The Mark Groves Podcast

Themes: Masculinity, Emotions, Vulnerability, Relationships, Men’s Work, Self-Worth, Purpose, Pornography

Summary: 

Today I’m chatting with one of my good friends, Connor Beaton. Connor is the founder of ManTalks, an international organization dedicated to men's wellness, success, and fulfillment. Connor is a coach, facilitator, teacher, podcast host, and speaker who helps men from all over the world find purpose, healthy love, a joy-filled life, and fulfilling sexual connection. His teachings draw from an in-depth apprenticeship in Jungian psychology, Gestalt, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, and both Buddhist and Taoist traditions. 

Known for his no-nonsense approach and compassionate understanding of human limitations, Connor has coached thousands of men through private coaching, group work, workshops, retreats, and masterminds. He has also shared the stage with renowned speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Lewis Howes, and Danielle LaPorte.

Tune in for a free-flowing conversation where we jam on the challenges men face today, masculinity, turning towards our pain, and his new book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide to Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, and Find Freedom.

Discover:

Our thoughts on why toxic masculinity manifests

Why emotional suppression is so common for men in our culture today

The healing that is being asked of men right now

The value of an initiatory process as young men

Why turning towards your pain is necessary in order to find freedom and be the man you want to be

Why porn has become an addiction for many and its effect on relationships

00:00 Intro 

04:12 The men’s movement

06:10 Emotionality in men

12:00 Toxic masculinity

16:28 Hurt people hurt people

25:41 Men and vulnerability

33:44 Healing the divide between men and women

49:09 Men’s work

54:42 A relationship with something bigger than yourself

59:20 “I don’t trust men…”

1:05:19 You don’t need to hit rock bottom to change

1:13:53 There’s more to it than vulnerability

1:22:51 What fulfilling relationships require

1:28:00 Being present

1:31:27 Pornography

1:42:49 Impact of pornography on relationships

1:46:18 Healing a porn addiction

Links:

Website | mantalks.com

Instagram | @mantalks

Book | Men's Work, A Practical Guide to Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, and Find Freedom

Podcast | ManTalks

Sponsors:

Cozy Earth | Use code GROVES for 40% off sitewide at cozyearth.com

Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Themes: Grief, Loss, Bereavement, Pain, Mental Health

Summary: 

Join me for a thoughtful conversation with Megan Devine: best-selling author, psychotherapist, and grief advocate. With over 20 years in the field - and deep personal experience of grief - she is the go-to authority for grievers, supporters, and industry professionals. Her pioneering work provides a professional, inclusive, and realistic approach to grief, one that goes beyond pathology-based, reductive models. If you’re currently feeling the deep pain of loss or are looking for ways to support someone who is, this episode is for you.

Megan’s book It’s OK that You’re Not OK has sold over 250K copies and is available in 16 languages. New York magazine’s The Strategist named the book in their “Top 16 Grief Books Recommended by Psychologists in 2021.” Her animated short, “How to Help a Grieving Friend,” has been viewed over 70 million times and is used in training programs worldwide. She’s been published in Psychology Today, The New York Times, and The Washington Post and has served as a grief expert for major media outlets, including NPR, iHeartRadio, and the PBS documentary, Speaking Grief.

Discover:

Megan’s personal experience with grief

What not to say to someone who is grieving and how to be truly supportive instead

The problematic way society responds to pain and grief and how this contributes to rising loneliness, substance abuse and suicide rates

Why looking for the silver lining in a painful experience, while well-intentioned, isn’t helpful

00:00 Intro 

01:20 Megan’s story

07:09 How society responds to grief 

09:11 You don’t need to find the silver lining

13:03 Movies modeling the happy ending

15:17 The fallacy of suffering as punishment

20:25 The “nobility” of suffering

24:33 The history of dealing with pain

31:21 How medicine handles grief

36:43 Timeline of grief

38:16 Why do we avoid sadness?

