Mantalks Podcast: Purpose | Legacy | Relationships | Self Mastery | Business

Talking points: biology, nervous system, burnout, mindset, anger I've said a number of times on the show that people with regulated nervous systems are going to be extremely well-equipped for the coming days. To that end, I wanted to bring dysregulation expert Dr. Linnea on to show how important—and how possible—it is be grounded, regulated, and flexible in our responses to life. If you're chronically stressed, THIS is the episode to listen to. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:56)- Why is learning about nervous system dysregulation so important? (00:11:09) - What the ultimate core function of the nervous system really is (00:21:08) - The intelligence of anger (00:25:30) - How Dr. Linnea helps people identify and move through their anger (00:33:32) - How much are nervous system issues derived from our parents? (00:37:20) - On children, boundary testing, and how a little bit of adversity is actually beneficial (00:43:35) - What’s more important: developing sensitivity to your current nervous system or understanding

Talking points: attachment, mindset, relationships, psychology The last “A Man’s Guide” was a big hit. I had a feeling it would be, but the response still surprised me! Next up, a serious breakdown of avoidant attachment. Here's the definition, where it comes from, the signs, and tips for moving away from it in a relationship. This is a great episode to listen to with your partner. Take notes, discuss, and see what comes up! Lastly, thank you to everyone who reached out with comments, questions, ideas, and gratitude. I love doing these longer-form presentations; it means I get to nerd out and really lay things down. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:56)- Defining secure attachment versus avoidant (00:06:51) - Attachment styles don’t mean you’re broken or diseased in some way (00:08:20) - What an avoidant attachment style ultimately is, where it comes from, and one major type many men embody (00:15:12) - One major origin point of avoidant attachment: emotional distance or unavailability (00:23:59) - Another major o

Talking points: childhood, trauma, foster care, relationships We all know that poverty can have a massive impact on a child's future well-being, sense of self, attachment style, and more. Foster children face equally (if not more) significant challenges. Rob Henderson, author of the incredibly powerful book, "Troubled", explains some of what happens. Team, I strongly recommend this one if you're interested at all in childhood trauma, how attachment develops, the apparent demonization of young men, absent fathers, and of course, Rob's book. Seriously could NOT stop reading it. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:06:54)- How Rob approached writing such a profound book—and why (00:14:27) - What’s the foster-care system like in America? (00:23:01) - How does the foster-care system shape a child’s perspective on relationships? (00:36:01) - How Rob found a sense of belonging (00:39:23) - How did Rob repair or build relationships with men? (00:46:06) - Rob’s take on how absent fathers impact children (00:51:33) - On “Young Mal

Talking points: mindset, sabotage It's not easy, I know. We all do it, and we all wonder why. But there's a way forward—and it's simpler than you think, my friends. Listen in. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:12)- What people do immediately after sabotaging, why it’s NOT effective, and what to do instead (00:06:12) - Practical steps to move beyond self-sabotage (00:10:49) - If there’s one thing to take away from this *** Build brotherhood in person. Join a Men's Weekend Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/ Check out some free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship Build brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance.  Enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the tools

Talking points: zen, meditation, mindfulness, psychedelics, mindset I'm one of those people who hated sitting down and meditating, even after a few years of trying to practice. It's now something I do nearly every day, and it grounds me in ways I can't explain. This is a pretty common story, especially among men I've worked with, so I brought Henry Shukman back on the show to dig into what novice meditators get wrong, what some good starter methods are, and really: what IS thought, anyway? Listen in for a great look at the start and "end" goal of mindfulness, and Henry's infectious enthusiasm for this powerful practice. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:47)- Do men and women have different struggles with meditation? (00:08:35) - Why do meditation and mindfulness draw more women than men? (00:18:45) - What are the initial resistance points when people start a meditation practice? (00:25:03) - What IS thinking? (00:31:57) - But what’s the actual goal of mindfulness, and how do you get there? (00:38:56) - The power

Talking points: politics, culture Recent data seems to show young men skewing more and more conservative and women more progressive. Why? Well, to my eyes, there's one major factor and a few others that are generating this shift. Listen in. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:21) - What factors into this? (00:04:42) - What happens for men in some progressive circles (00:06:40) - And what happens for men in conservative circles (00:09:26) - Other reasons impacting this shift (00:13:38) - We’ve attached gender roles to political ideologies *** Build brotherhood in person. Join a Men's Weekend Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/ Check out some free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship Build brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance.  Enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or

Talking points: relationships, mindfulness, marriage, logic, social media Maybe you’ve heard me say this before, but the modern dating scene seems, well, insane. Case Kenny sat down for a great, insightful convo on why that's a thing, from the expectations social media feeds us, to the meaning of marriage to how AI is going to mess with all of it—or not. Listen in and share this ep if you want honest thoughts and some straightforward tips on navigating modern relationships! (00:00:00) - Intro (00:04:34)- Why are women worried about being “too much”? (00:13:43) - What are guys actually trying to communicate to women who feel they’re “too much”? (00:17:01) - On relational conflict, solving it, and how social media doesn’t do you any favours (00:22:10) - On social media, intimacy, independence, and “settling down” (00:33:10) - Case’s take on declining marriage rates (00:39:01) - Case’s great definition of mindfulness, and mindfulness in the context of relationships (00:49:58) - How can men use mindfulness to

