Podcast
Midlife Man Rising
Hosted by Nelson Pahl, Ph.D. · EN
Midlife Man Rising is a podcast for men after 50 who sense something’s off — the quiet grief of identity loss, the ache of midlife crisis depression, and the restless urge for midlife reinvention.
If you’re tired of performing roles, chasing what no longer fits, or waking up with that hollow ache in your chest, this space is for you.
Through stories, reflections, and experiential practices, I help midlife men:
- Reclaim who they once were and honor what they’ve lost
- Face the hidden grief of midlife instead of pretending it doesn’t exist
- Redefine purpose beyond legacy, expectations, or success metrics
- Begin a midlife transformation that feels authentic, aligned, and meaningful
Each episode blends evidence-based experiential techniques with narrative reflection — helping you move forward with agency, not guilt.
Join me, Nelson Pahl, Ph.D., experiential psychologist, as we help the midlife man rise — and turn midlife crisis into personal reinvention.
Current and upcoming series include:
- Good Grief, John Doe mini-course
- Midlife Resurrection series
- Midlife Plan B series
- Legacy Lab mini-course
Follow the show if you’re ready to stop surviving midlife and start rebuilding it with clarity and courage.
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Men After 50: Relocating to Greener Pastures (Part 3 of the Midlife Plan B Series)
Oct 2800:06:17Summary readyHow changing your environment can reignite identity, purpose, and possibility for midlife men.For many men after 50, midlife isn’t just about changing jobs or ending relationships. It’s about changing landscapes. Sometimes the midlife crisis isn’t a breakdown, but a signal that your environment no longer matches who you’ve become.In this episode, psychologist Nelson Pahl explores how relocation can serve as a gateway to personal reinvention. Drawing on environmental psychology and his own lived experience, he reveals how moving can help midlife men realign their surroundings with their evolving identity.You’ll learn how your environment subtly shapes behavior, identity, and emotion—and how to use relocation as a catalyst for midlife transformation rather than an escape from it.Whether you’re considering an expat life, a coastal shift, or simply a smaller, slower town that fits the man you’re becoming, this episode offers perspective, process, and psychological insight for designing your Plan B life.Episode HighlightsHow your environment shapes identityWhat drives midlife crisis depressionThe science of person–environment “fit”Steps to assess your relocation “fit gap”Why moving can spark reinventionHow distance frees creativity and energyRelocation as alignment, not escapeTurning change into midlife transformationHealing LinksAll Three Options: 5-Day Challenge: Resurrection CampSupporting LinksResearch Article: Person-Environment Fit TheoryProfessional Article: Relocation as Catalyst for TransformationProfessional Article: Midlife Reinvention through Environment ChangeNext Episode: Men After 50: Part 4 of the Midlife Plan B SeriesAbout the HostNelson Pahl, Ph.D. is an experiential psychologist that helps midlife men move from midlife crisis depression to midlife reinvention. Through his proprietary approaches — Resurrection Camp, the Midlife Plan B, and his Legacy Lab — he guides men after 50 through identity loss, midlife transformation, and personal reinvention. He's also author of the book, Escaping Sartre's Hell: A Guide for Self-Validation in Midlife.Want to Share?If his episode resonated with you, drop a note or a timestamped comment — or send a private message.Ready to build your own Plan B?Midlife Plan B offers three ways to reinvent your work, identity, and direction: A 4-week private coaching immersion for men ready to design a life that truly fits who they’ve become A 4-week guided reset challenge for structured self-reinvention A single-session breakthrough intensive for men seeking focused clarity and momentum. Visit Midlife Plan B to find the path that fits your next chapter. Visit Midlife Plan B.
SummaryMen After 50: The Passion Pivot for Midlife Reinvention (Part 3 of the Midlife Plan B Series)
Oct 2000:07:47Summary readyHow to escape the career that’s killing your soul—and pivot toward purpose, freedom, and fulfillment.For men after 50, midlife can feel like a slow unraveling—success on paper but emptiness underneath. The career that once fueled pride has become a quiet cage.In this episode of Midlife Man Rising, Dr. Nelson Pahl continues the Midlife Plan B Series with a focus on The Passion Pivot—how to trade the grind for meaningful work that actually aligns with who you’ve become.You’ll learn how to identify your Paying Passion Project, leverage decades of skill and wisdom, and make your midlife reinvention practical, not theoretical.It’s not about quitting—it’s about realigning.Because the man who pivots with purpose during his midlife crisis doesn’t just survive—he rises.Episode HighlightsThe hidden grief behind midlife burnoutWhy so many men feel stuck in “career prison”How purpose becomes the path to freedomThree questions to find your Paying Passion ProjectPivoting toward reinvention—without burning bridgesHealing Links1:1 Coaching: Midlife Plan B Program5-Day Challenge: Resurrection CampSupporting LinksResearch Article: Values Alignment and Career SatisfactionEmpirical Research: Career Transitions and Transferable SkillsProfessional Research: Midlife As OpportunityNext Episode: Men After 50: Part 3 of the Midlife Plan B SeriesAbout the HostNelson Pahl, Ph.D. is an experiential psychologist that helps midlife men move from midlife crisis depression to midlife reinvention. Through his proprietary approaches — Resurrection Camp, the Midlife Plan B, and his Legacy Lab — he guides men after 50 through identity loss, midlife transformation, and personal reinvention. He's also author of the book, Escaping Sartre's Hell: A Guide for Self-Validation in Midlife.Want to Share?If his episode resonated with you, drop a note or a timestamped comment — or send a private message.Ready to build your own Plan B?The Midlife Plan B Program is my 4-week private coaching immersion for men ready to reinvent their work, identity, and direction. You’ll design a life that aligns with who you’ve become—not who you used to be. Visit Midlife Plan B.
SummaryMen After 50: Should You Walk Away (Part 1 of the 6-Part Midlife Plan B Series)
Oct 1100:06:07Summary readySend us a textWhy walking away in midlife isn’t failure—it’s the beginning of reinvention.In this candid opening to The Midlife Plan B Series, psychologist Nelson Pahl, Ph.D. speaks directly to the midlife man—men after 50 who feel caught between who they were and who they still want to become.You’ve probably felt it: the quiet urge to walk away—from the career that’s drained you, the marriage that’s lost connection, or the identity that no longer fits. That restlessness isn’t weakness. It’s your psyche demanding alignment.This episode explores how to navigate a midlife crisis not as collapse but as catalyst—how to turn identity loss, burnout, and doubt into midlife reinvention and personal transformation.You’ll learn how to distinguish between running from pain and walking toward purpose; why many men in their fifties feel an existential “call to reinvent”; and how the decision to walk away can actually mark the beginning of authentic renewal.Join Nelson as he unpacks the psychology of midlife makeover, midlife reinvention, and personal transformation—helping men after 50 reclaim purpose, rebuild identity, and redesign life on their own terms.🎙 Episode Highlights: • Why midlife restlessness isn’t weakness—it’s a call for alignment • How to tell if you’re escaping pain or pursuing purpose • 3 questions to know if it’s time to repair, rebuild, or leave • Why midlife is your best chance to reclaim identity and direction🎧 Listen now to reclaim clarity, courage, and your next chapter.Healing Links5-Day Challenge: Resurrection CampSupporting LinksClinical Research: Career Transitions in Midlife ResearchProfessional Article: Midlife Identity CrisisNext Episode: Men After 50: Part 2 of the Midlife Plan B SeriesAbout the HostNelson Pahl, Ph.D. is an experiential psychologist that helps midlife men move from midlife crisis depression to midlife reinvention. Through his proprietary approaches — Resurrection Camp, the Six Stones Retreat Arc, and his Legacy Lab — he guides men after 50 through identity loss, midlife transformation, and personal reinvention. He's also author of the book, Escaping Sartre's Hell: A Guide for Self-Validation in Midlife.Want to Share?If his episode resonated with you, drop a note or a timestamped comment — or send a private message.What to Do Next:Ready to go deeper? Join me inside Resurrection Camp: The Forge, my 5-day challenge designed for men after 50 who want to reclaim identity, rebuild purpose, and reinvent themselves. Visit Resurrection.CampIf you’re ready to stop living on autopilot and start crafting your midlife comeback, this episode will hit home.🎧 Listen now — and when you’re ready to go deeper, explore the 5-Day Challenge: Resurrection Camp — The Forge at Resurrection.Camp
SummaryMen After 50: The Midlife Resurrection (The Finale of the 6-Part Midlife Resurrection Series)
Oct 200:06:20Summary readySend us a textMidlife doesn’t have to be decline. For men after 50, it can be a resurrection.In this final episode of the Midlife Resurrection Series, Nelson Pahl — experiential psychologist and creator of Resurrection Camp — explores how men in midlife can move past identity loss, midlife crisis depression, and outdated definitions of success to build a new, more authentic self.Whether you’re navigating a midlife makeover, craving personal reinvention, or simply searching for meaning, this episode will help you understand the three critical steps to a midlife transformation: letting go, facing the grief, and claiming your new self.You’ll also learn a powerful tool called Identity Archaeology, designed to help midlife men rediscover who they truly are — and who they’re choosing to become.👉 If you’re a Gen X man wrestling with midlife change, this is the conversation you’ve been waiting for.🎙 Topics n this Episode Discover why midlife isn’t decline; it’s the beginning of your resurrection.Why midlife grief unlocks reinvention (1:03)The 3 steps to a midlife resurrection (1:37)How neuroscience proves transformation is possible (2:33)Identity Archaeology: a 3-part self-discovery tool (3:34)Turning crisis into resurrection (4:53)Healing Links5-Day Challenge: Resurrection CampSupporting LinksEmpirical Research: Midlife as Developmental Pivot PointEmpirical Research: Midlife is an InitiationNext Episode: Men After 50: The Plan B SeriesAbout the HostNelson Pahl, Ph.D. is an experiential psychologist that helps midlife men move from midlife crisis depression to midlife reinvention. Through his proprietary approaches — Resurrection Camp, the Six Stones Retreat Arc, and his Legacy Lab — he guides men after 50 through identity loss, midlife transformation, and personal reinvention. He's also author of the book, Escaping Sartre's Hell: A Guide for Self-Validation in Midlife.Want to Share?If his episode resonated with you, drop a note or a timestamped comment — or send a private message.What to Do Next:Ready to go deeper? Join me inside Resurrection Camp: The Forge, my 5-day challenge designed for men after 50 who want to reclaim identity, rebuild purpose, and reinvent themselves. Visit Resurrection.Camp
SummaryMen After 50: Breaking Free from Your Father’s Expectations (Midlife Resurrection Series - Part 5)
Sep 2600:06:19Summary readySend us a textHow midlife men can let go of old blueprints and create their own path.Many midlife men still live under the shadow of their fathers’ expectations — chasing approval, success, or strength defined by someone else’s rules. But what happens when those inherited blueprints no longer fit your life?In this episode of Midlife Man Rising, experiential psychologist Nelson Pahl, Ph.D., explores why so many men after 50 feel stuck in identity loss, midlife crisis depression, or a restless need for reinvention. Drawing on research and lived experience, he reveals how midlife is not just decline — it’s a season of transformation, plasticity, and freedom.You’ll learn:Why unresolved father-son dynamics surface in midlifeHow to recognize when you’re carrying a story that isn’t yoursWhy this stage of life is a powerful opportunity for midlife reinventionA simple, evidence-based somatic exercise (Voo Breathing) to help release old approval-seeking patternsIf you’re ready to shed the weight of your father’s unfinished dream and embrace your own midlife makeover, this episode is for you.Topics in this EpisodeFatherly expectations & midlife identity (0:23)Why old stories resurface after 50 (0:51)Science of midlife reinvention (1:17)Living your own blueprint, not his (2:57)Voo Breathing for nervous system reset (2:45)Healing Links5-Day Challenge: Resurrection CampSupporting LinksEmpirical Research: Adult Male Identity FormationEmpirical Research: Midlife as Developmental Pivot PointNext Episode: Men After 50: The Midlife Resurrection (Midlife Resurrection Series - Part 6)About the HostNelson Pahl, Ph.D. is an experiential psychologist that helps midlife men move from midlife crisis depression to midlife reinvention. Through his proprietary approaches — Resurrection Camp, the Six Stones Retreat Arc, and his Legacy Lab — he guides men after 50 through identity loss, midlife transformation, and personal reinvention. He's also author of the book, Escaping Sartre's Hell: A Guide for Self-Validation in Midlife.Want to Share?If his episode resonated with you, drop a note or a timestamped comment — or send a private message.
SummaryMan After 50: 7 Signs You're Living Someone Else's Life (Midlife Resurrection Series - Part 4)
Sep 2100:04:35Summary readySend us a textA seven-question survey to reveal identity loss and start your midlife reinventionFor Men After 50 — feeling like you’re playing a role instead of living your life? This episode of Midlife Man Rising helps answer a simple question: Is this your life…or someone else’s?I’m Nelson Pahl, an experiential psychologist that helps midlife men reclaim identity, face hidden identity loss, and begin true personal reinvention. In this episode I walk you through a quick, clear 7-question survey that exposes whether you’re living a borrowed life...and gives you the honest signal you need to start changing course.Topics in this EpisodeMale Role Expectations Impact Self-Expression (0:53)Men After 50 Often Live by Societal Conformity (1:07)7-Question Self-Survey for Men After 50 (1:57)What Your “Yes” Answers Mean (3:31)Healing Links5-Day Challenge: Resurrection CampSupporting LinksEmpirical Research: Masculinity & Social Conformity PressuresEmpirical Research : Male Role Conformity and Mental HealthNext Episode: Men After 50: Breaking Free from Your Father's Expectations (Midlife Resurrection Series - Part 5)About the HostNelson Pahl, Ph.D. is an experiential psychologist that helps midlife men move from midlife crisis depression to midlife reinvention. Through his proprietary approaches — Resurrection Camp, the Six Stones Retreat Arc, and his Legacy Lab — he guides men after 50 through identity loss, midlife transformation, and personal reinvention. He's also author of the book, Escaping Sartre's Hell: A Guide for Self-Validation in Midlife.Want to Share?If this survey moved you, drop a note or a timestamped comment — or send a private message. Naming it is often the first step.
SummaryMen After 50: 5 Ways to Channel Your Midlife Anger (Midlife Resurrection Series - Part 3)
Sep 1900:03:58Summary readySend us a textTransform anger into personal reinvention and midlife growth.For many men after 50, midlife brings an unexpected weight: anger. But beneath that frustration is often grief, identity loss, and the pressure of outdated roles. The truth? Anger isn’t your enemy—it’s energy. And if you learn to channel it, that energy becomes fuel for your midlife transformation.In this episode of Midlife Man Rising, Dr. Nelson Pahl—an experiential psychologist that helps midlife men reclaim identity and reinvent themselves—shares 5 healthy ways to channel your midlife anger. Instead of wrecking your relationships or your health, these strategies help you move, create, speak, protect, and release in ways that spark personal reinvention.You’ll learn how to:Move your body to metabolize hidden angerTurn rage into creativity and expressionTalk it out instead of bottling it upSet boundaries that protect your energyUse ritual to release the weight of the pastIf you’re a midlife man wrestling with anger, this episode will show you how to redirect that fire into strength, clarity, and forward momentum. Because your midlife crisis isn’t the end—it’s the opening to a powerful reinvention.Topics in this EpisodeTurning Anger Into Energy (0:55)5 Healthy Ways to Channel Midlife Anger (1:15)Using Movement to Release Tension (1:23)Anger as Creativity and Expression (1:51)Talking It Out vs. Bottling It Up (2:03)Boundaries as Self-Protection (2:16)Rituals for Releasing Midlife Grief (2:27)Healing Links5-Day Challenge: Resurrection CampSupporting LinksClinical Research: Physical Activities & Anger ReductionEmpirical Research: Middle-Aged Men Anger StudyEmpirical Research: Emotion Regulation in Midlife CouplesNext Episode: Men After 50: 7 Signs You're Living Someone Else's Life (Midlife Resurrection Series - Part 4)About the HostNelson Pahl, Ph.D. is an experiential psychologist that helps midlife men move from midlife crisis depression to midlife reinvention. Through his proprietary approaches — Resurrection Camp, the Six Stones Retreat Arc, and his Legacy Lab — he guides men after 50 through identity loss, midlife transformation, and personal reinvention. He's also author of the book, Escaping Sartre's Hell: A Guide for Self-Validation in Midlife.Want to Share?If his episode resonated with you, drop a note or a timestamped comment — or send a private message.
SummaryMen After 50: One Question that Instantly Shifts Your Midlife Crisis (Midlife Resurrection Series - Part 2)
Sep 1700:06:13Summary readySend us a textHow midlife men can face identity loss, release old roles, and begin true personal reinvention.For men after 50, a so-called midlife crisis often feels like restlessness, irritability, or a vague emptiness. But what if your midlife funk isn’t about cars, careers, or escape — but about grief and identity loss?In this episode of Midlife Man Rising, experiential psychologist Nelson Pahl, Ph.D. reframes the midlife journey as an opportunity for growth, not decline. You’ll learn how the hidden grief of outdated roles and old identities can trigger what feels like midlife crisis depression, and why facing it head-on can open the door to midlife reinvention.Discover how to:Recognize when your “crisis” is really grief in disguiseUse one transformative question to release outdated identitiesBegin the process of personal reinvention after 50Shift from midlife funk to midlife transformationIf you’re a midlife man stuck between who you were and who you’re becoming, this episode gives you clarity, courage, and a starting point. Stop surviving and start rebuilding with proven tools for midlife men ready to evolve.🎧 Listen now — and if you’re ready for deeper change, join Nelson’s 28-day program, Resurrection Camp, to reclaim your identity and create your midlife makeover.Topics in this EpisodeEscape vs. Surrender in Midlife Crisis (0:53)Opportunities for Personal Reinvention (1:13)One Question That Shifts Your Midlife Crisis (1:51)Why a New Value System Emerges (2:23)The Need for Identity Reconstruction (3:19)A Simple Midlife Practice to Try (4:05)Conscious Individuation for Midlife Men (4:54)Healing Links5-Day Challenge: Resurrection CampSupporting LinksEmpirical Research: Midlife Transformation, Not CrisisClinical Research: 3 Case Studies of Male Midlife CrisisJungian Research: Midlife IndividuationProfessional Article: Identity as Dynamic ProcessNext Episode: Men After 50: 5 Ways to Channel Your Midlife Anger(Midlife Resurrection Series - Part 3)About the HostNelson Pahl, Ph.D. is an experiential psychologist that helps midlife men move from midlife crisis depression to midlife reinvention. Through his proprietary approaches — Resurrection Camp, the Six Stones Retreat Arc, and his Legacy Lab — he guides men after 50 through identity loss, midlife transformation, and personal reinvention. He's also author of the book, Escaping Sartre's Hell: A Guide for Self-Validation in Midlife.Want to Share?If his episode resonated with you, drop a note or a timestamped comment — or send a private message.
SummaryMen After 50: 5 Signs Your Midlife Crisis is Really Grief in Diguise (Midlife Resurrection Series - Part 1)
Sep 1400:05:51Summary readySend us a textWhy Your Midlife Crisis Isn’t What You Think: 5 Hidden Signs of GriefMost men think a midlife crisis is about buying sports cars, switching careers, or chasing thrills. But beneath the surface, midlife is often something deeper: grief — the quiet loss of old identities and roles.In this episode of Good Grief, John Doe, experiential psychologist Dr. Nelson Pahl reveals five hidden ways unresolved grief disguises itself as the midlife funk. You’ll see why this so-called “crisis” isn’t an ending, but an invitation to grow.👉 You’ll learn how to recognize:Why unexplained sadness may actually be grief for your younger selfHow nostalgia signals midlife identity loss, not just fond memoriesWhy old passions feel empty — and what it really meansThe link between restlessness and unprocessed grief in men after 50How feeling like a stranger to yourself is actually a call to evolveWhether you call it a midlife crisis, transition, or reinvention, this episode will help you name what’s really happening — and begin the grief recovery process that frees you to reinvent yourself after 50.🎧 Tune in now and discover how unspoken grief can become the key to midlife renewal.Topics in this EpisodeMidlife as Death of Old Identities (0:24)Historic Study of Midlife Crisis in Men (1:23)Five Signs Midlife = Grief (2:43)Growth Through Midlife Grief (5:01)Healing Links5-Day Challenge: Resurrection CampSupporting LinksEmpirical Research: Core Identity Transition ResearchFoundation Research: Successful Midlife Development StudyHelpGuide Article: Analysis of Midlife ResearchNext Episode: Men After 50: Why You Struggle to Let Go of Old Identities (Midlife Resurrection Series - Part 2)About the HostNelson Pahl, Ph.D. is an experiential psychologist that helps midlife men move from midlife crisis depression to midlife reinvention. Through his proprietary approaches — Resurrection Camp, the Six Stones Retreat Arc, and his Legacy Lab — he guides men after 50 through identity loss, midlife transformation, and personal reinvention. He's also author of the book, Escaping Sartre's Hell: A Guide for Self-Validation in Midlife.Want to Share?If his episode resonated with you, drop a note or a timestamped comment — or send a private message.
SummaryMen After 50: 6 Simple Rituals to Shed Outdated Identities (Mini-Course Part 3)
Sep 1300:07:15Summary readySend us a textHow men after 50 can use ritual to release the past, move beyond the midlife crisis, and step boldly into a new chapter.Midlife isn’t just a crisis. It’s a crossroads. And for men after 50, one of the most powerful ways to move forward is through ritual. In this episode of Good Grief, John Doe, experiential psychologist Nelson Pahl explains why the midlife man needs symbolic moments to close one chapter and begin another.You’ll learn simple but meaningful rituals — from burning old memories, to creating playlists, to revisiting important places — that help you honor identity loss, release the past, and reclaim authorship of your life.If you’ve felt stuck in a so-called “midlife crisis” — drifting, restless, or disconnected — this practice can spark midlife transformation and give you the clarity, closure, and courage you need for a true midlife reinvention.👉 Discover how ritual helps men after 50:Let go of outdated identitiesMark the shift from “who I was” to “who I’m becoming”Reinvent purpose with meaning and momentumThis is Part 3 of the Good Grief, John Doe mini-course — designed to help midlife men name their losses, reconnect with their bodies, and begin their journey of personal reinvention.Topics in this EpisodeRituals for Midlife Men After 50 (1:17)Simple Ritual Ideas to Try (1:31)A Personal Example of Midlife Reinvention (2:48)Planning Your Own Midlife Ritual (5:33)Healing Links5-Day Challenge: Resurrection CampSupporting LinksEvidence-Based Article: Psychological Benefits of RitualAnthropological Research: Van Gennep's Rites of Passage TheoryClinical Research: The Psychology of RitualsProfessional Article: Midlifers Need a Rite of PassageNext Episode: Men After 50: 5 Signs Your Midlife Crisis is Really Grief in Disguise (Midlife Resurrection Series - Part 1)About the HostNelson Pahl, Ph.D. is an experiential psychologist that helps midlife men move from midlife crisis depression to midlife reinvention. Through his proprietary approaches — Resurrection Camp, the Six Stones Retreat Arc, and his Legacy Lab — he guides men after 50 through identity loss, midlife transformation, and personal reinvention. He's also author of the book, Escaping Sartre's Hell: A Guide for Self-Validation in Midlife.Want to Share?If his episode resonated with you, drop a note or a timestamped comment — or send a private message.
Summary