In this episode I sit down with Keith Martin-Smith, an award-winning author, Zen priest, martial artist, and one of my oldest, dearest friends. We've been sitting in circle together for almost 20 years.

Keith grew up in a working-class Irish Catholic family on the East Coast, where his father never shed a tear his entire life and shutting down was just what men did. We get into how he came out of that conditioning, what 20 years of Zen and men's work has transmitted to him, and why the most elite warriors on the planet are also the most sensitive men in the room.

A few things we get into:

• Why most men are reacting to their lives instead of responding
• The difference between being seen and being known
• What a real men's group does that therapy structurally can't
• Why it's important for nice guys to feel their anger

If you've ever wondered what men's work actually is beyond the caricature, this is a solid place to start.

Learn more about Keith

Attend the Strength with Heart Masterclass June 7th, 2026

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