

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

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
Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/GROVESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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
Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/GROVESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

74 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
Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/GROVESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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
Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/GROVESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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
Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/GROVESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Jan 12, 2023 • 1h 9min
#255: How to Raise Independent Kids with Lenore Skenazy
Themes: Parenting, Safetyism, Fragility, Resilience, Childhood Independence, Autonomy, Technology
Summary:
After her newspaper column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” created a media firestorm, Lenore Skenazy got the nickname “America’s Worst Mom.” Nice. She went on to write Free-Range Kids, the book-turned-movement. (Second Edition just out!) She has been profiled in The New Yorker and lectured everywhere, from DreamWorks to Microsoft HQ to schools across America. On TV, you may have seen her on The Today Show, The Daily Show or her own reality show, World’s Worst Mom. Now Lenore is co-founder and president of Let Grow, the national nonprofit promoting childhood independence.
I was struck by Lenore’s story, and as I step into fatherhood this year, I knew I had to have her on the podcast. Tune in to learn how parenting has changed over the past few decades, why safety has become a top priority for parents nowadays, and how unsupervised play and letting go a little are key in raising resilient, confident and independent children.
Discover:
Why Lenore let her nine-year-old son ride the subway alone in NYC
Why the degree of independence and autonomy parents give their kids has changed drastically over the past couple of decades
Safetyism: what it is and how it contributes to fragility in our kids
The massive benefits of unsupervised play & tech-free play
Why tracking your kids erodes trust and can actually cause more harm than good
How to overcome parental anxiety
00:00 Intro
00:31 Parenting then vs. now
03:00 Letting her son ride the subway alone
06:43 Why are we so afraid for our kids?
10:52 The problem with prioritizing safety
24:09 Tech-free play
37:23 Why keeping kids safe has become a top priority
44:00 Is tracking your kids worth it?
51:21 How to overcome parental anxiety
Links:
Website | letgrow.org
Book | Free-Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow
Twitter | @freerangekids
Facebook | Raising Independent Kids
The Coddling of the American Mind
Sponsors:
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/GROVESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Jan 9, 2023 • 55min
#254: Love, Forgiveness and Healing with Danielle LaPorte
Themes: Virtuosity, Self-Love, Self-Awareness, Virtue Signaling, Cancel Culture, Transformation, Boundaries, Forgiveness, Narcissism
Summary:
Back for the second time is my good friend, Danielle Laporte. Danielle is an author, speaker, podcaster and a member of Oprah’s SuperSoul 100, a group who, in Oprah Winfrey’s words, “is uniquely connecting the world together with a spiritual energy that matters.” In this episode, Danielle and I chat about allll the things, including true, embodied virtuosity, virtue signaling, cancel culture, boundaries, narcissism and how to be loving in a world that’s waking up.
Danielle is the author of The Fire Starter Sessions, The Desire Map, White Hot Truth, and producer of dozens of meditation kits and online programs for spiritual support. Her most recent book, How To Be Loving…when your heart is breaking open and the world is waking up, is also an Audiobook + ebook, with a companion deck and journal. Danielle is the creator of the Heart Centered Membership and the Heart Centered Leadership Program with 400+ leaders in 30 countries hosting conversation circles, retreats, and workshops in all kinds of communities and businesses.
Her podcast, With Love, Danielle, often ranks in iTunes’ top 10 for wellness. Most of her offerings—from the Heart Centered Membership to her online classes—are on a pay what you choose basis. Named one of the Top 100 Websites for Women by Forbes, millions of people a month visit DanielleLaPorte.com.
Discover:
Having reverence for your shadow and the parts of yourself you dislike
Our thoughts on virtue signaling and what it truly means to be virtuous
The absurdity of cancel culture
A theory on why there’s tyranny and evil in the world
Setting boundaries from a loving and healed place
Forgiving yourself and others (even if you feel like they’re unforgivable)
Things to reflect on if you’ve been with a narcissist
00:00 Intro
03:45 The turning point in Danielle’s work
07:51 Loving what you hate about yourself
11:52 Psychological virtue
15:04 Virtue signaling
22:08 Cancel culture
27:07 Theory about tyranny
31:57 How To Be Loving
37:59 Boundaries
43:18 Forgiving the unforgivable
46:27 Narcissism
48:28 Overidentification
51:22 Becoming radiant
Links:
Website | daniellelaporte.com
Instagram | @daniellelaporte
Book | How To Be Loving... when your heart is breaking open and the world is waking up
Podcast | With Love, Danielle
Sponsors:
LMNT | LMNT is a tasty electrolyte drink mix that replaces vital electrolytes without sugars and dodgy ingredients found in conventional sports drinks. 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
Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/GROVESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Jan 2, 2023 • 55min
#253: Food for a Better Mood with Dr. Will Cole
Themes: Health, Relationships, Boundaries, Mental Health, Nutrition, Gut-Brain Axis
