You've been the one who handles things your whole life. The one who doesn't ask for help. The one everyone leans on. But what happens when that self-reliance stops being strength and starts keeping you sealed off from the people you care about?

In this solo episode, Jon Macaskill gets personal about what it actually costs to carry everything alone... the tight jaw, the flat "I'm good," the quiet fade that nobody notices because you're still producing. He breaks down four things that helped him start letting people back in without losing the capability he'd built his identity around.

This is a shorter audio version of a previous newsletter edition that really hit a nerve. If you want the full episode, check the links below.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Why being "the rock" scrapes you down slowly... and why that's so hard to see from the inside

• The difference between control and connection, and why control always feels safer

• How to figure out what you're carrying that doesn't need to be carried alone

• Why naming what's happening in your body matters more than fixing it

• How to stop using busy as proof that you matter

If this episode sounds like someone you know, send it to them.

NEW BOOK: Jon's new book DIAL in Your Leadership: 4 Non-negotiables for Leading with Clarity, Trust, and Purpose is available now on Amazon. https://a.co/d/0hYwI2Sz

Full episode: Audio: https://pod.fo/e/376c8c Video: https://youtu.be/Yu6MHI-8WLA

Follow Jon Macaskill and Men Talking Mindfulness for more.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

If you're a man who's ever fought this battle in silence — this episode is the conversation you've been waiting to have.

Jon and Will sit down with Sathiya Sam — coach, speaker, and host of the Deep Clean Podcast — a man who spent 15 years deep in his own struggle with porn addiction before finding his way out. Not with willpower. Not with an app. With a framework that goes all the way down to the root.

Porn addiction doesn't live in your habits. It lives in your shame, your wounds, your unmet need for connection — and the story you've been telling yourself about who you are. Sathiya built the Deep Clean Method after his own decade of failed attempts, and has since helped thousands of men break free for good. This is that conversation — raw, direct, and zero therapy-speak.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Why porn addiction is processed 20% faster in the brain than cocaine — and what that means for every man who's tried to quit and couldn't

• The 3 A's of pornography (Affordable, Accessible, Anonymous) and why today's smartphone is the most powerful delivery mechanism for addiction ever created

• How shame doesn't stop the cycle — it fuels it — and why vulnerability is the counterintuitive key to breaking free

• The Deep Clean Method: Sathiya's four-pillar framework of Self-Awareness, Heart Transformation, Identity, and Community

• Why the belief 'once an addict, always an addict' may be the single biggest obstacle between men and freedom

• The unforgiveness-relapse connection most men never see coming — and the session that dropped Sathiya's urges from an 8 to a 2 overnight

• How the Rat Park experiment proves that the opposite of addiction isn't sobriety — it's connection

FOLLOW SATHIYA SAM:

• Instagram: @sathiyasam

• Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@sathiyamesam/videos

• Website: https://www.sathiyasam.com/

• Free copy of his book: https://deepcleancoaching.com/the-last-relapse
  

If our show resonates, here’s where to go next:
SUBSCRIBE to our Newsletter - Thursday Three Things or Text MTM to 33777 for weekly tools and ideas that actually work.
WATCHFREE training content on the FNT YouTube channel
and if you want to bring this work into your organization, check out our workshops and corporate Training Programs.

FOLLOW the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with one man who needs it. https://mentalkingmindfulness.com/

Mental fitness & coaching with Will: https://willnotfear.com
Book Jon to speak with your team: https://jonmacaskill.com

This episode was co-produced by Robert Lopez of www.cratesaudio.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Most of us were taught that anger is a problem to manage, suppress, or apologize for. The ancient Greeks thought that was a path to a half-lived life.

This is the audio version of the Focus Now Training Newsletter — a weekly drop where Jon Macaskill breaks down the mindfulness, focus, and performance concepts from Men Talking Mindfulness into something you can act on this week.

This week's topic: what the ancient Greeks understood about anger that we've forgotten. Jon covers the concept of thumos — the spirited force of the soul — and why Aristotle called anger a virtue. He shares the four personal roots of his own anger, why suppression is like shaking a Coke can, and five things you can start doing differently today.

