The Vulnerable Man

Jonathan is a marketer, a writer, a community organizer, a men's work advocate, and someone who has strong opinions about cream cheese. In this conversation we discuss vulnerability with groups versus with individuals, relationships and being imperfect, his work around men walking and men talking, creating change, the concept of American manhood, and internal versus external measures of masculinity. Website: https://www.jonathanjacobs.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjacobs89/

Whit is a father of two boys, a writer and published author, and a lot of other things on top of that. We talk about modeling vulnerability for his boys, his relationship with his father, his book, his past career writing about fatherhood, and a bunch more. Website: https://whithonea.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whithonea/ Book:  https://whithonea.com/parents-phrase-book/

Joanna is a wife and mother, an executive coach, and someone committed to developing, growing, and seeing the whole human. We talk about mental health and stigma, self-care and self-compassion, asking for help, boundaries, and psychological safety. We could have continued this conversation for quite some time, so I hope you enjoy listening in.  

George is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, a husband and father of two, a consultant to credit unions, a cross-country cyclist, a man living the dream on his terms, and someone I'm looking forward to sitting down and having a beer with one day. Our conversation wanders to lots of places, including leveraging the phrase “I don't know” as a consultant, how vulnerability shows up in his personal life, his two cross-country cycling trips, the generosity of people, and how he found his way to working with credit unions. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hofheimer/

In this episode I finish my conversation with Dominick Shattuck. Dominick is a men's health researcher, a husband, a father of two daughters, and frankly one of those people that it is easy to talk to. In this second part we talk about normalizing safe sex conversations in dating, helping men talk with each other about reproductive health, Dominick shares resources to help educate, and we discuss how relationships improve when couples can have these types of conversations. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dshattuck/  

Dominick is a men's health researcher, a husband, a father to two daughters, and frankly one of those people that it is just easy to talk to. We discuss recognizing others' openness to deeper vulnerability, navigating losing a job, normalizing sexual health conversations with young men and boys, his experience speaking to men around the world, modeling healthy dialogue around sex, and leveraging the concept of transmedia to make an impact. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dshattuck/

Vicki is a wife and mother, an Army veteran, a coach, and a former Department of Defense agency leader. In our conversation we talk about navigating leadership as a woman in a male-dominated organization, putting ‘we' ahead of ‘me,' gathering diverse perspectives, her work supporting leaders, owning your impact as a leader, and knowing your values. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicki-jordan-8a6a1923/

Erin is the Co-Founder of ACT Leadership, she is a coach, a mom and a wife, and so much more. We discuss the idea of progress over perfection, living life in color, experiencing our emotions, Erin's work around embodiment, and connection and distraction. Website: https://actleader.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-hutchins-62012216/

Jyllian is a former Special Agent, a coach, an authentic leadership expert, she's a wife and a mother, and a soon to be published author. As our conversation unfolds, we talk about how her vulnerability as a leader creates connection, being vulnerable as a parent and a partner, “hot seat” questions, her work around authentic leadership, and we discuss her upcoming book. Website: https://isocoachingllc.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyllian-clarke/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/jyllian_clarke/

In this episode I am sharing some of the things that I've learned after more than four years, and 100 plus episodes of the podcast. I also share how it's changed me along the way.

Erin is a DEI practitioner, she's passionate about inclusion, she's a wife and a mother, and a soon to be published author. In our conversation we talk about destigmatizing mental health, her diagnosis of ADHD as an adult, navigating parenting a neurodivergent child, extending grace to others and ourselves, helping leaders say, “I don't know,” we discuss her upcoming book, finding connection, and a lot of other things. See the link in the comments to listen in. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-dewsbury-ribeiro/ Other: https://www.instagram.com/lets_read_diversely

Tansley is president and ceo of Community Financial Credit Union, a mother, a runner, a pizza lover, and a believer of bringing the impossible to life. We talk about how vulnerability has enhanced her leadership, modeling humanity for her daughter, learning not to solve other people's problems, her passion for credit unions, the power of building community, and the importance of continuing to grow. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tansleys/ podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/despite-impossible/id1659658283 and https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/curiously-driven/id1760927756

Ben is a Vice President for Enrollment Management in higher education, a father, a lifelong learner, and a fellow Sig Ep from North Dakota Alpha. We discuss dealing with the aftermath of his brother's suicide and how it impacted Ben, communication in relationships, talking about versus arguing about issues, getting to see our children thrive, and asking for help, along with a bunch more things. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hoffman-b3a89412/

Robert is a Fractional CFO, creator of Your Financial Freedom, a podcast host, and author of the book, unHidden. Some of the things we talk about are how his wife keeps inviting him into greater vulnerability, how therapy changed his life, his tips for starting to do self-work, overcoming his past addiction, intimacy, and writing his book. Website: https://robertkandell.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertkandell/

Tina is an intuitive coach, a feminine leadership facilitator, a former lawyer, and the founder of Warrior School. Besides talking about a lot of stuff, there's also a lot of laughter here. We bounce from balancing masculine and feminine energy, to the importance of discernment, leadership and vulnerability, she shares about her Warrior School, we speak to the prevalence of paradox, and we both share about our own challenges with learning to receive. Website: www.tinameyersintuitive.com  www.womenadvocatesrising.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-meyers-intuitive/

In this episode David Jurasek and I continue our conversation from the last episode. We get deep here, so get ready. We discuss gratitude, the experience of writing a book, using story to connect, stepping outside the boundaries for the sake of connection, and we spend a LOT of time around repair and heartbreak. I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed being in the conversation with David. Website: http://www.powerfulandloving.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjurasek/

David is a father and husband, a cancer survivor, a therapist, a mentor, and an author. We pack a lot into this conversation. We talk about weaponizing vulnerability, mentoring young men, mindful moments, his breakthrough in dealing with his anger, his cancer journey, and co-regulation versus self-regulation. Website: http://www.powerfulandloving.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjurasek/

Michael is a Doctor of Chiropractic, specializes in the nervous system, is a husband and father, founder of IgKnight the King, and a man on a mission to have awakened men in the world. Our conversation covers a lot of ground. From the triple A's of awakened masculinity, to passing the evolutionary baton, rites of passage, wellness states versus disease states, trauma and the nervous system, and what's going on versus the story we tell ourselves. Website: https://igknighttheking.com/ Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@IgKnighttheKing

Suken is a team and leadership coach, a marketing and business consultant, a husband and father, and host of The Sync Leadership Lab podcast. We discuss the importance of belonging, prioritizing work for those you lead, respectful curiosity, leading across generations and cultures, and Suken shares how he helps his clients connect with their authentic leadership style. Website: https://www.synergysyncsolutions.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukenjain/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sync-leadership-lab/id1737521472

Shana is a relationship and leadership coach, and author of the book, “Honest Sex.” This conversation seems to fly by, and we get to a lot of places in it. From being present to life, to how women can better receive men's vulnerability, naming the fear, the idea of regular check-ins for relationships, sharing impact versus interpreting intention, and allowing ourselves and others to grow and change. Website: https://shanajamescoaching.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shana-james-3004065/ Book:  https://shanajamescoaching.com/honest-sex/ Podcast: https://shanajamescoaching.com/man-alive-podcast/

Kristal is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Certified Trauma Professional, a wife, a men's ally, and the author of the book, “STRONG: A Relationship Field Guide for the Modern Man.” There's a lot that we talk about in this conversation. From how connection inspired her to become more vulnerable, to working smarter and not harder, sexuality, culture, intimacy and pleasure, her tips for women who want to be open to men being more vulnerable, and the power of hope. Website: https://www.strong.love LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristal-desantis/ Book:  STRONG: A Relationship Field Guide for the Modern Man

Michelle is a culture consultant, a leadership and team development coach, a mother and wife, and the author of the newly published book, “Meaning Indicator.” Our conversation ranges from how she is learning to be with her husband's vulnerability, raising kids to be independent, being an entrepreneur, her journey of publishing a book, being more vulnerable with her family, and modeling healthy masculinity, plus a bunch more. Website: http://imprintcoaching.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellehollingshead/ Book:  https://meaningindicator.com/

Matthew is a husband and father of two, a facilitator, an ally to fathers, and he's the author of the book, “Hiding Inside a Man.” Our conversation moves from how his conversations with male friends has evolved, to external measures of masculinity, showing emotions in front of our kids, the journey of creating his book, and he shares a technique to help with nervous system regulation, plus a bunch more. Website: https://matthewsloane.com/ and https://matthewsloane.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattsloane/

In this episode it's just yours truly. I decided to record a short episode and share some thoughts I have around what I like to call, 'appropriate vulnerability.'

Eric is a husband, a partner, and a father. He's also a therapist who focuses on sex ed and relationship issues. And if that's not enough, he's the author of the book, “The Better Man.” There's too much to capture everything that we talk about. From doing versus being in relationship, to navigating a polyamorous life, having choice versus having control, requesting and demanding, consent culture, and the two choices we always have in life. Website: https://www.drericfitz.com/the-better-man/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drericfitz Book:  https://amzn.to/43jojfY

Christie is the co-founder of UpLevel Productions, a best-selling author, a leadership coach, learning consultant, and in her own words, “a work in progress.” We go deep pretty quickly in this one. We talk about calibrating our levels of vulnerability, asking for help and making room for others to step up, how she's growing her capacity to be with her partner's vulnerability, taking responsibility for impact, and she shares about the creation of her Lil' Sass book series. Website: https://www.uplevelproductions.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiemann/ Book:  https://www.lilsass.com/

Conrad is a coach who works with people in transition, he' an entrepreneur, an Air Force veteran, and he loves blueberries. We cover a lot of ground in our conversation, including his upbringing around vulnerability, being diagnosed with dyslexia, being with differences, compassion, the choice of living with a closed heart or a bruised heart, and he shares tips for being more vulnerable. Website: https://www.thewindsockgroup.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conradhayter/

Roxanne is a leadership coach, founder of The Hobbs Consultancy, an advocate for inclusive leadership, a wife and mother of two boys, and author of the book, Diverted. Our conversation takes us through boundaries, the origin story of Masculinity in the Workplace, the importance of owning it when you get it wrong, genuine vs. false vulnerability, and Roxanne offers tips for women who want to support men in being more vulnerable. Website: https://thehobbsconsultancy.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxannehobbs/

Laban is a speaker, an executive coach, an author, and a husband. We talk about the story of writing his book, the power of generosity, he and his wife's struggles with multiple miscarriages, not having all the answers, and honest communication in relationships. Website: https://labanditchburn.wordpress.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/labanditchburn/

Philip is an anthropologist, author, culture consultant, and a husband and father. Our discussion wanders from his work with culture in organizations, to intentionally taking off the armor, depression and post-traumatic stress, hierarchies, and his work with wolves. Website: https://www.mywolftribe.com/   http://k4men.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipfolsom/

Jason is a father of four, a husband, a career and executive coach, and he leads men's groups for dads. In our conversation we discuss how his vulnerability created more intimacy in his marriage, his experience of being a dad, letting ourselves feel emotions, the example of masculinity that his own father provided, and his experiences with Ayahuasca. Website: https://jasonblydellcoaching.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-blydell/

Hector is a father of two, an entrepreneur, a podcast producer, and host of the Modern Masculinity podcast.  We get into juggling fatherhood with life, giving our kids tools to build resilience, letting people see our humanity, learning with love, and wolf packs. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hector-podcast/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/modern-masculinity/id1689094518

Matt is a professor and researcher, a masculinity ally, and an advocate for healthy masculinity and mental health. Our conversation ranges from the idea of positive masculinities, conditioning boys around emotion, connection and community, homophobia, and supporting men's mental health, plus lots more. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-englar-carlson-ph-d-a405661ab/

Joanna is a people champion, a wife and mother, an executive coach, and a DEI professional. We get to talking about her journey with vulnerability, asking for and receiving help, raising her two boys to be emotionally intelligent, cultivating vulnerability in a relationship, and sharing hard messages in DEI work. Website: https://www.lanesg.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannazlane/

Matt is a husband and father of three girls, a business coach, a recovering perfectionist, and the host of The Eternal Optimist podcast. In our conversation we talk about his recovery from perfectionism, the catastrophic accident that changed his relationship with vulnerability, how a sincere and simple apology transformed what would be the last conversations that he had with his father, and he shares his three-step process for growth, plus a lot more. Here we go. Website: https://www.eternaloptimistpodcast.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattdrinkhahn/

Mike is a husband and father of two adult children, an executive coach, and the author of UNLimited Worth. This one isn't for the faint of heart, folks. We discuss his journey through depression and suicidal ideation, healing his trauma from being raped as a young boy, how his secret became his story, the power of shame and guilt, and the idea of low risk spaces versus safe spaces. Website: https://www.unlimitedworth.org/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/growgetgive/

Damian is an international bestselling author, a keynote speaker, a serial entrepreneur, and a dog lover, among other things. We dive right into it and talk about living your freedom lifestyle, trust and vulnerability, his lessons learned from being a serial entrepreneur, the impact of bringing vulnerability into his romantic relationship, and he gives us some tips for helping you be more vulnerable. And if you take nothing else away from this episode, remember that there is “no great love without risk.” Website: https://damianmreid.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianmreid/

Andrew is a husband and father of two, a business owner, a coach, and co-host of the Better Than Rich podcast. In our conversation we discuss the idea of finding intentional space, how he's a recovering chameleon, living authentically, the ongoing journey of self-discovery, creating intimacy, and Andrew shares some tips for being more vulnerable with your partner. Website: https://www.betterthanrich.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmbiggs/

Matthew is an executive coach, a world traveler, and a soul seeker. We talk about how he stepped into vulnerability while ending a relationship, the masks we wear that hold us back, consciously choosing challenge, sex and intimacy, and we both share some tips to help with being more vulnerable. Website: https://matthoganworldwide.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-hogan-44b5b869/

Charles is a husband and father of two, an executive coach, an author and blogger, and a lover of BBQ and house music. We talk about love (a lot,) the capacity to love, raising kids in a social media world, love and vulnerability in romantic relationships, navigating how male vulnerability is received, and why he created For Men of Color. Website: https://www.suewahsing.com/  https://www.formenofcolor.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-suewahsing/

Dan is a husband and father, a men's work leader, a somatic meditation teacher, and the host of the Fatherhood Unlocked podcast. In my conversation with Dan, we discuss his journey as a wilderness therapy guide and how it led him to men's work, his co-founding of Evryman, his interactions with Joe Rogan, the changing roles and expectations of fathers today, and he shares some tips on how to be more vulnerable. Website: https://dandoty.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-doty-18a50719/ 

Seth is a husband and father, a licensed marriage & family therapist, and co-host of The Anatomy of Us podcast. We talk about assumptions and expectations, how he has seen men show up in both couples and individual therapy, how his marriage recovered from the brink of divorce, the gift of going second, and responding versus reacting. Website: https://anatomyofus.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-studley-m-s-lmft-7369833b/

Lisa is a transformational coach, a Healthy Masculinity Warrior, and founder of Leadership Redesigned. We discuss her journey of becoming a Healthy Masculinity Warrior, power with versus power over, finding community, and she gives us some tips for those wanting to support men in being more vulnerable. Website: https://www.lisabarnwell.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisabarnwell/

Jonathan is a Co-Active trained coach, the Chief Commercial Officer for CTI, a lifelong learner, and a man with a big, welcoming heart. In our conversation we talk about our ongoing learning from the Co-Active Leadership program, the cost of hiding our true selves, how vulnerability is like cardio, building our capacity to love, asking for help, and dancing with embarrassment and shame. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdwilkinson/

Jason is a father of two boys, a husband, a psychotherapist, the creator and founder of JourneyMen, and a narrative consultant. Our conversation covers a lot of ground, including adventure therapy & narrative therapy, social activism, how his work as a therapist informed the creation of his JourneyMen program, the in and out breath of his M.E.N.S. work, and choosing iteration over perfection. We also have some good laughs along the way. Website: https://www.journeymenfoundation.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjasonsfrishman/

Keith is a dad first. He lives with his partner Jamie and their two daughters in Minneapolis. He is also a speaker, a consultant, a coach, and the author of the bestselling book, Unmasking: Toward Authentic Masculinity. We talk about his book and the 15 years of research behind it; the journey from Masking, to Unmasking, and into Becoming; the interplay of identity and integrity; what authentic masculinity means to Keith, and watching his own father evolve as a dad. Website: https://keithedwards.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-e-edwards/ 

Dan is a husband, a fellow girl dad, an author, a keynote speaker, and he helps professionals who work with men. Our conversation wanders through how he supports men through a trauma-informed lens, broadening the scope of what trauma is, looking at how the ‘man rules' train men for disconnection, telling ourselves hard truths, and Dan shares one powerful question to help create awareness. Website: https://dangriffin.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authordangriffin/ 

Quentin is a human, father, coach, and now best-selling author in the book “The Diversity in Humanity.” We talk about his journey to becoming a published author, ageism and power dynamics, finding social connection in a remote work world, personal versus positional power, asking for help, and lots more. And yes, there's a reference or two to us being Marines. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quentinfinney/ Book:  https://amzn.to/3LCR2XA 

Mark is a father, a co-author of The Relational Workplace, co-host of the Remaking Manhood podcast, and a staunch advocate for reshaping how we hold masculinity. We get to a lot of things in our conversation today. From the hierarchical dominance-based culture of masculinity, to how man box culture forces men to hide parts of themselves, relational intelligence, loneliness in the workplace, and co-designing relationships. Website:   https://remakingmanhood.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrkgreene/

Brian is a husband and father, an avid tennis player, and an improv comedy performer. Our conversation ranges from using improve to create connection, to how vulnerability influences him with his wife and kids, the male role models of his childhood, allyship, and giving back to our communities. There's a lot more, so settle in. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-lopes/

Dedan is a fellow single coparenting father, an attorney and mediator, an advocate for Civil Rights policy, and an advocate for engaged fatherhood. We discuss modeling responsibility for our mistakes, the idea of a ‘public dad,' his experience of dating as a single father, intentions and actions, and standing up for what you believe in, plus lots more. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dedanbruner/