Middle Man 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
  • The Challenge of Connecting with Your Kids, with Bernadett Nagy

    The Challenge of Connecting with Your Kids, with Bernadett Nagy
    May 20 2026
    Many men feel pressure to become the father they wish they'd had. Others find connecting with their children increasingly challenging as both they and their kids grow older. But in all cases, men can be deeply self-critical as parents. Fatherhood is often both the most beautiful and the most challenging role in a man’s life, and to expect to be the perfect dad is unrealistic. This week Paul talks to life and relationship coach Bernadett Nagy, who argues that children do not need perfect fathers. Instead they need fathers who are present, self-aware, willing to grow and brave enough to be human. She says that becoming a good dad is not something that happens the moment a child is born, but something created daily through presence, self-awareness and emotional growth. There is a tension many fathers feel between being strong, authoritative and in control, while also being vulnerable, playful and emotionally available, and we explore why children often need fathers to stop fixing problems and simply sit with them, listen and hold space. We also talk about disconnection between dads and children, especially as children grow older, become more independent and spend more time online, and how we can tackle this in a way that creates the connections that most dads want and need. --------------- 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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    49 mins
  • On the Brink: When Purpose and Connection Disappear, with Steve and Dan Shrigley

    On the Brink: When Purpose and Connection Disappear, with Steve and Dan Shrigley
    May 13 2026
    This special episode of Middle Man marks Mental Health Awareness Week. It covers the story of father and son Steve and Dan Shrigley, who share the deeply personal story of Steve’s severe depression, paranoia and suicidal ideation, which led to him being sectioned and spending six months in hospital. Speaking with remarkable honesty, Steve describes the slow erosion of purpose that came from feeling trapped in corporate life, losing meaning in his work, stepping away from football coaching and adjusting to his children leaving home. Dan reflects on what it was like to watch his dad disappear emotionally, without fully understanding the severity of what was happening at the time. Paul talks to Steve and Dan about why men often struggle not because they cannot talk, but because they lack the right environments for honest conversation. Steve shares how rebuilding his life through self-employment, practical work, vulnerability and helping others has given him a new sense of freedom and energy, while Dan explains how small moments of connection can lead to deeper belonging and renewed purpose. This is an incredibly powerful conversation about depression, fatherhood, retirement, work, friendship and the vital importance of purpose, community and connection 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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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Midlife Stories: When Enough is Enough, with Tom Jenkins

    Midlife Stories: When Enough is Enough, with Tom Jenkins
    May 6 2026
    Lack of self-esteem, low self-worth and lack of confidence quietly plague many men as they transit through midlife. And this can show up in many different ways, impacting beliefs, behaviours, relationships and more. Often there is no obvious reason for these feelings, making it even harder to deal with. But through self-awareness and a commitment to change, radical transformation is possible. This week Paul talks to Tom Jenkins, the author of the book The Drunk Gambler, about a life shaped by low self-worth, addiction, and ultimately a very personal decision to confront his long-standing feelings and beliefs head on. Tom’s story begins in his early teens, where alcohol and gambling quickly became coping mechanisms for a deeper, unspoken struggle with self-confidence. What followed was a spiral that included drugs, destructive behaviour and profound shame, culminating in a pivotal moment in a Brazilian favela that forced him to confront the reality of his life. Tom opens up about the often-overlooked issues men face, including sexual dysfunction, emotional suppression and the quiet weight of societal expectations around masculinity. His honesty cuts through the usual narratives of resilience, focusing instead on the uncomfortable but necessary work of understanding oneself. We explore the turning point that led Tom to commit to change, the role of environment in shaping behaviour, the long, non-linear journey of rebuilding a life with intention, and what truly drives lasting personal transformation. --------------- 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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    Less than 1 minute
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