In this episode of The Penis Project Podcast, Nurse Practitioner and Sexologist Melissa Hadley Barrett chats with Mish Middelmann — a prostate cancer survivor, men’s leadership coach, and founder of The Recovering Man. Mish is also the author of a book about sex beyond erections, called Beyond Erections - reclaiming sexual pleasure and intimacy with erectile differences.

Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019, Mish shares his raw and insightful journey of treatment, recovery, and rebuilding life as a man post-cancer. From Johannesburg to Canada, his story spans continents and emotions — and ultimately, his experience led him to create a space for other men navigating the often-silent challenges of prostate cancer recovery. 

Mish now supports men and their partners through personalised coaching, offering emotional guidance, tools for self-reinvention, and a path toward rediscovering identity and intimacy. He also speaks about the recent release of his book — including why the original title sparked controversy and was later renamed. 

In This Episode, We Cover: 

• Mish’s prostate cancer diagnosis and the decisions he faced 

• The physical and psychological recovery process after treatment 

• How prostate cancer affects male identity, sexuality, and relationships 

• The importance of support networks for both men and their partners 

• His work as a men’s health coach and the creation of The Recovering Man 

• The evolving conversation around masculinity, vulnerability, and healing 

• Insights from his newly released book on finding sexual pleasure without relying on hard erections.

Key Takeaways: 

Life after prostate cancer is about more than just surviving — it’s about reclaiming who you are. Mish encourages men to explore healing not only of the body but also of self-image, connection, and purpose. 

Resources & Links: 

• Book a confidential consult, in clinic or on telehealth, with our sexual health nurse practitioners at Restorative Health Clinic 

• For more information check out our websites www.rshealth.com.au , www.makehardeasy.com.au and www.melissahadleybarrett.com.au  

• Visit The Recovering Man: https://www.recoveringman.net/  – Coaching, articles, and resources for men navigating life after prostate cancer. 

•  Book by Mish Middelmann: Beyond Erections available as paperback or eBook. Details at www.beyonderections.com/book. 

•  Learn more about men’s sexual health services: www.rshealth.com.au 

Listen & Subscribe 

• If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to follow, subscribe to the podcast and help us reach more men by rating and reviewing the show. Because penile health matters — and it’s time we talked about it. 

Connect With Us 

We love hearing from real people navigating penile health—just like Mish. If you’d like to share your journey or ask a question, get in touch. Email: admin@melissahadleybarrett.com 

Website: www.rshealth.com.au 

Websites: 

https://rshealth.com.au/  All genders 

https://makehardeasy.com.au  

https://melissahadleybarrett.com  

http://prost.com.au/ 

Facebook: 

https://m.facebook.com/p/Melissa-Hadley-Barrett-100085237672685/ 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085146627814 

Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/melissahadleybarrett/ 

https://www.instagram.com/restorativehealth.clinic/ 

TikTok: @melissahadleybarrett 

YouTube: Melissa Hadley Barrett 

Linkedin: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-hadley-barrett/ 

 TEDX 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjHj1YTmLoA