The Circle: The Queer Men's Embodiment Podcast

We often think of trauma as a single, defining event. But what if the real wound wasn’t one moment—it was a pattern? A long stretch of not feeling safe, loved, or even seen? In this episode, we sit down with John Young, a psychotherapist who specializes in Complex Trauma and Dissociative Identity Disorder. He’s also the founder of the Complex Trauma Initiative, which helps survivors access the car...

Craving connection is human. But when that craving turns compulsive, it can quietly shape how we show up in sex, love, and intimacy. In this episode, Tangle joins us to share his story—of navigating depression, seeking spiritual healing, and finding recovery in a sex and love-focused 12-step program. We talk about honesty, service, attention, and what it means to build intimacy that actually nouri...

Desire changes. And in long-term relationships, that shift can feel confusing or even shameful. In this episode, queer mindset coach and somatic practitioner Nathan Serrato joins us to explore why desire fades, how resentment often blocks intimacy, and what it takes to reconnect with ourselves and our partners over time.

What does it mean to truly sound like yourself? In this episode of The Circle , we’re joined by baritone and voice instructor Colin Levin—who has performed over 50 operatic roles—to explore how voice connects to breath, gender identity, and the stories we carry about how we should sound. We unpack gender-affirming voice work, vocal embodiment, and the healing journey of uncovering your authentic v...

It’s our first birthday! In this anniversary episode, Eric and Tim look back on 58 conversations about men’s work, embodiment, and personal growth—told through a queer lens and grounded in community. We share surprising messages from listeners who felt less alone, and reflect on moments that changed us: Jonathan Scott’s “diamonds in the surf” tribute to queer lineage; Chef Ava’s practice of “scann...

Many of us grew up absorbing quiet messages about who we’re allowed to be. Even after coming out, those messages can live on — shaping how we love, express, and even how we see ourselves. In this episode, we’re joined by therapist, author, and speaker Chris Tompkins ( Raising LGBTQ Allies ) for a conversation about internalized homophobia : how early shame becomes part of our identity, and how to...

The Warrior archetype is one of the most iconic—and misunderstood—expressions of masculine energy. It’s the part of us that acts with courage, protects what’s sacred, and stays disciplined in pursuit of something greater than ourselves. But when disconnected from heart and purpose, the Warrior can turn destructive—hurting others or collapsing into self-erasure. In this episode of The Circle , Eric...

In the final episode of our three-part Q&A series, we explore the often-overlooked topic of men’s intuition—what it is, how it works, and why it matters. Tim challenges the idea that intuition is gendered, reframing it as a universal human capacity rooted in embodied awareness. Together, we unpack how cultural conditioning teaches men to distrust their feelings, how gaslighting severs us from...

This week on The Circle, we go all in on the Magician archetype through a queer lens with guest Stan Rain, founder of the Naked Dojo . Together we explore the Magician’s gifts of creativity, imagination, and transformation—and the shadow expressions of the manipulator and the innocent one—through real stories and Internal Family Systems. We also step into modern wizardry with Stan’s AI co-facilita...

In part two of our three part Q&A series, we turn to two of the biggest questions our listeners ask: what does it mean to be a man? And what do we mean when we say queer men? Tim shares how his definition of manhood has evolved from fear and rigidity to a more expansive, skillful, and authentic engagement with life. Together, we explore how gender expectations shape our experience, how queerne...

What does it mean to truly nourish someone—body and soul? Chef Ava Malazian joins us to explore cooking as a sacred practice, where structure creates safety and play brings the meal to life. We talk about scanning the room with love (not fear), setting intentions for others and for ourselves, and how mastery lets the right-brain “dance” in the kitchen. From reiki-through-hands to grocery-store sca...

This is part one of our three-part Q&A series, where we answer the questions you’ve been sending since we launched The Circle. We start with the big one: what is embodiment, and why does it matter in men’s work? Tim unpacks embodiment as the practice of listening to the body’s wisdom—our inner dashboard of sensations, emotions, and signals. Eric connects the dots to mindfulness and asks how em...

Queer therapist Tom Bruett joins us to explore what it means to move from connection that’s just physical to intimacy that’s truly embodied. We unpack how early messages around fear, secrecy, and performance shape desire, and what becomes possible when we bring awareness back into the body.  Together we get practical: the “thumb out” signal for pausing when you’re overwhelmed, Dan Siegel’s ha...

Why is it that sometimes, even when care is offered freely, it doesn’t land? In this episode of The Circle , Eric and Tim unpack the messy, beautiful complexity of giving and receiving care. From family dynamics and love languages to roommates, ex-husbands, and Provincetown coffee shop connections, they explore why care often misses the mark—and what we can do to better recognize and receive it. T...

In this episode of The Circle, we explore asexuality and the many ways intimacy can thrive outside of sexual expression. Eric and Tim are joined by Hannah O’Rourke—a yoga teacher and early childhood educator—who shares her experience identifying as asexual and how it reshaped her understanding of romance, validation, and connection. Together, they unpack the difference between romantic and sexual...

In this episode of The Circle , we explore forgiveness not as a final destination, but as a living, breathing process. From unspoken resentments to painful memories of being let down, Eric and Tim share personal stories about parental wounds and what it means to carry the weight of hurt for years. This conversation unpacks: Why forgiveness isn’t the same as forgetting How resentment impacts our ne...

In this episode of The Circle , Eric and Tim are joined by Tim Neal, a men’s transformation coach and embodiment facilitator, to explore the power of parts work. Drawing from Internal Family Systems (IFS) and shadow work, Tim explains how the voices inside us, like the inner critic or perfectionist, are not problems to fix, but parts to understand, honor, and integrate. Through personal storytelli...

What’s the difference between truly belonging and just fitting in? In this raw and resonant episode of The Circle , Eric and Tim unpack the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways we abandon ourselves in order to be accepted—and what it takes to stop. They explore how social conditioning, internalized fear, and curated identities shape our choices around how we show up in community, especially in queer sp...

What if rest was the most dominant thing you could do? In this episode of the Circle, trauma-informed BDSM educator, licensed life coach, and former Dominatrix Ms. Elle X joins us to explore the hidden cost of leadership—and why so many men, Dominants, and space-holders burn out before they ever give themselves permission to stop.  We talk about the shame that makes rest feel dangerous, how i...

Urgency doesn’t have to mean rushing. In this episode of The Circle , Eric Bomyea and Timothy Bish explore urgency and embodiment , unpacking how to move quickly with purposeful action instead of reactive rushing. Drawing from personal stories—airport chaos, bartending mishaps, and even Tim’s professional dance training—they discuss how urgency impacts the nervous system , why it often feeds perfe...

What does it mean to feel free, connected, and authentic in queer spaces—without the crutch of alcohol or drugs?  In this episode of The Circle , Eric and Tim are joined by Dave Becker, founder of Sober Gay Sunday , to explore queer sobriety, nightlife, and what it means to connect without substances. Dave shares his personal story—from circuit parties and addiction to building a sober commun...

In this episode of The Circle , Eric and Tim explore how personal growth and spiritual practice can quietly slip into another form of hustle. Why do we sometimes treat healing like a to-do list? What happens when our breathwork, yoga, or journaling stops being supportive and starts becoming performative? Together, they unpack perfectionism, self-trust, and the radical permission to just be . From...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Amir Khalighi, we move from uncovering the father wound to exploring what it takes to heal it. Why are so many men with this wound quick to judge—others, themselves, and especially other men? How does hypervigilance become a way of life? And what does it take to re-father ourselves and trust again? We talk about the lone wolf archetype, how judgment protects what...

In this special two part episode of The Circle , we’re joined by our mentor and teacher Amir Khalighi—founder of Embodied Masculine —for a deep conversation about the father wound, masculine lineage, and the path to healing. Together, we explore how emotional or physical absence from a father figure can shape a man’s identity, disrupt his relationship with power, and perpetuate patterns of codepen...

In this episode of The Circle Podcast , Eric and Tim go all in on the many dimensions of trust —from how we cultivate trust within ourselves to how we navigate the messy terrain of trusting others, institutions, and even the universe. With personal stories, embodiment reflections, and real-world examples from breathwork, therapy, and men’s work, they unpack why trust is so deeply linked to safety,...