Talking points: attachment, psychology, mindset, relationships Alright team, this is one of the biggest guides yet! There were a TON of requests to cover this one, so I happily obliged. This attachment style is also called "disorganized attachment", and I've worked with a ton of men who have it. So let's dig in on what fearful-avoidant attachment is, how it affects relationships, and how to move back towards something more secure, authentic, and thriving with easy, deliberate steps. (00:00:00) -...
Apr 04, 2024•1 hr 6 min
Talking points: purpose, initiation, adversity, grief, culture It isn't always easy to find a sense of purpose or meaning in life, never mind feeling initiated into maturity. In these chaotic times, it gets even harder. This is a special compilation episode featuring four masters of finding humanity, clarity, and meaning in life. Their combined efforts have helped legions of people get a better handle on life and all of its twists and turns. Two of them are people I revere as elders, and three w...
Apr 01, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 485
Talking points: psychology, mindset, self-talk This is one of THE things that blocks men from all kinds of growth and progress. An internal dialogue that is harsh, abusive, shaming, even cruel. Let's change that, shall we? If you or someone you know is constantly deprecating or talking negatively towards themselves, strongly encourage you to share this one. It's important. (00:00:00) - Intro, how prevalent a harsh inner critic is, and how nasty mine was (00:06:56)- Where does an inner critic com...
Mar 28, 2024•36 min
Talking points: parenting, children, attachment, psychology You may have heard me mention Duey before. He co-facilitates the ManTalks Men's Weekends with me, and his work is absolutely incredible. I was thrilled to sit down with him last week, just before our sojourn to Texas. We dive into all things attachment. How children and adults experience it, when it starts forming, and how my own son has taught me some incredible lessons on it. Also, listen in for Thunderbutt. No, I'm not kidding. (00:0...
Mar 25, 2024•58 min•Ep. 484
Talking points: mindset, psychology, the shadow If you've been following the show for a while, you'll know I'm a big Jung fan. You also don't have dive too deep into his work to find game-changing ideas of his. Here are 3 short yet sublime ideas of Jung's that you can reflect on—and maybe even execute on—pretty much right away. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:46) - “Who looks inside, dreams. Who looks outside, awakens.” (00:06:00) - “I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” (00:10:...
Mar 21, 2024•15 min
Talking points: AI, porn, relationships, conflict Yowza. So grateful for Matthia's thoughtful and nuanced ideas on everything from artificial intelligence to therapy-speak to anger and approaching relationships. We go from the esoteric to the practical and back again, so listen in team. This is a great one to share with a partner. (00:00:00) - Intro, Matthia’s adventures with AI, and how it's already shifting culture (00:16:42) - When AI does things TOO well (00:20:32 ) - How AI will impact inti...
Mar 18, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 483
Talking points: mindset, emotions, habits, burnout Ever get the feeling you...don't feel anything? Yeah, me too. This is something that affects just about everyone at some point in their lives, and it contributes to overuse of all kinds of coping mechanisms. Here's what numbing out is, where it comes from, and a five-step method on how to get out of it. (00:00:00) - Intro and the biggest misconceptions around numbing out (00:05:26)- Don’t see numbness as a villain, and some numbness “caveats” (0...
Mar 14, 2024•37 min
Talking points: stoicism, mindset, philosophy, parenting Brian proves that Stoicism is anything but unenthusiastic. We cover so much ground here, and Brian's passion and joy for what he does is inspiring. If you're looking for clearcut ideas on how to craft a self and a life that you're proud of, this is the episode to listen to—and share with your friends! (00:00:00) - Intro and Brian’s defining moment (00:06:50) - What is areté? (00:09:02) - Why has there been a resurgence of stoicism? (00:14:...
Mar 11, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 482
Talking points: coaching, therapy, masculinity, mental health Eyebrow-raising title aside, I know from personal experience it can be wildly difficult for coaches and therapists who work with men to make actual progress. But! There are clearcut reasons for this, and there are clearcut things you can do. So if you're a coach or therapist who wants a better experience for both you AND the guy in your chair, listen in. If you're not one of those, then use this as a guide to help you find a coach tha...
Mar 07, 2024•28 min
Talking points: food, addiction, cravings I've gotta say, I enjoyed this one a lot. Glenn has a TON of practical, actionable, and science-based advice on tackling cravings—and a nice dose of good humor. Grab a pencil and listen close for this one, team. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:26)- Why are so many North Americans overweight? (00:10:01) - Glenn on the declining quality of food (00:17:24) - Getting away from packaged food is generally more important than a specific diet (00:19:57) - Why is overe...
Mar 04, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 481
Talking points: anxiety, parents, relationships, attachment Thanks to everyone who's written in on these guides, I love hearing from you. Next up? Anxious attachment. What is it, where does it come from, and what you can do to work yourself—and your relationships—away from it. If you've ever found yourself doing stuff like getting anxious because they didn't text you back or because you need their phone password, this might be the ep for you. Curious about other guides? Check out my free PDF, A ...
Feb 29, 2024•48 min
Talking points: trauma, hynotherapy, ADHD, insomnia, neurology, psychology Team, this is an episode chock full of info. I've never touched on the subject of hypnotherapy before, but it's interested me for a while. Professor David Spiegel came to dispel some of the misinfo around hypnosis as a therapeutic practice, and he offered a TON of insight into what's really happening in the mind and brain during a proper session. If you've ever been curious about hypnosis or are looking for new healing me...
Feb 26, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 480
Talking points: relationships, conflict Key word there? Improve. There will always be some form of butting heads, no matter the relationship, no matter how long. But it doesn't have to be something that creates wreckage. It can actually be helpful. Here's what to do. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:27)- The first three minutes, and why conflict CAN be productive (00:04:57) - Know the role you tend to play (00:05:47) - Breathe and ground, breathe and ground (00:07:20) - Don’t get stuck in the objective...
Feb 22, 2024•14 min
Talking points: biology, nervous system, burnout, mindset, anger I've said a number of times on the show that people with regulated nervous systems are going to be extremely well-equipped for the coming days. To that end, I wanted to bring dysregulation expert Dr. Linnea on to show how important—and how possible—it is be grounded, regulated, and flexible in our responses to life. If you're chronically stressed, THIS is the episode to listen to. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:56)- Why is learning abou...
Feb 19, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 479
Talking points: attachment, mindset, relationships, psychology The last “A Man’s Guide” was a big hit. I had a feeling it would be, but the response still surprised me! Next up, a serious breakdown of avoidant attachment. Here's the definition, where it comes from, the signs, and tips for moving away from it in a relationship. This is a great episode to listen to with your partner. Take notes, discuss, and see what comes up! Lastly, thank you to everyone who reached out with comments, questions,...
Feb 15, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Talking points: childhood, trauma, foster care, relationships We all know that poverty can have a massive impact on a child's future well-being, sense of self, attachment style, and more. Foster children face equally (if not more) significant challenges. Rob Henderson, author of the incredibly powerful book, "Troubled", explains some of what happens. Team, I strongly recommend this one if you're interested at all in childhood trauma, how attachment develops, the apparent demonization of young me...
Feb 12, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 478
Talking points: mindset, sabotage It's not easy, I know. We all do it, and we all wonder why. But there's a way forward—and it's simpler than you think, my friends. Listen in. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:12)- What people do immediately after sabotaging, why it’s NOT effective, and what to do instead (00:06:12) - Practical steps to move beyond self-sabotage (00:10:49) - If there’s one thing to take away from this *** Build brotherhood in person. Join a Men's Weekend Pick up my book, Men's Work: A P...
Feb 08, 2024•12 min
Talking points: zen, meditation, mindfulness, psychedelics, mindset I'm one of those people who hated sitting down and meditating, even after a few years of trying to practice. It's now something I do nearly every day, and it grounds me in ways I can't explain. This is a pretty common story, especially among men I've worked with, so I brought Henry Shukman back on the show to dig into what novice meditators get wrong, what some good starter methods are, and really: what IS thought, anyway? Liste...
Feb 05, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 477
Talking points: politics, culture Recent data seems to show young men skewing more and more conservative and women more progressive. Why? Well, to my eyes, there's one major factor and a few others that are generating this shift. Listen in. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:21) - What factors into this? (00:04:42) - What happens for men in some progressive circles (00:06:40) - And what happens for men in conservative circles (00:09:26) - Other reasons impacting this shift (00:13:38) - We’ve attached gen...
Feb 01, 2024•18 min
Talking points: relationships, mindfulness, marriage, logic, social media Maybe you’ve heard me say this before, but the modern dating scene seems, well, insane. Case Kenny sat down for a great, insightful convo on why that's a thing, from the expectations social media feeds us, to the meaning of marriage to how AI is going to mess with all of it—or not. Listen in and share this ep if you want honest thoughts and some straightforward tips on navigating modern relationships! (00:00:00) - Intro (0...
Jan 29, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 476
Talking points: relationship, mindset, psychology This is a big one, dear listener. This is a slightly new format for the series; specific topics I'll do a deeper dive on, centering on how you as a man can better understand them, better work through them, and better help others through as well. First up? Codependency. If you've got a specific topic you'd like me to cover, hit me up on Instagram @mantalks! (00:00:00) - Intro (00:04:11) - What is codependency? (00:08:30) - One the hallmark indicat...
Jan 25, 2024•56 min
Talking points: hormones, testosterone, environment, fitness Is there a testosterone crisis? From the headlines I've read it sure seems like it. But what's going on, where is it coming from, and what can you do naturally to stay healthy? I sat down with Lucas Aoun to cover all of these things and more. Dig into this episode for a brilliant intro to optimizing hormone levels—particularly testosterone—and knowledge on how to avoid hormone disruptors. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:10) - What’s happenin...
Jan 22, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 475
Talking points: collaboration, friendship, masculinity Men, few things are more powerful, fulfilling, and expansive than this, so guard it with your life. It took me way too long to learn and understand, and many people diminish or degrade its importance. Listen in. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:53) - Men are isolated and less collaborative than ever before, and we miss out on important things (00:05:06) - Without male collaboration, our society would cease to exist (00:06:40) - What I’ve learned ov...
Jan 18, 2024•16 min
Talking points: evolution, psychology, relationships, sexuality The field of evolutionary psychology has been on my mind a lot lately, but it can be hard to separate the real science from the stuff with an agenda. To that end, I sat down with David C. Geary to dig into the basics, and how even a little knowledge about things like sexual dimorphism and intrasexual aggression can bring a better understanding to modern relationships. Listen to this one if you want a solid intro to the existence and...
Jan 15, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 473
Talking points: mindset, relationships The biggest video I launched in 2023 is called "De-Sexualizing My Brain Changed My Life". Naturally, I've gotten a lot of followup comments and questions about what my life has looked like since I started that process. TL;DR: it's a good thing. Here's why. (00:00:00) - Intro and noting some of the comments that have been made (00:01:26) - This isn’t about becoming a monk, it’s about having better control and influence (00:04:58) - Remember, social media is ...
Jan 11, 2024•14 min
Talking points: porn, masculinity, culture, redpill, relationships, dating, anxiety, mental health, loneliness Every January, we get a spike of newcomers to the podcast, and this year I decided to give them a warm welcome by compiling some of the hardest-hitting and most popular episodes of the year. If you're new to the show, dig in and see what convos mattered most to the community. If you're a longtime listener, now may be the chance to catch something you missed! (00:00:00) - Stirling Cooper...
Jan 08, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 472
Talking points: relationships, culture Let me start off by making one thing clear: this isn't problematic. But some other things are happening in tandem that I haven't heard any major outlet talk about. That itself is an issue. Listen in. (00:00:00) - Intro and stats (00:01:55) - What I find fascinating (00:03:39) - This is something we ALL should be having dialogue about (00:07:28) - Why authentic equality is really important (00:10:26) - Again, NOT saying this is wrong, but what are we creatin...
Jan 04, 2024•14 min
Talking points: hormones, testosterone, fertility, health, men's health Note: we had some audio troubles with this one! Welcome to 2024, team. We're kicking it off a bit intense with the podcast. This week, a look at what the **** is going on with hormones. The science behind it all is complicated, but fertility markers across the board are dropping. Why? I sat down with Layne Kilpatrick to get some info. This is a solid ep to check out if you're wondering what hormones (especially testosterone)...
Jan 01, 2024•58 min•Ep. 471
At a men's weekend, one of the guests asked me to give a simple breakdown of what I did to climb out of the wreckage of my life. While life is always more complicated than some 5-step solution, these are the biggest, most impactful steps I took—just in time for the new year! (00:00:00) - Intro (00:00:40) - Stop lying (00:03:03) - Do what you need (but don’t want) to do (00:04:30) - Replaced coping mechanisms with generative habits—one at a time (00:06:06) - Do some more of what you love (00:07:1...
Dec 28, 2023•10 min
Talking points: discipline, mindset, attraction, relationships Title says it all, team. A lot of men simply aren't that disciplined when it comes to their sexual energy, despite the fact that being disciplined has some pretty immense benefits. Here's a look at why that is. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:12) - A potential major cause of insecurity in a partner (00:02:41) - Why women are attracted to sexual discipline (00:04:33) - It creates security and safety (00:06:12) - Do this for YOU because a) i...
Dec 21, 2023•10 min