If You've Come This Far: Recent Episodes
Shaun Emerson & Chris Lozier
a podcast where Shaun and Chris aim simply to have authentic conversations with interesting people about what they do to make life more fulfilling and more impactful, and try to learn something along the way.
After eighteen years away from the Pacific Northwest, former AWS tech marketer Alexandra "Alex" Friedman returned home to find that professional achievement was no safeguard against profound urban isolation. Confronting the notorious "Seattle Freeze" and the reality of adult loneliness, she began inviting strangers to rooftop dinner parties. That grassroots experiment quickly evolved into Connection Feast, an international community platform and friendship coaching methodology that has brought thousands together for semi-structured, authentic connection.
In this episode of If You’ve Come This Far, Alex joins Chris and Shaun to dissect the mechanics of modern belonging. Moving beyond superficial networking and high-pressure dating paradigms, Alex shares why authentic community requires intentional friction, how somatic awareness disarms our biological fear of rejection, and why building platonic intimacy—especially among men—is essential for mental health and personal fulfillment.
Key Highlights
- "Connectivities" vs. Dating Pressure: Why structured, action-oriented activities create psychological safety and draw men into deeper conversations far more effectively than traditional mixers.
- Boundaries Create Freedom: How establishing curated dinner themes and structured conversational rules helps introverts bypass small talk and open up quickly.
- Customer Obsession to People Obsession: The catalyst behind leaving big tech to build a business around social health and relational infrastructure.
- The Evolutionary Logic of Rejection: Why social exclusion feels like physical danger to the nervous system, and practical somatic tools to regulate through anxiety.
- The Danger of Frictionless Connection: Why AI chatbots and one-sided digital interactions cannot substitute for the messy, indispensable growth of real-world relationships.
- The Solo Strategy: Why showing up alone to recurring, shared-goal groups over 3–6 months is the most empirical path to making lasting adult friends.
Resources Mentioned
- Substack: Come A Little Further
- Connection Feast: ConnectionFeast.com
- U.S. Chamber of Connection: ChamberofConnection.org
- MenLiving: MenLiving.org
- The Path / Mental: GetMental.com
- Literature & Media: Bowling Alone (Robert Putnam / Pete Davis documentary)
Mark Ishaug has spent his career at the forefront of mission-driven advocacy and community healthcare. Before serving as the CEO of Thresholds--one of Illinois's largest and oldest providers of mental health and substance use recovery services--Mark spent two decades leading public policy and executive efforts at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and AIDS United. Inspired early in life by his mother’s civil rights activism and cemented by personal tragedy--losing his 29-year-old brother, Eric, to undiagnosed mental illness and substance use--Mark has dedicated his life to creating tangible social impact for society's most vulnerable.
In this episode of If You've Come This Far, Mark joins Chris and Shaun to unpack how love and power must intersect to build sustainable, high-impact organizations. He shares how Thresholds provides "Home, Health, and Hope" to over 13,000 individuals annually through supportive housing, mobile crisis response, and comprehensive behavioral health clinics. Grounded in pragmatism and deep empathy, Mark discusses the critical need to protect healthcare access, eradicate systemic stigma, and foster genuine human connection in an increasingly disconnected world.
Highlights
- Defining Love as an Action and Business Foundation: How leading with love translates directly into organizational operations, listening to those on the margins, and driving systemic change.
- Personal Tragedy & The Mission Behind Thresholds: Mark opens up about losing his younger brother Eric at age 29, and how that personal loss fuels his commitment to mental healthcare reform.
- "Home, Health, and Hope": The Scope of Thresholds: A look into how Thresholds operates 1,600+ housing units and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) to keep individuals supported in their communities.
- Navigating Policy Challenges & Systemic Threats: Examining the impact of Medicaid redeterminations and threats to the "Housing First" model on safety-net providers.
- "We Show Up": Love in Action: How frontline caseworkers operationalized compassionate care through severe heatwaves, COVID-19, and daily community outreach.
Resources Mentioned
- Thresholds
- AIDS Foundation of Chicago
- Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam
- Festival! (Podcast) & Join or Die (Documentary) by Pete Davis
- Sponsor: Mental App
Matthew Quick returns to If You've Come This Far for his second appearance on the show to discuss his new memoir, Dad, Love, Me. In a raw conversation, Matthew opens up about his father’s battle with dementia, his own journey through sobriety, and the grueling but beautiful process of Jungian analysis. Offering an unfiltered look at generational trauma, he discusses the courageous choice to love a parent exactly as they are, without demanding they earn it. Pragmatic and deeply moving, this episode explores the profound impact of showing up, making peace with the past, and creating new narratives for the future.
Highlights:
- Defining love as a choice to embrace someone in the present moment without needing them to earn it, particularly in the face of dementia.
- Breaking the cycle of father-son violence by making a conscious decision not to pass on inherited trauma to the next generation.
- The healing power of Jungian analysis and the importance of experiencing positive, altruistic male friendships.
- The difficult reality of writing a vulnerable memoir without family support and dealing with the tradition of secrecy in traumatized families.
- The feminization of reading and the critical need for older men to mentor younger men and guide them back to literature.
Resources:
- Dad, Love, Me by Matthew Quick
- Mental app (getmental.com)
- Joe Conrad's new book Man Therapy: Therapy the Way a Man Does It
In this episode of If You've Come This Far, Chris and Shaun sit down with Ron Dresher and Brian Harris, founders of the Los Angeles-based Life Transition Group. Approaching their 80s with the metabolic age and energy of men decades younger, Ron and Brian share how they built a thriving community designed to help men navigate the often-daunting shift out of full-time careers. They discuss the critical need for connection, empirical learning, and purpose in later life, emphasizing that retirement isn't just about financial readiness—it's about holistic well-being.
Grounded in pragmatism and lived experience, the conversation explores the "CHAIRS" framework—Charity, Health, Achievement, Independence, Relationships, and Spirituality—as a practical guide for balancing our priorities through all of life's chapters. From the importance of giving back to the community to fostering deep, vulnerable friendships, Ron and Brian offer a pragmatic blueprint for aging gracefully, intentionally, and joyfully.
Highlights:
- [04:12] The origins of the Life Transition Group and the realization that many men lack a roadmap for retirement beyond finances.
- [07:15] Breaking down the "CHAIRS" framework.
- [11:05] Why soft skills, such as nurturing relationships and maintaining spirituality, become crucial growth areas for aging men.
- [33:14] The concept of chronological age vs. metabolic age, and the critical difference between lifespan, healthspan, and "joyspan."
- [48:10] Ron's personal "GRAMPS" blueprint for life balance and his advice to his 10-year-old self about the paramount importance of relationships.
Resources:
- Helen Dennis: Syndicated columnist and expert on aging and the new retirement.
- Dr. Michael Greger: Physician and author of How Not to Age and How Not to Die.
- PreNuvo: Preventative health and full-body MRI screening.
- GetMental: App designed to help men strengthen their mindset and achieve discipline.
In this "From the Vault" episode, Chris and Shaun are joined by MenLiving co-founder Todd Adams to reflect on the teachings of the late Father Michael Himes, a beloved Notre Dame and Boston College professor whom Chris considers the wisest person he’s ever known. Anchored by audio clips from Father Himes's beautiful "Last Lecture," the trio explores what it means to live a deeply meaningful life and the urgency of sharing our most authentic truths before our time runs out. They discuss integrity, giving one's self, uttering the definitive message, and more.
Before diving into the vault, Chris also takes a moment to highlight real leadership by shouting out Chris "Chowdah" Hill on his promotion to Rear Admiral. Chowdah's focus on mental health, positive relationships, and mission aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower serves as a modern, pragmatic example of the very principles Father Himes spent his life teaching.
Resources Mentioned:
- Father Michael Himes's "Last Lecture" at Boston College
- The Way of the Warrior Sailor by Rear Admiral Chris "Chowdah" Hill
- MenLiving (Co-founded by Todd Adams)
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here
In this episode of If You've Come This Far, Chris and Shaun sit down with Ed Frauenheim, an author, journalist, and advocate doing critical work around masculinity and men's health. Ed's career spans from technology journalism to studying organizational culture at Great Place to Work, but his current mission is deeply personal: helping men move past the isolated, stoic "cowboy" mentality to embrace emotional intelligence and community.
Ed candidly shares his own wake-up calls, including a stress-induced heart attack in 2021 and a recent, grueling battle with appendix cancer that required a 10-hour surgery. Through these physical trials, and by reflecting on his upbringing with a father who struggled with an explosive temper, Ed illustrates why redefining toughness is literally a matter of life and death. It's a raw, pragmatic conversation about giving men the tools to ask for help, show vulnerability, and build authentic connections.
Highlights:
- [04:15] The Birth of "F the Tough Guy": Ed shares the story of a ski lift operators' conference where a tragic string of suicides prompted a room full of stoic men to finally open up about mental health.
- [14:30] Making Peace with the Past: Ed discusses growing up in Buffalo with a father who had an explosive temper, and the healing power of acknowledging that pain while choosing forgiveness.
- [25:10] The Corporate Grind: A look back at Ed's career in tech journalism, the pressure to climb the corporate ladder, and realizing that the traditional metrics of success were leaving him unfulfilled.
- [41:00] Wake-Up Calls: Ed recounts his 2021 stress-induced heart attack and how ignoring his physical and mental limits caught up with him.
- [48:45] Surviving Cancer: Ed details his recent battle with appendix cancer, the 10-hour surgery he endured, and how leaning on his community for support ultimately saved him.
Resources:
- Reinventing Masculinity by Ed Adams and Ed Frauenheim
- FrauenTimes (Ed's Substack)
Shaun and Chris connect with Celine Coggins, a lifelong educator, founder of Teach Plus, and the inaugural CEO of The Goodness Web. Celine shares her journey from growing up in a large Irish Catholic family in Massachusetts to navigating the rigorous worlds of Stanford and Harvard. The conversation explores her career transitions and her current mission with The Goodness Web: transforming youth mental health through collaborative, scalable venture philanthropy that moves past isolated efforts to fund systemic, nationwide solutions.
We dive deep into:
- The Venture Philanthropy Model: Moving away from isolated, small-dollar grants toward pooled, million-dollar investments that can actually scale across schools and pediatric practices.
- The Gen X "Unlock": Why data shows that youth mental health is one of the most defining and deeply emotional issues of our generation's parents.
- The Teacher Retention Crisis: What public education can learn from the business world about rewarding talent and performance early in a career.
- The Reality of the "Anxious Generation": Navigating a landscape dominated by social media, hyper-connectivity, and the new frontiers of AI.
Resources Mentioned:
- The Goodness Web (thegoodnessweb.org)
- Teach Plus (teachplus.org)
- Inseparable (inseparable.org)
- The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
- NAMI Chicago (namichicago.org)
Chris and Shaun sit down with Matt Davison, the CEO of NAMI Chicago, to explore the intersection of law, advocacy, and radical empathy. Matt shares his transition from serving as a public defender and civil litigator to leading one of the nation's most prominent mental health advocacy organizations. He discusses the limitations of our current "triage" approach to mental health and why we must move "upstream" to address systemic issues before they become crises.
Matt also opens up about his personal philosophy on "self-love" vs. "self-care," his concerns regarding the toxic impact of social media algorithms on youth, and the visceral moment on a Chicago Blue Line train that changed his perspective on systemic reform forever. This conversation is a pragmatic yet hopeful look at how we can build a more dignified system of care for all Chicagoans.
Key Takeaways:
- The "Hammer and Nail" Fallacy: Why the criminal justice system is fundamentally ill-equipped to handle healthcare crises.
- The Blue Line Inflection Point: A powerful story about why individual advocacy isn't enough to fix a broken system.
- Upstream Intervention: The necessity of investing in community resources to prevent the "triage mode" of emergency rooms and jails.
- Social Media as a Public Health Crisis: Comparing modern algorithms to the "Big Tobacco" moment and their impact on youth body image.
- Self-Love vs. Self-Care: A therapist’s distinction between occasional treats and the daily practice of checking in with yourself.
Resources Mentioned:
- NAMI Chicago: namichicago.org
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988 for immediate support
Thanks to our sponsor, Mental. Mental is a wellness app built specifically for men, offering a sanctuary from "toxic positivity" and generic advice. It provides personalized, affordable, and science-backed support through real-life coaching designed to help you navigate life's messiest challenges. If you've been thinking about doing something for your mental health, visit https://app.getmental.com/subscribe to get started.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more people find these important conversations!
In this episode, Chris and Shaun sit down with Andy Rotherham, co-founder of Bellwether Education Partners and a veteran of the Clinton White House. Andy has spent over 30 years at the intersection of education policy and social impact, but he’s also a music enthusiast, a Red Sox fan, a Boston bar investor, a podcaster himself, and a man willing to run a 5k in a full Easter Bunny costume to surprise his daughter.
We dive into the "no-fluff" reality of the American education system, discussing why school "averages" are often not helpful and how we can actually move the needle on equity. We also explore the "modern vice" landscape—from the gamification of sports betting to the pervasive influence of social media on youth.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The McCaskill Update: A shout-out to previous guest John McCaskill on his new book, Dialing Your Leadership .
- The History of a "Planned Community": Growing up in Reston, Virginia, and how its "hippie experiment" origins shaped Andy’s worldview .
- The Trillion-Dollar Industry: Why education spending is both too much and not enough, and the desperate need for honest performance audits .
- The "Omni Cause": The quantitative shift in how gambling, weed, and social media are impacting the next generation .
- A Personal "Why": Andy’s commitment to the Pan-Mass Challenge and raising funds for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of his fathers .
- Speed Round: Andy’s life mantra, "What’s the worst that can happen?"
Resources Mentioned:
- Bellwether Education Partners
- Eduwonk (Substack)
- Pan-Mass Challenge / Dana-Farber
- D.I.A.L. IN YOUR LEADERSHIP by John McCaskill
Thanks to our sponsor, Mental. Mental is a wellness app built specifically for men, offering a sanctuary from "toxic positivity" and generic advice. It provides personalized, affordable, and science-backed support through real-life coaching designed to help you navigate life's messiest challenges. If you've been thinking about doing something for your mental health, visit https://app.getmental.com/subscribe to get started.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more people find these important conversations!
Chris and Shaun sit down with Katie Fogarty, a communications expert, "proud crusader" for women in midlife, and the host of the popular podcast A Certain Age. Katie discusses her journey from a religion major at Holy Cross and a teaching stint in a Japanese fishing village to becoming a leading voice in the "menopause zeitgeist." We explore the systemic gaps in women’s healthcare, the "beauty industrial complex," and why Katie believes that aging isn't about becoming invisible—it’s about becoming visible to the right people.
Key Takeaways:
- The Menopause Zeitgeist: Why the conversation around menopause is finally hitting the mainstream and why "bikini medicine" (focusing only on the pelvis) is failing women’s brain, heart, and bone health.
- Aging Out Loud: Katie’s philosophy on resisting the "anti-aging" narrative and why she refuses to allow advertisers on her show who suggest that aging is a condition to be "fixed."
- Curiosity as a Superpower: How partners and husbands can support the women in their lives by educating themselves on perimenopause rather than waiting for their partner to explain it.
- The "Invisibility" Myth: A reframe on midlife—arguing that 50+ is not a time of fading away, but a time of intentional reinvention and newfound relevancy.
Episode Highlights:
- [00:00] Intro: Shout out to our friend and previous guest Jason Ronai on his new role at the Basketball Museum of Illinois (plus a goat debate).
- [02:15] The Small World: We uncover multiple points of connection and discuss Katie's career journey.
- [14:30] Culturally Catholic: Katie discusses her upbringing, the "Spotlight" scandal, and how she and her husband navigated faith while raising three young adults.
- [23:00] The Birth of A Certain Age: The "aha moment" when a New York Times bestselling author and a Michelin-starred chef both admitted they were afraid to go public with being over 50.
- [28:15] The Medical Gap: The staggering statistics behind NIH funding for women's health and the importance of HRT as a foundation for mental health.
- [35:10] Advice for Men: How husbands can "pull their heads out of their butts" and become active participants in the conversation around hormonal health.
- [43:00] Voting with Your Wallet: Why Katie chooses to use reading glasses and color her hair while still rejecting the "anti-aging" industrial complex.
- [53:40] Parenting Truths: Advice for parents of 17-year-olds on finding what "lights you up" rather than just padding a resume.
- [58:20] The Speed Round: Sunblock regrets, the "this too shall pass" mantra, and what Katie hopes people say at her wake.
Connect with Katie Fogarty:
- Podcast: A Certain Age
- Instagram: @acertainagepod
- Company: The Reboot Group
Chris and Shaun sit down with Zach Gale, an elementary special education teacher and the founder of Me to We. Zach discusses his journey from a hyper-competitive sports family to finding his purpose in supporting students with behavioral needs. We explore the transition from "Me" to "We," the importance of routine for mental health, and why Zach believes your story can one day become someone else’s survival guide.
Key Takeaways:
- Behavior as Communication: A core pillar of Zach’s teaching philosophy—understanding that every action from a child (or adult) is an attempt to communicate an underlying need.
- The "Me to We" Shift: Inspired by Inky Johnson, Zach explains how attaching yourself to a purpose and mission makes you "dangerous" in the best way possible.
- The Savage Servant: Trading the idea of being a "nice guy" for being a "good man"—someone who stands their ground and holds core values while remaining a "warrior in a garden."
- The Power of Routine: Why waking up at 4:00 AM and investing in self-discipline is Zach's greatest form of self-love and mental health maintenance.
Episode Highlights:
- [00:00] Intro: Celebrating Angela Saini and the Daniel Radcliffe connection.
- [05:30] The Gale Household: Growing up with a father who coached for 23 years and the "Golden Year" retirement video.
- [13:45] The Pivot to Special Ed: How "Bartlett Baseball Buddies" changed Zach's career path just days before college.
- [19:20] Men in Education: The disparity of male teachers at the elementary level and the importance of male role models in schools.
- [25:10] Perspective in the Classroom: Having tough conversations with veteran teachers and putting personal biases aside for the students.
- [33:00] The Origins of Me to We: Starting with Zoom workouts during COVID and evolving into a formalized LLC and men's group.
- [40:15] Family & Addiction: Zach’s middle brother’s journey to sobriety and his role in the men's group today.
- [48:40] Imposter Syndrome & Social Media: The struggle for authenticity in a society that casts judgment.
- [55:20] Curiosity Over Judgment: How Ted Lasso and "perspective taking" drive connection in Zach’s workshops.
- [01:02:00] The Best Sports Movie Debate: Miracle vs. Facing the Giants (and the notable absence of Hoosiers).
Connect with Zach Gale:
- Organization: Me to We
- LinkedIn: Zach Gale
Thanks to our sponsor, Mental. Mental is a wellness app built specifically for men, offering a sanctuary from "toxic positivity" and generic advice. It provides personalized, affordable, and science-backed support through real-life coaching designed to help you navigate life's messiest challenges. If you've been thinking about doing something for your mental health, visit https://app.getmental.com/subscribe to get started.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more people find these important conversations!
In this episode, we sit down with author, activist, and education policy expert Justin Cohen to explore the evolving role of fatherhood in the 21st century. Justin shares his personal journey from growing up in a household steeped in education advocacy to launching Dads for All, a movement designed to engage fathers in both community building and "bite-sized" civic action. We dive into the "low bar" of current fatherhood expectations, the lack of dedicated "dad spaces" in the advocacy world, and how to build a movement that prioritizes authentic connection over corporate metrics. Finally, Justin reflects on the importance of "staying in the pocket" when tackling long-term social struggles.
Key Topics:
- The "Expert" Paradox: Why Shaun and Chris believe the most important conversations happen when "non-experts" stay curious and dive into deep issues.
- Education in the Water: Justin reflects on growing up with a special ed teacher mother and a global policy expert grandfather, and how their warnings shaped his career.
- The Dads for All Movement: Moving beyond the "nonprofit industrial complex" to build a movement that focuses on "belonging-adjacent activation."
- Bridging the Policy Gap: How to get dads involved in systemic issues like childcare affordability and paternity leave without making them feel like they’re joining a "mom space."
- Movement vs. Nonprofit: Justin explains why he pivoted away from raising money for a "job" to focus on building a sustainable base of engaged fathers.
- The 2030 Landscape: A look at how issues like AI-driven unemployment and the cost of childcare are the next frontiers for organized fatherhood.
Notable Quotes:
- "Men in my generation are doing 3x the childcare their dads did... but my statistician friend calls that a 'low bar easily cleared.'"
- "We’re not building a nonprofit; we’re building a movement. If this ends up looking like a nonprofit because that’s what I’m comfortable with, I will have failed."
- "Stay in the pocket. Once you get out of the pocket, you can’t get back in."
Resources Mentioned:
- Dads for All: https://dadsforall.com/
- Justin’s Book on School Improvement: https://www.amazon.com/Change-Agents-Transforming-Schools-Ground/dp/1071875787
Thanks to our sponsor, Mental. Mental is a wellness app built specifically for men, offering a sanctuary from "toxic positivity" and generic advice. It provides personalized, affordable, and science-backed support through real-life coaching designed to help you navigate life's messiest challenges. If you've been thinking about doing something for your mental health, visit https://app.getmental.com/subscribe to get started.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more people find these important conversations!
In this episode, we sit down with author and activist Jonathan Mooney to explore the myth of "normalcy." Jonathan shares his personal journey navigating the education system with ADHD and dyslexia and discusses the powerful influence of the people who championed his differences. We also delve into the dark history of eugenics and its lingering impact on society's perception of disability. Finally, Jonathan introduces the Divergent Impact Fund, a new initiative aimed at supporting neurodivergent innovators.
Key Topics:
- Redefining Normal: Why the concept of a "normal" person is a harmful abstraction and how we can move toward a more inclusive design for society.
- The Power of Support: Jonathan reflects on how his mother and a transformative third-grade teacher, Mr. R, helped him see his challenges as strengths.
- The Dark History of Eugenics: A look at the US Eugenics movement and its shocking influence on global policies, including those in Nazi Germany.
- The Divergent Impact Fund: Jonathan’s mission to support innovators solving real-world problems for the neurodivergent community.
- Parenting and Technology: Navigating the unique challenges of raising children in a hyper-connected, digital world.
Notable Quotes:
- "The only normal people are people you don't know very well."
- "Our design principle for our world should be the reality of human difference, not the myth of the normal human."
Resources Mentioned:
- Jonathan's website: https://www.jonathanmooney.com/
- Jonathan's books: Normal Sucks, The Short Bus, and Learning Outside the Lines.
- The Divergent Impact Fund: divergentimpactfund.com
Thanks to our sponsor, Mental. Mental is a wellness app built specifically for men, offering a sanctuary from "toxic positivity" and generic advice. It provides personalized, affordable, and science-backed support through real-life coaching designed to help you navigate life's messiest challenges. If you've been thinking about doing something for your mental health, visit https://app.getmental.com/subscribe to get started.
Chris and Shaun welcome Sean Harvey, an advisor, consultant, author, and ordained interfaith minister. Sean has dedicated his life to helping men in hyper-masculine systems--ranging from Wall Street to police departments and the military--reconnect with their humanity. The trio discusses Sean's journey growing up as a gay man in Southwest Ohio, his transition from a high-stakes Wall Street consultant to an interfaith minister, and how to find common ground with those on the opposite end of the ideological spectrum. Sean explains the "Masculinity Imprint" on our organizations and how the term "Warrior" can help men embrace compassion.
Notable Quotes
"Compassionate Warrior is an identity that you can claim. Warrior Compassion is an energy within that men, when they’re courageous enough, can access." — Sean Harvey
"I am never going to tell you what you should be as a man. I’m never going to tell you that you need to embrace healthy masculinity...I’m going to talk about some of the realities on the journey." — Sean Harvey
"When we humanize and give officers more capacity, it actually makes them stronger. It’s not about softening; it's about strengthening." — Sean Harvey
Resources Mentioned
- Sean’s Org and Book: Warrior Compassion: Unleashing the Healing Power of Men
- MenLiving Website: menliving.org
- Here’s the bluegrass song detailing the devastating 1974 tornado that struck Xenia, Ohio: Oh! What a Storm
Thanks to our sponsor, Mental. Mental is a wellness app built specifically for men, offering a sanctuary from "toxic positivity" and generic advice. It provides personalized, affordable, and science-backed support through real-life coaching designed to help you navigate life's messiest challenges. If you've been thinking about doing something for your mental health, visit https://app.getmental.com/subscribe to get started.
In this episode, Shaun and Chris interview Janice McCabe, a sociologist from Dartmouth College and author of "Making, Keeping, and Losing Friends." They discuss making friends in college, the importance of propinquity and homophily, tight knitters, compartmentalizers, and samplers, friendship markets, the Dunbar number, her recommendation for students, parents and colleges, men and women as friends, the importance of intention in making friends and more.
Get your copy of Janice's book here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
In this episode, the guys talk with acclaimed photographer, Stacy Waldman Bass, about her memoir, Lightkeeper. They explore Stacy's draw to photography, the value of stories and photos to keeping memories alive, the tragic accident that changed her life, what it's like to write a memoir, the therapeutic value of writing, the challenges of balancing grief and joy, and more.
Get your copy of Lightkeeper here
Check out Stacy's work here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
In this episode, Chris and Shaun talk with Jim Maley, teacher and founder of the Maley Way. The guys discuss Jim's struggles with depression, his time as a Northwestern hoop player, enrolling at Holy Cross, screening selfishly, his mom's genius, his dad's brilliance, his wife's love, his role as a "depression agent," speaking to kids about mental health and more.
Learn more about Jim and the Maley Way here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
Join Chris and Shaun as they chat with Pete Davis, writer, film maker, and civic advocate about his book, Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in An Age of Infinite Browsing and his documentary, "Join or Die." The guys cover the influence his mom and dad had on him, growing up in Falls Church, making a life in Baltimore, why he decided not to be a lawyer, the importance of community participation, the power of invitation, the challenge of connecting in our technological times, the need for good leaders in the effort to revive civic engagement, and more.
Learn more about Pete and his missions https://petedavis.org
Watch Join or Die https://joinordiefilm.com
Get a copy of Dedicated here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
In this episode, Shaun and Chris talk with Kaitlyn Tierney, co-founder and CEO of Diverting Hate, an applied research nonprofit disrupting digital radicalization of boys and men through the use of evidence, empathy, and innovation. The guys talk with Kaitlyn about the challenges of running a non-profit, the value of partnerships, dealing with threats, moving to an island, ICE, the definition of rich, the power of social media, and more.
Learn more about Diverting Hate here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
In this episode, Chris and Shaun talk with Blayne Smith, co-founder of Applied Leadership Partners. The guys discuss Blayne's decision to go to West Point, his time there, and his time as a Special Operations Forces member. They also discuss golf, rucking, parenting, applied leadership, PTSD, perseverance (His book with co-author and business partner, Brandon Young, is Perseverance is Greater than Endurance), his time at Team RWB, and supporting the "Veteran Check In" initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, which provides free mental health resources for veterans and their families, and more.
Learn more about Blayne and Applied Leadership Partners here
Get Rucking at GORUCK here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
In the 17th episode of the season, Chris and Shaun interview Matt Candler, educator, inventor, investor, and coach. The guys discuss the state of education, mad libs, parenting, park bench pitches, Matt's sweet garage, electrification, the intersection of joy and curiosity, fossil fuels and renewables, kindness, and more.
Learn more about Matt here
In this episode, Chris and Shaun interview Bill Burke, founder of the Optimism Institute. The guys discuss Bill's relationship with Ted Turner and his early career at Turner Broadcasting, his time leading the Weather Channel and his life in minor league baseball as owner of the Portland Sea Dogs. They discuss the importance and power of optimism, The Paradox of Modern Optimism (Burke's forthcoming book), the difficulty to remain optimistic in part to the constant negativity and "doom scrolling" fueled by social media, and more.
Learn more about the Optimism Institute here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
In this episode, Chris and Shaun interview John Moe, a writer, longtime radio host, and creator of two mental health podcasts, "The Hilarious World of Depression" and "Depresh Mode with John Moe." The guys talk about the importance of hope and resilience, comeback stories, the need for open discussions about mental health and the impact of humor and empathy in addressing these issues, Patton Oswalt, the significance of community support in mental health advocacy, and more.
Learn more about John here
Listen to Depresh Mode with John Moe here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
In this episode, the guys interview Jon Macaskill, former Navy SEAL and co-host of the "Men Talking Mindfulness" podcast. After doing a quick opening meditation, they discuss Jon's growing up in Louisiana, great coaches, Jon's choice to go into the military, his journey from enlisting in the Navy to becoming a SEAL, his struggles with PTSD and subsequent recovery through mindfulness. the creation of his podcast with Will Schneider and more.
Learn more about Jon here
Listent to Men Talking Mindfulness here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
In this episode, Chris and Shaun interview Dr. Eli Joubert, a psychosexual therapist from Leeds, UK. They discuss Eli's work on human sexuality and the concept of "sexy facts." , growing up in South Africa, transitioning from a career in fine art to psychology, and focusing on masculinity and sexuality. Eli highlights the need for open conversations about sex and sexuality, emphasizing the importance of understanding individual experiences and normalizing behaviors. Dr. Joubert shares his idea of a platform where people can anonymously share their sexual practices and preferences, aiming to provide accessible, public data on human sexuality. He believes this could lead to healthier relationships and reduce shame around sexuality
Learn more about Eli here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
in this episode, Chris and Shaun talk with Sam Pressler, founder of the non-profit, the Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP) and his new project, Connective Tissue. The guys discuss entrepreneurship, grandmothers, flourishing, professionalism, veterans, humor as a connection mechanism and more!
Learn more about Sam and his projects here
Follow the Connective Tissue Substack here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
The guys chat with Chris MacLellan, also known as "Father Mac," founder of the Whole Care Network and Aging Gayfully. They discuss Chris' journey from professional bowling to caregiving, his experiences caring for his partner, Richard, who passed away from cancer in 2014. Chris highlights the challenges faced by same-sex couples in healthcare. He also talks about his work building the Whole Care Network, his screenplay based on his experiences, his time in the seminary (twice), his bowling career, and more!
Learn more about Chris and the Whole Care Network here.
Tap into Aging Gayfully here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
Chris and Shaun talk with Chris' friend, Trish Tierney, co-founder of WAKE, Women's Alliance for Knowledge Exchange. The gang discusses Notre Dame, rowing, kids, Trish's development of WAKE, lessons in travel, matchmaking women in tech with nonprofits around the world, WAKE's aims to scale its US program while exploring new countries for its international efforts, WAKE success stories, men's involvement in the program and more.
Learn more about Trish and WAKE here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
In this episode, Chris and Shaun interview Joe Gidjunis, creator of the PBS documentary series "Grown Up Dad," which explores modern fatherhood. Joe's pilot episode, featuring a trip to Australia, received over 100,000 viewers. Upcoming episodes will cover topics like screen time challenges, evolving masculinity, and media literacy. Joe emphasizes the importance of intentionality and presence in parenting. He also discusses the challenges of balancing fatherhood with work and the impact of social media on children. Joe's personal journey includes finding role models in cartoons and addressing his own father's absence. The series aims to support and educate parents.
Check out the show here
Learn more about Joe and Grown Up Dad here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
In this episode, Shaun and Chris welcomes Dr. Daniel Ellenberg, a psychologist, former president of Division 51 of the American Psychological Association, and founder of the Men and Boys Compassion Coalition. The guys discuss compassion, pain and suffering, New Jersey, Strong Boys with Heart, growing up Daniel, the negative perception of compassion in men, Daniel's coming book, "Strength with Heart," with Fred Rabinowitz, and much more
Learn more about Daniel here
Learn about the Men and Boys Compassion Coalition here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
In this episode, Shaun and Chris sit down with Alex Johnston, philanthropy advisor, author of Money with Meaning, and founder of Building Impact Partners. Alex helps ultra-wealthy individuals bring more joy, purpose, and impact to their giving, but as you'll hear, his deeper work is about human connection and personal transformation. The guys discuss what it means to live with intention, how to grow from childhood wounds, and why moving from fear to joy might be the most important shift a person can make. Alex opens up about his own journey — from valedictorian and Rhodes Scholar to a man who had to slow down, tune in, and redefine success. Along the way, they cover parenting boys in today’s world, the challenges of wealth, and the power of small groups to create lasting change.
Get Alex's book...Money with Meaning
Learn more about Building Impact Partners here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
In the sixth episode of Season 4, Shaun and Chris sit down with Cathy Cassani Adams to talk about her new book, Restoring Our Girls, a guide for parenting girls ages 12 to 25. Cathy shares insights from her work as a social worker and professor, emphasizing the importance of honest conversations, critical thinking, media literacy, and creating a supportive, non-judgmental space for girls to express themselves. They also discuss the Super Bowl, Zen Parenting Radio, life lessons, the power of sensitivity, staying grounded in our own thoughts and feelings leading with kindness, and more.
Get the book, Restoring Our Girls.
Read Cathy's Substack
Listen to Zen Parenting Radio
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
In the 5th episode of the season, the boys interview Mike Simons, founder of Intonation Music Workshop, Camp for All Kids, and Chris' good friend and bandmate. They discuss Mike's career leading Intonation Music for 15 years, impacting hundreds of kids. They dig into Mike's co-founding of the Pitchfork Music Festival and Camp for All Kids which provides overnight camp experiences to underrepresented youth, emphasizing the benefits of unplugging from technology and fostering personal growth. Mike's work aims to build trust, community, and life skills in young people.
Learn more about Intonation here
Learn more about Camp For All here
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
In this episode, Shaun and Chris interview Captain Chris "Chowdah" Hill, Commanding Officer of the USS Harry S. Truman. Hill was commanding the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower at the time of the recording and recently took command of the Truman. During the conversation, the guys explore Chowdah's manifesto, "The Way of the Warrior Sailor," which emphasizes morale, job satisfaction, and positive relationships. They talk about love, dealing with the enemy, mental health, the challenges and nuances of managing a crew of 5,300 and 2,000 airmen, DEI, social media and more
Learn more about Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/capt-chris-“chowdah”-hill-35852752/
Follow Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chowdah_hill/?hl=en
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
In this episode, Chris and Shaun sit down with Dr. Anson Whitmer, co-founder of Calm and the creator of Mental, our new show sponsor. The boys dig into Anson’s journey—his time building Calm, one of the most well-known mindfulness apps, and how that experience led him to create Mental, a platform designed specifically for men’s mental health. We also touch on the ever-popular cold shower debate (spoiler: Shaun’s not buying it), the challenges of men engaging in self-care, and the importance of taking risks and pushing boundaries
Get Mental at 20% discount: http://getmental.com/IYCTF
In this episode, the guys talk with Amiee Smith Schuster, CEO Bold Heights Solutions. The gang talks about Amiee's work with PGA golfers, michigan/michigan st, big families, "it takes a village," what is success?, hugging trees, "pissing on the present," Crazy Amiee!, golf is hard and more.
Learn more about Amiee Smith Schuster and Bold Heights Solutions here.
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers on Half Acre's website.
In this first episode of the new year, Shaun and Chris talk with Ashanti Branch, founder of the Ever Forward Club, an Oakland based nonprofit with a mission to address the underlying causes of drop out rates, youth violence, and the growing achievement gap through mentoring and social emotional development. The guys talk about vulnerability, happy hour, the desire to get rich, change of plans, having a calling, masks, the power of phones, the struggles and joys of teaching and entrepreneurship and more.
Learn more about Ashanti and the Ever Forward Club here
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here.
In the latest edition, Chris and Shaun talk with Jonny Imerman, founder of Imerman Angels, a non profit that provides peer-to-peer support for cancer patients and survivors and co-founder of ClozTalk, a B-corp that helps nonprofits promote their causes through branded merchandise and apparel. The guys talk about peer support, cancer, some big cities, connection, storytelling, awareness, Jonny's cancer journey, greek food, brotherly love, and more.
Check out Imerman Angels
Support your favorite non profit (MenLiving?!) at ClozTalk
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers on Half Acre's website.
In this episode, Shaun and Chris talk with Shana James, coach, podcaster, and author of Honest Sex. Their conversation covers vulnerability, communications, coaching men, intentional communities, honesty, mind reading...what is sex actually?, orgasmic lifestyles sprinkles, the Encyclopedia Britannica, the state of men, and more!
You can get a free copy of Shana's book here.
Listen to her podcasts Man Alive and Practicing Love here
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers on Half Acre's website.
In this episode, Shaun and Chris talks with Jeremy Smith, Working Dad Course Lead for Mindful Return. The guys talk about being a dad, parental leave, leave and careers, coffee, leave as compensation, the importance of communication and more
Read about Jeremy in this WSJ article
Learn more about Mindful Return
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers on Half Acre's website.
In this episode, Chris and Shaun talk with Alex Grodd, founder of The Disagreement. The guys discuss Bill Bradley, curiosity, entrepreneurship, Alex’s first start-up: A Better Lesson, education, healthy disagreement, tattoos, free will, rubrics, and more.
For more about The Disagreement: https://www.thedisagreement.com/
And to check out a Better Lesson: https://betterlesson.com
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers on Half Acre's website.
Back on the show for this season's 13th episode is one of our first guests, Ben Feller. Ben is a father, author, communications consultant, yankee fan and former White House Correspondent. In an always rollicking conversation, the guys discuss Anthony Volpe, transitions, new "jobs," highest and best use of time, corporate "language" strategy, death, self-awareness, curveballs, fathering and more.
For more on Ben and his firm, maslansky + partners https://maslansky.com/
Check out Ben's book: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Problems-Little-Ben-Feller/dp/088448890X
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers on Half Acre's website.
In episode 12, Shaun and Chris talk with Dr. Jed Diamond, renowned men's health advocate, author, therapist, and founder of both MenAlive and the Moonshot For Mankind. The guys talk about family, how Jed got into working with men, male menopause, the moonshot, the power of technology, hormones, living a long life, irritable males, islands of sanity, etc
Learn more about Jed and his writings at https://menalive.com/
The Moonshot For Mankind https://moonshotformankind.org/
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers on Half Acre's website.
In this season's 11th episode, Shaun and Chris chat with MenLiving Contributing Members, Facilitators, and brothers, Jason and Jeremy Samatas. The boys explore what it was like growing up Samatas, who was the better athlete, how their relationship developed over the years, their dad's influence, working in and surviving the family business, and more.
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers on Half Acre's website.
In this episode, Chris and Shaun interview Adam Nimoy, writer, director, producer, and author of The Most Human, Reconciling With My Father, Leonard Nimoy. Among other topics, the boys explore growing up Spock, the Grateful Dead, The Offspring, the importance of dwellings, 12 step, parenting, love & loss and much more.
Get Adam’s book, Most Human here
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here.
In this episode, Shaun and Chris meet with Dr. Gary Barker, Co-Founder and CEO of Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice. Among other topics, the boys explore sabbaticals, living in Chicago, being an ally, doing two things at the same time, bravery, Gary’s dad, caring for men, gender equity, and more.
You can learn more about Gary and Equimundo here.
Watch Gary’s TedTalk here.
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers on Half Acre's website.
This week, Shaun and Chris talk with Bob McKinnon, writer, designer, podcast host, children’s author and teacher. Bob and the boys talk about Boston sports, girls’ soccer, his new book: America’s Dreaming (and his first book, Three Little Engines), his dream to play left field for the Sox, his social mobility and his mission to help others move up, the American Dream, college vs. not college, his daughters’ as editors, Mr. Downs, and more.
You can learn more about Bob here.
Purchase his new book, America’s Dreaming here
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here.
In this episode, the boys talk with Chris’ long-time friend, Kate Milliken, founder of MyCounterpane and Moodify. The trio explore Kate’s life with multiple sclerosis, her fierce entrepreneurship, her career in film and video production, SNAGs, osteopathic treatment of MS, billionaires, story-telling, community-building, the real impact of peer support. and more.
You can learn more about Kate here.
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers on Half Acre's website.
In this episode, Chris and Shaun get cozy with Lauren Massarella and Michelle Anderson from the Sister Project, "a place for us sisters and you sisters-from-other-misters to gather, converse, sometimes complain, celebrate superwomen and trade lifestyle tips." The boys and girls discuss religion, the hygge lifestyle, taking care of parents, WIFs, cannabis, therapy, candles, the craziness of our lives, and more.
You can learn more about The Sister Project here.
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here.
In this latest episode, Shaun and Chris interview Tate Barkley, author of Sunday Dinners, Moonshine, and Men, a memoir. Tate is also a speaker, educator, and a 30-year practicing attorney and a founding partner of Bain & Barkley law firm in Houston, Texas. The guys talk about Tate's relationship with his dad (Bubbas!), religion, being a gay man, his bad ass mom, his addiction, growing up poor, finding Anson and more.
You can learn more about Tate and order his book here.
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers on Half Acre's website.
On March 19th, author and librarian, John Schu will release his latest book, Louder than Hunger. In this interview, Chris and Shaun talk with John about story, his books, The Voice, Goofy, being a librarian, Blockbuster, his battle with anorexia, how Louder the Hunger parallels his life, and more.
Learn more about Johnhere
Get your copy of Louder Than Hunger here
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here.
In this episode, Shaun and Chris interview Dr. John Duffy, Psychologist, Best-Selling Author, Speaker, and National Media Personality. The guys talk about John’s new book, Rescuing Our Sons, 8 Solutions to Our Crisis of Disaffected Teen Boys (A Psychologist's Roadmap), Notre Dame, the origin of John’s “uniform,” Bruce Springsteen, his experiences with boys and young men vs. girls and young women, the power of phones, video games, and weed, emotional intelligence, John's brother's suicide, the importance of dads and other male role models, and more.
Learn more about Johnhere
Get your copy of Rescuing our Sons here
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers on Half Acre's website.
In this episode, the boys talk with Jinhyun Shin and Mike Hardin who are traveling the country talking about mental health, loneliness, suicide, and how we can come together to over come it all. They cover Mike’s life as a navy seal, his crushing addiction, and path to recovery and Jin’s work developing language to make mental health tangible, actionable, and communal. They also get into Penciv, a new social journaling app that Jin has recently co-created.
Learn more about Penciv
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here.
In the first episode of Season 3, Shaun and Chris talk with Dave Haskin, co-founder of Mindful Man, a Wisconsin-based meditation program. The boys discuss mindfulness, meditation, Bears/Packers, being silent, going to the "range," emerging from addiction, meditation in prisons, Thich Nhat Hanh, and more.
Learn more about Dave and Mindful Man and Mindful MenLiving
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers on Half Acre's website.
In this episode, Chris and Shaun welcome Angela Saini, award-winning journalist and author of The Patriarchs, Inferior and other science-based books. Angela and the guys discuss pseudoscience, the origin of the patriarchy, teaching at Harvard and MIT, menopause, the role of the sexes, Canadians and more.
You can find Angela's books: The Patriarchs here and Inferior here
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers on Half Acre's website.
In this latest episode, Shaun and Chris talk with Dr. Stephen Trzeciak, co-author of Wonder Drug, 7 scientifically proven ways that serving others is the best medicine for yourself. The guys discuss Chris and Steve’s time at Notre Dame, Steve’s experience in the ICU, compassion, data nerds and the power of research, burnout, parochial empathy, sarcasm, being a Live to Giver, and more.
You can get your copy of Wonder Drug here and Compassionomics here
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here.
Chris and Shaun talk with Chris' long time friend, Becky Crowe. The boys chat with Becky about her time as an All-American swimmer at Stanford, the implosion of the Pac-12, her life in education, learning new things at 50, teaching refugees to swim and overcome trauma in Lesbos,, "working with the power of love," and more.
Learn more about Yoga and Sport with Refugees and the Swim for Good program here
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers on Half Acre's website.
In episode 14 of season 2, Chris and Shaun talk with Karith Foster, Founder of Inversity Solutions. Karith and the boys discuss the state of DEI, including men in the DEI conversation, being a mom, an entrepreneur, and a stand-up comedian, her time working with Don Imus, using humor to address tough topics and more.
In this episode, Shaun and Chris talk with Emma Varvaloucas, Executive Director of The Progress Network, a non-profit "building an idea movement that speaks to a better future in a world dominated by voices that suggest a worse one." Emma and the boys talk doom scrolling, living in NYC and overseas, Buddhism, journalism, media and the news, anti-pessimism, and more.Learn more about Emma and the Progress Network hereThis episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers on Half Acre's website.
For the latest episode, Shaun and Chris interview Chuka Emezue. Chuka is an Assistant Professor, Department of Women, Children and Family Nursing, College of Nursing at Rush University, a writer, and entrepreneur. The guys talk about incels, men and nursing, men and violence, using technology for violence prevention, starting a new family, a global masculinity crisis and more.
Learn more about Chuka here
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here.
In episode 11, Chris and Shaun interview Tonia Rivers, founder of the non-profit, Mothers in Construction, an organization dedicated to supporting mothers in the construction industry and empowering young women by providing advocacy, support, education, awareness, and resources. Tonia shares her career path, the start of her organization, being a military spouse, her love of architecture, the challenges for women in the industry, some of the cool projects she has managed and more.
Check out Tonia's organization, Mothers in Construction
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers here on Half Acre's website.
In this episode, the boys interview Jim Schneider, writer, father, husband, Packers fan, and Executive Director of the PCI Mountain States chapter, which covers Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. Chris and Shaun give Jim shit for loving the Packers, explore the creation of his popular blog, learn about the game of Fencebat, discuss raising a neurodivergent child, discover how Jim met his wife, Erin, at The World of Concrete and more.
Get your copy of Fencebat
Follow Honest Parenting
Learn more about Erin's coaching services at Mountain Summit Coaching
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here.
In honor of US Open week, Shaun and Chris interview Shaun's brother, Dean, PGA Tour caddie for young Georgian, Davis Thompson, who will be making his first US Open appearance. The guys talk about what it was like growing up Emerson, Dean's crazy path to being a caddy, the holy trinity of showing up, keeping up, and shutting up, the possibility of carrying a bag at 72, the struggles of doing math in his head, and life as Kid Dynamite.
Follow Dean on Instagram
Buy Dynamite merchandise
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here.
In this episode, Chris and Shaun talk with Chris' good friend and bandmate, Dr. Jon Sherman or "Sherm." The guys discuss the power of camp, humor in therapy, treating eating disorders, the absurdity of marriage, working with couples vs. women vs. men and a whole lot more.
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here.
The boys have a raucous conversation with Pawley Bornstein, inspirational recovery comedian, host of the RecoveryCast podcast and Alumni Coordinator for Glenbeigh Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. The guys discuss Ohio roots, Pawley's history with addiction, addiction recovery, Pawley's former job as big market radio host, RecoveryCast, why it's important to love shit sandwiches, cats and more.
Listen to Pawley's RecoveryCast here
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers here on Half Acre's website.
In episode 6, Chris and Shaun talk with Dr. Jason Frishman, therapist and founder of the JourneyMen Foundation. The guys cover Jason's work as a therapist, the power of summer camp, the importance of raising good sons and dads, the beauty of Vermont, adventure therapy and the mission of the JourneyMen Foundation and more.
Learn more about Jason and the JourneyMen Foundation here.
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here.
In episode 5, the fellas interview Joe Conrad, founder and CEO of Denver-based Cactus and Grit Digital Health. Joe shares the origin story of his businesses and Man Therapy, the CDC study analyzing the effectiveness of Man Therapy, the tools Grit is developing to serve the mental health crisis everywhere (for kids, businesses etc) and more.
Learn more about Cactus here
and Grit Digital Health here
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers here on Half Acre's website.
In episode 4, The boys talk with Nico Lagan. Nico is an entrepreneur, men’s coach, Muay Thai instructor, author of the new book, Purpose, and host of The Nico Lagan Show podcast.The guys explore the concept of purpose, Nico's years alone in the woods, his life on the road, what it means to be a good man, what he seeks to offer men and more.
Learn more about Nico and his new book here
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here.
In episode 3, Chris and Shaun talk with Matthew Quick, author of We Are The Light, Silver Linings Playbook and 7 other outstanding novels. Matthew is a powerful guest and the guys talk about his latest book, WATL, masculinity and feminitity, Jungian psychology, the writing process, getting sober, working in Hollywood with Harvey Weinstein and more. Not to be missed.
Find Matthew's work here
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers here on Half Acre's website.
In this episode, Chris and Shaun talk with Shawn Woodin, MenLiving contributing member and facilitator, husband, father, business executive and author of the novel, Father, Son, Broken Spirit. The boys cover Shawn's work in Peace Corps, the process of writing a novel over 20 years, religion, carnivals, R.E.M and more.
You can purchase Shawn's book here.
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here.
In episode 1 of season 2, Shaun and Chris interview Dr. Susan Engel, author of The Hungry Mind and the Senior Lecturer in Psychology; Senior Faculty Fellow, Rice Center for Teaching, The Class of 1959 Director of Program in Teaching at Williams College. The boys have a delightful conversation with Susan about curiosity, the educational system, the pandemic, kids being behind (or not), building teachers and her new class, Suckers and Scammers.
Check out more about Susan here.
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers here on Half Acre's website.
In Episode 25, the final episode of the season, Shaun and Chris review who they've met, what they've learned, the days ahead, and their plan for selling the podcast to Amazon for $80M (🙄).
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here.
It's episode 24 and the guys are talking with the legendary Byron Katie. Katie is the founder of the Work, a simple process of inquiry for alleviating suffering and gaining joy and freedom. Chris and Shaun talk with Katie about her transformation, the impact the Work has had on millions over the last 40 years, and Katie "Works" through a very personal situation.
You can learn more about Katie here.
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers here on Half Acre's website.
In Episode 23, the boys are joined by Dr. Maggie Emerson, Assistant Professor and an ANCC board certified Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Emerson specializes in the delivery of Integrated Care and is a co-founder of the MIND database, a site dedicated to rating and reviewing mental health apps. Maggie, Chris and Shaun discuss the staus of mental health in the US, telehealth vs. in person care, the MIND database and the quality of mental health apps, and more.
You can learn more about Maggie here
Check out the MIND database here
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here
In Episode 22, Chris and Shaun talk with Darryl Postelnick aka TikTok's Cooking With Darryl. They discuss Darryl's social media rise, his work with Disney and Microsoft, gadgets, his and Shaun's friendship, how he interacts with his 2.7M followers and how funny he is (or thinks he is!).
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers here on Half Acre's website.
Darryl's TikTok Channel https://www.tiktok.com/@cookingwithdarryl?lang=en
The Cooking with Darryl website https://cookwithdarryl.com
In this episode, Chris and Shaun are joined by friend and MenLiving Executive Director, Todd Adams, to explore the last lecture of Father Michael Himes. Father Himes was a theologian, philosopher and an instructor at both the University of Notre Dame and Boston College. He made an enormous impact on Chris when he was a student at Notre Dame and on all of us as fans of his "last lecture." They discuss integrity, friendship, giving one's self, tell me your story, uttering the definitive message and more.
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here
Learn more about Father Himes here
Listen and watch the full last lecture here
In this latest episode, the guys meet with Dr. Saed Hill, Assistant Director of Prevention and Masculine Engagement for Northwestern University's CARE program. The conversation covers Saed's upbringing, the NU Men's program, sexual consent, prevention vs. engagement, smoked meat, restrictive masculinity and more...
Learn more about Dr. Saed Hill, and his NU Men program, a critical examination of masculinity.
In Episode 19, Chris and Shaun talk with Chris' old friend, Jason Ronai, author of Endless Teachable Moments, a new book of poetry on the power and art of sport. The fellas cover Jason's sports history, coaching, parenting, the beauty of sport, and facing tragedy and more....
Get Jason's book, Endless Teachable Moments here
In episode 18, Shaun and Chris talk with Paul Sullivan, the founder of The Company of Dads, an inclusive community for Lead Dads. In addition to discussing the Company's mission and activities, the guys explore Paul's previous career as a columnist with the New York Times, growing up in Massachusetts, middle school, his books, Clutch and the Thin Green Line, emotional labor, and golf.
This episode is brought to you by Half Acre Brewery. Check out the wonderful beers here on Half Acre's website.
To learn more about the Company of Dads and Paul on their website: https://thecompanyofdads.com/
In this episode, the boys chat with Michael Clinton, author of ROAR into the second half of your life (before it's too late). The discussion covers Michael's career as a media executive and former head of Hearst Publishing, humble beginnings, what it means to ROAR, Michael's ambitious schedule, frameworks and the value of brunch.
You can learn more about Michael and order ROAR here
This episode is brought to you by Judson & Moore, Family Legacy American Whiskey. Born from Boundless Curiosity. Learn more about Judson & Moore here
In this latest episode, Chris and Shaun talk with Dave Dunn, author of Love, Crowd Out, Forgive, Accept, a guide book to supporting a loved one with anorexia. The discussion covers Dave's daughter, Kara's, battle with anorexia, the impact on him, his family and his relationship with his wife. They explore Dave's work with FEAST, his career as a tech executive and his decision to go back to school to train as a therapist.
Find Dave's book here on Amazon
Learn more about Feast
In episode 15, Chris and Shaun talk with Jordan Shapiro, Temple University professor and author of Father Figure; How to be a Feminist Dad. They cover parenting, masculinity, what it means to be a feminist, the good life, philly cheesesteaks and bourbon waffles. This interview is insightful and fun (as always!). You can learn more about Jordan and order his books at https://www.jordanshapiro.org.
In the 14th episode, Shaun and Chris interview Dr. Christine Porath. Dr. Porath is an Associate Professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and helps organizations build thriving workplaces. They dig into both her books, Mastering Community and Mastering Civility, self-awareness, candor, humility, the fundamentals of civility, being a two sport athlete in college and much more!
In recognition of Men's Health Awareness Month, Chris and Shaun talk with Dr. Will Harper, Founder of Harper Health, a Chicago based concierge medicine practice. Dr. Will and the boys discuss good men's health practices, innovations in health care, Shaun's health (Will is his doctor) and more.
In this episode, Shaun and Chris talk with Dr. Geoffrey Greif, Professor, University of Maryland School of Social Work. The guys dig into Dr. Greif's book, Buddy System: Understanding male friendships, explore must, trust, rust and just friendships, the difference between family and friends, trust, loyalty, being understood and other aspects of Grief's work on relationships.
In this episode, Shaun and Chris talk with Ed Hajim about his extraordinary life. Ed recently penned his memoir, On The Road Less Traveled (a great read). They discuss Ed's journey from foster homes to Harvard Business School to a successful career on Wall Street. Along the way, they cover the importance of passion, not being a victim, the value of college, golf and more. At 86, Ed's energy and magnetism is off the charts!
In this episode, the boys talk with Ben Feller, author of Big Problems, Little Problems. They cover Ben's time as the Chief White House Correspondent for the Associated Press, his road to Penn State, his love for the Yankees, the value of storytelling, the impetus for Ben's book and more.
In our latest episode, Shaun and Chris talk with Dan Kemp, Headmaster and co-founder of the Picabo Street Academy. The guys talk skiing, the state of education, diverse approaches to education, mountain biking, parenting, Utah vs. Colorado and appendicitis.
In this episode, Shaun and Chris talk with Jim Dethmer, co-founder of the Conscious Leadership Group. The guys talk golf as a metaphor, frameworks, life coaches, emotions and the power of sexual creative energy.
In Episode 7 of If You've Come This Far, Shaun and Chris talk with Ryan Bayron. Ryan is a husband, father, graphic designer, energy healer, musician, podcast host and the holistic mystic on TikTok (5M likes & 284k fans!). They discuss all that is Ryan plus work, parenting, therapy, social media, and healing.
In Episode 6 of If You've Come This Far, Shaun and Chris talk with Wes Becton. Wes has been married to his wife, Ingrid for 30 years, has three children and is CEO and co-founder (with Ingrid) of George Washington Street Partners, a consulting firm that specializes in business consulting and executive leadership coaching. They discuss Wes' military and business careers, his father, General Becton, an American hero, parenting, race relations, golf and more.
In Episode 5 of If You've Come This Far, Shaun and Chris talk with Alexa James. Alexa is a mother of two children, CEO of NAMI Chicago and Senior Advisor for Mental Wellness to the Chicago Police Department. They discuss approaches to mental wellness, self-care, business, social media, psychedelics, connection and more. Stay for the end...we live in such a small world!
Shaun and Chris talk with Billy Baker, husband, father, Boston Globe reporter and author of "We Need to Hang Out."
Frank Naugo is a co-founder of MenLiving, a husband, father, sales manager, yoga teacher, and most of all graceful. We explore the benefits of being in nature, self-awareness, purpose, Wim Hoff and much more!
Mike Rosen is a dad to 3 sons, a teacher, long distance runner and furniture maker. Mike is genuine, curious, smart and very fun. We go deep and hope you enjoy.
We are here with Todd Adams, who first and foremost, is a close friend of ours. He is also a co-founder of MenLiving and has been doing men's work for over a decade and has been working on parenting for nearly two decades with his wife and partner, Cathy Cassani Adams.