{"podcast":{"title":"40 Plus: Gay Men. Gay Talk.","slug":"40-plus-gay-men-gay-talk-912616","podcast_index_feed_id":912616,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/fortyplus/","website_url":"https://rickclemons.com","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/4ad7a7a6-b0f8-4cca-8d2b-3dd33fbcedc3/P6JHFhYg6teBJviuvlKAJHwo.jpg","author":"Rick Clemons","episode_count":300,"summary":"Welcome to the only podcast exploring the messiness, awesomeness, of masculinity of being a gay man over 40. Each episode is about sparking idea, addressing challenges, and diving deep into what it looks like to be a vulnerable gay guy. We talk about the stuff us gay guys have a hard time talking about, man-to-man: masculinity, sex, careers, our bodies, parenting, sexuality, failures, success, and aging, relationships, coming out - nothing is off limits. 40 Plus: Gay Men Gay Talk is the revamped version of 40 Plus: Real Men. Real Talk podcast and is a short format podcast that's easy to digest. We take deep dives - one topic at a time - digging up the truth of what it’s like to be a gay man, instead of some contrived expectation of masculinity. We’re reclaiming manhood and our masculinity by facing our fears, making bold moves, and living life without apologies. Join us, but you've got to drop your BS, forget posturing, and be ready to explore the comical dysfunctions of our lives as gay men 40+ years of age!","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/40-plus-gay-men-gay-talk-912616"},"episode":{"title":"From Number Crunching to Piano Keys: Mike Maimone’s Journey of Love, Loss & Reinvention","slug":"from-number-crunching-to-piano-keys-mike-maimone-s-journey-of-love-loss-reinvention","published_at":"2025-12-12T10:30:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/40-plus-gay-men-gay-talk-912616/from-number-crunching-to-piano-keys-mike-maimone-s-journey-of-love-loss-reinvention","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/40-plus-gay-men-gay-talk-912616","url":"https://rickclemons.com/40-gay-men-gay-talk/359-mike-maimone","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/0c4c8a42-b435-4d1a-9de5-2fc1e6757a1d.mp3","summary":"In this soulful and unfiltered conversation, singer-songwriter Mike Maimone —a former accountant turned queer creative force—shares how love, loss, and midlife reinvention shaped his music and life. From finding love across an age gap with late partner Howard Bragman , to channeling grief into his upcoming album and book, Guess What, I Love You (out February) , Mike opens up about rediscovering purpose after heartbreak. Together, Rick and Mike dive into healing, queer resilience, and what it means to live unapologetically authentic—no fears, no excuses, no apologies. Three Key Takeaways Reinvention knows no age limit: Mike’s switch from accounting to full-time musician proves it’s never too late to follow your authentic rhythm. Love isn’t defined by age—it’s anchored in shared values and authenticity; Mike and Howard’s story shows how connection outlasts external assumptions. Grief can become creative fuel: Mike transformed loss into art, launching an album and book that honor memory by turning pain into performance. About Mike Originally a business school graduate and accountant, Mike Maimone made his way into full-time music through Chicago’s blues scene, drawing comparisons to legends like Randy Newman and Leon Russell. He has since performed more than 100 shows annually, appearing at festivals such as Lollapalooza, Riot Fest, and Summer Camp, while sharing stages with Blues Traveler, Plain White T’s, and Company of Thieves. His music has been placed on TV soundtracks and even featured at Wrigley Field. In 2023, Maimone released Borrowed Tunes, Vol. 2, followed by sold-out shows in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, with proceeds benefiting The Trevor Project. A live album, Songs for You, Alive in Chicago, followed in early 2024. His forthcoming album Guess What? I…","meta_description":"In this soulful and unfiltered conversation, singer-songwriter Mike Maimone —a former accountant turned queer creative force—shares how love, loss, and mi…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1972,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/40-plus-gay-men-gay-talk-912616/episodes/from-number-crunching-to-piano-keys-mike-maimone-s-journey-of-love-loss-reinvention/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/40-plus-gay-men-gay-talk-912616/from-number-crunching-to-piano-keys-mike-maimone-s-journey-of-love-loss-reinvention.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}