From the outside, he looks steady. Inside? Anxiety. Panic attacks. Depression. Suicidal thoughts. Burnout. Shame. Self-medication. And the constant pressure to hold it all together. In this conversation, we talk about:

• Planning your wife’s funeral the night before surgery

• Sitting in a hospital wondering if she will wake up

• Being the “strong one” while quietly cracking

• Why men don’t ask for help

• The lie that vulnerability is weakness

• What support actually looks like

• Why depression tells you you’re alone (and why that’s not true)

• And how trauma can either fracture a family — or forge it

Paul shares the moment he nearly ended his life… and the therapy that saved it.

We talk about guilt, resentment, isolation, alcohol, acceptance, and the pressure men feel to be the rock — even when they feel more like a cotton ball underwater.

This episode is honest. Raw. Real. If you’ve ever thought:

• “I should be able to handle this.”
• “I don’t want to burden anyone.”
• “Nobody understands what I’m carrying.”
• “Maybe it would be easier if I just wasn’t here.”

Listen to this one. You are not alone. And the things we don’t talk about own us.

Paul’s book: Scars You Can’t See: Chaos Survived, Fear Faced, and The Will To Fight Found is available on Amazon.

Hashtags:

#Manalizing

#ScarsYouCantSee

#PaulGehring

#MensMentalHealth

#DepressionInMen

#CaregiverBurnout

#Anxiety

#SuicidePrevention

#InvisiblePain

#IsolationIsTheEnemy

#Brotherhood

#TherapyIsStrength

#AuthenticMasculinity

#FindYourPeople

#MenTalking

In this conversation, Adrain opens up about what it means to raise strong kids, stay married through every storm, and heal the past by choosing grace over bitterness. You’ll hear about fatherhood, trauma, forgiveness, and the legacy of a man who refused to let darkness define him.

If you’ve ever wondered how to rebuild when the past won’t let go — this one’s for you.

faith, fatherhood, trauma, forgiveness, resilience, legacy, marriage, parenting, men’s mental health, generational healing, Manalizing

In this unfiltered episode of Manalizing, Nate Shepardson lays bare the battle with pornography addiction and the deeper story beneath it—childhood shame, lost years, financial collapse, and the desperate search for connection. From blowing his net worth on a failed business to staring down unemployment and debt, Nate doesn’t flinch from the “hard.”

But what emerges is not defeat—it’s a system of recovery built on resolve, altered beliefs, daily habits, and the power of phrases like “We don’t do that anymore.” With honesty about relapse, dopamine, and the toxic mix of shame and silence, Nate offers men a way forward: not perfection, but progress. If you’ve ever felt trapped in cycles you can’t break, this conversation will give you tools, language, and hope to rise again.

SEO Keywords:

porn addiction recovery, men’s mental health, shame and guilt, overcoming relapse, dopamine and addiction, pornography recovery coaching, Manalizing, emotional healing, men’s support group, inner child work, resilience, Nate Shepardson, courage to change, habits for recovery

Glenn Loveless has lived a life most men couldn’t survive.

He’s a husband of 21 years, father of seven, former bodybuilder, and founder of Your Wingman Coaching.

He’s also a man who has known pain — from losing a home in a lawsuit, to surviving a mountain bike crash that nearly killed him, to facing the moment he held a gun to his own head.

In this conversation, Glenn opens up about what happens when everything you thought made you a man — work, strength, achievement — is suddenly stripped away. He talks about failure, faith, and learning to rebuild when all that’s left is the will to keep breathing.

We explore what it means to heal the boy inside us, and how to forge the man we were meant to become — one scar, one lesson, and one act of courage at a time.

This episode is a raw and redemptive look at what it really takes to grow through pain, not just past it.

⚠️ Content Warnings

Suicidal ideation, accident trauma, faith discussion, family conflict.

🧭 Highlights

• Losing everything — and learning to start again
• The mountain bike crash that changed his life
• “I had a gun in my hand on Christmas Eve” — how emotion suppression nearly killed him
• The truth about men, emotion, and real stoicism
• What his broken body taught him about identity
• How pain refines a man instead of defining him
• Fatherhood, faith, and asking for help when you never have before
• The story behind Heal the Boy, Forge the Man
• “Every man breaks. What matters is how we rebuild.”
• “I’d never been a man before — of course I was going to screw it up.”
• “The more fractures you have, the more valuable you become once you’re whole again.”
• “The Lord left me in the fire long enough not to be destroyed.”
• “When you share your mess, it becomes your message.”
• 
  

Glenn Loveless, Your Wingman Coaching, Heal the Boy Forge the Man, men’s mental health, suicide prevention, masculinity, stoicism, vulnerability, faith, fatherhood, trauma recovery, emotional intelligence, Garth Haslem, Manalizing podcast

🧠 Resources Mentioned

• Heal the Boy, Forge the Man — by Glenn Loveless
• Your Wingman Coaching — yourwingmancoach.com
• Promise to Live / I Love You Bro Project
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.) — dial 988
• Manalizing.com — where men talk about what men don’t talk about

If Glenn’s story speaks to you — if you’ve been through the fire, or you’re still in it — share this episode with a man who needs to hear that healing is possible.

Then visit Manalizing.com and find your brothers.

You don’t have to rebuild alone.

🎧 Episode DescriptionWyatt Black is the kind of man who’s seen both sides of the line — the uniformed world of order and the private world of chaos.

A U.S. Army veteran and tech entrepreneur, Wyatt opens up about the night his wife tried to kill him, his struggles with PTSD, and the moment he almost ended his life in a bathtub with a bottle of vodka and a handful of razor blades.

In this brutally honest conversation, Wyatt shares how one unexpected phone call saved his life, why men are terrible at talking about emotions, and what it really means to “man up.” He and Garth talk about military culture, manipulation, divorce, and the unspoken pain that drives too many men to silence — and sometimes, to suicide.

But this isn’t a story of despair. It’s a story about redemption, honesty, and how learning to speak your truth can literally save your life.

Content Warnings

Domestic violence, suicide attempt, PTSD, alcohol abuse, and trauma discussion.

Highlights

• The night his wife stabbed him — and what he learned from it
• Why “man up” is the worst advice men ever got
• Emotional manipulation and the blind spots men don’t see coming
• What the Army taught him about communication and accountability
• How one phone call — and one hug — saved his life
• Learning to be valuable again after losing everything
• Redefining strength, vulnerability, and self-worth
• Why violating the man rules might be the only way to survive
• “If you’re not violating the man rules, you’re doing life wrong.”
• “I laid there and told her, if you’re gonna do this, then kill me.”
• “Every man breaks. What matters is how he rebuilds.”
• “I wasn’t valuable — not to myself, not to anyone. So I had to start being valuable.”
• “Sometimes, the most masculine thing you can do is pick up the phone.”

Wyatt Black, military PTSD, domestic violence survivor, suicide prevention, men’s mental health, vulnerability, masculinity, emotional intelligence, Army veteran, Sentinel AI Security, tech entrepreneurship, Manalizing podcast, Garth Haslem

Resources Mentioned

• Sentinel AI Security — sentinelaisecurity.com
• Manalizing.com — where men talk about the things men don’t talk about
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.) — dial 988

If you’ve ever been told to “man up,” or felt like no one would understand what you’re fighting, listen to this one.

Wyatt’s story is a reminder that you don’t need to be perfect — you just need to stay.

