Modern Masculinity

Dr. Kelly Flanagan returns to Modern Masculinity to share the real evolution of his work — because awareness alone wasn't enough. After years of studying emotional patterns, Kelly hit a breaking point (literally — he broke his collarbone on an angry bike ride) that launched a five-year journey into what he now calls the Peaceful Pivot Process: a 9-step framework built around three phases — Get Cal...

In this raw and deeply practical conversation, Hector welcomes Andrew Anderson back to Modern Masculinity for a powerful discussion on worthiness, emotional healing, fatherhood, and what it really means for a man to receive love. Together, they unpack how childhood beliefs quietly shape adult identity, why so many men intellectualize growth without embodying it, and how deep inner work can change...

John returns to the Modern Masculinity Podcast to share what's changed since becoming a father again at 42 — and what it's taught him about longevity, presence, and the moments we don't realize are the last ones. He and Hector dive deep into the realities of health span versus lifespan, why most men are unknowingly laying the groundwork for metabolic disease in their 30s and 40s, and why the fitne...

In this conversation, GS Youngblood returns to break down a practical “cheat code” for better relationships: get grounded, lead with clarity, and create emotional safety. GS explains why many men unconsciously repeat childhood patterns—especially helplessness and people-pleasing—and how that shows up as conflict avoidance, unmet needs, and corrosive resentment. Together, GS and Hector explore boun...

Hector sits down with Ben Brown to unpack why so many men feel stretched thin in midlife, and why “being busy” is not the real issue. Ben explains how modern life overwhelms human biology through constant stimulation, easy access to highly processed food, and chronic stress, and why sustainable health is less about perfect plans and more about ownership, identity, and repeatable non-negotiables. T...

Adam Boyd opens up about his transformation from 640 pounds to losing 158 pounds in 58 weeks, sharing the brutal reality of food addiction, alcoholism, and gambling that nearly cost him his life. In this raw conversation, Adam discusses growing up in chaos, living in fear, and the moment he realized no one was coming to save him. He breaks down his decision to use GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, t...

Jason Heinritz shares his journey from being a self-described workaholic chasing accolades to finding peace through faith and intentional living. Jason opens up about his struggle with numbing himself with weed and alcohol after long workdays, the transformative moment when he took a demotion and got rebaptized, and how fasting and prayer became essential tools for navigating major life decisions—...

Hector sits down with Donovan Owens, founder of the Life is REPS community, for a tactical deep-dive into what it truly means to master modern masculinity. Donovan shares his raw journey from rebellious teenager to sitting on the edge of his bed with a pistol, contemplating suicide—and the spiritual moment that changed everything. They explore Donovan's REPS Operating System (Repetitive Excellence...

Jake Kennington is a structural engineer, children's book author, and founder of Actively Human who discovered that achieving his career goals left him feeling more lost than ever. After moving his family 800 miles for what he thought was his dream job, Jake realized his priorities had fundamentally changed—but he was still living a previous version of his life. In this conversation, Jake shares h...

Marc Azoulay, founder of Men's Therapy Online, breaks down why traditional therapy often misses the mark for men and what actually works. Marc shares his journey from impatient entrepreneur to new father, exploring how men can harness their drive without burning out. We dive deep into the millennial man's dilemma—raised to reject toxic masculinity but ending up overly feminized and lacking directi...

Hector sits down with Matt Myers of Nerd Fitness for what turns into an impromptu coaching session about the real challenges of staying fit as a busy dad and business owner. Matt breaks down why the fitness industry's "just be disciplined" approach fails most people, revealing that success isn't about motivation—it's about clarity, support, and learning to adjust your approach as life changes. The...

Gio Bartolomeo shares his transformative journey from being a hustling entrepreneur stuck in his head to discovering profound spiritual awakening through breathwork and plant medicine. After years of chasing success and feeling unfulfilled, a death experience during an ayahuasca ceremony showed him there was more to life than material achievement. Through breathwork, particularly after training wi...

In this episode, Larry Pruett shares hard-won wisdom from 36 years of marriage and 21 years as an entrepreneur. After scaling an e-commerce business to high six figures and now coaching married couples, Larry reveals the critical missing piece in most men's lives: meaningful relationships with other men. He breaks down the fundamental communication differences between men and women, explains why g...

Dr. Barry Davis spent 38 years as a college baseball coach before stepping away to write, speak, and consult on leadership and emotional intelligence. In this episode, he opens up about the personal challenges of transitioning from "coach" to a new identity, the evolution of young athletes over four decades, and how his own coaching style transformed from authoritative to emotionally intelligent....

In this deep dive with fitness expert and longtime friend Nate Palmer, we explore the cutting edge of men's health optimization—from peptides and GLP-1s to the fundamentals that most guys ignore. Nate shares his personal journey struggling with injury and mental health while being unable to train, revealing how breath work became his new coping mechanism when physical expression wasn't available....

Alex Charfen returns to share his transformative journey from business optimization to internal healing work. After coaching thousands of entrepreneurs to over $100 million in revenue, Alex took a sabbatical to focus on sexual shadow work, tantric practices, and processing childhood trauma. In this raw conversation, he reveals why men are systematically traumatizing themselves through pornography,...

In this raw and unapologetic conversation, first-generation attorney Tyler Vance challenges everything you've been told about modern masculinity. From walking on the car side of the sidewalk to refusing to let political correctness dilute what it means to be a man, Tyler brings an old-school mentality to a generation that desperately needs it. He breaks down why the term "toxic masculinity" has be...

Cletus Coffey, former professional athlete turned men's coach, shares his journey from hiding behind athletic identity to discovering authentic masculinity. After a four-year career in the Canadian Football League and Arena Football League, Cletus faced an identity crisis when his career ended at 28. Through two divorces, single fatherhood with three children, and toxic relationships, he learned t...

Don Ross opens up about his journey from porn addiction and shame to helping men build authentic friendships and discover true manhood. Don shares how confession and vulnerability became the gateway to his freedom, and why modern society has made it nearly impossible for men to connect meaningfully with other men. He introduces his framework of the Five Marks of Manhood—strength, courage, skill, h...

John Ulsh was given a 3% chance of survival after a horrific car accident 17 years ago left him paralyzed, shattered his pelvis, broke his back, and forced him to endure over 45 surgeries. Told he'd never walk again, John defied the odds when his 10-year-old daughter told him she missed her "old daddy." What followed was an extraordinary journey of physical and mental transformation—from 90 millig...

In this raw and unfiltered conversation, host Hector Santiesteban sits down with Rich D’Ambrosio to unpack the evolving definition of masculinity. From divorce, fatherhood, and cultural conditioning to capitalism’s influence on male identity, they dive deep into how men can reclaim agency, embrace mindfulness, and move beyond outdated scripts of “provider” and “buffoon.” Together, they explore the...

Hector sits down with leadership coach and Dad Nation host Mitchell Osmond to explore what it truly means to be a present, purpose-driven man in today’s world. Together, they unpack the myth of work-life “balance,” discuss how to integrate leadership at home and in business, and reflect on how modern men can build a meaningful legacy through alignment, confidence, and intentional fatherhood. Mitch...

In this raw and soul-stirring conversation, certified life transformation coach and spiritual leader Andrew L. Anderson joins Hector to explore what it truly means to be a man in today's world. From taking in children whose parents are incarcerated to rewriting deep-rooted beliefs formed in childhood, Andrew opens up about his own journey from performance-driven living to heart-centered masculinit...

Hector sits down with Pablo—music producer and somatic breathwork practitioner—for a vulnerable conversation about navigating purpose, presence, and the paradox of modern masculinity. As a single man looking ahead to fatherhood, Pablo questions how much of his time should be spent on personal development versus being of service to others. Together, they explore the tension between self-work and co...

Hector sits down with Chris Gray — a direct response marketing strategist and introspective father — to unpack the daily dance between ego, awareness, and authentic leadership. Chris shares how years of meditation and mindfulness have reshaped his approach to business, family, and self-acceptance. Using vivid analogies — from the ego as a GPS to a well-meaning but overbearing parent — he offers pr...