Excellence Above Talent Podcast

Aaron Thomas
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

The State of Man Is in Crisis—It’s Time for a Conversation.  The Excellence Above Talent podcast was born from pain, loss, and a deep need for change.  - Men are 3.6 times more likely to die by suicide than women.  - Men commit the majority of violence in the U.S., including domestic abuse and sexual assault.  - 90% of the prison population consists of men.  These are not just statistics—they represent broken families, lost lives, and a cycle of harm and abuse that must end.  As a BIPP (Batterer’s Intervention and Prevention Program) Director for four years, I’ve had countless conversations with men—men who believed abuse was necessary, men who didn’t even realize they were abusers. What I learned is that men want to talk, but they have no safe space to do so.  Society teaches men to suppress their struggles, to avoid vulnerability, and to uphold a toxic version of manhood. But silence is destroying us.  The Excellence Above Talent podcast is here to challenge the status quo. We’re redefining what it means to be a man—one conversation at a time.  Join me. Let’s fight for the future of manhood. Our sons are watching.  #ExcellenceAboveTalent #MensMentalHealth #RedefiningManhood #BreakTheCycle  

  1. 6d ago

    How Watermelon And Fried Chicken Became Racist Symbols

    Send us Fan Mail We break down how racist stereotypes get created, why they stick, and what history gets erased when a joke becomes “truth.” We connect the origins of food stereotypes, modern data on assistance and arrests, and the mental health pressure of having to prove you are the exception.  • tracing the watermelon stereotype to post-emancipation independence and racist propaganda  • explaining the waiter carrier history and how Black women used food sales to build livelihoods  • challenging the “lazy” label with examples of Black labor and ongoing barriers to opportunity  • unpacking media narratives in sports and how bias shapes who gets respect  • sharing a personal story of workplace promotion bias and what it does to motivation  • comparing SNAP, cash assistance, and housing assistance numbers to the welfare queen myth  • separating arrest data from convictions and questioning what makes the newsfeed  • linking stereotypes to men’s mental health and the pressure to shrink yourself  This week I want you to choose one stereotype you have heard and find its source. Read what the evidence actually says. And then share it with me on social media, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok. But then also share with somebody that matters to you. Maybe help them understand their history. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. And for daily, motivational, and up-to-date content, follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Excellence Above Talent. Support the show #excellenceabovetalent #EAT #dontgiveup #youdeservethebest #youareenough ...

    How Watermelon And Fried Chicken Became Racist Symbols

  2. Oct 2

    What If Dignity Matters Even For People You Dislike

    Send us Fan Mail Silence can look like strength, but it often starts as fear. I’m back from a short reset with a new direction for Excellence Above Talent: one week we go deep on men’s mental health, accountability, and how we show up, and the next week we dig into Black American history that deserves more attention. We’re kicking that off with a theme I needed to learn the hard way: strong does not mean silent.  I tell a story from my time at a large oil field company, where I saw something disrespectful in a restroom and chose not to speak up because I didn’t know what it would cost me. Looking back, I wish I had used simple words that matched my values. That regret turns into a bigger question for every man listening: what response are you afraid of when you consider being honest, and what would a safe, respectful first step look like right now?  From there, we get practical about communication skills, emotional vulnerability, and real accountability. I share a moment where I was short with Yanni before a workout, then had to call back and own it. You’ll hear a clean apology script, why “I’m overwhelmed” isn’t an excuse to hurt people, and how to follow a pause with a real return time. We also talk men’s mental health warning signs highlighted by the National Institute of Mental Health, when to talk to a primary care provider or counselor, and how faith can sit alongside professional support.  If this helped, subscribe, share it with a man who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. What’s the one honest sentence you need to say this week? Support the show #excellenceabovetalent #EAT #dontgiveup #youdeservethebest #youareenough ...

  3. Sep 11

    Stop Trying To Be Everyone’s Hero

    Send us Fan Mail We wrestle with the fear that hits when a move or life transition makes us feel unseen, unneeded, and disconnected. We draw a hard line between healthy responsibility and the dangerous belief that our worth depends on being useful.  • why men need a place where our presence has weight  • the identity shock of moving from being known to being anonymous  • the danger of confusing being needed with being loved  • how usefulness can mask loneliness, burnout, and suicidal thinking  • why men connect better shoulder to shoulder while doing meaningful work  • what real brotherhood looks like in practice: accountability, consistency, showing up  • how to serve without becoming the savior or self-destructing  • the difference between providing for a family and being present with a family  • mentoring as a way to turn pain into purpose and build legacy  • the question to write down: where would someone notice if we disappeared  Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. And for daily, motivational, and up-to-date content, follow us on Facebook and Instagram at ExcellenceAbove Talent.  Support the show #excellenceabovetalent #EAT #dontgiveup #youdeservethebest #youareenough ...

  4. Sep 4

    Survival Mode Kept You Alive, But Is It Keeping You From Living?

    Send us Fan Mail Survival mode can keep us alive in one season and quietly steal our peace in the next. We unpack how hypervigilance forms, what it costs our relationships and identity, and how discernment helps us learn when the battle is truly over.  • redefining strength from constant readiness to grounded awareness  • childhood memories that shape hypervigilance and a trauma response  • racism and real-world danger without letting every room feel like a threat  • the “charity kid” wound and why money can represent safety  • the difference between stewardship and financial performance  • what happens when a soldier comes home but the nervous system stays deployed  • the price of survival mode in marriage, parenting, friendships, and rest  • separating what is happening now from what happened back then  • learning to receive help without shame or interpreting it as pity  Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. For daily, motivational, and up-to-date content, follow us on Facebook and Instagram at ExcellenceAboveTalent. And remember, keep moving forward, never give up, and you are never alone in this battle.  Support the show #excellenceabovetalent #EAT #dontgiveup #youdeservethebest #youareenough ...

  5. Aug 28

    How High Functioning Men Hide Deep Pain

    Send us Fan Mail We zoom in on what a man’s life can look like before anyone calls it a mental health problem and why we keep missing the buildup until it turns into a crisis. I challenge the idea that productivity equals peace, and I lay out the “check engine” signs that should push us toward honest talks, brotherhood, and real help. • functioning well while hurting and why competence can hide pain • overworking as identity and what it can cover up • the discomfort of quiet and what life changes reveal • anxiety that looks like being responsible • anger as a cover for depression, fear, grief, shame, and loneliness • isolation and why brotherhood means following up • substance misuse as an attempt to quiet the mind • empathy gaps around men’s suffering and the reality of suicide • redefining strength as awareness plus courage • practical self-check questions and when to talk to a professional Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. And for daily motivational and up-to-date content, follow us on Facebook and Instagram at ExcellenceAboveTalent. Support the show #excellenceabovetalent #EAT #dontgiveup #youdeservethebest #youareenough ...

  6. Aug 21

    What If Being Overlooked Is Your Freedom

    Send us Fan Mail We get honest about what it feels like to be overlooked and how chasing recognition can quietly turn into a lifelong audition. I share how the move to California forced me to slow down, face old wounds, and choose excellence without handing my self-worth to other people.  • feeling like the second choice and how that story forms  • how “what’s wrong with me?” becomes a dangerous question  • childhood abandonment and the habit of pushing emotions down  • when achievement starts standing in for love and worth  • why civilian life isn’t a pure meritocracy after the military  • the difference between discipline and staying somewhere that no longer fits  • fear of what people think and the pressure to look “manly” during transition  • being tired of auditioning while still committed to growth and service  • practical questions to ask when rejection feels personal  Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. And for daily, motivational and up-to-date content, follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Excellence Above Talent. And remember, keep moving forward, never give up, and you are never alone in this battle.  Support the show #excellenceabovetalent #EAT #dontgiveup #youdeservethebest #youareenough ...

  7. Aug 14

    PEACE Feels UNCOMFORTABLE When CHAOS Is All You Know

    Send us Fan Mail I’m learning that when your life is built on dysfunction, peace can feel suspicious, even when nothing is wrong. I share my story, the move to California, and the hard questions I’m using to stop self-sabotage and let peace lead.  • growing up around chaos and carrying survival patterns into adulthood  • how big transitions trigger the urge to run back to familiarity  • why stability can feel boring and consistent love can feel unsafe  • what self-sabotage looks like in real life, from overthinking to picking fights  • the question that interrupts the spiral: danger or unfamiliar peace  • redefining peace as staying grounded during problems  • treating feelings as information, not instructions  • outgrowing survival skills that once protected us  Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. And for daily motivational and up-to-date content, follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Excellence Above Talent.  Support the show #excellenceabovetalent #EAT #dontgiveup #youdeservethebest #youareenough ...

  8. Aug 7

    Men Behind The Mission Pt.4 - The Man Who Showed Up

    Send us Fan Mail We finish the Men Behind The Mission series with Abishai, the kind of man who steps forward when nobody else does. We connect his story to men’s mental health and brotherhood, because isolation is not strength and even strong men need support.  • Abishai as the model of availability over talent  • David asking for a volunteer and Abishai saying “I’ll go with you”  • a modern picture of exhaustion and how one text can save a life  • why isolation feeds shame, addiction, and depression  • our personal reminder of suicide loss and why staying connected matters  • David growing tired in battle and needing another man to step in  • the danger of building identity around never needing help  • giving people the chance to show up instead of drowning quietly  • becoming an Abishai through calls, texts, visits, and real questions  • building a circle before crisis and not confusing followers with friends  • loyalty with wisdom, discipline, and accountability  • a three-part challenge: reach out, name your person, stay consistent  Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.  And for daily, motivational, and up-to-date content, follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Excellence Above Talent.  Support the show #excellenceabovetalent #EAT #dontgiveup #youdeservethebest #youareenough ...

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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

The State of Man Is in Crisis—It’s Time for a Conversation.  The Excellence Above Talent podcast was born from pain, loss, and a deep need for change.  - Men are 3.6 times more likely to die by suicide than women.  - Men commit the majority of violence in the U.S., including domestic abuse and sexual assault.  - 90% of the prison population consists of men.  These are not just statistics—they represent broken families, lost lives, and a cycle of harm and abuse that must end.  As a BIPP (Batterer’s Intervention and Prevention Program) Director for four years, I’ve had countless conversations with men—men who believed abuse was necessary, men who didn’t even realize they were abusers. What I learned is that men want to talk, but they have no safe space to do so.  Society teaches men to suppress their struggles, to avoid vulnerability, and to uphold a toxic version of manhood. But silence is destroying us.  The Excellence Above Talent podcast is here to challenge the status quo. We’re redefining what it means to be a man—one conversation at a time.  Join me. Let’s fight for the future of manhood. Our sons are watching.  #ExcellenceAboveTalent #MensMentalHealth #RedefiningManhood #BreakTheCycle  

Information

  • Creator
    Aaron Thomas
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    130
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Excellence Above Talent Podcast
  • Show Website
    Excellence Above Talent Podcast