The State of Men

Summary: 

Today Mike and Aydian talk about the elusive work/life balance. The discussion continues on the State of Men as we discover if the true work/life balance exists. Our hosts unpack the pressures placed on having a true work-life balance when your work is anything but conventional.      

Top Take-Aways: 

• Have you ever felt like there are enough hours in the day? Where do you find time for yourself?
• Where do the idea and constant push to have an even work-life balance come from?
• What determines the value of your time?
• How do you measure if your work and life are balanced to suit your needs?

In today’s episode, Mike & Aydian, discuss their journey when it comes to their body images. Mike shares his experience over the past few years of gaining and losing weight.  He also explains more about going through his skin journey and how that has affected his view of his body. 

Aydian shares his journey with his eating disorder and how he was under eating to achieve the perfection of his ideal body perfection. He looks back on his life when he had the perfect six-pack in his life. 

They examine how eating disorders with men have been increasing over the years.  The media interpretation over the men's body has changed to all of the TV dads are all ripped now on the TV and in movies. We as men are being given a false sense of reality when it comes to expectations on how we are supposed to carry our bodies throughout the world. 

They also discuss why Mike’s clothes are shrinking and he has to buy new ones.  Now that is hilarious. 

Today we are talking about how Aydian and Mike deal with their anger.  As men, we are never taught how to appropriately deal with our anger.  Anger is an emotion and there is nothing wrong with expressing anger. It becomes an issue when we start to take the anger out on other people or things around it.  Being unable to express our anger in a healthy manner is hurting ourselves and those around us. 

Mike and Aydian share stories about how they have misused their anger. Also, they share stories of how they have used anger to their advantage. 

We discuss how anger isn’t a bad emotion and as men, we can learn how to express this angry in a healthy way. 

• Aydian shares his story about how he broke a glass container and the lessons he learned from it.
• We discuss the difference between rational and physical response when angry
• Aydian shares a difficult business situation and the journey with anger
• Mike shares a process to vent and get the anger out of your body
• The importance of giving ourselves space
• Mike shares how his kids are dealing with their anger since we have moved to Miami

Enjoy the show

Aydian & Mike

During this episode, Aydian and Mike talk about doing end-of-the-year planning and preparing for the next coming year of 2022. 

In this episode, we covered the importance of planning your year and how to go about preparing for the upcoming year. It is important to map out the year so everyone on the team and the family have a plan for the upcoming year. It is valuable to call in what you would like to create for the following year.  This episode is the exact reason we are putting this episode together.  

Go here for the full outline of the end-of-year planning: HTTP://thestateofmen.com/podcast.

Mike and Aydian talk about what they are grateful for this year. Gratitude comes in little and big ways for each of us. Keeping an awareness of the things we are happy about in our lives is a great way to remind us that most times, it ain’t that bad.  What are you grateful for?

Top Take-Aways:

• Thanksgiving Day traditions
• Aydian and Mike list 5 things they are grateful for this year
• New business ventures
• Mikes hairy back

Take the Challenge: Click here

Summary: 

Aydian and Mike explain the difference between a good guy or an unintentional asshole.  One of the sayings men carry around is the fact they don’t think they are like the men that are causing harm to people in their lives because they are good guys.  Everyone else is the asshole. 

Top Take-Aways: 

• The details for the 5 Day Challenge that is listed on TheStateofMen.com
• Having a new awareness is the key to creating change in our life
• Why doing this challenge will help in your family environment

Connect

The State of Men IG

Aydian
IG
Aydian's Site

Mike
IG
Mike's Site

Summary: 

Aydian and Mike delve into the conversation and controversy around the Urban Meyer video circulating on news and social media. Everyone seems to have an opinion and the guys parse out what the video of the Jacksonville Jaguars coach includes, its impact and repercussions, and what it says about masculinity and relationships today.

Top Take-Aways: 

• Why does our society treat men and women’s infidelity in monogamous relationships differently?
• How do personal actions dictate business decisions?
• How do men hold other men accountable?

In today’s episode of the podcast, Mike Watts & Aydian Dowling dig into the weird things men do to prove their manliness. 

Do you find yourself denying how cold it is and telling everyone you’re fine when you are freezing? 

What is it about acknowledging that you are cold equates to weakness or non-manliness? Why on earth are bandaids emasculating? 

The guys go into the common and uncommon ways we prove our masculinity to ourselves and others.

In this episode, we discuss the following: 

• The idea that perception of cold is influenced by gender
• What vocal tone do you use when cheering for sports? Do you go lower than your speaking voice?
• How does the pitch of a man’s voice influence how others perceive him?
• Why do men think their cheering/watching a game influences the result?
• Where does the stereotype that men won’t ask for directions come from?
• Why do men think they can fix things they have no experience with?