The Man Space

He was told he had 2–3 months to live. Thirty minutes later, the phone rang. What happened next gave him a second chance at life, and love. What does it take to keep a marriage strong when life throws everything at you? And what happens when the things men are afraid to talk about start affecting the people they love? Our guest, Gaylen Wilson, knows something about fighting for life, and fighting...

Are you managing your time, or is your time managing you? On this episode of The Man Space Podcast, Russ and Less get real about time management, building better habits, and making the most of the 24 hours we all have. Plus, things get hilarious as the guys put unusual snack flavors to the test! Russ and Less listen to an interview Russ had with time strategist C.W. Hawley, for an insightful conve...

Ever feel like you’re doing your job AND somebody else’s? When a coworker refuses to pull their weight, frustration builds fast, burnout follows, and suddenly the entire team starts paying the price. In this episode of The Man Space Podcast, Russ and Less get into the reality of lazy coworkers, workplace burnout, social loafing, poor management, and what happens when accountability disappears from...

What does it take to rise again when life knocks you down? Dr. Oluwole Babatunde lost both parents by the age of 13, yet went on to become a physician, researcher, and psychiatry resident in America. His story is a powerful reminder that your circumstances do not have to define your future. On this episode of The Man Space Podcast, hosts Russ and Less sit down with Dr. Babatunde to explore resilie...

Ever felt like you're the only one going through it? You're not, and this episode proves it. Russ sits down with author Sean Carberry for an honest, no-gimmicks conversation about facing life's toughest battles and finding the strength to beat them. Sean opens up about his journey and why he chose to share it through his books. One of the hardest parts of any struggle is the isolation, the feeling...

What if getting healthier didn't require a complete life overhaul? Timothy J. Carney spent 33 years as a professional firefighter and built his career around fitness, wellness, and helping others perform at their best. Now he's bringing those lessons to everyday men who are trying to balance work, family, stress, and their health. On this episode of The Man Space Podcast, Russ and Less sit down wi...

What happens when two friends talk about health, relationships, money, personal growth, and mistaken identity all in the same conversation? You get Episode 6 of The Man Space Podcast, where Russ and Less keep it real, funny, and surprisingly insightful. In this August 2020 flashback episode, Russ and Less talk about making healthier choices, including diet, hydration, gout, food, and their persona...

Find Your Ideal Side Hustle: How to Turn What You Know Into Income with Bart Merrell What if the next opportunity to make more money is already sitting right in front of you? On this episode of The Man Space Podcast, Russ and Less sit down with entrepreneur, author, presenter, and “Side Hustle Samurai”  Bart Merrell for a conversation about turning everyday skills, experiences, and opportunities i...

What if pornography isn’t actually the problem? What if the behavior is only a symptom of something much deeper happening beneath the surface? On this powerful episode of The Man Space Podcast, Russ sits down with Nelson Whiting, a certified clinical hypnotherapist, to have an honest conversation about porn addiction, compulsive behaviors, the subconscious mind, and why willpower alone often fails...

What does it really take to become the kind of leader people remember long after the job is done? On this episode of the Man Space Podcast, we get into the real conversations behind leadership, purpose, relationships, career, and legacy. Russ sits down with Brigadier General Retired Twanda Young, Gerod Sturgis, Dave Williams, and Marcus Wright.  Recorded around the Leadership Experience Tour in Tr...

Check out this special of the debut episode of the Russ and Company Podcast.  Men’s Sexual Health: The Connection Between Diet, Stress, Sleep & Performance    What if your sexual performance is telling you more about your overall health than you realize? In this revealing episode of the Russ and Company Podcast, Russ sits down with Dr. Adam Kleinberg to unpack men’s sexual health, erectile fun...

Burnout isn't just "being tired" anymore — it's reshaping the entire American workforce, and this episode breaks down exactly why. Russ and Lex kick things off with a wild AC repair horror story (miswired capacitors, $60K financing traps, and home warranty nightmares) before diving deep into the real topic: workplace burnout, corporate loyalty, and why so many employees feel stuck. Pulling from re...

Man vs Living with Mental Illness: Dave Mowry on Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety and Healing With Humor What happens when life takes everything from you, and you find your way back through laughter? In this powerful episode of The Man Space Podcast, Russ sits down with comedian, author, and mental health advocate Dave Mowry to explore bipolar disorder, severe anxiety, recovery, and the unexpected healin...

What happens when the career that defined you suddenly ends? Whether retirement is planned or forced, stepping into life after work can bring uncertainty, financial concerns, and a deeper question: Who am I without my job title? In this episode of the Man Space Podcast, Russ sits down with coach, speaker, author, and former financial planner Michael F. Kay to explore how men can navigate career tr...

What if the thing you were told was "wrong" with you turned out to be your greatest advantage? In this episode of The Man Space Podcast, Russ and Les sit down with high-performance coach Willie Blake, who was diagnosed with dyslexia in the first grade and spent years hiding, faking, and outrunning it—until he decided to lead with it instead. Willie opens up about growing up neurodivergent, battlin...

What if the biggest battle you fight isn't overseas, but the one against your own comfort zone? On this episode of The Man Space Podcast, hosts Russ and Less sit down with Ben Fudge — former Army Ranger, four-time combat veteran, and head coach at Trevor Kashey Nutrition — for a raw conversation about the gap between the life men build and the health they neglect while building it. Ben opens up ab...

What does real commitment actually look like when life gets hard? In this heartfelt and often hilarious episode of the Man Space Podcast, Russ and Less move from lighthearted conversations about sports, funny everyday mishaps, and aging to a powerful discussion about marriage, caregiving, and what it truly means to love someone through life's toughest seasons. The conversation explores the realiti...

On this episode of The Man Space, hosts Russ and Les welcome author John David to discuss his LeMaster Files series, including his new novel The Pawn and the journey from book one to book three. The conversation covers John’s writing process, plot ideas and rewrites, publishing life, opinions on trends like man-purses and AI in writing, and what readers can expect next in the series.

Season 7 is HERE — and we're coming in with a major announcement. After a year of late nights and quiet sacrifice, host Russ drops a bombshell that's been years in the making: the Russ and Less: Freshman Year novel is officially on the way. This premiere episode is part celebration, part real talk, and all Man Space. Russ and Less kick off the new season by honoring the journey — sharing the divin...

What happens when society decides you're expendable the moment you turn 22? Author T.A. Thompson joins the Man Space Podcast to unpack The Mark, his gripping dystopian thriller that imagines a world where no one is expected to survive past their youth. From the biology course that sparked the idea to building an anti-hero readers can't help but root for, T.A. breaks down his unconventional writing...

Veteran entrepreneur and podcaster Jim Tracy sits down with the Manspace hosts to recount his rise from garage startup to building and selling multimillion-dollar infrastructure companies, with stories from aviation, tower work, and family life. They explore mentorship and manhood, leadership and company culture, embracing uncertainty, and ‘management by cliché’—practical proverbs and small action...

From Trauma to Transformation: Justin Shaw on PTSD, Addiction Recovery & Healing     What happens when childhood trauma, addiction, loss, and PTSD collide, and how do you find your way back to healing? In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, author, speaker, and former comedian Justin Shaw shares the raw truth about overcoming trauma, navigating addiction recovery, and rebuilding a...

What happens when sports rivalries turn into lifelong grudges, movie nostalgia meets modern remakes, and a simple mindset shift changes the way you see the world? In this episode of the Man Space Podcast, Russ and Les dive into everything from NBA Finals predictions and sports superstitions to binge-worthy TV shows, classic pop culture, and the power of perception. The conversation explores the hi...

What if the key to losing weight, boosting energy, and avoiding chronic disease was simpler than you've been told? In this episode, Russ sits down with health and nutrition coach Graham Hawley to cut through the noise and get back to basics. Graham breaks down his Five Pillars of Health — nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, and alcohol — and explains why ignoring even one of them can silently sabo...

What does a West Point Army grad, college football analytics consultant, and data entrepreneur have in common with every man trying to build something from nothing? The process. In this episode, Russ sits down with Danny Davis,  founder of Recon Sports, data consultant to top college football programs, and former field artillery captain, for a raw, motivating conversation about discipline, entrepr...