Morning, Greg here!
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In Today’s Issue of Midlife Male:
Table of Contents
Let’s get to it!
15 Pieces of Wisdom with Chef Robert Irvine
By Greg Scheinman
I’ve been a fan of Chef Robert Irvine for years. One of the first things that struck me about him? The guy is jacked. He clearly cares about fitness and what he puts into his body—something you don’t always associate with world-class chefs. But that’s Robert: a rare blend of culinary mastery and physical discipline.
Beyond his cooking chops, he’s a prolific entrepreneur, author, speaker, and philanthropist. All gas, no brakes. His energy is relentless, and his no-BS attitude—rooted in honesty and transparency—is obvious in everything he does. It’s no surprise he’s been so successful. As the saying goes: how you do one thing is how you do everything.
What separates Robert from most celebrity chefs is that balance. In an industry often defined by indulgence, he proves you can be passionate about food and maintain peak physical condition. He’s also a tireless advocate for the military and was recently tapped to overhaul food for the entire U.S. Armed Forces—a mission tailor-made for his skills and values. His commitment to serving those who serve runs deep, and it reveals a side of him that goes far beyond his TV persona.
Recently, Robert featured me and my book in an article for his magazine—yes, Chef Robert Irvine Magazine exists, and it’s fantastic. I had a great time doing that interview, and I wanted to return the favor: sit down, ask him some questions, and learn how he sees the world.
When we recorded this conversation, his wife—former pro wrestler Gail Kim (I’m a big wrestling fan)—walked by in the background. I had to hit pause and ask her to join. We talked about how they met, their relationship, her career, and how she views Robert’s journey. It was a fanboy moment for me, but it also gave a powerful look at how two driven people support each other while building a life together.
You hear me say this all the time: these interviews bring me joy. Because when you get access to someone operating at this level, it changes you. Want to level up your nutrition? Talk to a world-renowned chef. Want to level up your fitness? Learn from the best trainers on the planet.
Stay curious. Keep learning. Never stop leveling up. Those are just a few of the lessons reinforced in my conversation with Robert Irvine—a man who lives the principle that excellence isn’t a destination. It’s a daily habit.
Check out our How I See It with one of the most dynamic figures in the culinary world today.
– Greg
The Prosperity Paradox: Massage or More Jordans?
The other day, I sat in my car, sore from head to toe, debating a very midlife decision: drop $200 on a massage or buy the sneakers I’d been eyeing online.
My body was screaming for recovery. But there I was, wondering if owning something would feel better than feeling better.
Welcome to the midlife male trap.
The Experience Deficit
Let’s cut the crap: we’re living possession-rich, experience-poor lives.
Look around at your fellow 40+ dudes—we’ve mastered the art of acquisition. The watch collection. The closet full of barely-worn shoes. The garage toys. The endless tech upgrades no one needed.
But the stuff? It doesn’t hit like it used to. We’re running a deficit in the one currency that actually brings joy: experiences that engage us, ground us, and give us real connection.
A 20-year study out of Cornell nailed this. Experiential purchases provide longer-lasting happiness than material ones. Why? Because experiences become part of who we are, while things sit on a shelf. Possessions lose their shine. Memories don’t.
As lead researcher Dr. Thomas Gilovich put it:
“We buy things to make us happy, and we succeed. But only for a while.”
That $1,000 watch? Cool for a week.
That $1,000 concert with your kid? Unforgettable.
The Real Luxuries of 2025
The Wall Street Journal recently profiled the new status symbols for men who can buy anything. You know what didn’t make the list? Cars, watches, or tech.
The new flexes: health, sleep, presence, time, deep relationships.
Today’s billionaires aren’t bragging about Rolexes. They’re comparing blood work and competing over who can unplug to coach Little League.
One hedge fund guy put it perfectly:
“I can buy another house. I can’t buy back the sunrise I missed while checking email.”
Translation: the guys who reached the top of the mountain are telling us they climbed the wrong one.
So why are the rest of us still climbing?
Better 1 or Better 2?
When I coach midlife men through this mindset shift, I use a simple tool from your last eye exam: Better 1 or Better 2?
Option 1: Buy the sneakers.
Option 2: Get the massage.
Which actually makes your life better?
