
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
232 episodes
230: Everyone loves something even if it's just a tortilla
Simon and Lee talk about things they love.Things covered: back in Blighty, the nature of home, putting down roots, having multiple passports (Jason Bourne), freedivers, things we love, what Lee is wearing (again), bei...
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Episode 230
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24:14

229: Nothing says Mum like Microsoft
Simon and Lee discuss the way age starts not to manner (as we get older), the absurdity of reducing friction in our lives, and then have a quick conversation about Adolescence. Things covered: Buona Pasqua, Lee's raw early ...
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Episode 229
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29:31

228: Breaking marble all over the place
Simon reports in (once again) from Sardegna while attempting to buy a kitchen and the question of consent raises its head again. Lee and Simon also discuss Simon's lack of sartorial elegance. Things covered: marb...
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Episode 228
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24:49

227: Anything is improved by being fried
Simon reports in from Sardegna before Lee and he veer off into talking about what draws us to snake oil. Things covered: Getting the sound right while recording in a 'cathedral', flight delay, the mundanity of ow...
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Episode 227
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26:08

226: That we are not separate and do not want to be
Simon and Lee don't talk about Adolescene (yet), spend way too long discussing Reacher (again), before discussing whether we become kinder with age. Things covered: Lee guesses Adolescence, finishing off the Reacher ...
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Episode 226
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25:43

225: People my age have children that age
Simon and Lee talk about the relevance and irrelevance of age as precipitated by a Simple Minds song. Things covered: Opening a can of beer, being taken out for lunch by a former PhD student, Noble Rot (Lambs C...
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Episode 225
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25:57

224: A low lying bubble of cortisol
Simon almost got hit by a hearse and as a consequence Lee and Simon discuss the nature of stress. Things covered: Taking risks on a bike, where humans feel stress, noticing being stressed, degrees of stress, th...
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Episode 224
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28:53

223: I have had an experience with ladybirds and it was horrific
Lee and Simon talk about things that bother them about themselves and learning to live with them. Things covered: Apple iCloud shared accounts and how shit they are, a ladybird backflip a la Jackie Chan, ladybugs, sp...
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Episode 223
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29:26

222: Groping for the lightswitch at some point in my future
Lee and Simon talk about things in life that are abstract and concrete, some things about Lee's knitting, freedom of thought and action, being happy in difficult times.Things covered: Being homeowners, sliding doors, ...
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Episode 222
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26:45

221: Podcasting with Homer Simpson
Lee and Simon talk about songs that make them dance (or not in Lee's case).Things covered: an Oliver Spencer jacket, body size, Simon's nickname "Snogglegrass", having brothers, David Byrne's American Utopia (by Spik...
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Episode 221
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27:56

220: She used the word sausage factory
Lee and Simon have a conversation about moral compromises. Things covered: knitting update, Simon's management training (difficult conversations), adult egos, being able to express emotions clearly, being compromised (morally) ...
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Episode 220
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24:53

219: So many heaven songs
Simon shows up late so Lee bangs on fabulously. But then they talk about how much time we spend in our bodies (versus in our heads) and whether it's possible to spend too much time (in our bodies).Things covered: Lee...
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Episode 219
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24:12

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...
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Episode 218
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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...
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Episode 217
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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...
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Episode 216
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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...
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Episode 215
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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...
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Episode 214
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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 ...
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Episode 213
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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...
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Episode 212
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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 "...
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Episode 211
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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 ...
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Episode 210
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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...
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Episode 209
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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...
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Episode 208
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28:47
