Friends with benefits (FWB) is a type of relationship where you can enjoy the sexual benefits of a relationship without the expectation of long-term commitment.  Navigating the blurred lines between friendship and sexual intimacy is a complex and potentially risky endeavour.  In this episode, Michael DiIorio and Pepper of The Gay Good discuss the nuances of having Friends With Benefits. They’ll discuss topics such as: The pros and cons of FWB Why this is common with gay guys When FWB works and when it doesn't Dos and don'ts for a satisfying FWB relationship Join in for this revealing discussion that will give you greater clarity and understanding of this common relationship structure.  Watch this episode on YouTube Find us on Instagram: Today's Guest: Pepper Today's Host: Michael DiIorio Related Episode: Being Kindr on Grindr Resources Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection Building Better Relationships course Healing Your Shame course Take the Attachment Style Quiz! Connect With Us Join the Facebook community and monthly Group Zoom call You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok Support the Show

Unconscious bias refers to the internal biases or attitudes that influence our interactions and behaviour towards others.  We all have these deeply ingrained biases that unfortunately can hinder our efforts to build a more diverse and inclusive community.  In today's episode, we are sharing our experience with Unconscious Bias in hopes that it will help contribute to embracing greater acceptance and belonging. Some of the questions we'll be unpacking: What are some unconscious biases you currently have or have had in the past? Where did they come from? How do you discern between preferences and prejudices? How can we become aware of these biases and change them to be more inclusive? By acknowledging unconscious bias and working to mitigate its impact, we can celebrate a more inclusive queer community that values the diverse experiences of all individuals. Watch this episode on YouTube Your Hosts Michael DiIorio Matt Landsiedel Reno Johnston Resources Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection Building Better Relationships course Healing Your Shame course Take the Attachment Style Quiz! Connect With Us Join the Facebook community and monthly Group Zoom call You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok Support the Show

In this episode, Matt Landsiedel and Jamaal Wesley talk about authentic connection and the importance of having relationships in our lives where we can be completely ourselves. They share their own personal challenges with being authentic and how they have overcome these challenges. Come spend an hour learning how to bring your most authentic self into connection and reap the reward of being seen, understood and getting your needs met.  The questions we explored in this episode are: What does authentic connection mean to you? In what ways do you hold yourself back from belonging and connecting?  What does it feel like for you when you have authentic connection?  What can people do to have more authentic connection in their lives? Connect with Jamaal: www.myauthenticbook.com Instagram Take the Attachment Style Quiz! Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take our "Building Better Relationships" course Take our "Healing Your Shame" course Coaching Collection Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Support the Show

One of the goals of the Gay Men’s Brotherhood and this podcast is to help foster a deeper sense of community and connection for queer people all over the world. But how do you learn to belong to a community that does not accept you as you are? This is the crux of today’s episode on Acceptance and Belonging. We’re answering some tough questions such as: What do you think is responsible for the lack of acceptance and belonging within the gay community? What parts of yourself do you struggle to accept? How can we begin to cultivate more acceptance and belonging within ourselves and the gay community? Join us for this important episode about what it means to take up your fair share of space as a queer person in the queer community. Watch this episode on YouTube Your Hosts Michael DiIorio Matt Landsiedel Reno Johnston Resources Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection Building Better Relationships course Healing Your Shame course Take the Attachment Style Quiz! Connect With Us Join the Facebook community and monthly Group Zoom call You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok Support the Show

Being a dad can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a man’s life. Historically, gay men have not had adequate opportunities to be parents, but the tide is turning.  In this episode, Joseph Tito of The Dad Diaries stops by to talk to Michael about his journey from surrogacy to fatherhood, including:  The decision to be a parent The challenges and rewards of being a parent Dealing with homophobia  Advice for anyone considering parenthood Whether you’re a dad yourself or have ever considered what it’s like to be one, this episode is for you.  Today's Guest: Joseph Tito of The Dad Diaries The Dad Diaries YouTube Channel Instagram Your Host Michael DiIorio Instagram Resources Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection Healing Your Shame course Building Better Relationships course Take the Attachment Style Quiz! Connect With Us Join the Facebook community and monthly Group Zoom call You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok Support the Show