Then visit Manalizing.com and join a tribe.

You don’t have to fight alone.

🎧 Episode Description

Boo Anderson is a man who’s lived both power and pain.

A former University of Utah linebacker and now a successful financial planner, husband, and father, Boo opens up about what happens when life doesn’t go according to the playbook.

In this episode, he shares his story of chasing dreams, tearing his ACL, watching the NFL slip away, and going through divorce and fatherhood from a distance. He talks about the dark stretch that followed — living with his parents, wondering who he was — and how humility, faith, and fatherhood slowly rebuilt him from the inside out.

We talk about manhood, accountability, and how God refines us in the fire — not to break us, but to make us whole.

This is one of those conversations that starts with football but ends in something deeper: peace, purpose, and the kind of strength that only comes from surrender.

⚠️ Content Warnings

Divorce, loss, parenting struggles, faith transitions.

🧭 Highlights

• Growing up shy — and learning to speak up
• The dream of the NFL, and what happens when it slips away
• Divorce, disappointment, and the slow rebuild
• Learning humility through failure
• Fatherhood from a distance — and how to keep showing up
• Finding Christ and discovering real freedom
• Why trials are the refiner’s fire, not punishment
• “Your life is not just for you — it’s about who you help.”
• “The Lord left me in the fire just long enough to not be destroyed.”
• “The hardest part of losing wasn’t football — it was being away from my kids.”
• “You can’t change the event. You can only change your response.”
• “Life isn’t about you. It’s about who you help.”
• “The Lord won’t let you ruin your spiritual self chasing the wrong dream.”

🔍 SEO / Keywords

Boo Anderson, University of Utah football, faith after failure, divorce recovery, fatherhood, humility, refiner’s fire, LDS Church, men’s mental health, accountability, self-worth, Garth Haslem, Manalizing podcast

🧠 Resources Mentioned

• The Optimistic Child — Martin Seligman
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Financial planning through Diversify.com
• Manalizing.com — where men talk about what men don’t talk about

If Boo’s story reminds you of your own — chasing dreams, falling hard, and finding faith again — share this episode with someone who’s rebuilding.

Then visit Manalizing.com — find a tribe, tell your story, and see who you really are.

Adam Sharp knows loss.

In the past eight years, he’s buried six people to suicide, lost his dad unexpectedly, and watched his marriage of seventeen years dissolve. Yet somehow, he’s not bitter — he’s grounded, grateful, and wiser than most men you’ll ever meet.

In this powerful conversation, Adam talks about grief, guilt, and the impossible moments that break a man down. He shares how a tough-as-nails counselor helped him face the truth, how the gym and a stack of books rebuilt his mind, and how accountability became the backbone of his healing.

From Spherical Man to family tragedies to finding real love again, this episode is a masterclass in what it means to grow stronger instead of harder.

Adam reminds us that you can’t save everyone — but everyone can save someone.

⚠️ Content Warnings

Suicide, grief, loss of family members, divorce, substance mention, trauma recovery.

🧭 Highlights

• Six suicides in eight years — and the guilt that follows
• What “man up” really does to men
• How one counselor “Betty White’d” him into growth
• The marriage that turned into roommates
• Learning to forgive, to love, and to let go
• Raising kids after divorce — without weapons drawn
• The two books that changed his life
• “You can’t save everyone — but everyone can save someone.”
• “Quit chasing happiness. Just be content.”
• “The hardest thing in life is to forgive the people who’ve hurt you.”
• “When you’re in your weakest moment, find peace in the pain and joy in the struggle.”
• “Sometimes the best way to help is just to give someone your time.”

Adam Sharp, men’s mental health, suicide prevention, grief, divorce recovery, accountability, self-improvement, forgiveness, fatherhood, Spherical Man, Extreme Ownership, therapy for men, Letting Go by Hawkins, Hole in My Love Cup, masculinity, vulnerability, Manalizing podcast, Garth Haslem

🧠 Resources Mentioned

• There’s a Hole in My Love Cup — Sven Erlandson
• Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender — David R. Hawkins
• Extreme Ownership — Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — dial 988 (U.S.)
• Manalizing.com — where men talk about what men don’t talk about

If Adam’s story hit you, share this episode with a friend who’s carrying too much.

Then visit Manalizing.com — join a tribe, tell your story, and be heard.

You can’t save everyone, but you can save someone.

He looks like he has it all — talent, brains, creativity — but inside, he fights the same voices every man does: lazy, useless, not enough.

Jeff Beck is the kind of guy who seems to have it all figured out.

Brilliant, creative, successful — a photographer, game designer, podcast host, and comedian. But what happens when the man everyone admires starts wondering if any of it matters?

In this honest and raw conversation, Jeff opens up about ADHD, imposter syndrome, and the late-night voices that whisper, you’re not enough. He shares how he went from failure and layoffs to rediscovering purpose through creativity, connection, and brutal self-honesty.

This episode hits deep for every man who’s ever looked successful on the outside but felt broken on the inside.

⚠️ Content Warnings

Mental health struggles, ADHD, self-loathing, suicidal thoughts (non-graphic).

🧭 Highlights

• Growing up as “the smart kid” — and what happens when it stops being easy
• Why being fired can be the best thing that ever happens to you
• The ADHD double life: visionary and chaos
• What it’s like to be a connector, not a star
• How men mistake “what I do” for “who I am”
• The quiet truth behind talent: constant self-doubt
• Learning to own your holes instead of hiding them
• The creator’s curse — and why making things still saves him
• “I’m brave in the daylight and a coward at night.”
• “I don’t trust myself. That’s the scariest part.”
• “I’m not lazy — I’m overwhelmed.”
• “When I make something, it’s the one time I feel like I matter.”
• “We all have holes. The trick is to stop pretending we don’t.”

Jeff Beck, ADHD, creativity, depression, imposter syndrome, men’s mental health, purpose, burnout, entrepreneurship, self-doubt, perfectionism, Manalizing, Garth Haslem podcast

If you’ve ever looked like you’re winning but felt like you’re falling apart, this episode is for you.

Share it with a man who creates, who questions, or who’s quietly fighting himself.

Then join us at Manalizing.com — where men talk about the things men don’t talk about.

At twenty-six, Sean Van Brent has already lived a lifetime.

Marine veteran, roofer, and entrepreneur, he’s been homeless, addicted, and suicidal. He’s also been sober, successful, and at peace — and the gap between those two worlds came down to one word: freedom.

In this raw conversation, Sean opens up about being kicked out of the Marines, losing his sense of worth, and spiraling into isolation and alcohol. He talks about the night he almost didn’t make it, the cops who showed up at just the right time, and how “extreme ownership” pulled him back from the edge.

This episode is a study in rebuilding — from rock bottom to redemption.

If you’ve ever wondered what keeps a man alive when everything’s gone, listen to this one.

⚠️ Content Warnings

Alcoholism, drug use, suicidal thoughts, military trauma, homelessness, recovery.

🧭 Highlights

• The Marine Corps and the moment everything fell apart
• Homeless in a Mitsubishi — and how he survived it
• Abandonment, betrayal, and the dark side of discipline
• “I drank so I wouldn’t dream.”
• Why taking away someone’s gun doesn’t fix the pain
• What does save a man: brotherhood and honesty
• From victim to ownership — how Sean found purpose again
• What freedom really means (and what it doesn’t)
• “I drank so I couldn’t dream.”
• “When the Corps kicked me out, it felt like the world did too.”
• “You can’t escape what’s in your head by changing your location.”
• “Freedom isn’t anarchy — it’s loving yourself enough to do good.”
• “Stop being the victim. Own it. Change it.”
• “Love what you’re doing, love the people around you, and truck forward.”

🔍 SEO / Keywords

Sean Van Brent, homelessness, addiction recovery, Marine veteran, military trauma, suicide prevention, men’s mental health, freedom, self-ownership, accountability, extreme ownership, vulnerability, abandonment issues, Garth Haslem, Manalizing podcast

🧠 Resources Mentioned

• Extreme Ownership — Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.) — dial 988
• Local addiction-recovery or veteran-support groups
• Manalizing.com — where men talk about what men don’t talk about

If Sean’s story hit home, share this episode with a man who’s fighting alone.

Then visit Manalizing.com — join a tribe, find your brothers, and start living free.

No one climbs out of the dark alone.

🎧 Episode Description

Chaco Fairbanks isn’t a man, but her story speaks to every man who’s ever loved deeply and lost hard.

Nine months ago, her husband Cody died suddenly while they were remodeling a house in the Smoky Mountains.

In this conversation, she walks us through that day — the CPR, the hospital, the silence afterward — and what grief really feels like when the shock wears off.

Chaco talks about guilt, faith, what to say (and not say) to someone who’s grieving, and why the worst thing you can do is “give them space.”

She opens up about learning to live again, traveling, finding meaning, and making decisions that point toward the future without letting go of the past.

This is one of the most tender and needed episodes we’ve ever recorded.

It’s not about death — it’s about love, presence, and how to keep breathing when half your world is gone.

⚠️ Content Warnings

Sudden death, CPR discussion, trauma, grief, survivor’s guilt, references to suicidal thoughts in others.

🧭 Highlights

• The day everything changed — and how she handled it minute by minute
• “Give them space” is the worst advice
• What real support looks like when someone’s grieving
• Why crying is healthy — and silence isn’t
• How she started living again, one decision at a time
• The guilt, the therapy, and the slow return of hope
• Love that’s fierce enough to still echo every day
• “The worst thing people did was give me space. I needed voices, not silence.”
• “You don’t get over someone like that. You just learn to carry them differently.”
• “I talk to him at night. Maybe he hears me, maybe he doesn’t — but I do.”
• “Life is precious. Don’t wait to love the people you love.”

Chaco Fairbanks, sudden death, widowhood, grief recovery, CPR story, losing a spouse, survivor’s guilt, emotional healing, therapy after loss, Jewish mourning tradition, sitting Shiva, women’s perspective, men supporting widows, crying and vulnerability, Manalizing podcast, Garth Haslem

🧠 Resources Mentioned

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — dial 988 (U.S.)
• Local grief-support or widows’ groups
• Manalizing.com — join a tribe, learn to lift and be lifted

If Chaco’s story touched you, share this episode with someone who’s lost someone — or someone who’s afraid to reach out.

Then visit Manalizing.com and find a tribe.

No one should have to carry loss alone.

Beau Brown was living the dream—flying helicopters in Hawaii, a career most men would envy. But behind the views and the paycheck was a man quietly breaking down. His marriage was falling apart, his family was slipping away, and one night he found himself sitting on a guardrail with a six-pack and a bag of Twinkies, wondering if anyone would care if he didn’t make it home.

In this powerful conversation, Beau opens up about that night, the voice that told him he wasn’t enough, and how he found his way back from the edge. He shares how he lost 70 pounds, rebuilt his family, and built a thriving business by doing what most men never do—asking for help.

We talk about the real cost of chasing money, how social media became both a tool for growth and connection, and what it means to find your worth beyond your job or your broken truck.

If you’ve ever felt like your life was falling apart, Beau’s story will remind you: you’re not your broken things—and you don’t have to fix yourself alone.

Content Warnings

Suicidal ideation, emotional breakdown, divorce, substance use, self-worth struggles.

Highlights

• From Hawaii helicopter pilot to Utah home inspector
• The night on the guardrail with a six-pack and a decision
• How losing everything led to rebuilding everything
• The truth about men, money, and self-worth
• “You’re not your broken things” — finding peace through purpose
• Why it’s never weak to ask for help

Pull Quotes

• “I realized I wasn’t my broken truck. I was just a man having a hard week.”
• “When everything around me was broken, I thought that meant I was too.”
• “The hardest thing I’ve learned is that being strong doesn’t mean being alone.”
• “War, divorce, broken engines—it’s all the same lesson. Find the silver lining.”

SEO / Keywords

Bo Brown, helicopter pilot Hawaii, home inspector Utah, men’s mental health, suicidal thoughts, near suicide recovery, self-worth, masculinity, brokenness, family healing, rebuilding marriage, social media growth, fatherhood, depression, men talking openly, Manalizing podcast

Resources Mentioned

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — dial 988 (U.S.)
• Manalizing.com — join a tribe, tell your story, and be heard
• CNH Inspections / @HomeInspectorSaltLake — Bo’s work and media presence

If Beau’s story hit home, share this episode with one man who needs to hear it. Then go to Manalizing.com and find your tribe.

You don’t have to fix everything alone.

Mark Bartholomew spent 13 months in Iraq’s Sadr City and the Triangle of Death as a combat medic. He came home with blood still caked on his boots—and a brain and nervous system rewired by war. In this raw conversation, Mark opens up about treating civilians and soldiers alike, the nightmare that still visits him, and the years he tried to outrun sleep with alcohol. He shares how an elderly VA counselor, a pit bull named Daisy, and a room full of Vietnam vets pulled him back from the edge. We also go straight at the civilian battles: divorce, the “silver bullet” of family court, losing daily contact with his son, and rebuilding a life as a present, purpose-driven dad. If you or someone you love has ever wondered why the mission doesn’t end on the flight home, this episode will land hard—and offer a way through.

Content Warnings

PTSD, war trauma, graphic injury references, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, family-court conflict.

Highlights

• Blood on the boots: triage in urban combat
• Why “coming home is the hard part”
• Daisy the service dog and the first real turn upward
• Group therapy that actually saves lives
• The civilian war: divorce, custody, identity
• Finding purpose: from medic to mentor, from pain to fatherhood

Pull Quotes

• “War was the easy part. Coming home—that was the hard part.”
• “Group therapy saved my life. Those men became my uncles.”
• “When everything felt out of control, suicide felt like the one thing I could control.”

SEO / Keywords

combat medic, Sadr City, Triangle of Death, Iraq War stories, PTSD recovery, traumatic brain injury, VA counseling, Vet Center group therapy, veteran suicide prevention, service dog Daisy, father’s rights, family court “silver bullet,” men’s mental health, sobriety, purpose and fatherhood, Manalizing podcast

Resources Mentioned

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US) — dial 988
• Local Vet Center (VA community counseling for combat vets & MST survivors)
• Manalizing — join a tribe; lift and be lifted

CTA

If Mark’s story hit home, share this episode with one man who needs it. Then join us at Manalizing—find a tribe, tell your story, and help another man tell his.

In this raw and powerful conversation, we talk about what it means to heal after sexual abuse, how trauma passes through generations, why hurt people hurt people, and how a man can love and protect a woman who’s been through hell.

Lauren doesn’t hold back, and neither do we. This is about courage, empathy, and the work it takes to stop the cycle — in ourselves, our families, and our sons and daughters.

