In today’s episode of the podcast, Mike Watts & Aydian Dowling discuss struggle and masculinity. Listen in as the guys unpack the idea that men need to always push through when struggling. What supports do you use when you are struggling and do you allow yourself to lean on them? What is your inner monologue when things get difficult? In this episode, we discuss the following: - How does pushing your own needs down impact your health? - How does past trauma impact how we view our struggles? - How do our ideas of hustle and struggle compete? - What can you do to check in with yourself? - Wh ..read more

Mike and Aydian discuss why men only comprise one-third of all people who go to therapy. Is it that men don’t want help? Many men equate getting help with weakness and do not seek out mental health professionals. Has society imposed expectations on men that don’t encourage men to get help? Top Take-Aways:  Many men equate getting help with weakness and do not seek out mental health professionals. Men tend to rely on their romantic partners for emotional needs while women have separate friend relationships they also discuss stress and mental health in addition to their romantic partners ..read more

Mike and Aydian dive into what it means to have fun as a grown man. Do you have rituals around preparing to have a good time? At what point do you remember societal pressure imposing on what was considered “age-appropriate fun”? Do we conflate productivity with joy? How do you define fun for yourself? Top Take-Aways: Do you need mind-altering substances to put you in a place to have fun? At what point in our lives do the expectations around having fun change? Does money allow you to experience more fun in your life ..read more

Have you found yourself wondering what parenting means to the modern man in America? How do men show up as fathers in 2021 and do what is best for their kids, partners, and selves? This week Aydian Dowling and Mike Watts discuss the top lessons they have learned as fathers committed not to perfection but showing up as their best selves. Top Take-Aways: How do we manage the illusion of control as a parent? Why is it important to have the ability to grow in the role of father? How does connecting with your partner shape your role as a father? Why does self-care make you a better dad? How does ..read more

Mike Watts and Aydian Dowling discuss what it took to get this podcast from idea to reality including: - How they handled unexpected life events impacting the launch. - What books and resources helped them reframe their life views. - How to opt into what feels right in the face of uncertainty Listen in as they talk about how the best-laid plans can take longer than you think. Top Take-Aways: How does facing your fear change your life? How do we manage expectations and prevent ourselves from giving into negative thought patterns ..read more

Mike & Aydian discuss in this podcast our dreams and how we have been limiting ourselves in our life.  We evaluate how impactful we are being with this project, The State of Men. We are explaining why this project or podcast isn’t the right project for us at the moment.  We both want to be doing something that is empowering for both of us and we explain what this means for us. Thank you so much for being with us along the journey.  We are very grateful for your time and for helping make this community something special.    What to do when you and your partner ar ..read more

Jason Rosario is Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer at BBDO Worldwide. Today, Aydian and Mike talk with Jason about the power of Vulnerability, what it means to have outlets for our emotions, and why sometimes you need to step away in order to truly step up. Listen to hear more of Jason’s personal journey of how he got to be the man he is today, and why he knew he needed to give men a guiding light on their journey to healthier masculinity. Top Take-Aways:  Have you ever tried journaling as an outlet for your emotions?  Social Media wreaks havoc on our in-person relati ..read more

Who are these guys anyway? Mike Watts and Aydian Dowling introduce themselves and discuss what brought them to this podcast, their unique life experiences, and perspectives that inform their vantage points on manhood in modern America ..read more

Today, Aydian and Mike talk with Mike’s Mom, Michelle Watts. In this episode, we get some more details on how Mike grew up. Michelle raised her three kids, while her husband traveled for work, and after moving many times ended up long-term in Indiana. We get some insights on what it was like as a Mid-West Mom, raising a firecracker like Mike, and how much things have changed with raising kids since she was a full-time Mother.  Top Take-Aways:  Do you ever talk to your Mom about what it was like for her, raising you? Maybe you’re missing out on some critical information by hearing h ..read more

Summary:  Today, Aydian and Mike talk with a scientist, educator, lawyer, and founder of “Be More with Anu” - Anu Gupta. Anu and the men discuss growing as men in a society that is starved for compassion.  Anu discusses his work with different races and cultures - helping individuals break implicit biases and navigate from a place of compassion and love.    Top Take-Aways:  Do you often find yourself struggling to build meaningful, healthy friendships with other men? Does being a man make you innately better than the opposite gender? Do you see toxic masculine traits ..read more