Lion Counseling Podcast

Lion Counseling Podcast
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Mental Health
  • Complete

The Lion Counseling Podcast helps men escape the cages that hold them back and become the Lions they were created to be. It exists to help men obtain success, purpose, happiness, and peace in their career and personal lives. The podcast is hosted by the founder of Lion Counseling, Mark Odland (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified EMDR Therapist), and Zack Carter (Counselor and Coach with Lion Counseling). In their podcasts, they address a variety of topics relevant to men, including: mental health, relationships, masculinity, faith, success, business, and self-improvement.

  1. 5h ago

    Why Human Dignity Changes Everything | Dr. Kristin Collier

    🎙️Why Human Dignity Changes Everything | Dr. Kristin Collier | Lion Counseling Podcast Episode #84 What gives a human being value? Is our worth based on intelligence, productivity, independence, health, or achievement? Or is human dignity rooted in something deeper—something that cannot be earned, measured, or taken away? In Episode 84, Mark sits down with Dr. Kristin Collier, an internal medicine physician, professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, and leading Christian voice on medicine, spirituality, bioethics, and human dignity. Together, they explore what happens when a culture begins assigning different levels of value to different human beings—and why the Christian doctrine of the Imago Dei offers a radically different foundation for medicine, psychology, leadership, and everyday life. ✅ Why dignity must be based on who a person is—not what they can do✅ How modern medicine can unintentionally create tiers of human value✅ The ethical questions surrounding abortion, physician-assisted suicide, disability, and end-of-life care✅ How to speak Christian truth in public without losing wisdom, compassion, or courage✅ Dr. Collier’s experience surviving a major cancellation attempt✅ Why healing is ultimately an act of submission rather than mastery✅ How physical, emotional, social, and spiritual suffering intersect✅ Why eliminating suffering must never become eliminating the sufferer✅ The Christian understanding of redemptive suffering✅ How the resurrection gives Christians hope beyond medicine, therapy, aging, and death Dr. Collier also turns the conversation toward Mark’s work with EMDR therapy, asking how traumatic memories can be healed and how the mind and body appear naturally oriented toward truth, integration, and restoration. This is a thoughtful and deeply hopeful conversation about medicine, trauma, suffering, faith, and the inherent worth of every human life. 🎙️ Connect with Dr. Kristin Collier:https://x.com/HSRDirector 🎙️ Book a Clarity Call with Mark:https://escapethecagenow.com/contact/ 🎙️ Prefer Audio Only?https://lioncounselingpodcast.transistor.fm/ 🎙️ Get Mark’s Free E-Book:https://escapethecagenow.com/subscribe/ 🎙️ Mark’s Books & Resources:https://escapethecagenow.com/books/ 🎙️ Lion Counseling:https://escapethecagenow.com/ If this conversation challenged or encouraged you:✅ Like the episode✅ Subscribe to the Lion Counseling Podcast✅ Share it with someone who cares about faith, medicine, human dignity, or ethical leadership✅ Leave a comment: What do you believe is the strongest foundation for human dignity?

    Why Human Dignity Changes Everything | Dr. Kristin Collier

  2. 5d ago

    When Leadership Becomes Control

    🎙️ When Leadership Becomes Control | Leadership Under Pressure #85One of the strongest leadership principles taught by Jocko Willink, Leif Babin, and Echelon Front is decentralized command: A leader cannot control everything.The people closest to the problem need enough clarity, trust, and authority to make decisions.It’s a powerful principle. But what happens when a man believes in decentralized command at work… while struggling to live it at home? In this episode of Leadership Under Pressure, Mark Odland explores why many high-performing men unintentionally become controlling in marriage, parenting, leadership, and business—and why control is often anxiety in disguise.  Mark breaks down:✅ The leadership principle of decentralized command taught at Echelon Front Muster✅ Why many successful men unintentionally micromanage the people around them✅ How fear and anxiety often masquerade as leadership✅ Why over-control slowly destroys trust and initiative✅ The hidden connection between uncertainty and nervous system activation✅ Why many men struggle to tolerate mistakes, uncertainty, or loss of control✅ How fear-based leadership creates dependence instead of strength This episode is not about becoming passive or disengaged.It’s about learning how to lead in a way that builds strength, responsibility, and confidence in the people around you. Because decentralized command is not just a strategy.It’s an internal capacity.And if your nervous system cannot tolerate uncertainty…you will undermine trust even while believing in the right principles. 🎙️ Book a Clarity Call with Mark:https://escapethecagenow.com/call/ 📘 Get Mark’s FREE book + join the newsletter:https://escapethecagenow.com/subscribe/ Click here to watch a video of this episode.’ Click here to view the episode transcript.’ About Leadership Under Pressure:Leadership Under Pressure is a series from Lion Counseling exploring the hidden psychological layer of leadership, discipline, relationships, and performance. Mark Odland combines trauma-informed therapy, EMDR expertise, leadership principles, faith, and real-world experience to help high-performing men operate with greater clarity, steadiness, and freedom under pressure.

