In this extra special episode, Michael welcomes members of his own chosen family to explore the unique dynamics that make chosen families such an important part of the LGBTQ+ experience. While providing a candid look at their own family dynamics, they delve into various subjects including: The importance of chosen family compared to biological family How bonds evolve over time and what makes them last How their dynamics can be similar to traditional family (for better or worse) Navigating ...
Dec 21, 2023•53 min•Ep 166•Transcript available on Metacast In this heartfelt episode of Gay Men Going Deeper, we are sharing poignant stories of our family relationships. Join us as we explore the triumphs and tribulations of the intricate bonds that tie us to our biological family dynamics. Some of the questions we’ll be answering today are: 1. What do you find challenging about family? 2. How has your family shaped who you are? 3. What matters most to you when it comes to your family? Tune in to this illuminating episode that reminds us that despite i...
Dec 14, 2023•59 min•Ep 165•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Matt speaks with Nyle Biondi , a trans and queer psychotherapist, about protecting their peace. In a world that is divisive and full of violence, oppression and hatred, how can we protect our peace? This episode explores ways in which we might be giving away our power and how we can stop doing this and learn to protect our peace. Come spend an hour with Matt and Nyle and learn how to protect your own peace from things like family dynamics, media, oppressive societal views/...
Dec 07, 2023•1 hr•Ep 164•Transcript available on Metacast In this enriching episode of Gay Men Going Deeper, we are delving deep into the world of personal finance and exploring the often underestimated power of your money mindset. Everyone has a money mindset, which consists of your thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes about money. Whether you realize it or not, this mindset is creating your financial well-being. Our goal today is to inspire you to create a money mindset that helps you live the life you most want to live. Some of the questions...
Nov 30, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep 163•Transcript available on Metacast Making friends can feel like a complex puzzle in the gay world - and when you're an introvert, the pieces fit differently. In this episode of Gay Men Going Deeper, Michael DiIorio and friendship coach, Zayne Khan explore the distinctive hurdles faced by introverts in their quest for companionship. We’ll cover topics such as: The unique challenges introverts face in making friends How being gay impacts our ability to make friends The impact of apps and social media in seeking connection Pra...
Nov 23, 2023•54 min•Ep 162•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Gay Men Going Deeper, we tackle a topic that's become increasingly important in our fast-paced, interconnected world: work-life balance. Throughout this episode, we explore the causes of the work-life balance struggle, including societal expectations and the constant connectivity enabled by technology. We’ll also share stories and practical advice on how we set boundaries, prioritize self-care, and reclaim our precious personal time as entrepreneurs. The questions we’ll ...
Nov 16, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep 161•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode Matt speaks with Indie Author and Counselor, Jonathan Lee about dating as a gay man. Jonathan wrote his debut book 40 Single Gay where he over-shares his experience in the hostile gay dating world and what he learned about himself through the process. Matt and Jonathan unpack everything from hookup culture and non-monogamy, to intimacy and how to get our emotional needs met as gay men. Here are some of the concepts they explored in this episode: What is your experience of dating ...
Nov 09, 2023•57 min•Ep 160•Transcript available on Metacast Every human being has a unique purpose: something you and only you can bring to this world. In today’s episode of Gay Men Going Deeper, we are sharing our personal journeys towards our purpose. We’ll share how moments of clarity, inspiration, and even adversity provided invaluable insights into our true calling. Some of the questions we’ll be answering are: How did you discover your purpose? What gives your life meaning? What kind of impact do you want to make? Whether you're at a crossroads, se...
Nov 02, 2023•55 min•Ep 159•Transcript available on Metacast In this provocative episode of Gay Men Going Deeper, Michael DiIorio and Pepper pushing boundaries, sparking discussion, and providing helpful tips on sharing NSFW pics. Some of the topics we’ll be covering today are: Why do we send NSFW pics? What are the risks in doing so? Does it impact how our relationships unfold? Are we too desensitized to nudity? What are some best practices for sending and receiving pics? Join us for this entertaining episode where we celebrate sexualit...
Oct 26, 2023•1 hr•Ep 158•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode Matt speaks with Scott Blackwood about healing their traumatic pasts. They talk about the impacts of relational and attachment trauma on their lives and how this led to Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), shame, low self-esteem and social isolation. They talk about how the unresolved trauma impacted their relationship with themselves and others and the steps they are taking to overcome this. Here are some of the concepts they explored in this episode: What is trauma? ...
