Men in the Arena with Matt Kovatchis & MD

Guest Teddy Sourlis joins the Men in the Arena to discuss his story and the founding of Men's X Mental, the various stigmas around men's mental health and specifically for athletes, and why it's okay to not be okay. Teddy is the Founder & CEO of Men's X Mental, a mental health non-profit organization striving to break down the barriers & stigmas surrounding the MENtal healt...

Guest Jaz Jackson joins the Men in the Arena to discuss her multiple battles with depression and anxiety, being raised in poverty by a single mother, how she was able to lose 50 pounds (twice!), and her proudest accomplishment associated with being a mother herself. Jaz is the Founder & CEO of JSculpt, a women's fitness apparel brand, and Sculpt42, a six-week fat-loss program. She is also...

Guests Gaby Ullola & Meadow Monaghan join the Men in the Arena to discuss their journey with mental health, practicing self-love, inner-child work, and how we as humans can better support each other. Gaby & Meadow are co-hosts of Thoughtsmayvary, a mental health focused podcast that encourages personal development with the hope of making the process less isolating and more genuine. Episode...

Dr. Chris Lee joins the Men in the Arena to talk about his mental health journey including the loss of his father to suicide, becoming a dad / being a single father, how his purpose has evolved, and how to develop the ability to self-regulate and become more emotionally intelligent. Chris is a sought-after brain focused speaker who brings data-driven mental wellness and high-performance strategies...

Guest Alex Bennett joins the Men in the Arena to discuss her fearless approach to life, the challenges associated with being a public figure, dealing with hate comments, and her experience with therapy. Alex is a social media influencer & co-host of Mean Girl Pod, which features honest conversations about sex, friendship, struggles, moving to a new city, and growing up. Instagram: @justalexben...

Guest Kute Blackson joins the Men in the Arena to discuss his journey of self-discovery, the loss of his mother, his one regret in life, and why we often feel unworthy of love and lie to ourselves. Kute is a national best-selling author, inspirational speaker, and transformational teacher. He is a member of the Transformational Leadership Council, a select group of one hundred of the world’s forem...

Guest Joey Thurman joins the Men in the Arena to discuss his life-long battle with depression, building healthy habits, and the social pressures associated with being an online influencer. Joey is a health, fitness, nutrition expert, and television contributor/host. He is the author of two books including his newest best selling book, “The Minimum Method, The Least You Can do to be a Stronger, Hea...

Guest Lewis Huckstep joins the Men in the Arena to discuss being diagnosed with Aspergers / ADHD and how it impacted his mental health & relationships, being financially successful yet internally miserable, viewing trauma as a gift, and how he's able to generate lasting positive change in his clients. Lewis is an entrepreneur and online Mindset & Leadership Coach. He also the founder a...

Guest Lex Moschakis joins the Men in the Arena to discuss her mental health struggles as a teenager, building self-confidence, and her mission to normalize teaching self-care skills in schools in the same way we learn about math and science. Lex is the founder of Live Big, an organization dedicated to helping girls build confidence, resilience, and self-leadership skills in schools across the U.S....

Dr Kenneth Nole joins the Men in the Arena to discuss his childhood & growing up in the south side of Chicago, living life authentically, and his mental health journey. Kenneth is currently a Program Manager with Hope Chicago, who's work focuses on removing the financial and systemic barriers that limit access and completion of higher education for first-generation college students and the...

Kenzie Vance joins the Men in the Arena to discuss the challenges associated with being a public influencer, overcoming body insecurity, and dealing with the recent loss of her best friend. Kenzie is an online influencer promoting health & fitness, and is also a bodybuilding / lifestyle coach for women across the country. Online Website: https://www.kenzievancefit.com/ YouTube Channel: https:/...

Guest Will Plagakis joins the Men in the Arena to discuss the sudden loss of his father, the associated grieving process, and how its shaped him into the man he is today. In late 2021, Will lost his father, Stalios, to suicide, who had been enduring decades of pain and mental distress caused by fibromyalgia. Will just finished his psychology honours program in Australia, and hopes to build a caree...

Guest Christina Weber joins the Men in the Arena to talk about the definition of love and how it might look different for different people, relationships, and common themes / trends she is seeing in the dating scene today. Christina is a relationship coach, intuitive matchmaker, and the founder of WeDeepen, a network offering best-in-class social & transformational experiences for people who w...

Guest Sarah Rose joins the Men in the Arena to discuss her 10 month battle with Ewings sarcoma, a pediatric strain of cancer. Sarah discussed the highs and lows during her fight including an identity crisis, how it impacted her relationships and mental health, and how her outlook and appreciation for life has evolved. Sarah was diagnosed with Ewings sarcoma in the Fall of 2020 after suffering from...

Guest Hector Regalado joins the Men in the Arena to discuss his holistic approach to personal training with a focus on both physical and mental health, his experience with therapy and its impact on his emotional intelligence, and the importance of walking through life authentically. Hector is a CPT, Mobility Specialist, and Pro Boxing Coach who has trained numerous celebrities. He also is the owne...

Guest Amy Morin joins the Men in the Arena to discuss how we can increase our self-awareness, people-pleasing tendencies, the topic of venting, and how to make the best decisions by balancing logic with emotion. Amy is a Psychotherapist and best-selling author of five books, most notably 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do. She is the host of the podcast Mentally Stronger with Therapist...

Guest Heather Owen joins the Men in the Arena to discuss leaving the stability of her full time job to pursue her passion and lead One Tail at a Time ("OTAT"), embracing and sitting with discomfort, as well as some of the trials and tribulations associated with the non-profit world. Heather is the Board President, Executive Director, and Co-Founder of One Tail at a Time, a Chicago non-pr...

Guest Marcel Matuszek joins the Men in the Arena to discuss his new e-book, The Lifted Life: Holistic Approach to Life, Lifting, and Nutrition, his mental health journey, and the importance of health and wellness in all facets of life. Marcel is an Analyst at Tegus, an institutional investment research platform, as well as a model, author, and fitness enthusiast.

Guest Neal Karski joins the Men in the Arena to discuss self-transformation from being in the club promoting / partying scene to discovering his purpose of serving others, founding a non-profit focused on serving the homeless population in Chicago, and his mental health journey towards self-love and happiness. Neal is currently the CEO of Patient Engine, as well as the President and Founder of Str...

Guest Brian Powers joins the Men in the Arena to discuss his mental health journey and battling with depression, self-care tips, and his career transition from being a well-known songwriter and musician to Executive Director of a non-profit. Brian is currently the Executive Director of Neighborhood Hands, a San Jose non-profit startup that connects unhoused individuals with the neighborhood. Brian...

Guest Leah Marshall joins the Men in the Arena to discuss relationships, the dangers and signs of co-dependency, and turning what was once a tough break-up into self-discovery and self-love. Leah is the founder and leader of the Esther Perel Discussion Group on Facebook, a community of approximately 16,000 members from across the globe who regularly discuss relationships, intimacy, sex, desire, an...

Guest and veteran Jon Sanchez joins the Men in the Arena to discuss leadership skills developed during his time in the Navy, the importance of facing and embracing failure, and the challenges of leaving Corporate America to fulfill his purpose and start his own leadership coaching business. Jon Sanchez is the founder and CEO of Team Performance Institute ("TPI"), a business leadership an...

Guest Christian Gonzales joins the Men in the Arena to discuss his mental health journey, self-care tips, and the positive impact therapy has had on his relationship with himself and others. Christian is a mixed media designed and artist who was born in Colombia and currently resides in Los Angeles. He focuses much of his creative efforts on spreading the word about mental health issues and has co...

Guest Shiloh Capone joins the Men in the Arena to discuss the intersection of mental health and homelessness, the many ways people can support the homeless population with things other than money, as well as common misconceptions around the unhoused. Shiloh is the Executive Director of Street Samaritans, a non-profit organization in Chicago focused on intervening in the cycle of homelessness and p...

Guest Madeline Kivett joins the Men in the Arena to discuss her mental health journey, including dealing with anxiety and suicidal ideation. She talks about her purpose to serve others and help them with their own mental health struggles, and how adults and parents can better support their kids / teenagers. Madeline just finished her freshman year of college at Clemson University. She is a mental...