Paid newsletter subscribers get three deep resources: Mike LeBlanc's five-part framework for hard conversations, a four-week anger intelligence practice, and a thumos assessment. Subscribe at newsletter dot focusnowtraining dot com.

The full episode with Mike LeBlanc — Marine veteran, Harvard MBA, and founder of billion-dollar robotics company Foundation — is available now on Men Talking Mindfulness. Mike's book, What If Anger Is the Answer, drops August 25th.

anger management, emotional intelligence, men's mental health, mindfulness for men, thumos, Aristotle, hard conversations, emotional regulation, focus, leadership, Navy SEAL, performance, Men Talking Mindfulness, Focus Now Training, Jon Macaskill, podcast newsletter, anger as a tool, conflict resolution, emotional health, men's podcast

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What if anger management is NOT about suppression, but about direction and training emotional intensity into clarity, discipline, and presence. Most men are taught that anger is a problem to manage, eliminate, or apologize for, but what if that belief is quietly costing you strength, identity, and performance? In this episode, Jon and Will sit down with Mike LeBlanc - Marine veteran, Harvard MBA, ancient Greek philosophy scholar, and founder of Foundation, a billion-dollar robotics company. They explore the Stoic concepts of Thumos, the spirited force of the soul that drives recognition, ambition, and righteous action. Mike is set to release his new book august this year 2026
What If Anger Is the Answer, which challenges modern assumptions about emotional regulation and reframes anger as a virtue when properly trained. This conversation is not about losing control. It is about taking control.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- How to define anger as a warning light rather than a character flaw
- The difference between anger that creates clarity and anger that creates chaos
- Why shame is a tool for self-correction, not self-destruction
- How to plan difficult conversations with precision, humanity, and strategy
- The ancient Stoic Greek framework for training Thumos into virtue and presence

FOLLOW THE GUEST
Mike LeBlanc
Email: [email protected]
Foundation: foundation.bot
Marine Next Chapter Initiative: MarinesNextChapter.com
Book: What If Anger Is the Answer - Available August 25th

If our show resonates, here’s where to go next:
SUBSCRIBE to our Newsletter - Thursday Three Things or Text MTM to 33777 for weekly tools and ideas that actually work.
WATCH FREE training content on the FNT YouTube channel
and if you want to bring this work into your organization, check out our workshops and corporate Training Programs.

FOLLOW the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with one man who needs it. https://mentalkingmindfulness.com/

Co-produced by Robert Lopez - cratesaudio.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Why do you care so much about what other people think? In this episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, hosts Jon Macaskill and Will Schneider sit down with Army veteran, mental performance coach, and Skull Sessions podcast host Andy Riise to dismantle the most quietly destructive pattern in men's lives — the approval trap. There's a name for what's running in the background of your decisions, and it isn't a character flaw. It's biology. It's called Fear of Negative Evaluation, and it's one of the most studied psychological patterns in clinical research.

The guys break down why your brain literally cannot tell the difference between social rejection and physical pain, why the audience judging you is half the size you think, and how approval seeking shows up in ways most men never connect to the root cause — over-committing at work, constant reassurance seeking in relationships, buying your kids' affection, and still chasing approval from people who haven't been in your life for decades. Understanding it is the first step to breaking free.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What Fear of Negative Evaluation is and why every man is dealing with it whether he knows it or not

• The spotlight effect and the Cornell research that proves you're performing for half the audience you think

• How approval seeking silently destroys your career, your relationships, and your sense of self

• What "ghosts" are — and how to identify whose voice is still running in your head

• Why it's not about not caring — it's about choosing deliberately what deserves your care

• Practical tools you can use this week to start breaking free from the approval trap
  

Follow Andy:
Website: https://andyriise.com
TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbNLu7JcZNA

Podcast: https://www.skullsessionspodcast.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyriise

If you've ever held back in a meeting, softened your opinion to keep the peace, or made a decision based on what someone else might think — this conversation will change the way you see yourself and the way you move through the world.

Focus Now Training - helping leaders and teams build focus, resilience, and emotional control. Visit focusnowtraining.com

Subscribe to Your Thursday Three Things — practical focus tools connected to each week’s episode.
Free and deep-dive versions available:
https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com
Or text MTM to 33777 and we’ll send the link straight to you.

2026 Spartan Race Team:https://mentalkingmindfulness.com/spartan-race-2026
More episodes & resources: https://mentalkingmindfulness.com

If this episode resonates, follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with one man who's trying to hold it all together.

This episode was co-produced by Robert Lopez of www.cratesaudio.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Why does it feel harder than ever to focus?

In this episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, hosts Jon Macaskill and Will Schneider explore the hidden forces competing for your attention and why many people today feel mentally scattered, reactive, and drained.

Modern technology, constant notifications, and the pressure to always stay connected have created an environment where attention is constantly pulled in different directions. What most people experience as a personal struggle with focus is often the result of living in an attention economy designed to capture and monetize your awareness.
Jon and Will explain why attention is one of the most valuable assets we possess and why learning to direct it intentionally is essential for leadership, performance, and well-being.

The conversation introduces the philosophy behind Focus Now Training, a system designed to help individuals train attention like a skill. Rather than relying on motivation or discipline alone, the practice focuses on strengthening awareness, recognizing distraction, and returning attention to what matters most.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why focus feels harder than ever in the modern world
• How the attention economy competes for your awareness
• Why attention is the foundation of leadership and decision-making
• How distraction affects stress, productivity, and relationships
• Practical ways to begin strengthening focus in daily life

If you’ve ever found yourself constantly checking your phone, jumping between tasks, or feeling mentally exhausted despite being busy, this conversation offers a new perspective on why it happens and what you can do about it.
Training your attention may be the most important skill you develop.

Subscribe to Your Thursday Three Things — practical focus tools connected to each week’s episode.
Free and deep-dive versions available:
https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com
Or text MTM to 33777 and we’ll send the link straight to you.

Join the Men Talking Mindfulness team at the 2026 Spartan Race and take mindfulness into real-world challenge. This is about grit, presence, and brotherhood under pressure. Learn more and join the team here:
https://mentalkingmindfulness.com/spartan-race-2026
More episodes & resources:
https://mentalkingmindfulness.com
Mental fitness & coaching with Will:
https://willnotfear.com
Book Jon to speak with your team:
https://jonmacaskill.com

If this episode resonates, follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with one man who’s trying to lead without losing himself.

This episode was co-produced by Robert Lopez of www.cratesaudio.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Multiple sclerosis resilience isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It’s about choosing strength when your body forces change.

In this episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, Jim shares how a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis shattered his identity — and rebuilt it stronger. Multiple sclerosis resilience became the framework that helped him drop ego, reject victim mentality, and push his physical and mental limits in ways he never imagined.
Instead of collapsing into “why me,” Jim chose discipline. Instead of clinging to status or past success, he chose growth. This conversation explores how multiple sclerosis resilience is forged through ownership, endurance training, and a refusal to let suffering define you.

You’ll hear:
• How ego amplifies suffering
• Why victim mentality quietly destroys potential
• The difference between pain and identity
• How endurance challenges reveal hidden strength
• Why pushing limits develops clarity and purpose
• How chronic illness can deepen self-understanding
This episode is for the man who feels knocked down — by illness, career, or circumstance — and wants to rebuild without self-pity.

Learn more from Jim Perona:
• Website: https://www.jimperona.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimperonaofficial/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimperonaofficial/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jimperonaofficial/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jimperonaofficial

Subscribe to Your Thursday Three Things — practical focus tools connected to each week’s episode.
Free and deep-dive versions available:
https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com
Or text MTM to 33777 and we’ll send the link straight to you.

Join the Men Talking Mindfulness team at the 2026 Spartan Race and take mindfulness into real-world challenge. This is about grit, presence, and brotherhood under pressure. Learn more and join the team here:
https://mentalkingmindfulness.com/spartan-race-2026
More episodes & resources:
https://mentalkingmindfulness.com
Mental fitness & coaching with Will:
https://willnotfear.com
Book Jon to speak with your team:
https://jonmacaskill.com

If this episode resonates, follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with one man who’s trying to lead without losing himself.

This episode was co-produced by Robert Lopez of www.cratesaudio.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Why men shut down emotionally isn’t about weakness — it’s about conditioning. In this episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, PhD and former Navy SEAL Commander Mark Divine joins Will Schneider and Jon Macaskill to unpack why men shut down emotionally under pressure, and how real strength is built through awareness — not suppression.

As a Navy SEAL leader and founder of Unbeatable Mind, Mark has trained thousands of leaders in mental toughness, emotional discipline, and warrior mindset development. But in this conversation, he goes deeper — into emotional avoidance, masculine identity, and the cost of shutting down in relationships.

Why men shut down emotionally often begins in environments where control is survival. Over time, emotional control morphs into emotional suppression. Mark explains the difference — and why suppression quietly erodes connection, intimacy, and leadership clarity.

You’ll hear:
• The difference between emotional mastery and emotional avoidance
• How elite SEAL training shaped Mark’s understanding of stress and awareness
• Why high-performing men confuse shutdown with strength
• How breath training regulates nervous system reactivity
• What integrated strength looks like in leadership and marriage

Learn more from Mark Divine, PhD and former Navy SEAL Commander:
Website: https://markdivine.com/
Unbeatable Mind: https://unbeatablemind.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdivine/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@markdivineofficial

Subscribe to Your Thursday Three Things — practical focus tools connected to each week’s episode.
Free and deep-dive versions available:
https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com
Or text MTM to 33777 and we’ll send the link straight to you.

Join the Men Talking Mindfulness team at the 2026 Spartan Race and take mindfulness into real-world challenge. This is about grit, presence, and brotherhood under pressure. Learn more and join the team here:
https://mentalkingmindfulness.com/spartan-race-2026
More episodes & resources:
https://mentalkingmindfulness.com
Mental fitness & coaching with Will:
https://willnotfear.com
Book Jon to speak with your team:
https://jonmacaskill.com
If this episode resonates, follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with one man who’s trying to lead without losing himself.

This episode was co-produced by Robert Lopez of www.cratesaudio.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Executive burnout isn’t just about being tired. Executive burnout is about running your mental battery into the red while everyone else depends on you. Executive burnout is what happens when productivity becomes identity and rest feels like weakness.

In this episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, Will Schneider and Jon Macaskill sit down with Calm CEO David Ko to unpack executive burnout from the inside out.

David shares what executive burnout actually looks like at the highest levels of leadership — from C-suite overwhelm to silent anxiety and the pressure of performance. He explains why 48% of executives report feeling overwhelmed and nearly half consider quitting — even when they look successful on paper.

You’ll hear:
• Why executive burnout costs organizations billions
• The “mental battery” framework and how to monitor your energy
• Why vulnerability is a leadership strength — not a liability
• The real cost of sleep deprivation in high performers
• Why checking email before bed fuels executive burnout
• How to create tech boundaries without losing productivity
• The link between mental health and physical health
• Why men struggle to talk about well-being — and how to change it

David also shares practical tools leaders can use immediately:
Water. Window. Walk.
Breath resets.
Energy-based scheduling.
Sleep discipline.

This conversation speaks directly to high achievers, entrepreneurs, executives, veterans, and driven men who feel like they can’t slow down.
If you’ve ever wondered:
Why am I exhausted even when I’m winning?
Why can’t I turn work off at night?
Why does success still feel draining?
This episode is for you.

Follow David Ko & Calm:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidkocalm
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-ko
Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/calm
Website: https://www.calm.com/

Sponsor:
Peptides for Health by Mark L. Gordon, M.D. is a two-volume series exploring the science and clinical application of therapeutic peptides.
Medical Edition Vol. 1 Release: December 22, 2025
Consumer Edition Vol. 1 Release: January 20, 2026
Discount Code: PFH25
Medical Edition Offer Window: Dec 20, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026
Consumer Edition Offer Window: Jan 20 – Feb 20, 2026
Proceeds support the Children of Veterans Program.
Preview both editions: https://tbihelpnow.org/biohack-yourself

More episodes, Resources & Spartan Race: https://mentalkingmindfulness.com
Mental fitness & coaching with Will: https://willnotfear.com
Book Jon to speak with your team: https://jonmacaskill.com

If this episode resonates, follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with one man who’s trying to hold it all together.