If you’ve ever wondered how to show up when someone you love is carrying invisible scars… this episode will change how you see pain, love, and strength.

manalizing podcast, men’s mental health, trauma recovery, sexual abuse awareness, PTSD in marriage, fatherhood, protecting daughters, breaking generational trauma, empathy for men, healing after abuse, testosterone and depression, pornography addiction, dopamine and behavior, emotional healing, Bruce Lipton, the biology of belief, hurt people hurt people, men’s healing conversations, Garth Haslem podcast, Lauren Bush interview

Former Utah County deputy Dennis Harris sits down with Garth Haslem to tell the story he’s spent decades learning to say out loud: his 15-year-old daughter died by suicide with his duty weapon. What followed was shock, isolation, a family blown into survival-mode “islands,” years of therapy, and a long crawl back toward each other. Dennis shares how talking—really talking—became the pressure valve that kept them from exploding, why he built a safety device named after his daughter, and the night he nearly ended his own life… until his kids pulled him back.

This is a conversation about loss, love, and the quiet decision to keep living.

Highlights

• County vs. city policing—and the loneliness of the job
• 1998: the day everything changed, and what grief did to the family
• “Trash compactor men”: why silence turns into shrapnel
• Paying for therapy—and why conversation still heals fastest
• Building a gun lock in his daughter’s name
• The darkest night, the duty gun, and the moment of choosing to stay
• How sons and daughters save their dads—and how dads can show up

If you’re struggling: In the U.S., call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). You’re not alone.

—

Manalizing: where men talk about the things men don’t talk about.

Keywords / tags

men’s mental health, suicide loss, survivor of suicide, law enforcement, fatherhood, grief, family healing, therapy, coping with loss, gun safety, resilience, masculinity, Utah County, Provo, Manalizing podcast, Garth Haslem, Dennis Harris

Hashtags

#MensMentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #SurvivorOfSuicide #Fatherhood #LawEnforcement #Grief #Resilience #Manalizing

When the courts, the silence, and the empty house all close in, what does a man do?

Chris Rexwell —a father, veteran, and Alaskan native—talks with Garth Haslem about what it’s like to lose your child for eight months, to come home to nothing but echoes, and to somehow find your footing again. From court battles and controlling partners to rediscovering purpose through service, Chris’s story is about the quiet resilience it takes to keep going when every instinct tells you to give up.

They talk about loneliness, identity, masculinity, and the fight to be a present dad when the system and life itself seem stacked against you. This episode is a survival guide for any man rebuilding after loss.

Highlights:

• Losing access to his son for eight months

• Fighting for equal custody and finally winning

• The silence of living alone after divorce

• Freedom vs. control — learning to breathe again

• Finding healing through service, family, and purpose

• What men learn in the dark that they can’t learn in the light

If you’re struggling: In the U.S., call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

—

Manalizing: where men talk about the things men don’t talk about.

men’s mental health, fatherhood, custody battles, divorce recovery, loneliness, isolation, masculinity, emotional resilience, veteran fathers, parental alienation, men’s support, co-parenting, healing after divorce, rebuilding life, freedom, purpose, Alaska, Manalizing podcast, Garth Haslem, Chris Adams

Hashtags:

#MensMentalHealth #Fatherhood #DivorceRecovery #Loneliness #CustodyBattle #Masculinity #Resilience #Manalizing

What happens when a man decides he’s done living alone—and starts building a brotherhood instead?

In this heartfelt conversation, Jade Mollendorf, founder of Spherical Man, joins Garth Haslem to talk about the loneliness, silence, and strength that shape modern men. From divorce and fatherhood to personal growth and purpose, Jade’s story is about choosing connection over isolation and courage over conformity.

He shares how one golf trip with friends became a global men’s movement—teaching guys to be spherical: balanced, whole, and unafraid to live outside the box. Together, Garth and Jade dig into hard topics—masculinity, shame, loneliness, faith, and what it takes to truly rebuild when life falls apart.

This episode is a reminder that brotherhood isn’t just nice to have—it’s survival.

Highlights:

• The origins of Spherical Man and why men need safe spaces

• Divorce, silence, and rediscovering self-worth

• What real masculinity means (and what it doesn’t)

• Learning to be both strong and gentle

• The epidemic of male loneliness and how to fight it

• Building tribes, brotherhood, and second acts

If you’re struggling: In the U.S., call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

—

Manalizing: where men talk about the things men don’t talk about.

Keywords / Tags:

men’s mental health, brotherhood, masculinity, divorce recovery, single fathers, fatherhood, men’s groups, vulnerability, loneliness, depression, resilience, self-discovery, leadership, emotional intelligence, male bonding, friendship, personal growth, self-worth, toxic masculinity, overcoming shame, rebuilding life, Manalizing podcast, Spherical Man, Jade Mollendorf, Garth Haslem

Hashtags:

#MensMentalHealth #Brotherhood #Masculinity #DivorceRecovery #Fatherhood #Resilience #Loneliness #Manalizing

In this grounded, heartfelt conversation, Buck and Garth talk about hard things: loneliness, bullying, anger, marriage, faith, and the slow work of learning how to communicate when no one ever taught you how. From ranch life to IT work, from explosions and loss to laughter and love, Buck’s story reminds us that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s what you do with it.

This is cowboy wisdom for the modern man.

Highlights:

• Growing up homeschooled on remote ranches

• Being bullied and learning invisibility

• The explosion that leveled his house—and what went right

• Losing a foster son and learning to forgive

• Anger management and learning to communicate

• Marriage, humility, and the power of showing up

If you’re struggling: In the U.S., call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

—

Manalizing: where men talk about the things men don’t talk about.

Keywords / Tags:

men’s mental health, masculinity, rural life, ranch life, cowboy wisdom, anger management, marriage communication, bullying recovery, fatherhood, foster care, forgiveness, resilience, overcoming fear, trauma recovery, gas explosion survival, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, loneliness, faith, humility, Manalizing podcast, Garth Haslem, Buck Hedges

Hashtags:

#MensMentalHealth #Masculinity #Resilience #CowboyWisdom #Fatherhood #Marriage #Forgiveness #Manalizing

Guest: Joe DeVito — Sovereign Man | joedevitocoaching.com

Host: Garth Haslem, Manalizing

Chapter markers

04:12 Childhood loss, the “class clown” mask, and Robin Williams syndrome

13:40 Addiction, intentional overdose… and the walk to detox

21:05 Shadow work 101: the parts we deny & the “golden shadow”

31:18 Boundaries vs. abuse; how assertiveness earns respect

40:55 Conscious Fatherhood: raising emotionally intelligent kids

52:10 Initiation & rites of passage for young men

59:30 Legacy: breaking cycles & redefining success

Pull-quotes

• “Grief is just love with nowhere to go.”
• “Purpose hides in the parts of you you’ve rejected.”
• “Assertiveness is how men prevent rage.”
• “I didn’t need another hustle. I needed a mirror.”
• “My kids don’t need a perfect father—they need a present one.”

men’s mental health, shadow work, masculinity, conscious fatherhood, addiction recovery, male initiation, boundaries and respect, emotional intelligence for men, men’s coaching, overcoming divorce/trauma

Social hooks (10–15s)

• “Purpose isn’t found on a vision board—it’s buried in the parts of you you refuse to face.”
• “Men don’t rage when they’re respected. They rage when they don’t assert boundaries.”
• “He shot enough heroin to kill three people—and woke up ready to walk to detox.”

Show notes (concise)

• Shadow work explained: the unconscious parts we reject—and the “golden shadow” inside them
• Why ‘nice guy’ patterns invite disrespect, and how assertiveness changes it
• Conscious Fatherhood: empathy, open communication, and modeling feelings/needs
• Rites of passage: giving young men a real initiation into responsibility
• Legacy ≠ money. It’s breaking cycles so your kids don’t have to

If this podcast hit for you, share it with one man who needs it. Join a Manalizing tribe, and keep the armor off a little longer.

You think you know what it means to be a man—until you meet Jason Christensen.

He’s the kind of dad who teaches his sons to fight him, to think for themselves, and to tell women they’re beautiful. He’s also a divorced father who walked through heartbreak, failure, and faith—and came out knowing exactly who he is.

In this raw, hilarious, and deeply honest episode, Garth and Jason dive into everything from fatherhood to divorce, masculine energy to vulnerability, spiritual awakening to the real meaning of heaven. Jason talks about the pain of being told “don’t tell me about your day,” the cost of hiding your needs, and how his divorce became the crucible that forged a truer man.

This is an episode about strength, humility, and the kind of honesty that saves lives.

Highlights:

• Teaching sons to be men through play, pain, and initiation

• What “being too appropriate” misses about healthy masculinity

• The power a woman holds to heal—or destroy—a man

• Divorce, despair, and the rebuilding that follows

• Learning to say, “That doesn’t work for me”

• Why the hardest times can become your greatest teachers

If you’re struggling: In the U.S., call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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Manalizing: where men talk about the things men don’t talk about.

Keywords / Tags:

men’s mental health, fatherhood, masculinity, divorce recovery, LDS faith, emotional honesty, vulnerability for men, raising sons, healthy masculinity, spiritual awakening, depression recovery, family healing, marriage, male initiation, strength and softness, armor metaphor, resilience, parenting boys, heartbreak recovery, personal growth, faith, Manalizing podcast, Garth Haslem, Jason Christensen

Hashtags:

#MensMentalHealth #Fatherhood #DivorceRecovery #Masculinity #Vulnerability #Faith #Resilience #Parenting #Manalizing

Braden Lawson is a Utah realtor, a gay man, and a survivor who’s lived through addiction, rebellion, and rediscovery. In this conversation, Garth and Braden talk about what it means to own your life—your choices, your identity, and your mindset—without apology or self-pity.

From growing up in a blue-collar home to battling stereotypes, from being locked in a boarding school to selling homes across Utah, Braden has learned that the hardest moments can become the greatest teachers.

He shares how one bad mushroom trip saved his life, how forgiveness rewired his heart, and why “everything is figureoutable” when you decide to stop running and start living.

Highlights:

• The “savior complex” and learning when helping isn’t helping

• Being gay in a blue-collar Utah family and defining masculinity for himself

• From addiction to agency: the day he took ownership of his life

• The real power of mindset and why pity will keep you poor

• How he learned to stop bending to stereotypes and just be Braden

If you’re struggling: In the U.S., call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

—

Manalizing: where men talk about the things men don’t talk about.

Keywords / Tags:

men’s mental health, identity, addiction recovery, self-worth, mindset, self-acceptance, LGBTQ men, gay identity, masculinity redefined, self-awareness, Provo Canyon School, boarding school survivor, real estate success, Utah realtor, forgiveness, resilience, emotional intelligence, personal growth, overcoming shame, power of choice, self-discipline, self-forgiveness, Manalizing podcast, Garth Haslem, Braden Lawson

Hashtags:

#MensMentalHealth #Mindset #AddictionRecovery #Identity #Forgiveness #Resilience #Masculinity #LGBTQ #Manalizing

In this episode, Wes Earls joins Garth Haslem for a raw, winding conversation about loneliness, control, and the patterns that keep men stuck. From childhood abuse to school bullying, from suicidal thoughts to spiritual awakening, Wes shares how he finally learned to stop living as a passenger and start driving his own life.

Together they explore isolation, masculinity, and the deep power of self-awareness—the moment a man realizes he can choose how to respond, rather than simply react. This is a story about forgiveness, humility, and the long road back to self-respect.

Highlights:

• Breaking free from autopilot and the illusion of control

• The loneliness every man feels but rarely names

• From being bullied and beaten down to building strength

• “Nothing happens to me; everything happens for me” — a new life mantra

• Learning that healing means helping someone else

• Why every low point can become the beginning of purpose

If you’re struggling: In the U.S., call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

—

Manalizing: where men talk about the things men don’t talk about.

Keywords / Tags:

men’s mental health, childhood trauma, loneliness, isolation, bullying, healing trauma, depression recovery, emotional growth, forgiveness, self-awareness, purpose, overcoming abuse, suicide prevention, resilience, vulnerability for men, masculinity, spiritual awakening, manhood, personal growth, emotional intelligence, Manalizing podcast, Wes, Garth Haslem

Hashtags:

#MensMentalHealth #Loneliness #Healing #Resilience #DepressionRecovery #Autopilot #SelfAwareness #Forgiveness #Manalizing

But his demons are dark. They know him and how to get to the inner core of him - just like the rest of us. This is one of the most memorable interviews ever for Garth.

AI's take on the interview

At 25, Enrique Cahua has already lived a lifetime—immigrating from Peru, fighting stereotypes, earning a 4.0, building real-estate and business empires, and hitting rock bottom after a painful divorce.

In this raw conversation, Enrique shares how success and pressure pushed him toward suicide—and how one small act, a stubborn dog blocking a garage door, and a literal punch in the face saved his life.

He and Garth talk about depression, ambition, culture, masculinity, family, faith, and what it means to rebuild when the light seems gone. Boxing becomes Enrique’s therapy, metaphor, and medicine—proof that every man can get hit, stand back up, and still fight for purpose.

Highlights:

• Immigrating from Peru and breaking stereotypes in Utah

• Achieving early success—and the cost of it

• Depression, divorce, and the night everything almost ended

• The dog that saved his life

• How boxing brought feeling back

• Finding purpose through pain and rebuilding faith

If you’re struggling: In the U.S., call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

—

Manalizing: where men talk about the things men don’t talk about.

Keywords / Tags:

men’s mental health, Latino men, immigrant stories, suicide prevention, depression recovery, divorce recovery, faith crisis, boxing therapy, jiu-jitsu for men, resilience, overcoming darkness, rebuilding life, purpose, family strength, vulnerability for men, masculinity redefined, Peruvian immigrant, Dirty Dough franchise, entrepreneurship, Manalizing podcast, Enrique Cahua, Garth Haslem

Hashtags:

#MensMentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #BoxingTherapy #Resilience #Faith #DivorceRecovery #ImmigrantStories #Manalizing

In this powerful episode, Air Force veteran and real estate broker TJ McClellan shares how losing his bunk mate to self inflicted termination in Afghanistan shattered his world—and how that pain became the turning point for living fully, loving deeply, and creating connection wherever he goes.

TJ and Garth dive into the things men never talk about: guilt, numbness, faith, brotherhood, and how physical strength can become emotional therapy. From the battlefield to the gym to the dojo, TJ learned that movement and discipline can heal what silence cannot. Together, they explore martial arts, mentorship, and the vital need for safe spaces where men can be real, be seen, and belong.

Highlights:

• Life on base: fear, desensitization, and finding meaning in chaos

• The suicide that changed everything

• Coping vs. connecting—why most men implode instead of heal

• The gym and martial arts as emotional therapy

• Becoming the man who listens, teaches, and lifts others

• “Drink a cup of badass” — the daily choice to live with light and purpose

If you’re struggling: In the U.S., call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

men’s mental health, PTSD, veteran stories, Afghanistan deployment, suicide prevention, brotherhood, martial arts therapy, jiu-jitsu for men, gym therapy, resilience, men’s groups, vulnerability for men, fatherhood, purpose and meaning, Stoicism, mindset, fitness and real estate, tribe, connection, authenticity, coping vs connecting, lighthouse leader, Drink a Cup of Badass, Manalizing podcast, TJ McClellan, Garth Haslem

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Manalizing: where men talk about the things men don’t talk about.

From the outside, Devin Westover looks like every man’s definition of “doing it right.”

But inside? He was a trash compactor.

Stuffing down pain from miscarriages, exhaustion, a broken family, and a near-suicide no one knew about. Until one day, the bag split open.

In this episode, Garth sits down with Devin Westover — a man who’s lived the hard road from pressure to peace. They talk about growing up without hearing “I love you,” watching his parents’ marriage crumble, the weight of miscarriage, and the brutal honesty of admitting “I almost ended it.”

You’ll hear how the right woman, the right questions, and a quiet act of courage turned everything around.

This isn’t a story about fixing cars — it’s about fixing a man’s soul.

Real men. Real pain. Real healing.

💡 Episode Summary (Show Notes Style)

• Devin’s story: the hard-working mechanic with the perfect life — on paper.
• How the “trash compactor” mentality destroys men from the inside out.
• The invisible pain of miscarriage and the silence men carry.
• When success turns toxic: chasing hours, losing home life, and missing family.
• The suicide attempt that jammed — literally — and how that moment changed everything.
• The woman who refused to give up on him, and how her one question — “What’s wrong?” — cracked the shell.
• The real work of rebuilding marriage, family, and self-worth.
• Why men need each other, and how to finally know who’s really in your corner.

men’s mental health, suicide prevention, miscarriage grief, mechanic life, fatherhood, marriage recovery, depression, manalizing, garth haslem, devin westover, masculinity, emotional healing, purpose, authenticity, self-worth, trauma recovery, real men talk, trash compactor metaphor, dark twenties, resilience

But in the silence after the storm, he heard a different voice — one that said, “You’re not done yet.”

In this episode, Garth sits down with Pauric (Rick) Walsh, an Irish immigrant who went from construction worker to lawyer, from alcoholic to advocate, and from “not enough” to a man who is. Rick shares how bullying, divorce, and near-suicide shaped his purpose: helping fathers who are fighting for their children and themselves.

They talk about the darkness men face when the noise stops, the myth of success, and the courage to say “I am enough.”

Real stories. Real men. Real change.

💡 Episode Summary

• Rick’s journey from rural Ireland to America — chasing approval and success for all the wrong reasons.
• How childhood bullying created a lifetime of pretending and performing.
• The crash: divorce, financial ruin, isolation, and suicidal thoughts.
• A near-death experience that whispered, “You’re not done yet.”
• Rediscovering purpose through law, fatherhood advocacy, and authenticity.
• How psychedelics, mindset work, and brutal honesty helped him heal.
• Garth and Rick on what enough really means, why service is the highest form of greatness, and how men can learn to stop faking and start being real.

men’s mental health, fatherhood, divorce recovery, authenticity, Irish immigrant story, suicide prevention, addiction recovery, self-worth, masculinity, trauma healing, purpose, law, mindset coaching, the legal dad, manalizing, garth haslem, pauric walsh, jesse elder, power of now, psychedelics healing, real men stories

In this episode of Manalizing, host Garth Haslem sits down with Kateri Reyes, a woman who spent 15 years in an abusive marriage and somehow came out stronger, wiser, and full of light.

What started as a story of pain becomes a masterclass in healing, self-worth, and divine partnership. Ari tells the truth about physical and emotional abuse — the fear, the shame, and the lies that keep people trapped. But she also shows the way out: reclaiming sacred ground, retraining the nervous system, and rediscovering that strength isn’t found in fighting harder — it’s in learning when to walk away.

“No one is coming to save you. That’s when I realized I had to.”

Episode Highlights

• Reclaiming sacred ground — finding safety after trauma
• The night she sat alone on the beach, realizing she might die
• How her abuser’s wounds became her prison — and her teacher
• What it means to feel instead of suppress
• Why “truth requires action” — and how it changed her life
• The difference between rescuing and allowing
• How men can learn from her story about emotion, honesty, and letting others in

domestic abuse recovery, trauma healing, women’s empowerment, men and emotions, emotional intelligence, divorce and faith, nervous system healing, trauma-informed relationships, Manalizing podcast, Garth Haslem, Ari story, reclaiming sacred ground, truth requires action

In this Manalizing episode, host Garth Haslem sits down with Eddie Villa — speaker, author, strengths coach, and one of Garth’s closest friends — for a powerful, raw conversation about becoming the man you were created to be.

Eddie’s journey goes deep: a rough childhood, absent father, ignored son, early fatherhood, and a life spent searching for meaning. But through all that pain, he learned one life-altering truth — we are infinitely unique, and when we finally stop running from who we are, everything changes.

“Once this guy in my head got on my side, the whole world could say ‘screw you,’ and I’d still be okay.”

This episode is a masterclass in authenticity, faith, and learning how to love the man in the mirror — flaws, failures, and all.

Episode Highlights

• What “infinitely unique” really means — and why your flaws matter
• How childhood denial becomes adult perfectionism
• Turning your inner critic into your greatest motivator
• Raising yourself after being unseen as a child
• The spiritual power of self-acceptance and surrender
• Why failure is the best teacher a man can have
• The moment Eddie made peace with his past — and found purpose

Eddie Villa, strengths coach, authentic masculinity, men’s self-worth, father wounds, childhood trauma, inner critic, men’s mental health, vulnerability, purpose, faith, healing, personal growth, Manalizing podcast, Garth Haslem

In this Manalizing episode, host Garth Haslem talks with John Emmanuele, a Wisconsin dad who’s lived through just about every kind of storm: divorce, false accusations, custody battles, and even his wife’s cancer diagnosis.

Through it all, John never stopped fighting for what mattered most — his kids, his marriage, and his peace.

This is a story about endurance, fatherhood, and the quiet kind of faith that only shows up when everything else is stripped away.

“You’re gonna struggle every day. That’s what life is. But stay the course. Believe. The hard moments are what make the good ones mean something.”

Episode Highlights

• How to survive when the system feels stacked against you
• Balancing court battles, money stress, and real life
• Loving your kids through manipulation and chaos
• The cancer diagnosis that changed everything
• “We’re not doing this without the kids” — how family became his center
• What it means to stay faithful when everything’s uncertain
• “If you give up, who raises them?”

divorced dad, father’s rights, custody battle, co-parenting, men’s mental health, family court, false accusations, stepfather, breast cancer support, emotional endurance, masculine faith, resilience, Manalizing podcast, Garth Haslem

In this episode of Manalizing, host Garth Haslem sits down with Ray Rocha — a salesman, drummer, father, and 31-year sober alcoholic who learned how to rebuild his life one brutally honest day at a time.

