Don't Let The Old Man In

In this episode of Don't Let the Old Man In, we speak with Mark Beretta (Sunrise TV Presenter and ambassador for the Butterfly Foundation) about young men's mental health today, how eating disorders are underdiscussed in society, and how he's reinvented himself throughout his life. Learn more about the Butterfly Foundation: https://butterfly.org.au/Subscribe to our newsletter for more DLTOMI: https://dontlettheoldmanin.com/subscribe/CHAPTERS:00:00 Intro02:04 Early life, water skiing, and family memories04:19 Lessons from sport and its role in personal development06:36 Career in television and the evolution of Sunrise10:30 Caring for aging parents19:28 Eating disorders: what dads need to know32:47 Reinvention and following passions in midlife42:24 Involvement in the Australian reserves and service to country48:24 The importance of friendships and social connections52:43 Reflections on life, aging, and legacy#eatingdisorders #midlife #parentingtips

In this episode of Don't Let the Old Man In, we speak with sobriety coach Sarah Rusbatch to understand grey area drinking, how our relationship to alcohol can change in midlife, and the simple way to determine the tradeoffs we do and don't want to make for alcohol. Learn more about Sarah's work here: https://sarahrusbatch.com/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontlettheoldmanin.com/subscribe/CHAPTERS:00:00 Intro02:05 What is Grey Area Drinking 04:06 Early experiences with alcohol06:19 Transition from social drinking to career-driven drinking08:16 Moving to Australia and using alcohol to fill voids13:50 The slow decline into problematic drinking17:32 The moment of decision to quit alcohol24:21 Why moderation is often not an option32:49 Defining Grey Area Drinking and its challenges37:43 Tools and strategies for quitting alcohol45:02 The benefits of sobriety and life transformation01:00:18 Looking ahead: aging and living alcohol-free01:01:28 Advice for starting the conversation about alcohol with loved ones

In this week's powerful episode of Don't Let the Old Man In, we sit down with author Oliver Christen to discuss his deeply moving book As She Chose, the story of his mother's self-determined end-of-life journey.Learn more about As She Chose: https://www.amazon.com.au/As-She-Chose-conscious-lived/dp/1764067827Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontlettheoldmanin.com/subscribe/CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction to the conversation on end-of-life choices01:21 Why this topic matters: removing fear of death02:10 Early memories of Oliver's mother06:21 Global overview of assisted dying laws08:46 Why Oliver's mother chose assisted dying11:07 The criteria for voluntary stopping eating and drinking16:41 Understanding death fasting from a spiritual perspective20:58 Living fully and purposefully21:52 The gap between wishes and reality in end-of-life care25:39 The process and experience of fasting for death28:16 Letting go of identity and expectations30:56 The importance of presence and acceptance33:12 Acts of love and creating meaningful moments37:28 Supporting loved ones through physical decline39:25 The significance of signs and nature in end-of-life44:56 Reflections on conversations and relationships50:39 Conscious completion and letting go56:27 What Oliver learned about his mother01:07:38 Final words of wisdom: live fully and have the conversation

In this episode of Don't Let the Old Man In, Erin Buttermore makes her second appearance on the show to dive back into the imposter phenomenon, including how it creates a "capability trap" that follows people as they grow their success. Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://dontlettheoldmanin.com/subscribe/CHAPTERS00:00 Intro02:47 The paradox: it never counts either way05:06 Why imposter feelings get worse the higher you go08:38 When the whole organisation runs on your nervous system10:26 Self-handicapping: the other way we protect ourselves13:08 The first question to ask yourself14:44 We mistake distress for discipline16:36 Achieving through yourself vs achieving through others19:31 What this costs your family25:32 How ambition changes in midlife28:02 Escape fantasy or a genuine change of direction?33:17 The two conversations to have with yourself35:09 Why letting go is the hardest part39:53 Self-compassion has a terrible PR problem46:25 Shame is a very expensive fuel source47:46 The three steps49:13 Setting standards for the things that actually matter57:46 What people won't let go of58:59 Listener question: imposter in one part of life01:01:26 The price you pay for growth#impostersyndrome #psychology #midlife

In this episode of Don't Let the Old Man In, we sit down with Andrew May (high performance coach to the Wallabies, Australian cricket, and some of the country's biggest CEOs) to understand how our building capacity and better recovery can be the best cure for burnout. Read Andrew May's book: https://performanceintelligence.com/matchfit-book/Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontlettheoldmanin.com/subscribe/CHAPTERS:00:00 – Intro02:41 – Why we don't have a burnout problem04:22 – The real definition of burnout (and the WHO's updated criteria)07:33 – Vitamin FLPJ: fun, laughter, play, joy09:57 – Organisational burnout vs taking accountability11:36 – The four types of capacity elite CEOs train14:23 – What executives' blood tests reveal: iron, vitamin D, testosterone16:29 – Purpose vs performance: why purpose is hard and most men skip it20:08 – Performance-based identity vs purpose-based identity23:03 – Andrew's own burnout story: walking away from a seven figure exit25:12 – The five metrics that actually measure your capacity27:59 – The "50 to the power of 4" benchmark: heart rate, HRV, VO2 max40:55 – Wearables, cold plunges and the truth about sauna49:25 – The capacity model: green, moderate, high and extreme risk57:05 – Three simple things to do this week1:06:05 – Andrew's final word of wisdom

In this episode of Don't Let the Old Man In, we speak with positive psychologist Dr Suzy Green to understand why the drive to achieve fades in midlife, why so many people begin to feel invisible at work, and much more. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://dontlettheoldmanin.com/subscribe/Follow Don't Let the Old Man In on social media: https://linktr.ee/dontllettheoldmaninCHAPTERS:00:00 Intro03:14 Why Shift Focus from What's Wrong to What's Right07:48 Understanding the Broad Scope of Positive Psychology11:36 Achievement, Meaning, and Developmental Shifts14:02 The Role of Mattering and Anti-Mattering19:21 Proactive Strategies for Life Transitions22:12 William Bridges' Transition Model23:29 Aligning Values and Strengths During Change25:53 Growth After Trauma and Adversity27:17 The Power of Support and Relationships31:01 Preparing for Endings and New Beginnings33:48 The Importance of Social Connections and Mattering37:41 The Concept of Might and Using Strengths38:48 Building Resilience Through Mindfulness and Attentional Control41:02 Practical Daily Practices for Well-Being44:39 The Impact of Gratitude on Mood and Perspective45:55 Mindfulness and Being Present in Daily Life49:20 The Role of Meditation and Attention Training53:03 Encouragement to Explore Positive Psychology Further54:16 Reflecting on the Future and Life Purpose#psychology #midlife #positivity

This week on Don't Let the Old Man In, we speak with ex money broker Tom Cronin, who left his role after a nervous breakdown caused by his lifestyle. Tom went on to found The Stillness Project, aiming to inspire 1 billion people to meditate every day, to help them alleviate the same issues Tom faced in his own life. CHAPTERS:0:00 - Intro4:30 — The reality of life on a trading floor7:38 — Burnout, chronic anxiety & the nervous breakdown8:34 — Why high-performing men suffer in silence10:26 — From broker to meditation teacher (and what his mates said)21:10 — The science behind meditation26:15 — Saunas, sleep & holistic health for stress management30:29 — Tom's personal journey with meditation34:02 — The General vs Soldier analogy38:45 — Tom's full morning routine for peak performance46:10 — Gratitude, journaling & the law of attraction48:17 — How Tom visualised his future 56:20 — How to meditate: a simple technique to start tonight1:05:10 — The three acts of life & finding your purpose1:08:20 — Why joy and fun are non-negotiable in your third act

Reclaim Your Energy: Insights from Dr. Mantha ImberDiscover practical strategies to boost your energy, prevent burnout, and prioritize your well-being. Dr. Mantha Imber shares her personal journey through exhaustion and her innovative approaches to managing energy better, emphasizing a shift from time management to energy management.In this episode:How energy is the most precious resource and why we often neglect itThe concept of the "getting hit by a bus" fantasy and recognition of burnout signsThe evolution of her "Never Again List" from humbling experiencesThe science behind scent, natural environments, and breathing techniques to boost energyHow to identify your energy "types" (Me Mode vs. Wii Mode; Ambition vs. Anxiety)The importance of protecting your energy with clear boundaries and "To Don't" listsSimple yet powerful "boost" and "rest" strategies, including peppermint scent and cyclic sighingThe benefits of nature immersion, like forest bathing, for mental resetTurning energy management into a gamified process to build sustainable habitsTransitioning into a healthier second act with energy awarenessTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction: Why energy is the ultimate resource00:19 - Personal humbling and the "getting hit by a bus" fantasy02:01 - Recognizing burnout through personal stories03:46 - Lessons learned from public speaking mishaps and creating "Never Again" list04:45 - The impact of alarm clock codependency06:09 - Transition from control to awareness and boundary setting07:36 - How exhaustion affects decision-making and daily routines08:54 - Re-evaluating the role of writing and leadership in energy management10:28 - Why endurance and "pushing through" might be harmful12:04 - Recognizing the limits of pushing and the effects of chronic depletion13:46 - Using humbling experiences to clarify boundaries and priorities15:12 - The role of humility in recognizing what no longer serves you16:07 - The "Never Again List" as a tool for boundaries17:36 - Conscious decision-making with "To Don't" and "To Do" lists19:36 - Society's normalization of exhaustion and its implications20:42 - The importance of running energy experiments with a large group22:03 - The Mi Mode and Wii Mode energy types and their significance23:15 - Navigating between Drive and Anxiety-driven energy states24:54 - Recognizing personal energy patterns and managing anxiety vs. ambition27:37 - How body awareness can guide energy conservation28:19 - Strategies: Fast energy boosts, rest, and protection tactics31:02 - Peppermint scent and other quick resets for energy boost33:52 - The power of gratitude practices and "Three Good Things"36:11 - Breathing exercises like cyclic sighing for instant calm38:25 - Forest bathing and the impact of nature on recovery41:53 - Identifying and avoiding "energy vampires" with the Points Chart44:54 - Practical tools for everyday energy management like cold water immersion and silent walks50:19 - Making energy management a fun, experimental game56:33 - Transitioning into the second-act energy mindset62:16 - Final words: Prioritize your energy above allResources & Links: