A Brave New Man

Are you attuned to your body and its needs, or are you living day to day consumed with your thoughts and unaware of what your body is trying to tell you? Many of us have adopted a way of living that is entirely focused on thought, productivity, and achievement, and in doing so we have completely disconnected ourselves from our bodies. We need to nurture our bodies and attune to its needs, but how do we do that? In this episode we explore what embodiment means and how we can make our lives more playful and safe just by attuning to our bodies. Our interview with Nadia Munla teaches us: 1) What embodiment means and why we have become so disembodied, 2) Different ways that we can attune to our bodies that are giving us so much meaningful information, and 3) How we can make sex feel safer for ourselves and our partners through this process. Nadia is an Embodiment Coach who guides womxn to sensual nourishment, authentic expression and embodied power. She teaches them to stop managing their bodies & start loving them instead…so they can feel confident, sexy & powerful in business (and the bedroom). Through her one-on-one coaching, Embody dance classes & Embody teacher training Nadia has guided thousands of womxn across 5 continents on their journey back to themselves. You can find her at nadiamunla.com, embodydanceclass.com, or join the conversation at The Embody Tribe FB group.

Do you understand what it means to be on the Autism spectrum? Do you (or someone you know) wonder if you might be on that spectrum? The Autism spectrum is widely misunderstood as being a severe diagnosis, but there are so many subtleties in that diagnosis that many people don't even know if they are on it themselves. The Autism spectrum includes experiences such as: Consistently missing or misinterpreting social cues, Having difficulty making eye-contact, Feeling socially awkward without knowing how to participate in conversations, and Having a high sensitivity to noises, lights, and touch. In this episode we explore what it means to be on the Autism spectrum as well as how to apply the most amount of self-care to yourself or others with this diagnosis. Our interview with Candice Christiansen teaches us: 1) How to self-assess for the Autism spectrum, 2) How to best interact with others on the spectrum for the benefit of everyone involved, and 3) What resources are available to help those on the spectrum.  Candice Christiansen, M.Ed., LCMHC, is passionate about treating all human beings with dignity and respect. As an autistic woman, a child sexual abuse survivor, licensed clinician, and an intimacy and trauma expert, Candice has dedicated the last 20 years working with individuals with attachment based disorders stemming from overt and covert developmental trauma.Her programs, Namasté Center for Healing and The Global Prevention Project are internationally known for treating cisgender, transgender, nonbinary individuals as well as those on the autism spectrum who have a variety of intimacy issues, and complex trauma. Candice is the author of the internationally known workbook Mastering The Trauma Wound: A Mindful Approach to Healing Trauma and Creating Healthier Relationships(©2016). Candice and her husband Chris will be launching the Autism and Intimacy Podcast later this year. She enjoys traveling to Maui multiple times a year and snorkeling, hiking, and playing on the beach. 

Do you know how being aware (or unaware) of diversity in our population is affecting your life? Most of the time we go through life without truly being aware of the difficulties that people in diverse groups have in their personal and professional lives, OR we are a member of a diverse group and feel like we are marginalized, unaccounted for, or misunderstood. It is ALL OF OUR responsibilities to make this world more inclusive for all people, especially if we are in positions of privilege or power. In this episode we explore what the challenges are for people in diverse populations as well as what structural changes need to occur to allow everyone to feel welcome and cherished. Our interview with Jennifer Brown teaches us: 1) What it means to be in a diverse group of the population (and what it can feel like!), 2) How leaders must shift their thoughts and actions in order to create a more inclusive environment for diverse members of a workforce, and 3) What inner shifts we all can make in order to bring more empathy and understanding to the world. Jennifer Brown is a leading diversity and inclusion expert, dynamic keynote speaker, best-selling author, award-winning entrepreneur and host of The Will To Change podcast, which uncovers true stories of diversity and inclusion. As the founder, president and CEO of Jennifer Brown Consulting, Jennifer's workplace strategies have been employed by some of the world's top Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits—including Walmart, Microsoft, Starbucks, Toyota Financial Services, T-Mobile, and many others— to help employees bring their full selves to work and feel Welcomed, Valued, Respected and Heard. Her new book is called How to Be an Inclusive Leader: Your Role in Creating Cultures of Belonging Where Everyone Can Thrive.

Do you know how trauma is affecting your life? Trauma is often misunderstood as exclusively being a life-threatening event that keeps someone in fear of danger for the rest of their lives. While this IS a type of trauma, there are many covert types of trauma that often go unrecognized and untreated in people's lives. Relational trauma from our childhood can drastically affect how we attach to people as adults, and it can lead to addictions without us realizing why. In this episode we explore the different types of trauma and discuss how we can begin treating them if they are present in our lives. Our interview with Tim Stein teaches us: 1) What trauma is, 2) How we can recognize its effect on our lives, and 3) What steps we can take to begin healing that trauma and learning to have deeper intimacy in our lives. Tim Stein specializes in sobriety and recovery from sex addiction, betrayed partner healing, and trauma resolution. He facilitates retreats and workshops for addicts, their betrayed partners, and trauma survivors. Tim is a consistent presenter at national conferences. Tim seeks to educate and empower individuals to make the changes necessary for their lives to be well balanced and fulfilling. Tim is a co-founder of Willow Tree Counseling, an outpatient treatment program for sex addicts and betrayed partners. Tim's book Gifts of Recovery: Daily Meditations for Men and Women in Recovery from Sex Addiction is available on Amazon.

Does technology help or hurt your relationships? Does your “smart” phone connect you to others, or does it disconnect you from your natural drives and from the people you love? Obviously, there are a myriad of ways that modern day technology helps our lives but there are also many ways that it makes us feel separate and disconnected from what matters most. In this episode we explore all of the ways that technology has affected us and what we can do about it. Our interview with Christine Hassler (our returning champion!) teaches us: 1) The ways that our technology use disconnects us from the people we care about, 2) How technology affects the natural masculine and feminine drives inside of us, and 3) The ways that we can change our relationship to technology to invite more energy and intimacy into our lives. Christine Hassler is the best-selling author of three books, most recently Expectation Hangover. For over a decade, as a keynote speaker, retreat facilitator, spiritual psychologist and life coach, and host of the top-rated podcast “Over it and On With It”, she has been teaching and inspiring people around the world. Christine believes once we get out of our own way, we can show up to make the meaningful impact we are here to make. Visit her online at www.christinehassler.com

Are there things that you need to say to a loved one but have never "found the right moment"? In this special Father's Day episode, we hear two amazing stories from men who found themselves growing up with absent fathers... One was absent literally, and the other was absent mentally and emotionally. These men share their deep, meaningful, and true-life stories about how their relationships with their fathers affected them and what they chose to do about it. Their stories are real, thought provoking, emotionally moving, and inspiring. They make us think about our own relationships and what we need to say or do in those relationships before it's too late.  A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE TWO WRITERS WHO SHARED THEIR STORIES WITH US: Danny Parker-Lopes is an actor/writer who's been working on this piece, Pops, his whole life. Literally.  He hopes to complete the one-person show and, eventually, the movie before he dies. Brett Hamilton is a writer, storyteller, and yogi.  If you connected with his story, he would love to hear from you.  You can reach him at bretthami@gmail.com

Are your masculine and feminine energies harmonized within you? Do you even know what that means? We all have these dynamic polarities within us, but it is common for us to diagnose certain aspects of these energies as bad, wrong, or even "crazy"! In this episode we explore what the masculine and feminine energies are, and how we can harmonize them within ourselves as well as with other people in our lives. If we do this, we can empower ourselves and others to be the fullest and most loving versions of ourselves. Our interview with Maddy Moon teaches us: 1) WHAT ARE the masculine and feminine energies, 2) How we can harness the power of both of those energies inside of ourselves, and 3) How we can use the fullness of our energy to create more depth, intimacy, and love in our personal relationships.  Madelyn Moon is an author, podcast host, retreat leader and transformational life coach. She is a guiding force for women who want to stop over-thinking their lives away and live with more trust, intuition and flow. Maddy takes life by the reigns today by leading thousands of women across the world through their own transformational experiences via her podcast, Mind Body Musings, her website, MaddyMoon.com, and her global retreats. Her work and story has been featured in The Huffington Post, Teen Vogue, Nylon Magazine, Thought Catalog, The Daily Mail, Vice, Greatist, Men's Health, PEOPLE and ABC News Nightline.

Are you aligned with the healthiest parts of your masculine and feminine energy? We tend to reduce these concepts into male vs. female, but there is so much more to the masculine and feminine energies that we can seize upon to help us thrive and serve each other to reach our maximum potential of loving. In this episode we explore what it means to embody the masculine energy inside of all of us and give ourselves permission to be, feel, and embrace who we truly are. Our interview with Josh Trent teaches us: 1) How to take an inventory of how we are using our masculine energy for helpful vs. hurtful purposes, 2) What steps to take in order to heal the negative voices inside of our heads that we learned from our childhoods, and 3) How we can move into a spirit of connection and togetherness with our sisters and brothers in order to spread more love on the planet.  Josh Trent is the Founder of Wellness Force Media and host of the top-ranked iTunes podcast, Wellness Force Radio. Josh has spent the past 16 years as a researcher, trainer, and facilitator discovering the physical and emotional intelligence for humans to thrive in our modern world. After publishing over 300 high-level interviews with some of the most respected minds in the health, wellness, and self-help industries, Josh has been spotlighted in major wellness media outlets such as Onnit, Spartan, SEALFIT, and Paleo f(x). In 2019 Josh became the CEO of Civilized Caveman, helping women and men live better through practical solutions in wellness, truth, and paleo-friendly recipes.

Do you know what sex addiction actually is? This addiction is one of the most misunderstood and controversial addictions in the world, but most people don't actually know what the criteria for it is. It looks very much like other chemical or process addictions, except that sexual behaviors/obsessions are the focal point of what the addict uses as their “drug” of choice. In this episode we explore what sex addiction is (and isn't!) as well as how a sex addict can begin the road to recovery. Our interview with Robert Weiss teaches us: 1) How someone who believes they have problematic sexual behavior can find assessment tools to screen for sex addiction, 2) What factors lie underneath all addiction and how we can be compassionate toward those factors, and 3) How to heal from this addiction, whether you are an addict or the partner of an addict. Robert Weiss is a PhD and Licensed Social worker, and he is an expert in the treatment of adult intimacy disorders and related addictions, most notably sex/porn/relationship addictions along with co-occurring drug/sex addiction. A clinical sexologist and practicing psychotherapist, Dr. Rob frequently serves as a subject matter expert for major media outlets. He's the author of many books, including Prodependence, Out of the Doghouse, Sex Addiction 101, and Cruise Control. He also hosts a weekly live no cost webinar with Q&A on sexandrelationshiphealing.com  

How do you define sexual consent? Given the fact that we all come from different backgrounds with different pasts, it is impossible to guess whether or not a new sexual partner fully consents to sexual situations without having that conversation with them. It is important to be fully aware and present with our sexual partners in order to know whether they are fully consenting to our sexual encounters with them. In this episode we explore what consent actually is, and how we can deepen our relationships to others and ourselves in order to have healthier lives both sexually and otherwise. Our interview with Dr. Alexandra Katehakis teaches us: 1) How to define sexual consent for ourselves, 2) How to communicate those boundaries to our partners or observe those boundaries in others, and 3) How to hold ourselves to the highest standard of empathy, compassion, and respect for others. Alexandra Katehakis, Ph.D., MFT, CSAT-S, CST-S is a Marriage Family Therapist, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist/Supervisor and Certified Sex Therapist/Supervisor, and Clinical Director of Center for Healthy Sex in Los Angeles. Dr. Katehakis has extensive experience in working with a full spectrum of sexuality; from sexual addiction to sex therapy, as well as problems of sexual desire and sexual dysfunction for individuals and couples. She has successfully facilitated the recovery of many sexually addicted individuals and assisted couples in revitalizing their sex lives. She earned her Ph.D. from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality.

Are you communicating in the best possible ways in your romantic relationship? Relationships have the potential to make us happy, but they also have the power to bring out the worst in us. One reason is that we might still be trying to heal our childhood wounds through our relationship, but it might also be because we simply don't know how to communicate. In this episode we explore how to assess for communication pitfalls in our romantic relationships, as well as how to heal those divides in order to get back to our most loving essence. Our interview with Dr. Sarah Schewitz teaches us: 1) How to recognize if we are participating in any of the Gottmans' Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, 2) How to take action on any of those Horsemen so that we can be communicating from a more loving place, and 3) Daily practices that can get us back into our loving with our partners. Dr. Sarah Schewitz is a licensed psychologist specializing in love & relationships and founder of the online psychology practice, Couples Learn. She has been working with couples and individuals to improve their love lives for over 10 years now and has completed advance trainings in both Imago Couples Therapy and Gottman Method Couples Therapy. Dr. Sarah's private practice is relatively unique in that she is one of the only doctoral level couples therapists who's practice is 100% online. Sarah is regularly featured in articles for outlets such as Readers Digest, CareerBuilder, Playboy, Refinery29, Bustle, ConnectWithLife, AskMen, Self, and more.

Do you or someone you know experience erectile dysfunction? Erectile dysfunction is a problem that many men experience, but very few people talk about. Because of the feelings of embarrassment and shame, this topic remains hidden underground which ends up exacerbating the problem since the person can't find out how to improve his situation! We're changing that on today's episode. In this episode we explore erectile dysfunction and all of the myths and misunderstandings that go with it. Our interview with Natalie Finegood Goldberg teaches us: 1) How to define erectile dysfunction, 2) All of the ways that we misunderstand the problem, 3) How common it actually is, and 4) How to get help in treating it.  Natalie Finegood Goldberg is an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in sex therapy for men and women. In her Beverly Hills private practice, she works with individuals and couples, with a focus on erectile concerns, pelvic pain, and couples with mismatched desire and other sexual problems. In addition to providing sex therapy, Natalie regularly offers sex therapy trainings to assist other therapists in learning how to work with sexual concerns.

Do you know what it feels like to live life as a gay man? Whether or not you identify as gay, straight, or anywhere in between, you will learn a lot from this interview about the many aspects of how it is for gay men in today's world. In this episode we explore the many ways that gay men learn to feel a specific type of shame through their experiences as both boys and adults. Our interview with Dan Lacovara introduces us to his Gay Shame Paradigm which teaches us: 1) The 4 pillars of the paradigm in which gay men learn to feel ashamed of being gay, 2) How it feels to go through life as a gay man, and 3) Ways that gay men can support themselves in healing from this learned shame. Dan Lacovara is a licensed marriage and family therapist, and has worked extensively with clients struggling with sex and love addiction issues. He is particularly interested in how gay clients navigate and develop a healthy relationship to sex. He has lectured both locally and nationally on the topic.

Are you “armoring up” your emotions in business in order to survive, or are you using your emotional intelligence to help you lead from the strongest parts of who you are? In this episode we discuss the emotional methods that people have used to survive the demanding corporate world (as well as the costs of those methods), especially when gender was an obvious factor. Our interview with Heathere Evans teaches us: 1) How it felt to be one of the only women in a male-dominated corporate environment, 2) The effects of shutting off our emotions in order to survive in that environment, and 3) How to begin leading from our authentic, artistic, and inclusive selves. Heathere Evans is a speaker, a mentor to young professionals, and an author on success, leadership, workplace well-being and personal growth topics. She is also an accredited public relations professional, ICF-certified executive coach and award-winning communications consultant. Her work in emotional intelligence and leadership helps individuals and teams create workplace cultures grounded in trust and clear, powerful communications practices.

How can we be more openhearted and empathetic when people say that they have been wronged in some way? With the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, more people are coming forward and experiencing backlash for sharing their stories with the world. We find ourselves more polarized than ever before as people separate into camps of "believers" and "non-believers." In this episode we discuss how it's possible to empathize with people whether or not we want what they are saying to be true. Our interview with Shereen Hariri teaches us: 1) How it felt to be supported as someone who came forward with a story during the #MeToo movement, 2) How it felt to be attacked, and 3) How we can have empathy for all people.  Shereen Hariri is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist as well as a Certified Sex Therapist in Los Angeles, CA

PART 2… What does it mean to be a good man? How can we be good at BEING men? In Part 2 of our interview with Stefanos Sifandos we discuss taking personal responsibility, as well as several practical steps that everyone can take to bring out the natural fire, compassion, and integrity inside of them. Daily reflections such as “Who have I been today?” and “Am I happy with that person?” are discussed, as well as what to do with the answers to those questions. Stefanos Sifandos is a relational alchemist, international speaker, and author who facilitates transformational growth through neuro-empowerment practices, an integration of spiritual praxis and western psychology to improve and enhance the quality of your relationships. Stefanos believes that intimate relationships and sacredness in union is a direct path to enlightenment and freedom.

What does it mean to be a good man? How can we be good at BEING men? In this episode we discuss the term “masculine” and what it takes to be a good, forward thinking, inclusive, curious, courageous man. Part 1 of our interview with Stefanos Sifandos takes men and women on a global journey as we define the many different ways that men show up in the world and how we can harness the power of the masculine to bring healing to the world. Stefanos Sifandos is a relational alchemist, international speaker, and author who facilitates transformational growth through neuro-empowerment practices, an integration of spiritual praxis and western psychology to improve and enhance the quality of your relationships. Stefanos believes that intimate relationships and sacredness in union is a direct path to enlightenment and freedom.

How do we know if we are expressing our anger in ways so covert that we don't even know we're doing it? In this episode we discuss how anger can be sexualized in ways that hide the root of the anger, which leaves people helpless to understand it or heal it. Our interview with Dr. Kate Balestrieri teaches us: 1) What eroticized rage is, 2) How to identify it in ourselves and others, and 3) How to find more helpful ways to express and heal our anger.  Dr. Kate Balestrieri, Psy.D., CSAT-S, is a Licensed (Clinical and Forensic) Psychologist in CA and IL, and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist - Supervisor. In over 12 years of clinical experience, she has conducted clinical and forensic evaluations, served as an expert witness, and provided treatment in clinical, forensic, and correctional settings. Dr. Balestrieri maintains her role as the Executive Director and Co-founder of Triune Therapy Group in Brentwood, CA. She also teaches a course dedicated to the treatment of Sexual Abuse and Human Trafficking at Antioch University in the Trauma Specialization Program, and is the Co-host of Behind Closed Doors with Dr. Kate & Lauren, a weekly podcast.   

What does it mean to be masculine or feminine? In this episode we discuss how the masculine and feminine polarities exist in all of us, and how we can celebrate those differences in all of our relationships. Our interview with Christine Hassler guides us through how to best relate to our partners in the ways that THEY need us to relate to them, and how to truly know each other through intimate conversations. Christine Hassler is the best-selling author of three books, most recently Expectation Hangover. For over a decade, as a keynote speaker, retreat facilitator, spiritual psychologist and life coach, and host of the top-rated podcast “Over it and On With It”, she has been teaching and inspiring people around the world. Christine believes once we get out of our own way, we can show up to make the meaningful impact we are here to make. Visit her online at www.christinehassler.com

Welcome to A Brave New Man Podcast where we talk about masculinity, connection, empathy, and how to have better relationships with each other. In this inaugural episode we discuss some of the positive things being expressed in masculinity today, as well as some of the challenges men are facing. We define and explain in depth the four pillars of the new masculinity: 1) Being Strong, 2) Being Vulnerable, 3) Being Empathetic and Loving, and 4) Being Assertive. 

Do you want to be a better man? Are you a man or woman who wants to have a better relationship with your man? Then follow along with Greg Woodhill as he interviews experts and non-experts on masculinity, love and connection. Topics range from cheating & infidelity, to the Me Too movement, porn addiction and happy relationships. In this trailer, we share a clip of a future interview with Dr. Kate Balestrieri, discussing eroticized anger and how people express their feelings in unhealthy ways.