The ManKind Podcast

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In this conversation, Brandon Clift and Dr. Tiffany Bartell explore the pressing issue of male loneliness, particularly among Gen Z. They discuss the societal and psychological factors contributing to this crisis, the generational values that shape young men's experiences, and the importance of emotional expression. The conversation emphasizes the need for compassion and understanding, as well as the creation of safe spaces for vulnerability and connection. In this conversation, Tiffany Bartell and Brandon Clift explore the significance of connection and community in mental health. They discuss the importance of having supportive relationships, the challenges of loneliness, and the need for individuals to advocate for their emotional needs. The dialogue emphasizes the role of empathy and understanding in fostering healthy relationships and the impact of men's mental health on broader societal well-being.

Follow Tiffany's Work: 

How Would You Rate Your Pain Podcast: HERE

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How do veterans grapple with the emotional weight of Memorial Day? Join us for a deeply moving Memorial Day episode of the Mankind Podcast, where we revisit a conversation from our Masks Off Monday series. Featuring a heartfelt panel discussion with five veterans, including Dean Ray, a former Marine Corps helicopter crew chief, who shares a poignant piece he wrote. This episode dives into their personal stories of loss, survival, and the importance of keeping the memories of their fallen comrades alive.

From the harrowing experiences of deployment to the unyielding bonds forged in the battlefield, our veterans offer an unfiltered glimpse into their lives. Hear the raw emotions tied to events such as funerals, helicopter crashes, and the impact of IEDs. Learn how communal respect and acts of kindness play crucial roles in honoring their sacrifices and providing solace to those left behind. This episode also explores how staying connected with loved ones evolves over time and the heavy burden of survivor's guilt.

This episode is a profound tribute to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and those who continue to carry the scars of their service. Discover how civilians can support veterans, honor their sacrifices, and embody the admirable traits of those we've lost. Whether you're a veteran, a family member, or someone eager to understand and support those who have served, this conversation offers invaluable insights and a heartfelt tribute to our heroes.

Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org

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In this transformative episode of The ManKind Podcast, Boysen sits down with Stephanie Harrison—philosopher of happiness, founder of The New Happy, and author of the international bestseller New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That’s Got It Wrong. Together, they take aim at the deeply ingrained myths of happiness shaped by individualism, capitalism, and domination.

Stephanie reveals how these cultural forces disconnect us from true wellbeing and from one another—and how men, in particular, are harmed by messages that tie their worth to productivity, stoicism, and isolation. Drawing from her research and lived experience, she offers a powerful, hopeful alternative: a happiness rooted in connection, compassion, and shared purpose.

Key moments in the conversation include:

• [04:00] Stephanie explains the "Old Happy" framework and how it distorts our pursuit of happiness.
• [06:30] A deep dive into individualism: how it isolates men and reinforces emotional suppression.
• [10:45] Understanding domination as self-suppression and societal control—and how men internalize it.
• [18:35] Facing capitalism: why the endless pursuit of success leaves us empty—and what real purpose looks like.
• [25:45] A surprising reframe of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs—what we've misunderstood about self-actualization.
• [31:00] Stephanie shares 3 practices to build more meaningful relationships and authentic joy.
• [34:30] Boysen shares a personal story about starting a local men’s walk-and-talk group—and the impact of simple connection.
• [37:20] The Harvard Grant Study makes an appearance: the #1 predictor of a happy, healthy life? Relationships.

This is a must-listen for anyone who senses there's more to life—and manhood—than striving alone. If you've ever felt like the rules of happiness weren’t written for you, this episode is your invitation to rewrite them.

Mental Health as something to push against - 𝐑𝐚𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐬 | 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭 | 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡| 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭 @raquel_the_capacity_expert

Find Stephanie and the New Happy Movement: https://www.thenewhappy.com/

Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org

BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy
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What happens when your best intentions fall flat? When your leadership misses the mark? When you’re face-to-face with your own blind spots?

In this brutally honest episode of The ManKind Podcast, hosts Brandon Clift and Boysen Hodgson unpack the messy, uncomfortable, and essential leadership lesson of owning when you don’t have it all together. Through stories from recent New Warrior Training weekends, they explore what real accountability looks like when you’re no longer the rookie — but still far from finished.

This is not a conversation about perfection. It’s about presence. About dropping the mask. About recognizing the impulse to power through and instead choosing to pause, get honest, and grow.

💥 Key Moments & Takeaways:

• How Brandon’s well-intended facilitation moment nearly backfired — and why asking for help built more trust than faking it ever could
• Why leaders who pretend to “have it all together” are often the least trustworthy
• How the traits that get us into leadership are not always the traits that help us lead well
• The painful yet powerful impact of partner reintegration after transformational weekends
• The cost of not acknowledging the truth that “everyone sees anyway”
• Why civic duty is more than voting — and how events like M-PACT are redefining what real impact looks like for men and communities
• What it means to fail in front of your people — and why it’s a necessary part of growing into mature leadership

🛠 This episode is a must-listen for any man in leadership — whether that’s in your job, your family, your circle, or your community. Because growth doesn’t come from having the right answer — it comes from having the courage to admit when you don’t.

Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org

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In this powerful and timely conversation, host Brandon Clift sits down with Kenny Andejeski—a strategist, facilitator, and civic connector—who specializes in building community across difference. Together, they explore how emotional intelligence, curiosity, and local action can help us bridge divides that feel increasingly entrenched, especially around politics, race, and masculinity.

💥 What You'll Learn:

• Why politics is often a surface-level identity—and how going deeper reveals our shared humanity
• How emotional regulation and storytelling open the door to deeper understanding across difference
• The dangers of binary thinking and how it fuels division and dehumanization
• Tactics for working through internal triggers before reacting in conversations around race and politics
• The power of local civic engagement as a force for tangible change
• Why inclusion and relational repair must start with doing your own inner work
• How Kenny’s project on “The Future of Masculinity” is creating space for diverse and authentic male identities

✨ Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world or stuck in difficult conversations, this episode offers grounded tools and hopeful perspective on how to stay in relationship with yourself and others—even when it’s hard.

Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org

BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy
The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs.
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What does it take to live fully, love boldly, and lead from the heart—when the world around you often looks the other way?

In this powerful episode, Boysen Hodgson sits down with Diego Medina, a 31-year-old public speaker, artist, and advocate who has lived as a quadriplegic since the age of seven. Diego shares his journey of navigating life, love, and leadership in a world not designed with him in mind. From overcoming social isolation in high school to discovering his passion for storytelling and public speaking, Diego invites us into a raw and deeply human conversation about visibility, vulnerability, and the power of community.

You'll hear about Diego's experience in men's groups through the ManKind Project and Father Sons Brothers, his growing leadership as a facilitator, and his commitment to building a more inclusive, loving world—starting from within.

This is an episode about presence. About connection. And about what happens when we choose to see each other, fully.

Find Diego on YouTube!
and on Insta: @diego_f_medina93 

Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org

BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy
The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs.
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Tantra for the Modern Man: Reclaiming Pleasure, Power & Presence

In this intimate and eye-opening episode of The ManKind Podcast, host Boysen Hodgson sits down with Tantra practitioner and educator Olga Ribble for a groundbreaking conversation on sexuality, masculinity, and transformation. Olga unpacks the myths and truths of Tantra—ancient and neo—and how its modern application can support men in navigating sexual shame, performance anxiety, and disconnection.

Listeners are guided through the foundational philosophy of Tantra and introduced to practical techniques for self-awareness, sexual healing, and deeper relational intimacy. From redefining masculinity through presence and self-love to exploring the power of non-ejaculatory sex and breathwork, Olga offers men a roadmap to becoming confident, conscious, and long-lasting lovers. Whether you’re healing from shame or seeking to expand your sensual capacity, this conversation invites you to reconnect with the sacredness of your own body.

Learn more about Olga's Programs on her website.

https://nordicgoddesstantra.com/tantra-for-the-modern-man/

Heal.me: https://heal.me/holistic-sex-and-intimacy-coaching

Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org

BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy
The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs.
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In this powerful and intimate archival episode from 2015, we revisit a conversation between philosopher and author Sam Keen (Fire in the Belly) and his son, novelist Gifford Keen, about their co-authored book Prodigal Father, Wayward Son: A Roadmap to Reconciliation.

This interview dives into the heart of a decades-long journey of estrangement, conflict, forgiveness, and reconnection between father and son. Through personal stories and raw reflection, Sam and Gifford explore how mythic memories, unspoken pain, and generational expectations shaped their relationship — and how truth-telling and deep listening became their path to healing.

As we honor the recent passing of Sam Keen, this episode stands as both a tribute to his legacy in the men's movement and a profound lesson on vulnerability, accountability, and the possibility of transformation in even the most fractured relationships.

Themes:
– Fatherhood and masculinity
– Intergenerational healing
– The power of storytelling
– Forgiveness and emotional maturity
– Rewriting personal mythology

Recommended For:
Men on a path of personal growth, fathers and sons seeking reconciliation, and anyone interested in the deep work of emotional truth-telling and human connection.

Sam and Gifford Keen - "Prodigal Father Wayward Son: A Roadmap to Reconciliation."

Prodigal Father Wayward Son
Pre-order at: http://amzn.to/1zeaKO8
http://amazon.com/author/giffordkeen

Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org

BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy
The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs.
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🎉 Episode 200 | The Mankind Podcast: Our Greatest Hits & Most Human Moments (So Far)

Welcome to the 200th episode of The Mankind Podcast! In this milestone celebration, co-hosts Brandon Clift and Boysen Hodgson reflect on four years and 200 conversations exploring the many ways of being a man. With humor, humility, and deep appreciation, they revisit 10 standout episodes from the past two years—highlighting raw moments of transformation, powerful teachings, and the voices that have shaped their journeys and those of thousands of listeners.

From soul-stirring conversations on fatherhood and grief, to challenging cultural narratives around masculinity, race, accountability, and identity, Brandon and Boysen share the stories that hit hardest and the lessons that linger. They honor the memory of their late teammate Michael Russo, dive into conversations with guests like Chris Hemmings, Ashanti Branch, Doug Gillette, Frank Shamrock, and more—and remind us all why these courageous, honest dialogues matter now more than ever.

If you're new to the podcast, this episode is your ultimate entry point. If you've been with us for the ride—thank you. Here’s to 200 more.

🌀 Topics Covered:

• Radical presence in the face of death
• Redemption and responsibility after public accusation
• Navigating fatherhood, anger, and repair
• Deconstructing the Manosphere and toxic masculinity
• Soul-making, mysticism, and meaning in daily life
• Deepening race conversations with empathy and humility
• Taking bold action in the face of procrastination

🔗 Listen, reflect, and explore the episodes mentioned in the show notes.
💬 As always, we invite you to join the conversation.

Hearing the call? We're here. https://mkpusa.org

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What does real inclusion look like in men’s work? In this episode, Boysen Hodgson welcomes Art Patterson, a leader, elder, and fierce advocate for the Barrier Free Movement in the ManKind Project. Living with cerebral palsy, Art has spent over 25 years in MKP — breaking barriers, challenging assumptions, and becoming the one of the first differently-abled men to walk the leadership path in our community.

Together, Art and Boysen dive into powerful topics: disability fragility, vulnerability, spiritual calling, and the deep freedom that comes from being truly seen and accepted. Art speaks from the heart about what it means to be in relationship beyond fear, how “oops” moments are part of the growth, and why men with all kinds of abilities deserve a seat at the table — and a voice in the circle.

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone passionate about equity, leadership, and creating space where every man belongs.

📄 Full transcript available here.

Learn more about the Barrier Free Movement: https://barrierfree.mkpusa.org/

BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy
The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs.
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