The King Within: Modern Masculinity and the Sovereign Man

📺 Watch on YouTube and SpotifyFREE PDF: The 5 Types of StrengthClick Here for our Black Friday Specials!(expires by Midnight PST December 1, 2025)“There’s arguably few things less attractive to a woman than a man who’s in his victim mentality and making it all about him,” says Mike Salemi, host of The King Within podcast and former powerlifting world champion. Behind the physique and the success, Mike Salemi reveals that true strength for men runs far deeper than gym numbers—it's about mastering five domains: physical, emotional, relational, mental, and spiritual.In this episode of The King Within, Mike Salemi exposes the myth of the "strong body equals strong man" and shares his journey from world stage victories to battling relentless self-criticism, shame, and illness. He introduces the transformative concept of the five strengths and practical rituals to center yourself physically and emotionally, build trust at home, and lead with clarity and purpose. Drawing from personal stories, vulnerable relationship moments, and actionable tools, Mike Salemi challenges the modern man to move beyond surface-level achievement and become the leader his family runs toward—not away from.Tune in to this riveting conversation to learn how to commit to real change, grow deeper in all areas of life, and discover the legacy you truly want to leave behind.5 Key TakeawaysBuild your day on strength, not stress. Commit to a 10-minute rising ritual—bodyweight squats, pushups, and intentional breath—every morning for momentum and clarity.Name and tame your emotions. When triggered, pause and say: “I’m noticing anger.” Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4, and exhale for 6 to create space between reaction and response.Foster connection, not isolation. Practice vulnerable communication—ask for permission to share, name what you feel and need, and don’t dump everything on your partner. Find a men’s group for real support.Get your mind right before you start your day. End each workday by journaling your worries, wins, and gratitude; focus on the one key action for tomorrow and celebrate your progress.Live aligned with your deepest values. Map out your “Hell Yes,” “Maybe,” and “Hell No” across health, relationships, work, and self—and take bold steps to cut misalignments and honor what matters.Memorable Quotes"Physical strength is important, but it is not the entire story. If we really do want to show up as the strongest, most potent, powerful man possible, we need to develop the five types of strength.""Vulnerability is equivalent to courage. So much growth can happen in a committed relationship when you support each other in your healing and truly create a connected, loving life.""Your core values are the rudder on your ship that lets you know if something is in alignment with your current and higher good. If you can live in alignment with your values and have clarity of where you're going, that's how you become a more trustable man."Click Here for our Black Friday Specials!(expires by Midnight PST December 1, 2025)Work With Mike(mention you saw this on the podcast for a listener-only discount)The Grounded King (group coaching) - https://thegroundedking.comMen of Movement Retreat - https://www.menofmovement.com/1:1 Coaching - https://coaching.mikesalemi.io/1-1CoachingPrograms (use code 'PODCAST' for an additional 10% discount)Kettlebell Lifestyle - https://www.kettlebelllifestyle.com/Mastering the Kettlebell - https://www.masteringthekettlebell.com/Athleticism for Life (Bulgarian Bag training) - https://mikesalemi.kartra.com/page/BulgarianBagProgramBulgarian Bag Certifications - https://coaching.mikesalemi.io/bulgarianbagcertifications Connect with MikeInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/mike.salemi/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@MikeSalemiLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesalemi111/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mike.salemi.583X/Twitter - https://x.com/mike_salemi

Tim Corcoran, founder of Headwaters Outdoor School and author of The Earth Caretaker Way, shares his journey from training elephants to guiding wilderness rites of passage. He emphasizes the significance of mentorship and the wisdom of elders. With stories of sweat lodges and the lessons nature teaches, Tim inspires listeners to embrace risk and create a life of purpose. He explores how to reconnect youth with the environment and the importance of living by a personal code of honor, urging men to reclaim their roles as caretakers of the Earth.

