
The Mark Groves Podcast
The Mark Groves Podcast is for heart-led humans eager to expand perspectives, explore HARD truths, and break old patterns while cultivating deeper, more honest connections with self, our relationships, community, and the world. Tune in twice a week for powerful guest interviews and solo episodes that deliver real talk, fresh insights, and practical tools to transform (y)our relationships — because relationships are how we truly connect — and supercharge (y)our personal growth.
Latest episodes

Mar 6, 2023 • 1h 29min
#265: Elevate Your Mind, Body, and Spirit with Chervin Jafarieh
Themes: Self Worth, Self-Love, Health, Sustainability, Rituals, Human Behaviour, Wellness, Rituals, Purpose
Summary:
Join me in this captivating, gem-filled conversation with Chervin Jafarieh, founder of Cymbiotika and one of the most respected and influential health experts in the world. Chervin combines studies in Eastern and Western medicine, orthomolecular medicine, epigenetics, physiology, nutrition, detoxification, biodynamic agriculture, and philosophy to wake people up to their highest potential. He is committed to seeking knowledge, revealing the truth, and exercising keen discernment in all areas of life. In this episode, Chervin guides us on an engaging journey that touches all of these topics and opens our eyes to the symbiotic states of being that our minds, bodies, and souls are craving right now.
Discover:
Current energies of the collective of humanity and how it affects our wellbeing
The importance of grounding, hydration, and finding equilibrium for optimal health
Technology today and how it’s affecting the health of our community
The importance of discipline and rituals in achieving wellness, and the value of being part of growth-minded communities
Important foods and supplements and designing a food & fitness system that fits your lifestyle
00:00 Intro
01:23 Where is humanity at this time?
04:45 Social media is the ultimate paradox of our time
10:28 AI vs. epigenetics
20:02 The internet of eyes - AI and surveillance hidden in plain sight
24:28 Technology’s effect on our health and nature
33:00 The power of discipline
36:11 Programming and energy exchange on a cellular level
39:19 What humans desire most
39:52 Our body is an ecosystem with a specific set of instructions
50:50 The greatest source of addiction
53:02 What we all crave the most
1:02:43 Victim mentality & virtuosity
1:09:19 It’s time to reconnect to our intuition and our body
1:11:08 Practical supplementing of food and vitamins for better health
1:14:31 Tend the garden
1:18:43 Food is a merging of worlds
1:24:50 Follow the synchronicities
Links:
Website | cymbiotika.com - use code GROVES for 15% off sitewide!
Instagram | @chervin333 + @cymbiotika
TikTok | @realcymbiotika
Podcast | Wake The Fake Up (listen to my episode with Mark here!)
Sponsors:
Open | Try Open for 30 days free! Go to withopen.com/createthelove and use code CREATETHELOVE to sign up.
Cymbiotika | Use code GROVES at checkout for 15% off your first purchase at cymbiotika.com. (Save up to 45% off when you buy a bundle!)
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Feb 27, 2023 • 53min
#264: How to Be a Better Parent with Dr. Shefali Tsabary
Themes: Parenting, Ego, Social Media, Child Development
Summary:
Today I’m excited to welcome Dr. Shefali to the podcast. I have been a longtime fan of her work, and as I step into parenthood myself, this episode comes at the perfect time! In it, we dive into concepts from her most recent book, The Parenting Map, and explore the traditional parenting paradigm (and why it’s not working anymore), plus how to develop awareness around your behaviours to foster a deeper connection with your kids.
Dr. Shefali received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Columbia University. Specializing in the integration of Western psychology and Eastern philosophy, she brings together the best of both worlds for her clients. She is an expert in family dynamics and personal development, teaching courses around the globe. She has written four books, three of which are New York Times best-sellers, including her two landmark books, The Conscious Parent and The Awakened Family.
Discover:
The traditional parenting paradigm and why it’s not working anymore
Why shifting from control to connection is key in conscious parenting
How to nurture your child’s essence, so they develop resilience and self-worth
Why our children trigger us (hint: it’s about you, not them)
How your past pain influences the way you parent
How social media impacts your child’s self-worth and self-image
How to identify your child’s ego pattern
00:00 Intro
01:05 The traditional parenting paradigm
05:28 Conscious parenting
11:28 It’s not your kid; it’s you
12:52 Parents are not aware that their love is conditional
16:43 Parenting from ego & parenting as spiritual growth
26:08 Recognizing your ego patterns
28:56 Projecting onto your kids
34:40 The impact of social media on parents and kids
42:37 Repairing parenting mistakes
44:13 Dismantling the ego
48:40 It’s a difficult time to raise children
Links:
Website | drshefali.com
Instagram | @doctorshefali
Book | The Parenting Map
Sponsors:
Organifi | Use code CREATETHELOVE for 20% off sitewide at organifi.com/createthelove
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Feb 23, 2023 • 1h 14min
#263: Why Free Speech Matters with Greg Lukianoff
Themes: Freedom of Speech, Censorship, Social Media, Cancel Culture, Mental Health
Summary:
Join me for an insightful conversation with Greg Lukianoff: attorney, New York Times best-selling author, and President and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). Greg co-authored one of my all-time favourite books, The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure, with Jonathan Haidt. This New York Times best-seller expands on their September 2015 Atlantic cover story of the same name and is an absolute MUST read. In this episode, we discuss some main themes from the book, including free speech, why it matters, the dangers of censorship, and more.
Discover:
The importance of free speech and why diverse viewpoints are essential for growth, peace and a thriving democracy
The dangers of censorship and why diverse thought, even when offensive, is necessary to develop critical thinking
Why society tends to put someone in a box based on an opinion or belief (and why it’s lazy)
00:00 Intro
01:09 Why Greg is passionate about free speech
05:10 When is censorship okay?
08:15 Handling pushback to free speech
13:08 Being placed in a box for your beliefs
17:39 Moral certitude
19:54 Free speech and private companies
24:59 The noble lie
27:21 Lack of viewpoint diversity on campuses
29:52 The benefits of free speech
37:40 Disagreement and diverse thought
42:45 Biases in mainstream media
47:31 Conservative = evil?
53:38 Group polarization
56:39 Talking back to the voices in your head
1:00:34 Interpersonal trust
1:02:56 Conflicts and disagreements in relationships
1:08:01 How to be advocates of free speech
Links:
Website | thefire.org
Book | The Coddling of the American Mind
Instagram | @thefireorg
Sponsors:
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Feb 20, 2023 • 1h 6min
#262: How to Change Unwanted Patterns in Life and Love with Vienna Pharaon
Themes: Childhood Wounds, Family Systems, People-Pleasing, Relationships, Self-Worth
Summary:
I think it’s safe to say that none of us had a perfect childhood, and we all carry around behaviours and unhealed pain that doesn’t serve us. But it doesn’t have to be that way: our past may have created our patterns, but we can change them with some self-awareness and the right tools. Join my bestie Vienna Pharaon and me as we dive into understanding and overcoming wounds from our Family of Origin, so you can move beyond your frustrating patterns in life and love and into a more liberated way of being.
Vienna is a licensed marriage and family therapist and one of New York City’s most sought-after relationship therapists. She has practiced therapy for more than fifteen years and is the founder and owner of the group practice Mindful Marriage and Family Therapy. Her first book, The Origins of You, hits shelves on February 21st, 2023.
Discover:
How unhealed pain or “wounds” from our Family of Origin manifest in our adult behaviours
Why it’s so difficult to hold the paradox of being both disappointed with and grateful for our upbringing
Five common “origin wounds” and how they show up in our adult lives
How to identify and start to heal the origin wounds that hold you back
00:00 Intro
02:10 How childhood wounds impact us today
13:57 You don’t need to have a traumatic childhood to have wounds
18:19 Being both disappointed with and grateful for aspects of your upbringing
29:23 Examples of origin wounds
32:35 The belonging wound
36:53 The prioritization wound
45:15 Safety and trust wounds
55:42 How to begin healing
Links:
Website | viennapharaon.com
Instagram | @mindfulmft
Book | The Origins of You
6 Week LIVE Coaching Experience with Vienna
Sponsors:
Cozy Earth | Use code GROVES for 40% off sitewide at cozyearth.com
Open | Try Open for 30 days free! Go to withopen.com/createthelove and use code CREATETHELOVE to sign up
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Feb 14, 2023 • 1h 30min
#261: The Power of Passion with Ant Anstead
Themes: Career, Purpose, Media, Divorce, Breakups, Parenting
Summary:
This week I’m honoured to welcome the master mechanic himself, Ant Anstead, to the show. Ant and I met serendipitously a few years back when he took my Breakup Recovery Course, and I’ve been blessed to call him a friend ever since.