Option 1: Work through the weekend for a bigger bonus.
Option 2: Take that weekend hike with your closest friends.
Option 1: Another round of drinks with clients.
Option 2: Finally take that guitar lesson you’ve put off for 10 years.
Nine times out of ten, the answer is obvious. And here’s the best part: when you choose better consistently, your life gets better. It’s compound interest—but for your well-being.
Build Your Experience Portfolio
The happiest, wealthiest guys I know don’t track net worth anymore. They’re tracking what I call their experience portfolio.
Harvard researchers found that even anticipating an experience brings more joy than anticipating a purchase. The planning, the countdown—it’s all part of the ROI.
The Journal of Positive Psychology backed it up: people waiting for experiences (concerts, trips) are happier than people waiting for stuff.
My richest friend isn’t the one with the biggest house. It’s the guy who takes a month off every year to explore somewhere new. Who hits every show his favorite band plays within a hundred miles. Who blocked off every Thursday for lunch with his dad until the day he passed.
That’s wealth. That’s legacy.
The Midlife Pivot
Let’s be honest: we spent our 30s and early 40s stacking wins—career, house, family, financial security. That chapter had its place.
But eventually, the math changes….
Basketball & Brotherhood: 40 Years of One-on-One Hoops – One EPIC Game
By Jon Finkel
Every Friday morning, I grab my beat-up Spalding, lace up my super old Nike Flights, and meet my younger brother on the cracked asphalt of our local playground court for some one-on-one hoops. Best of three, games to 11, win by two.
We’ve been at it for 40 years—four decades of sweat, trash talk, hard fouls and a rivalry that’d make Riggs and Murtaugh bicker over who’s too old for this shit. This Friday, though? Friday was a classic. A slugfest. A 50-minute, back-and-forth brawl that deserves its own old school VHS highlight reel like Jordan’s “Come Fly with Me.”. If you play one-on-one a lot, you know. 50 minutes is a looooong damn game.
Here’s the rundown: My brother’s the real deal. Taller, quicker, younger, legit hoops chops—captain of our high school team back when Penny Hardaway was dropping dimes on SportsCenter. Me? I captained the swim team and lift a lot, so my game’s more muscle than finesse—think rec league warrior who fouls hard but can get hot from downtown. He’s got actual talent and wins most of the time.
But Friday morning, with South Florida’s 80-degree muggy heat turning the court into a sauna, we went toe-to-toe like it was Game 7 of the NBA Finals, even though…
The Summit I’ll be Attending April 27th with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon in Houston
If you’re a high-performing man who wants to optimize your health, performance, and longevity without chasing every shiny new trend, the Forever Strong conference delivers.
This isn’t a hype-fest (I’ve been to those). This is real science, real experts, and real strategies you can actually apply. It’s built for guys like us: professionals, entrepreneurs, and practitioners who don’t have time for guesswork and won’t settle for mediocre results.
You’ll learn directly from world-class leaders in health and performance—people who walk the walk, not just talk the talk. The content is sharp, the takeaways are actionable, and the Dr. Lyon’s mission is simple: help you live stronger, longer. If you’re serious about staying in the game and thriving in midlife and beyond, Forever Strong is where you want to be. Use this link to sign up.
Greg Scheinman on the Great Unlearn Podcast
Check out this teaser video and then listen to the whole interview:
Instagram post by @cal.callahan
My Spectacular Lunch at Dish Society
In Case You Missed It
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Laird Hamilton’s Blueprint for Ageless Living and Unstoppable Energy
How to Maximize Your Victory Frequency with Ex-Yankees Coach Dana Cavalea
Training at Onnit with Lance Armstrong and Tim Kennedy
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Join the Inner Circle
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Some have been married for decades, others are divorced, most are fathers. All of our members seek improvement, access, insights, and support in a group of like-minded men. They are committed to making the next phase of their lives, the best phase of their lives, living happier, healthier, wealthier, stronger and having more fun in business and in life.
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MLM Founder: Greg Scheinman / Follow Greg on Instagram & LinkedIn
“You either define midlife, or it’ll define you.” – Greg
MLM Editor-in-Chief: Jon Finkel / Follow Jon on Twitter/X and Instagram
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming.” – Teddy Roosevelt
