Your Brain's Survival System is Destroying Your Peace w/ Dr. Stephen Sideroff

On this episode of the Men’s Therapy Podcast, host Marc Azoulay welcomes Dr. Stephen Sideroff. He is a clinical psychologist, UCLA professor, and author of The Nine Pillars of Resilience. Dr. Sideroff brings decades of experience in neuroscience. He focuses on addiction recovery and stress science. This conversation is practical for men navigating the complex terrain of emotional health.

Dr. Sideroff begins by recounting how a relatively positive childhood gave way to the emotional challenges of early adulthood. “I quickly realized that stress was one of the primary modulators of how we feel and how successful we are,” he explains. His journey from neuroscience to clinical psychology is rooted in a desire to work directly with people. He wants to help them cope better with life’s challenges.

The conversation explores how men often lack the tools for emotional regulation. This is due to a mismatch between evolutionary biology and modern life. “Our stress response doesn’t match the needs of our everyday life,” says Dr. Sideroff. “We’re overreacting to things like a bill or a meeting as if we’re facing a predator.” This realization led him to develop a comprehensive approach to resilience training. It emphasizes the importance of emotional balance, self-awareness, and recovery practices.