With Love, Men

Jake Fishbein & Nick Papadopoulos
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Semimonthly

‘With Love, Men’ is a heartfelt exploration of modern masculinity, hosted by Jake Fishbein and Nick Papadopoulos—the facilitators of The Arena Men’s Group.  Through candid conversations and personal stories, the podcast delves into vulnerability, authenticity, and the power of connection—guiding men to live courageously and fully in every arena of their lives.  Expect raw truths, thought-provoking topics, and moments that challenge societal norms. Whether you’re navigating relationships, redefining success, or seeking a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man today, this podcast offers insights with love and purpose.  Join us! Step into the arena! For more information, please visit, www.arenamensgroup.com

  1. Sep 17

    Episode 16: The Halloween Costume That Never Comes Off

    In this episode of With Love, Men, co-hosts Jake Fishbein and Nick Papadopoulos dig into why sharing feels so much easier with a stranger than with the people we love most. Jake and Nick trace this pattern back to the "stakes" of intimacy — how opening up to a spouse, parent, or best friend carries a risk that a stranger on a train never will. They talk candidly about childhood ribbing and shame that taught them sharing with other men wasn't safe, why women so often become the default outlet for male vulnerability, and what happens when we suppress our real selves and hide behind a "Halloween costume" instead. Ultimately, the conversation lands on a hard truth: withholding never actually keeps us safe — it just exhausts us and disconnects us from who we really are. 🔑 Topics Covered Why it's often easier to open up to strangers than to the people we trust mostHow childhood shame and teasing shape men's fear of sharing with other menWhy women so often become the safe space for male vulnerabilityThe "Halloween costume" — what happens when we suppress our authentic selvesWhy withholding creates the illusion of safety, not real safetyHow suppression leads to exhaustion, disconnection, and even midlife crisis💡 Reflective Prompt: Who do you find it easiest to open up to — and what does that reveal about where you feel safest being seen? 📍 Links + Resources Novel: The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy FriendshipsThe Arena Men's Group💼 Connect: Jake Fishbein & Nick Papadopoulos  With Love, Jake & Nick

  2. Sep 1

    Episode 15: Masculinity collides with the economy of 2026!

    In this episode of With Love, Men, co-hosts Jake Fishbein and Nick Papadopoulos unpack what happens when the traditional script of masculinity — work hard, provide, build wealth, buy a home — collides with an economic reality that looks very different for younger generations of men. Jake and Nick explore why financial pressure can become deeply tied to a man's sense of identity and worth, and how feeling like you're falling behind can lead to resentment, isolation, and retreating into the proverbial "cave." They talk about the power of sharing, asking for support, building community, and shifting from overthinking into intentional action. Ultimately, the conversation comes back to trust: accepting the reality you're in while believing in your ability to take responsibility, make choices, and create what comes next. 🔑 Topics Covered Why financial success and masculinity have become so closely connectedWhat happens when men feel like they've done everything "right" and are still falling behindThe danger of retreating into the "cave" when life feels overwhelmingAsking for support instead of trying to figure everything out aloneMoving from resentment and victimhood into intentional actionWhy trust and action have to work together💡 Reflective Prompt: Where are you feeling stuck because you're focused on what you can't control instead of taking action on what you can? 📍 Links + Resources Novel: The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy FriendshipsThe Arena Men's Group💼 Connect: Jake Fishbein & Nick Papadopoulos With Love, Jake & Nick

  3. Jul 6

    Episode 14: Commitment, Celebration, and 10 Years of Messy Friendships

    In this episode of With Love, Men, co-hosts Jake Fishbein and Nick Papadopoulos celebrate The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships hitting Amazon Bestseller status with a 4.9 rating — and dig into two things men often struggle with: commitment and celebration. Jake opens up about why so many men, himself included, struggle to feel their achievements are ever "enough," tracing it to a cultural story that ties men's worth to what they provide rather than who they are. Nick reflects on staying committed to their "North Star" through ten years and ten drafts, and the pair unpack why presence — not just accomplishment — is what actually lets men grow from an experience instead of just moving on to the next thing. 🔑 Topics Covered Why celebrating milestones matters — and what gets in the way for menCommitting to a person vs. committing to a projectWhy doubt creeps in even amid clear successThe "buy-in" for commitment: being willing to risk failure💡 Reflective Prompt: Where are you moving to the next thing before letting yourself celebrate what you just built? 📍 Links + Resources Novel: The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships — now an Amazon BestsellerThe Arena Men's Group💼 Connect: Jake Fishbein & Nick Papadopoulos With Love, Jake & Nick

  4. May 1

    The Book, The Brotherhood, and Ten Years in the Making

    In this episode of With Love, Men, co-hosts Jake Fishbein and Nick Papadopoulos share the origin story of their novel The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships — ten years in the making — and why male friendship might be the most underrated force in a man's life. Nick traces the book back to his frustration that almost nothing existed about men's mental health and transformation. Jake remembers the lunch in 2016 where he said yes — not because he cared about men's groups, but because something felt right. What followed was a decade neither expected: cancer, grief, hundreds of men in groups, and draft after draft that forced both of them to confront what they'd been avoiding. Their conclusion? Getting something out of your head — in a book, a group, or a conversation — is the first step to changing your relationship with it. 🔑 Topics Covered How a research concept became a novel about messy male friendshipWhat writing the book forced each host to confront in himselfWhy men's worlds shrink as they age — and what it costs themWhy this book is for everyone, not just men💡 Reflective Prompt: Where are you so focused on the destination that you're missing the journey? 📍 Links + Resources Jake's website: www.jakefishbein.comNick's website: www.coachnick.comThe Arena Men's Group: www.arenamensgroup.comNovel "The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships" (June 9, 2026) at menssgroupnovel.com💼 Connect: Jake Fishbein & Nick Papadopoulos on LinkedIn With Love, Jake & Nick

  5. Mar 12

    Minotaur vs. Higher Purpose: Which Story Are You Living?

    In this episode of With Love, Men, co-hosts Jake Fishbein and Nick Papadopoulos explore a foundational concept from their upcoming novel: the myths we tell ourselves about who we are. Jake and Nick introduce the idea that we're all "meaning-making machines" who create stories—myths—about ourselves. These myths come in two forms: the Minotaur (shame-based stories like "I'm stupid" or "I can't get a break") and Higher Purpose (the inspiring impact we make when we're at our best). Nick shares how his Minotaur shows up when he's triggered: "I'm all alone in this f*****g world and I can't get a break." Jake traces his back to second grade when two classmates went as the Wright Brothers before he could. They discuss how these stories aren't bad—they're protective responses to pain that deserve empathy, not execution. On Higher Purpose, Jake reveals his is "to guide people home," while Nick's is inspiring people to live purposefully and leave things better than they found them. They explain how to find yours: look at moments you're most proud of, notice what fills you up, and ask people around you when they see you most alive. Their conclusion? You're always operating from either your Minotaur or your Higher Purpose—and that's what drives your behavior, not willpower alone. 🔑 Topics Covered Why we all tell myths about ourselves (Minotaur vs. Higher Purpose)How shame stories form and why they're protective, not evilUsing humor and community to loosen the Minotaur's gripHow to discover your Higher Purpose by looking backwardWhy identity shapes behavior more than willpower💡 Reflective Prompt: What myth are you telling yourself right now—and is it serving you? 📍 Links + Resources Jake's website: www.jakefishbein.comNick's website: www.coachnick.comThe Arena Men's Group: www.arenamensgroup.comNovel "The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships" (June 9, 2026) at menssgroupnovel.com💼 Connect: Jake Fishbein & Nick Papadopoulos on LinkedIn With Love, Jake & Nick

  6. Jan 26

    What Does It Mean to Be a Man in 2026?

    In this episode of With Love, Men, co-hosts Jake Fishbein and Nick Papadopoulos tackle the timeless question: What does it mean to be a man in 2026? Jake reflects on lessons from his father—leading with heart, embracing vulnerability, and making a difference without seeking credit. Nick shares his immigrant father's blueprint: being a man means contributing more than you take, not from unworthiness, but from trust that giving creates its own rewards. They challenge the "Happy wife, happy life" mentality, clarifying that loving the relationship more than yourself isn't about self-betrayal—it's about full participation. Jake reveals how wedding industry norms expect grooms to be disengaged, and why he's intentionally showing up differently. Their conclusion? Being a man in 2026 means being fully engaged—present, responsible, heart-centered, and actively shaping your experience rather than passively following someone else's script. 🔑 Topics Covered What fathers teach us about masculinity (for better or worse)Contributing more than you take vs. playing victimThe difference between healthy giving and self-betrayalWhy full participation matters in relationships and major life momentsComing from the heart vs. coming from unworthiness💡 Reflective Prompt: Are you fully participating in your life—or are you following a script written by someone else? 📍 Links + Resources Jake's website: www.jakefishbein.comNick's website: www.coachnick.comThe Arena Men's Group: www.arenamensgroup.comNovel "The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships" (June 9, 2026)💼 Connect: Jake Fishbein & Nick Papadopoulos on LinkedIn With Love, Jake & Nick

