Men Talking Mindfulness: Mental, Physical, & Emotional Fitness to Elevate Performance and Resilience for Leaders and Teams Un

Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider

Men Talking Mindfulness is dedicated to empowering men to embrace their true selves with bravery and authenticity. Our mission is to guide them on a journey of continual learning, developing self-love, and meaningful living. We work to inspire men to lead lives that they can look back on with pride and to create legacies that align with their deepest values. We are committed to cultivating a space where vulnerability is strength, being yourself is the norm, and where every man can unleash their potential to live a life of exceptional impact and fulfillment. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

  1. 3d ago

    Hostage Negotiation: Make Someone Feel Heard and Everything Changes: Derek Gaunt on Tactical Empathy

    A man walked into a room with a gun, a grievance, and nothing left to lose. The person who talked him down had spent 20 years learning one thing: the moment you make someone feel understood, the whole situation changes. Meet Derek Gaunt; he spent 29 years in law enforcement, 20 of those on hostage negotiation teams in the DC metro area. Now an instructor and expert coach at the Black Swan Group — Chris Voss’s firm — Derek brings the same tactical empathy that resolved life-or-death standoffs into every boardroom, difficult conversation, and parenting moment he trains. He’s the author of Ego Authority Failure and the newly released Fight Less, Win More — a practical companion to Never Split the Difference. In this episode, Derek joins Jon and Will to break down what tactical empathy really is, why your tone does 13 times more work than your words, and how to get more of what you want by getting people to say no. IN THIS EPISODE: 1.  What tactical empathy actually is — and why 95% of people aren’t getting it anywhere 2.  No-oriented questions: why asking for no gets you more than pushing for yes 3.  The three levels of listening — and which one most people are stuck in 4.  The three voices: accommodator, late-night FM DJ, and the BISS voice to never use 5.  The blue flame, ego authority failure, and why rapid promotion creates toxic leaders More about Derek Gaunt: 1.  Website: https://www.blackswanltd.com 2.  Book: Ego, Authority, Failure: Using Emotional Intelligence Like a Hostage Negotiator to Succeed as a Leader (2nd Edition) — on Amazon and blackswanltd.com 3.  Book: Fight Less, Win More: How Master Negotiators Influence Hearts, Minds, and Deals (co-authored with Jonathan B. Smith, foreword by Chris Voss) — on Amazon 4.  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-gaunt-2943a824/ Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY: 12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection. 1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course JOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats. 1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE:  Or mentalkingmindfulness.com GET MORE FROM MTM: Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter 1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com 2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.com BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM: 1.  focusnowtraining.com/contact Produced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

    Hostage Negotiation: Make Someone Feel Heard and Everything Changes: Derek Gaunt on Tactical Empathy
  2. Jul 20

    The Ultimate Superfood NASA Endorsed and You’ve Probably Never Heard Of: Dr. Catharine Arnston on Algae, Energy & Longevity

    What if everything you’ve been taking to boost your energy, sharpen your focus, and fuel your body was covered by one single food? Dr. Catharine Arnston discovered algae sixteen years ago while researching how to help her sister heal from breast cancer, and it changed the entire direction of her life. NASA has endorsed algae as a complete food for space travel. The United Nations has called it one of the greatest solutions to human nutrition on Earth. Now 72, with a PhD earned last year and zero medications or chronic disease, Catharine joins Jon and Will to break down exactly how spirulina and chlorella work in the body,  from mitochondrial energy and testosterone to heavy metal detox and why men, specifically, are prone to a problem most have never heard of: cellular rust. As an algae nutrition expert, Catharine walks through the spirulina and chlorella benefits that define these algae superfoods, starting with mitochondrial health and its role in fueling cellular energy in men's nutrition. She explains how antioxidants for men neutralize free radicals, easing inflammation and testosterone disruption, while nitric oxide and blood flow support men's hormone health and performance. For men over 40, whole food supplements like ENERGYbits deliver longevity nutrition through high fiber content that strengthens gut health, complementing a Keto lifestyle. Catharine also details how algae supports heavy metal detox, binding toxic metals for gentle clearance, and positions itself as a natural energy supplement built on decades of research into cellular vitality and aging well. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 1.  Why mitochondria are the real power plant behind energy, testosterone, and brain fog 2.  Spirulina vs. chlorella: nourishment in, toxins out, and why men need both 3.  The connection between nitric oxide, blood flow, and male performance 4.  Why men accumulate stored iron — and how that quietly damages the heart and brain over time 5.  Why most supplements fail to get absorbed, and what makes whole-food nutrition different More about Dr. Catharine Arnston: 1.  Website: https://www.energybits.com 2.  Discount Code: MTM for 20% off sitewide, no expiration 3.  Instagram (brand): https://www.instagram.com/energybits 4.  Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/catharinearnston 5.  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catharinearnston 6.  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/energybits Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY: 12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection. 1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course JOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats. 1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE:  Or mentalkingmindfulness.com GET MORE FROM MTM: Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter 1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com 2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.com BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM: 1.  focusnowtraining.com/contact Produced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

