Real Men Feel: Men's Mental Health, Masculinity & Personal Growth

Andy Grant | Men's Coach, Author & Speaker
  • 5.0 (77)
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Real Men Feel is an award-winning podcast about men's mental health, modern masculinity, and personal growth. Host Andy Grant goes beyond outdated rules of manhood with honest conversations about emotions, relationships, confidence, vulnerability, purpose, healing, spirituality, and becoming more fully yourself. For men who want more connection, self-awareness, and joy—and anyone who cares about them. Real conversations since 2016. Join the Authentic AF community at https://realmenfeel.org/group

  1. 5d ago

    The Hidden Costs of Chasing Status: Unmasking Success with Ryan Vertucci

    Connect with other men who actually get in Authentic AF:https://realmenfeel.org/group Quit the Game: Ryan Vertucci on Success, Validation, and Becoming an Aligned Man Host Andy Grant interviews entrepreneur and author Ryan Vertucci about the hidden cost of chasing money, status, and sexual validation. Ryan recounts feeling trapped in a Walgreens management job, launching a property management franchise, and later “optimizing” himself through fitness, image, social media, and pickup programs, only to remain empty despite wealth, friends, and dating options. MDMA-assisted therapy surfaced childhood wounds tied to his grandmother’s death, his mother’s anger, and a core belief that love must be earned; it also exposed that his girlfriend and best friend had been sleeping together while many friends enabled it. Ryan describes “sexual jail,” lust, pornography, and transactional party culture, then shares how therapy and an impulsive trip to Italy led him back to church and faith in Christ, prompting a shift toward genuine community, purpose, and internal grounding. 00:00 Chasing the Wrong Game00:32 Meet Ryan Vertucci01:17 Stuck in Corporate Life04:55 Betting on a Franchise07:25 Success Still Feels Empty08:26 The Pickup and Party Spiral11:00 MDMA Therapy Revelation13:51 Childhood Wound Exposed16:20 Sexual Jail and Lust18:05 Just Another Rich Guy28:54 Quitting the Nightlife31:44 Italy Trip and Vatican35:20 Tomb of St Matthew37:43 Careful with Spiritual Realms41:07 Book and Coaching Links42:01 What Men Need to Know44:02 Final Takeaways and Community CONNECT WITH RYANRyan Vertucci — https://quitthegame.com/Quit The Game book — https://amzn.to/3WhgzNzInstagram — https://www.instagram.com/alignedmanmethod/ CONNECT WITH ANDY:Coaching: https://TheAndyGrant.com/talkReal Men Feel: https://RealMenFeel.orgInstagram: @realmenfeelshow and @theandygrant ABOUT REAL MEN FEELReal Men Feel explores men's mental health, modern masculinity, relationships, purpose, authenticity and personal growth. Hosted by Andy Grant. Join other like-minded men in the Authentic AF Community | https://www.realmenfeel.org/group #RealMenFeel #MensMentalHealth #Success #Authenticity #ChasingStatus Real Men Feel ep 423

    The Hidden Costs of Chasing Status: Unmasking Success with Ryan Vertucci

  2. Oct 2

    The Two Deaths of an Athlete and the Road to Self-Discovery

    Connect with other men who actually get it. Join Authentic AF:https://realmenfeel.org/group Eddie Christian on Losing the Jersey: Identity, Mentorship, and Life After Pro Baseball Andy Grant interviews Eddie Christian, who grew up identifying as an athlete, was first drafted at 16, and spent nine years in professional baseball in the Marlins, Angels, and Mariners organizations before moving into leading customer experience teams. Eddie describes how performance and “a number next to your name” shaped his worth from early childhood, the cutthroat reality of the minors, and coping alone after bad games. When baseball ended around age 29–30, he felt lost, avoided the sport, and said it took six or seven years for the loss to sink in as corporate life “wasn’t the clubhouse.” He discusses feeling like “nothing,” the idea that athletes “die two deaths,” and how mentors—especially veteran players and older professionals—helped him evolve. Eddie now focuses outward on mentoring and service, and he and Andy highlight men’s mental health support through The Real and the Authentic AF community. 00:00 When Identity Ends00:48 Confidence Through Sports01:41 Drafted at Sixteen02:51 Numbers and Self-Worth03:26 Alone After Failure05:21 No Help in Clubhouse06:04 Career Cut and Reality07:11 Lost Without Baseball09:02 Nothingness and Grief11:42 Office Not Clubhouse14:46 Corporate Slumps Too15:56 Leadership From Baseball17:22 Mentors Who Changed Him19:20 Mexico Bar Breakthrough22:02 Mentoring the Hungry24:04 Men Need Safe Spaces25:27 Service Over Self26:31 How to Connect26:56 Final Message and Wrap CONNECT WITH EDDIEEddie Christian — https://www.eddiechristian.com/LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddie-christian/ CONNECT WITH ANDY:Coaching: https://TheAndyGrant.com/talkReal Men Feel: https://RealMenFeel.orgInstagram: @realmenfeelshow and @theandygrant ABOUT REAL MEN FEELReal Men Feel explores men's mental health, modern masculinity, relationships, purpose, authenticity and personal growth. Hosted by Andy Grant. Join other like-minded men in the Authentic AF Community | https://www.realmenfeel.org/group #RealMenFeel #MensMentalHealth Real Men Feel ep 422

    The Two Deaths of an Athlete and the Road to Self-Discovery

  3. Sep 25

    Breaking the Superman Complex: Vulnerability and Success

    🔥 Want deeper conversations like this with men who actually get it? Join Authentic AF:https://realmenfeel.org/group Taking Off the Superman Costume: Jasper Calcara on Vulnerability and the Structure of Excellence Host Andy Grant introduces Real Men Feel and invites successful-but-stuck men to book a free clarity call. He interviews structural engineer and entrepreneur Jasper Calcara, who describes a lifelong “Superman complex” rooted in childhood anxiety and lack of self-worth, masked by decades of professional success. After the sudden death of his business partner, mounting pressure, and the end of his marriage, Jasper hit rock bottom and began healing by acknowledging his “internal cracks,” seeking the right support, and embracing vulnerability. He shares engineering frameworks—temporary supports and maintenance—to explain personal growth, including “be good, do good, evolve,” his definition of excellence as sustained high performance for the right reasons, and a GPS goal model (goal, process, skills). They discuss why men delay getting help, the difference between rescuing and empowering, and the importance of safe communities. Andy closes by promoting his men’s group and reminding listeners that feelings are information. 00:00 Welcome and Clarity Call00:26 Meet Jasper and Themes01:18 Superman Complex Origins03:05 Success Without Peace05:26 Why Men Hit Rock Bottom06:51 Collapse and Choosing Healing08:37 Be Good Do Good Evolve10:45 Engineering Metaphor for Support13:21 Vulnerability and Safe Spaces14:39 Rescuing vs Coaching17:11 Structure of Stability19:12 First Steps to Drop the Cape24:24 Excellence and Goal Frameworks28:16 Asking for Help and Connection30:20 Where to Find Jasper31:58 Final Takeaways and Community CONNECT WITH JASPERJasper Calcara — https://jaspercalcara.com/YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@JasperCalcara26Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/jaspercalcara CONNECT WITH ANDY:Coaching: https://TheAndyGrant.com/talkReal Men Feel: https://RealMenFeel.orgInstagram: @realmenfeelshow and @theandygrant ABOUT REAL MEN FEELReal Men Feel explores men's mental health, modern masculinity, relationships, purpose, authenticity and personal growth. Hosted by Andy Grant. Join other like-minded men in the Authentic AF Community | https://www.realmenfeel.org/group #RealMenFeel #MensMentalHealth Real Men Feel ep 421

    Breaking the Superman Complex: Vulnerability and Success

  4. Sep 4

    Breaking the 'I'm Fine' Mask: From Vulnerability to Purpose

    Be more you in Authentic AF. Visit https://www.skool.com/authenticaf/about Andy Grant on Real Men Feel: Vulnerability, Values, and Coming Home to Yourself Andy Grant, host of Real Men Feel, makes a guest appearance on The Richard Taliaferro Podcast to discuss masculinity, vulnerability, and authenticity, including why many men hide behind “I’m fine,” why sensitivity is often treated as a slur, and how fear of hurt and rejection drives disconnection and addiction. Andy recounts surviving multiple suicide attempts and depression, a pivotal spiritual moment that led him to seek help, and how his coaching draws from what saved his life. He contrasts performative support with real support, emphasizes unlearning “man box” conditioning, and recommends simple practices—gratitude journaling, brief meditation via breathing, and mirror work—to rebuild self-connection. Andy highlights the importance of identifying personal values (moving from safety rooted in fear to freedom, love, and joy), encourages safe failure to reduce fear, reminds men that they are more than roles, invites them to the free Authentic AF community, and announces a two-week break, with a return on September 25th. 00:00 Welcome and Setup01:09 Guest Intro and Background02:24 Suicide Survival Turning Point04:14 Reclaiming Sensitivity06:38 Unlearning the Man Box09:06 External Success vs Inner Truth12:10 Masks and I'm Fine15:08 Simple Practices to Reconnect16:47 Permission to Feel18:24 Modern Mystery School Path18:48 Know Thyself Beyond Labels19:43 Breaking Old Thought Ruts20:29 Real vs Performative Support22:23 Why Vulnerability Feels Unsafe24:57 Fear of Rejection and Addiction25:38 Practicing Failure on Purpose29:04 Values Over Resume Success31:34 Put Yourself First to Serve32:45 Three Tools to Come Home35:13 You Matter and Final Sendoff Connect with RichardRichard Taliaferro — https://www.richardtaliaferro.com/LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardtaliaferro/Richard Taliaferro Podcast — https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-richard-taliaferro-podcast/id1745735069 Connect with Andy:Join other like-minded men in the Authentic AF Community | https://www.realmenfeel.org/groupInstagram | @realmenfeelshow & @theandygrantAndy Grant | https://theandygrant.com for coaching, healing, and book info!Real Men Feel | https://realmenfeel.orgYouTube | https://youtube.com/realmenfeel #RealMenFeel ep 420

    Breaking the 'I'm Fine' Mask: From Vulnerability to Purpose

  5. Aug 28

    Can You Be a Lawyer and a Psychic? | Identity and Authenticity

    Find yourself in Authentic AF. Visit https://www.skool.com/authenticaf/about Attorney and Psychic Medium Jason Zuk on Identity Collisions, Caregiving, and Authenticity Host Andy Grant interviews Jason Ciofalo, aka Jason Zuk “the social psychic,” an attorney licensed in five states who is also a psychic medium. Jason describes growing up with family intuition, a transformative experience after his grandfather’s death that sparked mediumship, and a premonition dream that led him to adopt the Jason Zuk name and begin public psychic work and podcasting in 2018. He recounts intuitively sensing his cancer diagnosis months before confirmation, spiritual experiences during anesthesia, and how cancer, COVID, and becoming his mother’s caregiver reshaped his values, relationships, and focus on authenticity, compassion, and boundaries. Jason explains he keeps psychic abilities separate from legal work for ethical and credibility reasons, discusses meditation and “insight with structure,” shares a CE5-style nonhuman contact experience tied to the film “Disclosure Day,” and urges men to lead with empathy, care for elders, and live authentically. 00:00 Two Worlds One Man01:04 Choosing the Name Zuk02:36 Family Intuition Awakens03:36 Grandfather’s Passing Message05:35 Hiding Then Going Public07:41 Cancer Premonition Lessons11:22 Caregiving and Lost Support23:07 Resentment Boundaries Healing26:52 Lawyer Ethics Psychic Split29:14 Insight Into Action31:02 Disclosure Day CE5 Encounter34:19 Meditation Compassion for Men37:29 Final Reflections Farewell Connect with JasonJason Zuk — https://www.thesocialpsychic.com/Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/The.Social.Psychic.JasonZuk/LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-zuk/Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/the_social_psychic/Podcast — https://www.thesocialpsychic.com/podcast-1 Connect with Andy:Join other like-minded men in the Authentic AF Community | https://www.realmenfeel.org/groupInstagram | @realmenfeelshow & @theandygrantAndy Grant | https://theandygrant.com for coaching, healing, and book info!Real Men Feel | https://realmenfeel.orgYouTube | https://youtube.com/realmenfeel #RealMenFeel ep 419

    Can You Be a Lawyer and a Psychic? | Identity and Authenticity

  6. Aug 21

    Navigating the Success Trap: From Numbness to Fulfillment

    Find your brotherhood in Authentic AF. Visit https://www.skool.com/authenticaf/about Escaping the Success Trap: Measuring Resistance and Reclaiming Emotional Freedom with Mike Irving Andy Grant interviews executive coach Mike Irving about the “success trap,” where external achievement still leaves men feeling stuck, numb, or dissatisfied. Mike shares how, despite building a successful business in his 20s, he became miserable and was prescribed depression medication near 30, prompting him to learn emotional awareness from an older “research team.” He contrasts forcing outcomes—which creates opposing resistance—with choice, intent, and tools like centered breathing, emphasizing that getting unstuck requires willingness to experience emotions rather than trying to avoid them. Mike describes “quantum resistance” as a measurable emotional-physiological barrier and explains a two-hour, 320-question diagnostic that assesses traits across attitude, competency, aptitude, and human interaction skills to predict behavior under pressure and guide change through his Unhindered program. He offers an executive benchmark at execbenchmark.com and notes a coming book, Unseen Leadership. 00:00 Success Trap Setup01:07 Turning 50 Perspective02:26 Boat Life Redefined03:38 Chasing Moving Goals05:38 Hitting the Wall10:28 Learning to Feel13:45 Below the Line Resistance17:39 Numbness and Apathy21:27 Measuring the Trap27:49 Willingness to Change30:24 Tools and Next Steps32:27 Freedom Through Emotions35:17 Final Takeaways Connect with MikeMike Irving — https://advancedbusinessabilities.com/Exec Benchmark Test — https://www.execbenchmark.comLinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/irvingmike/ Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/mike_irving/ Connect with Andy:Join other like-minded men in the Authentic AF Community | https://www.realmenfeel.org/groupInstagram | @realmenfeelshow & @theandygrantAndy Grant | https://theandygrant.com for coaching, healing, and book info!Real Men Feel | https://realmenfeel.orgYouTube | https://youtube.com/realmenfeel #RealMenFeel ep 418

    Navigating the Success Trap: From Numbness to Fulfillment

  7. Aug 14

    One Man's Experience with IVF: Masculinity and Healing

    Find your brotherhood in Authentic AF. Visit https://www.skool.com/authenticaf/about Cuzzin Justin on IVF: Men, Grief, and the Intentional Path to Fatherhood Host Andy Grant interviews entrepreneur and podcast host Justin “Cuzzin Justin” Abrams about his six-year IVF journey, emphasizing that infertility and pregnancy loss affect men too. Justin describes feeling pressure to be strong and hide emotions, the emasculating sense of having little role beyond supporting his wife Tara, and how the medical process felt “sterile,” ambiguous, and businesslike. After years in an “unexplainable” category, they learned Tara had endometriosis, following multiple failures and miscarriages. Justin discusses trauma from the uncertainty, private grief, faith/spirituality, and coping through suppression and solitary “walkabouts,” while noting his cousin Todd was his main confidant. Justin explains their determination to build a family by any means, the desire to continue his family name, and their plan to end doctor-assisted attempts by August. He advises supporters to ask needs-based questions and stresses there’s no playbook—just keep going. 00:00 Men in IVF Too00:18 Meet Cousin Justin01:08 Beyond the Roles02:57 Legacy and Divorce Wakeup05:37 IVF as Uncontrollable Creation07:46 Unexplained Infertility Years10:29 Family Name Pressure13:59 Emasculating Sterile Traumatic19:51 Trauma and Fear of Loss23:47 Why Keep Trying26:21 Manhood and Testing Results27:31 Carrying Her Burden29:14 Atlas Mode and Anger32:17 Validation and Deflection35:07 Grief in Different Ways37:30 Cousin Todd Safe Space40:08 Marriage Bond and Next Goal43:12 How to Support Men46:46 Talking to Kids About IVF49:10 No Playbook Keep Going51:00 Final Reflections and Invite Connect with JustinJustin Abrams — https://cuzzinjustin.com/LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/cuzzinjustin/Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/cuzzinjustin24ResourcesPodcast — Strictly From Nowhere Connect with Andy:Join other like-minded men in the Authentic AF Community | https://www.realmenfeel.org/groupInstagram | @realmenfeelshow & @theandygrantAndy Grant | https://theandygrant.com for coaching, healing, and book info!Real Men Feel | https://realmenfeel.orgYouTube | https://youtube.com/realmenfeel #RealMenFeel ep 417

    One Man's Experience with IVF: Masculinity and Healing

  8. Aug 7

    Redefining Masculinity: Age Out Loud

    Find your brotherhood in Authentic AF. Visit https://www.skool.com/authenticaf/about Age Out Loud: Redefining Aging, Mindset, and Men’s Purpose Host Andy Grant welcomes Chris Moore, author of "Age Out Loud," to discuss reframing aging as vitality, reinvention, and purpose rather than decline. Moore explains how limiting beliefs and cultural ageism—often reinforced by media—shape expectations, noting that ageism is a prejudice against our future selves and that “old” can be a state of mind. Using examples such as Roger Bannister’s four-minute mile and elders who remain active, he urges listeners to question inherited stories about what’s “impossible.” Chris shares how losing his first wife, Barbara, to lung cancer shifted his mission, teaching him the power of perspective and gratitude. He outlines seven pillars of ageless vitality—mindset, nutrition, exercise, sleep, relationship with God, relationship with others, and brain health—and highlights men’s common struggles with connection and asking for help. The episode closes with resources to find Chris Moore’s book, podcast, and communities, plus an invitation to Andy’s Authentic AF group at realmenfeel.org/group. 00:00 Welcome and Big Idea00:51 What Age Out Loud Means02:41 Why Aging Feels Like an Insult05:51 Subtle Ageism and Work09:40 Old as a State of Mind10:48 Expectations and Four Minute Mile14:12 Rewriting Beliefs and Potential18:33 Loss, Grief, and New Purpose23:38 Men, Aging, and Relevance28:53 Seven Pillars of Vitality30:18 Connection and Asking for Help34:23 Where to Find Chris36:58 What Men Need to Know40:28 Closing Takeaways and Invite Connect with ChrisAge Out Loud — https://ageoutloudbook.com/LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-moore-7505b0259/Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14paptPGVZ1/ResourcesAge Out Loud: How to Live a Purposeful, Fulfilling Life in the Years that Matter Most — https://amzn.to/4wHUJ3jPodcast — Aging In Place Is a Team Sport Connect with Andy:Join other like-minded men in the Authentic AF Community | https://www.realmenfeel.org/groupInstagram | @realmenfeelshow & @theandygrantAndy Grant | https://theandygrant.com for coaching, healing, and book info!Real Men Feel | https://realmenfeel.orgYouTube | https://youtube.com/realmenfeel #RealMenFeel ep 416

    Redefining Masculinity: Age Out Loud
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Real Men Feel is an award-winning podcast about men's mental health, modern masculinity, and personal growth. Host Andy Grant goes beyond outdated rules of manhood with honest conversations about emotions, relationships, confidence, vulnerability, purpose, healing, spirituality, and becoming more fully yourself. For men who want more connection, self-awareness, and joy—and anyone who cares about them. Real conversations since 2016. Join the Authentic AF community at https://realmenfeel.org/group

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