In this deeply personal and unmistakably honest episode, Tom returns to the porch—fire crackling, waves rolling in the background—to unpack the heavy questions weighing on many of us today. From political violence and free speech to media manipulation and the rising tension in North American culture, Tom reflects on how these shifts affect our ability to live freely, especially after 50.

Drawing on lessons from mentors, hard-earned life experience, and books like Man’s Search for Meaning and The Miracle Morning, Tom explores how to separate what’s truly within our control from the noise that steals our peace. He also shares stories from a soul-recharging solo camping trip along Lake Superior, reminding us why nature, solitude, and intentional living are more essential now than ever.

This episode is an invitation—to unplug, to think for yourself, to focus on what really matters, and to build a meaningful life on your own terms. No preaching. No politics. Just raw truth, self-reflection, and the quiet wisdom that comes from a man living simply, solo, and rural after 50.

If you're a 50-something man navigating a noisy world, this is your campfire moment.

Website: https://www.tomsview.ca

Instagram: https://instagram.com/tomslifeafter50

Title: Not Today: Bullying After 50, Boundaries & Your Next Chapter

Summary:
Recorded on a warm mid-August night in Northern Ontario, Tom shares a formative high-school story about facing a bully—and what it taught him about boundaries, dignity, and dealing with adult bullying in your 50s. He answers a listener’s Campfire Question on how to respond when someone tries to push you around, then opens up about life changes, winter prep in the north, and a new truck-camper setup for future “Out Here” adventures.

Highlights

• A grade-nine gym-class moment that flipped the power dynamic

• Adult bullying: how to recognize it, why there’s no shame in being targeted, and how not to stay a victim

• Practical responses: call it out, document it, escalate appropriately (supervisor, legal counsel, police)

• Talking to our kids about being upstanders

• Life update: long commute, reconsidering the coaching side-hustle, winter readiness in Northern Ontario

• Adventure plans: Ford Super Duty + truck-bed camper, photography, hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing

• Campfire wisdom: shifting from 1:1 “hand-holding” to broader “hand-ups” and helping the next generation

• The Four Agreements as a north star

Chapters

• Welcome & summer check-in

• Why talk about bullying now

• The high-school story that changed everything

• Campfire Question: “I’m in my 50s and still shrink from bullies—what do I do?”

• Boundaries, consequences, and safe escalation

• Parenting note: raising witnesses and upstanders

• Life update: work, commute, coaching decision

• Winter prep & the truck-camper adventure rig

• Campfire Wisdom: making your mark in your 50s

• Closing & how to send your questions

Links & Mentions

• Podcast site: tomsview.ca

• Instagram: @tomslifeafter50

• Email: tom@revolutionize.me

• Book mentioned: The Four Agreements (Don Miguel Ruiz)

Listener Prompt
How will you help the next generation—without carrying dead weight—this year? Tell me on Spotify or YouTube comments.

Note
In the intro I joke about the episode number—this is Episode 5.

Disclaimer
Personal stories and general information only; not professional, legal, or medical advice.

Episode Summary

In this deeply personal solo episode, Tom reflects by the firelight on the lessons he wishes his younger self had known. From shedding the fear of rejection to the value of time freedom, this episode is filled with insight, authenticity, and gentle wisdom for anyone navigating life after 50—or anyone looking to reconnect with themselves.

Tom opens up about judgment, relationships, career choices, and even financial independence, offering powerful takeaways rooted in his own lived experience. It's a thoughtful reminder that growth never ends and self-acceptance is a lifelong journey.

🔥 Why The Four Agreements is essential reading
🔥 The hidden cost of caring too much about others' opinions
🔥 Reframing rejection as a stepping stone, not a stop sign
🔥 The power of quitting the wrong thing
🔥 Time freedom, financial wisdom, and trading money for meaning
🔥 A candid take on love, loneliness, and living solo
🔥 Campfire Wisdom: self-love, journaling, AI introspection, and more
🔥 Campfire Philosophy: “If you're not growing, you're contracting”

📘 The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
💻 Tom’s Coaching Site: Revolutionize.me
📺 YouTube Channel: Tom's Life After 50