Summary:
Is there a connection between the foods we eat and how we feel? How does the quality of our relationships and our boundaries (or lack thereof) impact our gut health? Does trauma affect the microbiome? In this episode, I’m chatting with leading functional-medicine expert Dr. Will Cole to explore the connection between our relationships, the food we eat, and our overall mental and physical health.
Dr. Cole consults people around the globe and started one of the first functional medicine telehealth centers in the world over a decade ago. Named one of the top 50 functional and integrative doctors in the nation, he specializes in clinically investigating underlying factors of chronic disease and customizing a functional medicine approach for thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, and brain problems. Dr. Will is also the host of the popular The Art Of Being Well podcast and was the co-host of Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle brand goop's first spinoff podcast, the goopfellas podcast. He is the bestselling author of Ketotarian, The Inflammation Spectrum, and the New York Times bestseller Intuitive Fasting. His upcoming book, Gut Feelings, will hit shelves in March 2023.
Discover:
How our relationships influence our physical health
The gut-brain axis and how the foods we eat impact our mental health
How trauma affects gut health
Why we’re seeing an explosion of mental health issues and autoimmune diseases right now
Four inflammatory foods to avoid for optimal health (plus what to eat more of)
One thing to cut out of your diet if you want to move the needle
00:00 Intro
00:24 How do our relationships impact our health?
02:26 Boundaries are medicine
04:10 The gut-brain axis
07:14 The food & mood connection
09:08 Taking inventory in all areas of our lives
12:37 How trauma impacts the gut
17:06 The explosion of mental health issues and autoimmune diseases
18:52 The parallels between our internal and external world
21:45 Glyphosate
23:17 Effecting change as consumers
33:25 The four core inflammatory foods
35:23 What to eat more of
36:12 The problem with seed oils
38:37 The truth about fat & cholesterol
46:33 Healthy fats
49:19 Cut this food out to move the needle
Links:
Website | drwillcole.com
Instagram | @drwillcole
Podcast | The Art of Being Well with Dr. Will Cole
Book | Gut Feelings by Dr. Will Cole
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
Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/GROVESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Dec 26, 2022 • 1h 10min
#252: New Beginnings with Kylie McBeath
Themes: Alignment, Codependency, Family Dynamics, Gender Roles, Transitions, Trust
Summary:
For the last episode of the year 2022, Kylie and I are here to share an exciting milestone in our lives. We are so excited for what’s to come and to finally share this part of our journey with you. Big love and happy holidays to you and yours!
Discover:
What it means to live in alignment
Trusting your choices and inner knowing
Mature love and how to recognize it
A special announcement from Kylie and me!
Our thoughts on the provider role and societal expectations
00:00 Intro
01:10 The past two years
02:33 Making hard decisions
08:02 Alignment
11:40 Returning to the soul
13:36 Contrast is a beautiful teacher
15:12 Trusting your choices
18:52 Love and grief
22:25 Mature love
26:45 Community support
27:58 A special announcement
34:49 Stewarding a new life
44:31 Biggest fears
47:07 Shift in family dynamics
49:40 The role of the provider
1:00:53 Feeling safe and assured
1:03:33 Creating space for both sides of the experience
1:07:25 Raising and growing your consciousness
Links:
Join me on Mine’d!
Sign up for my newsletter here
Watch this episode on Youtube
Instagram | @createthelove & @beingisbeautiful
Facebook | @createthelove
Sponsors:
LMNT | Get a FREE LMNT sample pack with any purchase at drinklmnt.com/createthelove
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
Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/GROVESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Dec 22, 2022 • 1h 6min
#251: Body, Mind, and Soul Alignment with Bobbi Vogel
Themes: Etheric Medicine, Health, Spirituality, Clairvoyance, Purpose
Summary:
Bobbi Vogel is the founder of the Center for Etheric Medicine. She is a spirit taught clairvoyant healer, medical intuitive and medium to the soul, mind and body. She ascertains what is out of alignment creating vibrational dis-ease in the etheric body, both before and after it duplicates as a physical body illness. Light, intention and reverence are the tools used as an architect of vibrational anatomy. She brings into alignment the soul, mind and body to create the environment for intrinsic healing and release.
Bobbi teaches that we must have compassion for our humanity as we consciously collaborate with our soul on the journey to health and healing. It all begins with faith. She currently collaborates with doctors as this is the now of medicine.
Discover:
How the etheric body differs from our physical body
Bobbi’s thoughts on why anxiety and depression manifest
The soul’s journey, why we’re here and the purpose of our wounds
How disease relates to false beliefs and emotional wounds and why healing on a soul level is essential for physical recovery
Why you don’t need to “find” your purpose
00:00 Intro
01:54 What is etheric medicine?
08:45 We are disconnected from the truth of who we are
15:05 Power of victimization
17:02 Purpose
21:20 The soul’s journey
29:02 Not being connected with your etheric self
32:33 Inflammation translates to density
43:32 The first step to healing
54:57 Vibrational medicine
58:34 Download about the broken heart
Links:
Website | ethericmedicine.com
Instagram | @ethericmedicine.bobbi
Youtube | @bobbivogel
Sponsors:
Organifi | Use code CREATETHELOVE for 20% off your next order at organifi.com/createthelove
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/GROVESAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands


