Men Rising From Divorce - A Rising Phoenix Podcast

Michael
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A podcast for men going through an unwanted divorce or breakup.

  1. Episode 218 - Curing Loneliness After Divorce - Dr. Ron Riggio

    4D AGO

    Episode 218 - Curing Loneliness After Divorce - Dr. Ron Riggio

    Send us Fan Mail "I haven't had to make a new friend in 15 years. Where do I even start?" If your social circle vanished when your marriage ended, you are not alone. Many married men compartmentalize their friendships or rely on their wives to act as the "social director". When the divorce happens, that social calendar goes completely blank—and the silence can be deafening. Today, we are changing how we look at loneliness. We aren't just talking about how much it hurts; we are treating it as a highly fixable skill deficit. My guest is Dr. Ronald Riggio, a social personality psychologist and expert in interpersonal relationships and nonverbal communication. We break down the stark difference between solitude (being alone) and loneliness (the psychological pain of feeling disconnected). Dr. Riggio explains the terrifying physical toll of chronic loneliness—likening it to smoking 15 cigarettes a day—and gives us the exact blueprint for rebuilding our social lives from scratch. If you are tired of spending your weekends alone but feel too "rusty" to put yourself out there, this episode is your roadmap to building a new, resilient social circle. In this episode, we cover: The Loneliness Epidemic: Why the psychological pain of isolation is as dangerous to your health as smoking.Solitude vs. Loneliness: How introverts use solitude to recharge, and how to stop letting alone-time turn into painful isolation.Male vs. Female Friendships: Why men tend to have fewer, more compartmentalized friendships, and why we need to build deeper emotional connections with our buddies.Curing "Social Atrophy": What to do when your dating and socializing skills have completely atrophied during your marriage.Practical Reps: Why joining Toastmasters, taking an improv class, or practicing the "art of small talk" are the fastest ways to build your social courage.Stop Sending "Stay Away" Signals: How to adjust your nonverbal cues—like eye contact and posture—so you don't accidentally push people away.Guest Bio:Dr. Ronald Riggio is a social personality psychologist, researcher, and recognized expert in leadership and interpersonal skills. He is the author of the Social Skills Inventory, a tool designed to map out interpersonal strengths and limitations. Resources: Social Skills Inventory: mindgarden.com (Search: Social Skills Inventory)  Support the show https://www.risingphoenixpodcast.com

    46 min
  2. Episode 217 - My Experiences With IFS Part II - Solo

    MAR 24

    Episode 217 - My Experiences With IFS Part II - Solo

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode I continue talking about my IFS journey and map out my parts.  In addition I provide you with a diagnostic to help you do the same, particularly if you are stuck and cant get over your ex. Support the show https://www.risingphoenixpodcast.com

    29 min
  3. Episode 216 - Unmasking High-Functioning Depression - Dr. Stacey Pinatelli

    MAR 18

    Episode 216 - Unmasking High-Functioning Depression - Dr. Stacey Pinatelli

    Send us Fan Mail You are still going to work. You are still paying the bills. You are still showing up for your kids. When people ask how you are handling the divorce, you say, "I'm just tired". But behind closed doors, you are exhausted, numb, and running on fumes. Today, we are talking about the depression that clinicians rarely discuss: High-Functioning Depression. My guest is Dr. Stacy, a clinical psychologist with extensive experience in the VA healthcare system specializing in trauma and PTSD. We discuss the critical difference between "classic" depression—which often looks like a total inability to function—and high-functioning depression, where a man might look successful and put-together on the outside but is falling apart on the inside. We break down how men hide behind the role of "The Provider" or "The Helper" using extreme competence as a shield against feeling their grief. If your depression looks more like irritability, compulsive busyness, and an absolute fear of sitting in silence, this episode is going to change how you view your mental health. In this episode, we cover: The "I'm Fine" Trap: Why high-functioning depression is so easy to miss, and how the people around you might take your "strength" at face value.Symptoms in Disguise: Why depression often manifests as being reactive and snapping at people, or filling your schedule with compulsive busyness so you don't have to face the quiet.The First Step Out: Why you don't need a massive five-step plan to fix yourself; you just need to say one honest sentence to one person.The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique: A practical, immediate tool using your five senses to stop the internal spiral and bring yourself back to the present moment.Functioning vs. Healing: Dr. Stacy's powerful reminder that just because you are handling your responsibilities doesn't mean you are actually processing your grief.Guest Bio:Dr. Stacy recently completed her postdoctoral training in clinical psychology, focusing heavily on PTSD, trauma, and serious mental illness within the VA healthcare system. She is also the author of Hope and Healing for Survivors, available through New Harbinger and Amazon, and a regular contributor to Psychology Today. Support the show https://www.risingphoenixpodcast.com

    48 min
  4. Episode 215 - My Experiences With IFS - Solo

    MAR 10

    Episode 215 - My Experiences With IFS - Solo

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode I talk about IFS.  I define it and provide some insights that Ive gained in IFS therapy. Support the show https://www.risingphoenixpodcast.com

    26 min

  5. MAR 3

    Episode 214 - Navigating the Single Dad Life - Ronald Platt

    Send us Fan Mail The silence of the house on the first night the kids aren't there. The urge to overcompensate by buying them gifts. The crushing feeling of being a "visitor" in your own children's lives. If you are a newly single father, these are the heavy realities you are facing right now. But you do not have to navigate them blindly. Today, I sit down with Ronald Platt, the co-founder and CEO of the National Association for Single and Divorced Families (NASDF). Think of NASDF as the AARP for single-parent households—providing everything from discounted mental health care to a groundbreaking "Support Insured" product that covers child support and alimony payments if you lose your job, become disabled, or face business bankruptcy. But Ron isn't just an executive; he has lived in the trenches. He shares his deeply personal journey of surviving a 14-year relationship with an addict, fostering and adopting a teenager, and rebuilding his life from a 450-square-foot studio apartment after losing his business during the Great Recession. In this episode, we cover: The NASDF Blueprint: How this organization is changing the game for divorced parents and single families.Beating the "Visitor" Mindset: Why overcompensating with toys backfires, and how creating a strict, predictable structure is the real key to helping your kids (and yourself) feel safe.Surviving the Quiet House: Ron's daily protocol of journaling, affirmations, and gratitude that saved his life when he was starting completely over.Unconditional Love: A powerful realization about how we parent our children, the dangers of conditional love, and the life-changing magic of simply apologizing to your kids when you mess up.The Dating Hiatus: Why jumping back into the dating pool too fast usually just means you end up dating your ex in a different body.Guest Bio:Ronald Platt is the CEO of NASDF.org, an organization dedicated to providing resources, products, and support for individuals going through a divorce or running a single-family household. Resources: Website: NASDF.org  Support the show https://www.risingphoenixpodcast.com

    54 min
  6. Episode 213 - Repetition Compulsion - Solo

    FEB 24

    Episode 213 - Repetition Compulsion - Solo

    Send us Fan Mail In this solo episode I discuss the need for us to repeat patterns and recreate the templates of our childhood. Support the show https://www.risingphoenixpodcast.com

    21 min
  7. Episode 212 - The Right Side of 40 - Your Best Years Start Now - Dr. Deborah Heiser

    FEB 17

    Episode 212 - The Right Side of 40 - Your Best Years Start Now - Dr. Deborah Heiser

    Send us Fan Mail "I’m 40+, divorced, and starting over. Is this it?" If you have asked yourself that question, this episode is your answer. Society tells us that midlife is a decline—an "inverted V" where our physical and mental abilities peak and then drop off. But Developmental Psychologist Dr. Deborah Heiser says the science proves otherwise. In this episode, Dr. Heiser argues that while our physical graph may flatten, our emotional trajectory actually skyrockets as we age. We discuss why the "Midlife Crisis" is actually a "Midlife Awakening"—a time when we finally have the bandwidth to stop checking society's boxes and start building our own legacy. If you feel like you’ve lost your identity along with your marriage, this conversation will show you how to find a new one that is stronger, deeper, and more resilient than the one you left behind. In this episode, we cover: The "Right Side of 40": Why we actually get happier and more confident as we age.Success vs. Significance: Moving from "Extrinsic" validation (titles, money) to "Intrinsic" purpose (impact, connection).Mentorship as Medicine: How giving back—even in small ways—cures the feeling of irrelevance and loneliness.The "Legacy Tree": A new way to visualize your impact on the world, separate from your job or marital status.The Gender Trap: A candid look at how rigid roles for "Mom" and "Dad" set marriages up for friction, and how to break that cycle in your next chapter.Guest Bio: Dr. Deborah Heiser is an Applied Developmental Psychologist, a TEDx speaker, and the author of The Mentorship Edge. She is the founder of The Mentor Project and currently leads "My Legacy Tree," helping individuals track the impact they make on the world. Resources: Website: DeborahHeiser.com Book: The Mentorship Edge (Available on Amazon)  Support the show https://www.risingphoenixpodcast.com

    37 min
  8. Episode 211 - Just Love Yourself? - Solo

    FEB 10

    Episode 211 - Just Love Yourself? - Solo

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode I discuss the concept and advice to, Just Love Yourself. Support the show https://www.risingphoenixpodcast.com

    18 min
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A podcast for men going through an unwanted divorce or breakup.

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