Wait, Vin Diesel was Right?

PLUS: Mouth Tape Isn't Dumb, 'How I See It' with Rich Diviney, and more

Author

Greg Scheinman
August 31, 2025

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I’ve been on a honey kick lately, and not just any honey. Manukora Manuka honey.

This isn’t your average squeeze bottle from the grocery store. This stuff is honey with superpowers; pure, high-grade Manuka packed with nutrients that actually support immunity, digestion, and overall health.

It’s hands-down the best honey in the world. If you care about your immune health (and if you’re in midlife, you should), this is a must.

I’ve been using it everywhere: on my pancakes, protein waffles, Greek yogurt, fruit, in smoothies—it adds the perfect touch of sweetness without the crash.

Morning, Greg here!

Welcome to Midlife Male, the fastest-growing, #1 newsletter and lifestyle brand for men 40+. Hundreds of readers are joining us every day for actionable, relatable columns, exclusive interviews and stories you’ll find nowhere else to help you maximize the rest of your life. If a fellow MLM reader shared this with you, subscribe here:

In Today’s Issue of Midlife Male:

  • Embracing Dominic Toretto’s Fast & Furious Life Philosophy

  • Mouth Taping for Sleep: I Thought It Was Dumb. I Was Wrong.

  • ‘How I See It’ with Rich Diviney

  • 6Fs: Why Being the Man of the Family is Still the Greatest Job in the World, Why Comfort is Overrated, and How to Set Your Kids Up for Financial Success

Let’s get to it!

Wait, Vin Diesel Was Right?

Fast and Furious was on the other night. I couldn’t tell you which one; seven, eight, nine…At this point they all blur together. But every time I hear that line:

“I live my life a quarter mile at a time.” — Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto

I stop.

I used to laugh at it. I thought it was just a cheesy movie line that summed up the speed, risk and adrenaline when you live that fast (and furious) life.

But something flipped in my brain a while back and now I have a deep appreciation for that quote.

When I hear it now I think of confidence. 

I think of presence, priorities and focus.

Because Dominic Toretto knows exactly who he is. 

And watching the movie the other night made me think:

What’s my “quarter mile”?  What’s yours?

Here’s the problem: most men sleepwalk through midlife. 

Distracted. Overextended. Comfortable but unfulfilled. They confuse being busy with being productive. They talk about what matters but don’t live it.

And that’s why they wake up with regret…

I Thought Mouth Taping for Sleep Was Dumb. You Probably Did Too. We Were Wrong…

We don’t bury the lede here at MLM. We don’t do clickbait. We don’t do filler. What we do is tell you the truth, straight up, and in this case, the shortest version of this column can be told in three words:

Mouth taping works.

I doubted it. I thought it was goofy. I thought it looked stupid.

Then I tried it and… it works.

I kinda wish it didn’t because then I could write a snarky column dunking on all those dumb influencer ads on social media with people taking pictures of their mouths taped shut… But… Then I’d be lying.

Mouth taping (the strategy of taping your mouth shut when you go to bed) helped with my snoring, with night wake-ups, with quality of sleep, with time to sleep, with dreaming… Just about everything.

Now, the question is “why?”...

Why does slapping your mouth shut at night like you’ve been kidnapped in a Liam Neeson movie solve so many sleep problems and how can it work for you?

Here’s the supposed medical reason…

‘How I See It’ with Rich Diviney

I was introduced to today’s guest, former Navy SEAL Rich Diviney, by my good friend Paul Epstein. Paul is an author and speaker who is making a massive impact in his own right, and like Rich, he has a gift for connecting with people. That’s how these things happen. You are a product of your network.

When Paul told me I needed to connect with Rich, I knew it was going to be special. I wasn’t wrong. Rich joined me for an incredible conversation about his life, his service as a Navy SEAL, and the lessons he has carried into midlife. We talked about his two books, The Attributes and his newest, Masters of Uncertainty, and we dug into his perspective on leadership, growth, and performance.

What strikes me most about men like Rich is the mindset of the humble warrior. They commit fully to becoming the best version of themselves. They do not cut corners. They do not chase attention. They live with integrity, discipline, and pride. There is a simplicity to it that feels out of place in today’s culture of shortcuts, excuses, and optics over intention.

Rich developed his expertise in human performance during more than twenty years in the U.S. military. He completed thirteen deployments overseas and held multiple leadership roles. As the officer in charge of assessment and training for a specialized SEAL command, he helped shape one of the most demanding selection processes in the world. He also created a mental performance program that emphasized physical, mental, and emotional discipline to help operators perform faster, longer, and more effectively in every environment, especially under stress.

Rich is a model of leadership, consistency, and purpose. He believes in substance over style, in process over posturing, and in actions that create outcomes. He continues to evolve through every stage of life.

This is a conversation about what it really takes. Not the highlight reel. Not the social media soundbite. But the daily work, the mindset, and the discipline to show up.

Why Being the Man of the Family is the Greatest Job in the World

If you missed Greg’s ‘Middle’ newsletter on Wednesday night, it’s worth taking a look at to read his thoughts on the joy of being the Man of the Family. The weight. The worries. The wonderful moments. Check it out here.

Cold, Hard Truth: Comfort Is Overrated

You don’t have to cold plunge; we just think you should. Decrease lactic acid build up, speed up recovery, get comfortable being uncomfortable, regulate breath and heart rate, sharpen mental acuity… You can start with cold showers, add some ice to your bathtub, or go all the way with The Plunge. 

Our founder Greg has tried it all and just swapped out his original Plunge for the new All In Model. It’s the pinnacle of cold plunge innovation. Three minutes per day, 3–4 days a week is the standard. Sometimes more, never less.

Visit plunge.com — use code MidlifeMale to save.

Money Grows Faster When You Start Younger (And Smarter)

Ron Speaker, our Financial Consigliere who’s penned dozens of articles for us, went live this week with Greg. They covered the power of 529s and the Ryan Reynolds story that motivated us to create Roth IRAs for our boys. 

The compounding magic of a 15-year-old compared to a 35-, 45-, or 55-year-old is night and day. Stocks, ETFs, and Venture Capital – know your investing personality. Estate planning – the best money you’ll ever spend. Invest in companies you know. And don’t sleep on Senior Finance – helping your parents get organized and simplified.

Eat Like a Local, Even When You’re Not

Greg and his family ate their way through LA last week. Some standouts: Great White in Venice for breakfast & lunch. Gjelina and RVR for dinner on Abbott Kinney. Salt & Straw for ice cream. Calabra Rooftop at The Proper Hotel in Santa Monica for sunset drinks & apps. Gjusta for pastries & coffee. Erewhon for groceries, smoothies & people-watching. And of course, In-N-Out — because you just have to.

Greg’s New Favorite Style Line

I’m obsessed with Aaron Levine’s new line and overall style. I’m also having serious beard envy since I just shaved… This post of Aaron’s may be the best explanation of what “the best” means I’ve read, so I’m sharing it with you. Check it out here.

Expensive Lessons Are the Most Entertaining

This one’s fun to watch, not to experience.

A tech bro went wakeboarding with a $100K Patek Aquanaut on his wrist… and it ended up at the bottom of Lake Austin. What he did next is the fun part. Watch it unfold here.
 

Read Our MOST POPULAR Cover Stories:

MLM Founder: Greg Scheinman / Follow Greg on Instagram & LinkedIn

MLM Editor-in-Chief: Jon Finkel / Follow Jon on Twitter/X and Instagram

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