Better MENtal Health

Better MENtal Health

Welcome to Better MENtal Health, a podcast for men looking to understand and destigmatize their mental health journey.

  1. 10/24/2025

    The Podcast About the Podcast: What Are We Really Doing Here?

    In this episode, the guys turn the mic on themselves and discuss the future of the podcast on the podcast. 🎧 Why did we start this podcast?💬 How can men learn to open up and go deeper?⚙️ What’s next for Better MENtal Health?And… some honest check-ins about anxiety, ADHD, overwhelm, grief, and the inner critic. 👇 Timestamps & Chapters 00:00 – Why men struggle to talk deeply00:46 – Intro: The podcast about the podcast02:00 – What are we trying to do with this?03:10 – Finding focus vs chasing ideas05:00 – The pressure to say something meaningful05:45 – The goal: being examples of vulnerability07:00 – How to help men open up08:45 – The “Double-Click” analogy09:30 – Feeling into the body (somatic awareness)11:00 – Can we actually do that on a podcast?12:20 – Learning to reflect feelings instead of asking questions14:00 – The “I don’t know” defense and how to go deeper15:00 – Listener feedback: patriarchy, masculinity & nuance16:30 – The Christian Science episode and deconstruction18:30 – Living differently as men19:30 – Real check-ins: how are we actually doing?20:00 – Overwhelm, distraction, and avoidance24:00 – ADHD, shame, and medication talk27:30 – Feeling like society isn’t built for our brains29:00 – Why the system rewards the grind32:00 – Jamie’s anxiety and imposter feelings in grad school35:00 – Searching for balance as dads, partners, and students39:00 – Blake’s family loss and grief42:00 – The gym, body connection, and emotional health43:30 – The inner critic and negative self-talk46:00 – A compliment worth remembering47:00 – Gratitude, mindset, and reframing positivity49:00 – Final thoughts and listener invitation Leave a comment, share your thoughts, and let us know what you want us to talk about next. 🔗 Follow us on Instagram: @bettermentalhealthpod ❤️ Subscribe for new episodes. #mensmentalhealth#realtalk#vulnerabilityisstrength#mindfulnessformen#healingjourney#mentalhealthpodcast#deepconvos#mensgroup#podcastclips#bettermensmentalhealth #mensmentalhealth #mentalhealthformen #menswellness #mensupportingmen #vulnerability #mentalhealthmatters #destigmatizementalhealth #healingjourney #talkaboutit #bettermensmentalhealth

    50 min
  2. 08/29/2025

    The Mental Health Side of Becoming a Dad with Matt Bowman

    In this episode, Jamie, Blair, and Blake sit down with their good friend Matt, who just became a dad. We dive into the real highs and lows of new fatherhood — from sleepless nights and baby-led weaning to mental health struggles, identity shifts, and the surprising ways relationships change after bringing a baby home. This conversation is raw, honest, and full of stories that every dad (and partner) can relate to. If you’ve ever wondered what the first six months of parenthood really look like, this one’s for you. ⏱ Chapters00:00 – Intro: Why we’re talking fatherhood 00:50 – Matt’s sleep training success 02:00 – Starting solids & scary first foods 05:00 – Baby looking like dad? Reflections on identity 06:30 – Biggest unexpected changes in daily life 08:00 – Balancing freedom, hobbies & parenting 11:20 – Good enough parenting & self-reflection 13:30 – Coming home from the hospital: reality check 16:00 – Building love & attachment over time 18:00 – Baby milestones & finally having fun 20:00 – Jamie’s emotional first moments as a dad 22:00 – Postpartum depression & men’s mental health 25:00 – Therapy, life coaching, and support systems 28:00 – Parenting schedules: the freedom paradox 30:00 – Emotional ups & downs as a new dad 33:00 – Anger, frustration, and healthy outlets 36:00 – Tolerance for chaos & crying 39:00 – Partner communication & tactical teamwork 41:00 – Shifts with friends & family dynamics 43:00 – Parenting with grandparents’ help 46:00 – Looking forward: what dads get excited about 48:00 – Closing reflections 🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations about men’s mental health, fatherhood, and becoming the best version of yourself.💬 Share your parenting stories or struggles in the comments — we’d love to hear from you.

