personalising treatment
• Why "balance" is the ultimate health strategy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your genes aren't what determines how you'll age: it's something else entirely.

This week on Don't Let The Old Man In, we sat down with longevity expert Professor Andrea Maier to talk all things healthy aging, precision medicine and the world of biohacking to find out how we can live better as we age.

After taking time to reflect on his conversation with Andrea, host Pod O'Sullivan unpacks his thoughts on the episode, including what he'll take with him into his own life, as well as a free experiment for you all at home to use.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.