The Akkeri

Psychologist & author, Dr Ron Johnson, is back with the final part of our four-part series on his book 'Balls: Men Finding Courage with Words, Work, Wine, and Women', and we are tackling the last 'W' of Women.

This episode covers:

• How men can find "the right woman" (& what it means to be "the right man")
• A framework for communicating thoughts & feelings with women
• The importance of the concept of hurt & the emotion of sadness in a man's maturation
• Why sadness/sorrow is our most important emotion

If you haven’t already listened to the 3 previous episodes with Dr Ron, be sure to check those out and his book 'Balls' with the links below.

Website: MidlandsPsychological.com

Facebook: @MidlandsPsychological

Instagram: @MidlandsPsychological

YouTube: @MidlandsPsychological

Book: 'Balls: Men Finding Courage with Words, Work, Wine, and Women': 🔗 pages.midlandspsychological.com/balls

Website: TheAkkeri.com

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"It is rare for a man to have only one addiction."

According to Dr Ron Johnson, addictions start as something that is "good" for us but easily become something that we rely upon for relief or momentary happiness. In this episode, you'll learn the differences between chemical and behavioural addictions, why and how we become addicted, the work required to avoid or end addictions, and the main reasons why men are often susceptible to addiction.

Dr. Ron Johnson is a psychologist and psychotherapist with over 50 years of experience working with men. His latest book, 'Balls: Men Finding Courage with Words, Work, Wine, and Women', talks about how men can truly mature by finding, valuing, and expressing themselves and, ultimately, find success in all areas of their lives.

If you find value in this conversation, please share it or leave a review and consider checking out Dr Ron's book with the links below.

Website: MidlandsPsychological.com

Facebook: @MidlandsPsychological

Instagram: @MidlandsPsychological

YouTube: @MidlandsPsychological

Book: 'Balls: Men Finding Courage with Words, Work, Wine, and Women': pages.midlandspsychological.com/balls

Website: TheAkkeri.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/theakkeri

Instagram: Instagram.com/the.akkeri

YouTube: YouTube.com/theakkeri

Do you have a job or a profession?

According to psychologist and author Dr Ron Johnson, men should find a profession as soon as they can and never stay in a “job”.

In Ron’s latest book, 'Balls: Men Finding Courage with Words, Work, Wine, and Women’, he talks about why men need to find professions, how they differ from jobs, and how men can find them.

And in this episode, we get into the details of that topic. With real-life illustrations and anecdotes from his 50+ years of experience as a psychologist and psychotherapist, Ron outlines the crucial role of feelings in both finding yourself and your profession.

Website: MidlandsPsychological.com

Facebook: @MidlandsPsychological

Instagram: @MidlandsPsychological

YouTube: @MidlandsPsychological

Book: 'Balls: Men Finding Courage with Words, Work, Wine, and Women': https://pages.midlandspsychological.com/balls

Website: TheAkkeri.com

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Most men would consider themselves to be honest, but what about when it comes to feelings?

Talking about feelings isn't common among men - and it's not something we're naturally good at either - but it is a requirement for maturity (despite what socio-cultural norms have taught us to believe about masculinity).

In this episode, psychologist and author Dr Ron Johnson joins me to share from his 50+ years of experience with men in psychological analysis and therapeutic contexts.

Ron outlines the role honesty with feelings plays in a man's maturity, how that honesty relates to a man's success, why men need to expect and accept that failure will be part of the maturation process when it comes to using feeling-based words, and how maturing in this area leads to a deeper, more satisfying life.

If you find this episode helpful, check out Ron's latest book entitled 'Balls: Men Finding Courage with Words, Work, Wine [Addictions], and Women' through his practice's website: midlandspsychological.com/books.

Website: midlandspsychological.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/midlandspsychological

Instagram: Instagram.com/midlandspsychological

YouTube: YouTube.com/@midlandspsychological

Website: TheAkkeri.com

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Personal struggles are often the best opportunities for personal growth, but only if we choose to put in the work.

Matthew Efford is a firefighter, business owner, real estate agent, and father who has found immense personal growth through struggle, and he shares openly about his journey on this episode.

From persistent bullying as a child and suicidal ideation to an ADHD diagnosis as an adult and ongoing counselling, Matthew has committed himself to growing in self-understanding and maturity as he looks for ways to help others do the same.

We talk about how he was bullied as a child and why he became suicidal at one point, how he navigated an ADHD diagnosis as an adult, what he does to process the often traumatic experiences that he has as a firefighter, the challenges he’s experienced in business and yes, how he attended coffee school in Portland but now relies on Keurig for his caffeine fix.

This one’s about the personal discovery that often comes through personal struggles and I hope it inspires you on your own journey towards self-understanding and personal growth.

Website: TheAkkeri.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/theakkeri

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Instagram.com/mattefford

Instagram.com/mattheweffordrealestate

Instagram.com/printnl

Ken Cox, an entrepreneur and author, offers a profound exploration of addiction, recovery, and personal transformation. He shares his harrowing journey from a debilitating alcohol addiction, which culminated in a life-threatening liver disease diagnosis at the age of 39, to a life characterized by resilience and purpose.

Ken emphasizes that addictions serve as armor that shields us from confronting our true selves, yet shedding this armor is essential for genuine living. He discusses the uncomfortable yet rewarding process of embracing honesty and vulnerability and shares about his new book, "Reclaim Sobriety," which encapsulates his experiences and the core values that guided him toward recovery and fulfillment.

Website: TheAkkeri.com

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Website: KenCox.com

His Book 'Reclaim Sobriety': ReclaimSobriety.com

Every man has to figure out what to do for work, but more than just a job, a man’s work is how he communicates himself to the world and makes a positive impact. So what happens when you find yourself in a position that doesn’t do that for you?

Video and podcast creator, Stephen Robles, was in such a position years ago. Now, his YouTube channel continues to grow - surpassing 100,000 subscribers in late 2024 - and he continues to try new things, like his new tech podcast, Primary Technology.

In Stephen’s words, whatever it is that you want to try or need to do, you have to start now, cause you will regret not starting later.

In this episode, Stephen shares how he changed directions in his life and work, how he made the decision and the challenges that came along with that, and how others can figure out if they may need to make a similar shift.

Podcast: PrimaryTech.fm

YouTube: @beardfm

Website: TheAkkeri.com

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Young men ending up “in the system” can feel like a cyclical, hopeless situation, but hope is always found in the parents, teachers, social workers, and others who strive to foster them toward a better path.

Shawn Mercer is one of those social workers who shared his experience in this episode of The Akkeri podcast. Shawn has been in and around the child/youth care and social work fields for over 20 years, so he has an educated and unique perspective on the challenges many young men face and the solutions required.

This is a conversation about emotional intelligence, understanding the needs of others, mentorship…and, well, stacking wood (you’ll have to listen to make sense of that one).

Website: TheAkkeri.com

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Religion.

For some, that word sparks thoughts of faith and community; two concepts that are inherently good, but for others, the thought of religion is anything but good.

In this episode of The Akkeri podcast, we get into the Christian religion; specifically, the Pentecostal denomination, through a conversation with my friend and former Christian, Todd Tremblett.

Todd shares his journey of growing up in a Pentecostal family in rural Newfoundland and his profound struggle as he began to question his faith. Over time, Todd transitioned from being a devout Christian to identifying as an agnostic atheist, a change that brought both clarity and challenges. He reflects on the fear-based upbringing instilled by church teachings, particularly regarding concepts of hell, and the mental anguish that accompanied his search for truth.

The conversation reveals the isolation many experience when questioning deeply held beliefs, emphasizing the importance of having supportive communities and mentors during such transformative times. Ultimately, Todd's story underscores the significance of open dialogue about faith, masculinity, and mental health, encouraging others to embrace their struggles and seek connection in their journeys of self-discovery.

Website: TheAkkeri.com

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www.vimeo.com/toddtremblett

As a police officer and former child and youth care worker, Jason Walsh has seen the challenges that young men face through several different lenses. Growing up in a lower-income family with a single mother and a father who was often in jail, his own story is one of hardship and making his way through “by the power and grace” of his mother.

In our conversation, Jason shares how finding a male mentor at a young age changed his life and how there is a great need for this type of supportive relationship. Why? Because young men are growing up without learning how to cope with strong emotions or how to navigate tough situations and, without support, this leads many men to addictions or criminal activity.

Asking for help - or being that source of help, ourselves - is no small task. Both require the courage to be vulnerable because we risk rejection or shame whenever we put ourselves out there like that, but the potential rewards far outweigh the risks because who cares about a few moments of discomfort when we have the ability to change life for the better?

Website: TheAkkeri.com

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