Purpose & Direction

Talking points: collaboration, friendship, masculinity

Men, few things are more powerful, fulfilling, and expansive than this, so guard it with your life. It took me way too long to learn and understand, and many people diminish or degrade its importance. Listen in.

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:01:53) – Men are isolated and less collaborative than ever before, and we miss out on important things

(00:05:06) – Without male collaboration, our society would cease to exist

(00:06:40) – What I’ve learned over the last decade about male friendships—and male isolation

(00:10:02) – Maybe you yourself are one of those men who could use more friendships

(00:11:34) – We’ve got to protect this

(00:13:16) – Things you can do to foster male collaboration

(00:44:28) – The evolutionary case for vulnerability

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/

Check out some 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? If so, please 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 episodes, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | and yes, even TikTok

Talking points: middle age, mindset, death, nice guys

I’ve worked with legions of middle-aged men. As of 2023, I’m one of them. It got me wondering why so many of us radically change (or catastrophically implode) our lives in our 40s and 50s. Here’s what I’ve seen, where I think it comes from, and where to begin ensuring it doesn’t happen to you.

(00:00:00) – Intro and why I call it the “middle passage”
(00:02:52) – The biggest reason men go through a midlife “crisis”
(00:06:59) – Pleasing Syndrome, and how to fix it
(00:10:26) – Fear of our own depths
(00:13:29) – The collapse of the illusion that right action leads to right outcome
(00:17:34) – What do you actually do with this info?

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/

Check out some 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? If so, please 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 episodes, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talking points: success, achievement, addiction, cycling, athleticism, personal development

Kevin Miller is a powerhouse. More than that, he’s deeply humble and intentional in what he does after a lifetime of hard work and the pursuit of excellence. I sat down with him last week to dig deeper: what makes drive “drive”? What’s the meaning of really going beyond your limits? What really, truly drives you, and where are you going with that?

You know, just light conversation.

(00:00:00) – Intro and Kevin’s defining moment
(00:06:04) – What it takes to be a professional cyclist, and what drove Kevin to pursue it
(00:11:10) – What might be underneath a valiant can’t-quit-won’t-quit attitude, and what’s the difference between pursuit of excellence and addiction?
(00:19:11) – When it comes to the pursuit of excellence, what’s actually rewarding about it?
(00:26:26) – How did the pursuit of excellence filter its way into your parenting?
(00:31:49) – Intentionality versus pursuit, and where the addiction to pursuit might come from
(00:47:35) – Do you think it’s healthy and meaningful for men to pursue some kind of physical excellence?
(00:51:39) – How the self-help industrial complex has shifted over the last few decades
(01:04:45) – Is AI going to help or harm people and the self-help industry?

Kevin is a former pro athlete, respected personal development guide, top-ranking podcast host, published author, and father of nine who has devoted himself to helping people elevate their personal experience and improve the way they show up for others.

Kevin hosts the Self-Helpful podcast, which has over 60 million downloads and is routinely visited by today’s most influential changemakers. His book, What Drives You challenges today’s myths on “driven people” and serves as a guide to clarity and conviction in what you authentically value and what truly motivates you.

Connect with Kevin

-Website: https://www.kevinmiller.co/
-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinmiller.co/
-Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevinmillerco
-Podcast: https://www.kevinmiller.co/podcast
-Book, What Drives You: https://www.kevinmiller.co/whatdrivesyou

This episode is brought to you by Cured Nutrition! Cured offers everything from CBD to functional mushroom products to adaptogens designed to help the body thrive in all aspects of the daily human experience. Personal favorite? The Zen sleep bundle. Get 20% off your order here: https://www.curednutrition.com/mantalks/

Men, join me for an intense, depth-oriented training regimen called the Men’s Self-Leadership Program. Customized curriculum, direct work with me, and limited to just 8 men: https://mantalks.com/mslp/

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/

Check out some 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 and join me today. 

Enjoy the podcast? If so, please 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 episodes, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talking points: motivation, resiliency, transformation, Mt Kilimanjaro, Kona marathon, family secrets, doubt, shame

I’m proud to have known Bonner for some time now, thanks to him being a member of the Alliance, my private men’s group. But the reason I wanted him on the show is to share his powerful story and how he’s alchemized his life and his troubles into something that serves others. Many others, as you’ll find out when you hit play.

I strongly recommend checking this one out if you or someone you know has any form of disability. It’s important not just to help each other along, but to gather perspective on the extra hurdles many of us face, how they’re managed or overcome, and the radical change that can stem from all of the above.

(00:00:00) – Intro and Bonner’s defining moment
(00:10:21) – Growing up with cerebral palsy
(00:14:31) – The different kinds of family rules, and how came to hide his CP
(00:20:44) – How Bonner used athleticism to both get attention and distract himself
(00:32:00) – The story of Jakey
(00:42:10) – How “dark motivation” got Bonner to the top, but couldn’t get him down
(00:58:15) – Challenges of completing the Kona Triathlon
(01:04:10) – Next steps, and a return to Kilimanjaro

Bonner Paddock Rinn is the Founder and Chairman of Project Possible, a 501c3 non-profit that serves children with disabilities. PP was established in 2009 to raise awareness and build and support early learning centers that provide services for children with all types of disabilities and their families so that they can live a life beyond limits all around the world. He began by raising funds to aid the construction of an early learning center in Orange County. The foundation has now helped the establishment of early learning centers around the globe, including Tanzania, Northern Uganda, Kenya, and Nicaragua.

Project Possible promotes the idea that anyone can make a difference if they dedicate themselves to looking beyond their personal limits to achieve their goal, just as Bonner himself has done.

Team Jake was formed by the parents of four-year-old Jake Roberts, Steven, and Alison, to celebrate his life. Jake had severe cerebral palsy and passed away suddenly in his sleep in January 2006 at 4 1/2 years old.

When Jake passed away, Bonner experienced a lightning bolt moment that changed his life. He had just completed his first full marathon, the Orange County Marathon, raising $30,000 in donations for children with disabilities. This race, developing a close friendship with Jake’s family, and meeting young Jake, fueled Bonner’s ambition to be the first person with cerebral palsy to climb Mt Kilimanjaro unassisted in 2008. He set out on a mission to raise $250,000 to help provide the therapy needed for all the young kids like Jake.

Jake’s legacy took Bonner on to his next and most extreme physical challenge four years later when he became the first person with cerebral palsy to complete the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, in 2012, where he raised over $700,000. When asked what kept him going in the last 10 miles of a 140+ mile grueling race, he replied, “It’s Jakey. That boy lives in my heart forever, along with all the other special needs kids out there.”

All of Project Possible’s Centers in the world are named Team Jake Centers, including our Team Jake Virtual Center, an online training and support for organizations and families worldwide.

Connect with Bonner

-Website: https://projectpossible.org/

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

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonpdkrinn/, https://www.instagram.com/projectpossibleorg

-Book: One More Step: https://amzn.to/3K1h85v

Pick up my brand-new book, Men’s Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/

Check out some 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 and join me today. 

Enjoy the podcast? If so, please 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 episodes, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.