The Akkeri

Matt Howlett
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  • MENTAL HEALTH

What makes a good man? Through stories, interviews, and social commentary, The Akkeri podcast highlights how men and masculinities are portrayed, the challenges modern men face, and how to chart a better way forward. ‎‏‏‎ ‎ Why? Because we need a conversation about men and masculinity that is deeply spiritual, profoundly vulnerable, and, with any luck, personally and culturally transformative.

  1. 09/14/2025

    Real Spirituality: A Conversation with Ex-Evangelical Pastor Brian Recker

    Brian Recker is a former Marine Officer, the son of a Baptist preacher, and an alum of the fundamentalist Bob Jones University. Brian spent eight years as an evangelical pastor before deconstructing his faith to find a more inclusive spirituality. He now speaks about following Jesus without the fear of hell, and has written about this in his new book, HellBent: How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love. We talk about why he deconstructed his faith and what spirituality looks like to him now. He shares why he believes that hell isn’t real and that love should be radically inclusive, as demonstrated through the life and teachings of Jesus. The conversation also covers why men need an authentic spirituality, why the Western world has “an empathy problem”, why a spirituality of hell creates a divided self, and why the Sears catalogue made him question his faith as a teenager. As someone who also grew up in an evangelical church and used to be a pastor, I found this conversation–and Brian’s book, HellBent–to be a very refreshing and liberating take on what true spirituality is and what’s really important in this life, not just as a man, but as a society. Find Brian Recker & 'HellBent' Here:Website: https://www.brianrecker.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berecker TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@berecker87 Find The Akkeri Here:Website: TheAkkeri.com Facebook: Facebook.com/theakkeri Instagram: Instagram.com/the.akkeri YouTube: YouTube.com/theakkeri

    1h 3m

  2. 09/07/2025

    From Bombs to Breathwork with Retired Navy Bomb Diver Brent Beshara

    Brent Beshara spent 24 years in the Canadian military, mainly as a special forces Navy bomb disposal diver. In his words, when he retired on a Friday it was all “pats on the back” and “we’ll get together,” but when Monday came “it was tumbleweeds”. He had a great career, but the highly stressful and traumatic experiences had left a mark and now his mission was to heal. Through mindfulness, breath-work, and cold exposure - what he learned through his Wim Hof instructor training - he was able to heal himself; mind and body, and now focuses on passing on what he’s learned to others. Brent shares how his newfound routine enabled him to reverse his pre-diabetes condition, heal from what he calls a “mental meltdown”, and ultimately save his life. We talk about the physical impacts of this work and the potential societal impacts, which is what he is focused on now through HeadStart - a 2-minute breath-work program for students and staff - that is launching in several Canadian schools this Fall, 2025. Find Brent Beshara Here:Website: https://besh.ca HeadStart: https://besh.ca/headstart Newfoundland Winter Crew: https://www.facebook.com/groups/324829538112496/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@diverbrent Find The Akkeri Here:Website: TheAkkeri.com Facebook: Facebook.com/theakkeri Instagram: Instagram.com/the.akkeri YouTube: YouTube.com/theakkeri

    46 min

  3. 08/26/2025

    Finding & Perfecting Your Craft with Jack Aldous

    Finding a vocation (not a job) is one of the most important tasks for any man. We want work that makes us feel alive, provides for a strong financial foundation, and has a significant positive impact on the world. And we find that by pursuing our passions, practicing the discipline required to perfect our craft, and sharing that work with the world. Jack Aldous–my friend and solo artist–is doing that work right now as he has recently released his debut album, ‘Inertia’, under the artist name White Cricket. In this episode, Jack shares how he discovered his passion for music production and what producing his debut album, Inertia, has demanded of him. Jack talks about the vulnerability required for any creative endeavour and how he manages the self-doubt and self-criticism that often arise when we put something we’ve made out into the world. He also shares the story behind his choice of artist name, and it makes a lot of sense once you listen to his music. Jack’s music draws inspiration from artists such as Tycho, Com Truise, and Jon Hopkins, pairing psychedelic elements with warm, lush soundscapes that evoke a sense of calm as well as excitement. If you’re a musician or someone who wants to devote more time to a creative endeavour–or just someone who feels like you need to spend more time doing what lights you up–then this episode is for you. Like Jack, we all need to find those things that make us feel alive. In doing so, we learn about ourselves, we grow, and we make a positive contribution to the world. This is about having a vocation, not a job, and it’s one of the most important things for a man to figure out. Find Jack & His Music Here:Bandcamp: https://whitecricketmusic.bandcamp.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitecricketmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitecricketmusic Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0SciCwxk3brPpESFw8bJ8A?si=dAlgOX0YR56eqy_jYoENEA Find The Akkeri Here:Website: TheAkkeri.com Facebook: Facebook.com/theakkeri Instagram: Instagram.com/the.akkeri YouTube: YouTube.com/theakkeri

    1h 1m

  4. 08/05/2025

    Becoming the Man, Partner, & Father You’ve Always Wanted to Be With Larry Hagner

    This episode is a conversation with podcaster, coach, and author Larry Hagner. Over the past 10 years, Larry has spoken with hundreds of experts and worked with thousands of men through his podcast and programs at The Dad Edge. Now, he has distilled the essence of what makes legendary fathers different in his new book, The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood. We talk about how most men have a deep desire to show up intentionally in their lives but often find themselves subtly checking out as they realize that their expectations aren’t being met; a process that he calls ‘The Drift’. Larry talks about the symptoms of the drift, how men can navigate this experience and ultimately learn the skills needed to find their way out. Our conversation also covers the 3 things that women need from us and how we can build better relationships with them; why being better men is all about skills that any man can learn; how to practice those skills and envision a better life; and why an uncrusted peanut butter sandwich in the bathroom makes a great snack. Find Larry Hagner Here:Website: thedadedge.com Instagram: Instagram.com/thedadedge Larry's Book: 'The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood: Break Old Patterns & Create an Epic Legacy as a Father & Husband: thedadedge.com/legendary-fatherhood-book/ Find The Akkeri Here:Website: TheAkkeri.com Facebook: Facebook.com/theakkeri Instagram: Instagram.com/the.akkeri YouTube: YouTube.com/theakkeri

    52 min

  5. 07/28/2025

    ‘The Newfie’: Scott Matchim’s Experience as a Newfoundlander Living Elsewhere

    This episode is a conversation with content creator and fellow Newfoundlander, Scott Matchim. Since late 2023, Scott’s been creating short-form videos that showcase the many socio-cultural quirks that are distinct to Newfoundland and its people. Scott is a proud Newfoundlander with a knack for storytelling, a sharp sense of humour, and a deep love for the people and culture that shaped him, and through his videos, he shares his honest takes on life, poking fun at himself, or shining a light on what it means to come from the rock. We discuss his experience of sharing Newfoundland culture through video, what it's been like as a Newfoundlander living away, and he’s kind enough to provide a little interpretation of some Newfanese for the uninitiated. Find Scott Matchim Here:Facebook: Facebook.com/scott.matchim Instagram: Instagram.com/s.matchim TikTok: TikTok.com/@scottieshow Find The Akkeri Here:Website: TheAkkeri.com Facebook: Facebook.com/theakkeri Instagram: Instagram.com/the.akkeri YouTube: YouTube.com/theakkeri

    54 min

  6. 07/23/2025

    The Key to Men’s Health: Restoring the Mind-Body Connection with Mitch Webb

    My guest for this episode is Mitch Webb, a nervous system coach and holistic healing guide who helps people heal from chronic stress and trauma by reconnecting with their bodies. He blends science, somatics, and personal experience to help others feel safe, grounded, and alive. The conversation centres around the importance of being connected to your physical and emotional experience as a man, the benefits of that connection and how we can do that, as well as the negative impacts on our overall health when we try to force the more traditional, stoic approach of pushing through the pain and pushing down the emotions. There is no denying that our physical health is intricately connected to our mental and spiritual health, and this episode will introduce you to several ideas and practical steps for renewing that connection and working towards a more holistic approach to overall health. Find Mitch Webb Here:Website: mitchwebb.com Facebook: facebook.com/mitch.webb.503 Instagram: instagram.com/kmitchwebb/ Find The Akkeri Here:Website: TheAkkeri.com Facebook: Facebook.com/theakkeri Instagram: Instagram.com/the.akkeri YouTube: YouTube.com/theakkeri

    46 min

  7. 06/22/2025

    From Thailand to Canadian Public Service: A Conversation with Comms Professional, Art Aronson

    In this episode, I’m speaking with Art Aronson, a communications professional with the provincial government of British Columbia. Art shares his story of being adopted from Thailand by his American parents and raised in Canada, on Vancouver Island. We talk about work-life satisfaction and the challenges he faces as a public servant. We also discuss the societal pressures to be or do certain things and how they influence our decisions. If you enjoy the episode, do us a favour and subscribe, write a review, or share the show with a friend. Find The Akkeri Here:Website: TheAkkeri.com Facebook: Facebook.com/theakkeri Instagram: Instagram.com/the.akkeri YouTube: YouTube.com/theakkeri

    1h 6m

  8. 06/14/2025

    Empowering Young People Through the Arts with Dr. Dermell Brunson

    Dr. Dermell Brunson is a dedicated leader in youth development, mental health advocacy, and the arts. As the founder of Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Centre, he has spent years empowering young people through education, creativity, and leadership training. Dermell and I talk about the importance of mentoring and how to connect with, build relationships, and support younger people. We also talk about how exposure to the arts can help adolescents and young adults learn about themselves, express themselves, and grow into their full potential. If you enjoy this conversation, do us a favour and share it with a friend or write a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Find Dr. Brunson & LTYC Here:Website: https://www.ltyc.net/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LTYCArts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltycarts Find The Akkeri Here:Website: TheAkkeri.com Facebook: Facebook.com/theakkeri Instagram: Instagram.com/the.akkeri YouTube: YouTube.com/theakkeri

    47 min
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About

What makes a good man? Through stories, interviews, and social commentary, The Akkeri podcast highlights how men and masculinities are portrayed, the challenges modern men face, and how to chart a better way forward. ‎‏‏‎ ‎ Why? Because we need a conversation about men and masculinity that is deeply spiritual, profoundly vulnerable, and, with any luck, personally and culturally transformative.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Howlett
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Matt Howlett
  • Show Website
    The Akkeri