This episode was co-produced by Robert Lopez of www.cratesaudio.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

¿Qué significa realmente ser un “buen chico”… y por qué ese enfoque suele llevar a frustración, resentimiento y relaciones rotas? En este episodio de Men Talking Mindfulness, conversamos con el Dr. Robert Glover, autor del influyente libro No More Mr. Nice Guy, para explorar el síndrome del buen chico, la masculinidad sana, los contratos encubiertos, la validación externa y cómo muchos hombres pierden autenticidad intentando evitar el conflicto. Hablamos sobre: Masculinidad saludable e integrada Por qué “ser agradable” no es lo mismo que ser auténtico Límites, honestidad y dirección personal Relaciones, sexualidad y presencia emocional Cómo dejar de vivir para la aprobación externa 👉 Este episodio fue traducido al español utilizando inteligencia artificial de Riverside. La traducción es generada por IA para ampliar el acceso al contenido y puede no reflejar palabra por palabra la grabación original en inglés. Si eres un hombre que quiere dejar de complacer a todos, recuperar su centro y vivir con más claridad, propósito y honestidad… este episodio es para ti. 🔗 Más información: https://mentalkingmindfulness.com

What does it really mean to be a “nice guy”… and why does that pattern so often lead to resentment, burnout, and broken relationships? In this episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, we sit down with Dr. Robert Glover, author of the bestselling book No More Mr. Nice Guy, to unpack the Nice Guy Syndrome, healthy masculinity, covert contracts, external validation, and why so many men lose themselves trying to avoid conflict. We discuss: Healthy and integrated masculinity Why people-pleasing isn’t the same as kindness Boundaries, honesty, and self-direction Relationships, sexuality, and emotional presence How to stop living for approval and start living authentically 👉 This episode has been translated using Riverside’s AI-powered translation tools. The translation is AI-generated to improve accessibility and may not perfectly match the original English recording. If you’re ready to stop playing small, reclaim your voice, and live with clarity and purpose, this conversation is essential listening.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Curiosity in mindfulness is one of the most effective tools men have for breaking free from rumination—the endless replaying of conversations, mistakes, and imagined outcomes that keeps the nervous system stuck in stress.

In this solo episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, Will Schneider explores how curiosity in mindfulness helps men notice rumination without feeding it. Instead of trying to stop thoughts or force calm, curiosity creates space to observe mental loops with awareness, allowing the nervous system to settle naturally.

Will breaks down why rumination isn’t a thinking problem—it’s a regulation issue. When men feel under pressure, overwhelmed, or emotionally charged, the mind searches for certainty by looping. Curiosity interrupts this pattern by shifting attention from judgment to observation.

Throughout the episode, Will explains how curiosity in mindfulness helps men step out of overthinking, reconnect with the body, and return to presence without shutting down. You’ll hear how curiosity softens self-judgment, why trying to “let go” often backfires, and how staying curious builds emotional regulation and self-trust.

This episode is for men who feel stuck in their heads, replay conversations, or struggle to stop thinking—even when they want peace. Curiosity in mindfulness offers a grounded, practical way to relate differently to thoughts, stress, and inner pressure without forcing change.

Sponsor:
Peptides for Health by Mark L. Gordon, M.D. is a two-volume series exploring the science and clinical application of therapeutic peptides.
Medical Edition Vol. 1 Release: December 22, 2025
Consumer Edition Vol. 1 Release: January 20, 2026
Discount Code: PFH25
Medical Edition Offer Window: Dec 20, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026
Consumer Edition Offer Window: Jan 20 – Feb 20, 2026
Proceeds support the Children of Veterans Program.
Preview both editions: https://tbihelpnow.org/biohack-yourself

Links & Resources
Join the Men Talking Mindfulness team at the 2026 Spartan Race and take mindfulness into real-world challenge. This is about grit, presence, and brotherhood under pressure. Learn more and join the team here: https://mentalkingmindfulness.com/spartan-race-2026

More episodes & resources: https://mentalkingmindfulness.com
Mental fitness & coaching with Will: https://willnotfear.com
Book Jon to speak with your team: https://jonmacaskill.com

If this episode resonates, follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with one man who’s trying to hold it all together.

This episode was co-produced by Robert Lopez of www.cratesaudio.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.