Every 43 seconds, someone in the world dies by suicide. Men make up 75-80% of them. In the US, men are nearly 4x more likely than women to die by suicide. In the UK and Canada, it's roughly 3x.

This isn't a side statistic. It's a global mental health crisis, and almost nobody is talking about it the way we do in this episode.

There's a paradox at the center of this: women report higher rates of depression and attempt suicide more often, yet men die by suicide at far higher rates, largely because men tend to use methods that leave less room for intervention or survival.

And fewer than 20% of men seek professional mental health support in the year before a suicide, compared to roughly 35% of women.

Men aren't struggling less. They're struggling silently, and that silence is costing lives.

I sat down with Jonathan Bouter in Amsterdam, Dutch veteran, ex-prison guard, and now mindset and trauma coach. What came out of him was nothing like the "man up" conversations we're used to.

We talked about the trauma men carry and never name. The silence men are trained into from childhood. What it actually costs a man to "be strong." And what men need, really need, that they almost never say out loud.

We laughed. We got real. We both teared up. This is not a polished, clinical mental health talk. This is raw, honest, and unfiltered.

If you're a man who's never had the words for what you're carrying, or you love a man who hasn't, this episode is for you 🤍

In this episode: 

✅ Why so few men seek help before it's too late 

✅ The trauma behind the "strong, silent" mask 

✅ How upbringing teaches men to disconnect from emotion 

✅ What it actually means for a man to "feel" 

✅ The honest, unscripted conversation most men never get to have

Full episode of real.raw.authentic is live now. Link in bio.

🚨 If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Reach out to a crisis line in your country. US: 988, UK: 116 123 (Samaritans), Netherlands: 113 (113.nl), or visit findahelpline.com for global resources.

real.raw.authentic, hosted by Caroline Middelsdorf who is traveling the world to sit down with guests who have a story, expertise and want to create positive impact. 

Because healing happens out loud 🤍

#MensMentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #MaleMentalHealth #TraumaHealing #RealRawAuthentic #VeteranMentalHealth #ComeHomeToYourself #HealedOutLoud

I didn’t expect this conversation to go where it went.

Petr Čech, one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, sitting across from me, talking about loss, fear, near-death, and what it actually costs to perform at the highest level for two decades.

The Champions League final. His last game with Arsenal. A nurse telling a 10-year-old he’d never play again. A head injury that nearly took his life. The mental toll nobody sees from the outside.

But also, the mindset that made him unbreakable. How he learned to perform under impossible pressure. Why confidence isn’t motivation, it’s preparation. And what separates the good from the truly great, on and off the pitch.

This is the conversation about sport, mental health, and what it really means to be at the top of your game, that nobody was having loudly enough.

This one stayed with me long after we stopped filming.

🎙️ Real Raw Authentic with Caroline Middelsdorf

Don’t forget to like 👍🏻 subscribe and share with somone who needs to hear this 


Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and Early Career Challenges
00:53 - Interview Introduction: Peter Cech
01:38 - Childhood in Czechoslovakia
02:01 - Family Background and Sibling Loss
03:04 - Parents' Occupations and Early Exposure to Sports
04:09 - Growing Up with Sports
05:35 - Choosing Football Over Ice Hockey
07:03 - Passion for Football and Early Experiences
08:06 - Becoming a Goalkeeper
10:02 - First Major Injury and Its Impact
13:15 - Dreaming of a Professional Career
15:20 - Overcoming Negative Comments and Determination
18:00 - Lessons from Sports: Failure and Teamwork
20:13 - Dealing with Pressure as a Young Athlete
24:01 - Developing a Mindset to Handle Stress
27:22 - First National Team Call-Up
28:36 - Inner Voice and Mindset Shift
29:52 - Avoiding Regrets and Embracing Failure
32:52 - Reflecting on Regrets and Burnout
33:57 - Perspective from a Head Injury
35:03 - Curiosity and Open-Mindedness
36:39 - Confidence Through Preparation
41:16 - Nervousness in New Environments
42:18 - Human Challenges of Professional Athletes
44:50 - Champions League Final Experiences
46:00 - Mind and Body Alignment in Sports
47:12 - Advice on Handling Anxiety and Failure



If you’re on the journey of healing emotional (often invisible) wounds, you’re in the right place 🤍
My 3-month program Phoenix is here to gently support and guide you.
Start with a free lesson here:
https://carolinemiddelsdorf.com

Not sure where to begin?
My mini course will help you take the first steps:
https://stan.store/carolinemiddeldorf/p/how-to-start-your-healing-journey-mini-course?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

Trauma and anxiety don’t just live in the mind — they live in the body.

In this episode of Real, Raw & Authentic, recorded in Los Angeles, I talk to Jiaming Ju, founder of KUN Health and a second-generation licensed Chinese Medicine practitioner who specializes in chronic conditions.

We talk about tongue diagnosis in Chinese Medicine and how the tongue can reveal long-term stress, anxiety, trauma patterns, nervous system dysregulation, and physical imbalance — in a grounded, body-based way, not something mystical or abstract.

What stayed with me:

• You can be high-functioning and still deeply dysregulated
• You can be coping while your body remains in survival mode
• The tongue often shows what someone has been carrying for years

This episode is for anyone who struggles with anxiety, unresolved trauma, chronic stress, or physical symptoms that don’t fully make sense yet — and for anyone curious about mental health beyond just talking about it.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing fine” mentally but your body tells a different story, this conversation may resonate.

🎧 Subscribe to Real, Raw & Authentic for honest conversations connecting trauma, mental health, and the body.

In this episode of REAL. RAW. AUTHENTIC.🎙️ I sit down with Ingmar de Gooijer, founder of Magnolia in the Netherlands — one of the leading centers for ketamine therapy and psilocybin-supported journeys.

Ingmar has years of experience guiding people through deeply transformative non-ordinary states of consciousness. 

At Magnolia, every journey begins with a careful medical and psychological screening and continues with a fully personalized program — whether it’s ketamine-assisted therapy under clinical supervision or psilocybin truffle experiences facilitated by psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, or experienced guides.

In this conversation, we dive into the real questions people usually avoid:

• Who ketamine therapy is for — especially individuals struggling with treatment-resistant depression who haven’t found relief through traditional methods.
• Who benefits from psilocybin — people seeking deeper emotional insight, meaning, and the ability to gently access their inner healing intelligence.
• How psychedelics can help unlock emotions — parts of yourself you’ve suppressed, avoided, or simply couldn’t reach through talk therapy alone.
• How these experiences can bring forward what you might need to see in order to heal, shift, or finally process long-held patterns.
• What psychedelics cannot do — and why they are not a magic bullet in trauma healing.
• Why the real work begins after the session, during integration, grounding, and making sense of what came up.

We talk honestly about safety, misconceptions, emotional breakthroughs, and how these substances can support your healing journey. 
 
I ask the curious, uncomfortable, and essential questions that everyone wonders about but rarely says out loud.

This episode is for everyone:
• Therapists, coaches, and people in the healing field
• Anyone navigating trauma, depression, or emotional stuckness
• People curious about psychedelic therapy
• People who feel they’ve tried everything and still feel lost
• Anyone wanting to understand how healing actually works beyond the surface

Don't forget to share your main takeaway in the comments below and hit the subscribe button to never miss an episode. 

FYI: Magnolia is co-founded with Emilie Donders, MD, and supported by a team of psychiatrists, physicians, psychologists, and experienced facilitators. Their work complies with Dutch healthcare regulations (Wkkgz), and the entire approach is grounded in safety, ethics, and high-quality medical care.


How to connect with Ingmar de Gooijer & Magnolia: 
website: https://mymagnolia.nl/en/
linkedin Magnolia: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mymagnolia/
Linkedin Ingmar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingmardegooijer/

How to connect with host and your psychologist Caroline Middelsdorf: 
website: www.carolinemiddelsdorf.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinemiddelsdorf?igsh=MXd4M2pxZXlydmFmMQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Real.Raw.Authentic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realrawauthenticpodcast?igsh=MTlnbzJiZHExOGFhYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MjtGi_7b9c4

We are all on a journey, searching for answers, meaning, and connection. Often, we’re trying to find ourselves, yet we don’t even know how or where to start. Many of us struggle with loneliness, numbness, and overwhelm.

In this episode, I travel to the Shaolin Temple Europe in Otterberg, Germany, to meet Master Shifu
 Zuan, a true guide on the path of self-realization, presence, and inner mastery.

Filmed in one of the most inspiring and peaceful settings, this episode is not just something to listen to — it’s an invitation. An invitation to begin your own journey within, to awaken the wisdom, discipline, and peace that already live inside you.

If you’ve ever felt lonely, lost, or disconnected, this conversation is especially for you — a reminder that the answers you seek are not outside of you, but within.

As you listen, you will feel Shifu Zuan’s calming and powerful energy, grounding, centering, and expanding your awareness with every word.

During my time at the temple, I experienced the annual Shaolin Festival, witnessing the graceful flow of Tai Chi, the strength and focus of Kung Fu, and the deep mind-body connection that moves like a dance within. I also experienced the stillness and reverence of a mindful tea ceremony, where each breath and movement became meditation. These moments revealed how inner mastery teaches us a new language — the language of the nervous system — where body, mind, and soul align in harmony.

Shifu Zuan’s teachings are rooted in the traditional Chinese Arts, Philosophy, Daoism, and Buddhism, which he masterfully weaves into modern life. His expertise, wisdom, and presence have guided many to reconnect with their essence, find balance, and awaken their true nature.

In this episode, we explore:

🥋 What it truly means to walk the path of self-realization
🥋 How to integrate Shaolin philosophy into daily life
🥋 The balance between discipline, surrender, and inner strength
🥋The language of the nervous system and the power of inner alignment
🥋Practical tools and insights to inspire your own journey within

This conversation is real, raw, and authentic, filled with heart, humility, and timeless wisdom. It is not only about awareness, but about action, embodiment, and awakening.


This episode will stay with you, opening your heart, calming your mind, and inviting you to discover the sacred alignment within yourself. You will feel Shifu Zuan’s serene presence throughout, and I cannot wait for another conversation with this remarkable teacher.

⬇️ Connect with Master Shifu Zuan (Shifu Zuan):

Journey Into Oneself: https://www.journeyintooneself.world/shifu-zuan

IG: [https://www.instagram.com/journeyintooneself.world?igsh=cmRldmpna2ZzeDVs]

Shaolin.Online: https://shaolin.online.com 

IG: [https://www.instagram.com/shaolin.online?igsh=bmpuZTR3enNjcDU3]

Shaolintempleeurope: https://www.shaolintemple.eu

IG: [https://www.instagram.com/shaolintempleeurope?igsh=N2ZzcjdocDk1dTI=]


⬇️ Connect with host Caroline Middelsdorf:

Podcast Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/realrawauthenticpodcast?igsh=MTlnbzJiZHExOGFhYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr]

Website: [https://www.carolinemiddelsdorf.com]

TikTok: [https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinemiddelsdorf]
M


At the end of the episode, I’d love to hear from you! Please subscribe 🔔, like 👍🏻 , and share ⏩ this video, and let me know in the comments: 

👉🏼What was your main takeaway from this episode or what inspired you the most?

🎙️ Welcome to Real. Raw. Authentic. — the podcast where I, psychologist Caroline Middelsdorf, travel the world to break the silence around invisible wounds, normalize vulnerability, and remind you that you are never alone. In this London episode, I sit down with model, professional surfer, athlete, and Love Island UK star Laura Crane. 

Laura opens up about her journey through eating disorders, anxiety, perfectionism, and the pressures of being a female athlete o facing judgment on national TV and navigating life after Love Island— and how she found her way back to authenticity, courage, and self-love. ✨ 

This is an inspiring conversation about healing, fear, resilience, and what it really means to embrace who you are. Because we all have a story — and sharing it is what brings us together in a divided world. 💡 If this conversation resonates with you, don’t forget to subscribe and hit the like button — it helps us spread the message that no one has to walk their healing journey alone. 

Find my guest Laura Crane on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraloucrane?igsh=MXJ3dmVhdDU2OHZhag== 

➡️Learn more about my work (Host: @carolinemiddelsdorf ): 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinemid... 

Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/realrawauthenticpodcast?igsh=MTlnbzJiZHExOGFhYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr 

Website: www.carolinemiddelsdorf.com TikTok: @carolinemiddelsdorf Facebook: / 18utfd. . Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-m-b835b017a

In this episode of Real, Raw & Authentic, I sit down in Los Angeles with Ben Smith - holistic wellness coach, athlete, ex-military, and trauma-informed retreat facilitator. Ben’s story is one of resilience, courage, and deep transformation.

We dive into why so many men suffer in silence — carrying loneliness, shame, and unspoken struggles behind closed doors. Ben opens up about his own journey, the inner battles he faced, and the tools that helped him on his healing journey.

💡 We explore:
❤️‍🩹The unworthiness wound and how childhood pain shapes identity
❤️‍🩹How overthinking becomes a false safety net — and why so many stay stuck there
❤️‍🩹The silent battles men fight but rarely talk about (+ signs to look out for)
❤️‍🩹How somatic work, nervous system regulation, and feeling your body can change your life

Choosing yourself and your healing - and how that changes the language within.

This is a raw and vulnerable conversation about the parts of healing people rarely speak about — shame, identity, and self-worth. Ben shares openly, breaking the silence around men’s mental health and showing what’s possible when we choose to face our wounds instead of hiding them.

If you’re curious about trauma healing, hearing a bit more about psychedelics, or understanding the hidden struggles men face, this episode will challenge the way you see yourself — and maybe even inspire your own healing journey.

🎧 Listen, feel, and be inspired.

No fluff. No filters. Just real, raw, and authentic talk that invites you to explore your own healing.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations that open minds and hearts

💬 Share your thoughts in the comments — your story matters

❤️ Support my podcast by liking and sharing if this conversation resonates

Connect with Ben Smith:  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benveesmith?igsh=MTV0YzhzazZzNzNzbQ==

Learn more about my work: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinemiddelsdorf?igsh=MXd4M2pxZXlydmFmMQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realrawauthenticpodcast?igsh=MTlnbzJiZHExOGFhYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Website: www.carolinemiddelsdorf.com
TikTok:  @carolinemiddelsdorf  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18UtFDarjg/?mibextid=wwXIfr

✨ In this episode of Real, Raw & Authentic, I’m in London sitting down with the incredible — “The Undefinable”Sadie Gibbs — professional wrestler, coach, and powerhouse of transformation.

Sadie opens up about her personal journey of healing the wounds that shaped her life and relationships, and how facing those challenges allowed her to step into her true power. She gets real about anger, emotional regulation, and the process of releasing what no longer serves you.

We dive into what it means to transform yourself — from being the overachiever constantly working hard to shedding those layers, healing old wounds, and stepping into a place of true authenticity and strength.

This conversation is raw, vulnerable, and inspiring. Sadie’s story is proof that no matter what we’ve been through, we allhave the power to rise, evolve, and fully step into who we’re meant to be.

If you’re on your own journey of self-discovery, emotional healing, or learning how to regulate and release your emotions — this episode is for you. You are not alone.. 

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Real, Raw & Authentic conversations!

Follow Sadie Gibbs on Instagram: @sadiegibbs 

Follow my Instagram @carolinemiddelsdorf 

Check my website to heal your inner wounds: www.carolinemiddelsdorf.com 

🎙️ New Real.Raw.Authentic Podcast Episode — Live from Amsterdam

I had the pleasure of sitting down with my dear friend Thelma Nusselder, an experienced Clinical Psychologist and EMDR therapist (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), for an eye-opening conversation about trauma healing.

In this episode, we explore:
🔹 What EMDR really is and how it works
🔹 Why it’s such a powerful tool for healing trauma
🔹 How it helps you process painful memories and find emotional freedom

Whether you’re simply curious about EMDR, considering it for your own healing, or passionate about understanding how trauma can be transformed — this episode is filled with insights, clarity, and practical wisdom.

Watch the episode on Youtube 🔗 https://youtu.be/9wIyrLG2CiY

✨ Special Bonus: Don’t miss the separate EMDR experience video, where you’ll get to witness what a real EMDR session looks like in practice. This will give you a clear understanding of what to expect if you decide to try EMDR therapy yourself.

Watch EMDR in Action:  https://youtu.be/ovyBdgNcIOc

Whether you’re simply curious about EMDR, considering it for your own healing, or passionate about understanding how trauma can be transformed — this episode is filled with insights, clarity, and practical wisdom.

If this conversation resonates with you, please subscribe and support my channel so I can continue my mission:
🌿 Making healing more accessible
🌿 Sharing inspiring stories
🌿 Bringing you trusted experts and powerful practices

Your support helps me keep creating free, valuable content for you and the community. 💛

🎙️ In the New York episode of Real, Raw & Authentic, I sit down with Dr. Timothy TiuTan — board-certified internal medicine physician, assistant professor, author, and media personality with over 1 million followers — to have a conversation that many avoid, but everyone needs to hear.

From cancer prevention to facing a diagnosis, Dr. Tim opens up about:
✨ How lifestyle, nutrition, and skincare play key roles in preventing cancer
✨ What to do when you or a loved one receive a cancer diagnosis
✨ How to face the fear of death with courage, acceptance, and preparation
✨ The emotional toll healthcare professionals carry when delivering life-changing news
✨ The power of empowerment and education in taking control of your health

Whether you're in healthcare, have faced cancer yourself, or simply want to live healthier — this conversation is packed with practical insights, raw vulnerability, and real talk that we don’t hear enough.

🧡 This is not just about medicine — it’s about life, love, healing, and navigating the most difficult conversations with strength and grace.

▶️ Subscribe, listen, and share with anyone who needs to hear this.

Dr. Tim has quickly become an international pioneer for a new age in health education. Please make sure you 

follow Dr Tim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctortim.md?igsh=bTk3b29wdnpnaHV5
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doctortim.md?_t=ZG-8x7dDY0I6nw&_r=1
Website: https://www.doctortimhealth.com

Learn more about Caroline Middelsdorf: 
Instagram:  @carolinemiddelsdorf  
Website: www.carolinemiddelsdorf.com
TikTok:  @carolinemiddelsdorf  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18UtFD...
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-m-b835b017a