The Midlife Mentors

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In this episode, we’re tackling a sensitive and  tough conversation that can save lives. We’re joined by Dan Somers and Dr Susie Bennett from the men’s mental health charity ManUp to talk about male suicide - particularly why men are disproportionately affected, how the empathy gap shows up, and what’s really driving the crisis beneath the surface: lack of purpose, isolation and useful tools for emotional regulation.

We unpack the gender differences that too often get ignored, how cultural scripts keep men emotionally armoured, and the practical steps that help men open up before they hit the cliff-edge. 

Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide and may be distressing to some listeners. Please practice self-care while listening. This podcast is for informational and discussion purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or create a therapist-patient relationship. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please contact Samaritans at 116 123 or visit Find a Helpline to find support services near you.

https://www.manup.how/

https://malesuicideresearch.com

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Please remember, if you find the show helpful or it makes you laugh, motivates and inspires you - please do like, share and rate us. We don't run ads on the podcast or for the show, because we want to keep it as enjoyable for you to listen as possible. So if you can help us spread the word, we'd be incredibly grateful.

For more information about The Midlife Mentors, click the below link:
https://linktr.ee/themidlifementors.com

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This week on Hot Topics we’re not holding back as we dive headfirst into the stories making waves - from the UK workforce health crisis to the rise of AI and what it means for our jobs, the push for digital ID cards, and the shocking Manchester synagogue attack. 

We’ll also celebrate England women’s rugby triumph and share some very exciting personal news.

Fair warning: we get emotional, we get opinionated, and yes - there’s some swearing. But that’s because these conversations matter.

Need to reset and reconnect with what's important?

Join us next week in Ibiza: https://themidlifementors.com/retreats/

Support the show

Please remember, if you find the show helpful or it makes you laugh, motivates and inspires you - please do like, share and rate us. We don't run ads on the podcast or for the show, because we want to keep it as enjoyable for you to listen as possible. So if you can help us spread the word, we'd be incredibly grateful.

For more information about The Midlife Mentors, click the below link:
https://linktr.ee/themidlifementors.com

Tik Tok: @themidlifementors
IG: @midlifementors

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This week, it’s just me Claire, as I fly solo - having a very real conversation about something that’s been on my heart and mind.

Unless you live under a rock,  you may have noticed that the the world feels as though it’s spinning faster and getting louder by the day. One minute it’s a new disaster, the next it’s more division, more fear, more noise, more hate. There’s this collective heaviness many of us are carrying - a mix of sadness, anxiety, and overwhelm - all while trying to keep our own lives, relationships and hearts steady.

And it’s a lot. We’re not imagining it. We are living through extraordinary times.

So today, I want to acknowledge that and chat about how we might navigate this turbulence, without losing our peace. 

I’ll share some simple but powerful frameworks you can lean on, and some personal reflections from my own life. My hope is that by the end, you’ll feel a little more anchored… a little more clear… and reminded that you’re not walking through this alone.

So grab a cup of tea, take a deep breath, and let’s dig in.

Join our Ibiza retreat in two weeks - 9th - 12th October:

https://themidlifementors.com/retreats/

Or email us at: team@themidifementors.com

Support the show

Please remember, if you find the show helpful or it makes you laugh, motivates and inspires you - please do like, share and rate us. We don't run ads on the podcast or for the show, because we want to keep it as enjoyable for you to listen as possible. So if you can help us spread the word, we'd be incredibly grateful.

For more information about The Midlife Mentors, click the below link:
https://linktr.ee/themidlifementors.com

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How many times have you said yes when every part of you wanted to say no? How many years have been spent keeping the peace, avoiding conflict, or chasing approval - at the cost of your own wellbeing? 

For so many of us, people pleasing has been a way of life. It starts young, becomes automatic, and by midlife we can find ourselves running on empty, resentful, or wondering who we even are anymore.

In today’s conversation, we’re diving into why people pleasing shows up so strongly, the hidden costs of it, and why midlife is such a powerful turning point. 

We’ll share why people pleasing is so deeply ingrained, how to spot it in your own life, and give you some simple, practical ways to start breaking free. 

Ibiza Retreat - Join us: 9 -12th October for a Midlife Reset

https://themidlifementors.com/retreats/

Support the show

Please remember, if you find the show helpful or it makes you laugh, motivates and inspires you - please do like, share and rate us. We don't run ads on the podcast or for the show, because we want to keep it as enjoyable for you to listen as possible. So if you can help us spread the word, we'd be incredibly grateful.

For more information about The Midlife Mentors, click the below link:
https://linktr.ee/themidlifementors.com

Tik Tok: @themidlifementors
IG: @midlifementors

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Today we’re diving into a subject that resonates far beyond midlife - the crisis of modern masculinity and why so many men, young and old, feel increasingly lost, and how this has led to the rise of the 'manosphere'.

We’re joined by James Bloodworth, journalist and author of Lost Boys, a powerful and thought-provoking book that shines a light on the struggles facing young men in Britain today. 

From work and identity, to mental health and belonging, James has uncovered stories that raise urgent questions about the future of masculinity and what it means for all of us.

In this conversation we’ll explore the forces shaping men’s lives, how those can echo into the wider world and what we can do to change the story for ourselves, our sons and the generations to come.

James Bloodworths’s Substack:

https://www.forthedeskdrawer.com/

For James' book: Lost Boys - Click Here

Reset & Retreat with us in Ibiza - 9th - 12th October:

https://themidlifementors.com/retreats/

Support the show

Please remember, if you find the show helpful or it makes you laugh, motivates and inspires you - please do like, share and rate us. We don't run ads on the podcast or for the show, because we want to keep it as enjoyable for you to listen as possible. So if you can help us spread the word, we'd be incredibly grateful.

For more information about The Midlife Mentors, click the below link:
https://linktr.ee/themidlifementors.com

Tik Tok: @themidlifementors
IG: @midlifementors

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Today we’re talking about the positive power of boredom! 

We’ve just got back from three nights completely off-grid, staying in a little shepherd’s hut - no WiFi, no screens, just the two of us, a lake to swim in, good books, naps in the afternoon, and cooking over an open fire.

At first, we’ll admit, it felt strange not having the usual distractions - no endless scrolling, no notifications buzzing, no constant to-do list. But something interesting happened once we settled into the stillness: we slowed down, we relaxed, and we remembered what it’s like to just be.

And that’s exactly what we want to talk about today - the surprising benefits of boredom. Because it turns out, the very thing we often try to avoid - that restless, empty feeling - is actually crucial for our mental health, creativity, and clarity. Yet, modern life and technology are doing their best to make sure we never feel it.

So in this episode, we’ll be sharing our own experience of switching off, what the research says about why boredom is so powerful, and how you can start creating more space to simply do nothing - and why that might be the best thing you can do for yourself in midlife.

Ibiza Retreat: https://themidlifementors.com/retreats/

Support the show

Please remember, if you find the show helpful or it makes you laugh, motivates and inspires you - please do like, share and rate us. We don't run ads on the podcast or for the show, because we want to keep it as enjoyable for you to listen as possible. So if you can help us spread the word, we'd be incredibly grateful.

For more information about The Midlife Mentors, click the below link:
https://linktr.ee/themidlifementors.com

Tik Tok: @themidlifementors
IG: @midlifementors

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Welcome back to The Midlife Mentors! We’re shaking things up with a brand new format we’re calling Hot Topics.

Each month we’ll take a look at some of the stories making headlines that we think matter most to us in midlife - whether that’s health, money, culture, or just things that get us talking.

This week we’re diving into the shocking Mounjaro price hike and what it means for people trying to look after their health, the growing Gen X pension gap, and the controversy around L’Oréal hiring an OnlyFans model for a major campaign.

Plenty of food for thought, a bit of debate, and of course, our take on what it all means for midlifers like you. So let’s get into this month’s Hot Topics.

Ibiza Retreat: https://themidlifementors.com/retreats/

Support the show

Please remember, if you find the show helpful or it makes you laugh, motivates and inspires you - please do like, share and rate us. We don't run ads on the podcast or for the show, because we want to keep it as enjoyable for you to listen as possible. So if you can help us spread the word, we'd be incredibly grateful.

For more information about The Midlife Mentors, click the below link:
https://linktr.ee/themidlifementors.com

Tik Tok: @themidlifementors
IG: @midlifementors

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We recently sat down with Michael Serwa, the UK's top life coach - who is brutally honest, unapologetically confident and will kick your backside into transformation. 

As a life coach of 22 years, Claire followed Michael’s inspirational rise to success during that time. A chance meeting at James’ book launch meant she finally connected in person and we invited him on the podcast.

Born in Poland, Michael arrived in London 20 years ago speaking barely a word of English. After six years in retail he started his coaching business with 5K credit card debt and no idea what he was doing. Now he's perched in a penthouse overlooking London’s poshest area and is proof that he doesn't just talk success, he lives it. 

Michael's worked with CEOs, Olympians and high-achieving go-getters and has been featured in countless national newspaper and TV interviews. 

Michael doesn’t mince words - he says the “F word a LOT (you've been warned!) - but his raw honesty, zero sugar-coating and transformative results are infectious - but not for the faint hearted.

Connect with Michael here: https://michaelserwa.com/

Ibiza Retreat: https://themidlifementors.com/retreats/

Support the show

Please remember, if you find the show helpful or it makes you laugh, motivates and inspires you - please do like, share and rate us. We don't run ads on the podcast or for the show, because we want to keep it as enjoyable for you to listen as possible. So if you can help us spread the word, we'd be incredibly grateful.

For more information about The Midlife Mentors, click the below link:
https://linktr.ee/themidlifementors.com

Tik Tok: @themidlifementors
IG: @midlifementors

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In this week's episode I - James, am joined by someone very special - my wife and co-founder of The Midlife Mentors, Claire - as she marks one year alcohol-free. 

We dive into the real, raw, and uplifting story behind her decision to stop drinking, what the journey’s been like, the unexpected challenges, and the powerful benefits she’s discovered along the way. 

So, whether you’re sober-curious, considering cutting back, or just intrigued by what life looks like without alcohol, this is a conversation full of insight, inspiration, and honesty. 

We hope you enjoy listening.

Join our Ibiza Retreat in October: https://themidlifementors.com/retreats/

Support the show

Please remember, if you find the show helpful or it makes you laugh, motivates and inspires you - please do like, share and rate us. We don't run ads on the podcast or for the show, because we want to keep it as enjoyable for you to listen as possible. So if you can help us spread the word, we'd be incredibly grateful.

For more information about The Midlife Mentors, click the below link:
https://linktr.ee/themidlifementors.com

Tik Tok: @themidlifementors
IG: @midlifementors