Men Talking

Mike Williams

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Mental Health
Updated Weekly

Just Men Talking.

22h ago

Men Talking: We’re Built for Hard w/ Adam Kreek

What happens after you achieve the thing you thought would change everything? Adam Kreek is an Olympic gold medalist, two-time Olympian, bestselling author and executive coach - but some of the most important lessons came after the medal. In this episode of Men Talking, Adam and Mike talk about success, identity, mental health, imposter syndrome, leadership, therapy and why we're all "built for hard." Adam shares what it actually felt like to win Olympic gold, why achievement didn't answer every question about meaning and purpose, and why he believes life is going to be hard either way - so we should choose hard things that matter. Mike also opens up about his own experience moving from being the guy who "got shit done" to leading other people — and the anxiety, insecurity and imposter syndrome that came with it. They discuss: • What winning Olympic gold really feels like• The unexpected emptiness that can follow achievement• Why we're built to do hard things• "Pick your hard" and finding meaning in struggle• Why men can wait years before seeking support• Coaching vs. therapy• Imposter syndrome in leadership• Becoming a "Baby, Builder, Boss and Beacon"• Being vulnerable without losing strength• Why perspective can change the story in your head• Exercise, community and men's mental health Adam is the author of The Responsibility Ethic and founder of Values Driven Achievement. Men Talking is about the conversations men don't always have - mental health, relationships, careers, anxiety, loneliness, success, purpose and everything happening underneath the surface. Follow Men Talking for more honest conversations with men about what life actually feels like.
Oct 6

Men Talking: The Hidden Mental Health Cost of Being the Boss w/ Jason Morehouse

What happens when you're the person everyone expects to have the answers - but inside, you're struggling to hold everything together? Jason Morehouse joins Mike for an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, anxiety, ADHD, leadership, vulnerability and the hidden mental health pressure that can come with building a company. Jason grew Checkfront from a startup into a company with hundreds of employees. But during that journey, his anxiety became intensely physical - something he describes as feeling like “a bees' nest in your chest.” Even while exhausted and overwhelmed, he still had employees, investors and a board looking to him for leadership. Jason and Mike talk about what happens when men hide those struggles, why being open with the people around you can reduce the weight you're carrying, and why leaders don't always need to have the answer. They also explore failure, burnout, founder loneliness, ADHD and anxiety diagnoses, mental health care, Jason's work with HiBoop, and the importance of understanding yourself rather than constantly trying to get “back to normal.” One of Jason's biggest lessons: Stop masking. Accept who you are, understand the value you bring, and understand where you need help. A candid conversation about success, mental health and learning that you don't have to carry everything alone.
Sep 29

Men Talking: Why Strong Men Wait Too Long to Ask for Help w/ Steve Farina

For 32 years, Steve Farina worked in a profession where being strong, calm and dependable was part of the job. But what happens when the person everyone relies on is struggling too? Steve joins Mike for an honest conversation about firefighter and first responder mental health, trauma, suicide, burnout, shame, fatherhood, identity and the pressure men feel to appear like they have everything under control. After two firefighter suicides shook his community, Steve became deeply involved in changing the culture around mental health in the fire service. But years later, he realized something uncomfortable: while advocating for everyone else's mental health, he wasn't taking care of his own. Steve talks about reaching a breaking point, working with a counsellor, experiencing EMDR, rebuilding his relationship with himself and his daughter, and learning when it's time to “take a knee.” Mike and Steve also explore why men hide weakness, why shame can prevent us from getting help, the difference between being stoic when necessary and living your entire life behind a stoic mask, and why taking care of yourself isn't selfish. Steve's message to men is wonderfully simple: “Take care of yourself for f**k's sake.” A candid conversation about what happens when the strong guy finally gives himself permission to need help too.
Sep 22

Men Talking: When Success Stops Feeling Like Success w/ Sean Bourquin

What happens when you've achieved the success you were chasing - and realize it doesn't actually make you happy? Entrepreneur Sean Bourquin joins Mike for an honest conversation about ambition, mental health, entrepreneurship, mindfulness, relationships and learning to accept where you are while still pursuing where you want to go. Sean talks about building successful companies, watching two of the most important relationships in his life fall apart, and realizing that despite business success, awards and financial rewards, he wasn't feeling much joy or satisfaction. That realization pushed him toward meditation, mindfulness, breathwork and a very different relationship with his own thoughts and emotions. Mike and Sean explore entrepreneurial burnout, perfectionism, vulnerability, masculinity, ego, fear of failure, resilience, presence and the pressure many men feel to simply keep going. They also discuss a powerful idea Sean has carried into his life: At any moment, you can stop, take a breath and begin again. A conversation about succeeding without losing yourself in the process.
Sep 15

Men Talking: Why Men Struggle to Communicate in Relationships w/ Rockie Lee

Why is it so difficult for many men to say what they're actually feeling? In this episode of Men Talking, Mike sits down with relationship coach Rockie Lee to talk about marriage, communication, loneliness, friendship and the emotional challenges men often experience in relationships. Rockie has spent more than 12 years working with couples and singles, and he believes many relationship problems come back to our ability to understand what we want, identify what we need and communicate honestly - even when doing so feels uncomfortable. Mike and Rockie explore why men's friendships can become more surface-level as they get older, how that can contribute to loneliness, and why the same pattern can happen inside a marriage when couples stop allowing their relationship to evolve. They also discuss: • Why men struggle with emotions and communication• Male loneliness and friendship after 35• Why relationships stop evolving• Having uncomfortable conversations• Pride and the need to be right• Wants vs. needs vs. feelings• Love as a choice rather than just a feeling• Vulnerability and heartbreak• Modern dating and technology• Masculinity and emotional connection Rockie's message to men is simple: “You are loved, and you can still be masculine at the same time, and you can be heard.” Men Talking - honest conversations about men's mental health, relationships, work, fatherhood, anxiety, identity and life.
Sep 8

Men Talking: Stop Chasing More: Finding Peace, Purpose & Connection w/ Julian Guderley

What happens when achieving more stops making you happier? In this episode of Men Talking, Mike sits down with entrepreneur, advisor and former podcast host Julian Guderley for an honest conversation about success, ambition, fatherhood, productivity, technology and finding peace in a world constantly telling us to want more. Julian shares his philosophy of “progressing at the pace of peace” — pursuing growth while learning to appreciate the life, relationships and experiences you already have. Mike also opens up about his own tendency to constantly chase the next achievement and use productivity as a way of avoiding uncomfortable emotions. They explore: • Why more success doesn't necessarily mean more happiness • The endless cycle of achievement and comparison • Productivity as emotional avoidance • Defining success on your own terms • Fatherhood and learning to be present • Finding fulfillment outside of work • AI, isolation and the future of human connection • Why real-world community matters • What men may actually be searching for underneath ambition Julian leaves men with a simple message: “Fall in love with yourself.” Men Talking - honest conversations about men's mental health, relationships, work, fatherhood, anxiety, identity and life.
Sep 1

Men Talking: The Leadership Advice I Wish I'd Learned Earlier w/ Ian Chisholm

Why do successful men, entrepreneurs and leaders often struggle with loneliness, burnout and asking for help? Mike sits down with leadership coach, entrepreneur and "Quiet Champions" author Ian Chisholm for a conversation about men's mental health, leadership, failure, mentorship, community and human connection. Ian talks about why leaders often feel pressure to only discuss their successes, why men need relationships where they can let their guard down, and what happened when years of carrying the weight finally caught up with him. Ian shares that his own mental health became a significant struggle in 2023 after years of pushing through and how he eventually realized that his inability to rest was part of the problem. Mike and Ian also explore coaching, vulnerability, entrepreneurship, loneliness, AI companionship, mentorship and the difference between intention and attention. The conversation ultimately comes back to something deceptively simple: Men need other people. Follow Men Talking for honest conversations about men's mental health, relationships, anxiety, loneliness, masculinity, fatherhood, entrepreneurship and living a meaningful life.
Aug 25

Men Talking: What Grief Taught Me About Being a Man w/ Chris Reid

What happens when someone you love tells you the exact day they're going to die? Mike sits down with entrepreneur and film producer Chris Reid for a deeply personal conversation about men's mental health, grief, addiction, recovery, loneliness and vulnerability. Chris shares how childhood trauma eventually led him toward alcohol, drugs and gambling - and how joining the Navy, entering treatment and getting clean helped change his path. Years later, Chris's chronically ill mother told him she had chosen Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) and gave him the exact date she would die. Chris talks about beginning grief counselling before losing his mom, the conversations they shared during her final months, and why grief forced him to reconsider his identity, career, relationships and what he actually wanted from life. It's a conversation about losing someone you love - but also about what it means to rebuild yourself afterward. Men Talking explores men's mental health, anxiety, grief, loneliness, relationships, purpose and the conversations men don't have often enough.
Aug 18

Men Talking: Why Men Learn to Hide What They Feel w/ Simon Fyall

Why do so many men struggle to understand what they're actually feeling? Mike sits down with entrepreneur, father and community leader Simon Fyall for an honest conversation about men's mental health, masculinity, fatherhood, sobriety, emotional awareness and leadership. Simon shares how becoming a father humbled him, why giving up alcohol forced him to reconsider who he was, and how personal-development work helped him confront emotions he'd spent years avoiding. They discuss fatherhood, entrepreneurship, breathwork, masculine and feminine energy, childhood conditioning, vulnerability, leadership and raising boys who can be both resilient and emotionally aware. If you've ever looked calm on the outside while feeling completely different inside, this conversation will probably resonate. Follow Men Talking for honest conversations about men's mental health, anxiety, relationships, fatherhood, masculinity, purpose and personal growth.
Aug 18

Men Talking: Why Smart Men Can't Think Their Way Out of Anxiety w/ Adam Quiney

Why do smart, driven men so often struggle with anxiety, overthinking and vulnerability? Mike sits down with executive coach Adam Quiney to explore how the same qualities that create success - intelligence, independence, hard work and problem solving can also become strategies for avoiding fear and uncomfortable emotions. They discuss anxiety, vulnerability, high achievement, relationships, personal growth, plant medicine, spirituality and why becoming healthier may require learning to feel what you've spent years trying to avoid. Follow Men Talking for honest conversations about men's mental health, relationships, purpose, success and becoming a healthier, more connected man.
Aug 18

Men Talking: The High Cost of Always Being in Control w/ Colin How

What happens when you're used to solving every problem—but life gives you something you can't control? In this episode of Men Talking, Mike Williams sits down with entrepreneur and mentor Colin How for a deeply personal conversation about men's mental health, anxiety, achievement, control, self-regulation and learning to let go. Colin shares the story of his son's devastating cancer diagnosis and how that experience changed his understanding of control, fear, gratitude and what really matters in life. He also opens up about his own mental-health journey, therapy, childhood trauma and the importance of taking care of your mental wellbeing. We also explore: Why high-achieving men struggle to slow their minds downWhy anxiety keeps finding new problems to solveThe difference between thinking and metacognitionHow to observe your thoughts without judging themWhy curiosity can be more powerful than certaintyThe relationship between work, identity and fatherhoodHow meditation and self-regulation can create mental spaceWhy learning to let go may be one of the most important skills we develop Colin's advice to men is simple: Let it go. And his final message is even simpler: Listening is not the same as hearing. Follow Men Talking for honest conversations about men's mental health, anxiety, relationships, purpose, fatherhood and personal growth.
Aug 18

Men Talking: Why Successful Men Secretly Struggle With Stress, Anxiety & Identity w/ Jason Scriven

In this episode of Men Talking, Mike sits down with therapist Jason Scriven to explore why so many men carry stress, anxiety, and emotional struggles silently. Jason shares his experience working with men navigating career pressure, relationships, burnout, identity, and the difficulty many men have asking for help. They discuss: Why men often say "I'm fine" when they're strugglingHow work stress impacts relationships and family lifeWhy successful men can still feel lostThe danger of tying your identity to your careerHow anger often hides deeper emotionsWhy vulnerability is actually a strengthThe importance of community and connection A conversation about what it means to be a healthier, more connected man.

12 Episodes

Just Men Talking.

Creator

Mike Williams
Years Active

2026
Episodes

12
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Mike Williams
Show Website

Men Talking