Men's mental health is in crisis — and most men won't go to therapy until it's too late. In this episode of The Authentic Man Podcast, I sit down with Roy Graff — psychotherapist, relationship coach, and men's emotional health expert — to talk about why men avoid therapy, what that avoidance is actually costing them, and what getting help really looks like for men who want more from their relationships and themselves. Roy works at the intersection of masculinity, emotional suppression, intimacy, and authentic connection — and this conversation goes deep.

Roy Graff is a psychotherapist, relationship coach, and educator focused on men's emotional health, intimacy, consent, polyamory, and authentic connection. His work explores how masculinity, emotional suppression, and relationship patterns affect mental health and human connection. He is also known for facilitating workshops on consent, play fighting, embodiment, and relational skills, helping people build deeper self-awareness, empathy, and healthier relationships.

Key Topics:

⭐ Why Men Avoid Therapy ⭐ The Hidden Cost Of Performative Masculinity ⭐ How The Manosphere Exploits Male Insecurity ⭐ Therapy As A Tool For Self-Discovery ⭐ Why Patriarchy Hurts Men Too ⭐ Authentic Connection vs Transactional Relationships ⭐ Consent, Empathy & Emotional Intelligence ⭐ Why Men Struggle With Vulnerability ⭐ Pleasure, Presence & Emotional Repression ⭐ How Therapy Can Change Fatherhood & Future Generations

Connect With David - The Authentic Man:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticman_/

Website: https://www.theauthenticman.net/

For Coaching: [email protected]

Newsletter: https://www.theauthenticman.net/home-subscribe

Connect With Roy Graff:

Roy's instagram : https://www.instagram.com/openrelating/

https://www.instagram.com/playfightinguk

Most men think their relationship problems come from choosing the wrong partner.

So they tell themselves:

"I just need someone easier." "She was too emotional." "We just weren't compatible."

But eventually the same patterns return.

The shutdown. The anxiety. The urge to pull away when intimacy gets real.

In this episode, David sits down with Son to unpack the hidden patterns that were quietly sabotaging his relationships for years.

From sexual performance anxiety… to conflict avoidance… to ending an engagement six months before the wedding…

Son shares how he constantly found himself trapped between craving connection and wanting escape.

Arguments felt threatening. Closeness felt overwhelming. So instead of communicating honestly, he became the "nice guy" — avoiding discomfort, people-pleasing, and slowly disconnecting emotionally.

What makes this conversation powerful is the honesty behind it.

How he blamed himself. How he secretly tried to "fix" relationships alone. How years of self-work still never touched the deeper emotional patterns underneath.

David and Son explore:

• avoidant attachment in men
• conflict avoidance and emotional shutdown
• sexual shame and performance anxiety
• "nice guy" behaviour
• fear of intimacy
• why men pull away in relationships
• learning to communicate honestly

This isn't about becoming perfect in relationships.

It's about understanding the patterns that keep sabotaging connection — and learning how to stay present instead of escaping when love becomes vulnerable.

_______

RELATE:

👉🏽 Where modern men reclaim depth, direction, and relational leadership. Join Relate: https://forms.gle/7zt4LRYopWeRLVfZ9

____________________

____________________

What To Do Next:

1️⃣ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticman_/

2️⃣ Work with me? Free 30 minute call: https://calendly.com/the-authentic-man/30-min-free-introductory-coaching-session?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast

3️⃣ Get specialised relationship and dating advice: https://www.theauthenticman.net/home-subscribe

4️⃣Go bag one of the resources below

____________________

____________________

🧨 RESOURCES 🧨

✅ Modern dating feels impossible? It doesn't have to stay that way. The Men's Dating Accelerator, master the most important skills: https://www.theauthenticman.net/mda-landing-page-direct-update-v2

Check out these FREE resources:

👉🏽 5 mistakes in embodying healthy masculinity: https://mailchi.mp/theauthenticman/masculinity-mistakes-in-dating-giveaway

👉🏽 The Hidden Mistakes Men Make in Dating & Relationships: https://mailchi.mp/faaf98ceedd8/hiddenmistakes

👉🏽 30 Dating App Conversation Starters: https://www.theauthenticman.net/app-openers-landing-page

👉🏽 Why You Keep Pulling Away: https://www.theauthenticman.net/why-you-keep-pulling-away-page

____________________

Loving the podcast? Leave us a review…

📱Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-authentic-man-podcast-with-david-chambers/id1447910686?action=write-review

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/64n26CAX3FIhJj7aMR2CO6

LIKE. SHARE. SUBSCRIBE.

Give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed watching 👍

#relationship #men #masculinity

With a unique ability to think like a man and feel like a woman, Elizabeth Anneka's on a mission to help men connect deeply and meaningfully with women. As a touch connoisseur, she translates the subtle, subjective, and seemingly ever-changing desires of women into a tangible, specific system for men to follow. Elizabeth helps her clients look for specific cues in a woman's body, teaching them how to truly understand and respond to their partner's needs. Elizabeth empowers men to become incredible lovers and reach Sex God Status within 6 months, leading to happier, healthier relationships…and a lot of happy ladies! ;) With 1:1 packages and group programs available, visit www.howtotouchwomen.com to dive into a world of exceptional intimacy today.

Key Topics: ⭐ Touch, Flirtation, And Intimacy As Learnable Arts ⭐ "The Bullseye Of The Body" And Why Men Rush The Center ⭐ Anticipation Versus Certainty In Sexual Dynamics ⭐ Reading A Woman's Breath As A Compass For Turn-On ⭐ Why Women Close When Men Move Too Fast ⭐ Flirting As "A Pamphlet" Of Your Energy And Life Force ⭐ Confidence Built Through Courage, Risk, And Self-Regard ⭐ The Difference Between Embodied Flirting And "Game" ⭐ Men Living In Their Heads Instead Of Their Bodies ⭐ Emotional Attunement As The Missing Layer Of Seduction ⭐ "A Woman Who Opens Herself To Sex" Versus Sex Alone ⭐ Presence, Playfulness, And The Power Of Responsive Touch

Connect With David - The Authentic Man:

➡️ Join the Waitlist — Relate

https://forms.gle/2AXhmyNweasETaso7

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticman_/

Website: https://www.theauthenticman.net/

For Coaching: [email protected]

Newsletter: https://www.theauthenticman.net/home-subscribe

Connect with Elizabeth Anneka: Website: https://www.howtotouchwomen.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingsoftouch/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabethanneka8

____________

👉🏽 Where modern men reclaim depth, direction, and relational leadership. Join Relate: https://forms.gle/7zt4LRYopWeRLVfZ9

____________________

____________________

What To Do Next:

1️⃣ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticman_/

2️⃣ Work with me? Free 30 minute call: https://calendly.com/the-authentic-man/30-min-free-introductory-coaching-session?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast

3️⃣ Get specialised relationship and dating advice: https://www.theauthenticman.net/home-subscribe

4️⃣Go bag one of the resources below

____________________

____________________

🧨 RESOURCES 🧨

✅ Modern dating feels impossible? It doesn't have to stay that way. The Men's Dating Accelerator, master the most important skills: https://www.theauthenticman.net/mda-landing-page-direct-update-v2

Check out these FREE resources:

👉🏽 5 mistakes in embodying healthy masculinity: https://mailchi.mp/theauthenticman/masculinity-mistakes-in-dating-giveaway

👉🏽 The Hidden Mistakes Men Make in Dating & Relationships: https://mailchi.mp/faaf98ceedd8/hiddenmistakes

👉🏽 30 Dating App Conversation Starters: https://www.theauthenticman.net/app-openers-landing-page

👉🏽 Why You Keep Pulling Away: https://www.theauthenticman.net/why-you-keep-pulling-away-page

____________________

Loving the podcast? Leave us a review…

📱Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-authentic-man-podcast-with-david-chambers/id1447910686?action=write-review

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/64n26CAX3FIhJj7aMR2CO6

LIKE. SHARE. SUBSCRIBE.

Give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed watching 👍

#relationship #men #masculinity

Most men think they keep sabotaging relationships because they're afraid of commitment.

So they tell themselves: "I just haven't met the right person." "I'm better on my own." "I'm just not built for relationships."

But deep down, something never fully settles.

Because every time intimacy deepens… every time someone truly gets close… something inside them starts pulling away.

Not because they don't care.

But because closeness starts to feel emotionally overwhelming.

In this episode, David sits down with Reuben Christian to unpack the deeper reality behind avoidant attachment, emotional withdrawal, and the painful cycle so many men silently repeat in relationships.

Reuben shares how he spent years believing he was "broken" when it came to love.

On the surface, he looked confident, social, successful, and deeply connected to people.

But inside intimate relationships… he constantly felt trapped between wanting love and wanting escape.

He explains how emotional intensity would trigger panic, overthinking, distancing, fault-finding, and eventually withdrawal—even in relationships that were loving and healthy.

And the hardest part?

He didn't understand why it kept happening.

So like many men, he tried to think his way out of it.

Books. Podcasts. Therapy. Relationship advice.

But nothing fully changed the deeper pattern underneath.

Because what looked like "commitment issues"… was actually a nervous system trying to protect him from emotional pain.

In this conversation, David and Reuben explore how avoidant attachment develops, why men disconnect when relationships become emotionally real, and what actually begins to shift when men stop seeing themselves as broken.

This isn't a conversation about becoming perfect in relationships.

It's about learning how to stay present instead of disappearing when love becomes vulnerable.

📌 Topics Covered

✅ Why avoidant men pull away in relationships ✅ The hidden fear underneath "commitment issues" ✅ Why emotional closeness can feel unsafe ✅ The shame cycle many men secretly carry ✅ How overthinking sabotages intimacy ✅ Why conflict feels like proof the relationship is wrong ✅ The emotional disconnection behind casual dating patterns ✅ Why many men feel "broken" in love ✅ The nervous system patterns behind avoidance ✅ How men abandon themselves inside relationships ✅ Why self-protection can look like emotional withdrawal ✅ The deeper loneliness beneath avoidant attachment ✅ Why intellectual understanding alone doesn't heal avoidance ✅ How emotional safety changes relationship patterns ✅ What secure attachment actually looks like in real life ✅ The identity shift that changes everything for avoidant men

If you've ever pulled away from someone you loved, struggled to stay emotionally present in relationships, or secretly wondered whether you're capable of real intimacy—this episode may help you understand what's actually happening beneath the surface.

______________

👉🏽 Where modern men reclaim depth, direction, and relational leadership. Join Relate: https://forms.gle/7zt4LRYopWeRLVfZ9

____________________

____________________

What To Do Next:

1️⃣ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticman_/

2️⃣ Work with me? Free 30 minute call: https://calendly.com/the-authentic-man/30-min-free-introductory-coaching-session?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast

3️⃣ Get specialised relationship and dating advice: https://www.theauthenticman.net/home-subscribe

4️⃣Go bag one of the resources below

____________________

____________________

🧨 RESOURCES 🧨

✅ Modern dating feels impossible? It doesn't have to stay that way. The Men's Dating Accelerator, master the most important skills: https://www.theauthenticman.net/mda-landing-page-direct-update-v2

Check out these FREE resources:

👉🏽 5 mistakes in embodying healthy masculinity: https://mailchi.mp/theauthenticman/masculinity-mistakes-in-dating-giveaway

👉🏽 The Hidden Mistakes Men Make in Dating & Relationships: https://mailchi.mp/faaf98ceedd8/hiddenmistakes

👉🏽 30 Dating App Conversation Starters: https://www.theauthenticman.net/app-openers-landing-page

👉🏽 Why You Keep Pulling Away: https://www.theauthenticman.net/why-you-keep-pulling-away-page

____________________

Loving the podcast? Leave us a review…

📱Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-authentic-man-podcast-with-david-chambers/id1447910686?action=write-review

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/64n26CAX3FIhJj7aMR2CO6

LIKE. SHARE. SUBSCRIBE.

Give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed watching 👍

#relationship #men #masculinity

Alessandro Frosali is a men's coach dedicated to helping men grow out of boy-like behaviours and step into mature masculinity. His work focuses on the everyday struggles men face in relationships, especially the cycle of criticism and defensiveness that slowly erodes respect between partners. Through coaching, retreats, and his Better Husband Academy, Alessandro teaches men how to take responsibility, handle emotional conflict, and become the kind of partner their wife can trust and respect. His approach blends practical psychology, rites of passage concepts, and honest conversations about what modern men were never taught about relationships. Alessandro believes many men want to be great husbands but were never shown how. His mission is to give men the tools, structure, and accountability to become the husbands, fathers, and leaders their families need.

Key Topics: ⭐ The "Boy Behavior" Versus Manhood In Relationships ⭐ Why Men Blame Instead Of Taking Responsibility ⭐ Confusing Identity ("I Am A Man") With Behavior ⭐ Seeing Your Partner As A Mirror, Not The Enemy ⭐ Defensiveness As Protection From Shame And "Not Enough" ⭐ Why Women Lose Attraction When They Have To Mother You ⭐ Sex As Release vs Sex As Emotional Connection ⭐ How Avoiding Hard Conversations Kills Intimacy ⭐ Women Calling Men Forward (And Why It Feels Like Attack) ⭐ Listening To What's Under The Words ("The Thing Beneath The Thing")

Connect With David - The Authentic Man:

➡️ Join the Waitlist — Relate

https://forms.gle/2AXhmyNweasETaso7

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticman_/

Website: https://www.theauthenticman.net/

For Coaching: [email protected]

Newsletter: https://www.theauthenticman.net/home-subscribe

Connect with Alessandro Frosali

Website: www.alessandrofrosali.com

___________

RELATE:

👉🏽 Where modern men reclaim depth, direction, and relational leadership. Join Relate: https://forms.gle/7zt4LRYopWeRLVfZ9

