ManTalks Podcast

Unless you’re living in total media blackout, you’ve got at least an awareness of the effect Christianity has on every aspect of America. What you might not know is how deep that rabbit hole goes. The brilliant history professor Kristin Du Mez does, though, so I brought her on for an exploration of evangelical Christianity, its obsession with “warrior Christ”, the contortion and cherry-picking of doctrine, and how it ties into politics and the military.  Kristin Kobes Du Mez is a Professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and her research focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, and politics. She has written for the Washington Post, NBC News, Religion News Service, Christianity Today, and The Daily Beast, and has been interviewed on NPR, CBS, and the BBC, among other outlets. Her most recent book is Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation. Connect with Kristin Website - https://kristindumez.com/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/kkdumez Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kkdumez Book: Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation - https://kristindumez.com/books/jesus-and-john-wayne/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For our last episode for Mental Health Awareness Month, I want to share some really straightforward ways to regulate your nervous system that worked for me, as well as give some info on the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and the roles they play. Thanks so much for tuning in to these episodes. I hope you've gotten some inspiration or motivation from them to take care of yourself in the way that you need. Don’t forget to share this ep with someone you feel would find it interesting! And as always, DM me @mantalks on Instagram; I'd be happy to field your questions! Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the self-leadership they’re looking for. Are you looking to find purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify For more episodes visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter    Editing & Mixing by: Aaron The TechSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a culture that seems to be fraying and coming apart at the seams, does Buddhism have any possibilities? Last week I got to chat with celebrated Buddhist teacher and mentor Ethan Nichtern, and hear a bit about Buddhist psychology, Tantric Buddhism, and how the Middle Path can help us navigate not just our own minds but the world around us. I really appreciated Ethan's expertise; he effortlessly explains complex Buddhist ideas (and Western misconceptions). Dig in, friends. Ethan Nichtern is, as Sally Vogler of Vogue put it, “a supercool, deeply kind brainiac—imagine a very chilled-out blend of Pauls Auster and Rudd—who is also to-the-cushion born.  A Buddhist teacher for over 19 years, Ethan has taught meditation and Buddhist psychology classes and workshops around New York City, North America, and Europe, along with working with students privately. He has primarily studied in the Shambhala and other Tibetan traditions, but has also studied Theravadan and Soto Zen Buddhism. He is also an avid yoga practitioner. He served as Shastri, or Senior Teacher-In-Residence, for the Shambhala Meditation Center of New York, from 2010-2018. He was formerly on the part-time faculty at Eugene Lang College at New School University and has lectured at Brown, Wesleyan, Yale, NYU, FIT, Antioch, and other universities, and as well as at many other meditation/yoga centers and conferences around the country and world. He is the author of the acclaimed book The Road Home: A Contemporary Exploration of the Buddhist Path. His most recent book, The Dharma of The Princess Bride: What The Coolest Fairy Tale of Our Time Can Teach Us About Buddhism and Relationships was in 2017. He is also the author of  One City: A Declaration of Interdependence and the Novella/poetry collection, Your Emoticons Won’t Save You. Connect With Ethan -Website: https://www.ethannichtern.com/ -Twitter: https://twitter.com/ethannichtern -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethannichtern/ -Books: https://ethannichtern.com/the-road-home -https://www.ethannichtern.com/dharma-of-the-princess-bride/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's mini-episode is part 3 of 4 for Mental Health Awareness Month. A look at something we all carry: a shadow. The amalgamation of everything we avoid, deny, or disown about ourselves. Despite the fact that it can be, uh, highly confronting, recognizing and revealing your shadow is (in my opinion) one of the greatest things you can do for yourself. Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the self-leadership they’re looking for. Are you looking to find purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify For more episodes visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter    Editing & Mixing by: Aaron The TechSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Agriculture. Capitalism. Controversy. Biology. Viruses. This is a heavy one, my friends, and requires a bit of a preface on the cultural risks of meme-ifying the “other side”, which you’ll hear. I really hope you listen, but more than that, I hope you begin engaging in dialogue. I’ve wanted Zach on the show for a while now, and have been following his work with interest, and I’d be happy to hear your take. Zach Bush MD is a physician specializing in internal medicine, endocrinology, and hospice care. He is an internationally recognized educator and thought leader on the microbiome as it relates to health, disease, and food systems. Dr. Zach founded *Seraphic Group and the nonprofit Farmer’s Footprint to develop root-cause solutions for human and ecological health. His passion for education reaches across many disciplines, including topics such as the role of soil and water ecosystems in human genomics, immunity, and gut/brain health. His education has highlighted the need for a radical departure from chemical farming and pharmacy, and his ongoing efforts are providing a path for consumers, farmers, and mega-industries to work together for a healthy future for people and the planet. Connect with Zach Bush -Website: https://zachbushmd.com/ -Farmer's Footprint: https://farmersfootprint.us/ -ION Biome: https://ionbiome.com/ -Instagram: @ZachBushMD -Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrZachBush Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the self-leadership they’re looking for. Are you looking to find purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify For more episodes visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter    Editing & Mixing by: Aaron The TechSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first few months of having a child turn your world upside down. Full stop. This week, I had my incredible wife Vienna on the show to cover all the angles of our recent entry into parenting—my experience, her experience, our experiences of each other. Our joys, concerns, projections, and all the other things we had to navigate surrounding (as Stephen Jenkinson puts it) becoming “parent-lings”. Full disclosure: This. Is. Real. Talk. Listen in and let us know what you thought! Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the self-leadership they’re looking for. Are you looking to find purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify For more episodes visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter    Editing & Mixing by: Aaron The TechSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this discussion focuses on replacing unhealthy coping mechanisms with generative rituals for better emotional health. Listeners learn how rituals can transform everyday moments into meaningful experiences. Breathwork techniques are explored, emphasizing their role in managing stress and anxiety. Personal journaling is encouraged as a tool for deeper self-discovery and emotional clarity. The conversation aims to foster awareness and connection among men navigating their mental health journeys.

The podcast discusses the importance of self-acceptance and compassion for mental health, emphasizing the impact it has on relationships and personal development. It highlights the link between self-acceptance, success, and mental well-being, encouraging listeners to nurture a positive self-image through forgiveness and self-compassion.

Ian MacKenzie interviews Connor Beaton about his journey into fatherhood, discussing the struggles, joys, and decision-making process. They explore the importance of readiness, nurturing relationships, and embracing paternal responsibility. The conversation delves into cultural ceremonies for fathers, the significance of support from other men, sacred birth stories, and the balance between parental involvement and personal fulfillment.

I’m not a huge fan of the idea of “the One” (except Neo, obviously). Nevertheless, I’m often asked, “How did you know your wife was the right one?” So let’s break it down. Listen in for some of the things I’ve learned that are incredibly important when looking for the ideal partner. Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the self-leadership they’re looking for. Are you looking to find purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify For more episodes visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter    Editing & Mixing by: Aaron The TechSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices