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
The Pain You Don’t Talk About Shows Up Anyway, with Dr Brian Livesay
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In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Brian Livesay, a trauma therapist and Director of Clinical Research at Arise Alliance, and we explore how men can heal from unspoken trauma, not by suppressing or avoiding it, but by facing it differently.
Drawing from his personal story of loss, military service, and years working with veterans and first responders, Brian introduces a groundbreaking approach to healing called Critical Memory Integration (CMI). It’s a way of helping people re-engage with their most painful memories from a place of safety, strength, and agency, transforming how those experiences live within them.
We unpack why so many men stay silent about pain, how disconnection shows up in everyday life, and what it really means to face your demons, without being destroyed by them.
You’ll learn:
- Why men often disconnect emotionally and how it affects relationships, work, and health.
- What Critical Memory Integration is and how it helps rewire trauma at its source.
- How unprocessed memories show up as anger, anxiety, or emotional shutdown.
- Why facing pain is a path to strength, not weakness.
- Practical first steps to reconnect with yourself and others, even when you feel stuck.
Why listen:
If you’ve ever felt haunted by something you can’t quite name or sensed that your emotions are running the show, this episode offers a roadmap back to calm, clarity, and connection. Brian’s insight bridges science, story, and soul, reminding us that courage isn’t the absence of pain, it’s learning how to walk through it.
If you want to find out more about Brian and his work with Critical Memory Intergration, visit the Arise Alliance website.
