Divorce can be one of the most challenging transitions in a man's life. The journey is full of uncertainty and self-discovery. It begins with emotional recovery and continues as you step back into the dating world. Along the way, you experience growth and change. On this episode of the Men’s Therapy Podcast, host Marc Azoulay sits down with returning guest Philip Botha. He discusses life after divorce and toxic marriage signs. He talks about the impact of masculinity in relationships.

Philip is a coach and former entrepreneur who opens up about his personal experience with divorce. “I was very much a ‘nice guy’ going into my marriage,” he reflects. “I didn’t understand what I needed in a relationship or what my non-negotiables were.” Philip highlights the complexities of nice guy syndrome. He describes how the pandemic catalyzed clarity. It exposed toxic patterns in his marriage that ultimately led to its end.

Despite the difficulties, Philip sees his divorce as a turning point. “There’s no failure in ending something that no longer serves you. The real failure is not learning from it,” he shares. His story is one of resilience, and it offers valuable lessons for men facing similar struggles.

Toxic relationships are often misunderstood. Especially when it comes to men being on the receiving end of emotional abuse. On the latest episode of the Men’s Therapy Podcast, host Marc Azoulay speaks with returning guest Bre Wolta. She is a relationship clarity coach. She speaks about how toxic love manifests. She highlights why men struggle to recognize emotional abuse. She shares insights on how to break free from unhealthy relationship patterns.

As Bre explains, toxic relationships often stem from deep-rooted emotional wounds. “Narcissists are seeking control and validation from relationships rather than love and connection,” she says. This manipulation can take many forms. These include gaslighting, love bombing, and emotional withdrawal. All create cycles of codependency.

But toxic relationships aren’t always easy to identify—especially for men. “We don’t talk enough about men being in toxic relationships as the victims,” Marc points out. “The narrative often assumes that men are the abusers, but the reality is far more complex.”

Dr. Matt Englar-Carlson has spent decades studying the psychology of masculinity. He has worked directly with men to help them navigate mental health challenges. He is an esteemed professor and department chair at California State University. As a leading expert on positive masculinity, he brings a nuanced perspective to the conversation. His research focuses on strength-based therapy. It shows how men can use their natural strengths to improve mental well-being. Instead of suppressing emotions, they can embrace them for better mental health.

But Englar-Carlson’s interest in this field is personal. “My dad was a psychologist,” he shares. “I was close to him, and I grew up in the field.” As a child, he attended psychology conferences and observed his father, a small-town therapist. This gave him a deep understanding of the mental health profession. He also gained insight into the unique challenges men face when seeking help. These experiences shaped his perspective on the importance of mental well-being for men. “I had a lot of exposure to what therapy was, and it wasn’t a strange thing for me.”

But, when he started working as a counsellor, he noticed a trend. “Most of my caseload was male, and they had been suffering for a long time before coming in,” he explains. Many men wait until they are in crisis before seeking help. He argues that men’s reluctance to seek help is linked to social expectations and gender roles. These pressures discourage men from showing vulnerability.

Parenting in the modern world is a complex endeavor. On a recent episode of the Men’s Therapy Podcast, host Marc Azoulay sat down with Jordan Shapiro. He is a professor at Temple University and author of Father Figure: How to Be a Feminist Dad. Shapiro’s work centers on rethinking traditional gender norms. It focuses on equipping children to navigate an ever-changing world. This conversation provides insightful perspectives for men exploring fatherhood, parenting, and personal growth.

“I grew up in Philadelphia, a city deeply rooted in sports culture and traditional masculinity. I never felt like I fully fit into those norms,” Shapiro recalls. His experience as an outsider in these spaces led him to explore how societal expectations shape boys and men. Shapiro started by focusing on parenting but soon expanded to discussing gender norms. He realized that issues of fatherhood are deeply connected to broader cultural changes. Such as feminism and social justice. This shift led him to explore how these larger movements influence family dynamics.

“If we want to raise kids for a changing world,” Shapiro explains, “we can’t ignore the evolving conversations around gender and equality.” He emphasizes the importance of challenging toxic traits often associated with masculinity. Such as dominance and emotional suppression. These should be challenged while advocating for values like empathy and collaboration.

In today's episode of the Men’s Therapy Podcast, we welcome Tim Desmond. He is a distinguished faculty scholar at Antioch University and an acclaimed author. He is a student of the legendary Thich Nhat Hanh. His insights on mental health, Buddhism, and personal development provide a transformative perspective. They help men connect with their masculinity and improve mental wellness. This guidance offers a path to greater self-awareness and growth.

Tim’s journey began in Boston, where he grew up the son of a single, recovering alcoholic mother. A sports scholarship got him to college, but he soon felt unworthy of the opportunity. In his quest to make a meaningful impact, he discovered Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Peace Is Every Step. This sparked a lifelong journey of self-discovery and service. "If you're trying to create a world with less suffering, you need to learn how to suffer less," Tim recalls Thich Nhat Hanh teaching. This insight led him to immerse himself in meditation practices. And ultimately pursue a career in clinical psychology.

