Regular Guy Chat with Jake | Sharing Your Voice Episode 311, July 19, 2024 “It’s amazing to love people every day as a job.” A random feature of Real Men Feel is Regular Guy Chats. That is when I converse with an average dude who has nothing to promote but a willingness to share. It’s been a year and a half since my last Regular Guy Chat. Today, I’m talking to Jake Marko, a young man I met last month in a Self-Leadership class we both attended. We discuss Jake’s experiences with purpose, spiritual growth, and giving up marijuana. Jake discusses his life before and since his initiation with the ..read more

Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health | Men Hurt and Can Heal Episode 310, July 12, 2024 Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is ask for help. Men face a stigma about that, too. My guest today is Laverne Friesen. He is a former first responder who is passionate about raising awareness around the stigma of mental health after experiencing his own mental health crisis. Now, as a transformation coach, Laverne shares the wisdom he gained from his traumatic experiences to help others live fulfilling lives. Laverne shares his experience as a sexual abuse survivor in a fundamentalist family who wen ..read more

How Do You Speak to Yourself? | Words Matter 309 June 29, 2024 Today, we are exploring the power of words, especially the words we use when talking to ourselves. I’m going to share some tips on moving from belittling language to empowering phrases that you can use in your self-dialogue and conversations with others. One of my favorite things about coaching clients is listening and noticing what words they repeat the most and then pointing out how often their own words are working against them. Words have energy. Our words express our subconscious beliefs. They also express our thoughts, and th ..read more

Downsizing Part 1 | The Great Shedding of Stuff 308 June 21, 2024 I recommend watching this episode instead of only listening to it, as I share some of my downsizing journey and give a tour of my home. We are preparing to move to a house 2,000 square feet smaller than the one we’ve lived in for the past 21 years. Listen in to discover how my father’s sharing of Buddism made me think life sucks then you die. Also, learn how the experience of donating, selling, and trashing our possessions has been so far. Do you own your stuff, or does your stuff own you? I wish you successful detachment. The ..read more

Positive Male Role Models | Who Taught You How To Be A Man? 307 June 16, 2024 Earlier Sunday (Father’s Day), I was part of a Let’s Talk Fabulous panel discussing positive male role models. I enjoyed that conversation so much that I want to share more in a motor-mouth 10-minute brain dump. Topics Include: What male role models did you see/have while growing up? What do you think are traits of a positive male role model? If the person who taught you what it means to be a man, through their words or actions, was a miserable bastard — why would you continue to follow their example? Before I invite ..read more

What Is Failure? | More Than You Think 306 June 7, 2024 I’ve often called myself a failure. But why? Why does something not turning out the way I wanted it to become my identity? It all comes down to the ego. Today, I explore definitions and perceptions of failure and ways to reframe it. Failure can be a valuable lesson. We can fail forward into something better with the right mindset. In my experience, when I’m depressed, my self-judgment is much harsher than usual, and I see a history of nothing but failures. That is not true. It is a very distorted lens. What if you could let the label of f ..read more

Picking Up The Pieces | Life After Depression 305 May 29, 2024 Today, I share many of the subjects I’ve been journaling about in the last few days. Subjects including past patterns, current patterns that I haven’t figured out yet, and challenges of all-or-nothing thinking. I open up about my self-judgment, spiritual experiences, psych meds, and reactions to being called a positive male role model. I also contemplate what I’m addicted to that keeps my hellish patterns going. Over my adult life, I’ve tried meditation, counseling, personal growth, energy work, spiritual healing… I’ve never done a ..read more

Mental Health Awareness Month | Suicidal Procrastination 304 May 25, 2024 WARNING: This episode discusses suicidal thoughts and attempts.   If you are in a crisis, do not listen to this.  Please call or text 988 to be connected to trained counselors who are part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. If you are outside of the US, please search for suicide prevention in your country.  You matter! Please choose life. After a year-long gap, much of it spent in a deep depression and with lots of suicidal ideation, I’m back. The best way to prevent s ..read more

Did Your Partner Betray You? | Recovering From Betrayal Part 2 Episode 303, June 2, 2023 Today is part 2 of Recovering From Betrayal, focusing on a man betrayed by his wife. See part 1. My returning guest, Vanessa Cardenas, is your trusted advisor for Betrayal and Transformation. Vanessa is a highly experienced C-Suite Executive, Mentor, Coach, and Speaker with a degree in Industrial Psychology. She is also the founder and CEO of Understanding Ear, LLC, where she empowers individuals and groups to heal from betrayal, amplify their authenticity, and find love and happiness on their terms. Vanes ..read more

Can You Enjoy Time Alone? | Growth & Resistance Episode 302 May 12, 2023 Are you comfortable being alone? Can you enjoy your own company?  Often men will feel uncomfortable emotions if they are alone and in silence. I am an only child, so I’m used to being alone, but I’d always have music or a TV playing in the background. I wasn’t a fan of absolute silence because I wasn’t a fan of some of my thoughts. Over the years and with lots of work and growth, I’m incredibly comfortable on my own and with the silence of only my mind. Growing up, I thought doing something in public alone meant ..read more