____________________

____________________

What To Do Next:

1️⃣ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticman_/

2️⃣ Work with me? Free 30 minute call: https://calendly.com/the-authentic-man/30-min-free-introductory-coaching-session?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast

3️⃣ Get specialised relationship and dating advice: https://www.theauthenticman.net/home-subscribe

4️⃣Go bag one of the resources below

____________________

____________________

🧨 RESOURCES 🧨

✅ Modern dating feels impossible? It doesn't have to stay that way. The Men's Dating Accelerator, master the most important skills: https://www.theauthenticman.net/mda-landing-page-direct-update-v2

Check out these FREE resources:

👉🏽 5 mistakes in embodying healthy masculinity: https://mailchi.mp/theauthenticman/masculinity-mistakes-in-dating-giveaway

👉🏽 The Hidden Mistakes Men Make in Dating & Relationships: https://mailchi.mp/faaf98ceedd8/hiddenmistakes

👉🏽 30 Dating App Conversation Starters: https://www.theauthenticman.net/app-openers-landing-page

👉🏽 Why You Keep Pulling Away: https://www.theauthenticman.net/why-you-keep-pulling-away-page

____________________

Loving the podcast? Leave us a review…

📱Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-authentic-man-podcast-with-david-chambers/id1447910686?action=write-review

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/64n26CAX3FIhJj7aMR2CO6

LIKE. SHARE. SUBSCRIBE.

Give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed watching 👍

#relationship #men #masculinity

Most men believe relationship problems happen because they don't know what to say.

So when she's upset… when conflict starts… when emotions rise… they do what they've always done.

They freeze.

She's standing right in front of them. They can hear every word. They want to respond.

But their chest tightens. Their mind starts racing. And suddenly the words disappear.

Then later—when the moment is gone—they know exactly what they should have said.

And that's where the deeper frustration begins.

Because it doesn't feel like a communication problem.

It feels like something inside you keeps taking over.

In this episode, David breaks down why so many men shut down emotionally in relationships—and why it has far less to do with communication than most men realize.

What looks like silence on the surface is often something much deeper underneath:

A nervous system that interprets emotional closeness as danger.

He explains why men withdraw, overthink, become "nice," avoid conflict, and slowly disappear inside their own relationships—without fully understanding why they're doing it.

And the hardest part?

Most men think they can think their way out of it.

But the very thinking they rely on… is often the thing keeping them stuck.

Instead of trying to find the perfect words, David reveals why the real work is learning how to stay present when emotion enters the room.

Because until you can remain with discomfort— you will keep abandoning yourself, and the people you love.

📌 Topics Covered

✅ Why men emotionally freeze during conflict ✅ The nervous system response behind shutting down ✅ Why thinking becomes emotional avoidance ✅ The hidden withdrawal patterns ruining intimacy ✅ How "being the nice guy" can become self-abandonment ✅ Why many men feel emotionally unavailable without realizing it ✅ The fault-finding pattern that sabotages relationships ✅ Why emotional unavailability is not just a mindset problem ✅ The identity patterns beneath emotional shutdown ✅ Why logic alone cannot fix this ✅ How overthinking disconnects you from your partner ✅ The real reason closeness can feel threatening ✅ Why men replay conversations afterward ✅ How to communicate while you're still in the moment ✅ The deeper work required to become emotionally present

If you've ever gone silent when it mattered most, pulled away from someone you love, or felt like your mind takes over when emotions get too close—this episode may help you understand what's really happening beneath the surface.

____________

RELATE:

👉🏽 Where modern men reclaim depth, direction, and relational leadership. Join Relate: https://forms.gle/7zt4LRYopWeRLVfZ9

____________________

____________________

What To Do Next:

1️⃣ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticman_/

2️⃣ Work with me? Free 30 minute call: https://calendly.com/the-authentic-man/30-min-free-introductory-coaching-session?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast

3️⃣ Get specialised relationship and dating advice: https://www.theauthenticman.net/home-subscribe

4️⃣Go bag one of the resources below

____________________

____________________

🧨 RESOURCES 🧨

✅ Modern dating feels impossible? It doesn't have to stay that way. The Men's Dating Accelerator, master the most important skills: https://www.theauthenticman.net/mda-landing-page-direct-update-v2

Check out these FREE resources:

👉🏽 5 mistakes in embodying healthy masculinity: https://mailchi.mp/theauthenticman/masculinity-mistakes-in-dating-giveaway

👉🏽 The Hidden Mistakes Men Make in Dating & Relationships: https://mailchi.mp/faaf98ceedd8/hiddenmistakes

👉🏽 30 Dating App Conversation Starters: https://www.theauthenticman.net/app-openers-landing-page

👉🏽 Why You Keep Pulling Away: https://www.theauthenticman.net/why-you-keep-pulling-away-page

____________________

Loving the podcast? Leave us a review…

📱Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-authentic-man-podcast-with-david-chambers/id1447910686?action=write-review

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/64n26CAX3FIhJj7aMR2CO6

LIKE. SHARE. SUBSCRIBE.

Give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed watching 👍

#relationship #men #masculinity

Dr Sula is a Health Psychologist, qualified psychotherapist, EMDR and CBT practitioner, and Mindfulness teacher with experience within her own private practice and within the NHS. She has two doctoral qualifications - a research PhD in Psychological Medicine at Kings College London, and a practitioner psychologist Doctoral Qualification with the British Psychological Society as a Health Psychologist. She is chartered with the British Psychological Society and accredited and regulated by the Health Care & Professionals Council (HCPC).

​

Prior to working within her own practice, she was able to develop and hone her skillset within a busy NHS Primary Care service, helping a wide range of clients. During this time, she developed and lead the Long Term Conditions care pathway, developing specialised treatment protocols and processes for patients with health conditions.

​

Now, she works with clients and oversees the running of Mind Body Blossom Clinic, focusing on helping women to reclaim their wellness from the chronic stress, illness & trauma via evidence-based bio-psychosocial support, aimed at connecting your mind and your body.

Key Topics: ⭐ The Mind-Body Connection As A Foundation Of Health And Healing

⭐ From "It's All In Your Head" To Integrated Understanding

⭐ Intraceptive Awareness And The Ability To Feel The Body

⭐ "Brains On Sticks" — When Men Lose Contact With Their Bodies

⭐ Emotional Awareness As A Skill That Must Be Learned

⭐ Purpose, Meaning, And Their Impact On Longevity

⭐ Stress As More Than One Thing: Stressors, Responses, And Reactions

⭐ Allostatic Load And The Hidden Cost Of Chronic Stress

⭐ Why Compassion Can Feel "Icky" And Unsafe

⭐ Avoidance As A Learned Nervous System Strategy

⭐ Social Connection As A Biological Buffer Against Stress

⭐ Values, Identity, And Designing A Meaningful Life

Connect With David - The Authentic Man:

➡️ Join the Waitlist — Relate

https://forms.gle/2AXhmyNweasETaso7

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticman_/

Website: https://www.theauthenticman.net/

For Coaching: [email protected]

Newsletter: https://www.theauthenticman.net/home-subscribe

Connect with Dr Sula Windgassen: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_health_psychologist_/ Website: https://www.healthpsychologist.co.uk/

Book: https://www.healthpsychologist.co.uk/itsallinyourbody

___________

👉🏽 Where modern men reclaim depth, direction, and relational leadership. Join Relate: https://forms.gle/7zt4LRYopWeRLVfZ9

____________________

____________________

What To Do Next:

1️⃣ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticman_/

2️⃣ Work with me? Free 30 minute call: https://calendly.com/the-authentic-man/30-min-free-introductory-coaching-session?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast

3️⃣ Get specialised relationship and dating advice: https://www.theauthenticman.net/home-subscribe

4️⃣Go bag one of the resources below

____________________

____________________

🧨 RESOURCES 🧨

✅ Modern dating feels impossible? It doesn't have to stay that way. The Men's Dating Accelerator, master the most important skills: https://www.theauthenticman.net/mda-landing-page-direct-update-v2

Check out these FREE resources:

👉🏽 5 mistakes in embodying healthy masculinity: https://mailchi.mp/theauthenticman/masculinity-mistakes-in-dating-giveaway

👉🏽 The Hidden Mistakes Men Make in Dating & Relationships: https://mailchi.mp/faaf98ceedd8/hiddenmistakes

👉🏽 30 Dating App Conversation Starters: https://www.theauthenticman.net/app-openers-landing-page

👉🏽 Why You Keep Pulling Away: https://www.theauthenticman.net/why-you-keep-pulling-away-page

____________________

Loving the podcast? Leave us a review…

📱Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-authentic-man-podcast-with-david-chambers/id1447910686?action=write-review

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/64n26CAX3FIhJj7aMR2CO6

LIKE. SHARE. SUBSCRIBE.

Give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed watching 👍

#relationship #men #masculinity

Many men think they're failing in dating because they're not attractive enough, confident enough, or saying the right things—but what if the real reason is something far more uncomfortable?

You see her. You feel the pull. You want to go over… and then something hits. Your chest tightens. Your mind starts racing. You hesitate. Overthink. And before you know it—you do nothing.

Later, you replay it. You tell yourself you missed your chance. Again.

And the worst part? You start believing it means something about you… that you're not good enough, not confident enough, not the kind of man women choose.

But in this episode, David breaks down what's really happening—and it's not what you think.

Fear of rejection isn't about women.

It's about what you believe rejection means about you.

He reveals how this fear quietly controls your behavior—stopping you from approaching, holding you back from expressing yourself, and trapping you in a loop of avoidance, overthinking, and self-doubt.

And the real cost?

Loneliness. Isolation. Missed opportunities. Years of your life slipping by while you stay stuck.

Instead of chasing confidence hacks or trying to "get it right," David explains why the real work is deeper—emotional, psychological, and identity-based.

Because until you change how you relate to rejection, nothing changes.

📌 Topics Covered

✅ Why fear of rejection has nothing to do with women ✅ The real reason you hesitate, overthink, and hold back ✅ How rejection becomes an identity threat ("I'm not good enough") ✅ The hidden loop keeping you stuck in avoidance ✅ Why "playing it cool" and being the nice guy backfires ✅ The truth about confident men—they get rejected more ✅ How you unconsciously look for reasons not to try ✅ The emotional patterns driving your fear ✅ Why strategy and tactics won't fix this ✅ The hidden cost: loneliness, isolation, and self-loathing ✅ Rejection as feedback—not a judgment of your worth ✅ The identity shift required to break free ✅ Why you can't think your way out of this ✅ The deeper emotional work most men avoid ✅ How to start facing rejection without it destroying you

If you've ever held yourself back, overthought every move, or walked away from moments you knew mattered—this episode will show you what's really stopping you… and why it won't change until you face it.

________

RELATE:

👉🏽 Where modern men reclaim depth, direction, and relational leadership. Join Relate: https://forms.gle/7zt4LRYopWeRLVfZ9

____________________

____________________

What To Do Next:

1️⃣ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticman_/

2️⃣ Work with me? Free 30 minute call: https://calendly.com/the-authentic-man/30-min-free-introductory-coaching-session?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast

3️⃣ Get specialised relationship and dating advice: https://www.theauthenticman.net/home-subscribe

4️⃣Go bag one of the resources below

____________________

____________________

🧨 RESOURCES 🧨

✅ Modern dating feels impossible? It doesn't have to stay that way. The Men's Dating Accelerator, master the most important skills: https://www.theauthenticman.net/mda-landing-page-direct-update-v2

Check out these FREE resources:

👉🏽 5 mistakes in embodying healthy masculinity: https://mailchi.mp/theauthenticman/masculinity-mistakes-in-dating-giveaway

👉🏽 The Hidden Mistakes Men Make in Dating & Relationships: https://mailchi.mp/faaf98ceedd8/hiddenmistakes

👉🏽 30 Dating App Conversation Starters: https://www.theauthenticman.net/app-openers-landing-page

👉🏽 Why You Keep Pulling Away: https://www.theauthenticman.net/why-you-keep-pulling-away-page

____________________

Loving the podcast? Leave us a review…

📱Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-authentic-man-podcast-with-david-chambers/id1447910686?action=write-review

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/64n26CAX3FIhJj7aMR2CO6

LIKE. SHARE. SUBSCRIBE.

Give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed watching 👍

#relationship #men #masculinity

Nemanja supports men and women in stepping into their power, embodying theirpurpose, and expressing their unique essence with confidence and clarity. Since his youth, he has been deeply engaged in personal development, exploringthe dynamics of masculine and feminine energy, martial arts, dance, tantra,shamanism, psychology, yoga, meditation, and traditional earth practices. By integrating these disciplines, he has developed a holistic coaching approach thattransforms both mind and body. Over the past 25+ years of teaching, he has led more than 1,000 workshops andinspired over 100,000 people worldwide.His mission is simple: to help individuals break free from limitations, fully embracelife, and create a legacy of love and purpose for future generations.

Key Topics: ⭐ The "Nice Guy" Versus The Good Man Distinction

⭐ Why Men Struggle To Say "No" In Relationships And Life

⭐ People-Pleasing As A Strategy To Avoid Rejection

⭐ Speaking Truth Even At The Risk Of Standing Alone

⭐ The Loss Of Agency In Modern Men's Lives

⭐ Emotional Disconnection And The Inability To Track Inner States

⭐ "I'm Tired Of Wearing A Mask" — The Collapse Of False Identity

⭐ Anger As Suppressed Power Finally Surfacing

⭐ Holding The Line When Everything Pulls You Back

⭐ Brotherhood, Support, And Men Showing Up For Each Other

⭐ Familiar Hell Over Unfamiliar Heaven In Relationships

⭐ When Personal Growth Disrupts The Entire System Around You

Connect With David - The Authentic Man:

