Revealing Men

  Marcel Fable Price is a storyteller and poet. He was the youngest, the first person without a college degree, and the first person of color to hold the title of Poet Laureate in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Through deeply personal, brilliant, and colorful writing he invites his audience (readers and listeners) to reimagine what healing [...]

Randy Flood, host of the Revealing Men podcast, is an avid reader of The Sun, a non-profit, ad-free magazine that publishes personal essays, short stories, and poetry. It was there that he first encountered author, Doug Crandell, through an essay about his father's life as a laborer: “His Body of Work.” Flood, a psychotherapist and [...]

Dr. Ronald Levant is widely considered one of the key people responsible for creating the field of psychology of Men and Masculinities. He's a feminist scholar, Professor Emeritus of psychology at the University of Akron, the past president of the American Psychological Association and the Association's Division 51, the Society for the Psychological Study of [...]

As host of the Revealing Men podcast, Randy Flood usually engages a guest in conversation about the issues men face in working through their own and society's expectations of what constitutes masculinity in the 21st century. This time, there is no guest. They fell ill. Instead of canceling, Flood uses the time to talk about [...]

In 2009, while a client at the Men's Resource Center of West Michigan, Jim Musial —an avid runner— wrote a guest post about how “running could be hazardous to your emotional health.” He only hints at what it is he was running from; at the time, emotionally able to share just part of his story. [...]

The Revealing Men podcast typically features conversations that seek to pull back the curtain to reveal the inner lives of men. For this conversation, host Randy Flood, psychotherapist and Director of the Men's Resource Center of West Michigan, and his guests, somatic therapists Ken Porter and Monica Vergara do more than pull back the curtain; [...]

In his work with the Men's Resource Center, Zach Flood's focus is on men and their relationships, especially where those relationships are fractured or broken. He helps families navigate the family court system and the turmoil associated with parental alienation and resist and refuse dynamics. He also provides online domestic abuse coaching and counseling for [...]

Randy Flood didn't set out to specialize in men's work. As he tells Ken Porter, it all started with an internship at a forensic psychological practice in Kalamazoo, Michigan. "I stumbled into it," he says. More than 30 years later, Flood is the director and co-founder of the Men's Resource Center of West Michigan. As [...]

Dr. William Keepin is a mathematical physicist, author, and co-founder of Gender Equity and Reconciliation International (GERI). His book, Gender Equity and Reconciliation: Thirty Years of Healing the Most Ancient Wound in the Human Family, co-authored with Cynthia Brix, describes the origins of GERI and the process it's developed and uses throughout the world in [...]

Research has shown that loneliness takes years off our lives. In fact, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy points to this research when he states that loneliness in the 21st century is a public health problem comparable to cigarette smoking in the 20th century. This is particularly noted in males, who historically prize independence and rugged [...]

Randy Flood met Mike Salisbury on a train ride traversing the Alaskan Wilderness while heading to Denali National Park. Despite being what he calls “the aloof traveler strategically attempting to avoid mindless chatter with bored extroverts,” Flood was drawn into a conversation with Salisbury. “I was captivated,” he says, “by the exquisite mix [...]

Somatic therapist, Ken Porter, is a regular guest on the Revealing Men podcast, hosted by psychotherapist Randy Flood, co-founder and Director of the Men's Resource Center of West Michigan. On previous podcasts, he and Flood have talked about innovative treatments focused on emotional well-being and their work to remediate the damaging long-term effects that emotional [...]

Randy Flood, psychologist and Director of the Men's Resource Center of West Michigan lets the listener know from the start that this segment of the Revealing Men podcast, which he hosts, is atypical. “We oftentimes focus on just men's issues but we want to recognize as we talk about parental alienation that it not only [...]

Jonathan Cauchi is the Community Education Specialist for Disability Advocates and the host of its Flattening the Curb podcast. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the organization, founded in 1981, works alongside persons with disabilities as they seek to lead self-directed lives and advocates for accessible and welcoming communities. Cauchi recently sat down with Randy Flood, [...]

If we live long enough, we will age. Despite our protestations to the contrary, there will be things we can no longer do in the ways in which we've become accustomed. For many of us, that is inconceivable. Psychotherapist, Randy Flood, and clinical psychologist, Mark DeVries, Ph.D. are friends and biking enthusiasts. Flood hosts the [...]

  Al Heystek and Brian Mulder are two leading therapists in the Transformations Toward a Healthy Sexuality program at the Men's Resource Center of West Michigan. There, they lead and co-facilitate groups for men who are struggling with their sexual behaviors, particularly around sex addiction or sexual compulsions. Unhealthy expressions of sexuality can manifest in [...]

  In her more than 30 years working as a therapist in the field of addiction medicine and mental health, Steff Condon says she has seen what she calls the “beautiful fruit” of recovery in lives changed by restoration and respect. Now in private practice, she provides individual and group counseling for men and women, [...]

Mark DeVries, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist who has studied and taught on the topic of ecopsychology (the study of the emotional bond between humans and the Earth) since 2000. Randy Flood, host of the Revealing Men podcast and Director of the Men's Resource Center of West Michigan is a psychotherapist focused primarily on male [...]

If you look up “pilgrimage” you'll find that it's usually referred to simply as a journey taken for religious reasons. Ian Reader and Tony Walter flesh out that definition in their book Pilgrimage in Popular Culture stating, "A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search [...]

What does it mean to hold yourself accountable for your behavior? Is it simply admitting to wrong-doing or can it be the catalyst for change? Randy Flood, host of the Revealing Men podcast, psychotherapist, and Director of the Men's Resource Center of West Michigan takes a look at how accountability can become the foundation for [...]

When Revealing Men guest, Ken Porter, was in his 40s, a therapist referred to him as being “sensitive.” His first response was “no, I'm not!” His second: “Oh, I am, aren't I?” Porter tells Randy Flood, host of Revealing Men, psychotherapist, and Director of the Men's Resource Center of West Michigan that it was a [...]

Revealing Men podcast host, Randy Flood, psychotherapist and Director of the Men's Resource Center of West Michigan says, “when I grew up there were two things that a man should not be: a gay male or a woman. Stop acting like a gay man. Stop acting like a lady. Get back in the box and [...]

The Men's Resource Center of West Michigan works primarily with men and boys, helping them navigate the issues that affect their lives, including their emotional well-being. Many men are reticent to talk about their feelings; especially thoughts around intimacy. Often, they are socialized to see sex as the only means for intimacy. This can adversely [...]

When Randy Flood, Joe Kohley, and Ken Porter sit down to record this Revealing Men podcast, it's evident that they've been friends and colleagues for some time.  More than that, they've been confidantes and challengers; truth-tellers and counselors for one another through their nearly 20-year participation as the original members in a leaderless men's group [...]

Randy Flood, psychotherapist and Director of the Men's Resource Center of West Michigan often receives comments about his views on masculinity including accusations of wanting to emasculate men or being anti-male due to his critique of toxic forms of masculinity. Trey Sumner served in the military for 26 years and went on to graduate with [...]

Therapist, Joe Kohley specializes in working with children; especially those children who are struggling with attachment problems and trauma. He often finds himself in conversations with parents about parenting methods. In this animated interview, interspersed with personal stories, Kohley talks with Randy Flood, psychotherapist and Director of the Men's Resource Center of West Michigan, about [...]

As Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students at Michigan State University, Anthony Williams Jr. specializes in conflict resolution, alternative dispute resolution, social justice education, and restorative practices facilitation. He uses those skills while helping college students navigate the challenges they encounter as they work to balance college expectations along with newfound freedom and responsibility. [...]

Does the response to trauma remain contained within the individual? Or do its effects pass down from generation to generation? And, if that's the case, how can one find healing? This conversation between somatic therapist, Ken Porter and psychotherapist, Randy Flood, Director of the Men's Resource Center of West Michigan is a highly-personal, in-depth discussion [...]

Revealing Men launches its second season with Otha Brown, principal therapist in the domestic relationships program at the Men's Resource Center of West Michigan. Last season, Brown's podcast segment on teaching men to manage themselves instead of trying to control others was one of Revealing Men's most listened to.  He and Randy Flood, psychotherapist and [...]

Dr. Richard Raubolt is an author, film producer, and board-certified psychoanalyst. For more than 40 years, he's helped young and adult men overcome trauma, set aside addictions, develop emotional intelligence, and move away from violent behaviors.  He's the father of two grown sons and a grandfather of two. In this segment of the Revealing Men [...]

The Men’s Resource Center of West Michigan provides the tools and support men need to better navigate and succeed in today’s world. It offers a wide range of services including counseling, assessment, consultation, evaluation, and therapy. Each of its therapists is well-educated and highly-knowledgeable in specialized areas. On occasion, the Center invites guest therapists to [...]

Al Heystek, therapist with the Men’s Resource Center of West Michigan has appeared on several Revealing Men podcast segments. He’s spoken about sex addiction, men’s relationship with anger, and helping men recover from trauma.  In this segment, Heystek and Randy Flood, psychotherapist, and Director of the Men’s Resource Center discuss how men’s support groups can [...]

Trey Sumner, lead facilitator for the Men’s Resource Center of West Michigan’s Altogether Boys program returns to the Revealing Men podcast to talk about his experience in the armed services and how he developed into a pro-feminist male while serving in the military. Sumner served for 26 years and four deployments. His military duties included [...]

As a psychotherapist and Director of the Men’s Resource Center of West Michigan, Randy Flood can tell you that domestic violence is non-discriminating. It happens regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, social-economic status, culture, or occupation. Flood has counseled men who perpetrate domestic violence and claim to be victims as a means of avoiding accountability [...]

Trey Sumner is the lead facilitator of the Men’s Resource Center of West Michigan’s Altogether Boys program. The program works with young men in middle school to help them develop a fuller version of what it means to be a man. Sumner talks about Altogether Boys and his involvement in an earlier Revealing Men segment. [...]

The Men’s Resource Center of West Michigan offers in-person and online counseling for men who are abusers and those who have themselves been abused. It’s where Dan B. came when he needed to set his life aright. And, it’s where he learned to manage his fear and anger. For this Revealing Men podcast, Dan returns [...]

 Jim Padilla DeBorst grew up in a tight-knit, conservative community in Grand Rapids, Michigan. From there, he traveled to locations around the globe, including the African continent and Latin America, where he’s made his home for 30 years. Padilla DeBorst belongs to Casa Adobe, an intentional Christian community in Costa Rica, is a missionary with [...]

Ken Porter is a Hakomi-trained somatic therapist. Somatic therapy focuses on integrating the mind, body, and emotion. A somatic perspective helps individuals access their emotions and understand how those emotions are kept under control. Porter provides individual therapy at the Men’s Resource Center of West Michigan and co-facilitates men’s support groups there. A while ago, [...]

The Men’s Resource Center of West Michigan provides a comprehensive selection of specialized programs offering individual and group counseling services for men of all ages, and programs designed for boys and the adults who care for them. An uptick among young adults in the phenomenon known as “failure to launch” led the Center to establish [...]

Randy Flood, psychotherapist, and Director of the Men’s Resource Center of West Michigan assists men and boys to move beyond the limits placed on masculinity by outdated stereotypes and notions. Much of his work involves equipping them with the insight and tools they need to more fully develop their strengths and positive masculine energy in [...]

Zach Flood entered college thinking he would follow in his father’s footsteps: providing counseling and therapy services to boys and men. When those plans changed, Zach entered the world of professional sales and management. But despite his success, he felt something was missing. In this conversation, Zach and his father, Randy Flood, psychotherapist, and Director [...]

Psychotherapist, Mary Jo Drueke, MA LLP brings a wealth of experience to her individual therapy and group counseling sessions with men. Although she’s trained in meditation and has studied with world-renowned experts such as Alan Wallace, Jon Kabat Zinn, and Eckert Tolle, without a doubt, her relationship with her siblings colors much of her work. [...]

Men, in particular, have long been conditioned to “suck it up” when it comes to dealing with the results of a traumatic experience. In fact, it wasn’t until 1980 that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) recognized Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as the result of having gone through a traumatic experience – in this case, combat. [...]

The brain is a remarkable instrument. But sometimes it can cause a raging battle inside of us. Just one little thing — a news article, a statement, a perceived affront, a glance — can trigger our emotions and cause us to lose control. Ken Porter provides individual therapy at the Men’s Resource Center of West [...]

At the Men’s Resource Center of West Michigan, we're concerned with the physical health and mental well-being of our community, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a fragile time for everyone. Long stretches of isolation, uncertainty, and feelings of helplessness and loss of control can lead to violent or abusive expressions of anger and [...]

Steve Norman, of the Men’s Resource Center of West Michigan, provides a strengths-based approach to life coaching. He teaches helps men identify the life skills that have worked for them in the past and find ways to apply those skills to current situations. In this segment of the Revealing Men podcast, Norman sits down with [...]

Dr. Steve Hamming is a psychologist, Performance Coach, and Life Coach at the Men’s Resource Center of West Michigan. He's also an All-American fastpitch softball player, winner of two gold medals in the U.S. Track and Field Masters division competition, the 2014 CrossFit Games Masters world champion, and a 2016 and 2019 Olympic Weightlifting national [...]

At the Men's Resource Center of West Michigan, we are often witnesses to the emotional  and psychological costs men incur due to the societal pressure to conform to stereotypes and "be a man." "Altogether Boys" is a proactive, 8-week program for boys and young men designed to preempt the adverse effects of male socialization. The [...]

The Men's Resource Center of West Michigan provides the tools and support men need to better navigate and succeed in today’s world, helping prepare them to function in whatever situation they find themselves as fathers, workers, friends, intimate partners, or neighbors. Our men's support groups promote physical and mental wellness through innovative and traditional treatments. [...]

Al Heystek explains how sex and pornography addiction are real and, as with other addictions, can be overcome when acknowledged and treated with care.

This conversation is for men who struggle with abusive, controlling, and angry behavior toward their domestic partners and ask themselves "why?"