Stronger After The Storm
You survived the heart attack — but now what?
Welcome to Stronger After the Storm, the podcast for men over 50 rebuilding their lives — emotionally, mentally, and spiritually — after a heart attack. I’m Dougie, and I know this road. At 50, I had a heart attack that changed everything. What came after wasn’t just physical recovery — it was fear, anxiety, silence, and a deep questioning of identity and purpose.
This show is for the men who lie awake wondering, “Am I going to die tonight?” “Will I ever feel like myself again?” “What do I do now?”
Each episode is real talk — no sugar-coating, no fluff. Just honest stories from a man who’s been there, still there, and still rebuilding. I’ll walk with you through the tough stuff: fear after heart attack, isolation, masculinity, emotional healing, connection, and reclaiming life on your terms.
We’ll explore topics like:
- Anxiety and panic after heart surgery
- Rediscovering identity and purpose after trauma
- Mental health for older men
- What strength really looks like now
- How to reconnect when you're feeling alone
- Honest reflections and conversations with other survivors
Some episodes are just me sharing my story and the lessons I’ve learned. Others will feature real men and heart professionals who understand what we’re up against. If you’re looking for hope, direction, or even just someone who understands — this podcast is for you.
You’re not broken. You’re rebuilding. Let’s do it together.
New episodes every week. Listen on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite podcast platform — and head to StrongerAfterTheStorm.com to join the private newsletter for reflections, support, and updates.
Episodes
35 episodes
Episode 35 - You're Not The Same Man After A Heart Attack — Here's Why That's Okay
Episode 35 - You're Not The Same Man After A Heart Attack — Here's Why That's OkayYou survived the heart attack. You did the rehab. You went back to work. But something underneath has changed — and nobody warned you about that part.<...
Episode 34 - It Took Me 11 Years to Talk About This (After a Heart Attack)
It took me 11 years to talk about this. After my heart attack, I didn’t just carry the physical recovery — I carried everything that came after it. The fear. The silence. The questions I di...
Episode 33 Telling Your Story When You’re Finally Ready
Episode 33 Telling Your Story When You’re Finally ReadyA lot of men go through something life-changing… and then stay quiet about it for years.Not because they’ve forgotten it. Not because it didn’t matter.But beca...
Episode 32 - The day I Felt Normal Again - Moments of Calm That show How Far You've Come.
Episode 32 - The day I Felt Normal Again - Moments of Calm That show How Far You've Come.After a heart attack, you wait for a big moment that tells you you're getting better.A clear sign. A obvious marker. Something you'll recogni...
Episode 31 — Getting Older Without Fear - Making peace with aging after a heart attack
Episode 31 — Getting Older Without Fear - Making peace with aging after a heart attackAfter a heart attack, aging stops feeling like something in the distance.It moves closer.It becomes something you thi...
Episode 30 — Music, Memory, and Healing After a Heart Attack
Episode 30 — Music, Memory, and Healing After a Heart AttackAfter a heart attack, music doesn’t always feel the same.Songs you’ve heard for years can suddenly hit differently. They bring memories. Emotions.&n...
Episode 29 —Small Wins: How I Measure Progress After a Heart Attack
Episode 29 —Small Wins: How I Measure Progress After a Heart Attack After a heart attack, progress doesn’t always look the way you expect it to. There are no big milestones. No dramatic breakthrough...
Episode 28 —The First Holiday After a Heart Attack
Episode 28 —The First Holiday After a Heart AttackThe first holiday after a heart attack doesn’t feel the way you expect it to.What used to feel relaxing can suddenly feel uncertain. New surroundings. Different r...
Episode 27- Friendships That Faded — And Why That’s Okay
After a heart attack, recovery doesn’t just change your health. It quietly changes your relationships too. Some friendships grow stronger. Others slowly drift away. In this episode of St...
Episode 26 — Going Out for a Drink Again. Finding Your Limits After a Heart Attack
Episode 26 — Going Out for a Drink Again. Finding Your Limits After a Heart AttackReturning to everyday life after a heart attack happens gradually. For many men, one of the first social milestones is going out again — ...
Episode 25 – Mind Over Heart: A Simple Toolkit for the Head Noise
Episode 25 – Mind Over Heart: A Simple Toolkit for the Head Noise After a heart attack, your body can look fine — but your mind may still be on high alert. In this episode of Stronger After the Storm, I talk ...
Episode 24- Heart Attack Myths: What the Movies Get Wrong
Episode 24Heart Attack Myths vs. Reality: Why the “Hollywood Heart Attack” Can Delay Recognition and Increase AnxietyWhat does a heart attack actually feel like?In the movies, it’s sudden collapse and dramatic...
Episode 23- Was It Wise To Get A Puppy So Soon? — The Journey From Heart To Heart
Episode 23 - Was It Wise To Get A Puppy So Soon? — The Journey From Heart To Heart Two weeks into recovery, I brought home a puppy.I was living alone in a cottage in the country. My body was weak. My head was louder than I li...
Episode 22 — When You Realise You Were Never in Control
Episode 22 — When You Realise You Were Never in ControlDriving, awareness, and ordinary life after survivalAfter a heart attack, it’s not the big moments that always hit hardest — it’s the ordinary ones.In t...
Episode 21-Finally Some Steady Ground, The 7-Day Mind Reset Plan
Episode 21-Finally Some Steady Ground, The 7-Day Mind Reset PlanThe first seven days after everything changes can feel mentally relentless.Your body may be steady, but your mind can feel anything but.In this episode, I share t...
Episode 20 - A Mind Reset — The First 7 Days After a Heart Attack
Episode 20 - A Mind Reset — The First 7 Days After a Heart AttackWhat really happens in your head after survival — and why it makes senseThe first week after a heart attack doesn’t feel like recovery.&nb...
Episode 19 — Understanding Limitations How a Heart Attack Affects Your Body and Mind
🎧 Episode 19 — Understanding Limitations How a Heart Attack Affects Your Body and MindAfter a heart attack, you don’t just lose fitness — you lose confidence in your own body.And what’s strange is… nobody reall...
Episode 18 — Meeting Yourself Where You Are-Letting go of pressure and finding steadier ground
🎧 Episode 18 — Meeting Yourself Where You AreLetting go of pressure and finding steadier groundAfter a heart attack, a lot of pressure can quietly build — pressure to recover properly, to sound positive, and to cope ...
Episode 17 — The Voice Inside Your Head- Finding a Gentler Way to Talk to Yourself After a Heart Attack
Episode 17 — The Voice Inside Your Head Finding a Gentler Way to Talk to Yourself After a Heart AttackAfter a heart attack, the noise around you often fades — and the voice inside your head becomes harder to ignore. I...
Episode 16 Embracing These Early Changes After a Heart Attack- Adapting to a New Lifestyle
Episode 16 Embracing These Early Changes After a Heart Attack- Adapting to a New Lifestyle.After a heart attack, the early changes don’t always arrive loudly or clearly. Often, they show up quietly — in how you move, how you feel, and ho...
EPISODE 15 — Building a Life Worth Living What a “second chance” really means — and why this time, it’s personal
EPISODE 15 — Building a Life Worth LivingWhat a “second chance” really means — and why this time, it’s personalAfter a heart attack, people love to say things like “You’ve been given a second chance.” ...
Episode 14: Gratitude isn't Weakness - How Thankfulness Turns Survival into Strength.
EPISODE 14 — Gratitude Isn’t WeaknessHow thankfulness turns survival into strengthA lot of men hear the word “gratitude” and think, Aye right… that’s no’ for me. It can feel soft, forced, or completely...
Finding Joy Again-Relearning laughter, music, and the small things that bring back life.
Episode 13 — Finding Joy AgainRelearning laughter, music, and the small things that bring back lifeJoy doesn’t always return in big ways after a heart attack. More often, it arrives quietly — through tiny sparks yo...
Episode 12: The Anger Nobody Talks About — Hidden Frustration, Grief, and the Slow Process of Forgiveness
Episode 12: The Anger Nobody Talks About — Hidden Frustration, Grief, and the Slow Process of Forgiveness Anger isn’t something men talk about after a heart attack — but it shows up more than we admit. Not the shoutin...