  7. 12/19/2025

    The Money Chase: What Men Are Really After

    In this episode of With Love, Men, co-hosts Jake Fishbein and Nick Papadopoulos explore why men chase money—and what they're really seeking beneath the surface. Nick argues men are chasing self-worth and validation, measuring themselves against others to prove "I'm okay, I'm a real man." Jake adds that economic shifts have stripped away traditional pathways: only 15% of 30-year-olds own homes today (down from 50% in 1960), women graduate college at twice the rate of men, and younger generations face stagnating wages. Many men feel their masculinity and purpose eroding. The hosts examine the toll: never being present, missing relationships, playing an endless game with no finish line. Nick quotes Pink Floyd—"dig that hole, forget the sun"—as the perfect metaphor for this exhausting chase. Their solution? Ask better questions. Help men define what matters on their own terms, not what they've been told should matter. 🔑 Topics Covered What men are actually chasing: self-worth, validation, worthinessHow economic shifts impact men's identity and sense of purposeThe cost of chasing external validation: disconnection and exhaustionWhy asking questions beats prescribing solutions💡 Reflective Prompt  What are you actually chasing when you pursue financial success? Is it on your terms—or someone else's game? 📍 Links + Resources Jake's website: www.jakefishbein.comNick's website: www.coachnick.comThe Arena Men's Group: www.arenamensgroup.comNovel "The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships" (June 9, 2026)💼 Connect: Jake Fishbein & Nick Papadopoulos on LinkedIn With Love, Jake & Nick

  8. 10/24/2025

    Men and Sex

    In this episode of With Love, Men, co-hosts Jake Fishbein and Nick Papadopoulos tackle one of the most avoided topics in men's work: sexuality and physical intimacy. Opening with a striking story from a joint men's and women's group session where men were paralyzed by fear while women spoke explicitly and comfortably about sex, they explore why this topic remains so taboo—even in spaces designed for vulnerable conversation. Nick shares how religious shame, non-affectionate parents, and childhood sexual abuse distorted his relationship with intimacy for decades. Jake opens up about growing up in the internet age, his father's warnings, and how chat rooms became his secretive, shame-filled introduction to sexuality—eventually getting caught with all his conversations saved on AOL for his parents to read. The hosts examine how shame creates profound disconnection in relationships, with men hiding everything from porn addiction to their honest desires from their partners. They turn the mirror on themselves as facilitators, asking why they avoid addressing sex in men's groups when they tackle every other area of life. Jake shares how Nick's transformative homework assignment—"go get laid in two weeks"—helped him redefine his entire relationship with sexuality. The conversation deepens as they explore sex as the ultimate vulnerability of being truly seen, and offer practical invitations for normalizing these crucial conversations and letting go of sexual shame. 🔑 Topics Covered Why women spoke explicitly about sex while men froze in fear at a joint group sessionEarly messages that shaped sexuality: religious shame, parental formality, and internet-age secrecyHow shame creates disconnection and secrecy in committed relationshipsWhy sex is the one topic consistently avoided in men's groups—even by facilitatorsJake's transformative "go get laid in two weeks" homework assignmentThe vulnerability paradox: Sex as being ultimately seen and connected to creationPractical steps for normalizing sex conversations and letting go of shame💡 Reflective Prompt What shame are you still carrying around sex and intimacy? What would it take for you to normalize conversations about your sexuality—first with yourself, then with your partner, and potentially with trusted friends? 📍 Links + Resources Jake's website: www.jakefishbein.comNick's website: www.coachnick.comThe Arena Men's Group: www.arenamensgroup.comTheir novel "The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships" (coming late June 2026)💼 Connect with Us on LinkedIn: Jake FishbeinNick PapadopoulosWith Love, Jake & Nick

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

‘With Love, Men’ is a heartfelt exploration of modern masculinity, hosted by Jake Fishbein and Nick Papadopoulos—the facilitators of The Arena Men’s Group.  Through candid conversations and personal stories, the podcast delves into vulnerability, authenticity, and the power of connection—guiding men to live courageously and fully in every arena of their lives.  Expect raw truths, thought-provoking topics, and moments that challenge societal norms. Whether you’re navigating relationships, redefining success, or seeking a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man today, this podcast offers insights with love and purpose.  Join us! Step into the arena! For more information, please visit, www.arenamensgroup.com

Information

  • Creator
    Jake Fishbein & Nick Papadopoulos
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 JMF Coaching LLC & Sky's The Limit Corp
  • Show Website
    With Love, Men