ManTalks Podcast

Honored as always to speak with an old friend of mine, Ben Goresky. As a fellow coach of men, we wanted to take an episode to give each other some thoughts on what we're seeing out there in the world of men's work: how do we better ourselves in the current global situation? How do we find personal fulfillment? We also dig into relationships and discuss different ways to engage in challenging conve...

Confidence. We all want more of it, even though we consume loads of content on it. So does it have to be something so hard to achieve consistently? I don't think so. In this episode, I outline five simple building blocks you can use to be more confident overall. Notice I said they were simple, but not necessarily easy! They require practice and commitment. Listen in. Did you enjoy the podcast? If...

Last week, Zen. This week, a unique perspective on intimacy, relationships, and marriage from Rabbi Manis Friedman. I've been wanting to hear differing ideas from differing traditions on what it means to really cultivate an intimate relationship, and Rabbi Friedman had some interesting things to say! We cover loving someone versus loving things about them, what it really means to marry someone—fro...

Understatement of the decade: there's a lot going on. I wanted to dig a little into how a man can navigate crisis, and one of the most important components to this: community. The simple reality is this: if you as an individual aren’t meant to process the events in your own community by yourself, there's no possible way you can process everything on earth by yourself. We’re built to thrive in a sh...

You hear it all the time: enlightenment, awakening, expansion, liberation. Yadda yadda yadda. But...what is it really?  Is it even possible to describe? This week, I sit with acclaimed Zen teacher and poet Henry Shukman to try and get the actual Zen take on things. We dig into his own spiritual journey, how to meditate in the Zen way, and how chasing after something can sometimes prevent you from...

One of the hardest things to do as a man is to keep your heart open. And it is in times like these that it's also the most critical. There is an incalculable amount of grief that needs holding and help right now. Will you answer it's call?   Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , or Podchaser . It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expan...

I've waited a long time for this one! Deeply honored to have spoken with Dr. James Hollis, one of the foremost Jungian analysts. Ever. Period. This conversation focused almost entirely on men and their relationship to fear, women, purpose, direction, and what Jung had to say about all of them. An hour isn't nearly enough for such a heavy conversation, so he'll be returning in the near future. If y...

Today, a Public Service Announcement. One I wish I'd heard a long time ago. You've got to decide—consciously—who has a say in who you are, what you do, and what you want to be. Listen in.     Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , or Podchaser . It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community , and help others find th...

Forgive the occasional sound blips. Sometimes Zoom behaves badly! Whether you've just dipped your toes into therapy or have been a long-time adherent, have a listen to this. I love Duey's no-nonsense yet compassionate approach. It's rooted in connection and relationship—a result of his extensive training in gestalt therapy. We cover what gestalt therapy is, what men typically struggle with and why...

Purpose (especially now) can feel elusive for so many men. And when purpose goes missing, meaning isn't far behind. This week, some thoughts on where to find meaning, how to regain a sense of purpose, and why both are critical components of any man's journey.     Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , or Podchaser . It helps us get into the ears o...

This was such a good conversation! Dr. Krug has to be one of the most engaged and informative guys I've had on when it comes to sexual health. We cover the mind's role in healthy sex, balancing what you can and can't  control in your sexual health, the surprisingly critical role of uncertainty and anxiety in sex, the physiology of erections and orgasm, how porn addiction works, the list goes on. D...

It goes without saying that the more informed you are on the nature of addiction, the easier it is to see and break the patterns that trap you or the people you care about—addiction can be a LOT more subtle and nuanced than you think. So this week, I asked Dr. Carl Erik Fisher to dig into his new book, The Urge: Our History Of Addiction. It's a profoundly empathetic, personal, and intelligent book...

We all crave meaning, purpose, and feeling like we're needed. It's deeply important for  anyone's  mental health. But for a significant number of men, it simply isn't happening. There are all sorts of reasons for this, and there's no easy answer, but it's something that genuinely worries me. This week, I'm thinking out loud about what's going on for younger men and what they can do to find that pu...

How do I sum up this conversation? Because we could have talked for days. Dr. Shaw's work is incredibly powerful, so get ready for a very depth-oriented and intense conversation. For example, Dr. Shaw and I cover the real meaning of blessing and the importance of being defeated —not winning. The power of story and myth, comfort versus shelter, and how it all relates to how we're living now. Martin...

A huge of my job is digging into the twists and turns of modern dating. The landscape men and women are facing in the world of sex and relationships is always shifting, and can leave you more than a little frustrated. So this week, I'm sharing a compelling article from David M. Buss: "The Mating Crisis Among Educated Women". There is a growing discrepancy here that deserves our full attention. Lis...

This week isn't so much an interview. Instead, a long-ranging conversation with an old friend focused around some of the more, uh, volatile aspects of modern masculine culture. The functionality of incel ideology, redpill rhetoric, the rise of victimhood narratives on all sides. In short, we're talking about some heavy stuff. Expect an open dialogue and frank opinions. Traver Boehm knows men.  How...

Yes, that is a borderline clickbait title, and it's for good reason. It's easy to learn but takes years to master, and so many things in a man's life build off and are enhanced by this one crucial practice, even though it's something you're not really taught anymore in school.  Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , or Podchaser . It helps us get...

Tons of men know how their body changes, adapts, or grows throughout their teenage years and their 20s. Not so many know how the natural aging process affects things in the late 30s and onward into their 50s. Speaking as a new father myself, I've got a lot to learn about how to maintain my fitness while being a parent and heading quickly towards 40, which is why I brought back Dr. Anthony Balduzzi...

What happens when you don't feel worthy of the person you're with? I recently got this fantastic question from a follower on Instagram, and wanted to give it extra attention, because worthiness, success, and all those other buzzwords can get pretty vague. Listen in. Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , or Podchaser . It helps us get into the ear...

Why do men of all kinds say (or do) the most insane things for validation? Why do so many men abuse their power? Why are there so few decent male role models?  My guess is a lack of initiation. But what is "initiation"? How does it work? This week, a deep dive into the what, how, why, and consequences of initiation for men.   Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podc...

Coming to you from the comfort of my car, some thoughts on how current cultural trends push men away from what actually matters to them and towards the means and ends of others. It's imperative that each of us takes time to notice the things, thoughts, and practices we're attached to that maybe aren't serving us anymore. Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts...

It's more important than ever to ground healing work with expertise, careful research, and study. Otherwise, it's basically just cheerleading. This is why I brought on one of Canada's best social psychologists, Lara Aknin. Lara's work centers on not just what makes people happy, but what keeps  them happy: gratitude, reminding yourself and others of shared connections and community, and more. Obvi...

What an honor (and what great timing) to have Peter Crone—the Mind Architect himself—on the show for my final conversation of 2021. This was such an engaging and enjoyable conversation! We delve into the nature of language and the subconscious, how to tackle things like anxiety, and some of the strategies Peter has used to help athletes with the same. Peter Crone is a thought leader in human poten...

The majority of hardship you and I will experience in life comes from things completely beyond our control. That being said, there are always  ways of tempering or blunting some of their impact, and there are also ways we make things even harder. Our job—and my message for today—is to get out of your own way.   Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts , Stitcher...

Sleep. It takes up about a third of your life—or at least it should if you want to stay healthy. After having a child, both I and my wife's sleep patterns were obviously pretty hard hit, and so began a search for some straightforward, actionable advice on how to restore healthy sleep. Dr. Breus is an almost limitless source of exactly that, so if you're having trouble, have a listen. We dig into s...