The Harmful Effects of the Western Diet (6.5min Microdose)

In 1998, Alexander Love’s father was murdered. Years later, he sat down — on Zoom — with the man who did it. And what he found there was not what anyone expected.Alexander Love is an acupuncturist, developmental coach, and senior faculty at the Newfield Network, where he created the Lumina Process — an integrative approach to shadow work weaving together Eastern wisdom, Integral theory, parts work, and polarity work. His TEDx talk is titled “How Embracing Pain Creates a Legacy of Love,” and his forthcoming book, the Evolutionary Gestures Trilogy, opens with the story of his father’s murder and the restorative justice dialogue he pursued with the man convicted of it. In this solo conversation with Will (Jon was away), Alexander makes a radical, gentle case: pain is not something to escape but a doorway to walk through — and the courage to turn toward it is what actually makes a good man.IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:1.  Why pain is a doorway, not a problem to eliminate — and what opens when you turn toward it2.  The restorative justice dialogue: forgiveness, and why “hero and villain” falls apart on contact with a real human3.  The belief that human beings are fundamentally good — even the man who took his father4.  The three-step practice: turn toward, locate the sensation in the body, and lovingly embrace it5.  Why the cultural story that “real men feel no pain” is a marketing myth — and being a good man takes the oppositeMore about Alexander Love:1.  Website: alexanderlove.org3.  TEDx talk: “How Embracing Pain Creates a Legacy of Love” — search on YouTube4.  Newfield Network (9-month coach & personal transformation training): https://www.newfieldnetwork.com Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY:12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-CourseJOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats.1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE: Or mentalkingmindfulness.comGET MORE FROM MTM:Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.comBRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:1.  focusnowtraining.com/contactProduced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

The crisis almost never arrives all at once. It builds — quietly, gradually — and then one day, people break.Dr. Adjoa Smalls-Mantey has stood in two of the most extreme places a human can be. As an emergency psychiatrist in New York City, she sits with people at the absolute edge of crisis. Off the clock, she looks for her own edge on the sides of mountains —. A physician-scientist trained at Oxford and Columbia with a PhD in HIV immunology, an award-winning author, and a national mental health policy voice, she joins Jon and Will to talk about what actually brings people into the ER, why economic stress is now hitting the middle class and young adults, and the single lesson the mountains taught her that changes everything: ask for help early.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:What gets in the way when we need to ask for help?   The most common crises that bring people to the psychiatric ER — and how the demographics are shiftingWhy economic stress is now breaking middle-class professionals and young adults who can’t find workCrises build gradually, then people break — and why to call 988 and ask for help earlyWhat mountaineering taught her about asking for help: inexperience delays it, and delay costs the whole teamPut your own mask on first, ask the right person, and keep the ask time-limitedMore about Dr. Adjoa Smalls-Mantey:1.  Instagram & Youtube: doctoradjoa2.  Children’s book: Anjali the Brave (All About Vaccines) — on Amazon3.  New York Mental Health Foundation — launching soon 4.  New York County Psychiatric Society (branch of the American Psychiatric Association) — Dr. Smalls-Mantey is immediate past president5.  If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY:12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-CourseJOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats.1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE: Or mentalkingmindfulness.comGET MORE FROM MTM:Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.comBRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:1.  focusnowtraining.com/contactProduced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

One of the biggest reasons why many men are suffering with loneliness is their lack of emotional intelligence and emotional literacy. Dr. J.J. Kelly, the Punk Rock Doc, is a clinical psychologist who runs a practice called The Unorthodox. She is the author of the Holy Shit book series and recently wrote a piece for Vice on why men are so damn lonely. In this returning appearance, she joins Jon and Will to make a blunt, funny, and genuinely useful case: the male loneliness epidemic is about emotional illiteracy. The good news is that emotional intelligence is a set of skills anyone can learn if they are willing to do the work. This common challenge stems from limited opportunities to develop these vital skills earlier in life. Fortunately, emotional intelligence and emotional literacy are abilities anyone can strengthen through consistent practice. Men who cultivate these capacities gain the tools to identify their feelings, communicate with honesty, and form authentic connections. This growth supports men's mental health and creates space for deeper friendships and brotherhood. Mindfulness and emotional awareness practices further enhance resilience and a sense of belonging, leading to richer relationships, greater purpose, and happier, healthier lives.IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:1.  Why emotional illiteracy — not circumstance — is the root of male loneliness2.  Insight is not a skill: why reading every book changes nothing until you practice3.  Name it to tame it: validation and acceptance before change (the backbone of DBT)4.  The values exercise: behaving according to your values even when you’re activated5.  Eating your shit sandwich with dignity, and why courage rarely backfiresMore about Dr. J.J. Kelly:1.  Website: https://www.drjjkelly.com2.  TikTok: large free-content library — search “Dr. J.J. Kelly”3.  Get Real Self-Study: 8-week emotional intelligence course — via drjjkelly.com4.  Books: the Holy Shit series (incl. the loneliness book with the “note to men,” and the forthcoming Holy Shit I Think I’m In Love) — on Amazon5.  Gifted Misfits: her program in book form (most affordable entry point) — via drjjkelly.com6.  Vice article on male loneliness — https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-psychologist-has-a-blunt-theory-about-whats-really-driving-the-male-loneliness-epidemic/ Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY:12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-CourseJOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats.1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE: Or mentalkingmindfulness.comGET MORE FROM MTM:Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.comBRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:1.  focusnowtraining.com/contactProduced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

What if the reason intimacy carries so much weight for men is that it’s the only place we’ve been given permission to be fully human?Dr. Celeste Holbrook is a sexologist with a PhD in health education and thirteen years of practice working with couples. Her book, Missionary Position: A Slightly Irreverent Guide to Sex After Purity Culture, helps people rebuild their relationship with their own bodies after being taught to fear them. In this episode, she joins Jon and Will for one of the most direct conversations we’ve had about why men struggle to talk about intimacy, what purity culture actually did to boys, why rejection lands as a rejection of self, and what changes when men have more than one place to experience their own emotions.IN THIS EPISODE:1.  How purity culture shaped men differently than women — and what it taught boys about their own bodies2.  Why intimacy becomes the only sanctioned outlet for male emotion — and the cost of that3.  The desire gap: why every couple has one, and how to negotiate it without resentment4.  Why a no can land as a rejection of self, and the work required on both sides5.  Focus on what you want to feel, not what you want to do — the reframe that changes everythingMore about Dr. Celeste Holbrook:1.  Website: https://www.drcelesteholbrook.com2.  Book: Missionary Position: A Slightly Irreverent Guide to Sex after Purity Culture - available on Amazon and her website. Don't forget to check out her book club!  Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY:12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-CourseJOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats.1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE: Or mentalkingmindfulness.comGET MORE FROM MTM:Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.comBRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:1.  focusnowtraining.com/contactProduced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

Trying harder to focus is making it worse. And there’s a reason for that.There is a very intimate relationship between your body and your mind. It's actually the health and harmony of your body that determines the state of your mind. Once you know this, you change the game on what focusing is and then how to actually get back to focusing on what matters.  So we brought in Janel Penaflor to help us understand these intricacies.  Janel has spent thirty years investigating why trained, capable people stop seeing the thing right in front of them — inside oil and gas plants, nuclear facilities, aviation systems, and chemical operations. What she found changed how she understands focus entirely. In this episode, Janel joins Jon and Will to break down The real science behind focus, the lies have been told about focus and practices you can use every day to remain focused.IN THIS EPISODE, you will learn:1.  The focus lie: why trying harder to focus makes it worse2.  The prefrontal cortex as a battery — how it drains and what depletes it fastest3.  The polyvagal ladder: where most people are living and how to come back down4.  Why your body controls your brain more than your brain controls your body5.  The default mode network and why stillness is where the deepest work actually happensMore about Janel Penaflor:1.  Website: https://www.safetysenseinc.com2.  Books: Search “Janel Penaflor” on Amazon for her full catalog3.  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janel-penaflor-09654119/ Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY:12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-CourseJOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats.1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE: Or mentalkingmindfulness.comGET MORE FROM MTM:Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.comBRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:1.  focusnowtraining.com/contactProduced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

