Building Men

What if the traditional idea of masculinity is doing more harm than good? Prepare to have your perceptions shaken as I, Dennis Moralda, share my journey from being a terrified son seeking positive role models to becoming the role model I once sought – a father, teacher, coach, mentor, and principal, committed to reshaping mindsets and empowering young men. Discover my story of growing up in the shadows of fear and intimidation, and my resolve to create a safe, nurturing environment that challenges and redefines the conventional definitions of masculinity.

Dive into the details of my groundbreaking initiative, "Building Men," which began as a boys group at my school. I will guide you through our journey of challenging and redefining masculinity, moving away from the archaic ideas of physical dominance and material wealth, towards a more enlightened understanding of authenticity, accountability, and service. Hear about the powerful impact of this initiative which resulted in a dramatic 75% decrease in suspensions in just one year.

Walk with me through my personal struggles with mental health and the revival of the Building Men podcast during one of the most challenging periods in my life. Experience the evolution of the podcast and how it served as a bridge, connecting me to others and my current partner. As we venture into the final chapter of this journey, we explore my certification as an 'and lifted' coach and how it's shaped my understanding of masculinity. Learn about the coaching services I offer for young men, both individually and in a group setting called "The Foundation." So, hop on this ride as we journey further than we ever thought possible!

(00:01) Reshaping Mindsets

This chapter explores the importance of providing a safe and supportive environment for young men to thrive and become the best versions of themselves. Host Dennis Moralda, a father, teacher, coach, mentor, and principal with over two decades of experience, shares his personal backstory and journey of growing up in a family where he was scared of his father and constantly seeking positive role models. He discusses a traumatic experience of being bullied by older boys and the lack of a safe space in his life. Through his own experiences, Moralda emphasizes the need for creating a nurturing environment that reshapes the mindsets of young men and helps them overcome challenges.

(12:45) Building Men

This chapter explores the topic of masculinity and its perception by young boys. The host shares their personal experience of recognizing the need for positive male role models in their school and starting a boys group called "Building Men." The boys initially defined masculinity as physical dominance, sexual conquest, and material wealth, but the host challenged them to redefine it in terms of inner qualities such as authenticity, accountability, and service to others. The impact of this program was significant, with a 75% decrease in suspensions in just one year. The chapter highlights the importance of redefining masculinity and the positive effects it can have on young boys.

(17:28) Resurrecting Building Men and Redefining Masculinity

This chapter explores the personal journey of the host, who shares his experiences growing up with a father who had a significant impact on his life. He also talks about his marriage and how it mirrored his relationship with his father. The host then discusses his struggles with mental health and how he found inspiration to start the Building Men podcast during a difficult time in his life. He also shares how the podcast evolved and connected him with others, including his current partner. The host also mentions his certification as an and lifted coach and how it has helped him understand the concept of masculinity. Overall, this chapter delves into the host's personal story and how it has shaped his mission to redefine what it means to be a man.

(26:55) Building Men

This chapter discusses the individual and group coaching services offered by the host for young men ages 12-18/19. The group coaching, called "The Foundation," features guest speakers who share their stories of resilience and what it means to be a man in today's world. The host expresses gratitude for listeners joining them on this journey and shares a bit of backstory about Building Men. The episode ends with the host's signature sign-off, encouraging listeners to go one step further than they thought they could.

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In this compelling episode of the Building Men Podcast, our hosts sit down with the dynamic duo of Jill Peterson and Mary Frances, the brilliant minds behind the groundbreaking program, Girls Mentorship. We embark on an enlightening conversation that delves deep into the intricacies of the education system, shedding light on the unique emotional, connection, competition, and mindset disparities between boys and girls. We explore the profound effects of narcissistic parenting on children and how it shapes their development. The conversation transcends the binary boundaries of gender, emphasizing the necessity for the masculine and feminine energies to collaborate synergistically in order to effectuate positive change in the world. This episode is a captivating journey through the complex interplay of gender, psychology, and education, offering invaluable takeaways for all listeners.

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In this episode, I chop it up with legends Mark England and Kimberly Kesting (of Enlifted).  I am honored to be a speaker at the Enlifted Event in (Richmond Virginia  in October).  

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Welcome to The Building Men Podcast, where we explore stories of personal growth, resilience, and redemption. Today, I speak with Tanya McCready, a wonderful human being who works to inspire teams Is to overcome challenges and reach their goals through improved teamwork, leadership, and vision.  Tanya McCready along with her husband Hank DeBruin, fell in love with a husky puppy in a pet store almost 30 years ago. Adopting that puppy ended up changing the entire trajectory of their lives. After reading books and watching movies to better understand this pup, they decided to try dogsledding. A passion was found and their husky family quickly grew to 7.

In 1999 Tanya quit her job as an Environmental Engineer, gave up her plans to go to law school. Hank quit his job as a millwright, they rented out their house and moved to the wilderness of Haliburton, Ontario, to chase a dream of starting a business, a lifestyle and a family around their beloved dogs. Winterdance was born.

Winterdance now welcomes over 2000 guests from around the globe every winter to experience travelling through the Winterdance with their beloved huskies .

Hank and their huskies have had many adventures from Maine to Alaska including competing in six 1000-mile races in Alaska and the Yukon. The lessons and stories that have come from these races have created 2 best selling books. The latest Journey of 1000 Miles has become an international best seller.

Tanya, Hank and their huskies have been featured in some of the biggest media outlets in the world including CNN and New York Times to name a few. Their huskies have been featured in dozens of TV shows, movies, commercials and music videos.
 

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Welcome to The Building Men Podcast, where we explore stories of personal growth, resilience, and redemption. Today, we have a truly remarkable guest with us, Michael Santos. Michael's journey is a testament to the power of determination, self-reflection, and the belief that it's never too late to turn your life around.

Regardless of our past, we all face challenges and make decisions that may lead us down difficult paths. Michael knows this all too well. He experienced addiction issues, incarceration, and the consequences of bad decisions. But instead of letting his past define him, he chose to focus on the present and work towards a better, brighter future.

Despite serving a daunting 45-year sentence as a drug kingpin, Michael didn't allow himself to be consumed by despair. Instead, he seized the opportunity to transform his life. Even behind bars, he found a way to contribute to the lives of others. Michael's determination and resilience led him to establish Prison Professors, an organization aimed at providing resources and guidance to incarcerated individuals.

While in prison, Michael discovered the power of the Socratic way of thinking. This approach, rooted in asking questions and engaging in critical thinking, played a pivotal role in his transformation. By challenging his own beliefs and embracing new perspectives, Michael was able to cultivate personal growth and pave the way for a successful future.

Today, Michael Santos stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when we refuse to let our circumstances define us. His story is an inspiration for anyone who has faced adversity and wants to create positive change in their own lives.

Join us as Michael shares his incredible journey, highlighting the importance of taking responsibility for our choices, embracing opportunities, and crafting our own success stories. Get ready to be inspired and motivated by the resilience and determination of a man who turned his life around, even when the odds were stacked against him.

Prison Professors 

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A former binge eater and domestic violence survivor, at the age of thirty-four MK Mueller put together a program for her own recovery and began a support group in her home called “Taking Care of Me.” Almost overnight the group outgrew her living room and she became an international speaker and trainer, working with individuals, schools, health care organizations, and Fortune 500 companies. Today her first book, Taking Care of Me: The Habits of Happiness, and her award-winning 8 to Great: The Powerful Process for Positive Change, are being taught by thousands of certified trainers around the world. Together, they built the foundation for the acclaimed 8 to Great curriculum for schools and businesses as well as the life-changing 8 to Your Ideal Weight program. 

8 to Great

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Part 2 with Johnny Elsasser - on this episode we go deeper into masculinity (how much of it is an art and how much of it is in our DNA)?  We discuss the age of question "can men and women be friends?"  

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Part 1 of 2 with THE LEGEND - Johnny Elsasser.  As a long time fan of Johnny's podcast - The Art of Masculinity, it was an honor to have the opportunity to interview him.  

The story begins with not knowing. Johnny's parents divorced when he was about 14 and he didn’t really care to be around either. At one point Johnny found myself living in a tent in his aunt and uncle’s backyard. He came to the end of high school and realized he did nothing to set himself up for the future nor did he even know where to go. So, he ended up in the one place he never could of imagined…the U.S. Army recruiting office.  

This was 2004, early in the Iraq war and Johnny was a tall, skinny kid, in great shape from soccer, but no military pedigree whatsoever. He chose to create a future in the U.S. Army and in a fortuitous way, ended up in the elite 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. Johnny found a purpose here and found something bigger than himself. As he excelled at being in special operations the time came when he left to work as a contractor protecting the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq. Johnny did this for 5 years after the military and in this effort, his purpose and life remained similar as the paramilitary role held similarities to full time military. However, when he left to be part of normal society, the transition was extremely arduous.

Johnny finally began to listen, to read, to understand that he hadn’t defined myself as a man in today’s world. He hadn’t taken inventory and created the man he wanted to be and therefore, he could never show up with the power and confidence he had in Battalion.

Johnny  realized that if he was struggling with this, not only are his brothers but also many men in this world who were taught they couldn’t expose their vulnerability for fear of being looked at as less than. Johnny took that moment to decide that he needed to help men, he needed to show his background and say that men of all backgrounds have the ability to struggle and that we are not alone. By banding together, learning from one another, and embracing our individual authenticity is the way that we become our best version and we influence the next generation of a healthy and strong masculinity for years to come.

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This episode is as raw and as real as it gets on the Building Men Podcast.  Gareth Shanthikumar shares his story of his upbringing in Australia, family dynamics, his battle with depression and how one of his closest relatives decision to commit suicide shook his foundation and changed his life.  

Gareth cofounded MAN UP in 2019 on the back of his own mental health loved experience. He aims to change the phrase ‘man up’ to mean something positive; to live authentically from one’s heart, embrace vulnerability and hold one another accountable to stand up for what’s right. Gareth is also a personal trainer & founder of EmPowered - through these medians he looks to give people the tools to develop their physical & emotional well-being.

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It was an honor to have a conversation with Rob Kenney - the creator of "Dad, How Do I?"  Rob shares how after his father left the home during his adolescence, he needed to figure out many things for himself (that his dad should have taught him).  Rob used his experiences to create a hugely successful social media presence, including millions of subscribers to his YouTube channel.  If you have kids, follow along with what Rob has created...and encourage them to do the same.  

Dad, How Do I?

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Work with Dennis as your 1 on 1 coach 

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