In this conversation, Shaun sits down with Ken Mossman, leadership coach and host of Mojo for the Modern Man, to dismantle one of the most enduring myths in manhood — the “lone wolf” and “self-made man.” Together, they explore what it truly means for men to live with courage, connection, and curiosity in an age of isolation.

Key Takeaways / Topics Covered

1. The Lone Wolf is a Lie - Both Ken and Shaun dismantle the myth of the “self-made man” and the “lone cowboy.”
2. Connection Requires Courage - Men often equate vulnerability with weakness, but the real courage is in showing the cards.
3. Modeling Connection for Sons - Fathers teach by example. When they hide struggle, children inherit shame and perfectionism. When they model honesty, curiosity, and openness, they teach resilience and belonging.
4. Loneliness vs. Junk Connection - Social media feels like community but isn’t. Shaun calls it “junk connection — like potato chips: fine in small doses, but if that’s all you eat, you starve.” Real nourishment comes from face-to-face relationships and shared vulnerability.
5. Practical Starting Points
   1. Reach out to a friend you haven’t talked to in a while.
   2. Ask (and answer) “How are you really?”
   3. Join or start a men’s group — church-based, local, or Mankind Project-style.
   4. Give and receive help with grace; both are acts of generosity.

 “Have the discipline to move through the world with wild curiosity.” - Ken Mossman

“Social media isn’t connection. It’s junk connection — and if that’s your only source of nourishment, you’re starving.” - Ken Mossman

“We’ve been told that strength means doing it all alone — but real strength looks more like being part of a pack, not pretending to be a lone wolf.” - Shaun Dawson

Timestamps / Chapter Markers

• 00:02 – Welcome and guest intro
• 00:40 – Where Ken is joining from
• 00:51 – The “lone wolf” myth
• 01:12 – Why fierce independence persists
• 02:37 – The not-so “self-made” man
• 03:56 – We stand on shoulders of giants
• 04:29 – Dreams still need a team
• 04:45 – Humility and asking for help
• 05:14 – Burnout from doing everything
• 05:24 – Shaun’s early fatherhood disconnect
• 07:41 – Naming shame without drowning in it
• 08:09 – What made Shaun open up
• 08:19 – A friend’s hidden decade of struggle
• 10:39 – Authority vs curiosity in men
• 12:12 – Why men avoid “I don’t know”
• 14:08 – Loneliness stats and concern
• 14:30 – Few close friends for many men
• 16:08 – Let others help you
• 17:08 – The give and receive “math”
• 18:12 – Generosity in receiving well
• 19:46 – Candle and campfire metaphor
• 20:23 – Info overload vs isolation
• 21:03 – Social media is not connection
• 21:53 – Performative feeds and algorithms
• 24:58 – Admitting “I am lonely”
• 25:42 – Belonging in echo chambers
• 26:10 – Modeling for our kids
• 27:26 – What example are we setting
• 29:48 – “You’re acting like a four-year-old”
• 31:00 – Meeting kids at their level
• 32:27 – Catching your own anger spiral
• 35:02 – Perfectionism shows up early
• 37:02 – Checklists beat memory
• 39:29 – Schooling, grades, and identity
• 41:30 – Authority with fallibility
• 43:02 – Permission to fail with grace
• 45:02 – When kids do not mirror you
• 46:33 – Tactical steps to reconnect
• 47:15 – Reach out first
• 48:20 – “How are you” vs “How are you really”
• 51:35 – Do the handshake then go deep
• 53:31 – Find a men’s group
• 55:29 – Rebuilding lost institutions
• 55:57 – Online groups need curation
• 56:24 – Nothing beats face to face
• 57:44 – One principle request
• 58:32 – “Wild curiosity” as a discipline
• 58:41 – Thanks and wrap-up
• 59:05 – Off-mic close

Supporting Content

• Mojo for the Modern Man — Ken Mossman’s podcast on manhood and connection
• Mankind Project & Everyman — structured men’s groups fostering community
• Raising Boys by Design by Gregory L. Jantz and Michael Gurian
• The Mask of Masculinity by Lewis Howes
• Of Boys and Men by Richard Reeves
• Everyman - men's community and platform helping men build connection, vulnerability and brotherhood