Backline.care is an organization that aims to provide mental health resources for humans in the music industry, and they have done great things since emerging in 2019. One of the people at the helm of that change is their clinical director, Ari Jacobson. In our chat, Ari takes us through his origin story; we talk about how he joined Backline and go through the circuitous route that led to him becoming a mental health professional in the first place. We discuss his upbringing in Baltimore, his background working in some of that city's toughest environments, and what he learned from those experiences. We also discuss his approach to his own mental health, the value he places on close relationships with friends and family, and what it's like to raise two boys in 2025. I'm very grateful to Ari for his time, and listeners, please drop a comment or a DM if you enjoyed this conversation!

Earlier this year, I interviewed Tyson Allred, the co-founder of Dad Bods and Beards. I've been impressed with DBAB's mission since I found out about them on Instagram through their creative, heartwarming and often funny Reels. Logan is the other half of Dad Bods and Beards, and our chat covers quite a bit of ground: from his bipolar diagnosis and the cop that saved his life to his ongoing fitness journey. From his passionate (and much appreciated) support of the queer community to the power of ketamine (which is starting to become a semi-recurring theme with this podcast), to his experience as a formerly practicing Mormon, Logan keeps it real, with more than a dash of humor and a shit ton of authenticity (real authenticity, not social media/marketing authenticity). I hope some of what Logan talks about resonates. I look forward to having him back for more! Hope you enjoy the listen.

And find out more about Dad Bods and Beards here!

I recorded this interview with Greg Burmeister back in October. Because of everything that happened at the beginning of November (you know what I'm talking about), I put this one on the shelf for a while before coming back to it and remembering how good a conversation it was. Greg co-hosts the podcast "Talking Schmidt", which I was lucky enough to appear on last fall. He is also the second (at least) DetoxPod guest to have worked with (for?) the legend David Letterman. Greg and I chat about moving from Minnesota to New York City, a near-death experience that changed his life forever, living rent-free in NYC (a hell of a life hack), music as therapy, and more. Follow Greg on IG at "greghello". Would love to hear what you think of this episode! Sound off in the comments, and enjoy the chat!

Hope you are doing as well as can be given current times. Remember, we are stronger together! Community remains of utmost importance!

I'm excited to bring you my conversation with Tom Gentry. Tom is not only a treasured friend, but he's a counselor specializing in addiction. He's also a passionate advocate for progressive masculinity, which makes him a perfect fit for Detoxpod! Tom and I chat about his own experience as an addict and what drove him to recovery. We talk about familial cycles and how the things we learn growing up can affect us without even knowing it. Tom and I chat about the term "toxic masculinity" and how using those words can sometimes negatively obscure the work that we do. And there's so much more!

Check out Tom's website and his podcast.

Hope you get something positive out of this conversation. Feel free to drop me a line and share your thoughts!

Hi Friends!

Happy to bring you the latest episode, starring Rodney McCoy AKA Daddy Rod. Rod's appearance (I'm pretty sure) marks the first instance of a romantic couple appearing in back to back episodes, as he is the partner of 2x DetoxPod guest Damon Jacobs.

Like Damon, Rodney is an activist for sexual health. But he has a story all his own. Rod and I connect over our shared Brooklyn upbringing, and the unique local pride that stays with you even when you move away. Rod also shares his coming out story, tying it in with familial hypocrisy and an understanding of the times (late '80s/early '90s). We also discuss issues around consent, and how a greater discussion needs to take place in sex positive circles that include gay and bi men. Of course, it's all part of our shared quest to expand the definitions of what masculinity means so that it calls in, rather than excludes. It's the first of what I'm pretty sure will be several conversations we have for this pod.

Also, Rod has his own podcast called "Listen to Daddy" that you can check out here!

I'm happy to welcome my friend Damon Jacobs BACK to the show, on a less-than-ten-episode turnaround. Damon is an NYC-based therapist who also hosts a great podcast called Tub Talks, and has been on the frontline of queer advocacy and STI (specifically HIV) awareness for years. Damon and I reconnect to talk about life in the new American presidential administration, and how to keep your wits about you when it seems like the world is falling apart. We discuss spirituality in depth, and it was really interesting to hear how someone else approaches their relationship with the universe. Of course, the topic of maintaining and cultivating community comes up, as I feel like it's an essential part of enjoying life even in the best of times and becomes even more important as we navigate turmoil. I'll admit to not being in a great place when this episode was recorded (I haven't been in a great place for most of 2025 if we're being honest), and Damon's words were enough to give me a re-think about how I'm getting through these days. I hope you get something uplifting and hopeful out of this episode. Feel free to leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

I'm super excited to bring you this conversation with Tyson Allred. Tyson is the founder of Copper John's, a natural men's grooming and beard care brand. He is also half of the team that makes up Dad Bods and Beards (hey, I have both of those!), which is a community and podcast centered around positive portrayals of masculinity and the acknowledgment of the work it takes to overcome some of the more toxic elements of being socialized male (hmm...sounds familiar?) Tyson and his partner Logan do it from a whiter, straighter lens, which I think might move the needle in Red America a little more than I might be able to.

Tyson and I discuss everything from body positivity to cold plunges to work/life balance to the mission of Dad Bods and Beards--stuff we usually cover on this pod, but the experiences of our guests make these topics unique to every episode, and my chat with Tyson is no exception. We also chat a little bit about my queer journey, and give the DBAB team props for being allies (which I imagine is not easy to do when you're Mormon and in Utah). I hope you enjoy our conversation. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

I'm happy to welcome my friend John Hill back to the podcast. He originally appeared on Episode 128, which was released in December 2022. That feels like a fucking lifetime ago. At any rate, it was good to catch up for the pod. John and I chat about a lot of things; including his bodybuilding journey, the current political climate (and dealing with a conservative parent), navigating popular culture as a middle aged person, and I ask John to sell me on Denver (which is on my list of cities to visit in 2025). Feel free to comment with your thoughts. I hope you enjoy the episode!

In this episode of Detoxicity, I welcome Rob Cohen back to the pod for a crossover episode. Rob first appeared in Episode 153, at which time Rob was promoting his podcast Two Bi Guys and his book Bisexual Married Men.

The main impetus behind us recording together again was to discuss our recent experiences with alternative therapies, including ketamine and ayahuasca, and how these experiences relate to our journeys with masculinity and mental health. While these therapies aren't necessarily everyone's cup of tea, I'd say we both gained some interesting insights on account of these experiences. Alternative medicines aside, we also discuss the importance of surrendering to emotions, the fluidity of change, and the need for safe spaces for men to explore vulnerability and masculinity more than ever in society. Our dialogue also touches on redefining personal goals and ambitions in light of newfound insights and connections with the universe. A slightly different edit of this same episode appears on Rob's podcast as well, making this a rare multi-podcast crossover. Hope you enjoy!

Hi Folks,

Marco is a group organizer for the polyamorous/non monogamous community here in Brooklyn. This is how he and I met. Digging a little deeper, Marco is now underway in a new and interesting career, as a surrogate partner. What is a surrogate partner, you ask? Well...listen to the episode to find out. You can also get a little more info about what Marco does here.

I've been fortunate enough to get to know a lot of people from wildly disparate backgrounds over the course of my life, but Marco is the first person I've met that hails from North Dakota, and we get a little insight on his experience in that environment as well as being a first-generation American. We also talk about bi/pansexuality, what it means to him, and how he (and I) often feels a bit out of place within queer male culture.

Hope you enjoy the conversation! As always, feel free to like, share and comment!