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

What if you could change your patterns—permanently? What if there’s more to you than just a body or just a mind? These are just two of the questions that ignited Dr. Nicole LePera’s (aka the hugely popular @the.holistic.psychologist) pursuit of a more holistic style of healing. It was an honor to sit down with her and share journeys of healing, how important it is to face your unhealthy patterns outside of the therapist’s office, how to bring healing and awareness into your online interactions, and so much more.  Dr. Nicole LePera was trained in clinical psychology at Cornell University and the New School for Social Research. She also studied at the Philadelphia School of Psychoanalysis. As a clinical psychologist in private practice, Dr. Nicole LePera often found herself frustrated by the limitations of traditional psychotherapy. Wanting more for her patients—and for herself—she began a journey to develop a united philosophy of mental, physical, and spiritual health that equips people with the tools necessa

The internet is an ocean. Just like our actual oceans, there’s incredible diversity and beauty. There’s also a solid and growing amount of garbage. Why is it like this, and why does online discourse often leave us exhausted and angry? This week, I propose this: What if the internet is an expression of humanity’s collective unconscious? Listen in for my perspective, and let me know what you think! Leave a rating or review. Are you looking to find your purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify For more episodes visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m excited for this one! On November 4th, JAMA Psychiatry published a study with an impressive claim: psilocybin was (get this) at least 4 times more effective on major depression than the usual antidepressants. Plant medicine is a big fascination for me, so it was so rewarding to speak with one of the authors that study, Dr. Alan K Davis. Alan is on the bleeding edge of both the research and the practical treatment at Johns Hopkins, and we talk about how the study was set up, the barriers involved, the effects on the patients, and some of the upcoming (and promising) studies in the pipeline. Dr. Alan K Davis is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at The Ohio State University and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Davis’s clinical experience includes working with people diagnosed with trauma-based psychological problems such as addiction, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. His clinical expertise includes providing evidenced-bas

I get a large number of requests from men, women, and clients to discuss this topic. Surprisingly, a number of people have also asked, “Can a woman actually be a narcissist too?” So I dug into the research, consulted some therapist and coach friends of mine, and decided to tackle the topic gently but directly. The word “narcissist” gets used as a label way, way too often, and waters down the issues faced by people who have actually dealt with clinical narcissism. Let's unpack and get some insight. If you (or someone you know) think you may have encountered abuse by a narcissist, there’s a great collection of resources and support you can find on Reddit here. Note, this is a support subreddit, not a replacement for therapy or counseling. If this ep resonated with you, let me know on Insta @mantalks, or leave a rating and review and help us reach more people like you. Are you looking to find your purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world?

I recorded this ep last spring--part of a miniseries on Jungian archetypes and the fantastic book, King, Warrior, Magician, Lover. Considering the need for healing and wisdom in the face of so much uncertainty and change, it felt like a good time to pull it out of the archives. This is a deep dive into the archetype known as The Magician. An integrated, healthy one heals, transforms, enlightens, and creates. But his shadow…well, listen in and see.    If this resonates with you, let me know on Insta @mantalks, or leave a rating and review and help us reach more people like you. Are you looking to find your purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify For more episodes visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter    Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review

I recorded this yesterday, after election day, and wanted to both weigh in on things and also zoom out a bit and take a look at one of the more pervasive aspects of 2020: ambiguity. At the end, I give some helpful tips and some hard-hitting prompts to help you navigate. When there are so many possibilities and so many variables, the mist of ambiguity is obviously the result. When we combine that with (as the science has shown) our inherent negativity bias, our rational mind can feel completely uprooted and react in unhealthy ways. So how do you manage ambiguity? How do you move into an intuition-based form of decision-making? If anything resonates, let me know! Leave a rating or review, or hit me up @mantalks on Instagram. Are you looking to find your purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  |

We dug into several things in this session, but at the core were the aftereffects of a family member’s struggle with alcoholism. This and other addictions like it impact countless families, and the effects ripple outward into our own lives in many different ways. For those of you listening, if anything resonates and you want some help or insight, please don’t hesitate to DM me and check out a doctor who specializes in addiction. There are people out there who want to help.   In the USA: Search the American Board of Addiction Medicine In Canada: Connect with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Are you looking to find your purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify For more episodes visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter    Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, p

This week’s mini-ep is just me thinking out loud on what desire really means. It seems like our culture has built a massive framework around desire, or more accurately, built it to imply your lack of something, and therefore need to “get it”. But the big secret is the final source of contentment--the satisfaction we’ve been outsourcing for years--is only found within. To be clear, I’m not denying external hardships--particularly for people who have been oppressed by that same framework that always leaves us wanting more. What I’m saying is: whether it’s a million dollars, retweets, likes, sex partners, or [insert desire here], it’s not going to “solve” desire. Only self-compassion, silence, and awareness can do that. I hope this resonates with you. If it does, let me know on Instagram @mantalks, or better yet, leave me a rating or review! Are you looking to find your purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and

How do we understand each other, especially when we disagree? This week, I sat down with one of the leaders in nonviolent communication, or NVC, Oren Jay Sofer. If you're unsure of what nonviolent communication actually is, you'll have a solid grasp after this! For Oren, language runs deep. It’s intimately connected to universal, fundamental human drives, social structures, and even our physicality. We chat about the basic framework of mindful and nonviolent communication, our current “attack based” online culture, and some of Oren’s personal journey and defining moments. Oren was an incredible guest. The word that came up for me was “sincere”. He’s incredibly well-read, intelligent, honest, and his desire to create a world where everyone is respected and in harmony rings clear in everything we spoke about that. Oren Jay Sofer teaches Buddhist meditation, mindfulness, and Nonviolent Communication nationally. A member of the Spirit Rock Teachers Council, he holds a degree in Comparative Religion from Columb

This week’s mini-episode is a personal one, and about one of the most ancient and powerful rituals we as humans can practice: memento mori--being mindful of the inevitability of death. I dive into how memento mori works as a contemplative practice, its history, and why it’s more than just some personal development tool. Modern culture works hard to avoid even the idea of death, to the point where we water down some our most compelling stories and ideas. Tons of time is spent on practically forcing light and joy and life. But death helps inform us of how we are living--right here, right now.  As always, let me know your take. Leave a rating or review and help us reach more people like you. Are you looking to find your purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify For more episodes visit u

This was a powerful interview, and I’m grateful to have had the chance to listen to Reggie’s peace-oriented mindset and his perspective on a highly divisive period in American history. We dove into understanding the origins of modern activism and activist groups, Black Lives Matter, why discussions fall apart, and how we might repair them. Listen in for an honest, real conversation, and if it resonates, please share! Help us reach more people like you. Reggie Hubbard has held many senior strategic and logistical roles across a variety of fields, ranging from global marketing, digital and community organizing, government relations, international education to Presidential campaigning. He currently serves as a senior political strategist for MoveOn, managing their relationships, impact, and communications with Capitol Hill and among the broader progressive movement. Reggie is also a 500 hour certified yoga teacher and authored a thesis entitled, "Yoga and Spiritual Activism: Serving Humanity from a Sense of De

Part 2 of You Ask, I Answer is here! Some great questions came in and as always, it’s a pleasure to answer them. This week’s mini-ep covers setting and understanding boundaries with a partner, the “code of conflict”, how to know if it’s “the One”, and enhancing/perfecting long-distance relationships. If this episode resonates with you, let me know! Leave a rating or review, or send me your questions on Instagram @mantalks.  Are you looking to find your purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify For more episodes visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter    Did you enjoy the podcast? If so please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. It helps our podcast get into the ears of new listeners, which expands the ManTalks Community   See omnystudio.com/listener for

I often tell clients, “say yes to the man you want to be”, and Lee Chambers is someone who decided to shout it! From running a seven-figure business to losing his ability to walk, he’s seen a lot. I was amazed by his struggles, but moreso by his deliberate, intentional reframing of them. Lee’s story is an incredibly powerful example of how mindset and action work together to define who you are and who you want to be. We cover a lot. Lee’s origin story, the big-picture ideas of environmental psychology, how to optimize your home office, and more. But the big takeaway in this episode is building a life that regenerates you and your environment.   Let me know your take on Insta @mantalks, or better yet, leave a rating or review. Help us help others! Connect with Lee Website: www.essentialise.co.uk, www.leechambers.org Instagram: @essentialisecoach Twitter: @essentialise LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-chambers-278a6518a/ Book (Upcoming): How to Conquer Anything  Are you looking to find your

I genuinely enjoy getting questions from listeners, so this Q&A will be a two-parter! This week, I touch on three big questions: why some people crave the extreme, how to move on from a relationship full of love but doesn’t meet your needs, and when to walk away from a partner who is ambivalent about the relationship. If you know someone who can relate to these questions, share this with them! We’re all in this together. If you have any questions of your own, hit me up on Instagram (@mantalks). And as always, if any of this resonates, leave us a rating or review. It’ll help us reach more people (and answer more questions!) Are you looking to find your purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify For more episodes visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter    Did you enjoy

I like to occasionally feature a shadow-work session with someone I’ve never worked with before, and this one got powerful fast. My guest came to me wanting to work on the intersection of his sexuality and his religion; he feels fulfilled by being a leader in his community, but he also feels a clash between the pressure to “be religious” and be a sexual being at the same time. This expanded into a deep dive on the feeling of isolation and not belonging. This is a unique opportunity for you to listen to some real-time shadow work, where I guide a man through and into their shadow so they can get at what’s keeping them stuck or sabotaged. Are you looking to find your purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify For more episodes visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter   

By the time you listen to this, my incredible wife Vienna and I will be on the road, heading into a new chapter of our lives. It seemed like the perfect time to talk about “moving” through crisis (see what I did there?). Because, like so many of our friends, clients, and listeners, the last several months threw a lot of plans into disarray. So we sat down together to discuss clinging to expectations, navigating “forced change”, and the lessons we’ve learned from transition points in our own lives. As we mentioned in the show, we’d like to do a part 2 to this mini-episode where we both take on your questions! Leave a rating or review, and hit us up on Instagram (@mantalks or @mindfulmft) with your questions about transition, change, and moving through crisis. Connect with Vienna Insta: @mindfulmft Twitter: @mindfulmft Website: http://www.newyorkcouplescounseling.com/about/vienna-pharaon/ Are you looking to find your purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of me

You’re going to want a comfy chair for this one. This week, my guest is Daoist Monk Yun Rou. Yun Rou is a brilliant interpreter of ancient ideas for a modern ear--if you’ve read his book The Mad Monk Manifesto you’ll know what I’m talking about. We got heavy into social media and how it affects us, why you might know more about Daoism than you think, and how Daoist philosophy can offer us a different, more holistic view of everything; from our own minds to the workings of the universe. If you consider yourself a seeker, this is the episode to listen to. Called the new Alan Watts for his teachings and the Zen Gabriel Garcia Marquez for his writings, Daoist Monk Yun Rou (formerly Arthur Rosenfeld) received his academic education at Yale, Cornell, and the University of California and was ordained a monk in an official ceremony at the Chun Yang Daoist Temple in Guangzhou, China. His work has appeared in Vogue, Vanity Fair, Parade, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, WebMD, Fox Business News, and numerous other we

This is a really important topic for me; it’s one of the reasons I started ManTalks. In this episode, I check out why men seem to only turn things around after everything’s on fire.  I dive a bit into the shadow aspects of modern masculine culture, and how they amplify the problem (hint: shame is a big player).  Every man’s journey is different, but there’s one thing we all need--and I mean need--to do: challenge the narrative that suppression equals strength. Listen in to hear why, and as always, let me know your take; leave a rating or review. Also, share this with someone you think would benefit! Are you looking to find your purpose, navigate transition or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify For more episodes visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter    Did you enjoy the podcast? If so please l

What does resiliency mean? How do you build the ability to bounce back after an event that shakes you to your core? How does it change you? To help answer these I spoke with adventurer, author, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and keynote speaker John Beede, and we dove straight into the hard stuff. It was a real pleasure to chat with John about what drew him to mountains, his struggles and victories, his new book, and the pressure men are often under to either tough it out, nice it out, or numb it out. John Beede has climbed to the top of the tallest mountain on every continent, including Mount Everest. During the 9 year adventure, he somehow survived avalanches, pulmonary edema, tribal warfare, and a whole lot of Clif bars. He’s a worldwide adventurer who has traveled to 65 countries, written 3 books, and given live presentations to nearly 1 million live teen and middle school audience members. His new book is called The Warrior Challenge: 8 Quests for Boys to Grow Up with Kindness, Courage, and Grit.   Conne

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve no doubt seen a spike in mental health issues over the last year. Most reasons are pretty obvious, of course, but there are other aspects you might not have considered. So I wanted to think out loud about what these are, how they work, and what we can do to mitigate the symptoms. In some ways, a mental health crisis is already here, and if we don’t talk about it--if we don’t unplug from our echo chambers and truly connect with other people--the situation is only going to get worse. Are you looking to find your purpose, navigate transition or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify For more episodes visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter    Did you enjoy the podcast? If so please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. It helps our podcast get into the