What does it actually mean to be an American?

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, Paul and Sean sit down for a conversation about freedom, patriotism, history, and the values that have shaped their lives. They discuss how their understanding of America has evolved over the years, the importance of teaching the next generation where our freedoms came from, and why appreciating our country’s imperfections doesn’t diminish its greatness.

The conversation also explores what freedom really means in everyday life, the responsibilities that come with it, and why history deserves to be remembered, even when it’s complicated.

To wrap things up, the guys put each other to the test with a fun American trivia challenge covering history, movies, music, sports, and pop culture.

Whether you’re a lifelong history buff or simply proud to call America home, this is a celebration of the ideas, people, and stories that continue to define the American experiment.

Happy 250th, America.

You make a lot of friends in your twenties.

You keep very few.

In this special MidMen reunion episode, we get the original crew, including Zaki Hasan and Brian Hall, back together to talk about how we met, what we first thought of each other, and why some friendships survive careers, marriages, kids, distance, and decades while others quietly fade away.

Along the way we audit our roles in the group, reveal things we’ve never actually said to one another, put our friendships to the test with trivia, and answer one important question:

What does friendship mean in middle age that it never did when we were young?

It’s funny, honest, occasionally ridiculous, and a reminder that the people who stay with you through life’s chapters may be the greatest investment you’ll ever make.

Remember when every weekend felt like an adventure?

In this episode of MidMen, Paul and Sean take a hard look at how social life changes as men move from their twenties into middle age. From bars, parties, concerts, and spontaneous road trips to BBQs, home projects, fitness routines, and family obligations, we explore what we’ve gained, what we’ve lost, and whether life is actually more fulfilling now than it was back then.

Joining us is special guest Evan Cudworth, a professional party coach, who helps us unpack how socializing, celebration, and nightlife evolve as we age—and why partying at 45 looks very different than it did at 25.

We also tackle the growing friendship problem facing men today: why making and maintaining friendships becomes harder, the reality of loneliness and isolation, and what meaningful connection looks like in midlife.

Plus, we discuss what “fun” means now, whether we’re happier than we used to be, and what kind of social lives we hope to have in the decades ahead.

And of course, we wrap things up with a massive edition of FUN OR NONE, where we rapid-fire our way through everything from Vegas, karaoke, cruises, and casinos to gardening, movie theaters, YouTube binges, and going to bed early.

Growing older doesn’t mean life gets less interesting—it just means the definition of a good time changes.

Welcome to MidMen.

Evan Cudworth: https://partycoach.me/

Who was your very first hero?

In this episode of MidMen, Paul and Sean take a deep dive into the idea of heroism and how our definition of a hero changes as we move through life.

From childhood icons like He-Man, Batman, Luke Skywalker, Rambo, and the Ninja Turtles, to the celebrities, athletes, antiheroes, and larger-than-life personalities we admired as teenagers, the guys explore why certain figures captured our imagination—and what those choices revealed about who we wanted to become.

But what happens when you get older?

Do heroes become quieter? More ordinary? Are the real heroes fathers, mothers, teachers, veterans, survivors, and everyday people who simply show up when it matters? Is discipline heroic? Is sacrifice? Is consistency?

The conversation also turns toward patriotism, national identity, military service, gratitude, and what it really means to love your country without pretending it’s perfect.

Plus, the guys play a brand-new game: HERO OR ZERO?

Batman. Wolverine. John Wick. Captain America. Elon Musk. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Keanu Reeves. Dolly Parton. David Goggins. The Costco Sample Lady. The guy who returns shopping carts. Nobody is safe.

Along the way, they tackle some bigger questions:

• Do heroes save people or inspire people?
• Is being dependable more important than being impressive?
• Do we secretly want to be seen as heroes ourselves?
• And can older men still be cool… or are we all destined to become chopped uncs?

Funny, thoughtful, nostalgic, and occasionally surprisingly deep, this is one of MidMen’s most personal conversations yet.

Topics Include:

• Childhood heroes and role models
• Action movies, comics, and pop culture
• Hero worship and antiheroes
• Patriotism and national identity
• Military service and sacrifice
• Parenting and setting an example
• HERO OR ZERO
• Growing older and redefining what matters

Because sometimes the heroes we admire tell us exactly who we’re trying to become.

What actually makes someone “cool” as we get older… and why do so many people avoid doing hard things that would genuinely improve their lives?

In this episode of MidMen, Paul and Sean dive into one of the biggest modern traps: choosing comfort over growth. From DIY disasters, fitness struggles, and car repairs to learning new skills, parenting, and discipline, the guys talk about why people avoid difficult things, why competence builds confidence, and when it’s smarter to call a professional before accidentally destroying your house.

Then the conversation shifts into something surprisingly personal: the evolution of “cool.”

What did being cool mean in our 20s? Did we think we were cool? What did we imagine adulthood would look like—and did reality match the vision? The guys unpack how flashy confidence, partying, approval, and status slowly transform into discipline, calmness, competence, health, authenticity, and not needing validation from everyone around you.

They also ask the important question:
Can older men still be cool… or do we all eventually become “chopped Uncs”?

The episode wraps with a hilarious round of “First or Worst,” featuring stories about terrible fashion phases, financial mistakes, DIY catastrophes, awkward moments, aging realizations, and the many ways adulthood humbles all of us.

It’s funny, reflective, honest, and one of the most relatable MidMen episodes yet.

In this episode of MidMen, Paul and Sean start with one of the most unexpectedly life-changing adult upgrades imaginable: the bidet. Sean gives his official review after Paul’s recommendation, leading to a conversation about the weird things we mocked for years before finally admitting they were incredible.

From there, the guys dive into a surprisingly deep discussion about conversation itself—how to start one, why some people seem approachable while others radiate “don’t talk to me” energy, and whether younger generations are losing the ability to communicate in person altogether.

Why does talking to strangers get easier with age? Have dads evolved into random Home Depot philosophers? Is small talk meaningless… or one of the last truly human experiences left in an increasingly digital world?

Then the episode pivots into the big one: UFO disclosure.

With government files, hearings, and discussions around non-human intelligence becoming harder to ignore, Paul and Sean ask the real question: if definitive proof arrived tomorrow, would it actually change our lives?

Would people panic—or just keep scrolling TikTok? Would it affect religion, meaning, or purpose? Could governments even be trusted anymore? And in a world overloaded with information, conspiracy, AI, and nonstop content… would “proof” even feel real?

It’s funny, existential, reflective, weirdly grounded, and classic MidMen.

What does the future actually look like—and are we ready for it?

In this episode of MidMen, Paul and Sean dive deep into the rapidly changing world around us, from AI-generated entertainment and synthetic actors to automation, robotics, social media, attention spans, and what future generations may gain—or lose—as technology continues to evolve.

Will people still read books in 20 years? Will driving become obsolete? Is AI a creative tool, a replacement, or something far bigger? And when everything becomes easier and more automated, what remains uniquely human?

The guys also get personal during “Curveballs,” sharing unexpected moments that changed the course of their lives, followed by an Accountability Check-In on health goals, creative projects, and whether they’re actually doing the things they say they want to do.

Finally, the episode closes with a round of “Do You Believe In…?” covering aliens, ghosts, simulation theory, fate, ancient civilizations, and more!

It’s reflective, funny, existential, and classic MidMen.

This week on MidMen, the guys dive headfirst into the battle between THEN vs NOW — the music, movies, food, hobbies, social lives, and habits that shaped who we were… and who we’ve become. From things we used to love but can’t stand anymore to the unexpected stuff we’ve grown to appreciate with age, the conversation gets nostalgic, honest, hilarious, and just a little existential.

The episode also features:

• “What Made You Feel Old This Week?”
• Tech confusion, injuries, social media insanity, and a fresh Gen X Moment of the Week
• A hypothetical life reset: If you were 21 again and had to choose a completely different career path, what would you do?
• A rapid-fire THEN/NOW showdown featuring VHS vs Streaming, Arcades vs Online Gaming, Blockbuster vs Netflix, and more

Is growing older about wisdom and evolution… or are we all just becoming safer, grumpier versions of ourselves?

Grab a drink, settle in, and join the MidMen for a funny, reflective, and brutally relatable conversation about time, change, nostalgia, and figuring out who the hell you are now.