Oct 19, 2023•56 min•Ep 157•Transcript available on Metacast Today we are diving deep into the profound practice of inner child work, a transformative journey that has the power to heal wounds from our past and pave the way for a brighter future. Join us as we delve into various techniques and exercises that can help you connect with your inner child, nurture them, and ultimately begin the process of healing any unresolved childhood pain. Some of the questions we’ll be exploring are: How would you describe your relationship with your inner child (past and...
Oct 12, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep 156•Transcript available on Metacast Bullying is defined as an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. Why this conversation is important: It is said that approximately ⅓ people will experience some form of bullying in their lifetime; in the home, in the community, in the classroom, in the workplace, online, and/or outside of these spaces. Our goal today is to have a discussion with men who hav...
Oct 05, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Ep 155•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s episode, Michael DiIorio invites special guest Jeremy Russo to explore how spiritual abuse can manifest within religious communities, causing harm to individuals' mental, emotional, and even physical well-being. We also touch upon religious trauma, discussing its lasting impact on survivors, and the journey towards healing and forgiveness. While this is a deeply sensitive topic, we believe it’s crucial to shed some light on the dark corners of this often-overlooked aspect of faith and...
Sep 28, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep 154•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Matt Landsiedel takes you on a guided meditative journey to discover the relationship between your masculine and feminine energies. The guided meditation is designed to help you restore balance between your masculine and feminine energy. When we use the terms masculine and feminine, we are not referring to the gender or sex of an individual, we are referring to the energetic duality that exists within all human beings. We all have a masculine or yang energy, and we all have...
Sep 21, 2023•55 min•Ep 153•Transcript available on Metacast Expressing your feminine energy does not diminish your masculinity or make you less of a man. Each person is a unique expression of masculine and feminine energies, and this expression is a natural and valid part of our identity. In today's episode, we are sharing our own experiences of discovering and expressing our feminine energy. We'll explore various aspects of embracing our inner femininity, from fashion and emotional expression to intuition and relationships. We're answering questions suc...
Sep 14, 2023•48 min•Ep 152•Transcript available on Metacast Gay culture has historically idolized traditional masculinity in the context of societal norms, which includes traits like physical strength, assertiveness, and stoicism. But we must remember that there isn't a single, fixed definition of masculinity. While some embrace traditional concepts of masculinity, others may lean towards more non-conforming presentations. Lately, there has been a growing acceptance of the fact that gender expression and sexual orientation are distinct aspect...
Sep 07, 2023•57 min•Ep 151•Transcript available on Metacast Libido, or sex drive, is our natural instinctual inclination for sexual activity. Libido varies person to person and fluctuates over time. It’s not uncommon for men to put a high value on their sex drive, especially if they associate it with their masculinity and self-esteem. In this episode of Gay Men Going Deeper, Michael welcomes Dr. Hector Rodriguez to answer your questions about libido. Some of the topics they’ll be covering are: How does aging impact your sex drive? How d...
Aug 31, 2023•51 min•Ep 150•Transcript available on Metacast Attraction is a fickle matter. Call it a vibe or energy or aura, it is indeed a powerful unseen force that influences our relationships. In the metaphysical sense, energetic attraction stems from the belief that everything in the universe is made up of energy, including human beings, and that this energy can interact and create connections between people. In this episode, we're going deeper into the concept of Energetic Attraction , by answering these questions: What traits make someone attracti...
Aug 24, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep 149•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Matt Landsiedel and Michael DiIorio unpack the concept of the spiritual awakening. They both share their personal experiences with spiritual awakenings and how they navigated these really challenging periods in their lives. If you are struggling in life right now, you might be going through a spiritual awakening. The best way through one of these experiences is to learn about its meaning, making it easier to navigate. Here are the 4 questions we explored in this episode: What do...
Aug 17, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Ep 148•Transcript available on Metacast Attracting a romantic relationship is as much about energy as it is about the practical steps. Directing your thoughts and emotions towards finding love adds an energetic boost to any tangible action steps you’re taking. In this episode, we’re sharing our experiences with attracting love including: Manifestation basics Artificial desire vs. authentic desire How to recognize your 'ideal' partner Why you attract who you attract Our fave tips and tricks Watch this episode on YouTube Want more? Gay ...
Aug 10, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep 147•Transcript available on Metacast Body confidence is the ability to feel good in your body, regardless of its size or shape. But there are many reasons why gay men in particular struggle in this area. Wanting to work on your body is perfectly natural, but having the right mindset is crucial to this process. How can you work on your body goals without it being harmful to your mental health? In today’s episode of Gay Men Going Deeper, Michael DiIorio invites Jarrod Bruce Lee to answer that very question, as well as di...
Aug 03, 2023•1 hr•Ep 146•Transcript available on Metacast Aging is an inevitable part of life, but we each have a unique relationship with it. Some of us embrace it with open arms and don't buy into the idea of a "gay death" at a certain age. Others struggle with aging and cling to our youth and relevance as each year passes. In this episode of Gay Men Going Deeper, we’re talking about our own relationship to aging and what it means to “age well.” Some of the questions we’ll be unpacking are: What has been your relationship to aging? What do you like a...
Jul 27, 2023•52 min•Ep 145•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Matt Landsiedel and Theo Bill have a heartfelt conversation about the struggles and joys of being a gay man. They discuss the core wounds of growing up gay, the impact this has on the gay community, and what we can do to start to heal these wounds. We explore these topics in the episode: The wounds gay men may experience in their development Toxic Shame Attachment trauma Gay men and spirituality What advantages do we have as gay men Some things we can do to sta...
Jul 20, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep 144•Transcript available on Metacast It’s a sad reality that older gay men face stereotypes about their attractiveness, desirability, or relevance as they age. Age discrimination, or ageism, can result in feeling isolated, undervalued, and even invisible. In today’s episode, we are having a panel discussion about age discrimination with 3 of our community members. We’ll cover topics such as: Being judged by younger gay men The discomfort around revealing your age around to others Dating and aging What advice they have for you...
Jul 13, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Ep 143•Transcript available on Metacast Friends with benefits (FWB) is a type of relationship where you can enjoy the sexual benefits of a relationship without the expectation of long-term commitment. Navigating the blurred lines between friendship and sexual intimacy is a complex and potentially risky endeavour. In this episode, Michael DiIorio and Pepper of The Gay Good discuss the nuances of having Friends With Benefits. They’ll discuss topics such as: The pros and cons of FWB Why this is common with gay guys When FWB w...
Jul 06, 2023•53 min•Ep 142•Transcript available on Metacast Unconscious bias refers to the internal biases or attitudes that influence our interactions and behaviour towards others. We all have these deeply ingrained biases that unfortunately can hinder our efforts to build a more diverse and inclusive community. In today's episode, we are sharing our experience with Unconscious Bias in hopes that it will help contribute to embracing greater acceptance and belonging. Some of the questions we'll be unpacking: What are some unconscious biases y...
Jun 29, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep 141•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Matt Landsiedel and Jamaal Wesley talk about authentic connection and the importance of having relationships in our lives where we can be completely ourselves. They share their own personal challenges with being authentic and how they have overcome these challenges. Come spend an hour learning how to bring your most authentic self into connection and reap the reward of being seen, understood and getting your needs met. The questions we explored in this episode are: What do...
Jun 22, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep 140•Transcript available on Metacast One of the goals of the Gay Men’s Brotherhood and this podcast is to help foster a deeper sense of community and connection for queer people all over the world. But how do you learn to belong to a community that does not accept you as you are? This is the crux of today’s episode on Acceptance and Belonging. We’re answering some tough questions such as: What do you think is responsible for the lack of acceptance and belonging within the gay community? What parts of yourself do you struggle to acc...
Jun 15, 2023•45 min•Ep 139•Transcript available on Metacast Being a dad can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a man’s life. Historically, gay men have not had adequate opportunities to be parents, but the tide is turning. In this episode, Joseph Tito of The Dad Diaries stops by to talk to Michael about his journey from surrogacy to fatherhood, including: The decision to be a parent The challenges and rewards of being a parent Dealing with homophobia Advice for anyone considering parenthood Whether you’re a dad yourself or have ever ...
Jun 08, 2023•41 min•Ep 138•Transcript available on Metacast Pride is celebration of the progress we've made as a community and a reminder that there is still much work to do. Unfortunately, many people don't feel like part of the community- and we want to help change that. In today’s episode, we’re not just celebrating our queerness, but also the diverse range of people, experiences, and interests our community has to offer. In this episode, we’ll be talking about: How we have felt included in the gay community How we have felt excluded How we can create...
Jun 01, 2023•52 min•Ep 137•Transcript available on Metacast 