43:54 How to actually support someone who’s grieving

47:46 Expanding your idea of what grief is

Links:

Website | refugeingrief.com & megandevine.co

Instagram | @refugeingrief

Facebook | @refugeingrief

Book | It’s OK That You’re Not OK

Podcast | Here After with Megan Devine 

Sponsors:

LMNT | Get a FREE LMNT sample pack with any purchase at drinklmnt.com/createthelove

Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Themes: Attachment Theory, Child Development, Trauma, the Mind-Body Connection, Authenticity, Boundaries, Illness, Health

Summary: 

It is such an honour to welcome renowned speaker and bestselling author Dr. Gabor Maté to the podcast this week. Dr. Maté is highly sought after for his expertise on various topics, including addiction, stress, and childhood development. He has written several bestselling books, including the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction, When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection, and Scattered: How Attention Deficit Disorder Originates and What You Can Do About It, and has coauthored Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers. His works have been published internationally in nearly thirty languages.

In this illuminating episode, we discuss his incredible new book, The Myth of Normal, and how much of what we deem the norm in today’s culture is neither healthy nor natural. Join us as we explore a range of topics, including trauma and its effects, attachment theory, the mind-body connection, the cost of repressing emotions, and more.

Discover:

How much of what we deem ‘normal’ in today’s culture is neither healthy nor natural and is actually responsible for a lot of illness in both mind and body. 

How to differentiate trauma from a stressful experience

The impacts of trauma on mental and physical health and how normalized trauma is in our culture

Why the medical system ignores the mind-body connection

The cost of repressing your emotions and people-pleasing

How to heal in the toxicity of modern culture

00:00 Intro 

00:47 The Myth of Normal

03:26 The idea of normal

05:28 The toxicity of modern culture

09:38 How our childhood wounds show up in the present day

12:43 Trauma

17:16 Why medicine ignores the mind-body connection

23:46 When does an experience become trauma?

26:16 Importance of attuned caregivers

34:15 The cost of suppressing your emotions

39:00 The cost of people pleasing & no boundaries

43:42 Choosing your pain - authenticity vs. belonging

50:00 Exercises for self-understanding

55:00 Healing a toxic culture

Links:

Website | drgabormate.com & wholehearted.org

Book | The Myth of Normal - Trauma, Illness, & Healing in a Toxic Culture

Instagram | @gabormatemd

Facebook | @drgabormate

Twitter | @drgabormate

Neurobiology and the Development of Human Morality by Dr. Darcia Narvaez

The Evolved Nest: Natures Way of Raising Children and Creating Connected Communities by Dr. Darcia Narvaez

Sponsors:

Cured Nutrition | Use code CREATETHELOVE for 20% off all products at curednutrition.com/createthelove

Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Themes: Parenting, Safetyism, Fragility, Resilience, Childhood Independence, Autonomy, Technology

Summary: 

After her newspaper column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” created a media firestorm, Lenore Skenazy got the nickname “America’s Worst Mom.” Nice. She went on to write Free-Range Kids, the book-turned-movement. (Second Edition just out!) She has been profiled in The New Yorker and lectured everywhere, from DreamWorks to Microsoft HQ to schools across America. On TV, you may have seen her on The Today Show, The Daily Show or her own reality show, World’s Worst Mom. Now Lenore is co-founder and president of Let Grow, the national nonprofit promoting childhood independence.

I was struck by Lenore’s story, and as I step into fatherhood this year, I knew I had to have her on the podcast. Tune in to learn how parenting has changed over the past few decades, why safety has become a top priority for parents nowadays, and how unsupervised play and letting go a little are key in raising resilient, confident and independent children.

Discover:

Why Lenore let her nine-year-old son ride the subway alone in NYC

Why the degree of independence and autonomy parents give their kids has changed drastically over the past couple of decades

Safetyism: what it is and how it contributes to fragility in our kids

The massive benefits of unsupervised play & tech-free play

Why tracking your kids erodes trust and can actually cause more harm than good

How to overcome parental anxiety

00:00 Intro

00:31 Parenting then vs. now

03:00 Letting her son ride the subway alone

06:43 Why are we so afraid for our kids?

