Men Talking Mindfulness: Mental, Physical, and Emotional Fitness to Elevate Performance and Resilience for Leaders and Teams

Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider
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  • MENTAL HEALTH

Men Talking Mindfulness is dedicated to empowering men to embrace their true selves with bravery and authenticity. Our mission is to guide them on a journey of continual learning, developing self-love, and meaningful living. We work to inspire men to lead lives that they can look back on with pride and to create legacies that align with their deepest values. We are committed to cultivating a space where vulnerability is strength, being yourself is the norm, and where every man can unleash their potential to live a life of exceptional impact and fulfillment. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

  1. The Shadow You've Been Hiding From: Connor Beaton on Shame, Anger, and Men's Work | MTM AI Read Short

    1D AGO

    The Shadow You've Been Hiding From: Connor Beaton on Shame, Anger, and Men's Work | MTM AI Read Short

    Text A2A to 33777 to stay in the know about our upcoming Awareness to Action Course! Carl Jung said that when a man deals with his own shadow, he does something real for the world. On this episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, host Will Schneider sits down with Connor Beaton, founder of Man Talks and author of Men's Work, to get into what shadow work actually looks like for men and why most of us have been trained since childhood to avoid it. Connor explains why men tend to carry a denser shadow than women. Masculine culture teaches strength through suppression. Stuff it down, hide the weakness, perform. The result is that the parts of yourself you've rejected... anger, vulnerability, self-compassion... don't go away. They go underground. And they start running the show from there. Connor walks Will through the mechanics of how anger gets repressed and creates the nice guy pattern, how shame gets used on boys to gain compliance and then keeps grown men living small, and what he calls shame-based motivation... using pain as fuel to achieve, which works until it doesn't. Connor shares his own story of bottoming out in his late twenties, living in the back of a Pontiac G5, apprenticing with a Jungian mentor, and the conversation with a close friend that changed everything. He and Will get into relationships as mirrors for shadow, the difference between guilt and shame, psychedelics and the default mode network, and why the real work for men is growing down into yourself rather than always building up and out. What you'll hear in this episode: Why masculine culture creates a denser shadow through suppression The nice guy pattern and what happens when anger goes underground Shame-based motivation and why it has a shelf life Connor's crisis story and the two things that pulled him out Separating personhood from behavior and why it matters for fathers and sons Relationships as the clearest mirror for your shadow Psychedelics, the default mode network, and accessing the unconscious Growing down instead of growing up as the real path to maturity Connor's book: Men's Work Connor's website: ManTalks.com Man Talks Alliance: ManTalks.com (courses, live calls, community) Connor's platforms: Instagram, YouTube, Spotify Full episode: https://pod.fo/e/33c406 Text MTM to 33777 for updates on new episodes and resources from Focus Now Training. Jon's book, DIAL in Your Leadership: 4 Non-negotiables for Leading with Clarity, Trust, and Purpose, is available now on Amazon. https://a.co/d/0hYwI2Sz Follow Men Talking Mindfulness, Jon Macaskill, and Will Schneider for more. shadow work for men, Connor Beaton, Man Talks podcast, men's shadow work, shame and masculinity, anger suppression men Men Talking Mindfulness podcast, Will Schneider, nice guy pattern, shame-based motivation, Jungian shadow, men's personal development, separating personhood from behavior, default mode networkwhat is shadow work for men, why do men suppress anger, how does shame affect men, what is shame-based motivation, nice guy syndrome and anger, how do psychedelics help shadow work, Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    8 min
  2. Beyond Belief NY Times best seller - Nir Eyal on why you keep quitting on yourself

    5D AGO

    Beyond Belief NY Times best seller - Nir Eyal on why you keep quitting on yourself

    You've read the book. You nodded at every page. And then you changed absolutely nothing. Sound familiar? Nir Eyal helped Silicon Valley build the systems that capture your attention — then turned around and wrote the books on how to fight back. Hooked became the playbook for habit-forming products. Indistractable showed you how to resist them. And now Beyond Belief cracks open the real reason most men read all of it, agree with all of it, and still don't change. It's not discipline. It's not information. It's belief. Specifically, the stories you've been telling yourself about who you are, what you're capable of, and whether change is actually possible for someone like you. Nir calls them limiting beliefs — and he spent six years researching how to replace them with something better. This one hits different if you've ever blamed your ADHD, your past, your upbringing, or the algorithm for the gap between who you are and who you know you could be. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: Why 90% of distraction isn't your phone — it's a feeling The motivation triangle: behavior and benefit fail without belief How a diagnosis becomes a cage — and how to break out The man who almost died from a placebo overdose Richter's rats: how one belief produced 240x more persistence Why to-do lists are broken — and what to do instead FREE RESOURCE FROM NIR: 5-Minute Belief Change Guide — nirandfar.com/beyondbelieflive FOLLOW NIR EYAL: Website & free resources: nirandfar.com Books: Hooked, Indistractable, Beyond Belief — Amazon Go Deeper here are Three Supporting EPISODES FROM MTM: Ep. 92 — Overcoming Procrastination Ep. 121 — Managing Your Mind: How to Kick Out Negative Thoughts Ep. 138 — Curiosity Is Key to Breaking Men Free from Judgment and Rumination Follow MTM: SUBSCRIBE - Thursday Three Things or Text MTM to 33777: newsletter.focusnowtraining.com FREE Training Content or Corporate Workshop: focusnowtraining.com More Episodes & Resources: mentalkingmindfulness.com Coaching with Will: willnotfear.com Book Jon to Speak: jonmacaskill.com Co-produced by Robert Lopez | cratesaudio.com Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    1h 7m
  3. Your Bedroom Is a Weapon: Navy SEAL Rob Sweetman on the Science of Sleep

    MAY 8

    Your Bedroom Is a Weapon: Navy SEAL Rob Sweetman on the Science of Sleep

    Stop pretending you're fine on 5 hours of sleep. You're not. On this episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, hosts Jon Macaskill and Will Schneider bring back Robert Sweetman, former Navy SEAL, sleep scientist, and founder of Sleep Genius, to talk about what actually makes the difference between garbage sleep and real recovery. Rob's approach starts with a concept he calls the sleep dojo. The same way you'd treat a martial arts dojo with respect, structure, and intention, that's how your bedroom should work. Take the fights out of it. Take the scrolling out of it. Take the laptop, the TV, and the phone out of it. And then start paying attention to the physical environment: light, sound, and temperature. Rob walks Jon and Will through the neuroscience of why blue light kills melatonin production, why a 35-decibel noise spike can wreck your sleep cycle without waking you up, why 65 to 69 degrees is the sweet spot for your bedroom, and why eating close to bedtime leads to visceral fat because melatonin blocks insulin. He also drops the truth about THC and sleep... it kills your REM. Will was doing sober October and says his REM numbers have already gone up. Jon talks about going through Rob's 62 Romeo sleep course and how it changed his sleep habits. Rob explains his work building sleep pods for the military and writing a memo to the Secretary of Defense on weaponizing wellness for the warfighter. And the episode wraps with Rob offering to sign copies of his book, 62 Romeo Sleep 101, for listeners who comment on the episode. What you'll hear in this episode: The sleep dojo concept and why your bedroom needs the same respect as a martial arts dojo Why blue light, noise spikes, and warm bedrooms are wrecking your recovery The link between late eating, melatonin, insulin, and visceral fat Why THC eliminates REM sleep even when it feels relaxing Deep sleep vs. REM sleep: aim for 90 minutes of each What orthosomnia is and why obsessing over sleep data makes things worse Rob's military sleep pod project and what it means for warfighters in austere conditions The 45-minute wind-down routine that preps your body for real sleep Rob's book: 62 Romeo Sleep 101 (Amazon, $10) Rob's website: sleepgenius.us Rob's platforms: LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter Sign up to learn more about the Awareness to Action course here: https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course-interest Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    6 min
  4. How to Stop Reacting and Start Responding | The Gap Between Stimulus and Response | (An MTM Short)

    MAY 6

    How to Stop Reacting and Start Responding | The Gap Between Stimulus and Response | (An MTM Short)

    One concept. That's all we're covering today. And if you only took one thing from 260-plus episodes of this show... it might be this. Viktor Frankl survived the Holocaust and came out the other side with an idea that Jon and Will think about almost every day. Between what happens to you and how you respond, there's a gap. A space. And inside that space is where every good decision you've ever made actually lives. Most of us blow right past it. Something happens, we react. Email comes in, we fire back. Kid does something, we snap. No space in between. In this episode we break down why the gap exists, why nobody taught you how to use it, and four ways to start building it this week. No fluff. No theory you can't use. Just one concept you can try before your next meeting, your next hard conversation, or your next encounter with slow internet. This is the foundation of the Awareness to Action (A2A) course we've been building. Enrollment opens May 27th. Want to stay in the loop and get first access when registration goes live? Sign up here: https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course-interest Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    15 min
  5. Mindfulness is Everywhere — This is how to find inner purpose as a man with Former Monk Sean Fargo

    MAY 4

    Mindfulness is Everywhere — This is how to find inner purpose as a man with Former Monk Sean Fargo

    Mindfulness is a $2 billion industry. It's in apps, corporate programs, retreats, and workplace wellness modules. And men are more burned out, disconnected, and distracted than ever.  So is mindfulness  actually working? Sean Fargo is a former Buddhist monk who spent two years in a Thai monastery before deciding the world needed these teachings more than the monastery needed another monk.  His platform, has reached over 20 million people. He trained under the teachers at Spirit Rock. And he's the man who certified Jon as a mindfulness meditation teacher. This conversation goes beyond the apps and the retreats into what's actually blocking men from presence — grief they've never acknowledged, purpose they've never defined, and values they've never chosen for themselves. Sean ends the episode with a live mindfulness practice. Don't skip it. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: Why the real problem isn't pace or tech — it's that most men are moving faster than they can feel The difference between outer purpose and inner purpose — and why outer goals collapse under pressure How grief is silently blocking thousands of men's meditation practice — and what to do about it What the Buddha called the most powerful mindfulness practice: awareness of death Why Sean wants to go out of business — and what that vision says about where mindfulness needs to go How to ask yourself the one question that cuts through all the noise: what would I like for myself? FOLLOW SEAN FARGO: mindfulnessexercises.com LinkedIn TOP 3 SIMILAR EPISODES FROM MTM: Ep. 140 — Can AI Meditations Replace Real Teachers and Be Effective? with Dr. Steve Haberlin Ep. 93 — The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself with Dr. Kristin Neff Ep. 73 — Dr. James Doty: Neurosurgeon & Author of Into the Magic Shop Start Your Mindful Journey: SUBSCRIBE - Thursday Three Things or Text MTM to 33777: newsletter.focusnowtraining.com FREE Training Content or Corporate Workshop: focusnowtraining.com More Episodes & Resources: mentalkingmindfulness.com Coaching with Will: willnotfear.com Book Jon to Speak: jonmacaskill.com Co-produced by Robert Lopez | cratesaudio.com Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    1h 10m
  6. Choose Her Every Day or Leave Her: Bryan Reeves on What Men Get Wrong About Relationships

    MAY 1

    Choose Her Every Day or Leave Her: Bryan Reeves on What Men Get Wrong About Relationships

    "I spent five years hurting a good woman by staying with her but never fully choosing her." That one sentence, written by Bryan Reeves, has been read by tens of millions of people. On this episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, hosts Jon Macaskill and Will Schneider sit down with Bryan... former U.S. Air Force captain, relationship coach, and author of the book Choose Her Every Day or Leave Her... to talk about what men actually get wrong in their relationships and what it takes to fix it. Bryan gets into the paradox at the center of every committed relationship... the need to care deeply about your partner while also holding onto yourself. He talks about why so many men bounce between total sacrifice and total detachment, why "what would serve we?" is the most powerful question a couple can ask, and why connection time is not productive time, even though every mission-oriented bone in your body says otherwise. Jon and Bryan go deep on the two fears that show up in men over and over again... "I'm not worthy of love" and "I'm going to mess this up." They get into how those fears drive the shame cycle in relationships and how mindfulness is the practice that interrupts it. Bryan shares a story about studying the Tao Te Ching while being completely unable to apply any of it in his own relationship. Twenty-five years later, he can. The difference is reps. They also talk about when leaving is the most loving choice, why men need men's work that isn't just beer and football, and why learning to play again matters more than most men realize. What you'll hear in this episode: Why "checking the box" on your relationship is slowly killing it The paradox of caring and not caring at the same time The two core fears men bring to relationships and how they feed the shame cycle How mindfulness gives you access to repair after a fight Why the Gottman Institute says arguing past ten minutes is pointless When leaving in love is the right choice Why men's work and play are connected to being a better partner and parent Bryan's book: Choose Her Every Day or Leave Her Bryan's website: bryanreeves.com (Bryan with a Y) Bryan's programs: Elevate Your Relationship, Elevate 2026 (annual men's group) Jon and Will's new course is coming out soon... sign up here to stay in the loop https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course-interest Sign up for our newsletter... text MTM to 33777. Jon's new book, DIAL in Your Leadership: 4 Non-negotiables for Leading with Clarity, Trust, and Purpose, is available now on Amazon. https://a.co/d/0hYwI2Sz Follow Men Talking Mindfulness, Jon Macaskill, and Will Schneider for more. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    6 min
  7. Why Mindfulness Doesn't Work for Most Men | What's Actually Missing | (An MTM Short)

    APR 29

    Why Mindfulness Doesn't Work for Most Men | What's Actually Missing | (An MTM Short)

    We're doing something a little different. Shorter episode. One idea. No fluff. Here's the truth... most mindfulness advice wasn't built for men. "Just meditate for 20 minutes." "Download this app." "Take a breath and relax." Cool. None of that lands for the guys Jon and Will talk to every week. Not because those guys are anti-mindfulness. They just haven't found an entry point that makes sense for how they actually live and work. The advice has no structure. No progression. The language feels soft. It doesn't connect to anything men actually care about... performing better at work, being more present with their kids, sleeping through the night without their brain running a highlight reel of everything that went wrong that day. And when it doesn't click right away, it feels like one more thing to fail at. In this episode we break down why the standard mindfulness playbook misses most men, what's actually missing from the conversation, and what it looks like when you treat attention like a skill you build instead of a vibe you hope shows up. This is the problem we've been staring at for six years on this show. And we built something for it. More on that soon. Want to stay in the loop and get first access when it's ready? Sign up here: https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course-interest Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    9 min
  8. Finding Peace in a World That Keeps Pulling You Away From It with Ishan Shivanand

    APR 27

    Finding Peace in a World That Keeps Pulling You Away From It with Ishan Shivanand

    When was the last time you actually felt at peace, genuinely, deeply okay in your own skin? If that question makes you uncomfortable, you're exactly who this episode is for. Ishan Shivanand spent 19 years inside a Himalayan monastery before stepping into the West to teach. He's a mental health researcher whose ancient practices have been validated in double-blind clinical trials showing an 82% reduction in severe insomnia, 75% reduction in anxiety, and 72% reduction in depression within four to eight weeks.  He teaches at Google and Amazon. He's been invited to the White House. And his book, The Practice of Immortality, has reached over a million readers. He's also the guy who thought his roommate was possessed by a demon — because he'd never seen anyone drunk before. Jon and Will love him. This conversation goes deep into why most men feel stuck, what's actually blocking them from peace, and what five minutes a day — just five — can do to start changing that. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: Why happiness isn't something you chase — it's something you uncover right now The mirror vs. the window: how to know which one you're looking through How the ego operates as a parasite — and why spiritual practice can't work until it's addressed Why gratitude isn't something you feel — it's something you build through Astay, trust, service, and patience The two demons every man on a mission must resist: sweet words and harsh words Why five minutes of daily breath awareness is where every man should start — and how to build from there TOP 3 SIMILAR EPISODES FROM MTM: Ep. 111 — Accessing Inner Harmony: Mind-Body Integration with Luke Iorio Ep. 120 — Creating Emotional Stability with Jay Fields Ep. 125 — The Shadow Holds Your Power, Not Your Pain with Connor Beaton FOLLOW ISHAN SHIVANAND: Instagram Yoga of Immortality Start Your Mindful Journey: SUBSCRIBE - Thursday Three Things or Text MTM to 33777: newsletter.focusnowtraining.com FREE Training Content or Corporate Workshop: focusnowtraining.com More Episodes & Resources: mentalkingmindfulness.com Coaching with Will: willnotfear.com Book Jon to Speak: jonmacaskill.com Co-produced by Robert Lopez | cratesaudio.com Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    1h 22m
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About

Men Talking Mindfulness is dedicated to empowering men to embrace their true selves with bravery and authenticity. Our mission is to guide them on a journey of continual learning, developing self-love, and meaningful living. We work to inspire men to lead lives that they can look back on with pride and to create legacies that align with their deepest values. We are committed to cultivating a space where vulnerability is strength, being yourself is the norm, and where every man can unleash their potential to live a life of exceptional impact and fulfillment. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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