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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: grief, trauma, needs, resentment, relationships Dr. Nicole is one of the rare three-peats on my podcast, and she always delivers! Fresh off the tour for her new book, we dove straight into the heavy stuff. This is a great episode to listen to if you're wanting to take a closer look at relationship issues, modern dating troubles, and navigating all the emotions those bring. (00:00:00) - Intro, the book tour, and navigating grief and joy at the same time (00:08:10) - Why we isolate...
Dec 18, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep 470•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: middle age, mindset, death, nice guys I've worked with legions of middle-aged men. As of 2023, I'm one of them. It got me wondering why so many of us radically change (or catastrophically implode) our lives in our 40s and 50s. Here's what I've seen, where I think it comes from, and where to begin ensuring it doesn't happen to you. (00:00:00) - Intro and why I call it the “middle passage” (00:02:52) - The biggest reason men go through a midlife “crisis” (00:06:59) - Pleasing Syndr...
Dec 14, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: redpill, dating, relationships, mindset, culture, attachment Adam's been making waves recently with his no-nonsense yet deeply considerate approach to the insanity that is modern relationships. This convo was centered around Adam's expertise in attachment theory—aka the way you as a child learn to get safety and love. You can probably guess that it's kind of a big deal. Dig in, team. (00:00:00) - Intro and Adam’s defining moment (00:03:07) - What drew Adam to attachment theory (0...
Dec 11, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep 469•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: mindset, life hacks, culture The list of things I've tried to get over procrastination is so long you could wrap a town's worth of Christmas presents in it. But there is ONE thing that's actually helped. It's pretty counterintuitive, but it seriously has worked every time I've used it. Listen in. (00:00:00) - Intro and how I’ve battled with procrastination for a long, long time (00:04:20) - Procrastination: what it’s actually trying to do (00:08:22) - The one counterintuitive thi...
Dec 07, 2023•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: anxiety, bipolar disorder, culture, tribalism, climate, society There aren't many out there with as wide-ranging knowledge and experience as Sarah Wilson, so I was thrilled to sit with her and dig into some of the heavier stuff. From practical tips for managing anxiety to collapsing neoliberal systems to the Dutch practice of "dropping", this interview has a bit of everything. Strongly encourage you to check this one and share, especially if you're interested in mental health or ...
Dec 04, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep 468•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: mindset, relationships Title says everything, friends. Here are a handful straightforward things you can start doing to attract higher quality women. Caveat: these aren't Jedi mind tricks, they'll benefit you even if you're already in a relationship, and probably will help the dating scene be a little less chaotic for everyone. Listen in. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:18) - Face your fears and be honest about the red flags you’ve ignored (00:05:42) - Confront your fears relationally,...
Nov 30, 2023•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points (and content warning): masculinity, suicide, domestic violence, patriarchy, politics, culture Whew. This was quite the conversation. I've been following TheTinMen for a while now and am continually inspired by his passionate yet levelheaded approach to what is (unfortunately all too often) wildly charged conversations. This is a heavy one, team—and deeply important. (00:00:00) - Intro and why "TheTinMen"? (00:04:17) - George’s defining moment (00:08:40) - How do you approach the t...
Nov 27, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep 467•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: mindset, goals, direction If there's anything you should be prepared to talk about with a partner, this is it. I think men underestimate how potent it is, how attractive it is, and how beneficial it is for themselves and for everyone else... What's your vision? (00:00:00) - Intro and the Question (00:02:43) - Your vision helps women understand you better—and it’s attractive (00:03:29) - Purpose comes FROM vision (00:05:47) - There’s aliveness when working on your vision, but it’s...
Nov 23, 2023•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: fatherhood, attachment, communication Back in August, I had this gentleman on, and we covered some deep ground. In part two, we end up looking at a present struggle, fatherhood, and how it both connects and is separate from old patterns. This is an excellent episode to check out if you’ve been curious about what shape repeat sessions can take, and how we can use what we’ve learned about ourselves not just to overcome our own obstacles, but help others too. (00:00:00) - Intro, rec...
Nov 20, 2023•40 min•Ep 466•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: culture, relationships, systemic issues 66% of young men are single, fewer and fewer men are graduating college, boys are disproportionately punished in school, there are fewer male teachers and therapists than ever, and millions of men aren't even listed as unemployed because they're simply not seeking work. Something's going on. (00:00:00) - Intro and some stats (00:04:17) - I’m not going to sit here and blame men OR women (00:06:30) - Social reasons men check out (00:09:45) - ...
Nov 16, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: breathwork, neurophysiology, fear I know many, many people whose lives have been profoundly changed by getting into Wim's style of breathwork, myself included. This was one of my absolute favorite interviews, and Wim's fierceness and passion for helping people is absolutely mind-blowing. If you're looking to understand a little more about what breathwork can do, this is THE episode for you. (00:00:00) - Intro and what happens when men gather (00:03:56) - One of Wim’s defining mom...
Nov 13, 2023•52 min•Ep 465•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: potential, growth, mindset We all have images of who and what we're capable of. Flashes of motivation and inspiration based on what we know deep, deep down to be true of us. Getting from images to reality, from dreams to concrete fact, is the battle. The best one you'll ever fight. The following are simple (but not easy) steps based on years of work with men, endless hours of study, and mentorship with some amazing people. (00:00:00) - Intro and where the challenge lies (00:03:37...
