Alex Hutchinson – We’re Hardwired To Explore—And Risk

Talking points: genetics, culture, psychology, parenting

I’m the kid who’s always running to see what’s over the next hill, so I’m both grateful and excited to have Alex on the show. His latest book is incredible, and gets to the science of how we’re actually happier with a little less predictability in so many parts of our lives. If you’re someone whose life feels kind of listless right now, this is YOUR episode.

(00:00:00) – The “explorer gene”, dopamine, and the impact of modern tech on our ability to explore

(00:15:20) – Our relationship with the unknown, and how it messes us up sometimes

(00:25:04) – How the unknown can challenge relationships, and how to navigate that

(00:29:40) – The difference between exploration and exploitation

(00:35:54) – The “free energy principle” and the “effort paradox”

(00:52:52) – Tactical insights on amping up your exploration mindset

Alex Hutchinson is the New York Times bestselling author of Endure, a longtime columnist for Outside covering the science of endurance, and a National Magazine Award–winning journalist who has contributed to the New York Times, The New Yorker, and other publications. A former long-distance runner for the Canadian national team, he holds a master’s in journalism from Columbia and a Ph.D. in physics from Cambridge, and he did his post-doctoral research with the National Security Agency. He lives in Toronto with his family.

Connect with Alex:

-Website: https://www.alexhutchinson.net/

-New book: The Explorer’s Gene: https://bit.ly/43JicFr

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweat_science/

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweatscience

Talking points: culture, psychology, masculinity

I’ve covered the data behind this multiple times. A lot of men—not just in North America but globally—are struggling. Today I want to spark some dialogue by bringing some attention to what I think are just a few of the underlying reasons.

And I want your thoughts, too. Comment if you’re on Spotify, DM me on Instagram. This is worth talking about beyond the usual blame games or “it’s always been like this” deflection.

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Tired of feeling like you’re never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth

Pick 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 Attachment

Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship

Build 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 | Spotify

For more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

Talking points: sex, relationships, culture

Editor’s Note: FYI team, had some audio snafus that we did our best to remedy. Thanks for your understanding! Grateful that Jamie and I sat down to talk all things intimate relationships. From how culture keeps shaping what men and women respond to, desire, and miss out on, to helping both yourself and her feel not just comfortable but welcome. This is a great ep to listen to with a partner, my friends.

(00:00:00) – What most men need to know about women’s desire

(00:05:41) – Helping a woman feel like all of her is welcome

(00:13:58) – Helping a partner who isn’t fully comfortable with themselves

(00:30:18) – For couples that find themselves stuck in monotony or dead bedroom

(00:37:58) – Common challenges women face in the “tragic phase”, and how men can move to support them

(00:44:04) – Become a gardener, not a consumer

Jamie Elizabeth Thompson has developed a holistic body of work to support women, men, and couples with letting go of limiting patterns around sex so they can have a fulfilling intimate life and taste their most exquisite erotic expression. She is a radical contributor to the field of Sex Education and is a pioneer in creating original and lasting solutions for challenges in sex & intimacy. She speaks about sexual transmutation, the spark of erotic life force in all things, sex magic and how creative life force can be channeled into manifesting your truest desires.

Connect with Jamie:

-FREE ‘Reset Ritual’ before your ‘Sexy Date’ (for women): https://awakenedwoman.life/datenight/

-Website: https://jamieelizabeththompson.com/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_awakened_woman

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missjamieelizabeth

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Tired of feeling like you’re never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth

Pick 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 Attachment

Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship

Build 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,

Talking points: attachment, relationships, psychology

If you’re the more anxious type and you’re dating someone more avoidant (or vice versa), it can create a whole realm of intensity that many people find hard to fathom. It’s the best and worst of the old saying “opposites attract”. Here’s how to lower the temperature and move towards something more secure.

(00:00:00) – Intro and what contributes to this dynamic

(00:05:36) – The signs and signals that you’re in the cycle

(00:07:20) – How you break it, step one: figure out how you’re contributing

(00:10:13) – Two: full transparency of where you’re at

(00:12:46) – Three: learn how to lean into yourself OR the relationship

(00:16:24) – The phrase every avoidant needs to know

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Tired of feeling like you’re never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth

Pick 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 Attachment

Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship

Build 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 | Spotify

For more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

Talking points: masculinity, mental health, friendship

Short but important one, team. I’m sure you’ve seen the memes that go something like “Is the cure for male loneliness pickleball?” Maybe you’ve rolled your eyes at them more than once. I have.

Nevertheless, the data is clear, and a lot of men out there are starved of quality friend time. Here’s how to change that.

(00:00:00) – Intro and why friendships are so important

(00:02:11) – The challenges, and tips to overcome them

(00:05:05) – The value of reciprocity and shared interests

(00:10:00) – Conflict is a part of it

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Tired of feeling like you’re never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth

Pick 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 Attachment

Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship

Build 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 | Spotify

For more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

Talking points: relationships

Yes, that’s a provocative title. Yes, listen to the whole thing. No, this isn’t men being mad at women. This is what I’ve seen time and again, plus what I’ve been told by multiple women and couples I’ve worked with, and it’s something both parties are responsible for.

(00:00:00) – The factor good men are missing

(00:04:24) – Defining “emotional containment”

(00:08:30) – The big caveat, and an example

So like I said, listen to the whole thing.

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Tired of feeling like you’re never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth

Pick 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 Attachment

Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship

Build 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 | Spotify

For more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

Talking points: psychology, attachment theory

We’ve had a LOT of newcomers recently, and I’m getting some great questions around what attachment theory means for men specifically. To that end, I’ve made you all a compilation; an episode chock-full of info on the two most common styles! One that cuts through the jargon and gives you some things you can work on literally right now.

(00:00:00) – The core of anxious attachment

(00:06:33) – What causes anxious attachment, and how it shows up in a relationship

(00:16:59) – What to do with anxiety, starting with the breath

(00:22:02) – Reclaiming your ability to ground yourself, and exposure therapy 

(00:27:13) – The first, most important things to know re: avoidant attachment 

(00:31:46) – How avoidant attachment shows up, and where it can come from in childhood

(00:43:54) – How it can show up in a relationship

(00:47:25) – Healing avoidant attachment: six simple tactics

For EVEN MORE info, dig into the Ultimate Guide To Attachment HERE: https://training.mantalks.com/attachment-guide

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Tired of feeling like you’re never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth

Pick 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 Attachment

Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship

Build 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 | Spotify

For more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mantalks/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer"…

Talking points: psychology, masculinity

If you’ve ever found yourself in strange push-pull dynamics, self-sabotaged relationships, or just feel like you never get it “right” with women, this may be your podcast. I see a lot of men battle their mommy (and daddy) issues instead of healing them. Let’s change that.

(00:00:00) – Intro, what a “mother wound” is, and the most common variations

(00:14:22) – How a mother wound shows up, from hypervigilance to underachievement to zero boundaries

(00:21:19) – How do you work through this? Step one: how to build awareness of it

(00:23:56) – Step two: learn how to regulate. Seriously.

(00:25:33) – “Reparenting” the child in you

(00:27:52) – Stop outsourcing your self worth, and learn how to end your projections

A Man’s Guide To Self-Worth: https://lnk.to/sRB9v6

How To Lead In Relationship: https://lnk.to/8xv131

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Tired of feeling like you’re never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth

Pick 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 Attachment

Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship

Build 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 | Spotify

For more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

Talking points: history, psychology, mindset, culture

Like George Santayana said, those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it. There’s so much we can learn about ourselves, where we come from, and what needs our attention when we study the past. Grateful for the host of Cost of Glory, Alex Petkas, coming back on the show to lay down some real history, difficult truths, and deep insights on ol’ Gaius himself.

(00:00:00) – What the modern man can learn from Julius Caesar

(00:17:52) – The importance of philosophy and poetry to ancient men

(00:23:06) – Why Caesar’s storytelling ability was so important, and how modern men can benefit from being better storytellers

(00:35:51) – The usefulness of old stories and ideas, and the psychological strategies that Caesar used

(00:45:48) – How Caesar handled women

(00:52:12) – Misconceptions of Caesar’s demise and attitude

Alex Petkas is writer, entrepreneur, and founder of The Cost of Glory,  a bridge for the virtues of ancient heroes and the modern world’s demands. With a PhD in Classics from Princeton University, Alex has transcended traditional academic boundaries to bring the power of ancient wisdom into contemporary leadership. Recognizing that figures like Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch, and Cato were not just intellectual giants but also formidable leaders and entrepreneurs, he blends their timeless insights with modern leadership needs, offering actionable strategies that resonate with today’s leaders. Alex challenges the modern disregard for classical education, championing its vital role in moral and intellectual development. His mission is to reignite the heroic spark within men, empowering them to tackle contemporary challenges with unmatched courage and clarity.

Connect with Alex

-Website: https://www.costofglory.com/

-The Authoritative Speakers Guide: https://costofglory.kit.com/gift

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexpetkas/

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Tired of feeling like you’re never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth

Pick 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 Attachment

Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship

Build 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<a href="https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/mantalks-podcast-1242514"…

Talking points: relationships, mindset

I see so many men struggle with this, without ever knowing why. Part of it’s the realities of modern dating, but there’s a few things you can do to rise above. Listen in.

(00:00:00) – Here’s the situation

(00:04:32) – Stop overfunding the account in an effort to get something

(00:06:51) – Be her best option, but don’t stuff it in her face

(00:10:55) – Re-prioritize your needs and expectations, and do it like this

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Tired of feeling like you’re never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth

Pick 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 Attachment

Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship

Build 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 | Spotify

For more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

Talking points: money, success, mindset, finances

Grateful to have the thoughtful and straightforward advice of Sahil Bloom when it comes to wealth—minus the get-rich-quick schemes and “hacks” you see too often on social media. We covered a ton, from financial skill development and a healthy relationship with money, to how you balance that with what really matters.

(00:00:24) – Understanding the Misconceptions of Success

(00:12:34) – The Lottery Mindset and Its Pitfalls

(00:21:32) – Developing Skills for Financial Success

(00:26:04) – The Value of Deep Thinking, Writing, And Conversation

(00:30:10) – Understanding Antigoals And “Time Wealth”

(00:42:22) – Balacing Risk And Wealth

Sahil Bloom is an inspirational writer and content creator, captivating millions of people every week through his insights and bi-weekly newsletter, ‘The Curiosity Chronicle’. Sahil is a successful entrepreneur, owner of SRB Holdings, and the managing partner of SRB Ventures, an early-stage investment fund. Sahil graduated from Stanford University with an MA in public policy and a BA in economics and sociology. He was a four-year member on the Stanford Baseball Team.

Connect with Sahil

-Website: https://www.sahilbloom.com/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sahilbloom/

-Book: The 5 Types Of Wealth: https://www.the5typesofwealth.com/

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Tired of feeling like you’re never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth

Pick 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 Attachment

Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship

Build 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 | <a…

Talking points: conflict, relationships

You’re going to get into arguments. There will be differences of opinion. But what if those were gateways to something more? Today, the latest in the Man’s Guide series.

(00:00:00) – Choose someone you’re willing to conflict with, and be someone she’s willing to conflict with, too.

(00:04:11) – Your nervous system sets the tone.

(00:07:41) – You need rules of engagement.

(00:10:45) – Stop trying to “fix” her emotions.

(00:15:25) – Don’t fall for The Trap. Connect instead.

(00:18:47) – Lead the repair.

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Tired of feeling like you’re never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth

Pick 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 Attachment

Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship

Build 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 | Spotify

For more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram