Talking Cod: a survivor’s guide to middle age

For the latest episode of Talking Cod , we're joined by investing guru Jason Graystone to talk about unshackling ourselves from unnecessary worry about our finances. Jason began his career washing cars to earn money when he was 14. He became financially free at 30 and now is a trader and investor, owning a number of successul businesses.  We talk about the importance of having a plan, about valuin...

In the latest episode of Talking Cod , Dave and Andy sit down with the awe-inspiring Luke Staton , whose journey from aspiring professional footballer to motivational speaker and children's author captures the essence of transformation and resilience.  Luke shares the trials and triumphs of his early days in football, the life-altering times when he had to hang up his boots, and the path that led...

The latest episode of Talking Cod features our good friend Will Edge, a trustee and facilitator at Mentell, a men's mental health charity. We'd originally asked Will to come on to tell us about the charity's work and how he'd first come across the organisation, but then things went strangely quiet. It turns out he'd had a scary accident whilst Wakeboarding in North Wales with his daughter, only to...

In the latest episode of Talking Cod, we ask you to 'look into our ears' ( not sure if that works, but I'm going to leave it and this note in this final copy, intentionally - Phil ) with respected Berlin-based hypnotherapist Bernhard Tewes, whose personal transformation from chain smoker to non-smoker through hypnosis was the catalyst to become a master in the field.  Bernhard talks about his jour...

We're back with another cracking guest on Talking Cod, none other than footy legend Dean Holden. Dean talks about his illustrious career as a player and a manager, most recently of Charlton Athletic, but then opens up with deep authenticity as he talks about the tragic loss of his daughter, Cici.  And that triggered something huge in our conversation: as someone in the public eye, how much of your...

For our first guest of 2024, we're thrilled to have David Wilson, aka Sober Dave, share his raw and inspiring journey. For 40 years, Dave was entangled in an ongoing battle with alcohol, a struggle that nearly ruined his life—but a pivotal moment in January 2019 marked the beginning of an extraordinary transformation. Dave opens up about his darkest days – a time when his health deteriorated and a...

In this mini-episode of Talking Cod, join Andy, Dave, and Phil as we delve into our exciting plans for 2024. We share a sneak peek into the stellar line-up of guests awaiting us in the upcoming episodes and an update on our next Walking Cod outdoor adventure. Amidst the future gazing, the conversation takes a weird turn - in true Cod fashion - with an unexpected confession about spooning crisps. A...

In our latest episode of Talking Cod, we're chuffed to introduce Krish Patel , whose journey is a remarkable blend of ambition, adversity, and awakening. From the streets of Bolton to the professional football fields, Krish's childhood dream of becoming a footballer took him on a bit of a rollercoaster. His career began with promise at Bury, but injuries soon threw a wrench in the works, leading h...

In our latest episode, we touch on a subject close to the heart – the impact of friends from different chapters of our lives passing away suddenly. Friends are the family we choose, accompanying us through life's journey, but what happens when they leave us without warning? Phil, Dave, and Andy open up about personal experiences, the feelings that follow, and the importance of remembering the good...

In this awe-inspiring episode of Talking Cod, we welcome back the incredible Steve Hill, author of "What Next Sir?," fresh from an unimaginable feat of endurance.  Brace yourselves for a story that will leave you breathless. Literally. Steve's just completed an astounding 14 marathons in 16 days. He began by running seven marathons along Costa Rica's coast, from the Pacific to the Caribbean. Pictu...

For the second episode of Season Four, we're joined by an unexpected yet pretty damn interesting guest - ChatGPT. We tackle the complexities of technology, from the intrusive nature of notifications to the health-monitoring capabilities of our smart devices.  We discuss the need for digital detoxes, the irreplaceable element of human authenticity, and how we can better navigate our relationship wi...

Yup, you read that right. We're going real world. The first ever Walking Cod is coming on Friday 13th October, 2023, and we'd love you to join us. Book your place by heading to https://walkingcod.eventbrite.co.uk now. It's free, and it's better than most things you could be doing in work on a Friday morning. That's a Cod promise. Walking Cod 📅 Date : Friday, October 13, 2023 🕙 Time : 10:00 AM 📍...

It's the Season 4 premiere of Talking Cod, and we're back with a fresh brand plus exciting plans for our first live event, "Walking Cod." ( Join us! ) But the real star of this episode is our incredible guest; 50-year-old sports industry veteran and streetwear dad, Ben Elkington. Join us for one of our most poignant conversations to date as Ben candidly shares his remarkable recovery journey. He b...

After 'Hooked on Brainthoughts' and 'Now That's What I Call Cod', it's time for the third and final instalment of our 'Best Of' series, ' Blabber Gold '. And what a cracker it is. We start with the sage-like legend that is Jindy Mann ( Leader. Brother. Son. ) as we ponder what masculinity means in modern society. With Rev Nick Bundock , we dive deep into religion and the power of community, and th...

It's time to get back in the car, set the satnav for Memory Lane [ ref: N05 7LGA ], and hear some of the 'best bits' from Talking Cod, Season 2 .  We discussed thoughts on education with our good pals Dan Fitzpatrick and Ben Whitaker (aka The Edufuturists ), keeping our inner chimp in check and imposter syndrome at bay. With Daniel De La Cruz ( Dan The Agency Man ), we chatted about the lies we co...

Join us on a trip down memory lane as we head back to where it all started, season 1. We’re so pleased to bring you this compilation, there are so many great conversations here - and some mad ones, but what would you expect? We talk about getting fit, making time in our lives for ‘random’, music's emotional connection, finding our place in our community and our families (with our first ever guest,...

Two and a half years. That's how long it's been since we hit record on our first episode of Talking Cod . It’s tempting to wonder: Were we the same people then as we are now? As we wrap with Season Three, we took time to talk about some of the great guests we’ve had on the show recently. Rev Nick Bundock sharing spiritual wisdom, coach Jindy Mann’s new fatherhood journey, Tom Chapman from New Orde...

In the latest episode of Talking Cod , we delve into a profound and often overlooked principle - the Path of Least Resistance. Life invariably throws a myriad of challenges our way, but do we always need to face them head-on? Sometimes, wisdom lies not in resistance but in acceptance, not in struggling...but in letting go. As we navigate life, deciding which battles are worth fighting is essential...

In the latest episode of Talking Cod, we welcome back an esteemed guest and newly minted father, Jindy Mann of Leader Brother Son . Join us as we delve into the transformative journey of becoming a dad, share our cherished memories, and reflect on fatherhood's invaluable lessons. Becoming a father is a rite of passage, filled with emotions, unexpected challenges, moments of pure joy, and - occasio...

In the latest episode of Talking Cod, Phil, Dave, and Andy examine the delicate tapestry of relationships that surround us in middle age.  As we transition through life's milestones, our family, intimate friends, and mentors often become the pillars of our identity. Through the usually lively chat, some pretty deep anecdotes, and a dash of humour, the trio unpack how our bonds evolve and how, as o...

As creatures of habit, our lives are profoundly shaped by the patterns of behaviour we repeat daily, often subconsciously.  Left sock before right? Is it a coffee or a run before engaging the brain? In the latest episode of Talking Cod, Dave, Phil and Andy talk about the routines that keep us sane. Or just about. How do we create habits that propel us forward? What role do our daily routines play...

In our latest episode of Talking Cod, we turn the spotlight onto a topic many avoid - failure. Join Phil, Dave, and Andy as they dissect the concept of failure, examining it not as a final destination, but as an essential part of our journey towards success. Failure can be a tough pill to swallow, but it's often in our lowest moments that we learn the most valuable lessons. How do we redefine fail...

In the latest episode of Talking Cod , Andy and Phil welcome Steve Hill MBE, an inspiring teacher who embarks on jaw-dropping adventures for charity. From scaling mountain peaks to traversing deserts and jungles, Steve continually pushes his limits. Join us as we dive into his reasons for taking on these challenges, how he inspires his students to get involved, and the source of his unwavering mot...

In the latest Talking Cod , Phil, Dave, and Andy talk AI. Phil already seems to have replaced himself with an AI avatar, so we're not entirely sure if he's on this episode or not. But with ChatGPT-4 being so omnipresent at the time of recording, we figured it was time to explore what this means for work, life, and everything else. And as we venture further into this rapidly advancing frontier, the...

In our latest episode, Phil, Dave, and Andy are joined by Jon Prince, a former Pro Poker Player turned fully Accredited Mindset Coach and Mentor, also known as The Perception Coach . We dive into how the personas we project sometimes don't align with who we truly are inside. Jon shares his mission to help people discover their authentic selves, reach their full potential, and achieve what they gen...