This session I talk with Joshua Hathaway. Joshua is a Holistic Clinical Psychology, a Tongue Fu black belt and master of the Art of Connection. Joshua walks us through just how important it is to not only have honest, no bullshit communication, but also how important connection is. We explore how it is important for men to have a circle of men they can trust to hold space for them, and to hold them accountable.
One thing that I find to be so important is the exploration of the shame that we men hold. Joshua and I explore that and how we as men can help one another with this. "Working through our shame starts by feeling it." I love this quote from Joshua because it is so true.

Listen up for Joshua's 5 types of Bullshit:

Projection
Reactive
Demand
Avoidant
Victim

On this session of Conversations From the Couch we continue our series on Men with fellow journeyman and relationship expect Bryan Reeves. Bryan is an author, podcaster, blogger, and relationship coach. Bryan has gone through a long and winding journey to get to where he is today. Bryan spent 10 years in the Air Force but knew early on that the path he was taking was not for him.

In this session we talk about how even though we may come from “normal” homes, we are not comforted or shown how to express our emotions and how that impacts us. How that impacts our lives, relationships and those around us. We explore how when we are not connected to our own emotions we cannot be connected to others and in turn hurt those that we care about.

Do you struggle with being comforted? That is something that many of us struggle with and something that we have not experienced and now do not know what to do with. We talk about how healing and important it is for us to be able to be held not only by our women but also by other men. Men who we can trust to hold our emotions and us physically. As men there are so many negative connotations associated with this thought, and yet it is something that from an attachment perspective, from a human perspective is needed and missing.

The experience of men in adolescence teaches us to resist the very thing that, in a heterosexual way, we want to engage in relationship with. “Don’t be a girl” “Don’t be a pussy” all these negative things that we have heard as boys.

If we moved beyond this and connected, heard one another, were respectful and able to be in community while being connected to our emotions we would change the dynamics of government, business, schools, and relationships.

We are never going to solve the problems we face if we do not connect. 

For the women, respect your own boundaries while understanding that these emotions are something that your man may not have experience with. Don’t dismiss his experience, and do not allow him to dismiss yours.

Bryan mentions The Way Of The Superior Man by David Deida, a book that was a game changer for him and has been referenced by many of the men that I have talked to. I encourage you to check it out as well.

You can find Bryans books on Amazon; follow this link to get your free audible trial to listen to one of Bryan’s books.

You can find out more about Bryan at www.bryanreeves.com

This session I have a special guest host, Dana Stewart, who turns the tables on me and asks me the questions. We dive into talking about the upcoming series on men, how we can show up differently and why we need to. We explore some of my struggles and how I got to where I am today.
This upcoming men's series is meant to explore how we as men are often put into a gender box as young boys, how we are expected to show up in a certain way and how that impacts us. We will explore the ways that we can navigate out of that space and be a better partner, lover, parent, friend and human.

This session on Conversations From the Couch I am joined by MG (Ret) Neal Loidolt. Neal is the President and CEO of the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV). MACV is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to providing assistance to Veterans.

In this session of Conversations From the Couch I am joined by Tom Glaser, MS, LP. Tom is a psychologist who has been in practice for 30 years

This session we explore Tom’s work around his book Full Heart Living: Interviews With The Happiest People I Know. We explore how a significant change in Tom’s life led to the work that developed into his book, and how without adversity he may not have gone down that path.

We explore of post traumatic growth or resiliency is so important in all of us, no matter what the trauma looks like. And, how that growth allows us to lead beautiful lives in the aftermath of deviating events. This leads to discussing Tom’s newest books which will focus on Resiliency and Trauma.

Some key takeaways from this session are the importance of connection, resilience and honoring ourselves.

This session of the podcast I am joined by Anthony McMorran. Anthony along with his wife Katie is the owner of Tuning Tree Health Services in Eau Claire, WI. Anthony has been in the health and wellness field for 30 years and brings such a wealth of knowledge to the interview. It was wonderful to be able to sit down and talk to such a kind, insightful soul. In addition to his kind presence, Anthony is skilled in mindfulness, yoga, massage, teaching self regulation.

Anthony shares his story of personal trauma and how massage helped to him to heal and discover the dissociative states he had been in for large parts of his life. These experiences have allowed Anthony become trauma informed in the massage world, and allows him to honor those that he works with.

Anthony shares with us how massage therapy as we know it is more than we think, how it impacts us in a “down regulation” state in regard to our nervous system. 

Along with this we talk about the importance of our own ability to regulate nervous system in order to be attuned to our clients and hold space for them. This includes being mindful of the boundaries that those who have experienced trauma need, and how our felt sense key us into those boundaries.

Anthony talks about mindfulness and meditation and what that can look like for each of us. Anthony mentions John Kabit-Zinn and his idea of non judgmental awareness and the importance of that, as well as what are your values and how is that showing up for you in that moment. What is your direction and how is that impacting you in the moment?

One of the big takeaways that I found from this discussion with Anthony is, “be curious”. Be curious about the why’s of ourselves, our emotions, those around us and the world.

This session I am joined by Flint Sparks. Flint is a Zen teacher and former psychologist who is dedicated to helping people move through their journey of growing up, waking up, and showing up in the world in the way that they want and need to. Flint has been in practice for over 40 years and has a wealth of wisdom to share. He exudes kindness and compassion; Flint is someone that you can feel connected with event through video or audio. In person you can feel his warmth. Flint and I talk about the importance of connection and how we all need more of this in our lives. Flint offers us some practical advice for beginning our own practices to be still in this busy world in order to connect with ourselves and others. 

Brian walks us through his journey and how he helps men, teenage males, artists and couples to find happiness and balance. Brian works with highly sensitive people, of which he identifies himself. Brian’s energy brings a lot to this conversation and to the work he does; his positivity, attunement and responsiveness makes for an engaging conversation.

This session I speak with Beck Gee-Cohen of BGC Consulting about his journey through begin trans, the struggles that came with that, recovering from addiction, and being an ally. Beck provides us with some great insight and resources.

This session I spoke with John Kriesel about surviving a blast that nearly took his life, bouncing back, staying positive and making the most out of life.