Mid-life Men: the mental health podcast
Have you ever felt like you’ve become lost in your own life?
Many men struggle to talk about their problems and mental health and grew up believing that to do can be perceived as a sign of weakness or failure. There is also a lack of open discussion in society around men’s mental health, especially aimed at mid-life men. As a result, at times many men can feel alone and lost in their own lives.
In this podcast series, I talk to mid-life men about their stories; the challenges, the turning points, and the support received to help them find their way so that others who may be suffering in silence or don’t know what to do next, realise that they are not alone and there is help available.
Stories will cover a whole range of challenges faced by mid-life men mainly relating to the causes of mental health issues including feelings of isolation, depression, job dissatisfaction, addiction, PTSD, and long-term illness.
The podcast is NOT a replacement for professional support and we signpost to organisations and their contact details by episode.
If you have a story you would like to share or any feedback on the podcasts, please email me: midlifemen01@gmail.com.
Mid-life Men: the mental health podcast
Finding your Ikigai with Koj, MasterChef finalist
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In this episode, I talk to Andrew Kojima (better known as Koj), the British, Japanese chef, teacher, and author, about his career shift from finance to food.
After graduating in Classics from Oxford University, Koj stumbled onto the treadmill into finance, where he spent ten years as an investment research analyst. Eventually, in 2012, he seized the opportunity to turn his passion into his profession.
After reaching the final of MasterChef, he undertook a fast-track training program in Michelin-starred kitchens across the UK and Europe before specializing in the cuisine of his father's heritage. As a private chef, he has cooked for the late Queen, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Eddie Redmayne, and many other celebrities. His restaurant won awards and critical acclaim with its pioneering approach to Japanese dining. His book, No Sushi, was published in 2020.
Koj talks about how he transitioned from the world of investment banking, chasing his passion for all things food-related from writing, to teaching to cooking. He talks about the decisions he made along the way, how he managed to still earn an income while investing in his future, and how MasterChef was the real catalyst for his transformation.
Koj talks about the Japanese concept of 'finding your Ikigai', in other words, your 'reason for being,' and how he has found his.
If you want to find out more about Koj, or buy his book 'No Shushi', visit his website: https://www.chefkoj.com.
