Man: A Quest to Find Meaning

James Ainsworth
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Man: A Quest to Find Meaning is the podcast for men who feel stuck, disconnected, or uncertain about their place in the world — and are ready to reconnect with purpose, emotional strength, and a more authentic way of being. Hosted by James Ainsworth, each episode explores the deeper questions of modern masculinity through honest, unfiltered conversations. You’ll hear from men who’ve overcome inner battles — and from women offering powerful perspectives that challenge, inspire, and expand how we think about growth, relationships, and healing. From purpose and vulnerability to fatherhood, fear, and identity, this is a space for men who want more than just surface-level success. It’s for those on a journey to live with intention, courage, and truth. New episodes weekly. Real talk. No ego. Just the quest.

  1. Feeling Disconnected? Discover Buddhist Tools & Modern Psychology That Reconnect You | Ed Barry

    6D AGO

    Feeling Disconnected? Discover Buddhist Tools & Modern Psychology That Reconnect You | Ed Barry

    Send us a text In this powerful and deeply insightful episode, I sit down with Ed Barry to explore Buddhist meditation, authentic relating, and the journey of self-awareness. We dive into the ancient Nine Stages of Meditation, also known as The Elephant Path — a Buddhist roadmap for cultivating concentration, presence, and attentional control. Ed shares how these teachings, combined with Western integral psychology, can transform the way we relate to ourselves, others, and the world. We also explore how stored emotions live in the body, the power of somatic awareness, and how trust — especially self-trust — is something we can rebuild through conscious practices. From calming the mind and tuning into the body, to navigating generational trauma and reclaiming our power, this conversation offers both depth and practicality. Whether you're on a spiritual path or simply seeking more presence and connection in your life, this episode is filled with embodied wisdom and grounded insights. About Ed: With 16 years in elite rugby as an osteopath and injury rehabilitation specialist — from Harlequins to supporting Georgia at three Rugby World Cups and consulting for Brazil at the Women’s RWC 2025 — I bring a deep knowledge of human performance and health. My studies in coaching, breath-work, holistic health, and Indo-Tibetan contemplative psychology shape a unique approach to helping clients move beyond injury, reconnect with themselves, and align with their true potential.

    57 min
  2. Your Beliefs Create Your Reality: How to Rewire Your Mind and Transform Your Life | Lawrence Harris

    DEC 11

    Your Beliefs Create Your Reality: How to Rewire Your Mind and Transform Your Life | Lawrence Harris

    Send us a text In this episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, I sit down with speaker and mental health advocate Lawrence Harris to explore how our beliefs shape our reality.  We dive into the power of subconscious programming, emotional patterns, and radical self-responsibility. From childhood wounds to financial blocks, we unpack how taking ownership of your environment, mindset, and emotions can shift your life trajectory.  Lawrence shares his powerful personal story and practical tools for inner transformation. If you’re ready to move beyond surface change and embrace deep self-awareness, this conversation will challenge and inspire you.  About Lawrence: Lawrence C. Harris is a Youth Empowerment Speaker and Author, whose mission is to help teens and young adults rewrite their self-image, overcome fear, and unlock their potential. His journey from self-doubt to self-belief fuels the message he now shares on stages nationwide.

    59 min
  3. The Truth About Navigating Burnout: Lessons from High Performance and Hard Falls | Gurps Khaira

    DEC 4

    The Truth About Navigating Burnout: Lessons from High Performance and Hard Falls | Gurps Khaira

    Send us a text In this deeply honest and powerful episode, James sits down with Gurps to explore what it really means to navigate burnout and grow through pain. From a childhood marked by civil war and personal tragedy to a high-performing career in finance and fitness, Gurps shares how discomfort became his greatest teacher. Together, they unpack the mindset and practical tools needed to move through burnout, overwhelm, and life's unexpected breakdowns — including Gurps own 4D framework: Decide, Define, Do, Done. They also discuss the role of sleep, structure, and surrender, and how choosing gratitude and inspired action can shift everything. About Gurps: Born in India during a time of civil unrest and terrorism, Gurps' formative years were shaped by unimaginable adversity. At just five years old, he witnessed the suicide of his mother, a trauma that forged in him an unshakable inner resilience. Those early experiences didn't break him, they became the fuel for a life defined by discipline, determination, and the pursuit of excellence. Today, Gurps is a global leader in AI, Cybersecurity, Digital Transformation and high-stakes Change Management. With over 15 years of experience spanning AI, Cybersecurity, IT, Banking, and even Construction, he specialises in leading complex, high-impact projects in some of the world's most demanding environments. His approach blends strategic vision with hands-on execution, helping organisations navigate digital risk, compliance and organisational transformation with clarity and confidence. But Gurps' drive doesn't stop in the boardroom. After 8 years of intense training, he went on to compete in the Miami Pro World Championships of Fitness Modelling, proving that discipline, focus, and elite performance are not just professional ideals, but personal standards he lives by. For Gurps, excellence is a lifestyle, whether it's in the gym, on stage, or leading global cybersecurity programmes. A compelling keynote speaker, Gurps is known for combining technical authority with deeply human storytelling. His keynotes connect with audiences across industries, from CISOs to CEOs, offering powerful lessons in leadership, resilience, and transformation. In every talk, he brings a message that's as inspiring as it is practical: no matter the adversity, greatness is always within reach. https://www.linkedin.com/in/gurpreetkhaira/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppEUlXg-HBw&t=1s - Showreel

    48 min
  4. Trust, Power, and Presence: A Real Talk on Rebuilding Confidence from Within

    NOV 27

    Trust, Power, and Presence: A Real Talk on Rebuilding Confidence from Within

    Send us a text  In this powerful solo episode, we dive deep into the real meaning of self-trust — and why so many of us think we trust ourselves, when in truth, we’re quietly living in doubt, procrastination, and overwhelm. I share my personal journey of recognising how often I stepped out of my power, tried to prove my worth, or placed others on pedestals — and what it really takes to come back to yourself.   You’ll learn how to identify when you're in your power versus out of it, how your body holds the key to trust, and how to build integrity with yourself through small, consistent actions. If you've ever struggled to follow through, trust your decisions, or feel grounded in your worth — this episode is your invitation to return.   This is radical trust. This is self-leadership.  Let’s rebuild it from the inside out.

    26 min
  5. Awaken Your Power: Trust, Trauma & Transformation | Cara Elizabeth

    NOV 20

    Awaken Your Power: Trust, Trauma & Transformation | Cara Elizabeth

    Send us a text In this powerful and soul-stirring episode, James is joined by healer, creator, and guide Cara Elizabeth to explore what it truly means to live in your power. From the role of trust and surrender, to working with archetypes like the dragon and animal medicine, this conversation dives deep into healing trauma, embodying truth, and creating from the inside out. Cara shares her personal journey of overcoming childhood abuse, releasing PTSD, and discovering how to co-create with the universe through visualization, movement, and energetic alchemy. Together, they unpack what safety really is, how to hold your frequency in uncertain times, and why your inner world creates your outer reality. About Cara: Cara Elizabeth is an artist, author, and speaker who resides in Brooklyn. She works with individuals and groups to find their power, step into their purpose, and turn trauma into their greatest asset. Cara connects people to their true self so they can become their own healer, shaman, and guru.   She is the creator of BodyTech, a movement-based healing technology that combines breathwork, animal embodiment, and energetic realignment. As a certified breath coach, and drawing on her training in Kundalini yoga and years of dance, Cara developed BodyTech to offer direct, physical access to emotional transformation and personal power.   She received her Bachelor's degree from Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a focus in Painting and her MFA in Experimental Animation from CalArts. She is a Baháʼí and grew up in a Baháʼí family, which fostered her search to independently investigate all spiritual teachings and the science of reality.     Cara Elizabeth credits her decades of complex PTSD, due to childhood sexual trauma, as not only her greatest asset but what led to her creation of Animal Apothecary. After very little success with healing from both western and alternative medical practices, Cara finally chose to no longer look outside of herself to fix what was broken, but instead to go within and heal herself. This is how Animal Apothecary was born.

    1h 6m
  6. Prioritising Pleasure: How to Reclaim Your Body, Boundaries, and Desire | Jem Ayres

    NOV 13

    Prioritising Pleasure: How to Reclaim Your Body, Boundaries, and Desire | Jem Ayres

    Send us a text In this deeply honest and wide-ranging episode, I’m joined by sex coach and sexological bodyworker Jem Ayres for a powerful conversation about reclaiming pleasure, presence, and connection in everyday life. We explore how prioritising pleasure — not just in sex, but in the smallest daily rituals — can transform how we show up in our relationships, work, and wellbeing. Jem shares her personal story of burnout, illness, and rediscovering the wisdom of the body, and we dive into topics like nervous system regulation, performance anxiety, people-pleasing, boundaries, and how to reconnect with your body when it’s been numb, stressed, or shut down. About Jem: Orgasmic Embodiment Coach. Jem is a certified Sex Geek -  A trauma-informed, Certified Sexological Bodyworker, Sex Coach, Tantra practitioner and teacher.  She has been featured on Channel 4 & 5 documentaries and leads one2one sessions, couples work, workshops and retreats both online and in-person. Jem has over 10 years' experience in the field of self-development through the body and teaches wat she calls 'Sexual Self-Development'. Multi-talented and creative she is passionate about helping people to connect with themselves through the body, fine-tuning into the subtleties of our life force, using sexual energy to fuel all areas of life. https:www.jemayres.co.uk

    1h 6m
  7. Relationships: How to Navigate Conflict & Create a Vision of Collaboration in Love | Jack & Erica

    NOV 6

    Relationships: How to Navigate Conflict & Create a Vision of Collaboration in Love | Jack & Erica

    Send us a text  In this raw and deeply honest episode, I'm joined by relationship mentors Jack and Erica to explore the true nature of long-lasting, meaningful relationships.  Together, we dived into the inherent mess that real connection brings—the unspoken expectations, emotional triggers, and recurring patterns that often go unresolved. Rather than avoiding discomfort, they share how conflict can be transformed into deeper trust and intimacy when approached with curiosity, presence, and compassion.  From the damaging “shoulds and coulds” to the healing power of co-creating a shared vision, this conversation offers powerful insights into how we grow together, not despite the challenges—but through them.  You’ll also hear an honest reflection on how men and women can both learn to hold space and meet each other with empathy and clarity. If you’re ready to build love that’s conscious, courageous, and collaborative—this episode is for you.  About Erica: Erica helps individuals and couples move from conflict and disconnection to collaboration and emotional intimacy. A qualified UK-based Relationship Coach with a background in holistic therapies and over a decade of experience supporting growth-centred people, she believes relational health is the missing pillar of wellbeing, and the foundation of a more connected, compassionate life. Erica's approach blends emotional education, practical tools, and self-awareness to help people move from defensiveness to collaboration, from disconnection to intimacy. Through one-to-one and couples coaching, group programmes, retreats, and workshops, Erica creates spaces where people can finally learn what school never taught them: how to love well, repair fully, and thrive together About Jack: Jack is a qualified relationship coach who helps couples using a blend of practical tools, emotional insight and a hardline of removing restricting/untrue beliefs to support lasting change. Jack believes that much of our relational behaviour is shaped by the baggage we carry — often unconsciously — from past experiences. By helping clients understand how their nervous system responses & relational strategies impact connection, safety, and reactivity; He empowers them to build more consciously connected and authetic relationships through both individual ownership and collaboration with others. https:www.ericamarmai.com https:www.jacklongbottom-relationshipcoach.com

    1h 17m
  8. 5 Lessons That Changed My Life (And Could Change Yours Too)

    OCT 30

    5 Lessons That Changed My Life (And Could Change Yours Too)

    Send us a text In this soul-stirring solo episode, James opens up about five powerful lessons transforming his life—and how they can shift yours too. He shares his journey of reclaiming personal power, embracing patience, and recognising worth as something already within. You’ll also hear about his upcoming one-day retreat, Awaken Your Inner Dragon, a transformative experience to embody truth, fire, and sovereignty. Through stories, self-reflection, and a moving parable of the fox and the light, James explores how to break limiting habits, build a new empowered identity, and focus on the big picture. He closes with a reflection on gratitude as a source of personal magnetism and daily resilience. If you’re ready to go deeper than mindset and tap into your embodied truth, this one’s for you. 🐉 Tickets are now live! Awaken Your Inner Dragon – 1 Day Retreat 📅 Sat 10 Jan 2026 | 🕙 10AM–4PM 📍 Eaton Manor, Shropshire 💷 £66 | 🎟️ Limited spaces A powerful, somatic + energetic day to reconnect with your truth, ignite your inner fire, and rise into your power. 🔥 Movement | 💬 Voice work | 🌬️ Emotional release This isn’t just a retreat—it’s a call to remember who you are. 🔗 Book now:  https://calendly.com/action-r1y/awaken-your-inner-dragon-1-day-retreat  #AwakenTheDragon #EmbodimentRetreat #DragonEnergy #Retreat #Transformation #Movement

    27 min
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About

Man: A Quest to Find Meaning is the podcast for men who feel stuck, disconnected, or uncertain about their place in the world — and are ready to reconnect with purpose, emotional strength, and a more authentic way of being. Hosted by James Ainsworth, each episode explores the deeper questions of modern masculinity through honest, unfiltered conversations. You’ll hear from men who’ve overcome inner battles — and from women offering powerful perspectives that challenge, inspire, and expand how we think about growth, relationships, and healing. From purpose and vulnerability to fatherhood, fear, and identity, this is a space for men who want more than just surface-level success. It’s for those on a journey to live with intention, courage, and truth. New episodes weekly. Real talk. No ego. Just the quest.

Information

  • Creator
    James Ainsworth
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Man: A Quest to Find Meaning
  • Show Website
    Man: A Quest to Find Meaning