    The Ultimate Superfood NASA Endorsed and You’ve Probably Never Heard Of: Dr. Catharine Arnston on Algae, Energy & Longevity
  3. Jul 13

    What the Manosphere Really Is w/ Elliot Hulse; Is the Netflix Documentary all Propaganda?

    What is the manosphere, and why are young men gravitating towards it? Elliott Hulse has been on YouTube since 2007. With over one billion views across his channels and 2.4 million subscribers, he’s been mentoring men longer than most of the manosphere’s biggest names have had smartphones. He was filmed for Louis Theroux’s Netflix documentary on the manosphere — three hours of footage with his family that was cut to seconds. In this episode, Elliott sits down with Will to break down what the manosphere gets right, where it goes wrong, the propaganda backed into the Netflix documentary,  and what young men actually need. Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and beliefs expressed in this episode are solely those of the guest and do not represent the values, positions, or editorial stance of Men Talking Mindfulness, its hosts, or its affiliates. MTM is committed to open, respectful dialogue across differing perspectives. IN THIS EPISODE: 1.  The vacuum young men are trying to fill — and why the manosphere speaks to it 2.  The history of the manosphere: how it started, how it evolved, and how the algorithm weaponized it 3.  What real masculinity looks like vs. the caricature the internet sells 4.  Why Elliott believes family — not content — is the answer for men today 5.  What young men actually want when you get past the noise More about Elliott Hulse: 1.  Website: https://elliotthulse.com 2.  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliotthulse @elliotthulse 3.  YouTube — STRENGTH: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ASolYU_Yh3yShLFQC0stg 4.  YouTube — WISDOM: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLrI-dOLyDbRnPyUeWadsOg Take our Awareness to Action COURSE (A2A) 12 modules structured curriculum on attention, presence, practices & performance — plus an inspiring community built in for connection. https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course GET MORE FROM MTM: Join our free weekly Substack newsletter → Click HERE Check out our MTM Website to see what else we are up too! mentalkingmindfulness.com GET FOCUSED!! Does your company need help, or would you like to reduce safety incidents?? Head over to focusnowtraining.com - we have you covered! Produced by Robert Lopez cratesaudio.com Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY: 12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection. 1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course JOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats. 1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE:  Or mentalkingmindfulness.com GET MORE FROM MTM: Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter 1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com 2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.com BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM: 1.  focusnowtraining.com/contact Produced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

    What the Manosphere Really Is w/ Elliot Hulse; Is the Netflix Documentary all Propaganda?
  4. Jul 10 ·  Bonus

    Professor Joseph Fuller on why men are falling behind and what it means for all of us (An MTM AI Short)

    Harvard Business School Professor Joseph Fuller joins Jon Macaskill and Will Schneider to break down decades of data showing that men are quietly falling behind in education, the workforce, and health outcomes. Joe explains why this is the first generation since the Great Depression where young men don't expect to match their parents' lifestyle, how the job market shifted away from traditional male-dominated work toward social-skill-heavy cognitive jobs where women outperform men by 25 to 35 percentage points, and why the "college for all" philosophy fails 60% of 18-year-olds who will never finish a four-year degree. The conversation covers how schools were designed in ways that disadvantage boys, the professionalization of youth sports ($40 billion industry), applicant tracking systems that create "scar tissue" work identities, the historical pattern linking young men without household formation prospects to societal instability, and practical solutions including apprenticeships starting in 10th grade, teaching social skills in elementary school, AI-assisted learning, and eliminating homework. Jon shares how these trends show up in his own family. Joe closes with a direct charge: don't wait for someone else to do something. Mentor a kid. Show up. Full episode: https://pod.fo/e/3335aa Full video: https://youtu.be/ekGQtNiRP-k Take the free awareness assessment: https://focusnowtraining.com/assessment-page Get the free app (mobile): https://focusnowtraining.com/get-the-app-page Learn about the Awareness to Action course: https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course Get Jon's book DIAL in Your Leadership for free: https://dial.thrivecart.com/dial-book Text MTM to 33777 for all of this stuff in one link! Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY: 12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection. 1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course JOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats. 1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE:  Or mentalkingmindfulness.com GET MORE FROM MTM: Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter 1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com 2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.com BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM: 1.  focusnowtraining.com/contact Produced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

    Professor Joseph Fuller on why men are falling behind and what it means for all of us (An MTM AI Short)
  5. Jul 6

    When We Connect, We Survive with Dr Shauna Springer on the 10 Beliefs About Mental Health That Are Quietly Killing Our Bravest

    What if the things we say and do to support our bravest are actually the things putting them at risk? Dr. Shauna Springer is back. A Harvard-trained psychologist and Chief Psychologist at Stella Mental Health, she’s spent over a decade as a trusted “doc” to warfighters and first responders. Her new book, Fallout: 10 Common Beliefs That Kill Our Bravest and the Truths That Can Save Them, dismantles the well-intentioned myths quietly costing lives — from suicide awareness campaigns to the idea that resilience can simply be taught. In this episode, Shauna aka Doc joins Jon and Will to dig into why connection beats every tool and treatment, why grief and trauma need completely different approaches, and the innovative biological treatment changing how PTSD is healed. IN THIS EPISODE: 1.  Why suicide awareness campaigns can increase risk instead of preventing it 2.  The difference between grief, trauma, and moral injury — and why they need different treatment 3.  Elasticity vs. resilience: a better framework for sustainable peak performance 4.  Why suicide often feels selfless, not selfish, to a warrior — and how that changes prevention 5.  The dual sympathetic reset (DSR/SGB): treating PTSD as a physiological injury first More about Dr. Shauna Springer: Check out her website to connect and learn more plus find her latest books.: https://www.thinlineadvisory.comEmail: doc@thinlineadvisory.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/docshaunaspringer/Column: Mental Edge Mondays — https://www.crackyl.com/mental-edge-mondays-the-body-keeps-the-score-but/Stella Mental Health: dual sympathetic reset / stellate ganglion block treatment - https://stellamentalhealth.com/treatments/sgb-dual-sympathetic-reset- Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY: 12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection. 1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course JOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats. 1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE:  Or mentalkingmindfulness.com GET MORE FROM MTM: Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter 1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com 2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.com BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM: 1.  focusnowtraining.com/contact Produced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

    When We Connect, We Survive with Dr Shauna Springer on the 10 Beliefs About Mental Health That Are Quietly Killing Our Bravest
  6. Jun 29

    Mediocrity Happens by Default, Exceptional Happens by Design: Greg Scheinman on Releasing the Midlife Accumulation Trap

    What if the move most men never make in midlife is the one that changes everything? Greg Scheinman has had two seven-figure exits — one acquired by Disney CEO Michael Eisner. He’s coached over 100 executives, completed HYROX Nationals, and at 53 is in the best shape of his life. But things weren’t always that way. Greg has been through alcoholism, depression, the loss of his father at 17, and hit rock bottom twice. What he found on the other side became the Midlife Mail — a weekly newsletter followed by over 50,000 men who are done going through the motions. In this episode, Greg joins Jon and Will to talk about the one move most men in midlife never make: releasing instead of adding. Dropping the old titles, the ego armor, the relentless accumulation of achievement — and designing the life you actually want. IN THIS EPISODE: 1.  Why midlife is about releasing, not reinventing — and what that actually looks like in practice 2.  The Six F’s framework: redefining success around Family, Fitness, Finance, Food, Fashion, and Fun 3.  Conformity, complacency, and redundancy — the three traps keeping most men stuck 4.  Show me your calendar, I’ll show you your priorities: the design-over-default framework 5.  Why knowledge doesn’t make you better — and the one thing that actually does Follow Greg Scheinman: -Website: https://gregscheinman.com-Newsletter, Podcast & More: https://midlifemale.com -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregscheinman/ (@gregscheinman) Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY: 12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection. 1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course JOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats. 1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE:  Or mentalkingmindfulness.com GET MORE FROM MTM: Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter 1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com 2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.com BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM: 1.  focusnowtraining.com/contact Produced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

    Mediocrity Happens by Default, Exceptional Happens by Design: Greg Scheinman on Releasing the Midlife Accumulation Trap
  7. Jun 26 ·  Bonus

    Dr. Varpas de Sa Pereira on Warrior Withdrawal: why leaving the military feels like going cold turkey (An MTM AI Short)

    Dr. Varpas de Sa Pereira, US Marine veteran, former USASOC Special Operator, and clinical psychologist at the VA, joins Jon Macaskill to break down warrior withdrawal syndrome and why traditional diagnoses like PTSD and adjustment disorder miss the mark for so many veterans. Dr. Varpas uses a substance abuse model to explain why military service functions like a drug and why separation produces real withdrawal symptoms, even in veterans who never deployed to combat. He covers why basic training alone is enough to create the warrior identity, how infinite choice after the military breeds anxiety the same way zero agency breeds depression, and the PLEASE acronym (physical health, limit screen time, eat right, avoid mood-altering substances, sleep, exercise) as both a skill set and a scoreboard.  Jon and Dr. Varpas also dig into sleep as the foundational fix, the grenade analogy for interpersonal conflict and why mindfulness extends the fuse, marksmanship as active mindfulness, and why that critical first six months after separation is when most major negative life events happen. Full episode: pod.fo/e/2ebcc0 Full video hereFree A2A Awareness assessment, free Focus app, and limited free access to the full A2A course: text MTM to 33777 Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY: 12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection. 1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course JOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats. 1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE:  Or mentalkingmindfulness.com GET MORE FROM MTM: Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter 1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com 2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.com BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM: 1.  focusnowtraining.com/contact Produced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

    Dr. Varpas de Sa Pereira on Warrior Withdrawal: why leaving the military feels like going cold turkey  (An MTM AI Short)
  8. Jun 22

    How Community and Discipline Rebuilt Hal Hughes Life While recovering from TBI and Addiction

    What does a man do when no one is coming to save him? Hal Hughes is a registered psychotherapist, former police officer, and federal corrections officer who survived two traumatic brain injuries, a bipolar and PTSD diagnosis, and an opiate addiction that nearly killed him. At his lowest, he was on eight psychiatric medications and undergoing electroconvulsive shock therapy. Today, Hal runs Hughes Counseling in Smiths Falls, Ontario, specializing in first responders, military personnel, and anyone navigating the wreckage of a life that got away from them. In this episode, Hal joins Jon and Will to break down the philosophy, the structure, and the daily discipline that actually gets a man through the hard stuff — not the kind you read about, but the kind he earned the hard way. IN THIS EPISODE: 1.  Two TBIs, bipolar, PTSD, and opiate addiction — Hal’s full story 2.  The sharp instrument: why the human mind cuts us when we’re untrained 3.  The rat park experiment and why addiction only gets fixed in community 4.  The healing circle that led to forgiveness — and where “more love, less judgment” was born 5.  Get the vehicle right first: the body-mind framework that makes everything else possible More about Hal Hughes: 1.  Website: https://www.halhughes.com Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY: 12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection. 1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course JOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats. 1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined. We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE:  Or mentalkingmindfulness.com GET MORE FROM MTM: Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter 1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com 2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.com BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM: 1.  focusnowtraining.com/contact Produced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

    How Community and Discipline Rebuilt Hal Hughes Life While recovering from TBI and Addiction
5
out of 5
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About

Men Talking Mindfulness is dedicated to empowering men to embrace their true selves with bravery and authenticity. Our mission is to guide them on a journey of continual learning, developing self-love, and meaningful living. We work to inspire men to lead lives that they can look back on with pride and to create legacies that align with their deepest values. We are committed to cultivating a space where vulnerability is strength, being yourself is the norm, and where every man can unleash their potential to live a life of exceptional impact and fulfillment. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.