The Better Man Podcast

How do you run a multi-million dollar business while raising a loving family and taking care of your well-being? It’s a question that so many high achievers have failed to answer for themselves. Today, I’m speaking with Matt Allison, a man that has. Matt went through all the trials and tribulations of founding and then selling a wildly successful business. He was the Founder and CEO of the digital analytics & PR company, TrendKite, that in 2019 was acquired for $225 million. Matt has worked with most of the Fortune 100 companies. As the Founder and CEO of Handraise, he’s on a mission to help every company he works with deliver on their promises and always provide value for their customers. Besides being a successful entrepreneur, Matt is a loving husband and father. But before he learned how to juggle his different roles in life, Matt struggled with stress, anxiety, financial difficulties, and the burden of running a multi-million dollar business in his 20s. Yet, he took invaluable lessons from that experience that made him a stronger person. And he’s here to share them. In this episode, we’re discussing why being financially broke doesn’t mean that you also have to be mentally broke, the importance of unplugging and finding what provides meaning to your life, why discipline equals freedom, and much more. After talking with Matt, one can’t leave without being inspired to take on the world. Listen in and learn for yourself why that’s the case. Key Takeaways with Matt Allison Life can suck, but you choose how to interpret stressful times and what meaning you give them. How he started doing regular self-reflection by listening to Tony Robbins. Learn the morning priming exercise that he does each day. The mindset helped him go from living in a basement with no heating to founding and running multiple multi-million dollar businesses. How team sports changed his mentality and made him appreciate hard work and perseverance. Being an underdog led him to push himself more in sports and business. Learn to appreciate the struggle instead of wishing for life to deal you better cards. Discipline = Freedom. Learn why being disciplined does not confine, but liberates you. Being a Founder and CEO can be stressful, especially at a young age. Learn how Matt overcame the crippling anxiety while running his first business. What lessons did he take away and apply later? Even in his most prosperous days, Matt made it a point to surround himself with people smarter than himself. Find out why. The importance of scheduling play in your life. The habits he followed to lose over 30 pounds.   The Man Flow Yoga Members’ Area - 7-Day FREE Trial Want on-demand yoga programs, workouts, tutorials & more? Visit ManFlowYoga.com/join and start your 7-day free trial today.  FREE 7-Day Beginner's Yoga for Men Challenge 15-Minute On-Demand Videos No flexibility, no yoga experience required. Noticeable results – feel better, stronger, and move better. BONUS ACCESS! Exclusive Members-Only workout: Head & Neck Essentials Routine Visit ManFlowYoga.com/7dc to start the challenge today! Connect with Dean Pohlman Facebook YouTube Instagram

Today I’m excited to bring my favorite person on the planet onto my podcast - my wife, Marisa Pohlman - to talk about the changes we went through becoming parents, how we stay fit, and the challenges we face in family life. If you’re wondering, Marisa is a PT (Physical Therapist) with a doctorate in physical therapy. She’s also an Orthopedic Certified Specialist (OCS), putting her in the top 5 - 10% of PTs in the country who are also an OCS. One surprising fact about her is that she doesn’t love yoga and rarely practices it. Shocker, I know! Yet, she’s as much an athlete as I am. Marisa’s a former college soccer player and has been physically active her entire life. Her depth of knowledge about everything related to the human body informed many of the videos I made about yoga poses for different body types. Since having Declan, our lives went through a tectonic shift. It made us reevaluate our priorities, daily activities, and eating and work habits.That inherently brought new challenges we had to tackle in our relationship to build a healthy role model for Declan to look up to. And so far, I’d say we’re crushing it! In this episode, we’re discussing the importance of honesty, empathy and trust in the relationship, the importance of equal parenting, why men need to take care of their mental health, and so much more. Key Takeaways with Dean & Marisa Pohlman You have a picture of what having a child looks like, but how does that compare to reality? Find out how having Declan changed our life, our values, the way I work, & my daily activities. Our top lessons from two and a half years of marriage. How Marisa’s eating habits improved after we met. And on the flip side, how my cooking evolved after I met her. Weight gain is insidious. Find out how Marisa realized that she gained weight and tweaked her approach to shed those additional pounds. The best relationships are built on trust and empathy. Learn what we did to be more present with each other. Your child should see you function as a family unit. Learn the importance of equal parenting and open communication. Different upbringing leads to different styles of parenting. Find out how that influences how we’re navigating parenthood. Staying fit and healthy while raising a child is challenging. Learn the importance of planning family meals. Learn Marisa’s three-step routine during pregnancy that made her more capable of taking on the day’s challenges. Find out how my habits changed after becoming a dad. Learn my method on how to stick to yours. The Man Flow Yoga Members’ Area - 7-Day FREE Trial Want on-demand yoga programs, workouts, tutorials & more? Visit ManFlowYoga.com/join and start your 7-day free trial today.  FREE 7-Day Beginner's Yoga for Men Challenge 15-Minute On-Demand Videos No flexibility, no yoga experience required. Noticeable results – feel better, stronger, and move better. BONUS ACCESS! Exclusive Members-Only workout: Head & Neck Essentials Routine Visit ManFlowYoga.com/7dc to start the challenge today! Connect with Dean Pohlman Facebook YouTube Instagram

There’s more to peak performance than just training your body, and we get into that in detail today with my guest, Brandon Epstein, founder of Jump Rope Dudes and CEO of The Owned Industries. Brandon Epstein is a mental health and performance coach and the co-founder of Jump Rope Dudes, an online fitness community with over 120 million views on YouTube and a following of over one million people worldwide. He’s also the CEO of The Owned Industries, where he helps people with their mental performance and beyond. Brandon went from a series of toxic relationships, massive debt, and being 60+ pounds overweight, to building a 7-figure business, finding his soulmate, and getting into the best shape of his life. Brandon started his business committed to achieving peak physical shape. However, during his physical transformation, he learned that fitness is much more than being physically fit. Today, not only is Brandon helping people attain the best physical shape of their life but he’s helping them become mentally and spiritually healthier too. In this episode, we’re talking about the power of beliefs in changing our bodies and minds, how you can achieve a flow state more often in your life, Brandon’s four pillars of fitness, and much more. If you feel you could perform better in any aspect of your life, tune in. Key Takeaways with Brandon Epstein Forget about fad diets. Learn Brandon’s simple formula for getting fit. How Brandon’s trip to Colombia at age 24 transformed his life. Finding the perfect partner often means finding someone who matches your energy. Find out how Brandon and his wife Sarah decided they were perfect for each other. How he got out of debt and bounced back after several failed businesses. Awareness is a superpower. Learn the four stages of awareness that Brandon swears by. You can’t change your life without adopting empowering beliefs. Learn Brandon’s process to replace your limiting beliefs with ones that will propel you forward. Find out how you can quickly enter a meditative state by doing challenging activities. You’ll get frustrated during your journey to reach a state of complete awareness. What to do when those feelings arrive? Don’t just introduce new habits without knowing why you’re doing them. What are you actually trying to achieve? The Man Flow Yoga Members’ Area - 7-Day FREE Trial Want on-demand yoga programs, workouts, tutorials & more? Visit ManFlowYoga.com/join and start your 7-day free trial today.  FREE 7-Day Beginner's Yoga for Men Challenge 15-Minute On-Demand Videos No flexibility, no yoga experience required. Noticeable results – feel better, stronger, and move better. BONUS ACCESS! Exclusive Members-Only workout: Head & Neck Essentials Routine Visit ManFlowYoga.com/7dc to start the challenge today! Connect with Dean Pohlman Facebook YouTube Instagram

For most of my adult life, I’ve been doing yoga. However, at one point, I decided to up my fitness game. Sure, I was pretty lean. But I wanted to be stronger, pack more muscle, and build a more capable body. That’s where today’s guest, Jesse O’Brien, came in. Jesse has always pushed his limits as an athlete and taught me how to push mine. Jesse is a self-proclaimed guinea pig that uses his body as a proving ground. Case in point, he completed a 262-mile endurance race with no sleep for four days straight. Jesse completely obliterated my misconceptions about fitness, muscle building, and diet. He made me look deeper into what I ate, how I trained, and what my goals were. Using that knowledge, he helped me remove the self-imposed roadblocks impeding my progress. The funny thing is, I’m now even more comfortable and capable of performing complex yoga poses. I’m stronger than ever (like pulling 385 pounds on a deadlift strong), healthier than ever, and I love what I see in the mirror. Today, Jesse’s doing for other people what he did for me. His revolutionary company, Central Athlete, supports clients to lose weight, have more energy, and get stronger. More importantly, they support them in building a fitness lifestyle aligned with their deepest values, empowering them to lead a more fulfilling life. In this episode, you’ll learn how Jesse transformed my approach to dieting and weightlifting, why being leaner is not necessarily healthier for you, why he believes suffering leads to clarity, and so much more. Key Takeaways with Jesse O’Brien Before training with Jesse, I had a 4.6% body fat percentage. Learn why it’s not always healthy to have such low body fat levels. Why doing yoga for years set me up for success in my weightlifting journey. How much muscle can you build during your first year of lifting weights, and how much if you’ve been strength training for years? How Jesse pushed me to train harder and smarter and how that helped me gain clarity of what my body and mind are capable of. Why Jesse believes that resistance training is the ultimate anti-aging medicine. How I packed on two pounds of muscle in three months following Jesse’s training protocol. Finding your why is one of the most important discoveries you can have. Even when you’re trying to get stronger and fitter. Learn Jesse’s habits through which he pursues his path towards physical and mental mastery. Learn the seven primal movements everyone should do daily to be stronger and lead an active and healthy lifestyle. The Man Flow Yoga Members’ Area - 7-Day FREE Trial Want on-demand yoga programs, workouts, tutorials & more? Visit ManFlowYoga.com/join and start your 7-day free trial today.  FREE 7-Day Beginner's Yoga for Men Challenge 15-Minute On-Demand Videos No flexibility, no yoga experience required. Noticeable results – feel better, stronger, and move better. BONUS ACCESS! Exclusive Members-Only workout: Head & Neck Essentials Routine Visit ManFlowYoga.com/7dc to start the challenge today! Connect with Dean Pohlman Facebook YouTube Instagram

Matt Vincent is a two time Highland Games World Champion and the founder of the successful brand HVIII Brand Goods that helps people eliminate the bullsh*t in their lives through movement, mindset, and motivation. After going through various adversities (he had nine knee surgeries as well as a total knee replacement) and enduring excruciating pain, he found beauty in the simplicities that his new life offered. After his father died, Matt realized that the time we have left on Earth is finite, and precious. He now lives every day as if it was his last. He’s no longer identifying as just an athlete. Competing with others is now in the rearview mirror, he’s in competition only with himself. To be better, bolder, and wiser. In this episode, we’re discussing how stress can benefit us, the importance of being honest with ourselves and other people, and how taking ownership of our lives is a pathway to boundless personal growth. Key Takeaways with Matt Vincent Why Matt experimented with different diets and to what result. How pain and trauma changed his outlook on life. How he balances every aspect of his life (business, relationships, health). How experimenting with psychedelics led him to breakthrough realizations. Matt’s transition from an athlete to entrepreneur. Practicing jiu-jitsu with a bad knee: How to do it? Surround yourself with people that are positive and bring value to your life. Matt’s morning routine that gets him absolutely fired up for the day. Why discomfort and suffering are invaluable in the pursuit of excellence. Find out how his injuries made him even tougher mentally than before. The Man Flow Yoga Members’ Area - 7-Day FREE Trial Want on-demand yoga programs, workouts, tutorials & more? Visit ManFlowYoga.com/join and start your 7-day free trial today.  FREE 7-Day Beginner's Yoga for Men Challenge 15-Minute On-Demand Videos No flexibility, no yoga experience required. Noticeable results – feel better, stronger, and move better. BONUS ACCESS! Exclusive Members-Only workout: Head & Neck Essentials Routine Visit ManFlowYoga.com/7dc to start the challenge today! Connect with Dean Pohlman Facebook YouTube Instagram

How do you push yourself and your goals forward while living a balanced life? This episode features Nate Checketts, the Co-Founder and CEO of Rhone, an activewear lifestyle brand founded on the ethos “Forever Forward”; a phrase that perfectly encapsulates what Nate is all about - get up every time you fall and improve and get better each day. Nate does this while making time for the most important thing in his life - his family, and we get into that and much more in this episode. Nate is someone who is creating something much larger than a clothing brand, and is an inspiration for men all around the world. In this episode, we’re talking about some of Nate’s beliefs around mobility, longevity, and long-term health. We discuss the importance of men being vulnerable, how discomfort can make you a better person, and being a great parent and husband while building a successful business. Nate has built a strong community around Rhone by associating the menswear label with issues like mental health, physical recovery, gender equality, and positive masculinity. He believes that long-term health and longevity is about striving for balance and doing different things that bring you joy and happiness. I couldn’t agree more. Key Takeaways with Nate Checketts Be 1% better every day; in fitness, at work, at home. How Nate got into yoga, and how it changed his perception of fitness. How taking care of his physical and mental health makes him a better dad. Sustain mobility and fitness into your 30s and 40s, without killing your body! Ways in which you can improve your life by seeking discomfort. Greatness requires sacrifice, but you don’t need to suffer. How to be present with your children and wife while running several businesses. Perfection is the greatest enemy of progress. Being an athlete is only a small part of being human. Setting goals is great, but do this after! You meditate, and you exercise; there’s a way to do both! The importance of men sharing their emotions and being open. The Man Flow Yoga Members’ Area - 7-Day FREE Trial Want on-demand yoga programs, workouts, tutorials & more? Visit ManFlowYoga.com/join and start your 7-day free trial today.  FREE 7-Day Beginner's Yoga for Men Challenge 15-Minute On-Demand Videos No flexibility, no yoga experience required. Noticeable results – feel better, stronger, and move better. BONUS ACCESS! Exclusive Members-Only workout: Head & Neck Essentials Routine Visit ManFlowYoga.com/7dc to start the challenge today! Connect with Dean Pohlman Facebook YouTube Instagram

In this episode of the Better Man Podcast we’ll be exploring why the idea of “toxic masculinity” is obscuring positive expressions of masculinity, and what it really means to be a man. There might not be somebody better suited toward this conversation than my guest on this episode, Ryan Michler, the founder of Order of Man. What makes a man? Today’s guest, Ryan Michler, has been working to answer this question for years. Ryan is a husband, father, Iraqi Combat Veteran, and the Founder of Order of Man. Ryan grew up without a permanent father figure and has seen first-hand how a lack of strong, ambitious, self-sufficient men has impacted society today. He has made it his mission to help men step more fully into their roles as protectors, providers, and presiders over themselves, their families, their businesses, and their communities. In today’s conversation, Ryan and I take a deep dive into what exactly masculinity is–and why there’s nothing inherently “toxic” about it, contrary to popular belief. We explore some of the very real threats and challenges affecting modern men, get to the root of what masculine emotions really are, and discuss how to use these feelings to take steps forward–not back–each and every day. Key Takeaways with Ryan Michler What it means to be a leader in a relationship (without being a dictator or tyrant). Why every decision is a trade off–and how to recognize the autonomy you have over your life and deal with the consequences when you can’t be present for everything and everyone. Why masculinity is neither toxic nor good–and why the way we utilize our masculinity is much more important. How our society and the rise of fatherless homes has set young men up to fail in adulthood. Why masculinity has more to do with how you perform an activity than the activity itself. Why we conflate masculinity with a lack of emotion. How to recognize negative emotions, stop feeling shame, legitimize your feelings, and find safe outlets for them before they become bombs. How Ryan works through self-limiting beliefs. The biggest struggles Ryan sees with the men he works with. Why Ryan thinks jujitsu is overlooked or undervalued by most people. Why all men cry–except emotionally unhealthy ones. The Man Flow Yoga Members’ Area - 7-Day FREE Trial Want on-demand yoga programs, workouts, tutorials & more? Visit ManFlowYoga.com/join and start your 7-day free trial today.  FREE 7-Day Beginner's Yoga for Men Challenge 15-Minute On-Demand Videos No flexibility, no yoga experience required. Noticeable results – feel better, stronger, and move better. BONUS ACCESS! Exclusive Members-Only workout: Head & Neck Essentials Routine Visit ManFlowYoga.com/7dc to start the challenge today! Connect with Dean Pohlman Facebook YouTube Instagram

Today, I’m talking to Austin Current. He’s the author of The Science of Strength Training, in which he writes about the mental and physical benefits of strength training, shares workout plans and dietary science, and outlines how to complete 33 key exercises safely and without injury. Austin’s book is full of great information. However, what really made me want to talk to him is his gift for writing about a very complex and potentially intimidating topic in a way that someone who’s never trained seriously (or perhaps never even set foot in a gym) can use to get started. In this episode, Austin and I dig into how (and why) his book took shape, how to take the guesswork out of your time at the gym and make the most of your training, and the key things to be doing outside the gym beyond eating and sleeping well to see the best results from a strength training program. Key Takeaways with Austin Current How Austin developed his unique writing style for his book. Why it can be so difficult to take what you learn in the classroom (or in a book) and apply it in real life. When and why people need to work with trainers. The common physical and mental symptoms of overtraining, what to look out for, and what to do instead when it happens. Why it’s so important to manage your expectations when it comes to training. The key questions and conversations Austin has with his clients to help determine how he can best serve them. How to make strength training complement your yoga practice (or anything else you want to do). The dangers and side effects of idolizing impractical and uncomfortable bodies. How Austin and his wife set expectations, plan together, and check in on each other. How asking himself what he enjoys (and why he enjoys it) has helped Austin focus on doing things that make him happy. Why Austin thinks that it’s more important to move frequently over the course of the day instead of packing 10,000 steps into a single block of activity. What stresses Austin out the most each day. The biggest challenge facing men and their well-being right now–and why the best way to do anything is to start something, create small changes, and stop thinking about the future.   The Man Flow Yoga Members’ Area - 7-Day FREE Trial Want on-demand yoga programs, workouts, tutorials & more? Visit ManFlowYoga.com/join and start your 7-day free trial today.  FREE 7-Day Beginner's Yoga for Men Challenge 15-Minute On-Demand Videos No flexibility, no yoga experience required. Noticeable results – feel better, stronger, and move better. BONUS ACCESS! Exclusive Members-Only workout: Head & Neck Essentials Routine Visit ManFlowYoga.com/7dc to start the challenge today! Connect with Dean Pohlman Facebook YouTube Instagram

Welcome to my first solo podcast episode! We launched the Better Man Podcast (BMP) just over a month ago, and I recorded a quick episode to give you some updates and let you know how the show’s been going. What I hope you’ll get out of these shorter solo podcast episodes: The 1 area where I’m finding the most impactful conversations between myself and the BMP guests The 1 habit that almost everybody who has had go deal with significant struggles is utilizing to come out for the better My journaling process for getting through the “pandemic blues”, as well as my nightly journaling process (and what I notice as a result of journaling consistently) And more… My goal with these shorter solo podcast episodes is for you to be able to quickly listen in, take something valuable from it, and hopefully, enjoy it. I also want to focus on topics that I can speak to with experience, rather than just regurgitating something I read out of a book. I’ve found that in the podcast so far I’ve really gravitated toward sharing and hearing about personal experiences, rather than general knowledge, and I’d like to continue that focus here. Full video versions of each podcast episode are now available for free on the Better Man Podcast YouTube channel, as well as in the Man Flow Yoga App & Members’ Area for existing Members. The Man Flow Yoga Members’ Area - 7-Day FREE Trial Want on-demand yoga programs, workouts, tutorials & more? Visit ManFlowYoga.com/join and start your 7-day free trial today.  FREE 7-Day Beginner's Yoga for Men Challenge 15-Minute On-Demand Videos No flexibility, no yoga experience required. Noticeable results – feel better, stronger, and move better. BONUS ACCESS! Exclusive Members-Only workout: Head & Neck Essentials Routine Visit ManFlowYoga.com/7dc to start the challenge today! Connect with Dean Pohlman Facebook YouTube Instagram

Sam Gach is a fitness creator, entrepreneur, and stretching & flexibility coach dedicated to making the world a calmer, stronger, more flexible place. Yoga and fitness has changed Sam’s life for the better, in ways he couldn’t dream of. Now, he’s spilling the beans to help as many people as possible learn how to take care of their bodies, as well as their mental health. Over the past few years, Sam has built a community of thousands of people that support each other in their efforts to be more flexible, strong, and mentally resilient. Yoga and movement have been a saving grace for Sam in times when he was struggling with severe stress and anxiety. He had to make some tough career choices, but he chose to work through his problems instead of running away from them. Since then, he’s been on a journey of constant growth, both physically and mentally. I’m talking to him today because he’s not your average yoga teacher. He knows that there’s more to life than building a strong physique and that men need to also take care of their emotional and mental wellbeing. Sam has built his life around trying to be the best version of himself. He’s here to show the rest of the world how to do the same thing, one down dog at a time. Key Takeaways with Sam Gach Should you do weight training when practicing yoga? Your body is sending you cues, learn how to listen to them by following Sam’s advice. One of the toughest decisions he made that led to him following his life’s purpose How to stay motivated when going through difficult times. How to deal with social media noise as a content creator. Attack your goals and take control of your calendar by using the tools Sam uses Find out how to do the perfect frog pose. What many yoga teachers are failing to teach their students. You get a massage for your body, but what’s the equivalent for your brain? Think that you can’t get injured in yoga? Think again! Find out the self-development practices that made Sam a happier person. The next time you’re trying to help a friend out, don’t problem-solve. Do this instead! How to not get wrapped up in your negative thoughts. Exercise = ultimate stress relief.   The Man Flow Yoga Members’ Area - 7-Day FREE Trial Want on-demand yoga programs, workouts, tutorials & more? Visit ManFlowYoga.com/join and start your 7-day free trial today.  FREE 7-Day Beginner's Yoga for Men Challenge 15-Minute On-Demand Videos No flexibility, no yoga experience required. Noticeable results – feel better, stronger, and move better. BONUS ACCESS! Exclusive Members-Only workout: Head & Neck Essentials Routine Visit ManFlowYoga.com/7dc to start the challenge today! Connect with Dean Pohlman Facebook YouTube Instagram