ManTalks Podcast

I break down 10 things men must stop doing in 2026 if they want their strongest year yet. I talk about why being busy is not the same as making progress, how avoidance quietly erodes integrity, and why a regulated nervous system is becoming a competitive advantage. If you want more clarity, direction, and self-leadership this year, this episode will challenge you to cut what is weakening you and focus on what actually matters.SHOW HIGHLIGHTS00:00 - Why 2026 Requires Elimination, Not More Motivation01:31 - Stop Confusing Motion With Progress03:07 - Stop Avoiding Hard Conversations04:47 - Stop Letting Dopamine Run Your Life06:50 - Stop Treating Your Body as Separate From Your Mind08:52 - Stop Blaming Your Past for Your Present10:29 - Stop Trying to Be Like Everyone Else11:42 - Stop Living With an Unregulated Nervous System13:58 - Stop Outsourcing Meaning and Validation15:32 - Stop Doing Everything Alone17:47 - Stop Waiting for “Someday”***Tired of feeling like you're never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worthPick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/Heard about attachment but don’t know where to start? Try the FREE Ultimate Guide To AttachmentCheck out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your RelationshipBuild brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance. Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the tools and training they’re looking for. And don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | SpotifyFor more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

I break down why anxiety is so prevalent today and why much of it is being intentionally manufactured. I explore the existential and psychological forces driving anxiety - from social media comparison to nervous system overload. I also share three practical tools you can start using immediately to reduce anxiety and regain a sense of internal stability. If you struggle with chronic worry or overwhelm, this episode will give you a new framework for understanding and working with anxiety.SHOW HIGHLIGHTS00:00 Why anxiety is increasing by design00:46 Anxiety as a future-based distortion03:19 Global instability and manufactured fear04:31 Comparison addiction and social media06:12 The breakdown of objective truth08:51 Disagreement as relational death11:13 Nervous system sensitivity and stress17:15 Three tools to reduce anxiety***Tired of feeling like you're never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worthPick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/Heard about attachment but don’t know where to start? Try the FREE Ultimate Guide To AttachmentCheck out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your RelationshipBuild brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance. Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the tools and training they’re looking for. And don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | SpotifyFor more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

I sit down with AJ McQueen for a deeply honest conversation about trauma, masculinity, faith, and self-acceptance. AJ shares how violence, heartbreak, and survival shaped his early life, and how learning radical acceptance became the turning point in his growth as a man. We talk about sex, discipline, purpose, boundaries, and why so many men live stuck in survival mode. This is a raw, reflective discussion about becoming grounded, choosing yourself, and learning how to live with integrity.SHOW HIGHLIGHTS00:00 - Introduction and Meeting AJ01:00 - Heartbreak as a Catalyst for Growth05:10 - Sex, Addiction, and Masculinity10:00 - Growing Up Around Violence16:20 - Defining Manhood and Fatherhood21:15 - Autonomy, Boundaries, and Self-Respect28:45 - Saying No and Taking Back Control35:15 - Trauma, Gifts, and Acceptance40:30 - Confidence Through Radical Acceptance48:25 - Survival Mode vs Self-Understanding53:30 - Enoughness and Self-Worth01:01:10 - Travel, Perspective, and Expansion01:06:20 - Faith, Spirituality, and Service01:12:30 - Closing Reflections and Gratitude***Tired of feeling like you're never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worthPick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/Heard about attachment but don’t know where to start? Try the FREE Ultimate Guide To AttachmentCheck out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your RelationshipBuild brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance. Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the tools and training they’re looking for. And don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | SpotifyFor more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

I break down what I call the modern man’s mother wound - how growing up with a deep distrust or disdain for men can shape a man’s identity, relationships, and sense of self. I explore how this wound forms, how it shows up in adult life, and why so many men struggle with boundaries, authority, and male relationships as a result. Most importantly, I walk you through practical, grounded steps you can take to reclaim your masculinity and build a stronger, more integrated sense of who you are as a man.SHOW HIGHLIGHTS00:00 - The Modern Man’s Mother Wound01:06 - Growing Up Distrusting Men03:40 - Father Absence and Its Impact06:01 - Missing Masculine Modeling07:34 - The Negative Mother Complex10:35 - How the Mother Wound Shows Up16:29 - Healing Through Male Connection24:24 - Integrating the Mother Wound***Tired of feeling like you're never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worthPick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/Heard about attachment but don’t know where to start? Try the FREE Ultimate Guide To AttachmentCheck out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your RelationshipBuild brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance. Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the tools and training they’re looking for. And don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | SpotifyFor more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

I sit down with Josh to unpack what’s really happening with men today, why so many feel disconnected, and how culture, economics, and identity play into the decline we’re seeing. We get into whether men are being blamed, why institutions repel them, and how service can restore purpose, direction, and confidence.I also ask Josh what he fears most for the next generation and what responsibility, excellence, and manhood should look like in today's world. This one will challenge you, and I hope it pushes you to think, act, and share it forward.SHOW HIGHLIGHTS00:00 Welcome and opening question03:10 Crisis of connection08:25 Are men being seen as the problem12:40 Economics, purpose, and identity18:05 Why institutions repel young men23:30 Why California launched this program28:55 The role of service33:10 Mentoring, coaching, and responsibility39:20 Modern politics and polarization45:05 How men build friendships50:10 Skills, jobs, and opportunity56:30 What Josh fears for his sons01:00:45 Redefining responsibility and excellence01:05:20 Closing thoughts and how to get involved***Tired of feeling like you're never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worthPick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/Heard about attachment but don’t know where to start? Try the FREE Ultimate Guide To AttachmentCheck out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your RelationshipBuild brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance. Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the tools and training they’re looking for. And don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | SpotifyFor more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram