Nothing was off limits in this one.

Adam Greenfeld, the entrepreneur behind nootropics brand Thesis and one of the most vocal voices on modern masculinity, sat down with us for the second time on one of the most wide-ranging conversations we've ever had on The Optimist. We went from Kabbalah to aliens, from how to raise boys who respect women to why wanting things might actually be a feminine energy, and somehow it all made sense.

If you've ever felt like something is deeply wrong with the world but couldn't put your finger on it, this episode is for you.

🕐 TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Making women feel safe: Adam's ultimate Northstar

01:55 – What is Kabbalah? And why it hit different than religion

07:11 – How Jake found his community in LA through Kabbalah Club

10:36 – The masculine/feminine experiment Jake ran on himself

16:30 – "Pause. What a pleasure." — the mantra that changes everything

21:22 – Is vulnerability a muscle? How to train it

25:32 – Loneliness behind the scenes: what happens after everyone leaves

30:46 – What inspires and disgusts Adam about modern society

31:34 – Simulation theory, the double slit experiment & reality isn't real

40:51 – The broken food system: why the same people making you sick are selling you the cure

43:00 – Aliens, extraterrestrial life & the unexplained hockey stick of human evolution

47:21 – What does it actually mean to be a man in 2026?

50:04 – How do we hold our guy friends accountable when they mistreat women?

54:05 – How to talk to an 18-year-old about respecting women before college

01:01:08 – Creating a culture of safety so kids come to you, not away from you

01:05:57 – Why removing taboo from sex, drugs & alcohol might be the answer

01:11:51 – Scott Galloway's parenting advice & letting kids figure shit out

01:15:43 – Why guys are arseholes to women — and what's really going on underneath

01:21:14 – Attachment theory: how your first 2 years of life wired you for love

01:26:08 – "Wanting things is for girls" — the concept of masculine capacity

01:32:12 – Jake's spending addiction, the 7-day no-spend challenge & what freedom actually feels like

01:39:17 – Facing death: fear, near-death experiences & what's on the other side

01:47:30 – Reincarnation, simulation theory & why death might not exist

01:51:49 – The one thing Elon Musk says has driven all of his success

#MensMentalHealth #ModernMasculinity #TheOptimist #AdamGreenfeld #Kabbalah #SimulationTheory #AttachmentTheory #PersonalDevelopment #MindsetShift #Masculinity

Have you ever wondered why you keep repeating the same patterns in relationships at work, in friendships, or with a romantic partner? The answer might have been decided before you were even 3 years old.

In this episode, Jake sits down with Thais Gibson, attachment style expert and founder of the Personal Development School, to break down everything you need to know about attachment theory…what it is, how it forms, and most importantly, how to rewire it. Whether you're anxiously attached, dismissive avoidant, fearful avoidant, or securely attached, this conversation will change the way you see yourself and everyone around you.

Thais shares her own powerful story of growing up in a chaotic household, developing a fearful avoidant attachment style, battling addiction in her teens, and how understanding the subconscious mind became the key to turning her life around. This is one of the most practical and eye-opening conversations we've had on the show.

If you've ever felt like your relationships (romantic, professional, or otherwise) aren't working the way you want them to, this episode is for you.

Key Topics Covered

• The four attachment styles: secure, anxious, dismissive avoidant, and fearful avoidant
• How attachment styles are formed in early childhood (ages 0–3)
• The Strange Situation Experiment by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth
• Why your subconscious mind runs 95–97% of your behavior
• How to identify attachment styles in dating, friendships, and the workplace
• The anxious-avoidant relationship trap and how to break the cycle
• Why men are more likely to be dismissive avoidant
• How to rewire your attachment style at any age
• What healthy masculinity looks like through the lens of attachment theory

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Brooks Bash ran 100 marathons in 100 days.

On paper, that sounds like discipline. Grit. Insanity.

But what happens after the finish line?

To kickoff Season 2, Brooks and I go way deeper than the miles. We talk about self-doubt. The quiet pressure men carry. The post-achievement crash no one warns you about. Why purpose matters more than performance. And why doing something extreme doesn’t automatically heal what’s underneath.

This isn’t just about running.

It’s about masculinity, identity, usefulness, and what actually builds a man.

If you’ve ever chased something big hoping it would “fix” you, this one’s for you.

Why are so many men stuck…anxious, restless, and disconnected…even though their lives look “fine” on paper?

In this episode of The Optimist, Jake sits down with Tanner Waite; big-wave surfer, endurance athlete, and creator, for a raw conversation about fear, comfort, anger, and the moments that actually shape a man.

From nearly drowning at Nazaré to experiencing a full mental breakdown in college… from surfing as an escape to surfing as a mirror… Tanner shares how chasing comfort almost cost him his sense of purpose, and why voluntarily choosing difficulty changed everything.

This episode explores:

- Why comfort is more dangerous than failure

- How fear, anger, and pressure shape modern men

- What happens when you remove structure after college

- Why most men are afraid of the wrong things

- The difference between pain that breaks you and pain that builds you

- How nature, endurance, and stillness rewire the mind

- Why sunsets became Tanner’s most powerful mental health practice

This isn’t motivation porn. It’s not “grind harder” advice. And it’s definitely not about becoming fearless.

It’s about learning how to meet fear, sit with discomfort, and build a life that actually feels alive.

If you’ve ever felt numb, restless, or stuck in a comfortable life that doesn’t fulfill you, this conversation will hit close to home.

Veteran & former infantry officer Christian De La Torre gets real about delayed PTSD, rockets over Bagram, and the blueprint men need now: the “King’s Council.” We break down how to ask for help without feeling weak, why every man should learn self‑defense (and change a tire), building real brotherhood, and staying level in hard seasons.

What you’ll learn

• PTSD that shows up years later—how triggers work and what to do

• The King’s Council: a practical playbook for men’s friendship & accountability

• ROTC vs. enlisted: respect, leadership, and earning trust

• Why trained men fight less—and why confrontation can be healthy

• AARs (after‑action reviews) for life, not just the military

• Sunday as a barometer for your life & stress protocol that actually helps

Chapters

00:00 Cold open

02:58 ROTC vs. enlisted, earning respect as a young officer

06:03 Afghanistan, Bagram & what combat looked like in his era

10:13 Movies vs. reality—how the battlefield changed

16:13 “Closest call” — rockets, alarms and fear management

18:27 PTSD didn’t hit right away: the delayed wave

20:07 Triggers: motorcycles, helicopters, fireworks

23:12 “Pain is pain” — don’t compare your trauma

27:12 “It ain’t weak to speak” — how to start the convo

31:12 Vulnerability invites vulnerability: the car & bar stories

36:41 Creating safe space with men: trust > performance

40:14 What to take to your partner vs. your guys

44:40 King’s Council rules: cadence, honesty, accountability

50:55 AARs for civilians: debriefs, sustains, improves

54:52 Where to find brothers: jiu‑jitsu, run clubs, retreats, even gaming

57:11 Veterans & civilians: step‑by‑step to build your squad

1:02:20 What it means to be a man today (integrity, service, vulnerability)

1:05:00 Why “change a tire” still matters (competence & calm)

1:12:14 Self‑defense & fitness: be capable, not reckless

1:18:41 Hard seasons: mindset, journaling, small wins

1:21:15 Action is vitamin A — get vertical, get moving

1:36:03 Do 4 hard things a year; compound the average

1:37:35 Sunday as a life barometer; make it the best day

1:44:18 What’s next for Christian (content road trip, The Trace Club)

1:45:57 Where to find him & wrap

Resources mentioned

• Men’s groups/retreats (e.g., Everyman), jiu‑jitsu & martial arts, run clubs

• After‑Action Review (AAR) framework for life debriefs

• “It ain’t weak to speak” (mental health ethos)

About the show

Tactical conversations at the intersection of men’s mental health, performance, and modern masculinity, grounded in actions you can use today.

Disclaimer

This conversation includes adult language and mentions of war. It’s for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. If you’re struggling, talk to a qualified professional or someone you trust today.

If this helped you:

Like 👍 • Subscribe 🔔 • Comment: Who’s in your King’s Council—and what’s your next “hard thing”?

If your energy crashes after meals, your HRV is low, or you suspect low T, this episode is your blueprint.

Max Marchione—Founder/CEO of Superpower—breaks down the health “foundations” that actually move the needle: lab testing, gut & metabolic health, endocrine disruptors, HRV, and micro‑habits you can stack into a busy life. We also get into risk, culture, and modern masculinity.

What you’ll learn

• Why testing beats guessing (labs, ApoB/Lp(a), vitamin D, prediabetes)

• How gut health and metabolism drive mood, energy, and stress

• HRV 101: what it is, why high performers often have high HRV, and how to raise it

• Micro‑habits that compound (elevator meditations, 5.5/5.5 breathing, “micro‑moments”)

• Testosterone & today’s environment: behavior, toxins, and practical fixes

• Building teams & culture where fun is a performance input

• Risk math for founders: “price risk right” and move faster

Chapters (approx.)

00:00 Cold open

07:05 Teenage Max: rule‑breaking, early ventures, health struggles

09:43 DIY diagnostics: CGMs, gut tests, mercury, pushing doctors

11:31 Stress & anxiety: fix sleep, gut, hormones first

12:57 Small levers: breathing, supplements, “micro” stress management

15:08 Why lab testing changes behavior

16:26 Common 2025 patterns: vitamin D, ApoB/Lp(a), prediabetes

18:04 Why Superpower now; consumer health turning point

21:19 Focus > doing everything; killing v1 & dropping price

23:46 Risk math: “I don’t take much risk—I price it better”

25:57 Culture, failure, parenting & school conditioning

28:39 Testosterone & modern behavior

32:49 Endocrine disruptors, BPA, mold, air quality

36:39 The Superpower protocol: from data to action

37:51 Transformation story

40:12 Social health & community

43:26 Burnout: find the “why”

44:08 HRV explained; why high performers often have high HRV

47:16 Passive optimization: elevator meditations

50:09 Micro‑moments that compound

51:58 Building a healthy office; fun as a performance input

54:17 Banking vs ideal culture

57:07 What it means to be a man today

59:45 2026 goal: do 5 years in 1

Michael C Bryan grew up in the 70s and 80s, queer, flamboyant, and full of light, in a world that told him he was too much, too different, and not a “real man.”

In this raw, emotional, and often hilarious conversation, Michael shares the truth about growing up gay in a violently homophobic time, surviving sexual trauma, reclaiming his identity after being kicked out by his family, and what it really means to be a man today.

We talk about:

• How gay men internalize shame around masculinity

• The forgotten trauma of queer boyhood

• Reparenting your inner child

• Why rage can be a creative force

• And how emotional freedom is spiritual freedom

Michael also leads a powerful guided visualization at the end of the episode that left me almost in tears.

If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t belong in the “rules of manhood” you were handed, this episode will meet you exactly where you are. Full episode is now live.

Your home might be making you anxious, and you don’t even know it.

In this first-ever documentary-style episode of The Optimist, filmed in partnership with Ozarke, Jake explores how something as simple as your lighting and décor can drastically affect your mental health, focus, and recovery.

From cold, white fluorescent bulbs that trigger stress to warm, ambient light that helps your body relax, the way your space is designed might be quietly shaping how you think, feel, and perform every day.

Featuring Alex Elsaadi, founder of Ozarke, this episode goes deep into how lighting impacts mood, productivity, sleep, and even sex, plus the design choices that can completely change your energy at home.

If you’ve ever wondered why you feel drained in your own apartment or restless at work, this one’s for you.