Ant is the CEO and co-founder of Radford Motors and is responsible for overseeing the build process of every single bespoke, hand-made vehicle to meet exacting customer specifications. For many years, Ant built bespoke cars for elite clients and collectors all over the world and is best known for hosting car-centric television shows such as Celebrity IOU: Joyride, Radford Returns, For the Love of Cars and Wheeler Dealers, the number one most distributed show on The Discovery Channel.
Join us as we chat about Ant’s career journey, life (and divorce) in the public eye, parenthood, and more.
Discover:
How Ant transitioned from being a police officer to playing football to building cars
How he turned his passion for cars into a career
His journey into television
How he deals with the media, clickbait and life in the public eye
Ant’s perspective on parenting in the social media generation and his top advice for fathers
00:00 Intro
02:31 Ant’s police career
11:13 Flipping and building cars
16:05 Turning your passion into a career
21:19 Starring on a television show
27:27 Being in the public eye
31:34 Clickbait & the media
35:02 Getting hate for hosting Wheeler Dealers
43:01 Social media trolls
47:30 Divorce
54:50 Fatherhood
1:03:55 Upcoming works
1:06:48 Radford Racing School
1:12:29 Mark as a father-to-be
Links:
Website | ant-anstead.com + radford.co
Instagram | @ant_anstead + @radfordmotors
Sponsors:
Cozy Earth | Use code GROVES for 40% off sitewide at cozyearth.com
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Feb 9, 2023 • 19min
#260: Saying No Creates Space for Your Yes — Solo Episode
Themes: Boundaries, Regret, Awareness, Appreciation, Self-Love, Victim Mentality, Community
Summary:
Today I’m comin’ at ya with a short but sweet solo episode and sharing some things I’ve read lately that have blown my mind and brought some newfound awareness to my behaviour. I hope sharing these reflections offers insight into your own circumstances, behaviours and ways of being in the world so we can all move together towards creating a more loving, open, boundaried and secure space!
Discover:
Boundaries: how they’re medicine for both you and those around you
Having reverence and appreciation for new awarenesses instead of feeling shame and regret for past decisions
Saying no (and sitting in the discomfort of a no) in order to make space for your yes
Appreciation for our parents and their struggles
The grief of not having the village
Creating what you crave
00:00 Intro
00:57 Boundaries
03:17 Awareness and regret
05:50 The tension of our no
08:42 Appreciating our parents
11:05 Medicalization of birth
13:29 Presence
16:49 Removing martyr energy
Links:
Join me on Mine’d!
Sign up for my newsletter here
Follow me on Substack here
Instagram | @createthelove
Facebook | @createthelove
ReBloom: Archetypal Trauma Resolution For Personal & Collective Healing by Rachael Maddox
The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief by Francis Weller
Sponsors:
Cured Nutrition | Use code CREATETHELOVE for 20% off all products at curednutrition.com/createthelove
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Feb 6, 2023 • 1h 19min
#259: That Sucked, Now What? Cultivating Resilience with Dr. Neeta Bhushan
Themes: Grief, Loss, Transformation, Resilience, Anger
Summary:
Today I’m chatting with Dr. Neeta Bhushan, a world-renowned emotional health advocate and expert in the areas of grit and resilience. In this episode, we talk about her new book That Sucked. Now What?: How to Embrace the Joy in Chaos and Find Magic in the Mess, embracing the suck, and how to get back up after life inevitably knocks us down.
