What If The Drinking Isn't The Problem? with Brad Hill

What If The Drinking Isn't The Problem? with Brad Hill

Author: Philip Briscoe June 3, 2026 Duration: 36:07
In this episode, we hear from Brad Hill. For most of his life, from the outside, it looked like he was coping, functioning, working, getting on with life. But underneath, he was carrying things he had never really dealt with: a father who wasn't there, childhood sexual abuse, feelings of inadequacy and a growing dependence on alcohol that became his longest relationship. In this honest and powerful conversation, Brad shares how decades of buried pain, self-criticism and addiction eventu...

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: 50

Mid-life Men: the mental health podcast
Podcast Episodes
What Happens When Men Sing Together? with Dom Stichbury [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:21
When was the last time you did something that made you feel slightly exposed, a little uncomfortable, but might just have opened up a whole new part of your life? In this slightly different episode of Mid-Life Men, my gu…
The Grief of Losing Who You Were, with Martin Pemberton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:19
Content note: This episode includes discussion of depression and suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, there are organisations you can call now. In the UK, you can call the S…
Is Chasing Money Making You Happy? with Tom Papasian [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:33
Growing up with a single mother in a one-bedroom apartment on the French Riviera, Tom Papasian saw extraordinary wealth all around him but experienced a very different reality at home. As a young boy, he quietly decided…
When You Feel Trapped and Can’t See a Way Forward, with Ian Kinnery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:21
Content note: This episode includes a frank discussion of depression, suicidal thoughts, a suicide attempt and psychiatric treatment. Please listen with care. If the issues raised affect you, speak to someone you trust o…
Why Didn't Success Make Me Happy? with Lewis Hackney [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:27
Everything looked successful from the outside. A thriving business. A modern apartment. A career many people would envy. Yet behind closed doors, Lewis Hackney found himself standing on a balcony, overwhelmed by the urge…
Antidepressants Didn't Work for Me, with Erik Peers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:46
Most of us assume antidepressants are there to help. For many people, they do. But for Erik Peers, the experience was very different. In this deeply personal conversation, Erik shares how he was prescribed antidepressant…
The Men We Think Are Fine... But Aren't, with Alfie Ruffell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:31
From the outside, many of the men Alfie Ruffell knew looked like they were doing just fine. They were working, laughing with their mates and getting on with life. But behind the smiles, some were carrying struggles no on…
Why Do Men Lose Themselves In Retirement? with George Jerjian [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:57
For most of our lives, we're known by what we do. Our work shapes our identity, gives us purpose and often becomes the measure of our self-worth. But what happens when that chapter ends? When the career finishes, the bus…
Why Does My Past Still Control Me? with Paul Drugan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:21
In this episode, we talk to Paul Drugan, who carried the emotional scars of growing up with a father who, behind closed doors, was controlling, violent and emotionally abusive. From the outside, his family looked success…