ManTalks Podcast

Did psychedelics play a role in mystical insight, human ingenuity, and the development of Western civilization? Is there a secret religion hidden underpinning the most ancient spiritual practices of Greece, Turkey, and elsewhere? Join me and Brain Muraresku for a mind-bending look at our history as a civilization, as spiritual beings, and how psychedelics might be intertwined into it all. This was...

We get way too caught up in the idea that personal development is always expansion, always growth, always becoming. That, my friends, is not true. In this episode, I break down my main issue with personal development, and what we need to talk about in order to lock in actual growth. To me, personal development has just as much “unbecoming” as it does “becoming”. Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, p...

The intersection of technology and the nervous system has always fascinated me, especially when it comes to mental healing, navigating trauma. Jim Poole has been at the forefront of this field for a while now. We cover the convergence of tech and mindfulness, human evolution, the theta brainwave state, and a lot more.  Jim is an accomplished business executive with extensive experience in the dent...

Alright. Let me be clear: I am not making a case for or against him. This is me trying to find deeper answers to why Peterson is such a divisive figure, as well as observing the (frankly) dire situation masculine culture is in. When I see people either hyper-pedestal someone or viciously denigrate them, that’s a solid cue to look at both the person and what they might symbolize in the psyche of th...

Jenny and I dig into some of the practical applications of things like CBD and functional mushrooms (think Lion’s Mane, Chaga, Turkey Tail, and others). A healthy mind and a healthy body absolutely go hand in hand. If you’re looking to elevate your sleep, cognition, or overall wellbeing, listen to this. Side note: This was recorded some time ago, but I was surprised to find out both Amazon and Ins...

This week, I wanted to talk about what sexual polarity is, how you can create sexual tension or sexual charge, and the logistics around that. Based on the research, the last year has really done a number on some people’s sex lives—maintaining sexual desire can obviously be tough in situations like lockdowns. Listen to this for more than a few straightforward ways to re-ignite that fire. Did you en...

Every part of our shadow has a lineage. From the way we manage anger to how we react when a friend betrays us. This week, I sit with an anonymous guest and help him break through the hard surface of his anger to discover where it came from; and now that he knows what's up, what to do next. I really encourage you to listen to the whole episode, because it is a hard and noble journey this man is tak...

Yes, you read that right: I’m interviewing my dad. As many of you know, I’ll be a dad myself soon, so I wanted to bring two generations of Beaton together. We dig into the highlights, expectations, and challenges of fatherhood, what the “first few days” were like, and just how life-changing the feeling of fatherhood can be. Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcas...

Acceptance is one of the more misunderstood, disrespected, and underestimated things in today’s culture. But when it comes to our well-being, it’s one of the most powerful practices we can cultivate. Yes, it’s also challenging. Even infuriating. It’s supposed 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 ea...

This was recorded in early February. I feel it's important to balance out the theoretical side of things and on-the-ground perspective, so I brought in Kris Coleman, a former CIA Officer and FBI Special Agent. We get into some practical and frank ideas around what we need to do to cultivate resiliency individually and as a community, combating misinformation (spoiler: always check your sources and...

I continue to be blown away by what people are discovering in The Shadow Course, which I released recently. The questions and insights people are bringing to the table are leaving me so grateful and excited. This week, someone brought up an amazing question on how the shadow affects relationships, and I wanted to do a bit of a deep dive on it: how the shadow shows up in relationships, how it actua...

What makes villians like Thanos and Killmonger so compelling? Is there a trend in how our culture looks at heroes? What's the modern idea of a hero even look like? I connected with Cinema Therapy over Zoom, and we nerd out on the intersection of psychology, film, and culture. We cover masculinity in movies and its history, what Marvel is doing right, Heath Ledger’s Joker versus Joaquin Phoenix’s,...

Seven pieces of honest, practical, and actionable advice for what to do after being cheated on, because—contrary to popular belief—the aftermath isn't always clear-cut. Being cheated on can be devastating, freeing, confronting, an incredible learning experience, and everything in between. Whatever it is, it always needs processing, and it always needs healing. If you've ever been cheated on, have...

In this ep, the brilliant LMFT Shadeen Francis and I explore sexual communication and intimacy: How to get better at it, like how to bridge sexual incompatibility, how to step into what it is we're actually craving, love in the time of COVID, the difference between fantasy and fetish, and of course, how to discuss all of this with your partner.  Shadeen Francis is a licensed psychotherapist, a med...

The title says it all. After getting a few questions from folks in the Shadow Course and some others on Insta, I wanted to break down coping mechanisms in multiple ways, because the concept can be extremely broad. For example, what’s the difference between defense mechanisms and coping mechanisms? What’s the difference between adaptive and maladaptive? And maybe most importantly, how do we set bou...

This is timely a episode; whether it’s physical, mental, or spiritual resiliency, part of building ourselves up in the face of the uncertainty and chaos around us is going to involve “embracing the suck”. In this episode, Brent and I dug into his life as a Navy SEAL, his new bestselling book, what embracing the suck really means, and the important role empathy plays in cultivating perseverance.  B...

Friends, we need to talk about discipline, but not in a clickbaity way. Discipline is way too often presented as this monolithic, punishing thing, and that’s an illusion. It’s also—especially these days—an endpoint. That’s also an illusion. Discipline is a daily practice and deepening the connection to your own self-worth and self-respect. Listen in. Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave...

In this ep, I sit down with acclaimed, New York-based artist Makoto Fujimura. Makoto is a fascinating man: someone who's perfectly balanced the "border stalking" (his words) nature of artists with a deep and abiding faith. We talk about how to mends trauma and end cultural divides, the nature of God, and the role of artists as healers and integrators.  Makoto Fujimura is a leading contemporary art...

It’s a simple question, but with a pretty uncomfortable answer for some of us. In this mini-ep, I look at what we actually need to do—to admit—as individuals and as a society to experience true freedom. 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 oth...

It’s difficult for me to describe how much I value Francis Weller and his work, and I wanted him on because of his expertise on grief, something that is—inevitably—a part of every human life. We dig into Western culture's obsession with "the Hero", where we truly find redemption and healing, and the inherent emptiness of individualism. Heavy  stuff, and incredibly powerful. This is also a part of...

After a great DM on Instagram and a heavy convo with Mike Campbell on his podcast, Everyday Legends , I wanted to riff on this idea a little more deeply. Tens of millions of men have put their masculinity into a dangerously codependent relationship with certain external institutions and narratives. Many of them do this without even questioning what they lose: the means for self-validation, self-le...

In this episode, a previous anon guest is joining me for a second time. Our previous session was powerful, and I wanted to have him on again to look at his long time struggles with body image, weight, and the relationship his father archetype has with all of it. This is a great opportunity to get a feel for what 1-on-1 shadow work is actually like, so I encourage you to listen in. For our first se...

Today I take a look at some of the initial and critical steps of shadow work. You probably know by now I’m a huge proponent of shadow work. For most of us, working on our inner darkness and negative emotions might seem. completely upside-down. So much of modern self-help ideology focus on keeping you “in the light”: feeling good no matter what and never actually dealing with the stuff that hurts a...

Welcome to 2021! This is a deep, compelling episode—yeah, I may be biased, but I swear it’s true! My incredible wife Vienna and I break down how we navigated this past year as individuals and as a couple. We use what our past year to reflect on making effective decisions in relationship, clinging to expectations, surrender, vulnerability, and what building real trustworthiness looks like.  Did you...

The last episode of the year, my friends. I recorded this while outside, so you’ll get some wind and nature sounds alongside. I take a look at the incredible poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling, facing your relationship to paradox, and some ideas on how to effectively recap and learn from this past (and intense) year. How did you meet the chaos that 2020 brought? Write it down, or better yet, let me know...