Talking points: relationship, mindset, psychology This is a big one, dear listener. This is a slightly new format for the series; specific topics I'll do a deeper dive on, centering on how you as a man can better understand them, better work through them, and better help others through as well. First up? Codependency. If you've got a specific topic you'd like me to cover, hit me up on Instagram @mantalks! (00:00:00) - Intro (00:04:11) - What is codependency? (00:08:30) - One the hallmark indicators you’re in a codependent relationship (00:10:43) - Major causes of codependency: the peacekeeper, abuse, emotional unavailability, and the caretaker (00:30:24) - The tale of Johnny Niceguy (00:35:54) - The signs of a codependent relationship (00:38:59) - Seven questions to ask yourself (00:40:47) - Ways to actually move OUT of codependency, plus one that guys generally don’t like (00:49:48) - Perfection is a fuel for codependency *** Want a more intense, in-person experience? Join a Men's Weekend Pick up my book

Talking points: hormones, testosterone, environment, fitness Is there a testosterone crisis? From the headlines I've read it sure seems like it. But what's going on, where is it coming from, and what can you do naturally to stay healthy? I sat down with Lucas Aoun to cover all of these things and more. Dig into this episode for a brilliant intro to optimizing hormone levels—particularly testosterone—and knowledge on how to avoid hormone disruptors. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:10) - What’s happening to men’s hormone levels, the symptoms, and what testosterone is responsible for (00:09:41) - On cortisol, testosterone, and key building blocks (00:16:26) - Outside of stress, what are some things negatively impacting test levels? (00:22:07) - What about cardio or fasting? (00:31:33) - Naturally optimizing testosterone with diet and sleep (00:40:47) - Lucas’ take on TRT and the consequences (00:45:06) - On tongkat ali, fadogia, shilajit, and other supplements (00:56:44) - Lucas’ thoughts on creatine Connect with L

Talking points: collaboration, friendship, masculinity Men, few things are more powerful, fulfilling, and expansive than this, so guard it with your life. It took me way too long to learn and understand, and many people diminish or degrade its importance. Listen in. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:53) - Men are isolated and less collaborative than ever before, and we miss out on important things (00:05:06) - Without male collaboration, our society would cease to exist (00:06:40) - What I’ve learned over the last decade about male friendships—and male isolation (00:10:02) - Maybe you yourself are one of those men who could use more friendships (00:11:34) - We’ve got to protect this (00:13:16) - Things you can do to foster male collaboration Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/ Check out some free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship Build brotherhood with a powerfu

Talking points: evolution, psychology, relationships, sexuality The field of evolutionary psychology has been on my mind a lot lately, but it can be hard to separate the real science from the stuff with an agenda. To that end, I sat down with David C. Geary to dig into the basics, and how even a little knowledge about things like sexual dimorphism and intrasexual aggression can bring a better understanding to modern relationships. Listen to this one if you want a solid intro to the existence and effects evolution might have on selecting a partner, friendships, overall culture, and more. (00:00:00) - Intro, defining evolutionary psychology, and what it has to offer in the context of modern relationships (00:04:59) - The main pillars of sexual selection (00:09:01) - Describing human sexual dimorphism, brain differences, and possible evolutionary benefits  (00:21:07) - Why boys tend to be more interested in how objects work in space (00:28:22) - Why would men have evolved a larger lung capacity?  (00:30:38) - We

Talking points: mindset, relationships The biggest video I launched in 2023 is called "De-Sexualizing My Brain Changed My Life". Naturally, I've gotten a lot of followup comments and questions about what my life has looked like since I started that process. TL;DR: it's a good thing. Here's why. (00:00:00) - Intro and noting some of the comments that have been made (00:01:26) - This isn’t about becoming a monk, it’s about having better control and influence (00:04:58) - Remember, social media is there to grab your attention. It’ll use sex for that (00:06:52) - I am WAY less stressed—and for one significant reason (00:08:59) - I have much, much cleaner conversations with women AND it reinforces the relationship I’m in (00:11:07) - It’s led to the woman that I’m with feeling safer Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/ Check out some free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Re

Talking points: porn, masculinity, culture, redpill, relationships, dating, anxiety, mental health, loneliness Every January, we get a spike of newcomers to the podcast, and this year I decided to give them a warm welcome by compiling some of the hardest-hitting and most popular episodes of the year. If you're new to the show, dig in and see what convos mattered most to the community. If you're a longtime listener, now may be the chance to catch something you missed! (00:00:00) - Stirling Cooper on how porn impacts a man in the bedroom (00:04:46) - Advice for talking to your son about porn (00:10:43) - Scott Galloway on how the conversation around men is shifting, and why (00:13:21) - The knock-on effects of what men are struggling with (00:10:26) - Again, NOT saying this is wrong, but what are we creating further down the line? (00:11:40) - You can already see some consequences in the data (00:19:13) - A new definition of masculinity (00:26:42) - Scott on why guys like Andrew Tate are so popular (00:31:21)

