Talking Cod: a survivor’s guide to middle age

In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Richard Askwith, one of Andy's favourite authors and a renowned fell running expert, about staying active as we age, the benefits and drawbacks of competitiveness, and the joys of running with others. Richard also shares fascinating stories about his experiences as an author, including completing the Bob Graham Round and becoming an internation...

Regret.  Now that’s a big word.  We regret split second decisions and laboured choices, sometimes in equal doses. Can you really regret course of action A - however much you hated it at the time - when it ultimately brought you to outcome B?  Dave, Phil and Andy explore their own regrets, the things they’d change, and the things they wouldn’t change, even if they wanted to.  If you like what you h...

We talk about success a lot on the show, but everyone has a completely different interpretation of what that means. So how does it feel when you find yourself stood on a stage in Brazil, about to play bass in front of 30,000 music fans? And what does success look once you’ve hit those heady heights? For our latest episode, we speak to Tom Chapman, bassist and songwriter with Manchester music legen...

Many of us constantly judge ourselves by our own high standards, but does everything have to be 100% all of the time? How do we define 'perfect' in a consumer-driven world where perfection is never really attained? There's always a newer, shinier thing coming down the line... And would life have been simpler if Fairground Attraction hadn't thrown down this particular gauntlet in 1988? If you like...

In one of our most profound episodes, we explore faith with Rev Nick Bundock, team rector at St James & Emmanuel in Manchester: a church rocked by tragedy in 2014 following the suicide of a young congregation member, Lizzie Lowe. Nick explains why St James & Emmanuel had to change after Lizzie’s death and the work he now does in championing a fully inclusive approach to religion. And we ge...

Andy, Dave and Phil (aka the three not-so-wise men) hang up the festive tinsel and mistletoe whilst pondering the ghosts of Christmas past and present. Have we forgotten what makes the Christmas period special amongst the relentless capitalist-driven cash splurges? If you like what you hear, give us a like, share and a follow. And maybe a comment. Or if you want to get involved, email us at hello@...

“How are you?”, “Good thanks, how are you?”, “Can’t complain!” Sounds familiar, right? We spend our lives avoiding opening up to share just exactly how we’re feeling. No-one is an island: we all experience highs and lows, and we need to be more comfortable about talking about ourselves. And so, for this week’s powerful episode, we’re joined by our soul brother Jindy Mann (The Selfish Leader) for a...

We’re back! After a brief sojourn, Dave, Andy and Phil return with a vengeance for series 3 of Talking Cod: A survivor’s guide to middle age. How do we react to the political turmoil and the global situation we find ourselves in? Do we get sucked into the continuous news cycle of doom and gloom, or find a way to transcend the madness and instead, focus on the issues we can affect? And what does ou...

Have you ever stopped to take stock of where you are in life, the person you are, and the person you’re not? We evolve as we ride the highs and lows of life, but do these experiences give us a deeper understanding of who we are at any given moment? As ever, if you like what you hear, give us a like, share and a follow. And maybe a comment. Or if you want to get involved, email us at hello@talkingc...

We sometimes chow down on our grub in total autopilot, but how often do we sit back and think about our relationship with glorious food. And just what impact our ‘convenience’ has had on the quality of what we eat, and the ceremony of eating together? As always, if you like what you hear, give us a like, share and a follow. And maybe a comment. Or if you want to get involved, email us at hello@tal...

Bo Stehmeier, good friend of the show and CEO of Academy-winning production house Off The Fence, is back, and boy, has he brought a mighty subject to talk about. How do we reframe Big Dick Energy? Join us for a chat about swagger, vulnerability and the power of putting your worst foot forward. As always, if you like what you hear, give us a like, share and a follow. And maybe a comment. Or if you...

Is it the one thing you really can’t live without ? In this weeks episode we are joined by friend and listener Nick Thompson, a man who knows a thing or two about cash. And ask the question, if money came to tea, what would it look like? As always, if you like what you hear, give us a like, follow, share. And maybe a comment. Or, if you want to get involved, email us at hello@talkingcod.com.

After an incident with a pizza oven gets the better of the cod-meisters, the chaps have one of their most profound conversations yet: how have our relationships with our parents influenced how we are with our own kids? As always, if you like what you hear, give us a like, share and a follow. And maybe a comment. Or, if you want to get involved, email us at hello@talkingcod.com.

We've all thought of giving up from time to time, whether that's on a task, a job, a relationship, or even worse, just plain giving up. But is that even an option, and would it make things any better? How do we find the inner strength to dust ourselves down, and 'just keep doing it?' Do we talk about how we're feeling during these situations or clam up, like our fathers before us? As always, if yo...

While we're battling crazy schedules and impossible deadlines, we can soon lose focus on why we're doing what we do. And though we don't do it enough, building in time to reflect and be thankful for what you've got is essential. So when was the last time you sat back and let gratitude guide your thinking? As always, if you like what you hear, give us a like, share and a follow. And maybe a comment...

Do you ever feel like there’s no point in trying something new and just give up? Andy’s friend, Jason Boyle, joins the conversation in a special episode. Insightful, full of positive energy, Jason is a mentor (like Andy, Dave, and Phil) and shares with us who his first mentor was (a super cool Mancunian), how he recently transformed his life, setting up global communities, how he teaches kids soci...

Blokes. We're no good with our emotions, are we? From an early age, we're primed to keep stuff in, act strong and conform to type. But inevitably, all those emotions have got to go somewhere, and the more we bottle up, the bigger the explosion on the other side. This episode goes deep on anger, sadness, and the wheel of emotion's lighter side, too. As always, if you like what you hear, give us a l...

Now there's a question. One that we've all asked ourselves many times. In this week's episode, we discuss the thought process. Do you rely on the mind or go with your heart or your gut? Or do you just summon up some good old-fashioned courage and see what opportunities arise? As always, if you like what you hear, give us a like, share and a follow. And maybe a comment. Or if you want to get involv...

If you stopped brushing your teeth but told everyone you'd cleaned them three times a day, would anyone know you'd lied apart from yourself? That's the question our latest guest, Daniel de la Cruz (Founder, Polymensa), posed when we asked him to join us. Thankfully, we were all remote when we recorded this episode, so we couldn’t tell... Get in touch with your suggestions, kind words and brain tho...

Imposter syndrome: it's something most of us feel at least once in a lifetime, but how do we recognise and get over this self-doubting voice in our heads? Dave and Phil explore what it means to them, whilst Andy questions whether it exists...or is, in fact, an imposter... Get in touch with your suggestions, kind words and brain thoughts: hello@talkingcod.com And if you like what you hear on Talkin...

The Codmasters lay bare their primitive minds in the latest episode. Can we control our inner chimps, as Professor Steve Peters explains in his seminal book The Chimp Paradox, or are we stuck with them? Get in touch with your suggestions, kind words and brain thoughts: hello@talkingcod.com And if you like what you hear on Talking Cod, don’t forget to give us a like, follow and a share.

In our latest episode we’re joined by Alex Heywood, director at high-performance training provider 4and20Million, for some awesome insights on how to optimise your time, and your energy, in a world that expects relentless productivity.

For our latest episode we joined with likeminds Dan Fitzpatrick and Ben Whitaker from the Edufuturists podcast, to talk about the future of education, creativity, technology, neurodiversity, mental health, and, of course, a fair amount of cod.

With the end of the year fast approaching, the lads reflect on the highs and lows of 2021 and figure it's time to commit to some New Year's Resolutions. Or is it?

Does time really fly when you’re having fun? And why does a watched pot never boil? The Codmasters delve into the science that differentiates between time and moments. Yup, it’s proper science.