Chris Austin Fletcher is a family counsellor and men’s leader with specialized training in conflict resolution, conscious communication, breathwork and somatic trauma release. He has 35 years of experience working with men and families, where he has seen the light and the dark side of the personal growth arenas.  He joins me on this episode to discuss his experience uncovering the exploitation and abuses of power in the healing communities around him. We talk about how men’s personal growth can go sideways, and how to get men back into alignment.  In this episode we dive into: The 9 shadow elements of men’s work.  The light and dark side of healing.  Exploring suspicions about men’s work. Men being the voice for women in situations of abuse. Embodying masculinity without being a hero.  The dark backlash from #MeToo and women’s empowerment. Responding with shame vs. empathy. Bringing wounds to men’s work. How to find depth beyond the loud internet voices.  Conversations about Andrew Tate, Jordan Peterson, and Donald Trump. How the dark masculine feeds on the energy of extremes, fears, and world chaos.  How to discern authentic vs. inauthentic men’s work on social media.  Staying connected to the heart chakra.  Shame and terror on the internet.  The problem with quick fixes. ​​How to look out for good mentors, teachers, and communities. Balancing the archetypes in men’s work. The 9 Rings of Alignment: A self-regulation practice. The importance of developing rich relationships. The importance of setting intentions. Cultivating a self-care practice. Links from this Episode: Chris’ Website w/ free download Whole Family Healing Facebook Halfmoon Haven Website Breakup-Coach Leo mentioned in this episode. Leo's Breakup Program. Freedom from Addiction Circle Conscious Relationship Council See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amrit Sandhu coaches people to make big changes in their lives and move beyond their limitations. He is the host of The Inspired Evolution podcast, and he joined me to discuss the dilemma of making a change from lucrative yet unfulfilling career to one filled with purpose and fulfillment. In this episode we dive into: Consciously changing careers. What needs to be in place to create deep & lasting change. How to assess your core values. Consciously aligning your life around a self-created mission statement.  The similarities between being an engineer and a life coach. The social construction of “success.”  Being an introvert vs. an extrovert and a task person vs. a people person.  Feeling stuck in your career.  Attaching self worth to what you do (masculine) vs. who you are (feminine). Stress is your greatest ally. Being overwhelmed by opportunity. Giving yourself time and space to pivot, integrate change, and transform.  When self-help can get toxic. The opposite of depression is expression. Being energized by work. Inspiration vs. jealousy. The abundance of opportunities that are present when you’re in alignment. The awareness is the shift. Acknowledging nuance in light and dark thoughts.  Amrit’s principles in encouraging people to make personal changes. Our biggest challenge is our greatest gift. Mapping out the vision for your dream life.  The world around you is consistently programming you against your innate self. Learning to parent a boy throughout different developmental milestones. Cultivating community. Reprogramming who you were for who you want to become. Gratitude opens a door for self love.  Creating your own archetypes.      Podcast Links  Amrit’s Website Amrit’s Instagram Amrit’s YouTube Conscious Relationship Council  The Freedom from Addiction Circle See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Hart is an International Speaker & best selling author whose mission is to help busy parents transform their quality of life and develop deeply connected relationships with their partners and children. Focusing on nervous system regulation, energetic attraction and natural holistic wellness practices, Adam leads his clients to living at their best. Adam created a handout for our listeners called The 6 Step Unleash-Your-Energy Roadmap, available at clearimpact.io. In this episode we dive into: ADHD & ADD diagnoses. Prescription medication and self-medicating. Nervous system regulation. Optimizing human performance in all areas of your life.  Conscious parenting. Scattered minds in a dopamine-centered world.  Occupational burnout. Managing energy and stress responses in the moment. Fight or flight responses when rock climbing.  Recovery becomes an addiction vs. harm reduction.  Different foods affect brain chemistry.  Intelligent health and developing intuition.  The mind-body connection.  Becoming “unstuck.” Practicing co-regulation and self-regulation. Wim Hof breathwork & heart flow breath practice.  Committing to practicing simplicity. Nurturing the nervous system with compassion and empathy. Being in a community to support your healing.  Unleash Your Energy Roadmap (on clearimpact.io). Links Clear Impact Coaching Adam's YouTube The Power of Food - Book Ben's Conscious Relationship Council (Next cohort starts April 4th) Ben's Freedom From Addiction Circle See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Shefali specializes in the integration of Western psychology and Eastern philosophy and is an expert in family dynamics and personal development. 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. She joins me for a brass tacks conversation about the Dos and Don’ts of parenting, and to share about her new book The Parenting Map which comes out on February 28th, 2023.In this episode, we discuss: How to go from chaos, disconnection, and frustration to a place of deep bonding and clarity as a parent. The similarities between conscious (romantic) relationship work and conscious parenting. How your triggers with your child are a reminder of what you need to work on. The belief that our children are a possession, and the dangerous projection that follows. The problem with the old belief that “parents know what’s best for their children”. How parents tend to project their own fears, insecurities, and triggers onto their children. Having a child will bring up your own childhood issues. How spanking = hitting = suppression and shame in children. Parents as a safe space rather than a police force or judge and punisher. The 3 reasons kids misbehave: 1. Lack of Skill 2. Lack of experience 3. Lack of worth Fear/Control mentality VS abundance/love mentality. The NBC Method: Negotiation, Boundaries, and Consequences. The problem with force feeding children and forcing them to do things they don’t want to do. Home as a safe space VS a house of rules. Natural consequences - allowing life to teach your children. How to teach children to know their inner “yes” and “no” so they can trust themselves as adults. The value of remembering that children will be adults one day and will remember how you treat them. Connection as the crucial ingredient in governing children’s behaviour. Why showing a child your feelings is so powerful. Dr Shefali’s Links: Dr Shefali’s Books Instagram  TikTok  YouTube  The Conscious Relationship Council  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Wang is a speaker, writer, and founder of the Big Asian Energy show. He studies the communication and people skills of Asian American leaders and entrepreneurs, and uses evidence-backed studies to help them master performance and communication, so they can be better recognized for their brilliance and hard work. His videos on mindset and communication have over 25 million views on TikTok. In this episode we dive into: Becoming a man of action. Wing walking on airplanes. The gift of death. Collectivist vs. individualist culture. The script of being a good son vs. a good man. Unwinding parenting patterns in one’s own life. Dysfunctional and secure attachment between parents and children.  Healing wounds with parents. 6 archetypal patterns of unintegrated men. Learning to parent yourself.  Getting the love we want Blaming vs. evolving in relationships. The ACE method. Self-acceptance and attunement. Struggles of Asian-American men & women in the working world. “The Bamboo Ceiling”. How to cultivate empathy. The 4 things that give us all happiness. John’s experiment practicing kindness and what he learned. The Vagus Nerve. The Big Asian Energy course.   Links from this Episode:   John’s Website John’s Instagram John’s TikTok John’s Facebook John’s YouTube Ben's Conscious Relationship Council Ben's Freedom from Addiction Circle See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connor Beaton is a speaker, a coach, and the founder of Man Talks, a company dedicated to the betterment of men. He joins me on this episode to talk about the subject of his new book: Men’s Work - A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self Sabotage, And Find Freedom.In this episode we discuss what Connor calls The Shadow Of The Father and how it affects every man's life. We also discuss the effects of absent fathers in the development of young men, and we touch on the effects of porn on men’s lives and their relationships.Pre-order Connor’s Book here. You can follow Connor @mantalks on IG, and on his website mantalks.com As mentioned in the intro, The Conscious Relationship Council for men is open for registration until Jan 12.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan Pope is a chiropractor, men’s coach, and founder of Powerhouse Mind Body Chiro located on the Gold Coast in Australia. His latest venture Becoming The Mountain is focussed on mentoring men and preparing them physically, mentally, and emotionally for the rite of passage into fatherhood. Ryan is also co-facilitator at Alchemy, a multi-modality healing and transformational retreat for men and women. I asked Ryan to share his wisdom with me to help me prepare for my own initiation into fatherhood. In this episode we discuss: Preparation for fatherhood. Holistic healing and vitalism. Ryan’s journey to help men prepare for the birthing process. What kind of man do you want to be throughout the process of fatherhood? Normalizing mayhem in our body and mind during big transitions. Grief upon entering into parenthood. Embracing acceptance vs. embody resistance. The importance of having good men supporting you. Unplanned pregnancies.  Outcome oriented thinking vs. process focused thinking. The infinite intelligence of our bodies and The Universe. Challenging and navigating the “what if’s.” Birthing processes within the healthcare system vs. holistically.  Trauma during birth.  Creating intentions around a plan.  Divine femininity and surrendering.  Looking at the patterns that are mirrored from our parents.  Safety and trust in partnership during pregnancy.  Stepping up for your partner as a practice for fatherhood.  Cleaning out what’s taking up space in life to create more room for what you want. Navigating the unknowns of fatherhood.  The depth of presence and awareness. Trusting the inner wisdom of your partner.  The masculine structure around the birthing process. Toning.  Setting boundaries around family and friends. The importance of postpartum regeneration practices.  Links from this episode: Ryan’s Instagram  Ryan’s Chiropractor Website The Business of Being Born  The First Forty Days book Evolving Man Episode with Jessica Austin Evolving Man Episode with John Wineland See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amir Khalighi is the founder and lead facilitator for The Embodied Masculine, a training ground for men that empowers men to connect to their bodies, their purpose, and to nature. Amir runs immersion retreats and weekly embodiment circles that integrate his 5 pillars to facilitate powerful transformations in his students. Amir joined me to talk about the impacts of men doing their work to know their inner masculine and feminine energies, and the inner strength and power that comes as a result of nurturing a personal spiritual practice.In this episode we dive into: Amir’s definition of men’s work. Exploring the self through embodiment, somatic, and shamanic work.  Our wounds as our teachers.  Paradigm shifts.  Father wounds. Stepping into service and giving back to the world.  The importance and significance of “present” male figures in a community.  Self-regulation for boys Integrating shadow aspects of self.  Archetypal work and energies.  Interconnectedness and living in fulfillment.  Nurturing the evolution and empowerment of The Masculine.  Shifting a culture through generations. The Conscious King. How men can practice being with Feminine power.  How do men do external and internal work with their own Feminine essence?  Feminine embodiment practices in men’s work. Ideologies and energetics in mixed martial arts.  Structured Masculine practices.  The 5 instruments in Amir’s work: attention, breath, sound, movement, visualization.  Creating space and emptiness in oneself.   Reframing the concept of the unknown. The human birthright of divine connection.  What work should be done alone vs. with community? Recovery and addiction work ideology in men’s work.  Plant medicine.  Stepping away from AA (12 steps) and listening to the inner call for deeper growth.  Amir’s men’s work offerings.  Links from this episode: Amir’s Website Amir’s Instagram Amir’s Vimeo Book - Iron John by Robert Bly Book - King, Warrior, Magician, Lover by Douglas Gillette and Robert L. Moore Evolving Man Episode with John Wineland - as referenced in this episode Evolving Man Episode with Christine Hassler - as referenced in this episode See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Solaczek, an IMAGO relationship coach who teaches couples about the hidden realities of romantic relating. He helps couples understand one another, improve their communication, and thrive in their relationships. Nick and I have been sitting in men's circles, going to workshops, and learning about conscious relationship work for a few years now, and we drop in on this episode to share with men about the successes we have found. In this episode we discuss: The Conscious Relationship Council - a men’s group focussed on learning about romantic relationships. How men can make a long-term relationship happen.  Relationship as an enlightening experience.  The difference between what the current generation wants in relationship, versus the generation that came before us. Conflict as a growth opportunity to deepen intimacy in relationships.  What does masculine leadership look like? Relationship as a mirror for childhood experiences.  Familiar energy signatures trigger us into unconscious responses. Attachment theory.  Normalizing the conscious relationship conversation.  The paradoxes of romantic relationships.  Navigating feelings of shame.  Imago relationship theory and dialogue techniques.  The 4 stages of relationship.  AFGO: Another Fucking Growth Opportunity.  Discovering your personal relationship issue and how it ties back to your childhood.   What do recurring conflicts and frustrations in relationship represent?  Minimizer vs. maximizer in conflict.  Your relationships becoming your nightmare.  Showing up authentically with boundaries and consent.  Discovering your “relationship wants” and identifying how to lean into them.  The value of men’s groups for inner-work and navigating romantic relationships. Links from this episode: The Conscious Relationship Council  Nick’s Website Nick’s Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christine Hassler is a Master coach, facilitator and speaker and the host of top-rated podcast “Over it and On With It” where she coaches people live on the show. She is also a best-selling author of three books, most recently Expectation Hangover: Free Yourself From Your Past, Change your Present and Get What you Really Want. Christine co-founder of Elementum Coaching Institute, a premier coaching certification program. Preston Smiles and Stef Sifandos (recent guests on this show) are also Master coaches for Elementum. Christine joined me on the show to talk about men’s evolution and leadership, conscious parenting, and romantic relationships. In this episode we discuss: How Christine created her dream life and attracted her dream partner.  Trusting divine timing and following your own timeline. Embodying personal development work. What success can really mean. Leveraging disappointment as a point to transform.  Effective coaching practices.  Understanding our past to move toward the future. Time traveling to our childhood triggers. Time vs. love healing all wounds. Conscious trauma work. MDMA Therapy = Love therapy. Instant gratification.  What does the evolution of conscious men look like? The dance of masculine and feminine energy. Individual vs. community work. Revering the feminine. The duality of attachment styles. Self-regulation and self-soothing in conflict.  Leadership in romantic relationship.  3 stages of consciousness. For expecting fathers: sacrifice and devotion during and after pregnancy.  The 3 most important traits for a father: presence, consistency, and emotional availability.  Links from this episode: Elementum Coaching Institute Christine’s Website Christine’s Podcast Christine’s Instagram Christine’s Facebook Christine’s Twitter Christine’s YouTube Evolving Man Episode with Stef Sifandos See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.