Nov 09, 2023•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: psychedelics, therapy, culture, interdependence, history, materialism It's been several years since I last talked with Paul, and he's been busy. We branch out into a number of ideas, all centered around what psychedelics have done, are doing, and COULD do for humanity. If you're looking for thoughts from an expert on where the therapeutic industry might be headed—and what's needed from all of us—this is the conversation for you. Listen in. (00:00:00) - Intro and Paul’s defining m...
Nov 06, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep 464•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: domestication, culture, biology To be clear straight out the gates, I don't think there's some vast conspiracy to weaken all men. But there are certain aspects of our culture, our food, and more that have a synergistic effect. One that's messing with men on multiple levels. Listen in. (00:00:00) - Intro and the ways men are becoming domesticated (00:03:18) - Masculinity and what it means to be a good man is now almost entirely defined by women (00:05:40) - A narrative that men ar...
Nov 02, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: trauma, culture, collective healing Wow! Very grateful to have had the opportunity to sit with Thomas recently to discuss not just his book, but his vision and mission for people everywhere. This was a deeply moving conversation; Thomas' perspective on how trauma forms and how it needs to be healed will be resonating with me for a long, long time. Check this out. (00:00:00) - Intro and Thomas’ two defining moments (00:06:41) - How trauma reorients your perspective towards safety ...
Oct 30, 2023•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: anxiety, insecurity, mindset Ever do research on a topic and realize most of the stuff on the internet is...pretty worthless? Yeah me too. This week, a look at what really causes insecurity, and some things you can do that will actually help. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:05) - Defining insecurity (00:04:53) - What makes this reframe interesting, and 3 ways insecurities are formed (00:09:09) - So what do we do? Because there’s no quick fix (00:11:18) - You cannot affirm your way out ...
Oct 26, 2023•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: couples therapy, emotions, modern culture, empathy Delighted to have the wit and wisdom of Figs O'Sullivan to content with once again. It's been too long! We cover a lot of ground, specifically around couples therapy, so I encourage you to check the timestamps and listen in. (00:00:00) - As people learn more “therapy-speak” and watch more TikTok “experts”, how is that filtering down into relationships? (00:06:50) - Why do some people default to blaming their partner when things d...
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr•Ep 462•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: porn, attachment, relationships Title says it all, friends. I genuinely don’t see very many people talking about porn from this angle. Which is kind of surprising, but here we are. Listen in. (00:00:00) - Intro and some of my own story around porn (00:03:49) - What nobody else seems to be talking about (00:07:57) - And THAT is why porn can be hard to let go of (00:10:32) - Reorienting yourself towards other relationships Release porn as a crutch, reclaim your time, and recover in...
Oct 19, 2023•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: adversity, disability, resiliency vs anti-fragility, growth, mindset Everything about this convo was enjoyable, but I think what I appreciate most is how pragmatic and straight-up grounded Tom's insights are. It makes for highly effective advice you can work on right away. Bonus: he's a great storyteller. This is a great episode to dig into if you're looking for inspiration towards a different approach to things, especially hardship. (00:00:00) - Intro, and the importance of livi...
Oct 16, 2023•1 hr•Ep 461•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: sex, social media, conditioning, culture I know what it’s like to feel controlled by your own sexed-up brain. Like you’re losing hours of your day, mental bandwidth and more to clothes-less strangers on the internet. So I wanted to lay down some real talk about what I've done—and how hard it can be—to de-sexualize my brain and stay disciplined. I also get into some of the benefits it’s hard for me, my business, and my relationship. Listen in. (00:00:00) - Intro and why I’m talkin...
Oct 12, 2023•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: fatherhood, abandonment, depression, coping Every so often, I'll have an anonymous guest on the show to give listeners a glimpse into what the men's work at ManTalks is actually like. This week I wanted to feature a client who struggles with something I'm deeply familiar with: knowing what the work is AND doing that work, but nothing's really felt "resolved". Together, we uncover some of what's been keeping his progress in what feels like stasis. Listen in. (00:00:00) - Intro and...
Oct 09, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: relationships, power dynamics, masculinity, femininity FYI, I'm diving into this because women have asked over the last few months, not men. And to keep things balanced, I'll be doing a companion video soon on what men do to de-feminate their partner. Listen in! Would also love your thoughts on the topic. Hit me up on Instagram @mantalks. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:53) - Withholding sex (with caveats) (00:05:43) - Withholding a fun, playful, or joyful nature (00:08:55) - Being ove...
Oct 05, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Talking points: relationships, money, dominance, death, marriage, sex, culture You know by now wide-ranging conversations are the norm for ManTalks, but this one? Extraordinary. Jillian Turecki and I get into all things relationships, from power dynamics to death and dying to how money matters have shifted relationship culture. Strongly encourage you to listen to this with a friend or your partner and dig around in it. There is NO shortage of things to mull on here. See where your conversation g...
Oct 02, 2023•2 hr 33 min•Ep 459•Transcript available on Metacast 
