Mojo for the Modern Man

Alexander Inchbald brings us into his world via British private school shorts and glorious handfuls of paint.  His dream, from the moment of dipping into that paint, was to live his life as an artist. The bubble of his dream was burst when, as a teen, his father pulled him aside and told him that he’d “never make a living as an artist,” beginning a decline into depression and partying, resulting i...

Act 2 opens with Robert Raymond Riopel reflecting on the story of how the biography of Steve Jobs came to be written, and key data the author revealed that shed light on the path of Robert’s own development.  Robert discusses practices of setting ego aside when he and his team deliver and receive feedback, leveraging empathy, compassion and “brutal, honest truth” at the same time.  Digging deep in...

Robert Raymond Riopel opens Act 1 laying out the dimensions of “the box” he grew up with, including the limited options of “work for the post office or in the oil fields” to provide for your family.  At 21, he found himself the “old guy,” delivering pizzas seven days a week. Faced with losing their gig, Robert and his wife, Roxanne, worked though months of challenges – including having very little...

Jason Ighani opens Act 2 with a look at “doing the work ourselves,” and having deep, honest conversations with his father.  “It was one of those moments I heard my dad saying something that I had been waiting my entire life to hear him say.”  Aside from being an important reconciliation, it opened the door for Jason and his father to reframe their relationship.  We dig into Jason’s creative partne...

Born in Baltimore, Jason Ighani ’s family followed his mother’s dreams, moving to Costa Rica when he was 10 years old.  Shortly thereafter, his father discovered his own calling - working and teaching in an indigenous community, where his folks built a school and lived for 20 years.  “It was extremely bizarre…  I didn’t grow up with anybody having a similar experience…”  Jason reflects on the powe...

Act 2 opens with Iggy Domagalski sharing about the sale of his company, Tundra Process Solutions, to Wajax, the company where he is now President and CEO. Iggy quickly touches the phenomenon of “quitan’stayed”, a behavior he discovered existed (and someone even created a name for) in the lower levels of an organization he worked for early in his career.  Iggy shares “My number 1, biggest passion i...

With a hefty early infusion of entrepreneurship already running through his veins a young age, Iggy Domagalski opens Act 1 reflecting on the formidable influence of his expat parents. Iggy shares some of the highs and lows he witnessed as his folks navigated, among other things, a dishwasher full of cash and suboptimal working conditions.  In contrast, he points to the grace and gratitude his folk...

Act 2 opens with Matt Sinkovitz discussing being called – and answering that call – to his work.  (At the time of recording, Matt was weeks away from wrapping up a year-long ministerial internship at a local hospital.) Matt continues with his move into the realm of men’s recovery from porn addiction, based on recognition of his own experiences of going down the rabbit-hole and, with help and suppo...

An ordained Buddhist Minister, Matt Sinkovitz shares tales of his Pentecostal upbringing – including a trip to China with his mother to do missionary work as a 13-year-old.  He speaks about finding the courage to ask the “bigger” questions that led to a college philosophy class that, in turn, eventually led to discovering his own spiritual path. Matt describes how love serves to connect he and his...

In this first new episode of 2022, my friend, colleague, and brother-in-good-work Rick Tamlyn turns the table and interviews me! Who knew...? In this departure from our regularly scheduled programming, Rick asks me to discuss the whys and wherefores of my work with men.  We dig into the general state of manhood and look at our innate multi-dimensionality. Rick and I put several of our inner dimens...

In Act 2 Travis Stock discusses the natural tendency to further isolate and “go at it alone” when emotional pain is present – and the importance of asking for help.  His story continues with a move following his mentor to a ranch California where he was “thrown to the wolves” in some of the best possible and most challenging ways.  Travis shares his journey to the work he loves best as a Coach, Le...

The child of a dental assistant and construction worker who were high school sweethearts, Travis Stock grew up in Tucson, Arizona.  His family were members of a United Methodist reconciling congregation in which same-sex ceremonies, well before Marriage Equality became the law of the land, were not unusual occurrences. Even with that high level of community acceptance of LGBTQ people, Travis refle...

Bryan Kramer kicks off Act 2 by dishing on his discoveries at the intersection of pizzas, cottonmouth, and “unexpected surprise and delight.” He shares stories of meeting his wife, founding his first company, and 18 years of international travel. While home for a short stint, Bryan’s son, an outspoken 11-year-old, pulled him aside and let him know that on his current trajectory, it was unlikely Br...

Born and raised in San Jose, California, Bryan Kramer grew up playing in the fields and orchards of the land that would become Silicon Valley.  He reflects on his early days of saying goodbye to his parents in the morning, knowing that, because “the outdoors was our internet,” he and his friends wouldn’t be home until dark.  Bryan tells of the gentle, firm push his parents gave him to pursue extra...

  Michael Naylor begins Act 2 by revealing his personal introduction to the Enneagram following what he describes as his “Oprah-worthy” divorce. Quoting from one of his teachers with his signature, self-effacing humor – “You’re a fool and I’m a fool, so let’s just relax” – he shares his path to men’s work and busts the persistent myth that it’s even possible to go it alone in one’s healing journey...

A quiet, shy and sensitive kid, Michael Naylor used sports to navigate the world of his younger days, finding his way via baseball to a full-ride scholarship at Oregon State University.  While competitive, Michael shares how being a “tenderhearted athlete” contributed to his team performance. He discusses how being the default “family psychologist” as a young kid got old quickly, and later, how th...

Act 2 opens with Rodney Agnant sharing the gift of having older siblings who went to bat for him, marking the beginning of the end of “the game” he brought us into in Act 1.  He points to compassion, language, artmaking and the way they all weave into tapestries of identity – with a big bucket and moment of clarity from Jay-Z. Rodney invites us to ask incredibly important questions about human bei...

Hailing from “Brooklyn… East Flatbush, pre-gentrification!” Rodney Agnant launches by sharing an early conversation with his father, in which he was told – at the age of 7 – that as a “Black boy,” more than a few cards were stacked against his chances of success and there were adjustments to be made.  Hence, "the game" of finding success, while finding one's self begins. Rodney goes...

In Act 2 Nico Boesten takes us to a significant, life-changing moment: that of his wife Ingrid’s cancer diagnosis.  While he shares that he pulled back emotionally, he also highlights the mutually clearheaded, life-affirming choices made as a couple facing terminal illness and the inevitability of loss. Nico’s is a story of grace, faith, acceptance – and beautifully honoring life itself, inclusive...

Nico Boesten , musician, producer, coach, father and so much more, describes the tender lessons and influences provided by the brilliant light and wounded darkness contained in the very human depths of his own father.  He shares a pivotal moment of a line crossed, an apology sincerely tendered, and a determination to do better – touching on generational healing. Then there was a trip to Maui and t...

Act 2 opens with Neil Edwards sharing about wrestling with identities as part of finding his footing as a university student.  He discusses how, newly arrived in the US, his unfamiliarity with the American Black experience made for some eye-opening discoveries. Neil reflects on the body’s role in providing information, taking a moment to highlight his experience as a Black man before riffing on br...

In act 1, Neil Edwards tells of growing up on the island of New Providence, The Bahamas, where he enjoyed the freedom to roam, explore, learn and “just be.” Neil shares the story of competing in the CARIFTA Games as a winning junior athlete, the rich, moving experience of representing his country and, in his moments on the podium, having awareness and consciousness “present themselves” to him. He...

Act 2 opens with Jamie Robins   responding to a question about men and their self-imposed prison cells.  He plunges into vulnerability and discusses men coming together and opening to emotional experience which, he accurately points out, “they are gagging for.” He shares a brilliant, simple model through which men can begin to deepen their connection to one another - and to practice listening with...

Jamie Robins grew up with working class roots, learning that the mark of a successful man was his capacity to bust their knuckles working hard.  His calling, though, was to break from the traditional path and head in a different direction. With his father’s blessing, Jamie - after a couple years of hard partying and going to a potentially addictive, dangerous edge - went off to university to study...

Act 2 begins with Charles Sue-Wah-Sing sharing the lessons of fatherhood and manhood that he received from “Uncle Mike”, an older man he connected with through his involvement in one of many men's groups. As Charles digs into what happens when men come together with open hearts and a willingness to connect, he tells the story of bringing his then 6-year-old son into a circle of men – and the...