Launching Soon

The Men's
Second
Half

A podcast for men in their 40s and 50s who are ready to have the conversations most men never have.

Now Booking Season 1 Guests

You've spent 20 years building a career, raising kids, and holding everything together.

Now the ground is shifting. The kids are almost out the door. Your marriage deserves real attention. Somewhere along the way you misplaced your closest friendships.

Nobody handed men a playbook for this part of life. This show is it.

Be a Guest on the Show See Episode Topics
Ben Sperling — Host and Creator of The Men's Second Half Podcast
Ben Sperling — Host & Creator
About the Show

BUILT BY A MAN
LIVING THESE QUESTIONS

"The best conversations aren't the ones where someone has all the answers. They're the ones where someone finally names the question."

The Men's Second Half was built for men in their 40s and 50s who are accomplished, capable — and quietly asking questions they can't quite say out loud. About marriage. About who they are without the job title. About the kids leaving. About what comes next.

Each episode, host Ben Sperling sits down with therapists, researchers, financial planners, and coaches to tackle these questions with expert depth and zero fluff. No self-help platitudes. No hustle culture. Just direct, honest conversation for men who deserve better than "have you tried journaling."

Ben brings 30 years in healthcare technology, a career pivot into entrepreneurship, two daughters approaching college, and his own experience coordinating care for an aging parent from across the country. He isn't interviewing about these topics — he's living them.

14
Season 1 Episodes
40–58
Target Age
30+
Yrs Experience
How It Works

THE SHOW FORMAT

Every episode follows a clear structure designed to deliver real value to our listeners — and a great experience for our guests.

01
🎙️
Expert Interview
A focused, 35–50 minute conversation between Ben and one guest. Prepared questions, real dialogue, room to go deep. Not a surface-level chat.
35–50 Minutes Per Episode
02
📡
Remote or In-Person
Recorded remotely via Riverside.fm — each person's audio captured locally for broadcast quality. Or in-person in San Diego for local guests.
Flexible Recording
03
📋
Pre-Prepared & Focused
Ben does deep prep for every guest — questions are thoughtful, specific to your work, and sent in advance. No cold questions. No wasted time.
Questions Sent in Advance
04
🔁
Bi-Weekly Release
Episodes release every two weeks across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube — with full show notes and audiogram clips for social sharing.
Apple · Spotify · YouTube
05
✂️
Audiogram Clips
We produce short-form clips from every episode for LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts. Your insights reach beyond just the full episode audience.
Shareable Social Content
06
📰
Show Notes & Links
Every episode ships with full show notes, key stats, takeaways, and links to your work, book, or website — a permanent, indexed resource for listeners.
Permanent Episode Page
Season 1 Topics

THE QUESTIONS MEN
NEVER ASK OUT LOUD

Season 1 moves from the inner work of identity outward — through marriage, friendship, and family — to the financial and legacy questions that define the second half. Each topic maps to one or more episodes with a named expert guest.

🧭
Identity & Purpose
Who are you when the job title changes? What does reinvention look like at 50? The psychology of midlife transition and the "afternoon of life."
💑
Marriage & Intimacy
What it actually takes to have a great marriage in the second half. The research on why so many couples drift — and how to change course.
🤝
Male Friendship
The average man over 45 has zero close friends. The science behind why it happens, the health consequences, and how to rebuild real connection.
🧠
Emotional Intelligence
The skill most men were never taught — and the one with the highest ROI in careers, marriages, and fatherhood in the second half.
💪
Men's Health
Hormones, longevity, sleep deprivation, and the lab work that actually matters. The conversation your doctor wishes you'd come in for.
🎸
Hobbies & Play
The neuroscience of play. Why men with real hobbies live longer and have better marriages — and how to find your way back to what you put down.
🏠
The Empty Nest
Nobody warns you about that first night after you drive away from the dorm. The emotional reality — and how to plan for it rather than survive it.
🎓
College Financing
How to fund a college education without derailing retirement. FAFSA, merit aid, 529s, and the strategies most families never hear about.
🌱
Roth IRAs & Compounding
Teaching your kids about compound interest and Roth IRAs before it's too late for the math to work in their favor. The most powerful financial conversation you can have.
📈
Retirement Planning
Retirement isn't just a financial event — it's the biggest identity transition of your life. The math AND the psychology of what comes after the career ends.
👨‍👦
Aging Parents
The quiet role reversal most of us aren't prepared for. How to navigate the eldercare system, coordinate siblings, and be present for a parent who needs you.
🕯️
Legacy & Vision
The question shifts in the second half: not what can I achieve — but what did it mean? Vision, purpose, and the man you want to be for the next 30 years.
Who's Listening

YOUR AUDIENCE

The Men's Second Half is built for a specific, under-served listener: the accomplished man in his 40s and 50s who is navigating major life transitions without a playbook.

This is not a general wellness audience. These are men who read seriously, have built careers, are raising or launching kids, and are finally ready to think about the second half with intention. They are looking for substance, not self-help clichés.

  • AGEMen between 40 and 58, with the highest concentration at 44–54
  • STAGEKids near or past leaving home; career plateauing or transitioning; marriage past the early years
  • MINDSETAccomplished but quietly restless — asking questions they don't have the right venue for
  • MEDIACommute and gym listeners; readers; they finish podcasts they start
  • NEEDCredible, honest expertise — not motivation or hype. They respond to data, nuance, and respect for their intelligence
53M
American men in the 40–60 range
A massive, underserved audience with real purchasing power and genuine unmet needs
0
Close friends for the avg. man over 45
This audience is actively seeking real conversations — and they listen deeply
75%
Report no purpose outside of work
The problem is real, wide, and nobody is solving it at the level this show aims for
2×
Gray divorce rate since 1990
The stakes in this demographic are high — and the demand for real guidance is urgent
Be a Guest

WANT TO BE
ON THE SHOW?

We're looking for experts who have done the work

This isn't a show that books guests for name recognition. Every conversation is chosen because the guest has spent meaningful time in the exact terrain our listeners are navigating — and can speak to it with both authority and honesty.

If your expertise touches one of our Season 1 topics and you've worked directly with men, couples, families, or individuals in midlife — we'd like to hear from you.

Ideal Guest Backgrounds
  • Therapists, psychologists, and coaches specializing in midlife transitions, marriage, or male psychology
  • Financial planners, CFPs, and behavioral finance experts working with families and individuals in their 40s and 50s
  • Authors, researchers, or academics whose published work directly addresses our topic areas
  • Physicians and health professionals focused on men's health, longevity, or functional medicine
  • Educators, counselors, or specialists in college planning, parenting, and family transitions
  • Life coaches, philosophers, or spiritual leaders working at the intersection of meaning and midlife
What to Expect

We keep things simple, professional, and respectful of your time. Here's exactly what the process looks like from first contact to published episode.

The Guest Experience
  • —Initial email exchange to confirm fit and topic focus
  • —5–7 prepared questions sent to you at least 72 hours before recording
  • —35–50 minute recorded conversation via Riverside.fm (or in-person in San Diego)
  • —You keep full visibility — we send a preview before publish if requested
  • —Your book, website, and social handles linked in show notes and episode page
  • —2–3 audiogram clips produced for social sharing — sent to you for use
  • —Episode goes live bi-weekly across Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and YouTube
Pitch Yourself as a Guest
Stay in the Loop

BE FIRST TO KNOW
WHEN WE LAUNCH

Get notified the moment Season 1 drops — plus early access to episode previews, show notes, and guest announcements before anyone else.

No spam. Launch announcement only until the show is live — then bi-weekly episodes.

Get in Touch

LET'S HAVE A
REAL CONVERSATION

Reach Ben Directly

Whether you're pitching yourself as a guest, suggesting someone for the show, or just want to say the concept hit home — Ben reads every message personally.

👤
Host & Creator
Ben Sperling
✉️
🎙️
Guest Pitches
Include your area of expertise, relevant credentials, and which Season 1 topic you'd speak to. The more specific, the better.
📍
Based In
San Diego, California