Everyone is talking about peptides. Dr. Mark Gordon has been developing and proving the science behind them for 25 years.This man is the authority on peptides! As a physician, researcher, and the Medical Director of the Warrior Angel Foundation for over a decade, Dr. Gordon has treated thousands of veterans, first responders, and athletes with neuroinflammation-driven conditions: TBI, PTSD, depression, cognitive decline. He’s appeared six times on the Joe Rogan Experience and advises the Clinical Peptide Society on neuropeptides. His new book, Peptides for Health, is the clearest map yet for understanding what peptides actually do and how to use them safely. In this episode, Dr. Gordon joins Will for a wide-ranging conversation on peptide basics, the brain after trauma, why men are literally rusting from the inside, and the one thing that kills the effectiveness of everything.IN THIS EPISODE You’ll Learn:-What a peptide actually is — and why they’re not the cure-all some people claim-How to use peptides safely and effectively -How neuroinflammation after TBI creates a cascade that drives PTSD, depression, and anxiety-Growth hormone secretagogues: why stimulating your own production is better than replacing it-How to know if peptides are right for you — and why quality is non-negotiableMore about Dr. Mark Gordon:-Educational website: https://www.tbihelpnow.org-Store (10% first-time discount): https://www.millenniumhealthstore.com60% of proceeds from store go into veteran and first responder treatment fundingInstagram: @drmarkgordon Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY:12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-CourseJOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats.1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE: Or mentalkingmindfulness.comGET MORE FROM MTM:Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.comBRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:1.  focusnowtraining.com/contactProduced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

A man walked into a room with a gun, a grievance, and nothing left to lose. The person who talked him down had spent 20 years learning one thing: the moment you make someone feel understood, the whole situation changes.Meet Derek Gaunt; he spent 29 years in law enforcement, 20 of those on hostage negotiation teams in the DC metro area. Now an instructor and expert coach at the Black Swan Group — Chris Voss’s firm — Derek brings the same tactical empathy that resolved life-or-death standoffs into every boardroom, difficult conversation, and parenting moment he trains. He’s the author of Ego Authority Failure and the newly released Fight Less, Win More — a practical companion to Never Split the Difference. In this episode, Derek joins Jon and Will to break down what tactical empathy really is, why your tone does 13 times more work than your words, and how to get more of what you want by getting people to say no.IN THIS EPISODE:1.  What tactical empathy actually is — and why 95% of people aren’t getting it anywhere2.  No-oriented questions: why asking for no gets you more than pushing for yes3.  The three levels of listening — and which one most people are stuck in4.  The three voices: accommodator, late-night FM DJ, and the BISS voice to never use5.  The blue flame, ego authority failure, and why rapid promotion creates toxic leadersMore about Derek Gaunt:1.  Website: https://www.blackswanltd.com2.  Book: Ego, Authority, Failure: Using Emotional Intelligence Like a Hostage Negotiator to Succeed as a Leader (2nd Edition) — on Amazon and blackswanltd.com3.  Book: Fight Less, Win More: How Master Negotiators Influence Hearts, Minds, and Deals (co-authored with Jonathan B. Smith, foreword by Chris Voss) — on Amazon4.  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-gaunt-2943a824/ Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY:12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-CourseJOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats.1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE: Or mentalkingmindfulness.comGET MORE FROM MTM:Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.comBRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:1.  focusnowtraining.com/contactProduced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

What if everything you’ve been taking to boost your energy, sharpen your focus, and fuel your body was covered by one single food?Dr. Catharine Arnston discovered algae sixteen years ago while researching how to help her sister heal from breast cancer, and it changed the entire direction of her life. NASA has endorsed algae as a complete food for space travel. The United Nations has called it one of the greatest solutions to human nutrition on Earth. Now 72, with a PhD earned last year and zero medications or chronic disease, Catharine joins Jon and Will to break down exactly how spirulina and chlorella work in the body,  from mitochondrial energy and testosterone to heavy metal detox and why men, specifically, are prone to a problem most have never heard of: cellular rust.As an algae nutrition expert, Catharine walks through the spirulina and chlorella benefits that define these algae superfoods, starting with mitochondrial health and its role in fueling cellular energy in men's nutrition. She explains how antioxidants for men neutralize free radicals, easing inflammation and testosterone disruption, while nitric oxide and blood flow support men's hormone health and performance. For men over 40, whole food supplements like ENERGYbits deliver longevity nutrition through high fiber content that strengthens gut health, complementing a Keto lifestyle. Catharine also details how algae supports heavy metal detox, binding toxic metals for gentle clearance, and positions itself as a natural energy supplement built on decades of research into cellular vitality and aging well.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:1.  Why mitochondria are the real power plant behind energy, testosterone, and brain fog2.  Spirulina vs. chlorella: nourishment in, toxins out, and why men need both3.  The connection between nitric oxide, blood flow, and male performance4.  Why men accumulate stored iron — and how that quietly damages the heart and brain over time5.  Why most supplements fail to get absorbed, and what makes whole-food nutrition differentMore about Dr. Catharine Arnston:1.  Website: https://www.energybits.com2.  Discount Code: MTM for 20% off sitewide, no expiration3.  Instagram (brand): https://www.instagram.com/energybits4.  Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/catharinearnston5.  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catharinearnston6.  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/energybits Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY:12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-CourseJOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats.1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE: Or mentalkingmindfulness.comGET MORE FROM MTM:Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.comBRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:1.  focusnowtraining.com/contactProduced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

What is the manosphere, and why are young men gravitating towards it?Elliott Hulse has been on YouTube since 2007. With over one billion views across his channels and 2.4 million subscribers, he’s been mentoring men longer than most of the manosphere’s biggest names have had smartphones. He was filmed for Louis Theroux’s Netflix documentary on the manosphere — three hours of footage with his family that was cut to seconds. In this episode, Elliott sits down with Will to break down what the manosphere gets right, where it goes wrong, the propaganda backed into the Netflix documentary,  and what young men actually need.Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and beliefs expressed in this episode are solely those of the guest and do not represent the values, positions, or editorial stance of Men Talking Mindfulness, its hosts, or its affiliates. MTM is committed to open, respectful dialogue across differing perspectives.IN THIS EPISODE:1.  The vacuum young men are trying to fill — and why the manosphere speaks to it2.  The history of the manosphere: how it started, how it evolved, and how the algorithm weaponized it3.  What real masculinity looks like vs. the caricature the internet sells4.  Why Elliott believes family — not content — is the answer for men today5.  What young men actually want when you get past the noiseMore about Elliott Hulse:1.  Website: https://elliotthulse.com2.  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliotthulse @elliotthulse3.  YouTube — STRENGTH: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ASolYU_Yh3yShLFQC0stg4.  YouTube — WISDOM: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLrI-dOLyDbRnPyUeWadsOgTake our Awareness to Action COURSE (A2A) 12 modules structured curriculum on attention, presence, practices & performance — plus an inspiring community built in for connection. https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course GET MORE FROM MTM: Join our free weekly Substack newsletter → Click HERE Check out our MTM Website to see what else we are up too! mentalkingmindfulness.comGET FOCUSED!! Does your company need help, or would you like to reduce safety incidents?? Head over to focusnowtraining.com - we have you covered! Produced by Robert Lopez cratesaudio.com Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY:12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-CourseJOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats.1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE: Or mentalkingmindfulness.comGET MORE FROM MTM:Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.comBRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:1.  focusnowtraining.com/contactProduced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

Harvard Business School Professor Joseph Fuller joins Jon Macaskill and Will Schneider to break down decades of data showing that men are quietly falling behind in education, the workforce, and health outcomes. Joe explains why this is the first generation since the Great Depression where young men don't expect to match their parents' lifestyle, how the job market shifted away from traditional male-dominated work toward social-skill-heavy cognitive jobs where women outperform men by 25 to 35 percentage points, and why the "college for all" philosophy fails 60% of 18-year-olds who will never finish a four-year degree.The conversation covers how schools were designed in ways that disadvantage boys, the professionalization of youth sports ($40 billion industry), applicant tracking systems that create "scar tissue" work identities, the historical pattern linking young men without household formation prospects to societal instability, and practical solutions including apprenticeships starting in 10th grade, teaching social skills in elementary school, AI-assisted learning, and eliminating homework. Jon shares how these trends show up in his own family. Joe closes with a direct charge: don't wait for someone else to do something. Mentor a kid. Show up.Full episode: https://pod.fo/e/3335aa Full video: https://youtu.be/ekGQtNiRP-kTake the free awareness assessment: https://focusnowtraining.com/assessment-page Get the free app (mobile): https://focusnowtraining.com/get-the-app-page Learn about the Awareness to Action course: https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course Get Jon's book DIAL in Your Leadership for free: https://dial.thrivecart.com/dial-book Text MTM to 33777 for all of this stuff in one link! Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY:12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-CourseJOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats.1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE: Or mentalkingmindfulness.comGET MORE FROM MTM:Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.comBRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:1.  focusnowtraining.com/contactProduced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/