ManTalks Podcast

Modern relationships face some pretty unique challenges, and sometimes it seems like those challenges are only growing. Thankfully, there are people out there like Liz Earnshaw! This was such an enjoyable discussion, and we go heavy on modern dating and marriage problems, "pathologizing" your partner, the shifting meaning of things like marriage and partnership, the need for flexibility, even the...

Coming in hot after Keith Yackey's episode is another good friend, Jayson Gaddis. This guy has a CV a mile long, so it's always a pleasure to have him on the show. We go deep into relational conflict, looking at the unique blueprint each person brings to any relationship, how it informs the conflict we can (and can't!) handle, and some tips and tricks on approaching conflict in a healthy way.  Rel...

I’m in a cabin on a beautiful piece of property, holed up and finishing off my upcoming book. It’s given me a chance to look back on an incredibly difficult, incredibly fulfilling journey. It’s also allowed me a lot of humility, and I felt called to share some of this reflection with you all. Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , or Podchaser . I...

Cliches happen for a reason, and “keeping the spark alive” in a long-term relationship or a marriage is no exception. It’s a challenge for anyone. So this week I’ve brought on Keith Yackey, an old friend who specializes in exactly that: maintaining and building intimacy, sex, vibrancy, and excitement. You’ll hear about Keith’s own journey with marriage, his frameworks and strategies for keeping th...

Something I’ve noticed in the majority of men I work with is a habitual hunt for whatever might be going wrong in a relationship, a business venture, or, well, anything. There are a number of reasons for this. But arguably the biggest reason is what we’re talking about this week. Listen in. Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , or Podchaser . It...

After some great feedback from October's "Reclaiming the King" episode, I decided to re-release its companion piece about the Warrior archetype. Is the Warrior in us as men to blame for the division we see in today’s society? Yes...and no. This is a dive into the modes and shadow of the Warrior archetype and why—and this might surprise you—it’s one of the best archetypes we have. From the warrior,...

Someone reached out to me last week asking for my opinion on men having OnlyFans accounts, and what it means in the context of either relationships or being single. There's obviously a lot to unpack, so expect a more in-depth followup episode. But I wanted to share some initial thoughts with you on the potential effects of something like  OnlyFans on a man.   Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, plea...

This was the last of four incredible conversations in a series titled The Wisdom of Elders. Elder Nii speaks his message with a simplicity that cuts through the rationalizations and justifications we all sometimes hold on to, and he does it with kindness and sincerity. I encourage you to check out the work he’s doing in Canada and globally, and listen in as we discuss the challenges all of us face...

We're all aware that Perfect is the enemy of Good, but why? What's underneath your desire to get it right 100% of the time? Let's look at the not-so-secret relationship between perfectionism and punishment. 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...

Leadership, respect, duty, structure, legacy, service, praise. All of these are embodied in the archetype of the King—the foremost (and arguably most difficult) energy to cultivate. But like everything, the King’s got a dark side we need to understand. To celebrate the re-launch of the ManTalks Shadow Course, I’ve been covering all things shadow, including the dark sides of two important archetype...

Gotta be honest: success is kind of weird! It's a goal, part of the process, and also the mirror that forces you to evaluate your goals, anxieties, and direction. 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 the self-leadership...

I’ve been running ManTalks for almost a decade and I’ve met a ton of amazing people who can speak truthfully and bluntly. But no one speaks carries their truth as authentically as Stephen Jenkinson. I find a lot of what Stephen says is medicinal: you might not think it tastes great, but damn if it isn’t what you need to hear. This is a deep dive into why things are the way they are. Fear of submis...

Regret itself isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but how we deal with regret has deep effects on how we deal with who we were, who we are, and who we want to be. 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 the self-leadership they’re looking...

A few months ago I had the privilege of interviewing this incredible man over Zoom, and it's with a lot of thankfulness that I share that conversation with you now. James' experience working with elders and mentors across multiple continents and cultures, his life growing up on the streets of Chicago, and his work with inmates at Folsom Prison, all of it has given him an unparalleled understanding...

Men: your ability to navigate uncertainty has a direct effect on your overall confidence, and who doesn't want a little more of that? In this mini-episode, three straightforward ways to better your relationship to uncertainty. 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...

In this episode, I work with a man who’s been married for 42 years. He wants to be more assertive and provide more direction in his relationship, but is struggling with long-held feelings of low self-worth, fear of failure, and more. What’s behind all of it? Listen through to the end. Every so often, I bring on an anonymous guest for a completely free shadow work session. I make this part of the p...

Open social media, confrontation. Open your browser, confrontation. Look out the window, probably some more confrontation. You're not going to get away from conflict, so it's time to learn how to repair your relationship with it, whether you're caught in the trap of avoiding it or the trap of being way too into it. Dig in. Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcast...

In this episode, Francis and I discuss the role of community in processing grief, the cult of specialness, our addiction to progress, using beauty and ritual to stay mentally healthy, and how obsession with individualism has crippled our ability to feel like we belong. That’s just the tip of the iceberg with a man like Francis, and it’s a great honor to hear him speak with such depth and clarity o...

One of the most popular questions I get from both men and women revolves around intimidation. Women ask me why men perceive them as intimidating, and men ask me how to handle an intimidating woman. If you want to know what to do, start by reading the title of this episode, and listen in. We’ve got a lot to talk about: the responsibilities, the challenges, and what might be underneath it all. Did y...

It often feels like there is a massive gap between where we are and where we want to be. What’s more, we can spend so much time working to GET somewhere that we lose sight of what we’ve gained along the way. This is what organizational psychologist Dr. Benjamin Hardy and I dove into this episode. I loved this conversation, and I’m thrilled to share it with you, so don’t forget to spread it around....

Ugh. Self-sabotage. Something I'm sure everyone is familiar with. How does it show up? Why does it happen? Where does it come from? This is what we're diving into this week, with some clear tips on how to end it. And as always, I'd love to hear from you. If you've got followup questions on self-sabotage, the unconscious, or anything else, DM me @mantalks on Instagram. Did you enjoy the podcast? If...

From your nervous system's view, our culture is swimming in dopamine. Porn, binging junk food, video games, "retail therapy"—things from the innocent to the insidious light our brains up with dopamine, and we often wind up with more than one addiction. But how does it all work, and how do we detox? Addiction to anything is  never easy to unpack, so I sat down with the amazing Dr. Anna Lembke for a...

I try not to wrestle too much with political topics on the show, but there have been a number of men—many of them former military—who asked me to at least say something about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the extreme range of reactions to what happened. So here is what came up. If you (or someone you know) served, is struggling, and needs support, please DM me @mantalks on Instagram. Did...

Creating a healthy relationship as an adult requires a fine balance of intimacy and sovereignty. This can be really tough for men who grew up with maternal enmeshment issues—they've got to untangle a maladaptive relationship with their mother. Dr. Kenneth Adams is an expert on helping people do exactly this. We dive deep into what enmeshment looks like, the kinds of confusion and chaos it creates...

In this mini-episode, I unpack how there's a kind of resilience and reliability that only shows up when you face what you're afraid of. When you don't, you're unconsciously learning you can't rely on you when things get difficult. Thanks to those of you on Instagram who asked me to clarify this, and don't forget to share this mini-episode with someone you feel will benefit. Did you enjoy the podca...