The Midlife Mentors

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’re talking about masculinity - what it means, what it’s allowed to be, and why so many men feel increasingly unsure how to show up in the world and at work - without being labelled toxic, outdated, or problematic. Our guest is David Maywald, author of The Relentless War On Masculinity. David argues that while some harmful behaviours needed challenging, we’ve also lost sight of healthy masculinity and that many capable, well-intentioned men, especially in ...

Send us Fan Mail On today’s episode we’re joined by someone who’s making a real impact in the mental health space. Neil Smith is the co-founder of Mettle alongside Bear Grylls, an innovative mental wellbeing app designed to help men build confidence, resilience and emotional strength through practical, science-backed tools. The focus of Mettle is on everyday mental fitness - not waiting until crisis hits, but empowering users to understand their emotions, develop healthier coping strategies ...

Send us Fan Mail As 2025 draws to a close, this episode feels rather special to us. It’s not about goals or resolutions - it’s a review - where we share what’s shaped us and what’s mattered most along the way. We touch upon how our bodies have changed and how we’ve adapted our training, friendships and connections, faith and James’ book. We also want to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to you all - for listening, for sharing the podcast, for your kind messages and your trust...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s episode of The Midlife Mentors podcast, we’re opening up about the things that have shifted in our marriage over the past year. It hasn’t all been smooth sailing - far from it. There were seasons that stretched us, humbled us and asked more of us than we expected. But through honest reflection, deeper faith, and a bit of guidance from outside, we’ve found our way into a stronger, more grounded partnership. A love with more tenderness, more truth… and far more r...

Send us Fan Mail Most people think they’re tired because they’re doing too much…But the truth is - it’s not always that they’re tired from doing. They’re tired from leaking energy in a hundred tiny ways they can’t see. It’s not laziness, it’s not lack of motivation - it’s death by a thousand energy leaks. You’re on the hamster wheel, working harder, pushing through… But you’re not topping up your tank - physically, mentally, or emotionally. And that’s what we’re diving into today - how to run...

Send us Fan Mail 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 ig...

Send us Fan Mail 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 whil...