Middle Man Podcast By Paul Sutton cover art

Middle Man

Middle Man

By: Paul Sutton
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From the outside my life looked wonderful. I had an amazing wife, three great kids, a beautiful house in the countryside and a successful consultancy business. But on the inside, I was deeply unhappy. I felt trapped by the very life that I had designed. I felt that I had no sense of purpose. And I’d lost all sense of who I was or what my place in the world was. But what I’ve discovered since is that it needn’t be this way. Middle Man is the show for midlife men and the people who love them. It helps midlife men to rediscover themselves and to embrace the second half of life with positivity, enjoyment and purpose. So if you’re a midlife man with a creeping sense of unease and unhappiness that you can’t put your finger on, if you feel unappreciated and isolated, or if you’ve looked around at your life and thought “is this really it?”, then Middle Man is the show for you. Join me on a shared journey of self-discovery. Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • If You Rely on Exercise to Lose Weight, You’re Doomed - Andrew Jax on Holistic Fitness

    If You Rely on Exercise to Lose Weight, You’re Doomed - Andrew Jax on Holistic Fitness
    Mar 25 2026
    There's a lot of pressure to hit the gym on a regular basis. And there's no doubt that physical exercise and movement are incredibly important in leading a fit and healthy life. But many men in their 40s and 50s struggle not because they lack knowledge, but because life has shifted. Careers, families and responsibilities push their own wellbeing to the bottom of the list, and the result is weight gain, low energy, declining health markers and a loss of confidence. This week Paul talks to fitness coach and former bodybuilder Andrew Jax, known online as 6 Pack Dad, who specialises in helping midlife men regain control of their health, energy and confidence. Drawing on his own experience as a father of three and decades in the fitness industry, Andrew challenges the conventional belief that diet and exercise alone are the keys to getting in shape. He advocates a holistic approach, one that prioritises sleep, stress management, mindset and sustainable lifestyle habits over rigid training regimes. Paul and Andrew explore the deeper motivations driving men to seek change, from wanting to feel more present with their families to addressing serious health risks. And they look at the importance of identifying a strong personal “why” and making small, practical adjustments rather than completely overhauling life. Andrew argues that consistent exercise, while beneficial, is not essential for fat loss, and that fitness should be reframed as a lifestyle rooted in simplicity, consistency and self-awareness - one that not only improves physical health, but also unlocks greater energy, clarity and purpose in midlife. --------------- If you’ve found this episode insightful or interesting, you can support the show at www.ko-fi.com/middlemanpodcast I'd love to hear about your experiences, so if you'd like to get in touch email me at paul@middlemanpodcast.com and let me know what's on your mind or sign up to the newsletter at www.middlemanpodcast.com Middle Man on Instagram: @middleman__podcast
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    36 mins
  • Men Communicate Distress Through Behaviour Rather Than Words - Dr Stephen Blumenthal on Self Expression

    Men Communicate Distress Through Behaviour Rather Than Words - Dr Stephen Blumenthal on Self Expression
    Mar 11 2026
    Many men struggle to understand, express, or even recognise what they are feeling. They often communicate distress not through words but through behaviour, and sometimes in ways that are self-destructive. Excessive drinking, withdrawing from friendships, over-investing time in work or reckless risk-taking can act as signals that something is wrong internally, and are far from uncommon. This week Paul speaks to acclaimed clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst Dr Stephen Blumenthal about the hidden emotional lives of men. He talks about how many men express emotional conflict through action rather than language, and about how these behaviours are often rooted in what he calls 'trauma patterns' - adaptive responses formed in childhood or early life that help individuals cope with difficult environments but may later interfere with intimacy and emotional connection. Stephen explores how social expectations of masculinity shape men’s emotional lives, and how there can be a disconnect between what men feel and what they are able to articulate. And he highlights the importance of self-awareness and reflection. But rather than simply encouraging men to 'express their feelings, he argues that the real work lies in developing a language for inner experience and understanding the emotional signals beneath behaviours, and that a willingness to examine one’s inner life is among the most powerful foundations for long-term wellbeing. --------------- If you’ve found this episode insightful or interesting, you can support the show at www.ko-fi.com/middlemanpodcast I'd love to hear about your experiences, so if you'd like to get in touch email me at paul@middlemanpodcast.com and let me know what's on your mind or sign up to the newsletter at www.middlemanpodcast.com Middle Man on Instagram: @middleman__podcast
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    47 mins
  • Midlife Stories: From Emotional Blackness to Midlife Breakthrough, with Leon Smith

    Midlife Stories: From Emotional Blackness to Midlife Breakthrough, with Leon Smith
    Mar 4 2026
    Childhood adversity can have a lasting impact. When trauma, instability or loss are experienced at a young age, they can shape how a person sees themselves and the world for decades, resulting in emotional suppression, hyper-independence, people-pleasing or self-sabotage. But adversity does not have to become destiny. This week Paul talks to Leon Smith about his long journey from a traumatic childhood to redemption in midlife. At 11 years old, Leon watched his mother undergo life-threatening surgery for a tumour wrapped around her spinal cord. While he was still trying to process that trauma, his absent father was murdered. The combined weight of grief, shock and emotional suppression left him shattered. He describes years of “blackness”, drifting through adolescence and adulthood alike in survival mode, numbing himself through nightlife, work and distraction. But many years later, after some NHS counselling, Leon experienced what he calls a “therapeutic epiphany” - a moment of clarity in which he recognised his patterns and realised he could choose differently. That insight sparked dramatic change. He returned to university, built a successful decade-long career in television, and eventually felt called to retrain as a counsellor and psychotherapist. Leon's truly inspirational story is a testament to the fact that no matter how broken you feel, change is possible and hope is real. --------------- If you’ve found this episode insightful or interesting, you can support the show at www.ko-fi.com/middlemanpodcast I'd love to hear about your experiences, so if you'd like to get in touch email me at paul@middlemanpodcast.com and let me know what's on your mind or sign up to the newsletter at www.middlemanpodcast.com Middle Man on Instagram: @middleman__podcast
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    43 mins
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