10:52 The problem with prioritizing safety

24:09 Tech-free play

37:23 Why keeping kids safe has become a top priority

44:00 Is tracking your kids worth it?

51:21 How to overcome parental anxiety

Links:

Website | letgrow.org

Book | Free-Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow

Twitter | @freerangekids

Facebook | Raising Independent Kids

The Coddling of the American Mind

Sponsors:

Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Themes: Virtuosity, Self-Love, Self-Awareness, Virtue Signaling, Cancel Culture, Transformation, Boundaries, Forgiveness, Narcissism

Summary: 

Back for the second time is my good friend, Danielle Laporte. Danielle is an author, speaker, podcaster and a member of Oprah’s SuperSoul 100, a group who, in Oprah Winfrey’s words, “is uniquely connecting the world together with a spiritual energy that matters.” In this episode, Danielle and I chat about allll the things, including true, embodied virtuosity, virtue signaling, cancel culture, boundaries, narcissism and how to be loving in a world that’s waking up.

Danielle is the author of The Fire Starter Sessions, The Desire Map, White Hot Truth, and producer of dozens of meditation kits and online programs for spiritual support. Her most recent book, How To Be Loving…when your heart is breaking open and the world is waking up, is also an Audiobook + ebook, with a companion deck and journal. Danielle is the creator of the Heart Centered Membership and the Heart Centered Leadership Program with 400+ leaders in 30 countries hosting conversation circles, retreats, and workshops in all kinds of communities and businesses.

Her podcast, With Love, Danielle, often ranks in iTunes’ top 10 for wellness. Most of her offerings—from the Heart Centered Membership to her online classes—are on a pay what you choose basis. Named one of the Top 100 Websites for Women by Forbes, millions of people a month visit DanielleLaPorte.com.

Discover:

Having reverence for your shadow and the parts of yourself you dislike

Our thoughts on virtue signaling and what it truly means to be virtuous

The absurdity of cancel culture

A theory on why there’s tyranny and evil in the world

Setting boundaries from a loving and healed place

Forgiving yourself and others (even if you feel like they’re unforgivable)

Things to reflect on if you’ve been with a narcissist

00:00 Intro 

 03:45 The turning point in Danielle’s work 

07:51 Loving what you hate about yourself

11:52 Psychological virtue

15:04 Virtue signaling

22:08 Cancel culture

27:07 Theory about tyranny

31:57 How To Be Loving

37:59 Boundaries

43:18 Forgiving the unforgivable

46:27 Narcissism

48:28 Overidentification

51:22 Becoming radiant

Links:

Website | daniellelaporte.com

Instagram | @daniellelaporte

Book | How To Be Loving... when your heart is breaking open and the world is waking up

Podcast | With Love, Danielle

Sponsors:

LMNT | LMNT is a tasty electrolyte drink mix that replaces vital electrolytes without sugars and dodgy ingredients found in conventional sports drinks. Get a FREE LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase at drinklmnt.com/createthelove

Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Themes: Health, Relationships, Boundaries, Mental Health, Nutrition, Gut-Brain Axis

Summary: 

Is there a connection between the foods we eat and how we feel? How does the quality of our relationships and our boundaries (or lack thereof) impact our gut health? Does trauma affect the microbiome? In this episode, I’m chatting with leading functional-medicine expert Dr. Will Cole to explore the connection between our relationships, the food we eat, and our overall mental and physical health. 

Dr. Cole consults people around the globe and started one of the first functional medicine telehealth centers in the world over a decade ago. Named one of the top 50 functional and integrative doctors in the nation, he specializes in clinically investigating underlying factors of chronic disease and customizing a functional medicine approach for thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, and brain problems. Dr. Will is also the host of the popular The Art Of Being Well podcast and was the co-host of Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle brand goop's first spinoff podcast, the goopfellas podcast. He is the bestselling author of Ketotarian, The Inflammation Spectrum, and the New York Times bestseller Intuitive Fasting. His upcoming book, Gut Feelings, will hit shelves in March 2023.

Discover:

How our relationships influence our physical health

The gut-brain axis and how the foods we eat impact our mental health

How trauma affects gut health

Why we’re seeing an explosion of mental health issues and autoimmune diseases right now

Four inflammatory foods to avoid for optimal health (plus what to eat more of)

One thing to cut out of your diet if you want to move the needle

00:00 Intro

00:24 How do our relationships impact our health?

02:26 Boundaries are medicine

04:10 The gut-brain axis

07:14 The food & mood connection

09:08 Taking inventory in all areas of our lives

12:37 How trauma impacts the gut

17:06 The explosion of mental health issues and autoimmune diseases

18:52 The parallels between our internal and external world

21:45 Glyphosate 

23:17 Effecting change as consumers

33:25 The four core inflammatory foods

35:23 What to eat more of

36:12 The problem with seed oils

38:37 The truth about fat & cholesterol

46:33 Healthy fats

49:19 Cut this food out to move the needle

Links:

Website | drwillcole.com

Instagram | @drwillcole

Podcast | The Art of Being Well with Dr. Will Cole

Book | Gut Feelings by Dr. Will Cole

Sponsors:

Organifi | Use code CREATETHELOVE for 20% off sitewide at organifi.com/createthelove

Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Themes: Alignment, Codependency, Family Dynamics, Gender Roles, Transitions, Trust

Summary: 

For the last episode of the year 2022, Kylie and I are here to share an exciting milestone in our lives. We are so excited for what’s to come and to finally share this part of our journey with you. Big love and happy holidays to you and yours!

Discover:

What it means to live in alignment

Trusting your choices and inner knowing 

Mature love and how to recognize it

A special announcement from Kylie and me!

Our thoughts on the provider role and societal expectations

00:00 Intro

01:10 The past two years

02:33 Making hard decisions

08:02 Alignment

11:40 Returning to the soul

13:36 Contrast is a beautiful teacher

15:12 Trusting your choices

18:52 Love and grief

22:25 Mature love

26:45 Community support

27:58 A special announcement

34:49 Stewarding a new life

44:31 Biggest fears

47:07 Shift in family dynamics

49:40 The role of the provider

1:00:53 Feeling safe and assured

1:03:33 Creating space for both sides of the experience

1:07:25 Raising and growing your consciousness

Links:

Join me on Mine’d!

Sign up for my newsletter here

Watch this episode on Youtube

Instagram | @createthelove & @beingisbeautiful

Facebook | @createthelove

Sponsors:

LMNT | Get a FREE LMNT sample pack with any purchase at drinklmnt.com/createthelove

Cured Nutrition | Use code CREATETHELOVE for 20% off all products at curednutrition.com/createthelove

Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Themes: Etheric Medicine, Health, Spirituality, Clairvoyance, Purpose

Summary: 

Bobbi Vogel is the founder of the Center for Etheric Medicine. She is a spirit taught clairvoyant healer, medical intuitive and medium to the soul, mind and body. She ascertains what is out of alignment creating vibrational dis-ease in the etheric body, both before and after it duplicates as a physical body illness. Light, intention and reverence are the tools used as an architect of vibrational anatomy. She brings into alignment the soul, mind and body to create the environment for intrinsic healing and release.

Bobbi teaches that we must have compassion for our humanity as we consciously collaborate with our soul on the journey to health and healing. It all begins with faith. She currently collaborates with doctors as this is the now of medicine.

Discover:

How the etheric body differs from our physical body

Bobbi’s thoughts on why anxiety and depression manifest

The soul’s journey, why we’re here and the purpose of our wounds

How disease relates to false beliefs and emotional wounds and why healing on a soul level is essential for physical recovery

Why you don’t need to “find” your purpose

00:00 Intro

01:54 What is etheric medicine?

08:45 We are disconnected from the truth of who we are

15:05 Power of victimization

17:02 Purpose

21:20 The soul’s journey

29:02 Not being connected with your etheric self

32:33 Inflammation translates to density

43:32 The first step to healing

54:57 Vibrational medicine

58:34 Download about the broken heart

Links:

Website | ethericmedicine.com

Instagram | @ethericmedicine.bobbi

Youtube | @bobbivogel

Sponsors:

Organifi | Use code CREATETHELOVE for 20% off your next order at organifi.com/createthelove

Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Themes: Uncertainty, Trust, Transformation, Alignment, Surrender

Summary: 

I truly believe life always works out — even when it feels like nothing is going to plan. But this idea, of course, can be a challenging one to accept. It’s so hard for us to see the magic of what’s unfolding and trust the timing of the universe when we’re still in love with a previous story of what could have been. Imprisoned by the idea of how things were supposed to work out. We so often get stuck in the moment we were wishing for that we don’t allow the beauty of this moment to unfold.

Join me in the special solo episode as I expand on what it means to trust life’s timing, embrace the uncertainty and walk the path as it appears.

Discover:

The magic in embracing the way things are instead of forcing outcomes

Why we get stuck in frustrating patterns, and what holds us back from creating the life and relationships we desire

The profound benefits of understanding your triggers, learning from past wounds and integrating that knowledge

How the universe conspires to make your dreams come true when you’re brave enough to trust your intuition and leap into the unknown

Why you can’t rush the knowing and gotta embrace uncertainty

00:00 Intro

01:20 Life update

03:07 When things don’t work out

05:10 Protective mechanisms

07:14 Growing from your triggers

09:32 Leap, and the universe will catch you

19:00 Stepping into your fullest self-expression

22:45 You’re the one who designs your life

25:16 You’re always in the perfect place

Links:

Join me on Mine’d!

Sign up for my newsletter here

Watch this episode on Youtube

Instagram | @createthelove

Facebook | @createthelove

Sponsors:

Cured Nutrition | Use code CREATETHELOVE for 20% off all products at curednutrition.com/createthelove

Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Themes: Children, Child Education, Mental Health, Self-Worth, Self-Love, Growth Mindset

Summary: 

Today’s guest, Donovan Taylor Hall, is the teacher I think we all wished we had growing up.

Dubbed the ‘Modern Day Mr. Rogers,’ Donovan is a youth advocate and educator on a mission to teach children how to build positive self-identity, self-worth and determination. His work aims to help kids of all ages create a solid relationship with themselves and learn the skills they need to take care of themselves both mentally and emotionally. Slow. Clap.

Donovan has been featured on the Today Show, NowThis and several podcasts for his important work in positive youth development. Although his work started with kids, he has recently shifted into helping adults take care of themselves as well, using the same skills and inner child work. Join us as we discuss Donovan’s story, the current education system, how it’s affecting kids' mental well-being, and the value of an alternative system that focuses more on emotional, relational and mental health.

Discover:

How Donovan’s personal mental health struggles inspired him to work with kids

Why teaching kids about their inherent self-worth is so important

The reality of putting too many expectations and too much pressure on kids

How the current education system is affecting kids' mental health

How Donovan uses Twitch to connect with and teach important skills to his students

The moment that made him leave the classroom, what made him come back, and the importance of self-love

00:00 Intro

00:23 Being the modern-day Mr. Rogers

02:03 Passion for teaching kids

06:12 Self-worth is inherent

12:18 Putting expectations on kids

15:20 The main struggles middle schoolers face today

31:09 Creating a safe space for kids

43:10 Rethinking the education system

48:03 Meeting kids where they’re at

53:14 Leaving the classroom

1:00:12 Creating content & performative social media

1:09:48 Future plans

Links:

Website | donovantaylorhall.com

Twitch | twitch.tv/donofriend

Instagram | @donofriend

Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It

Sponsors:

Cozy Earth | Use code GROVES for 40% off sitewide at cozyearth.com

LMNT | Get a FREE LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase at drinklmnt.com/createthelove

Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands