Detoxicity: By Men, About Men, For Everyone detoxpod

I'm excited to welcome Benjamin Wagner back to the show! Ben is a musician and filmmaker who, in previous lives, was a high-ranking exec at MTV News as well as at what is now Meta (Facebook, Instagram, etc). Ben recently completed a film called "Friends and Neighbors", in which he charts his own journey through abuse and trauma. We talk a bit about the process of confronting such a personal topic on screen and inviting loved ones to take an active part in the journey. Zooming out from that, we also talk about the life changes Ben has made in recent years, including uprooting himself and his family and transitioning out of corporate America, and what that's done for his mental health. It's a really good conversation (and the movie's good too, I hope you all watch it once a streaming deal has been reached). Feel free to comment and share your thoughts!

Chad and I go back at least fifteen years. When we met, he was working for a gospel label, but he didn't have the "holier than thou" attitude a lot of Christians have. We became friendly, and I became more intrigued as I got to know his life a little better. He's the son of missionaries, grew up in Papua New Guinea, he's the parent of a Black child. We discuss all of this during our conversation, as well as delving into how the racial uprising of 2020 turned into a major inflection point. We also discuss issues surrounding insecurity, struggles with faith, and...to cover a fairly regular topic, how he's sustained by having (and cultivating!) a community of other men. Enjoy our conversation!

With this appearance, my friend Kevin A. Patterson ties the record for most Detoxicity appearances. This is his fourth time on the pod, and my man drops gems every time. Kevin is the author of "Love's Not Color Blind; Race and Representation in Polyamorous and Other Alternative Relationships", he co-authors the "For Hire" series of graphic novels, and he runs the site Poly Role Models. This typically wide-ranging conversation covers everything from parenting challenges to relationship pointers to how we feel as two guys who grew up with '90s hip hop and lyrical content that's sometimes a little cringe. I hope you have as much fun listening as we did chatting!

In this episode, Cameron Mazzeo, a NJ-based licensed clinical social worker, shares his personal journey and what inspired him to create a private practice that caters to alternative lifestyles and relationships. Cameron and I discuss the importance of expanding his practice to include other communities, such as the kink community and ethically non-monogamous relationships. Cameron emphasizes the value of authenticity and representation in the mental health field and shares stories of individuals (including himself) who have befriended and changed the perspectives of those with opposing views. He also advocates for the inclusion of LGBTQ narratives in education from a young age. This conversation explores the importance of promoting inclusion and diversity, the need for education and exposure to different cultures and ways of life, and the challenges of challenging stereotypes and prejudices. It also discusses the need for diversity in the mental health field and improving access to mental health services. Our conversation also delves into the experiences of navigating gender transition, relearning gender norms and expectations, and the impact of body positivity and body shame. Cameron's got a lot to say (this interview is on the longer side), but in the end there was too much good stuff to edit out. I hope you feel the same way!

I don't need to throw out content warnings for this show anymore, right? It's pretty well-known that heavy stuff is discussed here. In this particular episode, Tony Pacitti shares his experience of becoming a father, and dealing with his wife's postpartum depression and psychosis all in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic's early days. It's a lot for a new father to deal with (understatement of the century) but, Tony managed to find support from his family and friends and eventually reached a point of relative normalcy. Tony highlights the importance of trust and communication in relationships and goes deep on the challenges of parenting twins. He also emphasizes the relative lack of support groups for new dads, the need for more, and what he's doing to keep the conversation going. Tony reflects on his own childhood and what it's like to raise two AMAB children in 2024. There's a lot of ground covered, and I hope that you enjoy our conversation!

In this episode, I chat with Matt Kovachis, who is a life coach and the host of the podcast "The Men in The Arena". Matt shares his journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance. Matt talks about the pivotal moments that led him to make changes in his life, including ending a long-term relationship. He emphasizes the importance of seeking support and the power of therapy in his transformation. Matt also explains why he started a podcast and how it has allowed him to help others. He highlights the significance of embracing discomfort and personal growth, and shares his decision to pursue coaching as a way to connect with and guide others. We discuss the importance of shedding old friendships that no longer serve us and relying on folks that offer us support. . He offers advice for others who may be at a similar inflection point in their lives and shares his goals for the remainder of 2024 and beyond. Enjoy our conversation!