

The Mark Groves Podcast
Mark Groves
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 30, 2023 • 1h 19min
#272: Honesty is the New Foreplay with Matt Gottesman
Themes: Intuition, Spirituality, Trust, Alignment, Relationships, Authenticity, Self-Worth, Self-Love, Dating, Transformation
Summary:
Today I'm excited to have founder, creative, podcaster, writer, entrepreneur, all the things… Matt Gottesman. Matt soulfully aligns culture, creativity, spirituality, and entrepreneurship to help people live with intention and step into greater soul alignment.
In this episode, we explore the beautiful yet challenging path of what it means to walk your soul’s path with honesty, integrity, and trust at the forefront. Learn how to identify when your intuition is speaking, where it’s leading you, and how to get out of your own way so that your relationship with yourself and your relationships with others can expand in greater clarity and with less friction. Join us for this spiritual, relational jam session with mind-blowing AHA moments!
Discover:
How to tell the difference between intuition and fear
The life-changing practice of being radically honest with yourself and others
Why we can have whatever we want when we play with clarity, consistency, leadership, honesty, integrity, and knowing who we are
How being in alignment with one's true self leads to healing and growth, both internally and externally
The importance of running your own race and letting your relationship expand you by stepping out of the way of your partner’s greatest alignment
00:00 Intro
01:20 Your soul is your GPS
06:18 Honesty is a form of unconditional love
12:23 Honesty is like foreplay
16:42 The sacred tension between biology and soul
21:42 The power of living in alignment with your soul’s truth
26:11 Overcoming distractions and honouring your calling
31:00 The dopamine of the journey vs the outcome
37:56 The nuance of discourse creating connection
45:43 Trusting in oneself, the universe, and God
53:00 Finding yourself through marriage and divorce
58:38 Running your own race
1:05:26 Can we love each other without needing each other to be the one?
Links:
Writing: mattgottesman.substack.com
Podcast: The Niche Is You
Community: https://community.build1thing.com
Website: mattgottesman.com
Instagram: @mattgottesman
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/brands

Mar 27, 2023 • 1h 1min
#271: A BS Free Blueprint for Optimal Health with Ben Azadi
Themes: Health, Mindset, Transformation, Growth, Wellness, Self-care, Self-discovery, Gratitude
Summary:
Today's guest, Ben Azadi, is a force to be reckoned with in the health and wellness world. Ben is on a mission to help 1 billion people live healthier lives after having gone through a personal health transformation and losing 80 pounds. Ben is the author of four best-selling books, Keto Flex, The Perfect Health Booklet, The Intermittent Fasting Cheat Sheet, and The Power of Sleep. Known as 'The Health Detective,' he investigates dysfunction and educates to bring the body back to normal function.
In this episode, Ben and I jam on what it means to be truly healthy and why modern-day health advice is so misleading and ineffective. Ben takes us through his easy-to-implement steps to instantly improve our health, the top 8 highly most inflammatory foods we should avoid, and how intermittent fasting, ketosis, and protein intake can help us achieve optimal health when done right. If you’re like me and are constantly looking for ways to improve your health and need practical, no-BS guidelines to do it, this episode is for you!
Discover:
How small changes can lead to big results that transform the quality of your health and your life
The top inflammatory foods that lead to poor health and why
How you can minimize toxin intake and damaging your health when eating at restaurants
The incredible benefits of the ketogenic diet, lowering glucose levels and increasing ketone production
The immense power of your mind when it comes to improving your overall well-being
00:00 Intro
00:43 From victim to victor
04:46 From pain to purpose
06:09 The power of small changes
08:18 Importance of eating whole food
14:14 Eight highly inflammatory foods people should avoid
17:50 Start communicating your needs in restaurants
19:48 Three easy steps to instantly improving your health
24:58 Intermittent feasting
29:45 Ben's guidelines for protein intake
35:05 Benefits of ketones and the keto diet
39:49 Our body is a miracle
44:07 The cholesterol myth
48:25 The best ways to monitor your metabolic functions
53:43 The power of mindset on healing
58:00 The most important vitamin
Links:
Instagram: @thebenazadi
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/benazadi/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebenazadi
YouTube: www.youtube.com/ketokamp
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebenazadi
Podcast: The Keto Kamp Podcast
Website: www.benazadi.com
Sponsors:
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/brands

Mar 23, 2023 • 25min
#268: You Were Lied To - Solo Episode
Themes: Politics, COVID, Individualism, Fear, Health, Government, Accountability, Truth, News & Media, Misinformation, Authenticity, Belonging, Transformation, Conflict, Mental Health
Summary:
In this solo episode, I share my thoughts and grief on what has occurred over these last few years as a result of the pandemic. I believe in having open and honest discourse and avoiding inflammatory language that only pushes us further apart. I want to invite curiosity back into our experiences and encourage us to hold manipulative and dishonest individuals and groups accountable while keeping in mind that love and truth always win in the end! Let’s come together to change this world.
Discover:
Alternative viewpoints on how information as delivered to us during the pandemic
The usage of “misinformation” labels, nudge tactics, divisiveness, gaslighting, narcissism, and other abusive tactics
Why we must stand up as a village to hold the media and governing bodies accountable and demand truth and change
00:00 Intro
00:53 Nudge tactics
02:45 Misinformation
03:56 You’re not free to choose if your freedom is at stake
07:22 There wasn’t enough data
10:16 They turned us against each other
13:34 Divisiveness, gaslighting, and narcissism
16:30 The importance of discourse without inflammatory language
21:52 We need to come together to make change
Links:
Emails referenced - The Virality Project: Twitter Files revealed that the US government and major social media companies worked hand-in-hand with Stanford University to censor or limit true information about Covid-19, suppress “true vaccine side effects” and “true posts which could fuel [vaccine] hesitancy.” The emails and documents were provided to Matt Taibbi by Twitter CEO Elon Musk. The documents, dubbed the "Twitter Files" and retweeted by Musk, were selected from "thousands of internal documents obtained by sources at Twitter." Matt Taibbi is an award winning author, journalist, and contributing editor for Rolling Stone. (Sources: New York Post, The Maine Wire, TRT World)
Join me on Felt!
Sign up for my newsletter here
Follow me on Substack here
Instagram | @createthelove
Facebook | @createthelove
Sponsors:
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Mar 20, 2023 • 59min
#269: How to Be a Better Partner with Jillian Turecki
Themes: Psychology, Relationships, Anxiety, Resilience, Attachment Theory, Transformation, Conflict
Summary:
Join me in a fascinating exploration of psychology and relationships with Jillian Turecki, a certified relationship coach, teacher and writer who for 20 years has taught others how to transform their relationships with themselves. Under the tutelage of Tony Robbins and world-renowned family therapist Cloe Madanes and fueled by an insatiable curiosity about what makes a relationship thrive, Jillian has helped thousands through her teaching and writing revolutionize their relationship with themselves so that they transform their relationships with others.
In this episode, we explore the fascinating experiences in relationships that are often overlooked or labeled with pop-psychology terms like anxious and avoidant. Listen in to hear Jillian’s perspective on what women and men need most, how to be more objective to understand your partner better, and more of her greatest learnings from being in a relationship.
Discover:
Why attachment theory only scratches the surface of understanding each other
The biggest reasons why relationships fail
What men and women want and need most in relationship and how to understand each other better
00:00 Intro
00:54 Jillian’s journey from yoga to relationship coach
10:36 Yoga and the mind
14:15 Somatic awareness
18:03 The loneliness of not being with yourself
19:52 The toxic dance of push-pull
26:43 How much anxiety in a relationship is too much?
28:25 We over-pathologize others as anxious or avoidant
38:24 Asking for your needs to be met
40:28 Greatest learnings in relationship
44:13 Men and their needs in a relationship
49:31 The importance of being appreciated and understood
54:01 The complexity we hold due to familial dynamics
Links:
Website: www.jillianturecki.com
Podcast: https://listen.qcodemedia.com/jillianonlove
IG: @jillianturecki
Tik Tok: @jillian.turecki
Twitter: @JillianTurecki
Sponsors:
Open | Try Open for 30 days free! Go to withopen.com/createthelove and use code CREATETHELOVE to sign up.
WeWork | Get 50% off your first workspace booking with WeWork On Demand! Go to we.co/mark and use code WORKWITHMARK.
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Mar 16, 2023 • 9min
#270: You Must Trust Yourself - Solo Episode
Themes: Trusting Yourself, Intuition, True Liberation, Self Love, Authenticity, Transformation
Summary:
Comin’ at ya with a quick espresso shot of love on embracing change and trusting our internal guidance system. I hope my reflections inspire you to gain insight into your own circumstances and ways of being in the world.
Discover:
Why you need to trust yourself when you say yes to change
How we’re being asked to orient ourselves from intellectual/logical to intuitive/heart centered
True liberation and how can we find it
00:00 Intro
00:17 Trust your intuition
03:00 True liberation
03:49 Orient through your sensations
05:37 Start asking the right questions
Links:
Join me on Felt!
Sign up for my newsletter here
Follow me on Substack here
Instagram | @createthelove
Facebook | @createthelove
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/brands

