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: Sensory Mapping to Calm Midlife Angst (Mini-Course - Part 2)
Sep 1200:05:12Summary readySend us a textA simple practice for men after 50 to ground emotions, reduce midlife crisis stress, and reconnect with themselves.Midlife can feel like a storm inside your head — racing thoughts, old regrets, and an uncertain future. For men after 50, this so-called “midlife crisis” often hides a deeper truth: midlife grief, identity loss, and the quiet pull toward midlife transformation.In this episode of Good Grief, John Doe, experiential psychologist Nelson Pahl introduces Sensory Mapping — a simple yet powerful practice that helps the midlife man reconnect with his body, calm his nervous system, and uncover the emotions buried beneath midlife angst.You’ll discover how to:Ground yourself using your five sensesTranslate vague feelings into vivid clarityRelease the hidden tension behind anger, anxiety, and midlife crisis depressionCalm the inner storm and reclaim your presenceWhether you’re navigating identity loss, letting go of old roles, or seeking personal reinvention after 50, Sensory Mapping can help you process what’s unspoken — and begin your midlife reinvention with strength and clarity.🎧 Listen now and learn how to transform midlife angst into midlife clarity.Topics in this EpisodeWhat Sensory Mapping Is (0:48)How Sensory Mapping Helps Men After 50 (1:28)Getting Started with Sensory Mapping (2:00)A Midlife Man’s Example (3:33)Healing Links5-Day Challenge: Resurrection CampSupporting LinksEmpirical Research: Interoceptive Awareness & Emotional RegulationNeuroscience Research: Mindfulness and Sensory ProcessingClinical Research: Somatic Experiencing EffectivenessHarvard Health Article: ”What is Somatic Therapy?Next Episode: Men After 50: Create a Moment that Marks the Change (Good Grief, John Doe mini-course - 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: What We Secretly Grieve as a Midlife Man...But Never Admit (Mini-Course - Part 1)
Sep 1100:05:16Summary readySend us a textIn this episode of Midlife Man Rising, we explore why men after 50 often discover that midlife isn’t a crisis but a crossroads — a turning point between identity loss and personal reinvention.Hosted by experiential psychologist Nelson Pahl, Ph.D., Good Grief, John Doe — a 3-part limited series — helps the midlife man navigate midlife transformation by reclaiming identity, reestablishing purpose, and finding meaning after loss: the loss of youth, energy, roles, relationships, and direction.Each episode blends practical tools and experiential practices to help men after 50 and men after 40 process midlife crisis depression, shed outdated identities, and step into a midlife makeover that feels authentic.In this episode, Part 1, Nelson explains how midlife, for a man, is really a grief event — the death of former selves — and he offers a simple practice to start addressing this midlife grief.Topics in this EpisodeThe Old Map No Longer Works (0:49)Midlife Crisis as Grief (1:19)What Men After 50 Rarely Admit (1:37)Language for the Ache (2:11)Writing a Midlife Elegy (2:33)Elegy Prompts for Men After 50 (3:15)A Midlife Elegy Example (3:46)Healing Links5-Day Challenge: Resurrection CampSupporting LinksEBSCO Research: Midlife Crisis Statistics & DefinitionsAcademic Article: Jungian Individuation TheoryProfessional Article: “The Grief of Midlife Crisis”Academic Resource: Masculinity and GriefNext Episode: Men After 50: Sensory Mapping for Calming Midlife Angst (Good Grief, John Doe mini-course - 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.
Summary