Can prayer be part of your healing while also becoming a way to avoid doing the work?

In this episode of Don Talk, Mike Turner sits down with clinical psychologist, minister, professor, author and MMA fighter Dr. Marshall Thompson Jr. for an honest conversation about faith, therapy, men’s mental health and the pressure men feel to have everything together.

Dr. Thompson challenges the idea that needing therapy means a man is weak, broken or lacking faith. Instead, he explains why prayer and professional mental-health support can work together—and why healing still requires personal responsibility.

The conversation goes beyond therapy. Mike and Dr. Thompson unpack why men say “I’m good” when they may not be, how childhood experiences can create performance-based identity, why some coping mechanisms that helped us survive as children stop serving us as adults, and how unresolved patterns can follow us into marriage, relationships and adulthood.

They also tackle a difficult question for people of faith: Where should the pastor’s role end and the therapist’s role begin?

Dr. Thompson explains why trauma and deeper psychological issues may require trained professional support, while faith, church and spiritual community can still play important roles in healing.

And underneath the entire conversation is one recurring message:

Prayer doesn’t replace the work.

If you’ve ever felt like you were supposed to carry everything yourself, questioned whether therapy fits with your faith, or wondered why the same patterns keep showing up in your life, this conversation is for you.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Faith, Therapy & Having It All Together
01:34 When Prayer Becomes Avoidance
03:11 What Men Really Mean by “I’m Good”
06:03 “I Don’t Need Anybody”
06:52 Prayer Without Doing the Work
08:09 The Phrases Men Use to Avoid Accountability
13:14 Why Men Avoid Therapy
15:09 Validation & Performance-Based Identity
21:22 Where Does the Healing Work Begin?
23:04 Childhood Coping Patterns in Adulthood
26:01 “I Can’t Afford Therapy”
27:26 Family Systems & Relationship Advice
31:01 If I Have God, Why Do I Need a Therapist?
31:58 What Therapy Can Teach That Faith May Not
36:00 Where the Church Can Fall Short
38:04 When the Psychologist Has to Do the Work
41:22 Faith Without Taking Action
45:06 Pastor, Therapist—or Both?
45:55 When Your Pastor Isn’t Your Therapist
47:55 “I Don’t Know Who I Am Anymore”
49:10 When Everyone Depends on You
51:51 Where the Pastor’s Role Should End
53:14 How Churches Can Better Support Men
54:20 Who Takes Care of the Man Helping Everyone Else?
57:27 Who Fills Your Cup?
59:21 Why Nobody Else Can Make You Happy
1:01:15 Final Thoughts

Subscribe to Don Talk for honest conversations about manhood, mental health, relationships, fatherhood, faith, identity and the things men often carry in silence.

Real men. Real talk. Real life.

#MensMentalHealth #FaithAndTherapy #BlackMenMentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #DonTalk

What do men actually understand about what happens to a woman after childbirth?

Postpartum recovery is more than a six-week checkup. The physical, hormonal, emotional, and psychological changes can continue long after the baby arrives—and sometimes the people closest to a mother may not recognize that she’s struggling.

On this episode of Don Talk: Conversations with Mike Turner, I’m joined by psychologist Dr. Malaika Brown, executive and entrepreneur Chakeyla Anderson, and husband and father Tim Upshur for an honest conversation about postpartum mental health, motherhood, race, relationships, and what support from men should actually look like.

We discuss why some women don’t feel safe telling their partners what they’re experiencing, how men can create emotionally safe relationships, and why simply being present doesn’t always mean we recognize when something is wrong.

The conversation also examines the cases of Andrea Yates, Latarsha Sanders, and Lindsay Clancy and raises a difficult question: when severe mental illness enters the conversation, who gets afforded empathy—and who gets seen only through their actions?

Dr. Brown discusses what she describes as an empathy gap in perceptions of mental illness, while Chakeyla shares the additional pressures Black women can face navigating healthcare, motherhood, careers, and expectations of strength.

But this conversation isn’t only about extreme cases.

