Hard Choices, Easy Life, with Jerzy Gregorek

Hard Choices, Easy Life, with Jerzy Gregorek

Author: Philip Briscoe February 2, 2026 Duration: 53:31
You won’t hear many life stories like this. Jerzy Gregorek’s life spans teenage alcoholism and suicidal thoughts, elite Olympic-level weightlifting, political exile from communist Poland, serious injury and paralysis, underground resistance work, and the long, unglamorous process of starting again in a new country. More than once. What makes this episode different is that Jerzy doesn’t romanticise any of it. He speaks plainly about the cost of bad choices, the patience required to rebuild, an...

For men navigating the complexities of middle age, conversations about inner life can feel foreign or forbidden. Mid-life Men: the mental health podcast is a space where that silence is broken. Host Philip Briscoe engages in frank, thoughtful dialogues with men from various walks of life, exploring the unspoken challenges of mental wellbeing, societal expectations, and personal identity during these pivotal years. This isn't a lecture series; it's a collection of real stories and shared experiences. Listeners will hear candid discussions that range from managing stress and redefining purpose to navigating relationships and confronting the stigma that often surrounds vulnerability. The podcast delves into the cultural and personal dimensions of health, offering documentary-style intimacy alongside practical perspectives. Each episode aims to connect, reassure, and provide a sense of shared understanding for any man who has ever felt adrift. By focusing specifically on the mid-life experience, this series creates a vital, targeted forum for reflection and connection, challenging the notion that struggling is a sign of failure. Tune in for authentic conversations that prove you are not alone in your journey.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 92

Mid-life Men: the mental health podcast
Podcast Episodes
Having It All and Still Asking: Is This It? with Josh Fineman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:34
In this episode, we're joined by Josh Fineman. Josh had the career, the young family, the success but behind it all was exhaustion, self-doubt, and a relentless voice asking, “Is this it?” In this honest and revealing co…
Feeding Others, While Falling Apart, with Adam Smith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:33
Trigger warning: This episode includes honest discussions about suicide attempts, mental illness, domestic violence, and trauma. Adam Smith’s story is unlike anything you’ve heard - and exactly what so many men need to h…
Stand Up to Anorexia Because Comedy Can Save Lives, with Dave Chawner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:32
Trigger warning: includes frank discussion of eating disorders, body image, and mental health. How do you find laughter in something that nearly kills you? In this episode, comedian and mental health advocate Dave Chawne…
A Raw Conversation About Suicide and Survival, with Chris Frederick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:36
This episode of Mid-Life Men includes open and honest discussions about mental health challenges, including suicide. Some listeners may find this content distressing. In this frank and powerful episode, we hear from a ma…