Conversations From the Couch with Eric Strom

The session I talk to Billy and Brandy Eldridge of the Beta Male Revolution podcast. We discuss being real, men in therapy, the beta male revolution and all manner of emotions. 

In this episode of the podcast Margaret Gavian, a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Minnesota, talks about her work with the Minnesota Fire Initiative and how she works to assist in helping the 22,000 firefighters in Minnesota achieve mental wellness. She also is someone who has helped police and first responders as well as many other individuals We have experienced a traumatic events. With her organizational company blue peak consulting, Margaret leads trainings for first responders throughout the state teaching them how to remain mentally healthy on the job. 

Monica McConkey is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Minnesota who currently serves as a rural mental health specialist providing support to farmers and their families through a contract with Minnesota agriculture centers of excellence and farm business management. Through this endeavor she meets with farmers and their families to help with the unique struggles that our farming families face. 

In this session of the podcast Eric walks you through some of the basic ideas of meditation. You were encouraged to begin your own meditation practice and this episode may help you to begin to do so.

Jessi Leader is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, relationship therapist, and fierce advocate for men's mental health. On this episode of the podcast she talks about her own discovery of finally being seen and heard, her work with men as a young therapist and how that empowered her to continue to help men heal and find their emotions. 

In this session of the podcast Eric is interviewed and talks about his work with men, the podcast, and why working with men is important. 

CH (CPT) Kevin Coder is the Chaplain for the 2-147 th (AHB) Assault Helicopter Battalion. CH Coder has been in the National Guard for 21 years, enlisting in 1999 as a Mental Health Specialist.  CH Coder is a Veteran of multiple deployments and works to bring together spirituality and mental health in his work with Soldiers, Veterans, and civilians alike.  This session explores Eric and Kevin's recent deployment together and how they brought together the mind and soul. 

Gus Wilson is an active-duty veteran of 2 separate conflicts in Iraq. After being retired from the Military, Gus has retrained as a Barber and started his journey as an entrepreneur, Business and Rugby Coach and men’s mental health advocate. Gus talks about the importance of accepting our emotions, and also holding on to the traits that define some traditional masculinity, all the while being respectful of others. 

Dr. Ryan Van Wyk is a clinical psychologist and specialty lead for mental health at North Memorial Health in Robbinsdale Minnesota. He specialize in working with those whose lives have been impacted by trauma. Dr. Van Wyk is also the senior behavioral health provider for the Minnesota Army National Guard with a current rank of Major. He's a veteran having deploy in 2019 in support of Operation Spartan Shield. He's also the founder and president of the Minnesota Trauma Project. In this session we discover trauma, the military culture, and masculinity within that culture. We also explore the emotional deprivation that one has during a deployment setting. 

As men, there are a lot of societal norms in place around our ability to express emotion. In this episode will begin to explore the work that I am passionate about in helping men to identify their emotions and fully open up to their authentic selves. We explore why this is important and the detriment of not doing so. 

These are challenging times. COVID has shaken a lot of people physically and mentally, as as result it is important that we be sure to take care of ourselves and each other. This episodes looks at some of the mental health statistics surrounding COVID and demonstrates that you are not alone. 

Fitness is an important aspect of mental health. Countless studies have proven time and time again that stress, anxiety, and depression can all be decreased in intensity through physical activity.  On this solo show I talk about the importance of fitness and how you can work it into your routine. 

The Mental Health Solutions podcast is focused on men's issues, fitness, nutrition, spirituality, and overall mental health. Join us on this journey as we explore these areas and more in future sessions! 

This session we talk to Mark and Bill, founders The Face It Foundation. Face It was founded in 2009 with the goal to help men understand and overcome depression, and reduce the rate of male suicide. They provide men’s support groups, one-on-one peer support, outreach events, public education, and training for mental health professionals. Mark and Bill talk about their struggles and why they do what they do. 

On this episode I talk with Command Sergeants Major Mitchell Hellkamp, CSM of the 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade. CSM Hellkamp speaks on how he has made it through multiple deployments, what keeps him going, and how we are all vulnerable and need to ask for help at times.   

William Pullen is a Fully Qualified Psychotherapist in Britain and is the inventor of Dynamic Running Therapy. DRT is fundamentally the linking of movement (walking/running) with traditional talk therapy. It replaces the static atmosphere of the therapist office and allows therapist and client to move their bodies and create healing. 

On this session of the podcast I am joined by Dr. Corinne Weaver, an accomplished author, Doctor and podcaster. Dr. Weaver talks to us about how a bike accident as a kid led to allergies and asthma that were ruling her life. And how her Uncle helped her discover the tools that led to her passion of helping people heal naturally.

On this session of the podcast Lisa Danychuck talks with me about how she discovered yoga and what it has meant to her. She talks about helping those who have experienced trauma and how yoga can help them. 

This week's session is an episode of the Transitions From War podcast and is a companion to the Marine Corps Times article Dr. Shauna Springer and Mike Ergo coauthored on how we can talk about suicide. As we talk about in the show, a Marine Corps colonel

This session I talk with Joshua Hathaway. Joshua is a Holistic Clinical Psychology, a Tongue Fu black belt and master of the Art of Connection. Joshua walks us through just how important it is to not only have honest, no bullshit communication, but also how important connection is. We explore how it is important for men to have a circle of men they can trust to hold space for them, and to hold them accountable. One thing that I find to be so important is the exploration of the shame that we men hold. Joshua and I explore that and how we as men can help one another with this. "Working through our shame starts by feeling it." I love this quote from Joshua because it is so true. Listen up for Joshua's 5 types of Bullshit: Projection Reactive Demand Avoidant Victim

On this session of Conversations From the Couch we continue our series on Men with fellow journeyman and relationship expect Bryan Reeves. Bryan is an author, podcaster, blogger, and relationship coach. Bryan has gone through a long and winding journey to get to where he is today. Bryan spent 10 years in the Air Force but knew early on that the path he was taking was not for him. In this session we talk about how even though we may come from “normal” homes, we are not comforted or shown how to express our emotions and how that impacts us. How that impacts our lives, relationships and those around us. We explore how when we are not connected to our own emotions we cannot be connected to others and in turn hurt those that we care about. Do you struggle with being comforted? That is something that many of us struggle with and something that we have not experienced and now do not know what to do with. We talk about how healing and important it is for us to be able to be held not only by our women but also by other men. Men who we can trust to hold our emotions and us physically. As men there are so many negative connotations associated with this thought, and yet it is something that from an attachment perspective, from a human perspective is needed and missing. The experience of men in adolescence teaches us to resist the very thing that, in a heterosexual way, we want to engage in relationship with. “Don’t be a girl” “Don’t be a pussy” all these negative things that we have heard as boys. If we moved beyond this and connected, heard one another, were respectful and able to be in community while being connected to our emotions we would change the dynamics of government, business, schools, and relationships. We are never going to solve the problems we face if we do not connect.  For the women, respect your own boundaries while understanding that these emotions are something that your man may not have experience with. Don’t dismiss his experience, and do not allow him to dismiss yours. Bryan mentions The Way Of The Superior Man by David Deida, a book that was a game changer for him and has been referenced by many of the men that I have talked to. I encourage you to check it out as well. You can find Bryans books on Amazon; follow this link to get your free audible trial to listen to one of Bryan’s books. You can find out more about Bryan at www.bryanreeves.com

This session I have a special guest host, Dana Stewart, who turns the tables on me and asks me the questions. We dive into talking about the upcoming series on men, how we can show up differently and why we need to. We explore some of my struggles and how I got to where I am today. This upcoming men's series is meant to explore how we as men are often put into a gender box as young boys, how we are expected to show up in a certain way and how that impacts us. We will explore the ways that we can navigate out of that space and be a better partner, lover, parent, friend and human.

This session on Conversations From the Couch I am joined by MG (Ret) Neal Loidolt. Neal is the President and CEO of the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV). MACV is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to providing assistance to Veterans.

In this session of Conversations From the Couch I am joined by Tom Glaser, MS, LP. Tom is a psychologist who has been in practice for 30 years   This session we explore Tom’s work around his book Full Heart Living: Interviews With The Happiest People I Know. We explore how a significant change in Tom’s life led to the work that developed into his book, and how without adversity he may not have gone down that path.   We explore of post traumatic growth or resiliency is so important in all of us, no matter what the trauma looks like. And, how that growth allows us to lead beautiful lives in the aftermath of deviating events. This leads to discussing Tom’s newest books which will focus on Resiliency and Trauma.   Some key takeaways from this session are the importance of connection, resilience and honoring ourselves.    

This session of the podcast I am joined by Anthony McMorran. Anthony along with his wife Katie is the owner of Tuning Tree Health Services in Eau Claire, WI. Anthony has been in the health and wellness field for 30 years and brings such a wealth of knowledge to the interview. It was wonderful to be able to sit down and talk to such a kind, insightful soul. In addition to his kind presence, Anthony is skilled in mindfulness, yoga, massage, teaching self regulation.   Anthony shares his story of personal trauma and how massage helped to him to heal and discover the dissociative states he had been in for large parts of his life. These experiences have allowed Anthony become trauma informed in the massage world, and allows him to honor those that he works with.   Anthony shares with us how massage therapy as we know it is more than we think, how it impacts us in a “down regulation” state in regard to our nervous system.  Along with this we talk about the importance of our own ability to regulate nervous system in order to be attuned to our clients and hold space for them. This includes being mindful of the boundaries that those who have experienced trauma need, and how our felt sense key us into those boundaries.   Anthony talks about mindfulness and meditation and what that can look like for each of us. Anthony mentions John Kabit-Zinn and his idea of non judgmental awareness and the importance of that, as well as what are your values and how is that showing up for you in that moment. What is your direction and how is that impacting you in the moment?   One of the big takeaways that I found from this discussion with Anthony is, “be curious”. Be curious about the why’s of ourselves, our emotions, those around us and the world.

This session I am joined by Flint Sparks. Flint is a Zen teacher and former psychologist who is dedicated to helping people move through their journey of growing up, waking up, and showing up in the world in the way that they want and need to. Flint has been in practice for over 40 years and has a wealth of wisdom to share. He exudes kindness and compassion; Flint is someone that you can feel connected with event through video or audio. In person you can feel his warmth. Flint and I talk about the importance of connection and how we all need more of this in our lives. Flint offers us some practical advice for beginning our own practices to be still in this busy world in order to connect with ourselves and others. 

Brian walks us through his journey and how he helps men, teenage males, artists and couples to find happiness and balance. Brian works with highly sensitive people, of which he identifies himself. Brian’s energy brings a lot to this conversation and to the work he does; his positivity, attunement and responsiveness makes for an engaging conversation.

This session I speak with Beck Gee-Cohen of BGC Consulting about his journey through begin trans, the struggles that came with that, recovering from addiction, and being an ally. Beck provides us with some great insight and resources.

This session I spoke with John Kriesel about surviving a blast that nearly took his life, bouncing back, staying positive and making the most out of life.

This session I spoke with Stephanie Lincoln of Fire Team Whiskey. Stephanie is a former Captain in the Florida Army National Guard and is the founder of Fire Team Whiskey, the only nutrition and fitness program aimed at improving the health and wellness of America's fighting force. Stephanie takes us through her journey and how she went from a Guardsman, to running the Army National Guards Director of Psychological Health Program, to starting Fire Team Whiskey. She has some great inspiration and sage advice along the way.

This session I spoke with Alex Isidro of I WONT BREAK Athletics. Alex's is bringing his strong mindset and attitude of Be Defiant, Be Resilient, and Be Unbreakable to the athletic's wear industry. He wants people to know that they can fight through difficult times and have the mindset that they will not be broken. Alex shares his story of adversity and how the mindset that he promotes got him through some difficult times.

This session we talk with Lance Hauge. Lance is a psychotherapist, energy worker, and creator of the Dimensions Approach. Lance has been practicing his work in Minneapolis for the last 20 years. This session he takes us through his journey of suffering a hip injury as a young man and being told that he would need hip surgery. Lance sought out other options to help him heal. This eventually led to his discovery of energy work, Rolfing, and other body work. Lance will walk us through this journey and how the Dimensions Approach came to be.

This session we explore how our gut health impacts our overall health. Our gut is our "second brain" and is critically important to our health. We explore the microbiome, how to improve your gut health and why our guest Alexandria Danieli became a certified holistic health coach.

This session we explore Chris's journey from being an engineering to a health and wellness coach. In this session we will explore following some major life changes Chris had to ask himself some hard questions that threw his career choices into question. 

This session we talk to Nicole Lovald. Nicole is a yoga teacher, wellness coach and author of Om Sweet Om: A Corporate Junkie's Search for Enlightenment. Nicole also owns Spirit of The Lakes Yoga. Nicole talks about how she uses yoga, breath work and meditation with her clients to help them become more centered and holistically better. 

Conversations From the Couch is a podcast that explores the intersections of mental health, fitness, nutrition, spirituality and life. We will hear from thought leaders in these area and learn about their journey, how they got to where they are, and how they have helped others along the way. This session we talk to Duane France, host of the Head Space and Timing podcast about Veteran mental health and his journey to becoming a mental health therapist after leaving the US Army. Duane shares his insight into mental health and how issues such as moral injury play a part in impacting the mental health and spirituality of service members and Veterans.

Conversations From the Couch With Eric Strom is a podcast that explores the intersections of mental health, fitness, nutrition, spirituality, and life.