➡️ Join the Waitlist — Relate

https://forms.gle/2AXhmyNweasETaso7

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticman_/

Website: https://www.theauthenticman.net/

For Coaching: [email protected]

Newsletter: https://www.theauthenticman.net/home-subscribe

Connect with Nemanja Soreno

Website: https://www.nemanjasonero.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nemanja.sonero

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nemanja_sonero/

RELATE:

👉🏽 Where modern men reclaim depth, direction, and relational leadership. Join Relate: https://forms.gle/7zt4LRYopWeRLVfZ9

____________________

____________________

What To Do Next:

1️⃣ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticman_/

2️⃣ Work with me? Free 30 minute call: https://calendly.com/the-authentic-man/30-min-free-introductory-coaching-session?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast

3️⃣ Get specialised relationship and dating advice: https://www.theauthenticman.net/home-subscribe

4️⃣Go bag one of the resources below

____________________

____________________

🧨 RESOURCES 🧨

✅ Modern dating feels impossible? It doesn't have to stay that way. The Men's Dating Accelerator, master the most important skills: https://www.theauthenticman.net/mda-landing-page-direct-update-v2

Check out these FREE resources:

👉🏽 5 mistakes in embodying healthy masculinity: https://mailchi.mp/theauthenticman/masculinity-mistakes-in-dating-giveaway

👉🏽 The Hidden Mistakes Men Make in Dating & Relationships: https://mailchi.mp/faaf98ceedd8/hiddenmistakes

👉🏽 30 Dating App Conversation Starters: https://www.theauthenticman.net/app-openers-landing-page

👉🏽 Why You Keep Pulling Away: https://www.theauthenticman.net/why-you-keep-pulling-away-page

____________________

Loving the podcast? Leave us a review…

📱Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-authentic-man-podcast-with-david-chambers/id1447910686?action=write-review

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/64n26CAX3FIhJj7aMR2CO6

LIKE. SHARE. SUBSCRIBE.

Give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed watching 👍

#relationship #men #masculinity

Many men think they "shut down" because they don't care—but what if the truth is the exact opposite?

You're in the middle of a conversation that matters. She's emotional. There's tension. And suddenly… you freeze. Your mind goes blank. Your body goes stiff. You can't find the words—and the more you try, the worse it gets.

Afterwards, you regret it. You know you should've said something. You know you should've shown up differently. But in the moment, it's like something takes over—and you disappear.

In this episode, David breaks down what's really happening in those moments and reveals a powerful truth: emotional shutdown isn't a lack of feeling—it's emotional overload.

He explains how your nervous system interprets conflict, criticism, and emotional intensity as a threat—triggering a primitive "shut down" response designed to protect you. The problem? That same response is quietly damaging your relationships, intimacy, and connection.

Instead of trying to "think your way out" or force the right words, David introduces a different approach: learning how to regulate your body in the moment, expand your emotional capacity, and stay present when it matters most.

📌 Topics Covered

✅ Why emotional shutdown isn't what you think it is ✅ The real reason you go blank in important moments ✅ How your nervous system mistakes intimacy for danger ✅ Why thinking harder actually makes it worse ✅ The hidden triggers behind shutdown (criticism, mistakes, conflict) ✅ How shame and "not good enough" patterns drive your reactions ✅ Why your partner experiences you as cold—even when you're overwhelmed ✅ The biological reason you can't access empathy or words ✅ How shutdown sabotages attraction, intimacy, and trust ✅ The difference between emotional absence vs. emotional overload ✅ Why this pattern keeps repeating in your relationships ✅ Simple tools to regulate your body in real time ✅ How to communicate what's happening inside you (even when it's hard) ✅ The power of naming your emotions instead of suppressing them ✅ How to increase your emotional capacity over time

If you've ever found yourself going silent, shutting down, or pulling away in the moments that matter most—this episode will show you what's really happening inside you, and how to finally stop it from costing you your relationships.

👉🏽 Where modern men reclaim depth, direction, and relational leadership. Join Relate: https://forms.gle/7zt4LRYopWeRLVfZ9

____________________

____________________

What To Do Next:

1️⃣ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticman_/

2️⃣ Work with me? Free 30 minute call: https://calendly.com/the-authentic-man/30-min-free-introductory-coaching-session?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast

3️⃣ Get specialised relationship and dating advice: https://www.theauthenticman.net/home-subscribe

4️⃣Go bag one of the resources below

____________________

____________________

🧨 RESOURCES 🧨

✅ Modern dating feels impossible? It doesn't have to stay that way. The Men's Dating Accelerator, master the most important skills: https://www.theauthenticman.net/mda-landing-page-direct-update-v2

