"The Man-Kind Podcast"

This week we have two incredibly special guests: my 17-year-old cousins, Andy & Charlie! They currently attend high school in Southern California and are on the front lines of evolving into the stalwart, respectable gentlemen that this country needs. We discuss what it's like to be a teenager navigating manhood, racial and gender equality, college, sex, and more. They've got incredible insights and thoughtful curiosity. Thanks for coming on the journey!

Dale Thomas Vaughn, founder of the Better Man Conference, and my former Sig Ep fraternity brother, is in the house!! He and I had the opportunity to discuss the "7 Pillars of Masculinity" during the COVID-19 pandemic via Facetime. He's an incredibly insightful and intutive dude and I feel lukcy to know him! Dale Thomas Vaughn is a Certified Specialist of Wine, an ASA certified sailor, he's written 9 books (6 of which are published on Amazon), has traveled around the world, run with the bulls, completed the Dual Pilgrim certification from UNESCO by trekking hundreds of miles, lived in Paris, London, and Los Angeles, has built a loving long term relationship, played competitive sports at the highest level, spoken on stages with legends like Gloria Steinem and Tony Porter, earned a master's degree in sociology, co-founded the Better Man conference, the first and largest conference dedicated to engaging men as allies in the equality movements, all while advancing a marketing and business development career with companies like Southwest Airlines, Ticketmaster, and AirTreks. Dale was even in Cirque du Soleil for a day! He believes that there's nothing in the world that can't be learned or achieved if you are interested and can dream it.

This week we have an amazing artist in the house: Skylar Hughes! He has incredibly thoughtful insights into the creative process and what it means to "be a man". Skylar Hughes is an American born painter and musician living and working in Los Angeles, CA. He earned a BFA from The Hartford Art School, CT in 2009 and now focuses primarily on painting and collage. His first major solo exhibition, “One Big Gust of Wind,” was held at the New Britain Museum of American Art, CT in 2013. Skylar has since participated in solo and group shows in CT, NY, and CA and has work in numerous public and private collections. "Warm Into the Day", the artist's second solo exhibition with The Lodge, LA was held in the summer of 2019 in conjunction with the publication of the artist's first printed book of collage, "Book of Shapes". Furthermore, Skylar is an accomplished musician and his eleven song album "Moon Eyes" can be found on Bandcamp.com. When not in his Chinatown based studio, Skylar can either be found on the waves at Topanga Beach or guiding a guest towards that perfect bottle of Piemonte as the Wine Director at Rossoblu restaurant in downtown LA. .

Susannah was raised in the mountains of California where she grew in love with the Woods and learned affinity from the River. Inseparable from her animalness, Susannah communicates through the making of things that speak to and emerge from the the contours of the Earth, our environment. She and I met while waiting tables at Rossoblu in the heart of Downtown LA and I have been in awe of the artistic output that Susannah has created over the past few years. She has her own clothing line, a degree in Welding from the Art College of Design in Berkely, CA, and is currently works part-time as woods-woman for a business in Chinatown making high-end tables and furniture. I find Susannah to be an incredibly thoughtful and caring individual and wanted for you to experience the ray of sunshine that she is. Thanks for listening!

Brian is a life, business, executive, and career coach with a background in marketing and training in the methodology of CTI's Co-Active Coach Training Program and Marianne Willamson's Teaching the Teachers. He engages creative professionals seeking to ignite their businesses with fierce accountability, marketing innovation, and soul-satisfying success. After college at Northwestern, Brian worked in New York as an advertising executive promoting Broadway shows. During this time, his path of career coaching was revealed. He is the founder of a coaching organization and creative community with locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. Now based in Los Angeles, Brian coaches one-on-one and nationwide in several web-based group courses including his new program, Agent Goals. www.BrianPatacca.com

Welcome to "The Man-Kind Podcast"! I'm your host, Scoot MacGruder, and I want to **thank you** for sharing the journey with us as we explore what it means to "be a man." Every week I interview friends, relatives, mentors, and professionals in their respective fields with the intent of creating a safe space to explore our identities through the lens of masculinity. A huge shout-out to our SPONSOR, **Spitz Mediterreanean Street Food**! With 10 locations in the US, Spitz has been providing quality food in a chill environment at an affordable price since 2005. For more info: www.spitzrestaurant.com Follow "The Man-Kind Podcast" on social media! Twitter: @mankindpodcast1 Instagram: @themankindpodacst Facebook: Scoot MacGruder Thanks so much for tuning in! And remember: Be a kind man. :) Scoot

What a treat we have for you today! Christa Nannos, creator of (and all-around badass behind) the "Super Single" webseries now sweeping the nation, is in the house! Not only does Christa provide profound insights into what it means to be a man, but her creative output and process is exemplary of the kind of female voice so desperately needed to be heard in today's world. Her humor, poise, intelligence, and wit is a breath of fresh air and I am delighted to both call her friend, and to have her in the studio today! Thanks for tuning in!

In today's episode we interview Eva Bilick, the mastermind creator of "A Place Called Fairneck", an insanely intelligent narrative podcast evocative of "*Sliding Doors* set in a modern Orthodoz New Jersey community". Eva has been a huge influence in my life here in LA as we are both currently navigating the creative process of becoming artists. She has incredibly sound insights on what it means to be a man in today's day and age and I just love her to bits. Thanks for tuning in!

A very special guest, Benjamin Weldon, has joined us in the studio today! A good friend of mine who I met at a bible study in Hollywood, Ben has had quite the roller coaster ride since moving to LA in July of 2017. Having been wrongly convicted of a felony in the Summer of 2018, Ben spent thirteen months in an LA county jail and learned a great deal about himself and his relationship with God. He has incredible insights to what masculinity means to him and has become en excellent example of perserverance in the face of adversity. Thanks for listening!

This week on The Man-Kind Podcast we have Founder and CEO of MRK Management, Matthew Kaufman! His experience as a manager for high profile film and tv clients has given us poignant insight into the world behind the scenes of Hollywood as well as providing us with a deeper look at what it means to be a man. He is an incredibly gifted speaker and an all around wonderful guy with a lot of posiitive ideas to share. Thanks for listening!

Managing Partner of "Rossoblu", voted one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles by Eater LA magazine and The Robb Report, Hans Luttman is in the Man-Kind studio today! An exceptional leader, Mr. Luttman shares his insights into masculinity and manhood as he delves into his past, growing up in Michigan and working in the restaurant industry in New York and LA, and articulates his hopes and expectations for the future as he navigates the present. Thanks for tuning in!

In today's episode we interview Bryce Rademan, CEO and Co-Founder of Spitz Mediterranean Restaurant Group, a Los Angeles based donor-kebab spot. A dear friend of mine since our teenage years, Bryce has lived a rich and varied life: excursions to active volcanoes, public speaking endeavors as the man-in-charge for one LA's top foodie hubs, and more! Join us as we navigate what it means to "be a man" in today's day and age with one of the most forward thinking, compassionate individuals that I have the good fortune of calling my friend. Thanks for tuning in!