Ray’s story starts in chaos: a broken home, addiction by 14, and years of denial. But the turning point came when his mother hurled a six-pack at him and said, “Here’s your beer, asshole.” The next morning, Ray walked into his first AA meeting — and never had another drink.

This conversation dives deep into what it means to own your pain, raise a daughter through divorce and distance, and redefine masculinity through humility.

Ray’s honesty is hard-won, his laughter disarming, and his story unforgettable.

Episode Highlights

• The beer-throwing moment that changed everything
• “Don’t be a victim” — how to stop making excuses for pain
• Sobriety, fatherhood, and faith through the hardest moments
• The custody fight that nearly broke him — and made him
• Why men need to ask for help (and what happens when we don’t)
• Turning the lowest moment into a gift
• “You’re not a loser for going to AA. You’re a loser for pretending you don’t need it.”

alcoholism recovery, sobriety, AA story, men’s mental health, father’s rights, custody battle, addiction, divorce recovery, single father, emotional healing, resilience, masculinity, Manalizing podcast, Garth Haslem

In this Manalizing episode, Garth Haslem sits down with Tegan to talk about growing up through divorce, being told by his mission president that “you can’t change,” and learning the hardest lesson a man ever faces — forgiveness.

This is a conversation between two men who understand what it means to be let down by those you looked up to… and to rise anyway.

Tegan’s wisdom at 20 goes far beyond his years:

“If you’re always waiting for the other person to fix the problem, it’s never going to happen.”

Episode Highlights

• How a missionary learned “discipline beats motivation”
• The boy who felt abandoned and the man who learned to forgive
• Facing down betrayal and anger toward a father figure
• Healing through understanding — not justification
• The gift of a tough, forgiving mother
• “Are you willing to let other people be imperfect?”
• How forgiveness stops the poison from spreading

men’s mental health, father-son relationship, forgiveness, divorce recovery, LDS mission, emotional healing, masculinity, young men, discipline vs motivation, personal responsibility, Tegan Peterson, Garth Haslem, Manalizing podcast

Aaron Walker — “Big A” — built and sold businesses, made millions, and lived a life most men only dream of. But in 2001, a car accident claimed a man’s life and shattered Aaron’s sense of purpose. In the aftermath, he faced shame, isolation, and the kind of soul-searching that either destroys a man or remakes him.

In this episode of Manalizing, Garth Haslem sits down with Aaron to talk about the accident that changed everything, the faith that rebuilt him, and the brotherhood that saved him. This is a masterclass in real masculinity — courage, humility, and redemption through connection.

Aaron tells the story of how one man’s blunt honesty (“You’re wearing the hell out of everybody in this group”) snapped him out of despair and set him on a mission to help other men live not just successful lives, but significant ones.

Episode Highlights

• “Isolation is the enemy of excellence.” Why every man needs a brotherhood
• The accident that forced Aaron to face his own fragility
• How a tragedy turned into a divine course correction
• Trusted advisors: the power of having men who tell you the truth
• From chasing money to chasing meaning
• The difference between success and significance
• How to stop numbing pain and start living with purpose
• Why you don’t weave faith into work — faith is the work

Aaron Walker, Big A, view from the top, Iron Sharpens Iron, men’s mastermind, Christian leadership, trusted advisors, men’s mental health, male vulnerability, significance vs success, isolation, depression in men, Garth Haslem, Manalizing podcast

At just 28, he’s been through what many men never recover from — a toxic breakup, depression, fatherhood in chaos, and a custody battle with someone diagnosed as bipolar and narcissistic. Yet somewhere in that wreckage, Damien found what he calls his secret sauce: the ability to not react.

He’s a mental health worker who’s seen the cycle from both sides — professionally and personally. In this conversation, he and host Garth Haslem talk about purpose, anger, control, and why sometimes the strongest move a man can make is to say nothing at all.

Damien’s wisdom cuts through the noise:

“Every action doesn’t deserve a reaction. You can’t play stupid games if you’re not a stupid person.”

This is one of the most grounded, insightful, and quietly powerful conversations on the Manalizing podcast — a must-listen for any man walking through custody, heartbreak, or the long climb out of emotional chaos.

Episode Highlights

• “Every action doesn’t deserve a reaction” — how Damien learned emotional discipline
• What a C-section taught him about humility, apology, and love
• The moment his life fell apart — and how it remade him
• Finding purpose through his son, Noah
• From stuffing emotions to choosing peace
• How men can stop letting others control their emotions
• When folding isn’t losing — it’s winning

father’s rights, men’s mental health, emotional control, co-parenting, toxic relationship recovery, depression in men, walking away, emotional discipline, fatherhood, single dad, Detroit fathers, Manalizing, Garth Haslem podcast

We talk growing up poor with parents who taught “you can do anything—if you’ll do the work,” the pivot from aerospace to serving people directly, and practical ways men can stop stuffing emotions until they explode. Aaron shares the hardest moment that cracked him open, how he leads at home while a child faces a mysterious illness, and simple release practices (two journals—one to remember, one to burn; throwing a rock loaded with anger across the yard). It’s leadership vs. management, venting vs. processing, and why success = the number of people you serve.

Episode Highlights

• “You can do anything” parenting—and how Aaron applies it with his own kids
• The Sweden rupture: the event that exposed his emotional blind spot
• Career pivots: government aerospace → software → connection coach
• Emotional hygiene: journaling to forget (and burn), somatic release with nature
• Leadership at home under stress: breadwinner pressure without going lone-wolf
• Venting vs. processing: how to unload without dumping on people
• Why success is measured by the people you serve—not the titles you hold

If this helped you

Join the Manalizing tribe—lift and be lifted: manalizing.com

men’s mental health, emotional hygiene, connection coach, masculinity, leadership vs management, journaling practice, anger release, family under stress, autism parenting, chronic illness, career pivot, rocket scientist, Aaron Shields, Manalizing

Robert opens up about the night he discovered his daughter had a plan for suicide, why shame kept him silent, and the hard questions every dad must ask out loud: Are you thinking of hurting yourself? Do you have a plan? We get into men’s friendships (or the lack of them), the armor we keep on at home, and what it takes to go all-in with a spouse without keeping a secret reserve.

We also hit practical tools from the Gottman approach—responding to bids for connection, processing “regrettable incidents,” and why ~70% of conflicts are perpetual (and still manageable). If you’ve ever wondered how to build an inner circle you can actually lean on, this one’s for you.

Episode Highlights

• The “cabinet moment”: anger, perception, and who you decide to be next
• Teen suicidal ideation: the two questions that save lives
• Why men hesitate to talk—and how to choose the friend who shows up
• The “armor at home” problem and going all-in on trust
• Marriage tools that work: bids, love maps, and repairing after fights
• Career pivots at 37: the blunt advice Robert needed to hear

If this helps you

Join the Manalizing tribe—lift and be lifted: manalizing.com

men’s mental health, fatherhood, teen suicide prevention, suicide plan questions, vulnerability, men’s friendships, marriage repair, Gottman, bids for connection, regrettable incident, armor metaphor, Manalizing, Robert Snow

Riley and Jordan Hanks sit down with Manalizing to share the raw, unfiltered reality of facing stage-IV gastric cancer as newlyweds and first-time parents. Jordan opens up about surgeries, chemo, and living with a “kiwi-sized” stomach; Riley talks through the invisible load—anxiety, therapy, and the moment he finally reached out after eight months of stuffing it down. This conversation is full of nonverbal truths, a brief break you’ll hear when emotions spill over, and an outtake you won’t want to miss. It’s about brick-by-brick teamwork, faith, friendship, and choosing perspective when life can’t be controlled. If you’ve ever wondered what strength looks like behind closed doors, this is it.

