The Emotional Men Podcast

Taylor McCarrey
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Self-Improvement

Real conversations about psychology, therapy, and the messy business of being human. Hosted by Taylor McCarrey, a licensed therapist, talking about psychology, mental health, therapy, and how those ideas intersect with the everyday reality of being human. Drawing on research, common sense, and almost 2 decades of experience in professional mental health, he explores everything from how to make friends and why pop psychology can be dumb to philosophical ideas, trauma, relationships, and the strange ways people try to make sense of themselves. Come for the thoughtful conversation. Stay to make fun of Taylor.

  1. Jun 3

    Exploring Cultural Identity

    Okay, I know I said I was going to take a break last time, and that's still true, but this one was recorded, so I think it needs to be shared. Enjoy!

    1h 8m

  2. May 26

    Short and sweet

    Just a quick little update on the state of the podcast. Feel free to send thoughts, opinions, and hate-mail to emotionalmenpc@gmail.com

    3 min
  3. The Art of Imperfection, feat Jeff Barlow

    May 20

    The Art of Imperfection, feat Jeff Barlow

    What does it mean to create something before it’s perfect? In this episode, Taylor talks with artist, designer, creative director, and longtime friend Jeff Barlow about creativity, imperfection, attention, and the strange beauty of making something in the moment. Jeff is known for his project Draw the Band in One Song, where he sketches live musicians during a single song. Jeff shares how urban sketching changed the way he pays attention to the world, why a quick drawing can hold more memory than hundreds of photos, and how his work has been everywhere from small local venues all the way to the International Space Station. But the conversation goes deeper than art. Taylor and Jeff explore why imperfection often carries the most humanity, how creative constraints can unlock better work, and why putting something unfinished into the world can be an act of vulnerability. Along the way, they talk about typography, music, sketchbooks, meaningful work, emotional expression, and the way creativity can help us become more present to our own lives. This is a conversation about making things, paying attention, and learning to celebrate the imperfect lines that make us human. Key ThemesCreativity as a way of paying attentionWhy imperfect art often feels more humanDrawing, memory, and visual journalingThe emotional risk of making something before it is perfectCreative constraints and why limits can helpThe difference between technical skill and creative expressionArt as witness to meaningful momentsMusic, typography, and the emotional power of designWhy creativity is not limited to traditional “artists”Finding your voice through practice, repetition, and imperfection #Creativity #CreativeProcess #Imperfection #ArtAndCreativity #MentalHealthPodcast #TherapyPodcast #EmotionalMenPodcast #ArtPodcast #CreativeLife #Vulnerability #MakingArt #LiveMusic #Sketching #UrbanSketching #DrawTheBandInOneSong #MeaningfulWork #PersonalGrowth #Humanity #PodcastEpisode #PodcastClips

    1h 18m
  4. Facing Fear in a War Zone, feat. Eli Katzoff

    May 13

    Facing Fear in a War Zone, feat. Eli Katzoff

    In this episode of The Emotional Men Podcast, Taylor talks with longtime friend and filmmaker/journalist Eli Katzoff about fear, trauma, storytelling, and what it means to bear witness in a war zone. Eli has spent years in Israel and the surrounding region documenting major historical events, including the aftermath of October 7th, missile attacks, bomb shelters, military zones, protests, and the human cost of ongoing conflict. But this conversation is less about politics and more about what fear actually feels like when danger is real, immediate, and unavoidable. Taylor and Eli talk about the difference between courage and recklessness, how fear shows up in the body, what it means to keep functioning during crisis, and the strange rituals people develop to ground themselves after traumatic experiences. Eli shares how ice cream, tactile grounding, Tetris, boring phone calls, and community have helped him come back to the present after witnessing violence and devastation. They also discuss the emotional residue of trauma: the sounds, smells, objects, and sensations that stay with a person long after the danger has passed. Through stories from bomb shelters, Gaza, Israel, and the aftermath of attacks, this episode explores how fear can protect us, change us, and remind us that we are still human. This is a serious, personal, and deeply human conversation about fear, survival, journalism, friendship, and the cost of witnessing suffering up close. Topics CoveredWhat fear feels like in a real crisisThe difference between courage and recklessnessBearing witness as a journalist and filmmakerTrauma, survival mode, and emotional residueGrounding after traumatic experiencesWhy fear is not always logicalHow the body responds to dangerThe psychological cost of documenting violenceBomb shelters, missile sirens, and life in a war zoneWhy storytelling matters during conflictThe complexity of Israel, Gaza, and human sufferingHow sensory memories can become trauma triggersWhy numbness can be more frightening than fearFriendship, concern, and mental health support after trauma #EmotionalMenPodcast #FacingFear #Fear #Trauma #MentalHealth #Psychology #Therapy #WarZone #Journalism #WarReporting #DocumentaryFilmmaking #BearingWitness #Storytelling #SurvivalMode #Courage #Recklessness #TraumaRecovery #Grounding #Anxiety #PTSD #HumanExperience #EmotionalHealth #ConflictReporting #Israel #Gaza #MiddleEast #MissileAttack #BombShelter #TherapistPodcast #MentalHealthPodcast #PsychologyPodcast #MensMentalHealth #EmotionalMen #FearResponse #FightFlightFreeze #SomaticAwareness #CopingSkills #TetrisAndTrauma #Friendship #HardConversations

    1h 19m
  5. Social Media and Mental Health, feat Dr. Justin Puder, PhD

    May 6

    Social Media and Mental Health, feat Dr. Justin Puder, PhD

    What happens when a therapist with a large social media presence sits down for a real conversation about therapy, authenticity, and being human? In this episode, Taylor is joined by Dr. Justin Puder, PhD, psychologist and creator, to explore the intersection of social media and mental health. They talk about what it gets right, what it gets wrong, and how it shapes the way people understand themselves. They dig into the reality behind the “online therapist,” the tension between authenticity and professionalism, and why the therapeutic relationship matters more than any technique or platform. The conversation moves beyond surface-level takes and into something deeper: what therapy actually is, how meaning is created, and why, despite everything, working with people can increase your faith in humanity. What We CoverThe reality of being a therapist on social mediaAuthenticity vs. professionalism in mental health spacesParasocial relationships and client expectationsShort-form content vs. real therapeutic workThe limits of “mental health content” onlineTherapy as an art vs. a scienceMeaning-making and what actually helps people changeThe dangers of social media echo chambersWhy therapists still believe in peopleGuestDr. Justin Puder, PhD — Licensed psychologist, content creator, and mental health educator. Follow JustinInstagram: @amoderntherapist TikTok: @amoderntherapist PodcastThe Emotional Men Podcast — Real conversations about psychology, therapy, and the messy business of being human. email: emotionalmenpc@gmail.com Hashtags (mix and rotate)#MentalHealth #Therapy #Psychology #MentalHealthMatters #TherapistLife #SocialMedia #SocialMediaAndMentalHealth #SelfAwareness #EmotionalHealth #HumanBehavior #Authenticity #PersonalGrowth #Mindset #Anxiety #Depression #MeaningMaking #TherapyTalk #Podcast #PodcastClips #MentalHealthPodcast #TherapistTok #PsychologyPodcast #MensMentalHealth #RealConversations #EmotionalMenPodcast

    1h 17m
  6. Sports are an Emotional Laboratory feat Jihad Sakhnini

    Apr 29

    Sports are an Emotional Laboratory feat Jihad Sakhnini

    What exactly do sports teach us emotionally? In this episode, Taylor and Jihad explore sports as more than competition or entertainment. From team culture and coaching to vulnerability, resilience, identity, and emotional expression, they unpack why sports can become one of the few socially accepted places where people fully experience the highs and lows of being human. They discuss: Why sports create space for emotional expressionThe psychological differences between team sports and individual sportsHealthy team culture vs toxic “bro culture”Vulnerability, public failure, and performanceCoaching, accountability, and emotional developmentWhy shared struggle creates connectionFanaticism, fandom, and identityThe emotional lessons hidden inside competitionThe psychology behind “pulling the goalie”What sports can teach people about resilience, belonging, and growthAlong the way, they also tell stories about Boy Scouts, basketball, cycling, coaching young athletes, traveling to Lakers games, and the strange ways humans bond through hardship and absurdity. The Emotional Men Podcast is real conversations about psychology, therapy, relationships, identity, and the messy business of being human. #EmotionalMen #EmotionalMenPodcast #SportsPsychology #MentalHealth #Psychology #MensMentalHealth #Vulnerability #TeamCulture #Resilience #EmotionalIntelligence #Coaching #TeamSports #PersonalGrowth #PerformancePsychology #Podcast

    1h 10m
  7. The Bridge Between Facts and Feelings feat Jihad Sakhnini

    Apr 22

    The Bridge Between Facts and Feelings feat Jihad Sakhnini

    What happens when facts and feelings don’t line up? In this episode, Taylor is joined by organizational psychology professional Jihad Sakhnini for a wide-ranging conversation about how people actually make decisions. Not just logically, and not just emotionally, but somewhere in between. They explore the difference between what’s true and what’s real, why feelings can feel like facts, and how curiosity becomes the key tool for navigating both without getting stuck. Along the way, they dig into self-awareness, relationships, internal dialogue, and why most people skip the step that actually leads to better decisions. This isn’t about choosing facts or feelings. It’s about learning how to work with both. What We CoverThe difference between facts, feelings, and lived experienceWhy feelings feel true (even when they’re not)The role of curiosity in decision-makingHow people jump from sensation to certaintyWhy noticing your body matters more than you thinkThe gap between what’s true and what’s realHow internal dialogue shapes perceptionWhy most people struggle with “yes,” “no,” and everything in betweenThe concept of “scared yes” vs. “sad no”How relationships improve when you stop assuming and start exploringKey TakeawaysYou don’t have to choose between facts and feelings. You just need curiosity to navigate bothFeelings aren’t facts, but they are real data about your experienceMost people skip curiosity and go straight to interpretation, and that’s where problems startLearning to notice before you assign meaning gives options for actionClear decisions often come from understanding your internal signals, not ignoring themNotable MomentsThe difference between truth and personal realityWhy high performers focus on what they feel, not what they assume it meansHow curiosity creates space for better conversations and decisionsHashtags#CuriosityOverCertainty #FactsVsFeelings #EmotionalIntelligence #SelfAwareness #MentalHealthPodcast #Psychology #TherapyTalk #HumanBehavior #DecisionMaking #Mindset #PersonalGrowth #Relationships #Communication #Emotions #CriticalThinking #SelfDevelopment #InnerWork #EmotionalMenPodcast

    1h 10m
  8. Managing Success

    Apr 15

    Managing Success

    What does it actually mean to be successful, and what happens once you get there? In this episode, Taylor and Pete break down the idea of managing success, moving past surface-level definitions like money and status to explore something more complicated: choice, effort, timing, and the role of luck. They dig into why most people struggle to define what they want, how success often shows up as a process rather than a moment, and why opportunity alone doesn’t guarantee anything. From career pivots to missed chances to the uncomfortable reality of privilege, this conversation challenges the idea that success is purely earned or purely accidental. The episode also explores a key tension: is success defined by outcomes, or by the effort and intention behind them? And what happens when the thing you thought you wanted turns out not to fit once you get there? This is a grounded, honest look at success without the usual “grind mindset” nonsense. Just two therapists trying to make sense of how people actually build lives that work. What We CoverWhy most people can’t clearly define successThe difference between being lucky and being successfulHow opportunity becomes something meaningful (or gets wasted)Success as a process vs. a single momentThe role of effort, intention, and outcomeWhy rigid goals can block growthWhen to stay the course vs. when to pivotThe connection between success and choicePersonal vs. professional success, and when they conflictHow relationships and lived experience shape what success actually feels likeKey TakeawaysSuccess isn’t something you stumble into. You build it over timeLuck creates opportunity, but action determines what happens nextIf you don’t define success for yourself, you’ll chase someone else’s versionEffort matters, even when outcomes don’t match expectationsPivoting isn’t failure. It’s often necessaryThe ability to choose how you spend your time is a major form of successWhat you gain along the way may matter more than the original goalNotable MomentsPete shares a major career decision that shaped his pathTaylor reflects on how a chance encounter led him into therapyA discussion on why lottery winners often lose everythingThe idea that success can come from what you gain, not just what you achieveA real-time debate: is success outcome-based or effort-based?About the ShowThe Emotional Men Podcast is two therapists talking about mental health, human behavior, and what it actually looks like to live a meaningful life. Taylor McCarrey and Pete Kingsley bring a mix of professional experience, personal stories, and straight-up honesty to conversations about growth, relationships, and the messiness of being human. Connect With UsEmail: emotionalmenpc@gmail.com #EmotionalMen #Podcast #Success #PersonalGrowth #MentalHealth #Psychology #SelfReflection #LifeChoices #GrowthMindset #Therapy #Resilience #Purpose #Meaning #EmotionalHealth #MensMentalHealth

    1h 1m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Real conversations about psychology, therapy, and the messy business of being human. Hosted by Taylor McCarrey, a licensed therapist, talking about psychology, mental health, therapy, and how those ideas intersect with the everyday reality of being human. Drawing on research, common sense, and almost 2 decades of experience in professional mental health, he explores everything from how to make friends and why pop psychology can be dumb to philosophical ideas, trauma, relationships, and the strange ways people try to make sense of themselves. Come for the thoughtful conversation. Stay to make fun of Taylor.

Information

  • Creator
    Taylor McCarrey
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Taylor McCarrey
  • Show Website
    The Emotional Men Podcast