It’s about the mother who goes to work, takes care of her children, answers texts, handles responsibilities and appears fine—while the people around her may have no idea what she’s carrying.

And it’s about what men can do differently.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — The racial empathy gap in mental health
01:39 — Welcome to Don Talk
02:35 — Who was prepared for the first baby?
07:27 — Parenting questions nobody prepares you for
13:10 — Who complains about losing sleep?
19:58 — What people misunderstand about postpartum
20:56 — Psychological changes after childbirth
22:01 — Chakeyla’s postpartum experience with twins
24:39 — What could a partner completely miss?
29:20 — Why some women don’t feel safe opening up
33:18 — What makes a man emotionally safe?
35:42 — What fathers are afraid to admit
40:40 — Yates, Sanders & Clancy
43:01 — The racial empathy gap around mental illness
44:32 — Black women, healthcare & expectations of strength
47:57 — Do women need men as allies?
51:54 — Are we failing women experiencing postpartum illness?
54:03 — What men need to become better allies
58:57 — Postpartum stigma in the workplace
1:03:12 — Pregnancy discrimination at work
1:07:45 — Motherhood, work & pressure to push through
1:14:21 — What pregnancy and postpartum do to the body
1:28:43 — “Why are you crying?”
1:32:38 — What does real support from men look like?
1:33:14 — Signs partners should pay attention to
1:36:04 — When it’s time to involve a professional
1:36:42 — Advocating for your partner’s healthcare

This isn’t about men pretending we fully understand what women experience.

It’s about paying attention, asking better questions, creating safe spaces, educating ourselves, and knowing when someone we love needs more support than we can provide ourselves.

Who checks on Mom?

Real men. Real talk. Real life.

Don Talk — Conversations with Mike Turner

#PostpartumMentalHealth #MensMentalHealth #PostpartumDepression #BlackMaternalHealth #DonTalk

What happens to a young Black boy when everyone recognizes what he can DO—but nobody helps him understand who he IS?

Dr. Brian Dinkins went from graduating high school with a 1.9 GPA and arriving at Purdue University focused almost entirely on football to earning five degrees from four universities and dedicating his career to emotional intelligence, education, and helping Black boys thrive.

But that transformation came at a cost.

In this episode of Don Talk — Conversations with Mike Turner, Brian and Mike reconnect decades after their Purdue days for a powerful conversation about identity, athletics, childhood trauma, fatherhood, emotional intelligence, discipline, education, and what Black boys actually need from the adults responsible for developing them.

Brian opens up about losing his football identity, struggling to figure out what came next, discovering the impact of childhood experiences later in adulthood, and learning how emotional intelligence changed the way he understood himself.

The conversation also tackles a bigger question:

Do we really have a problem with children—or do we have a problem with adults who haven't been equipped to understand and develop them?

Brian explains the four components of emotional intelligence, why discipline without emotional awareness can fail children, how men can create healthier emotional outlets, and why Black boys need more than expectations—they need relationships, support, emotional skills, and exposure to identities beyond athletics and entertainment.

This isn't just a conversation about Black boys.

It's about the men they become.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — We Don't Have a Child Issue—We Have an Adult Issue
01:52 — Welcome to Don Talk: Dr. Brian Dinkins
03:19 — Purdue Football, Childhood & a 1.9 GPA
06:56 — When Football Becomes Your Entire Identity
09:04 — The Emotional Cost of Waiting for Your Opportunity
10:54 — From 1.9 GPA to Five Degrees
11:55 — “What Did It Cost You?”
12:43 — Men, Mental Health & the “Suck It Up” Generation
14:31 — Finding Purpose After Football
16:28 — What Happens When the Game Ends?
18:49 — Turning an Athlete's Work Ethic Into a Career
20:25 — Discovering Trauma & Emotional Intelligence
22:38 — Becoming What He Needed as a Child
24:34 — The Child We Carry Into Adulthood
26:34 — Mike's Own Journey of Understanding His Younger Self
30:58 — Can Emotional Intelligence & Strict Discipline Coexist?
31:29 — The Four Skills of Emotional Intelligence
35:04 — Why We're Living Through a “Trust Recession”
36:02 — Dr. Dinkins as a Husband & Father
40:23 — Why Men Need Other Men They Can Be Vulnerable With
41:28 — Men, Crying & Emotional Release
43:58 — Finding Healthy Outlets for Anger
45:17 — Knowing When to Walk Away
46:45 — Why Black Men & Black Women Need Better Conversations
49:30 — Understanding Experiences Different From Our Own
51:43 — Locker Room vs. Classroom: Rapid Fire
56:44 — What Football Can Teach Educators
58:03 — What Teachers Can Teach Football Coaches
59:34 — What Do Black Boys Actually Need?
1:02:40 — “We Have an Adult Issue”
1:05:23 — Final Thoughts & Closing