Episode Highlights

• The diagnosis day and what “stage IV” meant for their family
• Jordan’s laparoscopic updates, stomach resection, and recovery
• Riley’s breaking point, therapy, and how men can actually ask for help
• “Brick wall” partnership: carrying the load together without collapsing
• Why availability matters more than perfect advice (thank you, Justin)
• Finding blessings: deeper communication, tighter tribe, steadier faith
• A tender mid-episode pause you’ll hear—and an end outtake worth staying for
• 
  

If this helped you

Join the Manalizing tribe—lift and be lifted: manalizing.com

SEO keywords

Men’s mental health, cancer journey, gastric cancer, marriage under pressure, vulnerability, therapy, anxiety, faith, resilience, NICU, Manalizing, Riley and Jordan Hanks

Jordan talks candidly about diagnosis, treatment, faith, and the everyday actions that kept their marriage connected: five-minute foot rubs, honest check-ins, and giving your partner permission to step out of the “panic box” for a breath of air. Her message for men is clear and practical: drop the lone-wolf act, speak the scary feelings out loud, make decisions together, and protect your own oxygen so you can keep showing up.

In this episode:

• CDH1 and what “stealth” cancers mean for detection
• Surgeries, NICU days, and rebuilding life after the shock
• Concrete ways husbands/partners can help (and what not to do)
• How to ask for help when you don’t have the words
• Gratitude, prayer, and finding joy (not just “happy”) in the middle of hard things
• “Broken is beautiful” — why we’re meant to need each other
• 
  

If someone you love is in treatment: share this with them—and with their caregiver. Small, consistent connection beats grand gestures.

Note: This conversation includes frank discussion of serious illness and caregiving.

What we get into

• The Christmas Eve phone call that changed everything
• Proton therapy vs. traditional radiation (and why he swears by it)
• The “Brotherhood of the Balloon” and the private fears men don’t say out loud
• Side effects no one advertises: hormone therapy, anxiety, and identity
• Blood clots, ICU, and the blessing that kept him here
• The most embarrassing challenge (and why it hit his “man card”)
• Suicidal thoughts, motorcycles, and choosing character over quitting
• Being excommunicated, coming back, and a father’s words that stuck: “You’re going to be okay.”
• Why humor is a survival skill, not a mask

Why listen

If you (or someone you love) is facing cancer, loss of health, or the slow grind of chronic setbacks, this is a blueprint for dignity: tell the truth, ask for help, laugh when you can, and keep walking.

Content note: frank medical detail (prostate procedures), sexual side effects, anxiety, and brief discussion of suicidal ideation.

If this episode hits close to home, you’re not alone. Talk to someone you trust. In the U.S., dial 988 for the Lifeline.

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🎧 If you’re new here, Manalizing is where men talk about the things men don’t talk about. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review if this helped you.

Description:

In this special episode of Manalizing, the mic turns around. Host Garth Haslem takes the hot seat as his friend Howard Little interviews him.

Garth opens up about the quiet ache of an absent father, the years spent chasing a paycheck instead of a purpose, and the long road through a loveless marriage that nearly erased who he was. He talks about building Crossroads Engineers, raising daughters, walking through divorce, and the woman who finally saw the man he was meant to be.

This isn’t a highlight reel—it’s honesty without polish. It’s about learning to grow a spine, to believe what’s true even when someone else says you’re less than, and to step onto your own star when you’ve spent a lifetime helping everyone else shine.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a man finally tells the truth about his own story—this is it.

SEO keywords: Garth Haslem, Manalizing podcast, father wound, men’s mental health, divorce recovery, purpose and calling, self-worth, masculinity and vulnerability, healing childhood trauma, finding identity, Julie Haslem

They go straight at the hard stuff—Christmas blow-ups, leaving the house to keep from doing damage, driving the long loop around the lake until the rage drains out, and then doing the everyday work that prevents the next blow-up: relationship first, correction last. Pele talks about self-betrayal, breaking inherited cycles, and why no man can afford to live as an island.

If you’ve ever felt outmatched by your own anger or alone in your responsibility, this episode offers a quiet blueprint: step away, tell the truth, repair, and build the kind of relationship that can carry your love across.

Episode highlights

• Surfing vs. football: why the ocean stills a fighting heart
• “Talking to the moon”: praying, venting, and staying out of jail (and out of your kid’s face)
• The Change Pyramid: fix problems before they’re problems—relationship → teaching → only then correction
• Self-betrayal and integrity: why how you act changes how you feel in your own skin
• Men aren’t islands: how to build wingmen and be one

Pele Manalizing, North Shore Hawaii, Samoan culture, breaking generational cycles, anger management for men, fatherhood and discipline, men’s mental health, talking to the moon, Anatomy of Peace, relationships first, masculinity and vulnerability

In this episode of Manalizing, Garth Haslem sits down with his close friend Pele — a husband, father, grandfather, and quiet warrior — to talk about what happens when the rules of your childhood no longer fit the man you’ve become. They explore the weight of cultural expectations, breaking cycles of aggression, and what it really means to love your family when you’re still learning to love yourself.

Pele’s story is one of faith, humility, and hard truth — a man raised in war who found his strength in gentleness, his honor in healing, and his purpose in serving others.

If you’ve ever felt like an island — cut off, misunderstood, or carrying a world that no one else sees — this one will hit home.

Pele Manalizing, Polynesian men, North Shore Hawaii, Samoan culture, breaking cycles, fatherhood, men’s healing, trauma recovery, faith and family, masculinity and vulnerability, men’s mental health.

When an injury ended his career, Todd lost everything he thought made him a man: the adrenaline, the badge, the brotherhood. What followed was addiction, darkness, and almost the end of his life. Then came a different kind of rescue.

In this episode of Manalizing, Todd sits down with Garth Haslem to talk about pain, trauma, and the long road home. He opens up about the police world’s silent struggles, the night he nearly gave up, and the faith that rebuilt him from the inside out.

It’s raw, redemptive, and real—a story for every man who’s ever felt like his life was over, only to discover that’s where it actually began.

Todd Nielsen, Manalizing podcast, police trauma, PTSD recovery, alcoholism recovery, men’s mental health, faith and healing, suicide prevention, addiction recovery, purpose after pain.

In this Manalizing conversation, Kolby talks with Garth Haslem about losing everything, remembering who he really is, and rebuilding his life one honest choice at a time. He opens up about addiction, shame, faith, marriage, and what it means to truly love yourself after years of self-destruction.

This episode is raw, spiritual, and full of hard-won truth. If you’ve ever felt stuck “in the rock” and wondered if light could still reach you—listen to Kolby Drew. His story proves it can.

Kolby Drew, Manalizing podcast, addiction recovery, men’s mental health, faith and redemption, vulnerability, self-forgiveness, marriage rebuilding, personal growth.

Men's issues cannot be ignored - at least not without consequences. This podcast is men talking about stuff that men don't talk about. We don't have to be isolated and alone. We don't have to "man up" and shut down. We can choose to be heard in a healthy way. We can do this for ourselves and everyone around us. We can choose to be grow our "own yourself" muscles and lead like we are meant to.

That's what manalizing is about.