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
202 episodes
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...
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Episode 200
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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...
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Episode 199
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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...
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Episode 198
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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 ...
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Episode 197
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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 ...
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Episode 196
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25:35
195: Trained to believe it
Simon and Lee share a tricky conversation about the politics of representation. Things they discuss: finding the note about the tricky subject, Lee extemporising, representation and optics, box ticking, Bayo Akomolafe and repre...
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Episode 195
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22:22
194: Everyone in the room is in the dark
Simon and Lee talk about "youngest and smallest" and the long-term effects of this feeling (and other similar feelings). Things they discuss: visual but small, knowing things (or not) in meetings, refiling funding pots, knowing...
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Episode 194
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25:44
193: The transcendant awesomeness of the films themselves
Simon and Lee tier list the shit out of films starring Keanu Reeves. Things they discuss: Dangerous Liasons (including the book), Valmont (L&S got this name wrong), The World According to Garp, Sea of Love and having the ho...
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Episode 193
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26:37
192: Smug evangelising sneaking in
Simon and Lee talk about obsessions and whether or not to talk about them. Things they discuss: Being discombobulated, Lee's flight being cancelled, more on Simon's cholesterol and the NHS, budget cuts, brief (tangiential...
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Episode 192
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27:36
191: Why am I craving balsamic?
Simon and Lee discuss hosting parties that are performances and re-wiring approaches to food.Things they discuss: Simon hosts a party that is a performance in which he is not the host called We Move In Close Circles, the stress...
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Episode 191
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19:27
190: People are killing their teeth
Simon and Lee talk about anxiety that persists over time and situations that appear to be high stakes when they are not. Things they discuss: Intrusive thoughts, self-diagnosing online, anxiety, worrying, ruminating and being l...
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Episode 190
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24:37
189: Still in the process of being nurtured
Simon and Lee talk about no longer being children.Things they discuss: Lee deals with some parent issues, tries out his Australian accent, Simon had dinner with friends and talking about no longer being children, dying from a b...
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Episode 189
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19:50
188: Run and jump through it like Superman
Lee and Simon talk about imagining bad things as a way to not do them, Coldplay at Glastonbury, and human beings singing together.Things they discuss: Midlifing show titles, the desire or feeling to jump or fall off heights, th...
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Episode 188
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28:06
187: A little bit of pre-marital sex to borderline orgy
It's hard to describe what this one's about. Just listen. Things they discuss: Lee cutting half a yew tree (that has grown a lot), Simon's 40th at Riverford Farm, being old and unimportant academics, the foundations of Bob and ...
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Episode 187
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24:54
186: Now Varley! The bugs!
Simon and Lee are back in the saddle together (finally) and they talk about funerals and one of Simon's experiences in Rome. Things they discuss: Lee is sick, they discuss Bridgerton Series 3 and Lee's eye for detail, Lee working t...
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Episode 186
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27:39
185: Semi-Santa self
A minisode: Lee covers for Simon and talks about having too many water bottles.
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Episode 185
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6:13
184: Mainlining pizza
A minisode: Lee shaves off his beard and Simon doesn't make it.
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Episode 184
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7:49
183: You are a cult beauty
Lee and Simon talk about perfume and where to put it.Some other details from the episode: being overwelcomed, being taken out for dinner, saying thank you and please so much, Lee's shock collar to stop him saying bad words, lan...
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Episode 183
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28:05
182: Join me in the middle it's amazing here
Lee and Simon had a real meeting for work before Simon had to sneak off for tooth hurty where he discovers he may not be happy with his smile. A conversation about intimacy and being turned on. Some other details from the episode: <...
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Episode 182
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26:33
181: Hand on the knee going nnagghhwwww
Lee and Simon try and get up from the floor without using their hands and they discuss quite expensive beds and twilight years. Some other details from the episode: Lee's shoulder, getting sorer as you get older, getting up...
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Episode 181
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24:52
180: Spelt like Manchester sounds like Liverpool
Simon and Lee discuss many things including pizza, the D-Day landings and going dry. No one reads these show-notes so we will just leave it at that. Some other details from the episode: getting things stuck in your teeth, Lee's...
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Episode 180
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26:24
179: Ossified and greedy
Lee and Simon talk about the books that changed them and what it would take to join a revolution.Some other details from the episode: Non-dual awareness, Lee reading during his Masters, Portugal's The Carnation Revolution (mili...
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Episode 179
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27:40
178: The thingamagy whatsit with the people
Lee and Simon go on a strange ride through some "visual culture" before talking about body dismorphia, Lee's natural form, exhibitionism and the things people do to switch off.Some other details from the episode: Pitch Perfect ...
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Episode 178
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26:27