    When Leadership Becomes Control

  3. Jul 28

    Strong Men Still Fall Into Temptation (The Odyssey Explained)

    Strong Men Still Fall Into Temptation (The Odyssey Explained): Lion Counseling Podcast Episode #84  Most men think discipline is enough.It isn’t. In one of the most famous scenes from The Odyssey, Odysseus doesn't trust his own willpower. He knows temptation is coming, so he prepares before it arrives by having his crew tie him to the mast. That ancient strategy has surprising implications for modern life.In this episode, Mark Odland and Zack Carter discuss: ✅ Why temptation often begins with curiosity—not just desire✅ The connection between the Sirens, dopamine, AI, social media, and doom scrolling✅ Why high-performing men often overestimate their ability to resist temptation✅ What pornography addiction reveals about human nature✅ Why accountability is a strength—not a weakness✅ Practical ways to "tie yourself to the mast" before temptation strikes Whether your struggle is pornography, social media, work, alcohol, endless information, or something else entirely, this conversation explores why preparation consistently beats willpower. 🎙 Book a Free Clarity Call:https://www.escapethecagenow.com/contact 📘 Get Mark's FREE book, Escape the Cage:https://escapethecagenow.com/subscribe/ 📩 Join our newsletter:hhttps://escapethecagenow.com/subscribe/ Click here to watch a video of this episode.’ Click here to view the episode transcript.’ About Lion CounselingLion Counseling helps high-performing men break free from the hidden struggles that keep them stuck. Through EMDR therapy, intensive counseling, and leadership coaching, we help men overcome trauma, anxiety, burnout, pornography addiction, and relationship challenges so they can lead with greater strength, clarity, and purpose. Whether you're a business owner, executive, first responder, pastor, physician, or another man carrying significant responsibility, our mission is simple: help you escape the cage that's holding you back. #MentalHealth #HighPerformingMen #SelfDiscipline #PornRecovery #AddictionRecovery #Leadership #TheOdyssey #ChristianMen #PersonalGrowth #Therapy #EMDR #Dopamine #Accountability #Psychology #LionCounseling

    Strong Men Still Fall Into Temptation (The Odyssey Explained)

  4. Jul 23

    Why Overwhelm Hijacks Leadership

    🎙️ Why Overwhelm Hijacks Leadership | Leadership Under Pressure #83One of the most practical leadership principles taught at Echelon Front Muster is: Prioritize and execute. When chaos hits, you step back, identify the highest priority, execute that first, and then move to the next. Simple.Effective.Powerful. But what happens when a man knows the principle… and still cannot access it under pressure?In this episode of Leadership Under Pressure, Mark Odland explores why many high-performing men become flooded, reactive, scattered, or shut down when overwhelm hits—and why the issue is often deeper than discipline or knowledge alone.  Mark breaks down:✅ Why overwhelm changes the brain under pressure✅ How nervous system activation narrows perspective and judgment✅ Why many men lose access to clarity during conflict, criticism, or uncertainty✅ The difference between knowing a principle and being able to access it in real time✅ Why overthinking, spinning, and avoidance are often nervous system responses✅ How old conditioning and unresolved stress shape leadership reactions✅ Why deeper work is sometimes necessary to stay steady under pressure This episode is not about becoming softer or less driven.It’s about increasing your capacity to remain clear enough under pressure to actually use the principles you already believe in.Because prioritize and execute is powerful.But first…you have to become the kind of man who can access clarity when the pressure hits. 🎙️ Book a Clarity Call with Mark:https://escapethecagenow.com/call/ 📘 Get Mark’s FREE book + join the newsletter:https://escapethecagenow.com/subscribe/ Click here to watch a video of this episode.’ Click here to view the episode transcript.’ About Leadership Under Pressure:Leadership Under Pressure is a series from Lion Counseling exploring the hidden psychological layer of leadership, discipline, relationships, and performance. Mark Odland combines trauma-informed therapy, EMDR expertise, leadership principles, faith, and real-world experience to help high-performing men operate with greater clarity, steadiness, and freedom under pressure.

    Why Overwhelm Hijacks Leadership

  5. Jul 21

    Is It Ever Okay to Lie to Someone You Love?

    🎙️ Episode 82: Is It Ever Okay to Lie to Someone You Love? Is it ever okay to lie if your intentions are good? What if your spouse tells the same story over and over again? Do you gently tell them they've already shared it... or pretend it's the first time because you love seeing their excitement? In this solo episode, Zack Carter explores a surprisingly difficult ethical and relational question inspired by a Reddit post. Along the way, he examines John Gottman's research on bids for connection, discusses Santa Claus, Disney characters, storytelling, and why honesty and love aren't always as simple as they seem. Ultimately, the conversation leads to a deeper question: What does the person you love actually want from you? Instead of assuming, perhaps the healthiest relationships are built by simply asking.In this episode, you'll learn:✅ What John Gottman's "bids for connection" reveal about healthy marriages✅ Why small moments of responsiveness matter more than most couples realize✅ Whether kindness can ever justify dishonesty✅ How situations like Santa Claus, Disney characters, and movies differ from deception in close relationships✅ Why good intentions don't automatically create healthy relationship patterns✅ A practical question every couple should ask before making assumptions about what their partner wants 📞 Book a Clarity Callhttps://escapethecagenow.com/contact/ 📘 Get Mark's Free Bookhttps://escapethecagenow.com/subscribe/ 📚 Mark's Bookshttps://escapethecagenow.com/books/ 🦁 Lion Counselinghttps://escapethecagenow.com/ 💬 Comment below:Would you rather your spouse tell you that you've already shared a story... or let you tell it again because they enjoy seeing you light up? Where do you draw the line between kindness and honesty? Click here to watch a video of this episode.’ Click here to view the episode transcript. About the Lion Counseling PodcastThe Lion Counseling Podcast helps high-performing men develop the clarity, resilience, and emotional strength needed to lead well at home, at work, and in life. Through conversations on psychology, relationships, leadership, trauma, faith, and personal growth, Mark Odland and Zack Carter help listeners escape unhealthy patterns and build lives of courage, purpose, and integrity. New episodes premiere every Tuesday.

    Is It Ever Okay to Lie to Someone You Love?

  6. Jul 16

    You’re Solving The Wrong Problem

    🎙️ You’re Solving The Wrong Problem | Leadership Under Pressure #81One of the most practical ideas Mark Odland heard at Echelon Front Muster was this: Clarity before depth. Before you go deep into solving a problem, you first have to be clear about what problem you are actually solving. It sounds obvious… but most high-performing men skip right past it. They feel pressure.They feel frustration.They feel failure.And they immediately move into action mode. But when a man misdiagnoses the problem, his strength becomes his weakness.He solves the wrong problem faster. In this episode of Leadership Under Pressure, Mark explores why so many successful men stay stuck—not because they lack discipline or intelligence, but because they are trying to solve the wrong issue. Mark breaks down:✅ Why high-performing men often misdiagnose the real problem✅ The hidden difference between discipline issues and deeper emotional patterns✅ Why productivity systems cannot solve shame, trauma, anxiety, or avoidance✅ How stress and nervous system activation distort self-assessment✅ Why recurring relationship and leadership problems are often symptoms, not root causes✅ The importance of slowing down enough to ask: “What is actually happening here?”✅ Why clarity is often more important than intensity This episode is not about becoming passive or endlessly analyzing yourself.It’s about learning how to identify the real issue underneath the visible issue—so your effort actually leads somewhere.Because if you go deep into the wrong problem…you can work extremely hard and never truly move forward. 🎙️ Book a Clarity Call with Mark:https://escapethecagenow.com/call/ 📘 Get Mark’s FREE book + join the newsletter:https://escapethecagenow.com/subscribe/ Click here to watch a video of this episode.’ Click here to view the episode transcript.’ About Leadership Under Pressure:Leadership Under Pressure is a series from Lion Counseling exploring the hidden psychological layer of leadership, discipline, relationships, and performance. Mark Odland combines trauma-informed therapy, EMDR expertise, leadership principles, faith, and real-world experience to help high-performing men operate with greater clarity, steadiness, and freedom under pressure.

    You’re Solving The Wrong Problem

  7. Jul 14

    Burnout or Depression? How to Tell the Difference (Most People Get This Wrong)

    🎙️ Episode 80: Burnout or Depression? How to Tell the Difference (Most People Get This Wrong) Many people say they're "burned out." But what if burnout isn't actually the whole story?In this episode of the Lion Counseling Podcast, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Zack Carter analyzes a real-world example to explain the important differences between burnout and depression. While the two often overlap, they aren't the same—and understanding the difference can help you find the right path forward. In this episode we discuss:     * The six major causes of burnout     * How depression can look different from burnout     * Signs that your struggles may be affecting more than just work     * Practical ways to address burnout     * When it's time to seek professional help     * If you've been feeling exhausted, unmotivated, emotionally numb, or overwhelmed, this conversation may help you better understand what you're experiencing. 📅 Book a Free Clarity Call:https://escapethecagenow.com/contact/ 📖 Free E-Book:https://escapethecagenow.com/subscribe/ 📚 Books & Resources:https://escapethecagenow.com/books/ 🌐 Lion Counseling:https://escapethecagenow.com/ Click here to watch a video of this episode.’ Click here to view the episode transcript.’ Have you ever mistaken depression for burnout—or burnout for depression? Let us know your experience in the comments below. #Burnout #Depression #MentalHealth #Therapy #EMDR #Stress #SelfImprovement #MentalHealthAwareness #LionCounseling #Psychology

    Burnout or Depression? How to Tell the Difference (Most People Get This Wrong)

  8. Jul 9

    Why You Keep Repeating the Same Mistake

    🎙️ Why You Keep Repeating the Same Mistake | Leadership Under Pressure #79One of the most practical leadership tools emphasized at Echelon Front Muster is the debrief: Review what happened.Own your mistakes.Identify lessons.Improve the next iteration. It’s a powerful framework. But what happens when a man keeps identifying the same pattern… and still repeats it?In this episode of Leadership Under Pressure, Mark Odland explores the critical difference between analyzing a reaction… and actually resolving the deeper pattern driving it.  Mark breaks down:✅ Why debriefing alone doesn’t always create lasting change✅ The difference between intellectual insight and nervous system change✅ Why high-performing men often repeat patterns they already understand✅ How shame, criticism, uncertainty, and perceived disrespect trigger automatic reactions✅ Why the body often reacts before leadership principles come online✅ How trauma-informed work and EMDR help address deeper emotional conditioning✅ Why insight without processing can leave men stuck in the same cycles This episode is not about endlessly talking about feelings.It’s about understanding why certain reactions keep happening automatically under pressure—even when a man genuinely wants to change.Because reviewing the pattern is important.But resolving what drives the pattern is where real change begins. 🎙️ Book a Clarity Call with Mark:https://escapethecagenow.com/call/ 📘 Get Mark’s FREE book + join the newsletter:https://escapethecagenow.com/subscribe/ Click here to watch a video of this episode.’ Click here to view the episode transcript.’ About Leadership Under Pressure:Leadership Under Pressure is a series from Lion Counseling exploring the hidden psychological layer of leadership, discipline, relationships, and performance. Mark Odland combines trauma-informed therapy, EMDR expertise, leadership principles, faith, and real-world experience to help high-performing men operate with greater clarity, steadiness, and freedom under pressure.

    Why You Keep Repeating the Same Mistake
See All (86)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

The Lion Counseling Podcast helps men escape the cages that hold them back and become the Lions they were created to be. It exists to help men obtain success, purpose, happiness, and peace in their career and personal lives. The podcast is hosted by the founder of Lion Counseling, Mark Odland (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified EMDR Therapist), and Zack Carter (Counselor and Coach with Lion Counseling). In their podcasts, they address a variety of topics relevant to men, including: mental health, relationships, masculinity, faith, success, business, and self-improvement.

Information

  • Creator
    Lion Counseling Podcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    86
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Lion Counseling Podcast
  • Show Website
    Lion Counseling Podcast

You Might Also Like