Neeta has shared her thought leadership on international stages, is the host of her popular podcast The Brave Table, and has authored best-selling books such as Emotional GRIT: 8 Steps to Master Your Emotions, Transform Your Thoughts, and Change Your World. She’s also been featured on Forbes, Entrepreneur, NBC, Verve, Tatler Magazine and more. Talk about a powerhouse!
Discover:
The stoic practice of Amor Fati and how it changed Neeta’s perspective on the hardships she experienced as a young woman
Using the pain of a rock bottom as fuel for transformation
Actionable tools for building resilience
00:00 Intro
01:09 Neeta’s story of loss and grief
13:30 Finding magic in the mess
18:00 Amor Fati
26:00 Moving beyond the suck
37:20 The pain of a breakup
39:18 Taking action
44:01 Validation
46:11 Integrating all parts of yourself
54:03 Big ignite vs. small ignite moments
56:25 Spend time with a child
1:02:25 Healthy anger
Links:
Website | neetabhushan.com
Instagram | @neetabhushan
Book | That Sucked, Now What?
Podcast | The Brave Table
Sponsors:
Open | Try Open for 30 days free! Go to withopen.com/createthelove and use code CREATETHELOVE to sign up.
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

52 snips
Jan 30, 2023 • 1h 53min
#258: Men’s Work: Facing Your Darkness and Finding Freedom with Connor Beaton
Themes: Masculinity, Emotions, Vulnerability, Relationships, Men’s Work, Self-Worth, Purpose, Pornography
Summary:
Today I’m chatting with one of my good friends, Connor Beaton. Connor is the founder of ManTalks, an international organization dedicated to men's wellness, success, and fulfillment. Connor is a coach, facilitator, teacher, podcast host, and speaker who helps men from all over the world find purpose, healthy love, a joy-filled life, and fulfilling sexual connection. His teachings draw from an in-depth apprenticeship in Jungian psychology, Gestalt, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, and both Buddhist and Taoist traditions.
Known for his no-nonsense approach and compassionate understanding of human limitations, Connor has coached thousands of men through private coaching, group work, workshops, retreats, and masterminds. He has also shared the stage with renowned speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Lewis Howes, and Danielle LaPorte.
Tune in for a free-flowing conversation where we jam on the challenges men face today, masculinity, turning towards our pain, and his new book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide to Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, and Find Freedom.
Discover:
Our thoughts on why toxic masculinity manifests
Why emotional suppression is so common for men in our culture today
The healing that is being asked of men right now
The value of an initiatory process as young men
Why turning towards your pain is necessary in order to find freedom and be the man you want to be
Why porn has become an addiction for many and its effect on relationships
00:00 Intro
04:12 The men’s movement
06:10 Emotionality in men
12:00 Toxic masculinity
16:28 Hurt people hurt people
25:41 Men and vulnerability
33:44 Healing the divide between men and women
49:09 Men’s work
54:42 A relationship with something bigger than yourself
59:20 “I don’t trust men…”
1:05:19 You don’t need to hit rock bottom to change
1:13:53 There’s more to it than vulnerability
1:22:51 What fulfilling relationships require
1:28:00 Being present
1:31:27 Pornography
1:42:49 Impact of pornography on relationships
1:46:18 Healing a porn addiction
Links:
Website | mantalks.com
Instagram | @mantalks
Book | Men's Work, A Practical Guide to Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, and Find Freedom
Podcast | ManTalks
Sponsors:
Cozy Earth | Use code GROVES for 40% off sitewide at cozyearth.com
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jan 23, 2023 • 1h 2min
#257: It’s Okay That You’re Not Okay: Coping with Grief and Loss with Megan Devine
Themes: Grief, Loss, Bereavement, Pain, Mental Health
Summary:
Join me for a thoughtful conversation with Megan Devine: best-selling author, psychotherapist, and grief advocate. With over 20 years in the field - and deep personal experience of grief - she is the go-to authority for grievers, supporters, and industry professionals. Her pioneering work provides a professional, inclusive, and realistic approach to grief, one that goes beyond pathology-based, reductive models. If you’re currently feeling the deep pain of loss or are looking for ways to support someone who is, this episode is for you.
Megan’s book It’s OK that You’re Not OK has sold over 250K copies and is available in 16 languages. New York magazine’s The Strategist named the book in their “Top 16 Grief Books Recommended by Psychologists in 2021.” Her animated short, “How to Help a Grieving Friend,” has been viewed over 70 million times and is used in training programs worldwide. She’s been published in Psychology Today, The New York Times, and The Washington Post and has served as a grief expert for major media outlets, including NPR, iHeartRadio, and the PBS documentary, Speaking Grief.
Discover:
Megan’s personal experience with grief
What not to say to someone who is grieving and how to be truly supportive instead
The problematic way society responds to pain and grief and how this contributes to rising loneliness, substance abuse and suicide rates
Why looking for the silver lining in a painful experience, while well-intentioned, isn’t helpful
00:00 Intro
01:20 Megan’s story
07:09 How society responds to grief
09:11 You don’t need to find the silver lining
13:03 Movies modeling the happy ending
15:17 The fallacy of suffering as punishment
20:25 The “nobility” of suffering
24:33 The history of dealing with pain
31:21 How medicine handles grief
36:43 Timeline of grief
38:16 Why do we avoid sadness?
43:54 How to actually support someone who’s grieving
47:46 Expanding your idea of what grief is
Links:
Website | refugeingrief.com & megandevine.co
Instagram | @refugeingrief
Facebook | @refugeingrief
Book | It’s OK That You’re Not OK
Podcast | Here After with Megan Devine
Sponsors:
LMNT | Get a FREE LMNT sample pack with any purchase at drinklmnt.com/createthelove
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jan 16, 2023 • 1h 7min
#256: Healing in a Toxic Culture with Dr. Gabor Maté
Themes: Attachment Theory, Child Development, Trauma, the Mind-Body Connection, Authenticity, Boundaries, Illness, Health
Summary:
It is such an honour to welcome renowned speaker and bestselling author Dr. Gabor Maté to the podcast this week. Dr. Maté is highly sought after for his expertise on various topics, including addiction, stress, and childhood development. He has written several bestselling books, including the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction, When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection, and Scattered: How Attention Deficit Disorder Originates and What You Can Do About It, and has coauthored Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers. His works have been published internationally in nearly thirty languages.
In this illuminating episode, we discuss his incredible new book, The Myth of Normal, and how much of what we deem the norm in today’s culture is neither healthy nor natural. Join us as we explore a range of topics, including trauma and its effects, attachment theory, the mind-body connection, the cost of repressing emotions, and more.
Discover:
How much of what we deem ‘normal’ in today’s culture is neither healthy nor natural and is actually responsible for a lot of illness in both mind and body.
How to differentiate trauma from a stressful experience
The impacts of trauma on mental and physical health and how normalized trauma is in our culture
Why the medical system ignores the mind-body connection
The cost of repressing your emotions and people-pleasing
How to heal in the toxicity of modern culture
00:00 Intro
00:47 The Myth of Normal
03:26 The idea of normal
05:28 The toxicity of modern culture
09:38 How our childhood wounds show up in the present day
12:43 Trauma
17:16 Why medicine ignores the mind-body connection
23:46 When does an experience become trauma?
26:16 Importance of attuned caregivers
34:15 The cost of suppressing your emotions
39:00 The cost of people pleasing & no boundaries
43:42 Choosing your pain - authenticity vs. belonging
50:00 Exercises for self-understanding
55:00 Healing a toxic culture
Links:
Website | drgabormate.com & wholehearted.org
Book | The Myth of Normal - Trauma, Illness, & Healing in a Toxic Culture
Instagram | @gabormatemd
Facebook | @drgabormate
Twitter | @drgabormate
Neurobiology and the Development of Human Morality by Dr. Darcia Narvaez
The Evolved Nest: Natures Way of Raising Children and Creating Connected Communities by Dr. Darcia Narvaez
Sponsors:
Cured Nutrition | Use code CREATETHELOVE for 20% off all products at curednutrition.com/createthelove
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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