Don't Let The Old Man In

This week on Don't let the Old Man In, we sat down with one of our most accomplished guests yet. Matt Bunker is an ex-SAS elite soldier who has seen firsthand the extent of human courage. He opened up about overcoming an abusive childhood, transitioning from soldier to ER Nurse, and learning to start from square one again. In this reflection episode, host Pod O'Sullivan breaks down his conversation with Matt, listing his biggest takeaways from this week's episode, as well as providing an experiment for you to take home Matt's wisdom. Watch the full episode with Matt Bunker here: https://youtu.be/iB5KEvAg56AFor more Don't Let the Old Man In, visit our website: dontlettheoldmanin.com

What happens when an elite SAS soldier walks away from the special forces to become an emergency nurse ... at 40? Matt Bunker's story is one of the most powerful conversations about midlife reinvention, men's mental health, and finding purpose we've ever had on this podcast.In this episode of Don't Let the Old Man In, Matt opens up about his dysfunctional childhood, the brutal reality of SAS selection, a devastating breakdown in 2019, and how he rebuilt his identity from the ground up.This conversation covers:- The reality of SAS selection and what it takes to pass- Why high-achieving men struggle with identity after leaving their career- How childhood trauma shaped his path (and how he broke the cycle)- The moment his wife told him the truth he needed to hear- Why nursing in a chaotic ED is the closest thing to military operations- Practical advice for any man facing a midlife career change- Matt's views on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and men over 40's health

This week on Don't Let the Old Man In, we tackled the tough topic of marriage ending. Gillian Coote, one of Australia's most respected family law attorneys, offers invaluable divorce advice for men, helping them understand the challenges and navigate the path forward. She shares her personal divorce story, describing it as a devastating process, emphasizing how it can feel like having one's future and power taken away, leaving a broken heart in its wake. This special reflections episode includes Pod's thoughts on his conversation with Gillian, as well ways to incorporate her teachings into your own life.

Divorce advice for men from a family lawyer who truly understands the male perspective. In this episode, family lawyer Gillian Coote explains why men rush divorce settlements, how to handle divorce grief, and the #1 mistake that can cost you your kids, your house, and your future.If you’re a man facing separation or divorce, this conversation will help you slow down, protect yourself, and make smarter decisions. Jill combines decades of 66 family law experience with her own divorce story to give honest, practical 58 divorce advice for men in midlife.What you’ll learn in this episode:• Why so many men just want to “get it over with” • The grieving process of divorce• How jumping straight into a new relationship can backfire legally and emotionally• Why “50/50” isn’t always fair – and what you’re actually entitled to financially• How to protect your kids emotionally during separation and avoid parental alienation• The one rule Gillian has for every dad • Rebuilding your identity when your role as husband and father suddenly changes• Practical steps to stay calm, think clearly, and avoid decisions you’ll regret

Is walking away from a high-status career brave, or is it reckless? People talk a lot about success, but they rarely talk about the cost of success on the health of our relationships and ourselves. In this follow-up from our interview with Matthew Lumsden, host Pod O'Sullivan breaks down the biggest insights from their conversation and what they actually mean for men in midlife. He also provides an experiment for our audience to test at home; a powerful tool to take Matthew's advice into their day-to-day lives.

Is your career success costing you your peace of mind? If you’ve ever felt trapped by the corporate grind or wondered if you're going through a midlife crisis, this conversation is the wake-up call you need.In this episode of Don't Let the Old Man In, we sit down with Matthew Lumsden, a former high-level executive at Vanguard who did the unthinkable: he walked away from the status and salary to save his sanity. Matthew opens up about the reality of corporate burnout, the toll it takes on men’s mental health, and how the COVID pandemic forced him to re-evaluate what wealth actually means.In this episode, we cover: Why a high salary, a big title, and corporate success can mask a deep, silent burnoutThe COVID "Fork in the Road": How the pandemic forced a choice between returning to a "normal" that wasn't working or blowing up the blueprint to start over.The reality of who you become when you hand back the title that defined you for 20 years.Why leaving a job feels like a death in the familyFinancial Freedom vs. Life Freedom: Practical insights on how to financially plan an "escape".Japanese Wisdom for Midlife Men: Shibui (Elegant Simplicity)Manzoku (Deep Satisfaction): Why chasing "happiness" is a young man's game, and why "satisfaction" is the superior goal for men in their 40s and 50s.

Cancer. The word alone makes many of us shudder. We all know someone who has battled it, perhaps lost to it. Yet here's the paradox that should give us hope: whilst cancer rates are rising as we live longer, mortality rates are falling dramatically.Dr Andy Tay is a Presidential Young Professor at the National University of Singapore, running a laboratory that literally turns our immune cells into warriors against cancer and infectious diseases. In this compelling conversation recorded in Singapore, Andy takes us on a journey from the fundamentals of cancer to the frontiers of treatment.In this episode, we cover:What cancer actually isWhy cancer rates are rising but mortality rates are fallingHow immunotherapy transforms your own immune cells into cancer-fighting machinesThe surprising connection between stress and cancer growth through the nervous systemWhy 70% of cancer risk is lifestyle-associatedHow artificial intelligence is accelerating drug development and personalising treatmentWhy "balance" is the ultimate health strategy

Your genes aren't what determines how you'll age: it's something else entirely. This week on Don't Let The Old Man In, we sat down with longevity expert Professor Andrea Maier to talk all things healthy aging, precision medicine and the world of biohacking to find out how we can live better as we age. After taking time to reflect on his conversation with Andrea, host Pod O'Sullivan unpacks his thoughts on the episode, including what he'll take with him into his own life, as well as a free experiment for you all at home to use.