
Midlifing
Two friends Lee and Simon have serious conversations about silly things, and silly conversations about serious things. Together they dig into the pleasures, absurdities and imperfections of being human.
Episodes
220 episodes
218: Like any new drug you start to take
Lee and Simon talk about becoming experts (in knitting), reducing screentime and nostalgia for things we have never experienced. Warning: episode includes SPOILERS for the film Conclave.Things covered: Knitting updat...
•
Episode 218
•
24:44

217: What to do if you are shit at knitting
Lee and Simon go on a typically chaotic ride that is tricky to summarise other than they catch up. Just read below.Things covered: Lee takes up knitting, the latest on Mark Zuckerberg, Badly Drawn Boy's Pissing in the Wind, Lee...
•
Episode 217
•
28:41

216: Men talking about how they were feeling (Part 2 of 2)
Lee and Simon continue their conversation with Matthew Onarheim-Smith about his experiences of depression.Apologies for Simon's mic level.Things covered: Agency and depression, ketamine treatment (not officially approve...
•
Episode 216
•
31:17

215: Men talking about how they were feeling (Part 1 of 2)
Lee and Simon bring on their first ever (official) guest – Matthew Onarheim-Smith – to talk about his experiences of depression.Apologies for Simon's mic level.Things covered: Introducing Matthew Onarheim-Smith, Quick b...
•
Episode 215
•
26:20

214: He did want it slightly stretched
Lee and Simon catch up a bit before Lee discusses having his testicles scanned. Yes. Scanned. Things covered: Waking up from a nap, staying up late, snow on the ground, 2025, Lee has visitors from Alice Springs, the size of...
•
Episode 214
•
25:07

213: The silicon chip inside your head
Lee and Simon talk about being sensitive (or not) to others and Lee had a conversation with his Dad about politics (spoiler: changing what we watch and read changes what we think and believe). Things covered: Queen at Live ...
•
Episode 213
•
25:27

212: Put it in the back and bubble wrap it
Lee and Simon enter the Christmas spirit by discussing fart walking. Simon reads Lee a brief story, they discuss a plan to move things and Lee has an airport encounter. Things covered: Determination to continue, Simon being a C...
•
Episode 212
•
27:50

211: Some people I know talk from their throat
Lee and Simon talk about their bodily 'tells' regarding stress, then digress into a conversation about fashion before a surprise guest appearance. Things covered: A bodily tic and noticing habits, lip balm, Jon Kabat-Zinn "...
•
Episode 211
•
27:50

210: Be careful this podcast is reversing
Lee and Simon start with a bit of follow-up before droping into a conversation about human resources and being in conversations that are not what we think they are. Things covered: Lee sings Simon a song, some follow up re ...
•
Episode 210
•
25:27

209: Nobody has ever died from an infection before
Simon meets up with an old academic friend and it sparks a conversation between Lee and Simon about having a plan B (which might involve collaborating with TikTok). Things covered: Lee's Apple Watch, meeting a proper academ...
•
Episode 209
•
27:02

208: Do you mind if I hit your foot?
After keeping some content in his pocket for some time Lee springs a question on Simon about touch and fondness. Things covered: Simon being able to move bodies, Lee's content about touch and fondness, Lee's love for Jefrey...
•
Episode 208
•
28:47

207: Sophisticated bees (Part 2 of 2)
In part 2 of a two-parter Simon and Lee carry on (obviously) from last week and get lost (and het up) discussing misogyny.Things covered: voting with our own best interests, the ruling classes, the feminist narrative, misog...
•
Episode 207
•
21:08

206: Sophisticated bees (Part 1 of 2)
In part 1 of a two-parter Simon and Lee start off (inevitably) with an apartment update, some elongated preamble, check in post US election, and voting in our own best interests (or not).Things covered: Photoshop vs CAD models,...
•
Episode 206
•
24:56

205: One centimetre in photoshop equals 50 centimetres in real life
Simon seeks some advice from Lee about keeping things in confidence, and then they talk about what our work colleagues really think of us. Things covered: A messed up beginning riddled with technological issues and two diff...
•
Episode 205
•
25:50

204: Easily divisible by three
Lee and Simon discuss the extent to which identities are tied to work, and some other stuff. Things covered: International Champagne Day (25 October), talking in the third person, Prosecco, Cava, a biscuity Champage, Franci...
•
Episode 204
•
28:48

203: Unsettling music playing
Lee and Simon discuss what it is they are most proud of and the capacity to feel as if terrible events are gifts. Things covered: Not having a kitchen, Wolf ovens, removing fitted carpets from a place, Simon being met by a ...
•
Episode 203
•
25:48

202: You can just wander around with a lump hammer
Simon seems to be on the verge of buying something big and Lee wades in.Things covered: Catching up after being away and hearing each other's voices, Bob in China, high speed trains to Hong Kong, American and British voices...
•
Episode 202
•
28:39

201: They no remember nothing
Simon and Lee call Finn to find out who he likes. Things really go off the rails, and then Lee gets back to his favourite subject: jettisoning friends. Things covered: Lee jettisoning friends (again), update and feedback fr...
•
Episode 201
•
27:00

200: Like weeing at the pub
Simon and Lee get silly celebrating their 200th episode, and they discuss a translation of a speech by Donald Trump. Things covered: The arbitrary nature of 200 episodes, Lee's soporific tone, falling asleep during meetings, ha...
•
Episode 200
•
28:13

199: I love a well-groomed ghost
Simon and Lee work through earthquakes, what Lee sleeps in, ghost outfits and life after death. Things they discuss: The dancing scene in Call Me By Your Name, dancing at a wedding, swimming in the early morning, Lee surviv...
•
Episode 199
•
29:10

198: Rubbing my gums with the numbing stuff
Simon and Lee discuss Simon's experience of a root canal. Lee chimes in with buying a car and a bit about optometrists. Things they discuss: Simon having a root canal, dealing with the unknown, teachers (for example) keepin...
•
Episode 198
•
24:25

197: I think my husband died but I had earplugs in
Simon and Lee discuss how Lee's relationship with his parents is changing (or not) and Simon going through his Mother's writing.Things they discuss: Jefrey is inbetween breakfasts, Lee's breakfast, brushing your teeth when ...
•
Episode 197
•
22:48

196: I love the word nemesis
Simon and Lee talk about the things they have learned from their enemies.Things they discuss: Mars the planet and who owns Mars the confectionary thing, Lee's newfound love of stickers, Pema Chodron's "Living Beautifully", the ...
•
Episode 196
•
25:35
