Why 99% of Stats About Us Are Wrong

PLUS: An Old Man's Masterclass in Forgiveness, 'How I See It' with Dr. James Kuan, The Emil Dungaree Jacket: Functional & Sharp, the Protein Waffle Taco, & More

Author

Greg Scheinman
October 05, 2025

Presented By:

Morning, Greg here!

Welcome to Midlife Male, the fastest-growing, #1 newsletter and lifestyle brand for men 40+. In today’s issue we’ve got my Viewpoint on why most stats are BS, Jon’s Manologue on a touching masterclass in forgiveness that he witnessed, our How I See It with renowned urologist Dr. James Kuan and as always, our 6F recs. If a fellow MLM reader shared this with you, subscribe here:

Why 99% of Stats About Us Are Wrong

Every week there’s another stat about how men in midlife are falling apart:

  • 70% of men don’t work out.

  • 87% don’t sleep more than five hours a night.

  • 80% haven’t read a book in the last year.

  • Most drink too much, weigh too much, and stress too much.

Do those numbers feel accurate? Have you seen them before when you’re doomscrolling on Instagram? You feel like you have, right?

Well guess what? I just made those numbers up. 

Because here’s the truth: they’re all meaningless if you’re on the right side of doing what matters….

Life's Too Short: An Old Man's Masterclass in Forgiveness

This week I witnessed what I can only call the fine art of old dude forgiveness. It was a moment so impactful, yet so understated, that all I can do is describe the scene and you can decide for yourself what lessons you take from it. Here goes:

I'm writing at a coffee shop and I notice an older guy sitting by himself waiting for someone. He’s late 70s. Maybe early 80s. Old golf shirt. Thin, white hair parted at the side. Spotted, pale arms. Gold bracelet.

He's nervous. I can clearly see it. There’s a tension about him. Just a thing you notice when you write in coffee shops a lot. His eyes keep darting to the door and then darting down when it’s not the person he’s waiting for.

After a while, another older man comes in and they make eye contact. He’s dressed the same. Less hair. A slight shuffle when he walks. He gives the first guy a quick nod. It's cold. Curt.

The first man's eyes dash down to his coffee cup. He sinks in his seat a bit.

The second guy gets in line, orders, grabs his coffee and slowly sits across from the first guy.

They stare at each other for a moment.

It's clear neither knows where to start or what to say…

I promise, you’ve got to read the whole story to see what happened. You’ll get a lifetime worth of lessons in a half-minute. What this second guy does is so generous and amazing. I’ve been thinking about it since I saw it. Read the full thing here:

Dr. James Kuan on All the Things You Don’t Want to Talk About: Erectile Dysfunction, Low Testosterone, Lack of Intimacy and More

Middle age doesn’t mean the end of great sex. It shouldn’t. It can be the beginning of more honest, connected intimacy.

Dr. James Kuan, MD has helped thousands of men and couples get there. In this conversation, we talk openly about the issues most guys avoid: ED, what really causes it and what actually works, prostate problems, low testosterone and what to do about it. We even cover penile implants, which more men are choosing than you might think. We get into cosmetic urology and the simple rituals that keep long-term relationships strong in the bedroom and out.

We also take on the reality of having wives or partners in perimenopause and menopause. It can be confusing and frustrating, and it is not something solved by a little blue pill. This is when men need to step up, understand what is happening, and learn how to work with their partners.

Dr. Kuan combines medical expertise with life coaching in a way that is both practical and easy to apply. These are sensitive topics that men don’t talk about enough, but they matter. You will get a lot from this conversation. And check out his newsletter at sexafterretirement.com. I read it myself.

Palm Beach, World-Class Minds, and 80% of Women in Yoga Pants

From Greg: If you told me there was a place where I could hang out with Rich Roll, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. David Rabin, Kelly Starrett, Andrew Huberman, Arthur Brooks, Mark Sisson, and be surrounded by smart, inspiring midlife women like Jen Cohen, Emily Morse, and Halle Berry—I’d say sign me up. The Eudemonia Summit is that place. 

It’s happening this November in Palm Beach. I went last year, had a blast, learned a ton, trained hard, recovered harder, and connected with incredible people. This year I’m back to moderate a panel with NFL great Julius Thomas, Dr. Kwado, Shawn Wells, and more, plus I’ll lead a three-mile sunrise ruck with GORUCK. 

If you’ve been looking for the right event to upgrade your health, expand your mind, and connect with a powerhouse community, this is it. Use code Gscheinman and join me.

Gen Alpha Wants YouTube, Not Wall Street

One in three Gen Alpha kids say they want to be YouTubers. Others dream of being influencers, game developers, or TikTok stars. They see creators like MrBeast and Kai Cenat turn clicks into millions and want in. Traditional careers aren’t gone—plenty still want to be doctors, teachers, or artists—but the lines are blurring. The lesson for us: talk to your kids. Meet them where they are. Understand what they’re chasing and find out what lights them up. Read more here.

Luck is Not a Wealth Strategy

Wealth isn’t built on luck. It’s built on discipline, perspective, and consistent decisions. My friend Scott Tiras has built one of the most successful wealth management practices in the country and raised four boys, two of whom now work with him. That’s when you know you’ve created something that lasts. His reminder: flashy moves don’t build generational wealth. Smart, steady ones do.

The Emil Dungaree Jacket: Functional & Sharp

Fall’s coming, and with it, travel to Boulder, Northern California, and New York. The Emil Dungaree Jacket from Double RL is perfect for the trip. Inspired by vintage military surplus, its soft cotton jersey with channel quilting, a fleece-lined shawl collar, and a relaxed fit. It’s as functional as it is sharp. Available at Stag Provisions—take 15% off your first order. Grab it here.

The Porsche 911 of Cold Plunges

We’re all in on cold plunging. Our partners at Plunge just released the All-In Gen 2, and it sets the new standard. Colder water, cleaner cycles, bulletproof reliability, and a smart app to track it all. Greg calls it “the Porsche 911 of plunges.” Keep it at 50 degrees for 2 minutes each session. Use code MidlifeMale at PLUNGE.com to upgrade your recovery.

Behold: The Protein Waffle Taco

Our Editor-in-Chief Jon is a competitive masters swimmer and he swears by this pre-workout snack to push him through his nighttime workouts:

Take one Kodiak Waffle (dark chocolate is my favorite), put one giant scoop of peanut butter on one side and add a ton of honey (Manukora is the best) on the other. Fold and eat like a taco. Perfect for about one hour before practice. Nice blend of carbs, protein and sugar to power you through 3,000 meters in the pool, or whatever workout you’ve got coming up.

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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