Timestamps

00:00 — Intro: Why your environment matters more than you think

03:00 — Alex Elsaadi: From oil & gas to lighting design

06:00 — The science behind light and mood

09:00 — Warm light vs. white light: what your brain prefers

13:00 — Why bad lighting triggers anxiety

16:00 — How lighting affects productivity and creativity

20:00 — The simple home upgrades that change everything

23:00 — Why your couch, coffee table, and lamp all matter

26:00 — Smart lighting, circadian rhythm, and better sleep

30:00 — How lighting impacts recovery and athletic performance

33:00 — The psychology of lighting for sex and intimacy

38:00 — Why most men underestimate their space

44:00 — The small design details that completely shift your mindset

48:00 — The hidden connection between home design and mental health

52:00 — Final thoughts: your space is your nervous system

Most men aren’t depressed.

They’re bored, comfortable, and missionless.

Chris Griffin built one of the biggest podcasts in Australia and was nearly canceled for speaking his mind. Instead of backing down, he doubled down. In this brutally honest conversation, we talk about pain, purpose, authenticity, cancel culture, and the epidemic of weak men.

This episode isn’t for the easily offended.

It’s for anyone who’s tired of excuses and ready to take radical ownership of their life.

⏱️

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Building the biggest podcast in Australia

03:00 – Why the podcast industry is outdated

05:00 – The truth about fame, money, and losing brand deals

10:00 – Jake explains The Optimist and why modern masculinity is broken

13:00 – Discipline, ownership, and mental toughness

14:00 – The making of Chris Griffin: from small-town kid to global creator

17:00 – The “curious educator” and how he found his purpose

22:00 – Why blaming your parents keeps you stuck

25:00 – Escaping victimhood and staying present

28:00 – The problem with entitlement and soft culture

31:00 – Getting canceled, owning your truth, and finding freedom

33:00 – Why nothing is ever personal

34:00 – Purpose, power, and The Alchemist

36:00 – You don’t find your purpose — you evolve toward it

37:00 – How to find your thing: authenticity over noise

41:00 – Matthew McConaughey and the art of being yourself

43:00 – Confidence, ego, and learning to be unfazed by chaos

46:00 – Missionless men and the cost of comfort

50:00 – The truth about pain, purpose, and personal accountability

54:00 – What men and women actually want from each other

01:03:00 – The rise of weak men and the confusion of modern masculinity

01:07:00 – How to rebuild strength, purpose, and meaning

01:20:00 – What it really means to be a man today

This episode is a mirror.

If you’ve been coasting, if you feel stuck, if you’re wondering where your fire went — watch this.

Chris Griffin doesn’t hold back.

And maybe that’s exactly what we need right now.

🎧 Subscribe to The Optimist for more real conversations about modern masculinity, mental health, and meaning.

Ben Forest spent 25 years in the Air Force, rose to Lieutenant Colonel, and hit rock bottom.

On Veterans Day, he walked into a hospital and told the nurse, “I want to die.”

That moment changed everything.

He quit his job. He left the military. And in one heroic dose of psilocybin, he found something he never thought he’d feel again…peace.

In this conversation, Ben and I dive deep into psychedelics, masculinity, healing, and the emotional constipation that keeps so many men stuck.

This isn’t a drug story. It’s a story about awakening, and what happens when men finally face themselves.

00:00 – The day Ben almost ended his life

07:00 – The “American Dream” that became a nightmare

10:45 – Walking into the psych ward: the moment everything changed

14:00 – The first psilocybin ceremony that rewired his life

18:45 – What it feels like to release generations of pain

22:00 – From military commander to spiritual seeker

27:30 – Why psychedelics are so hard to describe

32:15 – DMT, ego death, and seeing “God” for the first time

40:00 – Why psychedelics help men feel again

43:00 – Shame, masculinity, and the epidemic of emotional constipation

46:15 – The courage to say “I’m sad”

49:00 – The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek

51:00 – Psychedelics as a rite of passage for men

57:00 – The rise of “grandfather energy” and secure masculinity

01:00:00 – The crisis of modern manhood

01:07:00 – What rites of passage and adversity teach men

01:15:00 – How men can heal men

01:22:00 – What it truly means to be a man

This episode is a mirror.

For men who’ve shut down. For men who’ve lost their fire.

And for anyone ready to turn their pain into purpose.

🎧 Listen now. Subscribe to The Optimist.

Because healing isn’t soft. It’s dangerous.

Episode Timestamps: