About this episode

Al Kennedy discusses his approach to coaching men through midlife transitions, emphasizing vulnerability and connection with nature.

In this final episode of our Coaching Men series, host Rob Lawrence sits down with Al Kennedy, a coach who works exclusively with men navigating midlife. Al's own path from graphic designer and business owner to full-time coach grew out of his personal midlife questioning, and it's given him a grounded, deeply caring approach to holding space for other men. He talks about midlife not as a crisis to be fixed, but as a genuine threshold: a rite of passage that Western culture rarely marks or supports, even though many other cultures have rituals for exactly this kind of transition. Al shares how he creates the safe, intentional spaces men so rarely get: three-day walking pilgrimages he calls "Long Walks," regular men's circles, and creative practices like journaling and poetry. Nature isn't just scenery for him — it's an active part of the work, slowing men down, reconnecting them to their bodies, and mirroring the internal shifts they're going through. He's also thoughtful about accessibility, adapting his methods for online coaching and for men with disabilities or health concerns, so the work stays open to more people, not fewer. What comes through most in this conversation is…

People in this episode

Host: Rob Lawrence

Guest: Al Kennedy

Topics covered

• midlife coaching
• vulnerability
• men's circles
• nature therapy
• personal growth

Keywords

• midlife
• coaching
• vulnerability
• men's health
• walking pilgrimages
• journaling
• emotional openness

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Association for Coaching

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