Most men ignore their heart health—until it’s too late. Don’t be one of them. Discover the secrets to heart health for men and learn heart disease prevention strategies that could save your life.

In this episode of Hearts Wide Open, the Men's Health Podcast, host Dennis sits down with Michelle Routhenstein, a leading cardiology dietitian and preventive cardiology nutritionist from EntrielyNourished.com. They dive deep into the biggest risk factors for heart disease prevention, how gut health impacts heart health, and the crucial role of mental health in heart health.

You’ll learn:
✅ How to naturally lower blood pressure✅ The best heart-healthy diet for men✅ The overlooked connection between gut health and heart health✅ Proactive steps every man should take to protect his heart

Don't wait for a wake-up call—Men start taking control of your heart health today!

🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more expert-backed health insights.

You can find Michelle onInstagram: @heart.health.nutritionist LinkedIn: @michellerouthensteinWebsite: entirelynourished.com

Want to talk or get involved? DM us via our Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hearts_wide_open_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or visit our website to find out how: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heartswideopenpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you're enjoying the podcast, your 5-star review really helps us amplify the voice for men's health and motivates us to lead by example in showing that men can open up space where it's okay to be vulnerable and authentic.

Going home as an adult can feel like stepping back in time. No matter how much we’ve grown, family dynamics and personal growth often clash, making us feel like a younger, outdated version of ourselves. In this episode, I share my experience of visiting home while staying in a BnB instead of my childhood home—and how it completely changed my relationship with myself and my family.Why does going home as an adult sometimes feel like going backwards? How do family dynamics and personal growth shape our identity? And most importantly, how can we set boundaries with family while still strengthening our connection with them?Tune in as we unpack why this happens, how I finally broke the cycle, and what you can do to maintain your sense of self on your next visit home. If you’ve ever struggled with balancing personal growth and family expectations, this episode is for you.

Want to talk or get involved? DM us via our Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hearts_wide_open_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , or visit our website to find out how: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heartswideopenpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you're enjoying the podcast, your 5-star review really helps us amplify the voice for men's health and motivates us to lead by example in showing that men can open up space where it's okay to be vulnerable and authentic.

Resilience isn’t something we’re born with. Resilience can be developed. How? That’s exactly what we talked about with Paul Doughty!

Paul is a published author who’s just released his new book “Resilience My Ultimate Superpower: Empowering Young Lives to Overcome Challenges”.

We asked Paul what resilience means to him, what role resilience plays in his life and why he is helping young people specifically in becoming more resilient.

Paul has had a LIFE! From growing up with domestic violence to living on standby and just merely functioning. To getting therapy a divorce, beating alcohol addiction and Lyme disease. He opens up about it all and how therapy and specifically TMS therapy have saved his life more than once.Resilience My Ultimate Superpower: Empowering Young Lives to Overcome Challenges - Paul Doughty (our amazon affiliate link)

You can find Paul here:

⁠pdspeaks.com⁠

⁠@pdspeaks⁠ on Instagram

⁠linkedin.com/in/paul-doughty-1022092/The book that Paul's mum gave him:101 Ways To Transform Your Life - Dr. Wayne W. Dyer (our amazon affiliate link)

Want to talk or get involved? DM us via our Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hearts_wide_open_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , or visit our website to find out how:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heartswideopenpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you're enjoying the podcast, your 5-star review really helps us amplify the voice for men's health and motivates us to lead by example in showing that men can open up space where it's okay to be vulnerable and authentic.

Franz tried to get therapy for the first time and got rejected on the phone. On this episode Franz opens up about his story and how he stayed on course to eventually get professional help.

He also talks about shame and shows us a new perspective, how shame is part of all of our life's in ways we sometimes cannot see. Today Franz changes the way we perceive shame and works with individuals like you and me to help "un-shame" them.

Make sure to give this one a listen! Franz even does a small guided meditation, so make sure not be driving during that part, or pause/skip it at that point.

You can find Franz on his Instagram⁠@franz.unverschaemt

Want to talk or get involved? DM us via our Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hearts_wide_open_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , or visit our website to find out how:⁠⁠⁠⁠heartswideopenpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you're enjoying the podcast, your 5-star review really helps us amplify the voice for men's health and motivates us to lead by example in showing that men can open up space where it's okay to be vulnerable and authentic.

How do you successfully build and maintain lasting friendships? And how can a friendship evolve when it's over a long physical distance? Is this even possible?

Dennis sat down with his longterm long-distance friend Ruan in Brazil to discuss friendship and more!

Did you know that 1 in 5 men say that they do not have a single friend?

His friends form Ruan's support system and he opens up about the time when they literally picked him up from a very dark place and saved his life.

Ruan also talks about how being a queer man has impacted his life and how growing up with a father that accepts nothing but excellence has shaped him.

This episode has it all!

You can find Ruan on his Instagram @ruansouzacaetano and on LinkedIn: @ruancaetano

Want to talk or get involved? DM us via our Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hearts_wide_open_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , or visit our website to find out how: ⁠⁠⁠heartswideopenpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠

If you're enjoying the podcast, your 5-star review really helps us amplify the voice for men's health and motivates us to lead by example in showing that men can open up space where it's okay to be vulnerable and authentic.

Soroosh sat down with Nikki from the Hearts Wide Open Family and discussed a variety of issues and topics related to relationships.

Nikki is a psychologist and somatic movement coach who's recently joined the Hearts Wide Open family and supports us in organizing events for our community online and offline in the Netherlands. Wanna join one of our events? Stay tuned on our Instagram and/or subscribe to our newsletter via our website!

On this episode Nikki opens up about growing up without a present father and how she had to learn to show and receive love from others as an adult. She also talks about how we often villainize & blame external circumstances or others for our struggle before looking inwards and why that is often the first step before starting to work on oneself.

They further touch on relationships that feel transactional, what that means and how it is different in eastern vs western culture or collectivist vs individualist societies. Learn with them how to take the best out of both worlds!

Towards the end they cover how the relationship with our parents can impact our relationships today and how we can work with our support system or partner to solve a problem rather than villainizing others and shifting blame outwards.

You can find Nikki via her Instagram @chez.niki

Want to talk or get involved? DM us via our Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hearts_wide_open_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , or visit our website to find out how: ⁠⁠heartswideopenpodcast.com⁠⁠

If you're enjoying the podcast, your 5-star review really helps us amplify the voice for men's health and motivates us to lead by example in showing that men can open up space where it's okay to be vulnerable and authentic.

Join our end of year team call where we review the year, look back at a big Movember month and what we wish for ourselves and everyone else in 2025.

This one is a relaxed behind the scenes call where we go through some of these questions. We wanted to share this call with you to let you get to know the hearts wide open team behind the scenes.

We wish you all a good start to the next year and hope to see you back with Hearts Wide Open in 2025, no matter if it's going your way or not.

Want to talk or get involved? DM us via our Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hearts_wide_open_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , or visit our website to find out how: ⁠heartswideopenpodcast.com⁠

If you're enjoying the podcast, your 5-star review really helps us amplify the voice for men's health and motivates us to lead by example in showing that men can open up space where it's okay to be vulnerable and authentic.

Salsa teacher Cris unpacks his recent Ayahuasca experience with Dennis! Hear about how he got to taking the substance and what it ultimately did for him in healing the relationship with his parents. Note that this is Cris' personal experience and Ayahuasca can be different for every individual. When parents grew up with tough love and have a hard time receiving love, what can you do as a son or daughter to support and help their healing? Breaking generational cycles is hard work, but when successful it can lead to a happier and more fulfilled life. Cris talks about this and about being a supportive son without stepping on his parents' toes. We also discuss Cris' life being a salsa teacher and how masculine and feminine energies show in couples dance. Note: We do not advise anyone to take any mind-altering substances and recommend everyone to do their own research on possible outcomes, before going on such an experience. You can find Cris here: @andresgarzong

Want to talk or get involved? DM us via our Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hearts_wide_open_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , or visit our website to find out how: heartswideopenpodcast.com

If you're enjoying the podcast, your 5-star review really helps us amplify the voice for men's health and motivates us to lead by example in showing that men can open up space where it's okay to be vulnerable and authentic.

Pro public speaker Jelmer and Soroosh sat down to talk about his rocky path of becoming a public speaker!

Jelmer was interested in speaking as a kid then started doubting himself due to what other people believed, but eventually ended up going for it anyway years later.

In between, Jelmer went through a corporate career that almost made him burn out, overcoming self-doubt, experiencing therapy for the first time. All of this unpacked in this episode!

On top of that Jelmer shares his best tips for anyone who wants to become a better public speaker and develop their confidence on stage to conquer an audience: Techniques to storytelling, adapting to different audiences and more!

Jelmer's journey of transitioning between careers and discovering his passion for coaching others in the art of public speaking is truly inspirational. Stick around for practical tips that will help you improve your communication skills—essential for personal and professional success!

You can find Jelmer here:

LinkedIn

Website

Movember is here! Find out all about it and win cool prices via ⁠heartswideopenpodcast.com/movember⁠ OR ⁠movember.com/hearts-wide-open-the-men-s-health-podcast⁠

Want to join our online men's circle? You can put yourself on the waiting list by getting in touch with us (see below). We're launching soon!

Have a question, a guest in mind who should be on our podcast, or a topic that you think we should cover related to men's mental health?

DM us via our Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hearts_wide_open_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , or simply mail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@heartswideopenpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you're enjoying the podcast, your 5-star review really helps us amplify the voice for men's health and motivates us to lead by example in showing that men can open up space where it's okay to be vulnerable and authentic.

Dennis sat down with Stijn Herpers from the Man-up club to talk about Stijns story, what shaped him, how he is dealing with moving out of his parents and more.

Stijn truly showed up for this one and opened up about sabotaging himself and his relationships, why he started the Man-up club and therapy at the age of 17.

This conversation is truly wholesome, Dennis and Stijn are talking about serious things with a smile on their faces and even go into the question "how to sit on a date?".

Join and listen for yourself!

You can find Stijn here: ⁠@stijnherpers

Movember is here! Find out all about it and win cool prices via heartswideopenpodcast.com/movember OR movember.com/hearts-wide-open-the-men-s-health-podcast

Want to join our online men's circle? You can put yourself on the waiting list by getting in touch with us (see below). We're launching soon!

Have a question, a guest in mind who should be on our podcast, or a topic that you think we should cover related to men's mental health?

DM us via our Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hearts_wide_open_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , or simply mail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@heartswideopenpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you're enjoying the podcast, your 5-star review really helps us amplify the voice for men's health and motivates us to lead by example in showing that men can open up space where it's okay to be vulnerable and authentic.

Dennis interviewed Juriaan, a Dutch man who is travelling around the globe by bicycle! You've heard right! By B-I-C-Y-C-L-E.

You probably know that Dutch people love to get from a to b by bicycle, but what makes a person want to do that around the entire planet?

This is exactly what we've asked Juriaan in this episode. He talks about his motivation behind doing this challenge, how it supports his own mental health and how he wants to make a difference for others too, by raising awareness and funds for Men's Mental Health.

Juriaan also talks about his own mental health struggles back at home in the Netherlands, before starting his adventure and mental health barriers he's encountered whilst on his bicycle.

Travelling through different places and regions, Juriaan also talks to locals he meets about mental health and shares some of the most inspiring stories he's heard so far.

You don't wanna sit this one out!

You can find Juriaan here: @thegreatchoochoo

Movember is coming! You can already donate and sign up to start your own campaign! ⁠Make sure to join the Hearts Wide Open team!⁠

Want to join our online men's circle? You can put yourself on the waiting list by getting in touch with us (see below). We're launching soon!

Have a question, a guest in mind who should be on our podcast, or a topic that you think we should cover related to men's mental health?

DM us via our Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hearts_wide_open_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , or simply mail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@heartswideopenpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you're enjoying the podcast, your 5-star review really helps us amplify the voice for men's health and motivates us to lead by example in showing that men can open up space where it's okay to be vulnerable and authentic.