Check out these FREE resources:

👉🏽 5 mistakes in embodying healthy masculinity: https://mailchi.mp/theauthenticman/masculinity-mistakes-in-dating-giveaway

👉🏽 The Hidden Mistakes Men Make in Dating & Relationships: https://mailchi.mp/faaf98ceedd8/hiddenmistakes

👉🏽 30 Dating App Conversation Starters: https://www.theauthenticman.net/app-openers-landing-page

👉🏽 Why You Keep Pulling Away: https://www.theauthenticman.net/why-you-keep-pulling-away-page

____________________

Loving the podcast? Leave us a review…

📱Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-authentic-man-podcast-with-david-chambers/id1447910686?action=write-review

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/64n26CAX3FIhJj7aMR2CO6

LIKE. SHARE. SUBSCRIBE.

Give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed watching 👍

#relationship #men #masculinity

Johnny Cole is a young man dedicated to supporting men and boys in escaping the "Man Box" ideals of masculinity, thus making the world a safer place for all. He is the founder of Hey Brother Co., a men's work organization focused on shifting the narrative on masculinity through emotional skill-building, brotherhood, and accountability. As a survivor of childhood domestic violence at the hands of his father, a South African special forces veteran, Johnny understands intimately the grave consequences that patriarchal masculinity and unaddressed mental health issues can have on men, women, children, and all of society.

Johnny creates spaces—online, in the gym, in schools, in men's groups, and on retreats—where men and boys can unlearn patriarchal conditioning and build healthier relationships with themselves and others. He has worked with schoolboys across the United States, South Africa, and the Galápagos Islands, and his mentorship with high school boys in Oberlin, Ohio was featured in CBS Reports' documentary Boys to Men: Why America's Sons Are Struggling.

If this conversation resonated with you, follow Johnny and Hey Brother Co., check out the men's groups and resources linked below, and consider joining a community of men committed to growth, integrity, and real brotherhood.

Key Topics: ⭐ Joy, Play, And "Being Silly" As Missing Parts Of Masculinity

⭐ The Pressure For Stiffness And Rigidity In Men

⭐ Breaking Away From The "Man Box" And Its Rules

⭐ Learning Masculinity Through Fear, Violence, And Control

⭐ "There's Something Wrong With Me" — The Core Male Belief

⭐ Performing Masculinity To Earn Approval And Validation

⭐ The Ever-Moving Goalpost Of Patriarchal Manhood

⭐ Compassion For Fathers Who Were "Robbed Of Softness"

⭐ Loving From A Distance While Holding Boundaries

⭐ Confusion Around "What Kind Of Man Do I Want To Be?"

⭐ Male Loneliness, Belonging, And The Fear Of Being Outcast

⭐ Collective Healing: Why Men Need Other Men

Connect With David - The Authentic Man:

➡️ Join the Waitlist — Relate

https://forms.gle/2AXhmyNweasETaso7

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticman_/

Website: https://www.theauthenticman.net/

For Coaching: [email protected]

Newsletter: https://www.theauthenticman.net/home-subscribe

Connect with Johnny Cole:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heybrotherjohnny

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@heybrotherjohnny

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@heybrotherco

Website: www.heybrotherco.com

RELATE:

👉🏽 Where modern men reclaim depth, direction, and relational leadership. Join Relate: https://forms.gle/7zt4LRYopWeRLVfZ9

____________________

____________________

What To Do Next:

1️⃣ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticman_/

2️⃣ Get specialised relationship and dating advice: https://www.theauthenticman.net/home-subscribe

3️⃣ Go bag one of the resources below

____________________

____________________

🧨 RESOURCES 🧨

✅ Modern dating feels impossible? It doesn't have to stay that way. The Men's Dating Accelerator, master the most important skills: https://www.theauthenticman.net/mda-landing-page-direct-update-v2

Check out these FREE resources:

👉🏽 5 mistakes in embodying healthy masculinity: https://mailchi.mp/theauthenticman/masculinity-mistakes-in-dating-giveaway

👉🏽 The Hidden Mistakes Men Make in Dating & Relationships: https://mailchi.mp/faaf98ceedd8/hiddenmistakes

👉🏽 30 Dating App Conversation Starters: https://www.theauthenticman.net/app-openers-landing-page

👉🏽 Why You Keep Pulling Away: https://www.theauthenticman.net/why-you-keep-pulling-away-page

____________________

Loving the podcast? Leave us a review…

📱Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-authentic-man-podcast-with-david-chambers/id1447910686?action=write-review

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/64n26CAX3FIhJj7aMR2CO6

LIKE. SHARE. SUBSCRIBE.

Give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed watching 👍

#relationship #men #masculinity