Tim describes meditation as mental training. It is a practice that allows individuals to cultivate qualities. Such as compassion, equanimity, and emotional resilience. “Whatever quality of mind you want, you can train yourself to develop it,” he explains. For Tim, this training meant learning to transform suffering into freedom. It meant deepening his ability to connect with others authentically.

In a riveting episode of the Men's Therapy Podcast, host Marc Azoulay sits down with Rick Belden. He is a poet, essayist, and men’s coach whose work explores the psychological challenges men face. Belden helps men confront emotional wounds by exploring the "mother wound," childhood trauma, and the impact of therapy. His work highlights the transformative power of addressing deep-rooted pain.

“A mother wound may be thought of as an injury to the psyche of a child. It results from significant dysfunction in the relationship with the mother,” says Belden. He grounds his insights on personal experience and years of coaching. The mother wound isn’t always about overt neglect or abuse. It can stem from a mother’s unhealed pain being unconsciously passed on to her child.

Belden’s journey into men’s work is just as compelling as his insights. After grappling with unresolved grief and emotional disconnection in his 20s, he found solace in therapy and men’s groups. "It was terrifying to join a group full of men," he admits, "but it turned out to be fantastic. I discovered that everyone there had struggles they never spoke about." This realization became a cornerstone of his coaching approach. It emphasizes creating safe spaces for men to process and grow..

On today's episode of the Men's Therapy Podcast, explore the transformative journey of Adam Darrow. He is the author of Seek the Risk. Adam’s book is a personal memoir that chronicles his experiences with polyamorous sex. It highlights his journey of extreme sports, and navigating modern masculinity challenges. “I realized it wasn’t about the trophy or the reward,” Adam shares. “It was about the journey, about facing my fears and discovering who I truly am.”

Adam’s story begins during the pandemic. Inspired by a friend, he decided to turn his journaled reflections into a book. He is a former extreme sports competitor and self-proclaimed risk-taker. Adam’s pursuit of growth led him to challenge not only physical limits but emotional and relational boundaries as well. Adam’s journey into nonmonogamy with his partner, Jane, is a key focus of his story. Their unconventional relationship shaped many of the lessons he shared. Adam's unique relationship revealed profound lessons about jealousy and vulnerability. It also deepened his understanding of emotional intelligence in relationships.

In today’s compelling Men's Therapy Podcast episode, host Marc Azoulay explores the world of men’s mental health with Dr. Ronald F. Levant. He is an eminent voice in the psychology of masculinity. Dr. Levant is Professor Emeritus at the University of Akron. He is former American Psychological Association’s Division of Men and Masculinities president. He brings decades of expertise to the conversation. He shares groundbreaking insights into fatherhood, alexithymia, and emotional inexpressiveness. He sheds light on the psychological barriers many men face.  

“Many men, myself included, grew up with difficult fathers,” Dr. Levant recalls. This raw honesty sets the tone. He explores how generational trauma and societal norms have shaped men’s emotional landscapes. He also tackles alexithymia. It is a condition where individuals struggle to identify and articulate their emotions. This is a phenomenon that Dr. Levant refers to as "normative male alexithymia."

This episode highlights the pressing need for emotional education. Whether it's redefining fatherhood to reshaping masculinity for the modern era. It highlights the importance of positive male mentorship..

Dr. Ronald Levant is no stranger to breaking boundaries. He is a clinical psychologist and a professor emeritus at the University of Akron. He is also a former president of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Levant has spent decades studying men’s mental health and masculinity. His journey is marked by overcoming abuse, bullying, and self-discovery. It drives his mission to help men redefine their emotional lives. Today's episode of the Men’s Therapy Podcast hosts Dr. Levant. He explores the challenges men face when addressing their emotional health. He also shares tools to help them grow.

"I grew up in a world where showing emotions was seen as weakness," Dr. Levant shares. "Boys are taught from a young age to suppress feelings. This restrictive emotionality has long-term consequences." Dr. Levant reflects on his transformation from a troubled youth to an esteemed psychologist. He underscores the importance of emotional alchemy. "It’s not just about naming emotions. It’s about understanding and expressing them in ways that improve our relationships and well-being."

What if the key to transforming your relationship lies not in fixing your partner? What if it is all about mastering mindfulness together through couples therapy? In today’s episode of the Men's Therapy Podcast, Marc Azoulay welcomes back Donald Bialkowski. He is a clinical social worker specializing in mindful relating and relational leadership. Bialkowski brings a unique perspective to couples therapy. He emphasizes the importance of mindfulness in creating healthy relationships. "The relationship isn't the problem. It just reveals the problem within you," Bialkowski shares. He highlights how relationships serve as mirrors for personal growth. His approach focuses on helping couples move from confrontational positions to collaborative partnerships. He helps in addressing both traditional and modern relationship challenges.