Talking Cod: a survivor’s guide to middle age

The chaps return for series two of Talking Cod, promising more hard-earned, insightful meditations on dealing with the crap middle age throws at you. But this episode sees them instead fixating on a headless chicken. Go figure.

As we make our way through our lives we pick up habits - good and bad - while looking to improve ourselves so we can be the person we’ve always wanted to be. But what’s the best way to embed new routines, whilst saying goodbye to the destructive behaviours our auto-pilot takes control of?

We often take our friends for granted, yet they become increasingly important in our lives as we grow older. We also tend to have fewer close friends as time goes by, which might be more about biology than the capacity in our diaries. But do we value friendship enough?

There’s not much we can say about this episode, other than if you’re interested in how far you can push your body, look no further than codmaster Andy Hall. After reaching the limits - physically and mentally - during the Iron Man triathlon he talks to Dave and Phil about the extremes of endurance he’s been building up to for a long time.

With Dave peddling his way across Scotland, the Cod party is gate-crashed by esteemed TV global exec and author of Wake Up! Rise and Shine, Bo Stehmeier. Reflecting on Father’s Day, Bo, Phil, and Andy explore what fatherhood means to them and how the function of men in society is evolving.

After Andy smashes the EpicMan triathlon, Dave and Phil sit back in awe pondering cake sales, and the positive effect of connecting with your community.

Phil, Andy and Dave sip on mugwort tea while pondering non-verbal communication, lucid dreaming, astral projections and the perils of capitalism. Now there’s a sentence I never thought I’d write.

After a ‘mixed bag’ Bank Holiday experience, Andy, Dave and Phil go deep on the worst and best ways to cope with the red mist.

Dave, Phil and Andy discuss how the sounds around them have defined essential moments in their lives, whilst conjuring up a new format with an 'interesting' title.

Phil, Andy and Dave 'potter' around, discussing whether the five-day working week is relevant anymore and why it's good to talk, but it's even better to listen.

Dave, Andy and Phil - aka Big Head, Feargal and Birchy-balls - dust off their Tacchini tracksuits to explore why staying healthy is good for the mind, as well as the waistline.

Andy, David and Phil hit the virtual studio again to go deep on why a 'graft at all costs' culture is damaging mental health.

Three northern blokes talk about middle-life and growing old disgracefully. Hosts David Eccles, Phil Birchenall and Andy Hall explore how confronting life head-on - with all the crap it throws your way - makes you stronger, old, bolder and, of course, that little bit wiser. Frank, fearless, funny. Talking Cod.