    50 min
  3. 07/17/2025

    The Enneagram & Mental Health: With Josh Lavine

    In this episode of Better MENtal Health, we sit down with coach and Enneagram expert Josh Lavine to explore the Enneagram not just as a personality tool, but as a tool for mental health, growth, and authenticity. Josh breaks down the 9 Enneagram types through the lens of body, heart, and mind, and shares his own journey of discovering what authenticity meant to him. Whether you're brand new to the Enneagram or deep in the work, this conversation is full of insights into identity, therapy, and how we accidentally forget who we are, and how to come back home. ⏱ Timecodes 00:00 – Intro & Meet Josh 01:20 – What is the Enneagram? 02:10 – Why We Start With Type 8 04:00 – Body Types: 8, 9, 1 08:42 – Heart Types: 2, 3, 4 12:10 – Mind Types: 5, 6, 7 17:00 – All Three Hosts Are 9s! 18:20 – Growing Up Disconnected from the Body 21:00 – Josh’s Breakdown & Burnout at Princeton 26:00 – The Search for Authenticity 27:00 – How the Enneagram “Found” Him 33:40 – The Bermuda Triangle: Type 3/6/9 36:50 – Finding Yourself Again (and Again) 39:00 – Why the Enneagram Is So Effective for Mental Health 42:00 – What Does It Mean to Live From Essence? 44:10 – Nines and the “Accidental Blankness” 47:00 – Enneagram in Executive Coaching 48:40 – Why You Need the Whole System 50:00 – Wrap-Up + Where to Find Josh —  Links mentioned in the video joshlavine.com theenneagramschool.com Subscribe for more honest conversations around men’s mental health: relationships, identity, healing, and self-leadership. #Enneagram #MensMentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #PersonalityTypes #SelfDiscovery #TherapyForMen #HealingJourney #SelfAwareness #EmotionalWellness #InnerWork #BetterMENtalHealth #PodcastForMen #MensHealthPodcast #EnneagramCoach #JoshLavine

    1h 5m
  4. 07/02/2025

    Men Talk About Insecurities: Body Image, Hair Loss, Social Anxiety & More

    In this raw and honest episode of Better MENtal Health, we open up about the insecurities we've carried, from being a late bloomer and feeling small, to hair loss, social anxiety, public speaking fears, impostor syndrome, and everything in between. We dive into: How comments from others (even years ago) still shape our self-imageWhy some insecurities live in silence for too longHow opening up can rewire shameAnd what we’re learning in therapy and life about reclaiming self-worth Subscribe for weekly episodes that destigmatize men's mental health and build connections through real, vulnerable conversations. Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro: Why We’re Talking About Insecurities 1:06 – Blake: “I was always the small one” 4:30 – Jamie: Middle school, puberty, and height anxiety 7:55 – Blair: No body hair, skinny arms, and internalizing comments 10:48 – Humor as a shield & deflecting with jokes 12:12 – When external comments land as deep shame 14:30 – Blair: Being a “late bloomer” emotionally and physically 16:00 – Jamie: Balding, over-fixating, and identity shifts 19:20 – Blake: The shame of public speaking and insecurity in group settings 22:05 – Blair: "Am I smart enough?" and math anxiety 23:30 – Insecurity in non-monogamy and comparison culture 25:55 – The power of voicing insecurities out loud 27:00 – Letting go of shame and rewriting internal scripts #MensMentalHealth #Insecurities #BetterMENtalHealth #HairLoss #BodyImage #ImposterSyndrome #SocialAnxiety #TherapyForMen #MentalHealthAwareness #VulnerabilityIsStrength

    56 min
  5. 06/20/2025

    Our Honest Experiences With Therapy (What We Learned As Men)

    In this episode, Blair and Blake (Jamie’s out this week) get personal about their own therapy experiences: the good, the awkward, and the deeply human. We talk about: - How hard it can be to find a therapist you actually connect with - What it’s like to leave a therapist when it’s not working - Why in-person vs. virtual therapy hits differently - Our own mental health struggles around things like insecurity, imposter syndrome, and hair loss - The difference between individual therapy and group therapy - Why therapy isn't just for "big" trauma — and how "little" traumas affect us too - What to look for in a therapist (even if you're not totally sure what you need yet) - And how opening up can feel terrifying — but also completely life-giving This episode is for the guy who’s thought about therapy but doesn’t know where to start.  🎧 Got a therapy story or question? Drop it in the comments or DM us — we want to hear from you. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Welcome and Jamie’s absence 0:45 – Why we’re sharing our therapy journeys 1:56 – Finding a therapist through the “No More Mr. Nice Guy” community 3:08 – Individual therapy vs. group therapy experiences 6:34 – Ending a therapy relationship: Blair’s story 10:00 – Do we prefer in-person or virtual therapy? 13:10 – When therapy just isn’t clicking 15:00 – The “dating” analogy of finding a therapist 17:00 – Why opening up feels risky, especially for men 18:45 – Balding, confidence, and internalized shame 22:00 – Ketamine-assisted therapy and future mental health tools 26:00 – Imposter syndrome, self-worth, and men's identity 30:47 – Why we sometimes stay too long with the wrong therapist 34:00 – What a first therapy session actually feels like 36:00 – “Are my problems big enough for therapy?” 38:40 – Big T vs. little t trauma explained 41:00 – Nuance, invalidation, and why most people carry trauma 45:00 – “You’re just paying someone to care about you” myth 47:50 – Why most therapists do genuinely care 50:30 – The emotional toll of suppressing vs. expressing 54:00 – Why therapy takes courage — and why it matters #BetterMentalHealth #MensMentalHealth #TherapyForMen #MentalHealthPodcast #FindingATherapist #MenInTherapy #DestigmatizeTherapy #VulnerabilityIsStrength #EmotionalHealth #GroupTherapy #KetamineTherapy #LeavingYourTherapist #TalkTherapy #NiceGuySyndrome #MensSupport #MentalHealthAwareness #MensHealingJourney #PodcastForMen #SelfWorth #ImposterSyndrome #TherapyJourney #HairLossConfidence

    59 min
  6. 05/23/2025

    The Manosphere Unmasked: Red Pill Culture, Alpha Myths & the Fight for Men's Mental Health

    In this episode of Better MENtal Health, Blair, Jamie, and Blake dive into one of the most controversial corners of the internet: the manosphere. We explore how red pill rhetoric, alpha male myths, incel forums, and influencer culture have built an entire ecosystem that both addresses and manipulates male emotional pain. This conversation examines how we ourselves could have been pulled into this world, what makes it appealing, and how we can create healthier spaces for men to be seen, heard, and supported. 00:00 – Intro: What is the Manosphere?01:30 – Red pill ideology explained03:10 – Jordan Peterson, fitness influencers & the gateway effect06:00 – How “science” gets twisted to justify misogyny08:20 – False sense of community vs true connection10:00 – Why some men turn anger into ideology12:00 – The algorithm’s role in radicalization14:30 – How we almost got pulled into it17:00 – The teen male experience & sex-driven content20:30 – High stakes masculinity & social status obsession22:00 – When manosphere content turns violent24:00 – Critical thinking, empathy & manipulation27:00 – “Simp” culture & shame around emotional connection30:00 – Alpha male myth debunked32:00 – The Joe Rogan dilemma: curiosity vs controversy35:00 – Why men need to speak to men38:00 – Group therapy as antidote to manosphere40:00 – Rage clicks, influencers, and the business of anger42:00 – Victimhood, MRA, and backlash to feminism45:00 – Why patriarchy harms everyone48:00 – Final thoughts + call to action Let’s talk: Are you a former manosphere follower? Just learning about it? Curious? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we welcome every perspective.Referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgO25FTwfRI&t=5716s&ab_channel=m%C3%BCnecat #MensMentalHealth #Manosphere #RedPill #AlphaMaleMyth #BetterMentalHealth #AndrewTate #JoeRogan #JordanPeterson #FreshAndFit #Masculinity #IncelCulture #PodcastClip #MentalHealthAwareness #EmpathyNotAnger #RedPillDebunked

    51 min
  7. 05/07/2025

    Punching Walls and Processing Pain: A Conversation About Men’s Anger and Healthy Emotional Expression

    Why is anger the only emotion many men feel safe expressing? In this episode of Better MENtal Health, we dive into the role anger plays in men’s lives—from suppressed emotions to explosive outbursts. We share vulnerable personal stories (yes, even punching walls and slamming doors), explore the influence of figures like Andrew Tate, and discuss how childhood, trauma, alcohol, and societal norms shape how men express (or hide) their rage. Whether it’s righteous anger or misdirected pain, this episode helps unpack what’s really going on beneath the surface—and what we can do about it. ⏱️ Topics include: Why anger can be healthy (or harmful) Righteous rage vs. reactive outbursts The link between embarrassment, control, and anger The role of therapy, physical outlets, and parenting in managing anger 00:00 Introduction to Better Mental Health Podcast 00:24 Blake's Anger Triggered by Andrew Tate 03:05 Righteous Anger and Making Change 11:23 Jamie and Blair Discuss Anger Management 14:30 Personal Stories of Anger Outbursts 27:13 Intergenerational Anger and Trauma 32:46 Small Frustrations vs. Big Issues 33:56 Therapy and Anger Exploration 34:35 Sports as an Anger Outlet 37:18 College Memories and Anger 40:42 Healthy Outlets for Anger 52:43 Alcohol and Anger 56:17 Recognizing Anger Triggers 59:38 Conclusion and Call to Action #MensMentalHealth #Anger #BetterMentalHealthPodcast #RighteousAnger #AndrewTate #ToxicMasculinity #EmotionalHealth #TherapyForMen #MaleVulnerability #MentalHealthAwareness #Fatherhood #EmotionalIntelligence #breakingthestigma

    1 hr

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Better MENtal Health, a podcast for men looking to understand and destigmatize their mental health journey.