Grown Man Game

Rod and Big Mike

Welcome to Grown Man Game. This ain’t just another podcast; it’s a kickback with your brothers Mike and Rod. We’re two Black fathers trading knowledge and wisdom on everything from navigating relationships to the music that shaped us. We’re talking money, mindset, and the unspoken truths of manhood. If you want to laugh, learn, and level up without the fluff—you’re in the right place. Let’s build.

Episodes

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    Partner + Provider: How Grown Men Show Up at Home | Grown Man Game Ep. 5

    Episode 5 of the Grown Man Game Podcast is a real talk on being a partner and a provider. Rod and Big Mike break down what it looks like to support your woman’s goals, communicate like an adult, handle conflict without trying to “win,” and why you’ve got to celebrate the small wins. They also get into men’s health, doctor visits, and how stress shows up in your body. Tap in and share this with a brother who’s trying to lead better. Timestamps 0:00 Intro, catching up, weekend recap3:16 Rod’s foot issue, doctor visit, possible gout6:19 Big Mike on tribe, family support, community11:04 Topic starts: how to be a better partner13:34 Supporting her goals and learning to listen16:47 Emotional intelligence and “solutions vs ears”19:38 Talk “war” during peace, fight language22:13 “Do you want to be right or happily married?”26:35 Provider vs partner, what providing really means33:37 Small things that hurt your woman’s feelings (shoes)35:33 Shaq clip, carrying everyone, men cracking under load45:28 Celebrate your wins, even the expected ones54:41 Congratulations segment, health check and wins56:54 Go see the doctor, stop waiting until it’s late58:03 Congrats to Rod on building the gym and growth1:07:26 Final takeaways1:08:36 Where to find the show, subscribe and share Links IG: @grownmangamepodcastYouTube: Grown Man Game PodEmail: grownmangamepodcast@gmail.com

    1h 11m

  2. 4 FEB

    Modern Masculinity in 2025

    Masculinity feels harder to define than ever. In Episode 4 of Grown Man Game, Rod and Big Mike talk through what modern masculinity actually looks like in 2025. They get into leadership without chest beating, money pressure without panic, dating expectations, insecurity disguised as toughness, and why real strength usually shows up quietly. This isn’t a debate episode. It’s two men thinking out loud about responsibility, courage, self-sufficiency, and how men can lead without losing themselves in the noise. If you’ve ever felt caught between old-school expectations and modern realities, this one will hit.

    57 min

  3. 29 JAN

    Men Want Validation Too (And It’s Killing Relationships)

    In Episode 3 of the Grown Man Game podcast, Rod and Mike talk about why so many male friendships stay surface-level, and how that bleeds into marriage and relationships. They get into validation, desire, and the quiet question a lot of men carry: “Am I enough?” The conversation moves through infidelity, the difference between being “nice” and being assertive, and how men lose their relationship by stopping the pursuit. They close with a real take on masculinity: strength and nurturing can live in the same man, and insecurity often hides behind loud “alpha” talk.

    1h 33m
  4. The Weight Men Carry: Friendship, Marriage, and Letting It Out

    22 JAN

    The Weight Men Carry: Friendship, Marriage, and Letting It Out

    Rod and Big Mike get real about why so many men feel isolated, why it’s hard to be vulnerable, and what happens when you keep stacking stress without talking to anyone. They talk about the decline in close male friendships and how that shows up in marriage, fatherhood, and mental health. Rod shares what it looked like to hit a breaking point, break down, and finally admit he needed therapy again. Mike shares how grief surfaced in unexpected ways, and how holding emotions in can spill over into how you show up with your kids. They also talk about the tension men feel when they want to protect their wives’ image while still needing someone to talk to. The episode closes with a “grown man game” message: share what you know, help the next generation start further ahead, and teach them the process, not just the outcome. Subscribe, share with a dad, and leave a quick review. Key takeawaysMost men have very few real friends they can call when life hits.You can love your wife and still need a safe place to talk things out.Stress stacks up quietly until it spills over.Crying can be a release, not a weakness.“I’ll just power through it” works until it doesn’t.Kids don’t automatically value what you used to dream of having.Progress creates different problems for your kids than the ones you had.Teach your kids how you built the life they live in.Timestamps00:39 Welcome back + why this show is “fly on the wall” talk01:07 Men losing friendships and getting isolated04:29 Needing a brother to talk to when marriage gets hard08:53 “Congratulations, brother” + going back to therapy21:25 Rod’s emotional breaking point at practice29:50 “Life is averages” and how Mike thinks about highs/lows51:54 Unprocessed grief showing up years later1:06:06 Losing patience with your kid when you’re holding grief1:15:26 Forever 21 story: are we giving kids too much?1:31:50 Closing “Grown Man Game” message: teach the process

    1h 35m

  5. 15 JAN

    Nice Guys & Neighborhood Codes: Lessons from Two Fathers

    In this raw, unfiltered premiere episode of Grown Man Game, hosts Rod and Mike introduce themselves by sharing their contrasting childhood experiences - from family compounds to crack houses, suburban racism to urban survival. Their authentic conversation reveals how these formative experiences shaped their approach to fatherhood today. The hosts explore how their different upbringings in the Bay Area and Southern California during the crack epidemic and racial tensions of the 80s and 90s gave them unique perspectives on parenting. They discuss why today's kids don't play outside like they did, how they navigate school choices for their children, and the delicate balance between protecting kids and building resilience. This episode establishes the foundation for future discussions on manhood, fatherhood, and giving listeners some genuine "grown man game" - wisdom earned through real-life experiences that can only come from men who've lived through both challenges and triumphs.

    44 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

Welcome to Grown Man Game. This ain’t just another podcast; it’s a kickback with your brothers Mike and Rod. We’re two Black fathers trading knowledge and wisdom on everything from navigating relationships to the music that shaped us. We’re talking money, mindset, and the unspoken truths of manhood. If you want to laugh, learn, and level up without the fluff—you’re in the right place. Let’s build.

Information

  • Creator
    Rod and Big Mike
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Rod and Big Mike