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The ManKind Podcast

ManKind Project USA

The ManKind Podcast is a space where modern masculinity gets redefined by real men doing real work.

In a world full of outdated blueprints and noisy stereotypes, hosts Brandon Clift and Boysen Hodgson unpack what it means to be a man today with humor, honesty, and heart.

This isn’t about telling you WHO to be. It’s about helping you pick up the pen and write your own story of manhood. Whether we’re breaking down leadership blind spots, sharing the messiness of personal growth, or talking to mission-driven authors and change-makers, this show offers tools, stories, and soulful conversations to help you show up as the man you're destined to become!

If you’re ready to stop performing and start becoming, tune in. We’re here for the messy, meaningful, and often hilarious journey of becoming the kind of man and human you actually want to be.

Created by the ManKind Project USA.
Hosted by Brandon Clift & Boysen Hodgson.

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#265
Tuesday · 38 min
265 - From FBI Burnout to 35 Days at Sea — One Veteran's Search for Purpose with Jere Hartman
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). The US military does an incredible job of creating warriors and a horrible job of bringing them home. Jere Hartman lived that truth. After leaving the 75th Ranger Regiment, he chased the career ladder at the FBI, hit 240 pounds, and looked in the mirror at a miserable man achieving goals that weren't his. So he quit, thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, and then said yes to something drastic: rowing 2,800 miles across the Pacific Ocean with a crew of veterans. Thirty-five days at sea. No way out. No way to hide. Out there, he found what had been missing since the day he took off the uniform. In this conversation, you'll learn: Why almost every warrior culture in history had a ritual for bringing soldiers home — and what happens when ours doesn't The night Jere thought he was having a heart attack 300 miles from shore, and how surrendering to it changed how he expresses himself forever Why the brotherhood on the boat formed between men who couldn't stand each other on land — and what that reveals about how male bonds are actually built The formula behind Courser Racing's model: hardship, brotherhood, no exit Jere's honest minimum dose for the 38-year-old with a mortgage and three kids who can't row an ocean — and why it starts with something you loved 20 years ago What happened when one crew member reached Hawaii, proposed to his wife again, and rebuilt his relationship with his kids and grandkids Follow the crew as they train to cross the Atlantic — La Gomera, Spain to Antigua, 3,000 miles, departing December 2027. Resources Mentioned: Courser Racing — https://www.courserracing.org Courser Racing Weekend & Week-Long Rows — https://www.courserracing.org/services The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter — https://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Crisis-Embrace-Discomfort-Reclaim/dp/0593138762 World's Toughest Row (the race Jere's crew completed) — https://www.worldstoughestrow.com Appalachian Trail Conservancy — https://appalachiantrail.org Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#264
August 28 · 40 min
264 - Remembering Dolly Parton: 80 Years of Unapologetic Ambition & Radical Kindness with Brandon Clift & Boysen Hodgson
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). The world lost Dolly Parton this week — and you might be wondering what a men's podcast has to say about it. Everything. Because underneath the rhinestones, the hair, and the persona was a masterclass in things most men spend their whole lives trying to learn: naked ambition without arrogance, humility without self-erasure, principled stands without endless conflict, and wearing a mask consciously instead of being worn by it. Brandon and co-host Boysen Hodgson sit down days after her passing to unpack 80 years of legacy. In this conversation, you'll learn: How Dolly held her brutal childhood — hunger, field work, 12 kids in a two-room cabin — without sugarcoating it or being defined by it Why she stated her ambition out loud, went for it, got it, and never once hedged with fake humility — and what that models for men who minimize their own wins The difference between persona and person: how Dolly consciously wore the mask instead of letting the mask wear her How she handled manufactured beefs — turning Whitney Houston's cover royalties into "The House That Whitney Built" for Nashville residents Why she took principled stands in a single sentence and moved on, never getting trapped in the outrage cycle What eldership actually means — and how Dolly embodied the convener, welcomer, and validator role her entire life Sign a child in your life up for the Imagination Library. It's free, and it's the best way to honor her. Resources Mentioned: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (free book a month, birth to age 5) — https://imaginationlibrary.com Dollywood — https://www.dollywood.com The Dollywood Foundation — https://dollywoodfoundation.org Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#263
August 18 · 41 min
263 - What It Actually Takes to Build Brotherhood and Leave Isolation with Nick Papadopoulos & Jake Fishbein
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). Most men have zero foxhole buddies. Not because they don't want them — but because they keep choosing comfort over the risk of being truly known. Nick Papadopoulos has spent 23 years building men's groups, and Jake Fishbein has spent the last decade inside them. Together they've written a novel about what it actually looks like when men stop spectating and enter the arena. It became an Amazon bestseller. This conversation is the unfiltered backstory. In this conversation, you'll learn: Why the "I'm too busy" excuse is almost always a lie men tell themselves — and what it's actually protecting What it means to be a foxhole buddy versus a fair-weather friend, and how to build those relationships before the 3AM crisis call How the Arena Men's Group model identifies the exact moment a man is about to leave his own growth — and what to do about it Why being in a men's group on Monday doesn't mean you're in the arena on Tuesday — the real measure of the work What Nick's 50-year friendship taught him about how deep a single conversation can go when men finally get honest Why the work you do in a men's circle doesn't stop at you — and why your wife is probably your men's group's biggest fan Grab the book, find your foxhole, and stop being a spectator in your own life. Resources Mentioned: The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships by Nick Papadopoulos & Jake Fishbein — https://a.co/d/0051GHKs (also available at bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Target) Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#262
August 9 · 57 min
262 - Why Intentional Fathering Is How We Heal the Father Wound with Ian and John
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). There's a wound most men carry and rarely name: the father wound. In this episode, Boysen sits down with Ian Schwartz and John Harrington — co-founders of the Intentional Fathers Initiative — to talk about why intentional fathering isn't just good parenting advice, it's how generational wounds actually get healed. Ian and John build what they call "father-focused men's work" — spaces where men bring their real challenges as fathers into the container of men's work: naming the father wound directly, examining what was passed down, and choosing, on purpose, what to carry forward and what to leave behind. They talk about violence in its many forms, including the quiet kind — a father who's present in body but absent everywhere that matters. They break down the four pillars of men's work (accountability, integrity, vulnerability, authenticity) applied to fatherhood, and make the case that self-care isn't optional — it's what makes healing possible at all. If you're carrying a father wound, raising kids of your own, or both — this conversation offers a real path forward, not just a reframe. Learn more about their work at the Intentional Fathers Initiative Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#261
August 1 · 54 min
261 - Stop Meditating Alone: The Real Reason Most Men Quit - with Toby Sola
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). Toby Sola has spent two decades teaching meditation — years of it inside a monastery, refined through close work with world-renowned teacher Shinzen Young. Today he runs Bright Mind, an app built on one guiding principle: as simple as possible, but no simpler. In this conversation, Toby and Boysen talk about what monastic life actually teaches you — not mystical secrets, but community and humility, the two things that turned out to matter most. They dig into why so many men try meditation once, get frustrated with their own "monkey mind," and never come back — and what's usually missing (hint: it's often not more discipline, it's community and structure). Toby walks through how Bright Mind is designed as a guided journey rather than a random library, so progress actually builds instead of resetting every time you open the app. The conversation goes deep into the parts of practice nobody warns you about: the doubt that shows up right when things start to open up, the strange sense of space and time dissolving, and the nihilism that can surface when you get quiet enough to really look. Toby's take is grounded and useful — sometimes the answer isn't more meditation, it's fixing something in your actual life: a relationship, a career decision, a worldview you're ready to let go of. Whether you've never meditated or you've been sitting for years, this episode offers a clear, unpretentious map for a practice that's often made either too complicated or too watered down to matter. Go to the Brightmind App - https://www.brightmind.com/ Use Code MKP to get a free month! Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#260
July 22 · 55 min
260 - Barrier Free: What Every Man Needs to Learn About Belonging - Panel Talk
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). The strongest communities aren't built by treating everyone the same—they're built by making sure everyone belongs. In this heartfelt and often humorous conversation, Boysen Hodgson sits down with leaders of the ManKind Project's Barrier Free Movement to explore what authentic inclusion really looks like. FULL TRANSCRIPT Available HERE. Art Patterson, Dee Spitler, Mike Merino, Paul Jerde, Craig Tennant, and Marc Sage share deeply personal stories about disability, neurodivergence, recovery, leadership, and the transformative power of being fully seen. Together they discuss: Why accessibility is about belonging—not accommodation How slowing down creates deeper connection The importance of asking instead of assuming Invisible disabilities and neurodivergence in men's work Building trust with men who have learned to expect exclusion Why every man is only "temporarily able" How humor, vulnerability, and honest conversation create true brotherhood Whether you're involved in men's work or simply want to become a more compassionate leader, this episode offers practical wisdom about creating spaces where everyone can show up exactly as they are. Learn more: https://barrierfree.mkpusa.org/ Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#259
July 4 · 46 min
259 - Remember Who You Are: Healing Men Through Nature and Brotherhood with CJ Goulding
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). What if healing doesn't begin by becoming someone new—but by remembering who you've always been? In this episode of the ManKind Podcast, Boysen sits down with CJ Goulding, co-founder of Boys in the Wood, an organization using nature, brotherhood, and community to support the mental health and wellbeing of Black men. CJ shares the personal story that led him from outdoor education to creating transformative retreats where men reconnect with themselves, each other, and the natural world. Together they explore how vulnerability grows in the right environment, why community is essential to healing, and how challenging outdated stories of masculinity opens the door to a more connected and courageous life. They also discuss the role of nature in emotional wellbeing, the importance of mutual aid and collective care, the power of authentic leadership, and why sharing power doesn't diminish us—it multiplies what becomes possible. Whether you're looking for deeper brotherhood, healthier masculinity, or simply a reminder that you don't have to carry everything alone, this conversation offers both hope and practical wisdom. In this episode you'll hear: • Why nature helps men reconnect with themselves • The story behind Boys in the Wood • How vulnerability becomes possible inside trusted communities • Why "remember who you are" is more than a metaphor • The surprising ways joy shows up when men feel safe • How healing one man strengthens an entire community • Why power grows when it's shared Learn more about Boyz n the Wood - https://www.boyznthewood.org/ Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#258
June 23 · 57 min
258 - The 3 Things Destroying Male Sexuality in 2026 — and What to Do About It with Taylor Johnson
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). Men's sexuality is under siege from every direction — algorithmic porn, AI girlfriends engineered to extract money by never actually satisfying you, and a culture that hasn't given men a single useful framework for talking about any of it. Taylor Johnson has spent seven years in the field helping men overcome sexual dysfunction, anxiety, and disconnection. What he's seeing in 2026 is unlike anything from even two years ago. In this conversation, you'll learn: Why short-form video and constant digital stimulation are measurably destroying men's capacity to be present during sex How AI girlfriend apps are deliberately designed to hook men in a cycle of wanting without ever delivering — and what that does to a teenage brain Why women still deeply want connection and great sex with men, even in the current cultural climate The exact approach to opening a conversation with your partner about sex, safety, and the headlines that are affecting both of you How to recognize when you've hit your capacity in a hard conversation and what to do instead of going off the rails Why sexual leadership has nothing to do with dominance and everything to do with attunement, safety, and showing up prepared If you've been avoiding this conversation — with yourself or your partner — this is the episode that ends that. Resources Mentioned: Taylor Johnson — Sex Coach for Men — https://www.taylorjohnson.life (search: Taylor Johnson sex educator) ManKind Project — https://mankindproject.org CoGenerate (intergenerational collaboration) — https://cogenerate.org Taylor's Sexual Leadership Retreat for Men (July 2026) — contact via Taylor's website Taylor's Sexual Menu Worksheet — available through Taylor's programs Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#257
June 16 · 56 min
257 - Respect Is NOT What You Think It Is with Dr. Julie Pham
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). What if most conflicts about respect aren't actually about respect? In this fascinating conversation, Boysen sits down with historian, researcher, TEDx speaker, and author Dr. Julie Pham to explore one of the most misunderstood words in our culture: respect. Most of us assume we know what respect means. We ask for it. We expect it. We feel hurt when we don't receive it. But Dr. Pham's research suggests something surprising: while people generally agree on how respect feels, they often disagree dramatically on what respectful behavior actually looks like. Drawing from her bestselling book, The 7 Forms of Respect, Julie introduces a practical framework for understanding why misunderstandings happen at work, at home, in friendships, and in communities. She explains how our experiences, culture, family systems, and generational influences shape our expectations—and why curiosity may be the missing ingredient in so many difficult conversations. Together, Boysen and Julie explore: The seven forms of respect and how they show up in everyday life Why respect is dynamic, subjective, and often contradictory The "Rubber Band Rule" and understanding our personal breaking points How hierarchy, power, and context influence our expectations What men can learn about respect, communication, and curiosity Why organizations struggle when they never define what respect means The relationship between respect, belonging, and mattering How curiosity creates connection across differences This conversation offers a fresh lens on relationships, leadership, and community—and a practical way to navigate conflict with greater understanding. If you've ever said, "I just want to be respected," this episode may completely change what that means. Find Julie Pham - https://curiositybased.com Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#256
June 9 · 52 min
256 - The 90-Day Practice That Turns Comfort-Addicted Men Into Men With Agency with Dane Sanders
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). Most men wait for hardship to teach them resilience. Dane Sanders watched his best friend Tim Kruger — an Ironman triathlete — die of stomach cancer at 50. Tim's parting insight: "I'm really glad I practiced voluntary discomfort before involuntary discomfort chose me." That single line became the foundation of everything Dane has built since. This is a conversation about mortality, meaning, and why choosing the hard thing is actually the smartest move any man can make. In this conversation, you'll learn: Why the world's default setting is hardship — not comfort — and what changes when you stop treating difficulty as an anomaly How Tim Kruger's death reshaped Dane's entire understanding of what it means to live fully, not just survive well The difference between fitting in and belonging — and why one builds agency while the other quietly hollows you out What happens inside the Men and Women of Discomfort 90-day program and why people crash out over creamer in their coffee How "microdosing discomfort" prepares you for the storms you can't predict, control, or negotiate out of Why Anthony DeMello's warning about sleepwalking through life is the most important thing men aren't taking seriously If you've been waiting for a reason to stop playing it safe, this is the episode. Resources Mentioned: Men and Women of Discomfort (MWOD) — https://mwod.io The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch — https://www.amazon.com/Last-Lecture-Randy-Pausch/dp/1401323251 Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom — https://www.amazon.com/Tuesdays-Morrie-Mitch-Albom/dp/076790592X Anthony de Mello, "Awareness" — https://www.amazon.com/Awareness-Opportunities-Inner-Anthony-Mello/dp/0385249373 Ben Sasse — 60 Minutes interview (terminal brain cancer) — search "Ben Sasse 60 Minutes 2024" CrossFit — https://www.crossfit.com Annie (93-year-old CrossFit member, Auburn CrossFit) — featured in CrossFit HQ documentary Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#255
June 2 · 58 min
255 - This Is Your Calling To Become A Mentor - Why The Next Generation of Boys & Men Need You with Jordan Bowman
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). Young men are drowning, and the algorithm is doing it on purpose. Within 17 seconds on YouTube, three-quarters of a young man's suggested content steers him straight into the manosphere. Meanwhile, the men who've actually done the inner work are sitting on the sidelines. Jordan Bowman isn't waiting for a viral moment to fix it. He's been in the field for over a decade building something that actually works. In this conversation, you'll learn: Why mentorship is your civic duty — and why it matters more than voting or paying taxes The simple first step any man can take today to connect with a young person already in his life How to show up as a mentor without giving unsolicited advice or projecting your own experience onto him Why "presence over perfection" is the only qualification you actually need to get started The Frodo-to-Gandalf arc: how to transition from hero of your own story to guide for the next generation What Jordan's father did when he was 14 that changed the entire trajectory of his life — and how you can recreate it for the boys in yours If this conversation fires something up in you, don't sit on it. Find the most accessible way into mentorship and go give your gifts. Resources Mentioned: Journeyman Triangle — https://journeymantriangle.org CoGenerate (intergenerational collaboration resources) — https://cogenerate.org American Institute for Boys and Men, Richard Reeves — https://aibm.org Boys to Men Mentoring Network — https://boystomen.org Movember Foundation — https://movember.com Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice — https://equimundo.org Michael Mead, mythologist and author — https://mosaicvoices.org ManKind Project — https://mankindproject.org Next Gen Men — https://nextgenmen.ca Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#254
May 25 · 1 hr 3 min
254 - Memorial Day Special: Veterans’ Stories of Sacrifice, Survival, and Remembrance
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). How do veterans grapple with the emotional weight of Memorial Day? Join us for a deeply moving Memorial Day episode of the Mankind Podcast, where we revisit a conversation from our Masks Off Monday series. Featuring a heartfelt panel discussion with five veterans, including Dean Ray, a former Marine Corps helicopter crew chief, who shares a poignant piece he wrote. This episode dives into their personal stories of loss, survival, and the importance of keeping the memories of their fallen comrades alive. From the harrowing experiences of deployment to the unyielding bonds forged in the battlefield, our veterans offer an unfiltered glimpse into their lives. Hear the raw emotions tied to events such as funerals, helicopter crashes, and the impact of IEDs. Learn how communal respect and acts of kindness play crucial roles in honoring their sacrifices and providing solace to those left behind. This episode also explores how staying connected with loved ones evolves over time and the heavy burden of survivor's guilt. This episode is a profound tribute to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and those who continue to carry the scars of their service. Discover how civilians can support veterans, honor their sacrifices, and embody the admirable traits of those we've lost. Whether you're a veteran, a family member, or someone eager to understand and support those who have served, this conversation offers invaluable insights and a heartfelt tribute to our heroes. Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#253
May 19 · 55 min
253 - Bison Medicine and the National Pilgrimage Back to Belonging with Brandon Peele
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). What kind of people does a healthy democracy require? In this thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation, Boysen sits down with author, purpose guide, and ManKind Project brother Brandon Peele to explore the deeper questions underneath our current cultural moment: belonging, responsibility, freedom, purpose, and what it means to grow into mature adulthood in a fractured world. Brandon returns to the podcast to discuss his new book, Bison Medicine: The Cure for a Troubled Nation, where he offers a provocative but hopeful vision for healing division—not through outrage or ideology, but through purpose, community, rites of passage, and what he calls a return to “good mind.” Together, Boysen and Brandon unpack: Why America may be suffering from a crisis of initiation The difference between freedom and mature responsibility What “all men are created equal” might actually ask of us today The role of rites of passage, men’s work, and authentic community in healing isolation The powerful metaphor of eagles and bison—and what each teaches us about power, belonging, and collective life Indigenous wisdom, democracy, and the forgotten roots of interdependence How to stay hopeful in a time of outrage and uncertainty Brandon’s upcoming national pilgrimage across America, visiting historical sites and communities that embody our nation’s struggles, painful history, and hard-earned victories as a people Along the way, Brandon shares why he believes healing begins in local communities, in honest conversations, and in the courageous work of becoming fully human. This episode is ultimately an invitation: What would it mean to become the kind of man who leaves things better than he found them? Key Questions from This Episode: How free are you, really? How happy are you, really? What kind of community is helping shape the man you are becoming? This summer - June and July of 2026 - there is a powerful opportunity to be part of Brandon's Pilgrimage across the US. Learn more: https://www.nationalpilgrimage.us/ Learn more about Bison Medicine: https://www.bisonmedicine.com/ Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#252
May 13 · 1 hr 4 min
252 - What Happens When Men Don’t Have Village - the Deep Masculine with Ian MacKenzie
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). What are men really longing for? In this rich and wide-ranging conversation, Boysen sits down with filmmaker, mythosomatic guide, and founder of The Mythic Masculine, Ian MacKenzie, to explore the deeper story underneath modern masculinity. Together, they unpack the roots of mythopoetic men’s work, the cultural loss of village, the rise of the manosphere, and why so many men are searching for belonging, purpose, and deeper initiation. Ian shares his own journey into men’s work through Iron John, the ManKind Project, and years spent studying myth, ritual, animism, and cultural regeneration with influential teachers like Stephen Jenkinson, Martin Shaw, and Michael Meade. This episode explores: Why masculinity may be better understood as a strategy rather than a certainty The difference between mythopoetic men’s work and the manosphere What happens when men grow up without village, mentorship, and rites of passage Why grief, ritual, and brotherhood matter for modern men The role of myth in helping men reclaim meaning and purpose Emerging conversations around masculinity, identity, and cultural evolution Why healthy masculinity may depend on learning how to belong again This conversation is thoughtful, challenging, and deeply hopeful. Whether you’re new to men’s work or have been walking this path for years, Ian offers a compelling vision for how men might reconnect with themselves, each other, and the world. Learn about the Cascadia Men's Conference: August 6 - 9 | Squamish Valley, Canada https://www.cascadiamensconference.com/ Learn about the Deep Masculine Journey Enrollment closes midnight Monday, May 18. The Journey Starts: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 MKP men get 10% off the Guided or Self-Directed Paths. Next steps: Explore The Deep Masculine Journey Book your intake call Some of the Authors & People we mentioned today: Bayo Akomolafe - https://www.bayoakomolafe.net/ Stephen Jenkinson - https://orphanwisdom.com/about-stephen-jenkinson/ Sophie Strand - https://sophiestrand.com/ Riane Eisler - https://rianeeisler.com/ Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#251
May 5 · 1 hr 2 min
251 - Stop Fighting Each Other: Start Fighting for Your Relationship with Rich & Laurie Riedman
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). What does it actually take to build a strong, lasting relationship? In this episode, Boysen sits down with Rich and Laurie Riedman—veterans of the ManKind Project and leaders in couples work for over three decades. Together, they explore the deeper mechanics of relationship growth, conflict, and connection. At the heart of their work is a powerful idea: a relationship is not just two people—it’s a third entity that must be nurtured, strengthened, and protected. Rich and Laurie break down: Why many relationships hit a turning point around the 7-year mark How unconscious patterns from childhood show up in partnership The concept of the relationship as a “container” for growth Why conflict isn’t the problem—but how we approach it is The shift from “me vs. you” to “us vs. the issue” Practical tools for communication, emotional safety, and repair They also share simple daily practices that can transform connection—like eye gazing, intentional touch, gratitude rituals, and recognizing emotional bids for attention. Whether you’re in a thriving relationship, feeling disconnected, or navigating real challenges, this conversation offers grounded insight and practical tools to deepen intimacy and understanding. This isn’t about fixing your partner. It’s about showing up differently—together. Find them: https://www.acouplesweekend.com/ Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#250
April 16 · 47 min
250 - Stop Using Logic to Design Your Life — It's Keeping You Stuck with Gregory Russell Benedikt
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). Most men spend years gathering the right information, waiting for the perfect moment, and convincing themselves the stakes are too high to act. Gregory Russell Benedikt ran a different experiment — 100 consecutive days of deliberately seeking rejection from strangers. What the data showed is almost impossible to believe: out of 100 attempts, only one interaction went genuinely negative. The rest? Laughter, connection, viral moments, and a relationship with the woman he'd spend the next three years with. This episode is a direct challenge to the logic-first framework most high-achieving men have been operating from their entire adult lives. Gregory and Brandon break down why the no you're afraid of is almost never about you, why the real cost of inaction is staying exactly where you are, and how 'courageous connection' is the actual mechanism behind every bold outcome Gregory has experienced — from co-founding a nonprofit with a stranger he met online to walking across a crowded restaurant to introduce himself to a woman sitting with another man. They also dig into Ikigai, the Japanese framework for life purpose built on four intersections — what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for — and why community, not coaching or therapy alone, may be the most underrated accelerant available to men right now. If you've been sitting on a gift, a business idea, a conversation you haven't started, or a life that doesn't quite fit — this episode is your signal to stop collecting information and start implementing your flawed plan. Subscribe to the ManKind Podcast so you never miss a conversation built for men ready to lead with something real. --- ABOUT GREGORY RUSSELL BENEDIKT Gregory Russell Benedikt is a life and executive coach, TEDx speaker, and retreat facilitator whose talk on bold action has surpassed 600,000 views. He left a career in private equity to co-found a nonprofit and eventually build a coaching practice centered on helping high-achievers break out of logic-driven lives and into purpose-driven ones. He recently led his first retreat in Sedona, a vision he'd held for over six years. CONNECT WITH GREGORY RUSSELL BENEDIKT • Website • TEDx Talk • Gregory's Newsletter Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#249
April 10 · 55 min
249 - How to Stop Listening to the World and Find Your Inner Voice with Geoff Laughton & Mark Johnson
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). In this episode, Boysen sits down with Geoff Laughton and Mark Johnson of The Undaunted Man to explore a radically different approach to men’s work—one that rejects external definitions of masculinity and instead helps men develop a deep connection to their own inner guidance. Drawing from decades of experience, Geoff and Mark share how their work supports men in becoming internally governed—grounded, self-aware, and capable of making aligned decisions without relying on societal scripts. They discuss: Why most definitions of masculinity fall short The danger of outsourcing your identity What “pro-human, pro-social masculinity” really means How men rediscover purpose, voice, and direction The role of discomfort and stillness in personal transformation The conversation also dives into their powerful Silent Summit experience—a multi-day wilderness immersion where men unplug from all distractions and learn to truly listen to themselves. Whether you’re navigating relationships, questioning your path, or simply feeling like something’s missing, this episode offers a grounded and deeply human invitation back to yourself. Find the Undaunted Man - https://theundauntedman.com/ Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#248
April 1 · 47 min
248 - Why You Can’t Think Your Way Out of Problems with Charles Eigen
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). What if thinking isn’t always your greatest asset? In this episode, Boysen sits down with psychotherapist, meditation teacher, and author Charles Eigen to explore the surprising ways our thinking can become a barrier to clarity, connection, and peace. Drawing from Internal Family Systems (IFS), Zen practice, and decades of therapeutic work, Chuck shares how most of us are conditioned to live in our heads—often at the cost of our emotional awareness and embodied experience. Together, they unpack: The difference between thinking and thoughts Why anxiety lives in the future—and how to come back to the present How “parts” of ourselves can hijack our reactions The role of awareness as the deeper ground of who we are Practical tools to shift from reactivity to presence How to bring mindfulness into conflict and communication This conversation offers a grounded, compassionate approach to personal growth—one that doesn’t try to eliminate thoughts, but instead helps us relate to them differently. Whether you’re new to this work or deep on the path, this episode invites you to step out of your head… and into a fuller experience of being alive. 📘 Chuck’s book: When Thinking Is a Problem Find Charles on LinkedIn Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#247
March 24 · 55 min
247 - Building a New Frontier of Men’s Work; the BIG TENT SUMMIT
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). This episode brings together Chris Kyle, George Kansas, and Tim Wade—co-founders of the Big Tent Summit—for a grounded and expansive conversation about the evolving landscape of men’s work. Drawing on over a century of combined experience, they explore the shift from early mythopoetic men’s work to today’s diverse and rapidly expanding ecosystem of support for men. The conversation highlights a growing cultural openness: more men investing in personal development, therapy, and emotional growth—and more pathways than ever to do that work. At the heart of the episode is the Big Tent Summit itself—a gathering designed not to resolve differences, but to hold them. The group discusses the intentional inclusion of diverse voices, the friction that naturally arises when perspectives collide, and why that tension is actually a sign of progress. They also introduce the Big Tent Collective, an ongoing community fostering collaboration, resource sharing, and real-world impact between summits. This episode is an invitation into a larger conversation—one that challenges rigid definitions of masculinity and opens the door to something more inclusive, more integrated, and more human. Check it out! https://www.bigtentsummit.com/ Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show
#246
March 17 · 58 min
246 - The Mental Shifts That Could Change Your Life with Juan Carlos
Text Us Your Feedback! (Likes, Dislikes, Guest/Conversation Recommendations). Clear minds lead purposeful lives. In this episode, Brandon Clift sits down with Juan Carlos, a storyteller, product builder, and creator of the Re:Mind mental models system, a framework designed to help people think more clearly and navigate complex decisions. Juan’s career spans filmmaking, technology, and product innovation. Through those experiences he discovered something powerful. Most people struggle not because they lack intelligence. They struggle because they lack frameworks for thinking. This conversation explores how mental models can transform the way we see the world. Together Brandon and Juan explore: • Why mental models are essential tools for decision making • How stories shape perception and belief • The danger of operating without clear frameworks • How leaders can simplify complex challenges • Why clarity often leads directly to purpose • How better thinking leads to better living Juan shares the inspiration behind the Re:Mind system, which combines physical tools and digital frameworks designed to help individuals and teams develop clearer thinking habits. If you have ever felt overwhelmed by complexity or stuck in decision loops, this episode will give you practical tools to see the world differently. Better thinking creates better choices. Better choices create better lives. Juan Carlos Website https://www.remind.coach Brandon Clift https://brandonclift.com Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs. #Sponsorship #Ad Support the show

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