Mar 13, 2023 • 1h 6min
#267: How to Cultivate a Strong Romantic Relationship with Nick Solaczek
Themes: Relationships, Romantic Relationships, Relationship Struggles, Couples Therapy, Communication, Healing, Conflict
Summary:
Back for the second time is my good friend, Nick Solaczek. Nick is a relationship coach and teacher specializing in romantic relationships with an emphasis on safe conversations, conscious relationship principles, mindfulness, authenticity and boundary setting. Nick works closely with IMAGO theory in his practice, believing that the image we project has a significant influence on who we are attracted to and how we show up in our relationship.
In this episode, we jam on how to create stronger romantic relationships, how our childhood experiences are responsible for many of our triggers in our adult relationships, the influence of fear and how it guides our actions, and more juicy relational truths. Tune in to hear Nick share mic-drops on how to communicate more clearly to ask for what we want and how to use struggle to strengthen our partnerships instead of drive us apart.
Nick also teaches us about his relational theory, The Developmental Mountain, which he shares in depth in his new course: Romantic Relationship Reset. Get the link and a discount below!
Discover:
Core relational dynamics of romantic relationships and which ones you and your partner relate to
How and why opposites attract when it comes to romantic relationships
The power of fear and its presence in our interactions with our partners
The benefits of both individual and couples therapy when it comes to long term relationships
The power of IMAGO dialogue as a powerful method of communication for couples
00:00 Intro
02:12 How we have historically approached couples work
06:34 Romance is propagandized by culture
10:14 We all have conflicts in the kitchen
18:24 Relational dynamics of the Seeker, Maximizer, Minimizer
25:40 How childhood experiences show up in adult relationships
26:48 We show and respond to emotion differently
29:56 The power of fear
34:54 The struggle is normal
41:47 Ways to ask for what you want
48:01 Why we deal with things the way we do
50:35 The Developmental Mountain
57:32 The Relationship Reset
Links:
Special offer: $50 off Nick’s course "Romantic Relationship Reset" with promo code: CREATE50
Website: www.nicksolaczek.com
Course: www.nicksolaczek.com/mark
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicksolaczek/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coachingwithnick
Sponsors:
Cozy Earth | Use code GROVES for 40% off sitewide at cozyearth.com
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!)
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Mar 9, 2023 • 44min
#266: Secrets to a Happier Life with Dr. Robert Waldinger
Themes: Relationships, Connection, Health, Mental Health, Transformation, Belonging, Purpose
Summary:
Today I’m nerding out with Dr. Robert Waldinger, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and co-author of The Good Life: Lessons From the World’s Longest Scientific Study on Happiness. Dr. Waldinger is also a Zen master (Roshi) who teaches meditation worldwide.
In this episode, we explore Dr. Waldinger’s fascinating research on what makes a “good life” based on the longest study of adult life that has ever been done - the Harvard Study of Adult Development. He shares his insights on the power of relationships and how they affect our mental and physical health, practical tips for improving our happiness, and how to create and nurture thriving relationships. This is a pod you won’t want to miss!
Discover:
The power of relationships and how they affect our mental and physical health
The types of relationships we need to thrive
The impact of conflict and how to use it to nurture relationships
How to improve the quality of our relationships
Ways to build resilience and cope with conflict
00:00 Intro
01:55 What is the happiness study?
04:34 Relationships help us live longer
09:26 Impacts of life events
11:03 High-conflict relationships
12:27 Stress and the body
14:11 Attachment styles and relationship longevity
17:21 Relationships and the body
19:26 Social fitness
21:20 Be curious
24:30 Stratifying the data
27:42 Effects of the study on participants
31:39 Being in Zen
33:28 Religion and spiritual practice
36:39 Rituals and habits
38:38 Study results and expanding the research
Links:
Website | Harvard Study of Adult Development
Book | The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness
Sponsors:
Cured Nutrition | Use code CREATETHELOVE for 20% off sitewide at curednutrition.com/createthelove
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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/brands

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/brands

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/brands