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify“When we show up as our most authentic self and run the risk of vulnerability, I actually get to know you,” says Mike Salemi, host of The King Within podcast, who returns to center stage for a powerful reflection on masculinity, fatherhood, and reclaiming grounded leadership. In this deeply personal episode, Mike Salemi unpacks the evolution of his show—from its origins as “The Path” to the focused message of The King Within—revealing how his own journey through self-limiting beliefs, family legacy, and the birth of his son Luca inspired a complete transformation.Mike Salemi shares how true maturity and leadership require integrating vulnerability with strength, and offers a new definition of “king”: not a distant ruler or tyrant, but a man with inner sovereignty, responsibility, and presence. Supported by Harry Duran, Mike's new podcast producer and recent Men of Movement retreat attendee, they discuss the need for men’s work now more than ever—and why most men are desperately seeking connection and authenticity beneath layers of success and external achievement.Tune into The King Within to learn why the balance of masculinity and vulnerability is so essential—and what it truly means to be a leader your family runs toward, not away from.5 Key Takeaways3:04 How do you overcome limiting beliefs and fears when starting a new project like launching a podcast?7:49 Why is it important to be intentional and focused about the audience and message of your work or podcast?12:34 How can the concept of "the king within" be redefined to represent mature and responsible leadership?15:14 What are the different approaches to men’s work, and why is balancing vulnerability and strength essential?20:38 What practical topics and strategies will help men cultivate responsibility and presence in their everyday lives?Memorable Quotes"When we show up as our most authentic self and run the risk of vulnerability, I actually get to know you less about the mask that you wear or who you think you need to be to show up.""The grounded king, or the king within, is someone who's rooted in their core values, not necessarily the values that they inherited from their parents. Nothing against our parents, but most men specifically, and most people in this world, are regurgitating a script that they inherited from father to son, great grandfather, grandfather, etc.""I'm realizing that presence is the currency of fatherhood. He doesn't care how much money I'm making. He doesn't care. All he wants is Papa to go to the park. Papa, play with me. Papa, be with me."Connect with HarryHarry's done-for-you podcast agency, FullCast: https://fullcast.coInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamharryduran/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harryduran/Click Here for our Black Friday Specials!(expires by Midnight PST December 1, 2025)Work With Mike(mention you saw this on the podcast for a listener-only discount)The Grounded King (group coaching) - https://thegroundedking.comMen of Movement Retreat - https://www.menofmovement.com/1:1 Coaching - https://coaching.mikesalemi.io/1-1CoachingPrograms (use code 'PODCAST' for an additional 10% discount)Kettlebell Lifestyle - https://www.kettlebelllifestyle.com/Mastering the Kettlebell - https://www.masteringthekettlebell.com/Athleticism for Life (Bulgarian Bag training) - https://mikesalemi.kartra.com/page/BulgarianBagProgramBulgarian Bag Certifications - https://coaching.mikesalemi.io/bulgarianbagcertifications Connect with MikeInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/mike.salemi/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@MikeSalemiLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesalemi111/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mike.salemi.583X/Twitter - https://x.com/mike_salemi

Most men don’t realize just how much pain they’re carrying, or how that pain silently bleeds into their work, relationships, and sense of self. In this short solo episode, I break down how unaddressed pain shows up in the body and mind, why “powering through” makes it worse, and what it actually looks like to begin healing. You'll learn a 4-step process for who to work with your pain in real time using writing as the tool. You’ll hear insights drawn from my own life, client experiences, and what I’ve seen working with high-performing men who’ve reached their breaking point.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why most men underestimate how much pain they’re carryingHow to begin using writing as a tool for transformationA story of facing pain in relationship and what it revealedPractical steps (the 4-Step Enlifted Storywork Process) for working with fear and discomfortA powerful invitation to take the next step in your own growthLINKS and OFFERS:NEW SPECIAL: Vital Man Collective Virtual Men's Group. Get one additional month free when you reach out this week (Email: Mike@Mikesalemi.io)NEW SPECIAL: Men of Movement Retreat: Get $1000 off on this retreat October 9-12th, when you reach out this week (Email: Mike@Mikesalemi.io)Book a free 15 Minute call with Mike to discussion options or offers: 1:1 Coaching, Retreats, or the Vital Man Collective Men's Group6DbydTTPu7ZHsgBpsItB

Most men think reactivity is the problem, however it’s not always. In this episode, I break down the key difference between clean, protective reactivity and the kind of emotional reactivity that damages trust and connection. I’ll walk you through what’s really underneath those short fuses, how to shift from unconscious reactions to grounded leadership, and how to start reparenting yourself in the heat of the moment. This one’s for the men who are holding a lot, doing a lot, and want to show up better for themselves and the people they love.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:The real difference between healthy reactivity and unconscious reactionWhy overextension leads to emotional snap points in menHow Enneagram Type 2 patterns fuel people-pleasing and resentmentA simple breath + grounding practice to shift reactivity in the momentJournal prompts to help you respond, not explode, under pressureLinksFree Gift: The Strongman's ScoreboardVital Man Collective - Men's Group and Private CommunityMen of Movement Retreat, Oct. 9-12th in Mt. Shasta, CAApply for 1:1 Coaching with MikeMike's Website

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a pattern you know isn’t serving you… and no matter how much you try, you keep repeating it?In this episode, I sit down with my friend and returning guest Greg Schmaus to explore why good men so often betray themselves—even when they’re doing everything they can to “fix it.” We go deep into Family Constellations, the victim triangle, and the unconscious contracts many of us form in childhood that silently shape our relationships, sense of power, and integrity.This conversation is honest, eye-opening, and deeply practical—especially if you’ve ever said, “I know better… but I still can’t change.”In this episode, we cover:The victim triangle as a constellationWhy men stay stuck in self-betrayalHow childhood dynamics shape adult relationshipsThe link between infidelity and hidden family contractsFamily Constellation work as a path to healingLINKS:October 9-12th Men of Movement Retreat, Mt. Shasta - Learn MoreHealing 4D with Greg Schmaus - Click HereApply to Work with Mike - Click HereMike's Website

In this solo episode, I share the transformative experience of my sixth sacred hunt—a trip that reset me from the inside out. From deep rest under an old tree to the intensity of a final morning harvest, this journey was filled with humbling insights on pace, presence, and purpose. I reflect on what it really means to walk with the land, how the hunt became a mirror for my life back home, and the unexpected ways these immersions in nature sharpen my leadership, my relationships, and my soul.In this episode, I share:What sacred hunting taught me about presenceThe moment the land forced me to slow downWhy success isn’t always about the killHow nature sharpens leadership and awarenessThe power of unplugging and walking with the landWhat makes this hunt different than all the restDetails on the upcoming Primal Reset RetreatLINKSPrimal Reset Retreat, May 17-20th in Mt. Shasta, CAScared Hunting

In this episode of The Path, I’m joined by my longtime friend and brother Aleks Rybchinskiy—a practitioner who’s walked the holistic performance path for decades and played a key role in the creation of BERSKI, a nutrient-dense organ meat snack line co-founded by Richard Blomberg of Eleiko.This conversation is for the man who’s done a lot of things right—built a strong body, built a business, maybe even a family—but is still seeking more alignment with his values. We explore how nutrition, especially ancestral foods like liver, can become a tool for reclaiming energy, clarity, and leadership from the inside out. We also get real about fatherhood, time, and discerning what’s truly worth showing up for.In this episode, we cover:Why liver outperforms muscle meat in protein and micronutrient contentThe problem with most liver supplements—and what “desiccated” really meansUnderstanding the labels: grass-fed vs. grass-finished vs. pasture-raisedHow Aleks reversed his father’s fatty liver through daily liver intakeHow conscious nourishment supports masculine leadership and family lifeLINKS:BERSKI10% Discount Code: THEPATHWork with Mike:1:1 Coaching | Vital Man Collective | RetreatsFollow Mike:Website: Coaching.mikesalemi.ioMay 17-20th Primal Reset Retreat, Mt. Shasta, CAInstagram: @Mike.salemi

Most high-performing men don’t realize they’re crashing until something breaks. And by the time they feel it in their body, relationships, or clarity—it’s usually been coming for a while. In today’s episode of The Path Podcast, I share the 5 Misfires of the Modern Man—the subtle but powerful signs your system is screaming for a reset. These are the patterns I see in clients who are crushing it in business but quietly burning out behind the scenes. If you’re waking up tired, always tense, disconnected from your purpose, or just feel like your edge is slipping—this episode is for you.Topics Covered:Why 8 hours of sleep still leaves you tiredHow tension reveals unspoken emotionWhat flat workouts and low sex drive really meanThe moment you realize you’ve outgrown your lifeWhat it costs to ignore your body’s signalsLINKSMay 17-20, Primal Reset Retreat in Mt. Shasta, CAVital Man CollectiveWebsite Instagram: @mike.Salemi

In this episode of The Path with Mike Salemi, I sit down with Scott Estrada for a deeply personal and powerful conversation on healing, hydration, and the miracle of his father’s recovery.After a traumatic spinal cord injury left Scott’s father with a grim prognosis, Scott devoted himself to creating a healing environment using everything he had learned over 40 years of studying human biology, hydration, and natural medicine. What unfolded inside that hospital room defied what most would consider possible.We dive into the science and spirit behind real healing—how structured water, mineralization, light, and nature all play a role in restoring the body at a cellular level. Scott also shares what it took to make peace with his father’s choices and how surrender, presence, and deep trust became part of the healing process.Whether you’re into high-performance, holistic health, or the emotional journey of transformation—this conversation will move you.We explore:• The miracle recovery of Scott’s father• The role of water, light, and hydration in cellular healing• How modern environments create chronic dehydration• Making peace with a loved one’s path• What most hospitals and systems miss about true healingLINKS:Scott EstradaWebsiteIonMike SalemiWebsiteVital Man CollectiveMay 17-20th Primal Reset Retreat