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
46 episodes
Episode 46 — Why Support Matters | Giving and Receiving Help After a Heart Attack
Episode 46 — Why Support Matters | Giving and Receiving Help After a Heart Attack It's always been easier for me to give support than to receive it. I found that out properly after my heart attack — twice, in two very different situ...
Ep 45: Men, Vulnerability, and Real Talk
Ep 45: Men, Vulnerability, and Real Talk Something changed in me after my heart attack that made it a bit easier to talk about the hard stuff. I don't think it was courage — not really. It was something different ...
Episode 44 — One Year Stronger | Reflecting on a Year of Stronger After the Storm
Episode 44 — One Year Stronger | Reflecting on a Year of Stronger After the StormA year ago I sat at my desk with my finger hovering over a button. Do I press it or don't I?I'd spent weeks building it — recording at home, editing ...
Episode 43 — What I'd Tell My Younger Self | Lessons on Delegation and Letting Go
Episode 43 — What I'd Tell My Younger Self | Lessons on Delegation and Letting GoIf I could sit down with the man running those hotels — before any of this happened — I know exactly what I'd tell him. Not slow down. Not stop dreaming. So...
EPISODE 42 — Learning to Respond, Not React | Steadying Your Triggers After a Heart Attack
EPISODE 42 — Learning to Respond, Not React | Steadying Your Triggers After a Heart Attack I've always known how to stay calm under pressure — behind a bar on a chaotic night, running a kitchen where every second counted. But it too...
Episode 41 — A Different Kind of Strong | Redefining Strength After a Heart Attack
Episode 41 — A Different Kind of Strong | Redefining Strength After a Heart AttackBefore my heart attack, strength meant one thing. Throwing full kegs of beer around with ease. Lifting heavy timber. Wrestling hung trees to the grou...
Episode 40 — Why Me? | Letting Go of Blame After a Heart Attack
Episode 40 — Why Me? | Letting Go of Blame After a Heart AttackAfter my heart attack, when the question hit — why me — I already knew part of the answer.Years of running hotels. Two kitchens. Lots of staff. Six in the morning unti...
Episode 39 — Who Am I Now? | Finding Your Identity After a Heart Attack
Episode 39 — Who Am I Now? | Finding Your Identity After a Heart AttackWhen I got home from hospital after my heart attack, I walked through the front door, sat on the couch, and looked at my family photos on the wall. I thought I'd seen...
Episode 38 Helping Others Without Losing Yourself
Episode 38 Helping Others Without Losing YourselfIn this episode I talk about something that crept up on me without me realising it — the weight of carrying other people's struggles when you've been open about your own.When you've...
Episode 37 - Saying Goodbye To The Life Before
Episode 37 - Saying Goodbye To The Life BeforeThere's a part of recovery nobody really talks about. For me, it looked a lot like grief — but nobody had died.This week I talk about saying goodbye to the life I had before the heart ...
Episode 36 | The Gap Between Knowing and Doing
Episode 36 | The Gap Between Knowing and DoingAfter everything I'd been through — the heart attack, the recovery, the lessons — you'd think I'd be the first to stop when my body told me to.This week I wasn't. And it caught me out....
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...