Talking points: relationships, culture Let me start off by making one thing clear: this isn't problematic. But some other things are happening in tandem that I haven't heard any major outlet talk about. That itself is an issue. Listen in. (00:00:00) - Intro and stats(00:01:55) - What I find fascinating(00:03:39) - This is something we ALL should be having dialogue about(00:07:28) - Why authentic equality is really important(00:10:26) - Again, NOT saying this is wrong, but what are we creating further down the line?(00:11:40) - You can already see some consequences in the data Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/ Check out some free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship Build brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance.  Enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or P

Talking points: hormones, testosterone, fertility, health, men's health Note: we had some audio troubles with this one! Welcome to 2024, team. We're kicking it off a bit intense with the podcast. This week, a look at what the **** is going on with hormones. The science behind it all is complicated, but fertility markers across the board are dropping. Why? I sat down with Layne Kilpatrick to get some info. This is a solid ep to check out if you're wondering what hormones (especially testosterone) are all about, and want some solid ways to clear away endocrine disruptors out of your home. (00:00:00) - Intro and Layne’s defining moment(00:02:24) - What the hell is happening with men’s testosterone rates?(00:08:02) - The role testosterone plays in child development(00:16:36) - How microplastics, phthalates, and other chemicals affect development(00:21:00) - What can newly pregnant couples do besides stop drinking from plastic water bottles?(00:24:32) - More on hormone disruptors and testosterone (00:28:35) - O

At a men's weekend, one of the guests asked me to give a simple breakdown of what I did to climb out of the wreckage of my life. While life is always more complicated than some 5-step solution, these are the biggest, most impactful steps I took—just in time for the new year! (00:00:00) - Intro(00:00:40) - Stop lying(00:03:03) - Do what you need (but don’t want) to do(00:04:30) - Replaced coping mechanisms with generative habits—one at a time(00:06:06) - Do some more of what you love(00:07:13) - Learn to regulate your nervous system, aka get better impulse control Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/ Check out some free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship Build brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance.  Enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It h

Talking points: discipline, mindset, attraction, relationships Title says it all, team. A lot of men simply aren't that disciplined when it comes to their sexual energy, despite the fact that being disciplined has some pretty immense benefits. Here's a look at why that is. (00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:12) - A potential major cause of insecurity in a partner(00:02:41) - Why women are attracted to sexual discipline(00:04:33) - It creates security and safety(00:06:12) - Do this for YOU because a) it’s hard, and b) most men aren’t disciplined—at all(00:08:13) - Your sexual body can be THE training ground for discipline Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/ Check out some free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship Build brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance.  Enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave a revi

Talking points: grief, trauma, needs, resentment, relationships Dr. Nicole is one of the rare three-peats on my podcast, and she always delivers! Fresh off the tour for her new book, we dove straight into the heavy stuff. This is a great episode to listen to if you're wanting to take a closer look at relationship issues, modern dating troubles, and navigating all the emotions those bring. (00:00:00) - Intro, the book tour, and navigating grief and joy at the same time(00:08:10) - Why we isolate ourselves when we actually need community(00:15:47) - What do you feel has shifted in modern-day relationships?(00:23:12) - What does it mean to “be the love that you seek”?(00:28:05) - So how do our early relationships inform our present-day ones?(00:32:18) - Our earliest attachments did more than condition our behavior(00:38:17) - How early unmet emotional needs impact our present relationships, and how we identify them(00:44:32) - What do you say to men who claim they shouldn’t have emotional needs?(00:50:28) - Wh

Talking points: middle age, mindset, death, nice guys I've worked with legions of middle-aged men. As of 2023, I'm one of them. It got me wondering why so many of us radically change (or catastrophically implode) our lives in our 40s and 50s. Here's what I've seen, where I think it comes from, and where to begin ensuring it doesn't happen to you. (00:00:00) - Intro and why I call it the “middle passage”(00:02:52) - The biggest reason men go through a midlife “crisis”(00:06:59) - Pleasing Syndrome, and how to fix it(00:10:26) - Fear of our own depths(00:13:29) - The collapse of the illusion that right action leads to right outcome(00:17:34) - What do you actually do with this info? Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/ Check out some free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship Build brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world.

Talking points: redpill, dating, relationships, mindset, culture, attachment Adam's been making waves recently with his no-nonsense yet deeply considerate approach to the insanity that is modern relationships. This convo was centered around Adam's expertise in attachment theory—aka the way you as a child learn to get safety and love. You can probably guess that it's kind of a big deal. Dig in, team. (00:00:00) - Intro and Adam’s defining moment(00:03:07) - What drew Adam to attachment theory(00:06:16) - Adam’s definition of attachment, and why it’s important for individuals(00:10:10) - The signs of secure attachment in men and women (00:16:34) - More insight on anxious and avoidant attachment styles(00:19:42) - Where do Nice Guys fit on the attachment spectrum, and how do they move towards secure attachment?(00:29:47) - The sad and dysfunctional truth about how some men get out of anxious attachment(00:36:33) - The mess that is modern dating, seen through the attachment lens(00:44:19) - MGTOW and avoidant a