If this conversation gives you something to think about, like the episode, subscribe to Don Talk, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Real men. Real talk. Real life.

#DonTalk #BlackBoys #EmotionalIntelligence #MensMentalHealth #BlackMen

Why do men say “I’m good” when they’re exhausted, angry, overwhelmed, or struggling in their relationships? In this episode of Don Talk, Mike Turner sits down with Dr. Carl Donaldson to explore what happens when men spend years surviving instead of addressing what they’re carrying.

From the pressure to provide and the fear of vulnerability to childhood experiences, fatherhood, and the need for approval, this conversation examines how unresolved stress can become a normal part of everyday life. Mike also shares a personal story about his father, his athletic career, and how seeking approval affected his identity.

Carl discusses his approach to traditional Chinese medicine, Qigong, meditation, and reconnecting with yourself. The conversation also explores the difference between coping and healing, the importance of asking for help, and why taking care of yourself matters for the people who depend on you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why men hide behind “I’m good”
• Survival mode and the pressure Black men carry
• Emotional stress, self-awareness, and forgiveness
• Fatherhood, approval, and breaking generational patterns
• Qigong, meditation, and traditional Chinese medicine
• Journaling versus talking things out
• Sleep, nutrition, and building healthier habits
• What it means to live according to your own purpose

CHAPTERS
00:00 Why men say “I’m good”
02:12 Rapid-fire: What is real self-care?
08:32 Are men just moving stress from one place to another?
10:35 Surviving versus processing emotions
11:38 Forgiveness and personal responsibility
16:14 Survival mode and the Black male experience
21:43 Carl Donaldson’s background and medical training
24:29 Moving from survival toward thriving
28:25 What the body may reveal about stress
34:27 When prolonged stress starts to feel normal
37:03 Asking for help and exploring healing approaches
41:02 The Alchemy Project and emotional healing
43:17 Generational trauma and epigenetics
45:56 Recognizing patterns that need attention
47:54 Mike’s personal story about seeking approval
51:15 Breath, movement, and Qigong
54:30 “This isn’t going to pay the bills”
55:27 What “I’m good” can really mean
59:00 Healthy or not: Therapy, meditation, and sleep
1:04:15 Golf, Qigong, and taking time for yourself
1:05:15 Journaling versus talking it out
1:21:01 Nutrition and the challenges of changing habits
1:28:47 Closing reflections
1:29:19 The meaning of your birthright

Don Talk is about giving men language for the things they carry in silence. Women are invited into the conversation, too, because understanding each other starts with honest dialogue.

If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who always says they’re good. Subscribe, like, and leave a comment: What is one thing you’ve been carrying that you haven’t made time to address?

Subscribe to Don Talk — Conversations with Mike Turner for more conversations about men’s mental health, relationships, fatherhood, identity, and personal growth.

This episode features the guest’s personal perspectives and traditional medicine practices. It is intended for conversation and education, not as a substitute for qualified medical or mental health care. Do not discontinue prescribed treatment based on this discussion.

#DonTalk #MensMentalHealth #CarlDonaldson #BlackMensMentalHealth #PersonalGrowth

Do men lose themselves when they become fathers?

Becoming a dad can be one of the greatest experiences of a man’s life — but nobody talks enough about what fatherhood can cost you emotionally.

Your priorities change. Your freedom changes. Your relationships change. And somewhere between providing, protecting, parenting and trying to be the man your family needs, you may start wondering:

Who am I outside of being a father?

In this episode of Don Talk — Conversations with Mike Turner, we have an honest conversation about the side of fatherhood men don't always say out loud.

We talk about:

• Losing your sense of identity after becoming a father
• The anxiety and pressure that comes with raising children
• Why dads sometimes feel guilty for wanting time for themselves
• Balancing fatherhood, relationships and personal fulfillment
• How our own childhood experiences shape the fathers we become
• The emotional support fathers often don't receive
• Whether becoming a parent means giving up part of your freedom
• The complicated feelings of sacrifice, responsibility and even regret
• Why taking care of yourself can actually make you a better father

Fatherhood can give a man tremendous purpose. But that doesn't mean the transition is easy.

Sometimes becoming a good father requires figuring out how to remain a whole man at the same time.

So here's the question:

Can you be a great father without losing the man you were before you had children?

Drop your answer in the comments. Fathers especially — what changed most about YOU after having kids?

If conversations like this matter to you, subscribe to Don Talk and join us for real conversations about fatherhood, relationships, identity, mental health and the things men carry but don't always say.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Reflections on Fatherhood & Future Aspirations
25:00 Parenthood, Identity & Self-Discovery
42:16 The Anxiety of Parenthood
42:59 Fatherhood: A Different Kind of Fun
53:08 The Truth About Parenthood
1:28:41 Self-Care, Guilt & Personal Fulfillment
1:43:23 What Society Expects From Fathers
2:05:28 Regret, Responsibility & Parenthood

#Fatherhood #MensMentalHealth #DadLife #Parenting #BlackFathers #MensHealth #FatherhoodJourney #ModernFatherhood #DonTalk #MikeTurner

The conversation delves into the importance of male friendship and support, the struggles of finding community and purpose, and the exploration of self-worth and value in relationships. It highlights the need for deeper connections and the impact of societal expectations on self-perception. The conversation delves into the pressure to stay strong, the struggle to find a sense of home and belonging, and the need for emotional outlets. It also explores the themes of seeking purpose and connection, highlighting the challenges and experiences of individuals in navigating these aspects of life.

Takeaways

• Importance of male friendship and support
• Struggles with finding community and purpose
• Self-worth and value in relationships Seeking purpose and connection
• Struggles with finding a sense of home and belonging
• The pressure to stay strong and the need for emotional outlets

Chapters

• 00:00 The Importance of Male Friendship
• 02:58 Struggles with Finding Community and Purpose
• 10:11 Self-Worth and Value in Relationships
• 33:03 The Pressure to Stay Strong
• 36:20 Struggles with Finding Home and Belonging
• 45:01 Seeking Purpose and Connection

The conversation delves into personal well-being, financial concerns, self-care, and the impact of societal expectations on self-worth. It also explores the concept of love languages in relationships and the alignment of love languages between partners. The conversation delves into the importance of effective communication, the impact of love languages and survival languages on relationships, and the significance of self-love. It also explores the role of upbringing in shaping one's understanding of love and the distinction between survival and love in relationships. The conversation delves into the nature of love and pain, exploring the concept of survival versus thriving in relationships. It touches on the impact of past experiences, parenting, societal influences, and gender roles on the perception of love and survival mentality. The shift from survival to thriving is emphasized as a key factor in fostering love and growth in relationships.

Takeaways

• Love languages and survival languages
• Understanding love languages in relationships Effective communication is key
• Love languages and survival languages impact relationships Love and pain
• Survival vs Thriving

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Co-host Banter
• 01:08 Checking In: How Are You Doing Today?
• 02:06 Personal Well-being and Financial Concerns
• 03:06 Balancing Investments and Family Support
• 04:16 Prioritizing Self-care and Personal Growth
• 07:01 Reflection on Achievements and Future Outlook
• 08:05 Reframing Expectations and Self-worth
• 10:20 Value Beyond Productivity and Societal Expectations
• 15:37 Love Languages and Survival Languages Discussion
• 43:28 Survival vs. Love: Impact on Relationships
• 46:23 The Nature of Love and Pain
• 47:48 Pain as a Sign of Growth
• 49:45 Learning and Growth from Experience
• 51:07 Shift in Perception of Love and Survival Mentality
• 53:03 Parenting and Shifting Perspectives on Love and Survival
• 54:15 Survival Mentality and Parenting
• 56:27 Forced Survival by Design
• 58:01 Gender Roles and Survival Mentality
• 01:01:12 Conflicting Ideologies in Relationships
• 01:02:05 Thriving and Love
• 01:06:24 Reflection and Growth in Relationships

The conversation explores the concept of code-switching and its impact on personal and professional interactions. It delves into the experience of reverse code-switching and cultural adaptation, highlighting the challenges and nuances of navigating different cultural contexts. The discussion also addresses the changing standards of professionalism and the evolving nature of qualifications and standards in various domains. The conversation delves into the complex topic of code switching, exploring its impact on identity, survival, and cultural authenticity. It also addresses the importance of self-acceptance and the wisdom gained from life experiences. The discussion highlights the role of language, gender, and cultural suppression in the context of code switching, offering valuable insights into the human experience.

Takeaways

• Code-switching as a form of adaptation
• The evolving nature of qualifications and standards Code switching as a means of survival
• The importance of authenticity and self-acceptance

Chapters

• 00:00 Evolving Qualifications and Standards
• 32:29 The Art of Code Switching
• 36:15 The Scene in Roots
• 42:20 Navigating Gender and Identity
• 48:26 Cultural Suppression and Success
• 59:58 The Wisdom of Experience

The conversation delves into the topic of code-switching, exploring its origins, impact, and the need to navigate two worlds. It touches on the concept of safety, the pressure to prove belonging, and the necessity of code-switching in colonized spaces. The speakers share personal experiences and insights, highlighting the challenges and complexities of code-switching. The conversation delves into the concept of code-switching and its impact on personal and professional interactions. It explores the influence of children in shaping behavior, the intersection of professionalism and cultural identity, and the definition of success in different contexts.

Takeaways

• Safety and the need for acceptance drive the practice of code-switching.
• Code-switching is a mechanism for success and survival in colonized spaces.
• The pressure to prove belonging and the impact of code-switching on personal identity are significant aspects of the experience. Code-switching is influenced by the presence of children and the desire to maintain authenticity in their eyes.
• Professionalism is subjective and often influenced by Eurocentric standards, leading to a lack of authenticity in professional settings.
• Success is defined differently for each individual, with personal experiences and survival often shaping one's perception of success.

Chapters

• 00:00 Navigating Two Worlds
• 32:09 The Influence of Children
• 33:45 The Impact of Code-Switching on Behavior
• 35:03 The Art of Cold-Switching and Professionalism
• 38:04 The Authenticity of Cultural Identity
• 44:02 The Subjectivity of Professionalism and Success

The conversation delves into the impact of relocation on relationships, exploring the dynamics of moving for love and career. It highlights the challenges and decisions involved in relocating, as well as the long-term effects on personal and professional lives. The conversation delves into the challenges and personal growth associated with moving for love, as well as the importance of self-acceptance and understanding in relationships. It explores the emotional impact, struggles, and sacrifices involved in making such a move, as well as the significance of personal motivation and self-encouragement. The themes of acceptance, support, and individuality in relationships are also highlighted, along with the power of words and the impact of conditional love and acceptance.

Takeaways

• Relocating for love and career
• The impact of relocation on relationships Moving for love
• Personal growth and self-acceptance

Chapters

• 00:00 Relocating for Love and Career
• 01:02:25 Personal Growth and Self-Reflection