Pride is celebration of the progress we've made as a community and a reminder that there is still much work to do. Unfortunately, many people don't feel like part of the community- and we want to help change that. In today’s episode, we’re not just celebrating our queerness, but also the diverse range of people, experiences, and interests our community has to offer. In this episode, we’ll be talking about: How we have felt included in the gay community How we have felt excluded How we can create space for more diversity How we can learn to belong Join us for this episode that kicks off Pride month by celebrating ALL of the beautiful flavours of the queer rainbow.  Watch this episode on YouTube Your Hosts Michael DiIorio Matt Landsiedel Reno Johnston Resources Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection Building Better Relationships course Healing Your Shame course Take the Attachment Style Quiz! Connect With Us Join the Facebook community and monthly Group Zoom call You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok Support the Show

In this episode, Matt Landsiedel and Andre-Lee Wills talk about their experiences with heterophobia. They share what it was like growing up gay in a heteronormative world and how this created fear and anger towards heterosexual people. They also unpack the relationship between internalized homophobia and heterophobia and how taking responsibility for ourselves in new ways can help us overcome these fears. The questions we explored in this episode are: What was life like for you as a young gay boy? When did you first realize that it was not acceptable to be gay? How did you cope with that? In what ways did you/do you fear heterosexual people? How can we overcome heterophobia? Connect with Andre: www.raisingvibrationscoaching.com Linkedin Take the Attachment Style Quiz! Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take our "Building Better Relationships" course Take our "Healing Your Shame" course Coaching Collection Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Support the Show

Shame is that terrible feeling that arises when you get the sense that something is fundamentally wrong about you. It is often accompanied by inadequacy and self-doubt. Shame convinces you that you are not enough.   Like it or not, shame plays a key role in the gay man’s life. Born into a straight world, we must contend with the fact that we are different. While we all have a unique way of dealing with shame, healing it is necessary if we want to develop an authentic sense of self and truly connect in our most intimate relationships.  We’ll be exploring 3 key questions: How shame affect us as gay men, specifically How do we identify shame What are some ways we can start healing shame? Take today's episode to the next level: Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection Healing Your Shame course Your Hosts Michael DiIorio Matt Landsiedel Resources Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection Healing Your Shame course Building Better Relationships course Take the Attachment Style Quiz! Connect With Us Join the Facebook community and monthly Group Zoom call You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok Support the Show

Having a healthy sense of self-worth means balancing both external and internal validation.  In part 2 of the two-part series, we are focusing on internal validation, the skill of fuelling your self-worth from within you, rather than seeking it through external sources. Developing your sense of worthiness from within you is fundamental to living authentically as you become less attached to the opinions of others, and more focused on living in integrity with your personal core values.  This episode covers topics such as: What gets in the way of feeling internally validated? How exactly do you do it? What does your self-worth come from? What makes you feel valued? Join us for this discussion that will help you start feeling more worthy right here and now. Watch this episode on YouTube Your Hosts Michael DiIorio Matt Landsiedel Reno Johnston Resources Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection Building Better Relationships course Healing Your Shame course Take the Attachment Style Quiz! Connect With Us Join the Facebook community and monthly Group Zoom call You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok Support the Show

Having a healthy sense of self-worth means balancing both external and internal validation. External validation is when you derive your self-worth from sources outside of yourself while Internal validation is when your self-worth comes from within.  Unfortunately, many people rely on the external at the expense of the internal, thereby creating a situation where you are hustling to prove yourself to others and are over-sensitive to their criticism.   In this special two-part series, we’re welcoming back to the show, Reno Johnston, to discuss how we can develop a more secure sense of self-worth using both external and internal validation.  In part 1, we’ll be focusing on the external by discussing things like: Why do we crave external validation? In what ways do gay men typically seek it? What are the benefits? When does does become an issue? Watch this episode on YouTube Your Hosts Michael DiIorio Matt Landsiedel Reno Johnston Resources Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection Building Better Relationships course Healing Your Shame course Take the Attachment Style Quiz! Connect With Us Join the Facebook community and monthly Group Zoom call You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok Support the Show