Men in the Arena with Matt Kovatchis & MD

Guest Glenn Sevier, LCSW, joins the Men in the Arena to talk about his personal challenges growing up with stuttering and the bullying that came with it, his career as a Social Worker and Therapist, the concept of trauma, and walk-and-talk therapy, a modality he created to help both students and adults feel more comfortable during therapy. Glenn is currently a School Social Worker at Niles Townshi...

In this moment MD discusses the idea of how orienting yourself to focus on making decisions, congruent to what you value, will help drive longer term and more sustainable happiness.

Guest Adam O'Grady joins the Men in the Arena to discuss how he was able to free himself of his past and discover his higher self, his purpose of serving others through Yoga, and self-care practices such as meditation and cold water therapy that have allowed him to stay grounded and maintain inner-peace. Adam lives in Sacramento, CA, and currently works in the Marketing Group at Plunge as one...

Guest Wes Patterson joins the Men in the Arena to discuss his fitness journey and using his body insecurities to lose 100 pounds in 6 months (!!!), overcoming self-doubt, and the concept of discipline and setting boundaries. Wes is a Certified Personal Trainer and business owner / entrepreneur residing in Chicago. He takes a holistic approach to personal training, allowing clients to achieve both...

Guest Shaun Parrella joins the Men in the Arena to discuss his upbringing and how that's shaped who he is today, forcing himself to get out of his comfort zone, and the importance of living with good intention. Shaun is currently a corporate lending Portfolio Manager for a commercial bank in Tampa, FL. In his spare time, he likes to work out, collect sneakers, and spend time with his dog.

Guest Nicole Kramer joins the Men in the Arena to talk about moving away from her family and friends to Los Angeles, the idea of comfort and getting yourself out of your comfort zone, and life as a personal assistant for a reality TV star and how it helped her become a more well-rounded individual. Nicole is a social media and marketing entrepreneur, most recently working as an assistant for a rea...

Guest (and co-host Matt's sister) Alyssa Kovatchis joins the Men in the Arena to talk about their brother-sibling relationship, life as a twin and some of the associated challenges, and most recently her career switch and the uncertainty that came with it. Alyssa spent her first three years post-college as a 4th grade teacher before more recently transitioning to a Sales Development Representa...

Guest Hannah Massey joins the Men in the Arena to talk about the peaks and valleys associated with her mental health journey, the new field of clinical neuroscience, and how she's used her past trauma as fuel to help others and make the world a better place. Hannah is currently studying to be a Chiropractor with a specialty in Neuroscience, and upon graduating in April 2023 will be a Doctor of...

Guest Mike Solan joins the Men in the Arena to discuss life as an entrepreneur and the sacrifices he's had to make, his outlook on therapy and mental health, and the importance of being open and talking about your feelings. Mike is currently a Partner and Chief Revenue Officer at Modern Hill Furniture, a Chicagoland warehouse of mid-century modern furniture. He has been featured in Crain's Magazin...

Inaugural guest Elena Gatti (a.k.a. Fiorenza Art) joins the show to discuss her art journey, leaving the stability of a 9-5 job to pursue her dream, and her experience with therapy and overall outlook on life. Elena is an independent female artist in Chicago creating original and digital art through her brand, Fiorenza Art. She has designed merchandise for musicians and bands like Harry Styles and...

Matt & MD recap their weekends and head back into the arena to discuss why people are often hateful and negative, as well as how to respond to that adversity.

MD & Matt discuss the importance of getting of your comfort zone, the feeling of regret and not giving it your all, and the steps that have worked for them to achieve happiness.

Matt Kovatchis & Mike David ("MD") go into the arena for the inagural episode of Men in the Arena. Topics discussed include: Therapy & Mental Health Healthy vs Unhealthy Competition Setting boundaries Importance of expressing emotions