The Better Man Podcast

While the phrase “mental health” has never been more popular, the sad truth is that men’s mental health is at an all-time low.  We shy away from tough conversations with loved ones, we don’t have a group of other men to vent with, and sometimes we have no clarity over our emotions.  But there is nothing more important as a man than your mental health. Chase Chewning, today’s guest, is the perfect example of this.  Before he started taking his mental health seriously, from the outside looking in, he had it all: Good looks, a great woman, a successful career, peak physical fitness, and the list goes on. Despite this, he felt empty inside because he completely ignored and suppressed his emotions, which took a toll on his mental health.  Today, Chase has a super power: Being vulnerable with other men and helping other men open up to him. Nothing—not his fitness, not his relationship, not his career, or anything else—has filled Chase with more fulfillment, happiness, and healthiness than focusing on his mental health.  Men’s mental health issues are one of the biggest problems facing the world today. And Chase understands, perhaps better than anyone else, the secret to improving your mental health as a man.  In this episode, Chase and I discuss: The negative consequences of suppressing your emotions (and how it can tear everything you cherish in life apart)  How to get comfortable with being vulnerable (and why your vulnerability helps other men open up)  Why having emotional clarity can unlock a deeper sense of fulfillment in life  The cold, hard truth about life after leaving the military (and why poor mental health results in 22 veterans a day committing suicide)   And more.  Do you have the courage to be vulnerable and take the steps needed to not only improve your mental health, but the mental health of men around the world?  If you do, listen to the episode now.  Show highlights include:  How leaving your mental health unchecked causes physiological manifestations that could result in severe panic attacks that look like a seizure (and how to improve your mental health before it reaches this point) (7:43)  How to spot the physical signs that you need to work on your mental health (10:34)  Why being vulnerable instead of suppressing your emotions actually helps you become at ease with them (even if it’s hard to open up) (11:36)  The “Doing the Opposite” secret for improving every aspect of your mental health instead of sending it down a vicious cycle of decline (20:57)  How sharing meaningful things with other men—even if they’re negative or unexpected—makes you feel better (24:46)  Why “video journaling” to yourself unlocks an unprecedented amount of clarity when it comes to your emotions and mental health (32:41)  How to use every stressor in your life, both big and small, to create unshakable trust in yourself (and why this makes being vulnerable as a man easy) (40:25)  Why prioritizing hanging out with and opening up to other men is one of the most effective ways to fortify your mental health (47:45)  How “getting away” from your spouse can cause pent-up resentment (and the trick for bonding with the boys without feeding resentment for your partner) (51:15)  The insidious way your mind jumps to the worst-case scenario even though it almost never happens (1:00:13)  The “soft” type of masculinity most guys shy away from (even though it creates stronger connections with the most important people in your life) (1:05:35)  How to increase the levels of fulfillment, joy, and love in your marriage by practicing “choreplay” (1:08:07)  Resources mentioned in this episode:  1. Ever Forward Radio: Want to take the next step towards improving men’s mental health? Listen to Chase’s podcast, Ever Forward Radio, wherever you listen to podcasts.  2. A day in the life of Chase Chewning: See first-hand what Chase does during his day to fortify his mental health, become more fulfilled in life, and unlock a deeper sense of happiness by following him on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/chase_chewning/  Related Episodes:  Turning Tragedy Into Triumph | Chase Chewning | Better Man Podcast Ep. 020 Other important links:  Want to improve your sexual wellness, get stronger erections, and last longer in bed? Then join the FREE 7-Day Sexual Wellness Challenge here: https://shrtlnk.co/uA27H  Want to unlock more flexibility and strength, reduce your risk of injury, and feel your absolute best over the next 7 days? Then join the FREE 7-Day Beginner’s Yoga for Men Challenge here: https://ManFlowYoga.com/7dc.  Tired of doing a form of yoga that causes more injuries than it helps prevent? The cold, hard truth is men need yoga specifically designed for them. Well, here's some good news: You can start your 7-day free trial to Man Flow Yoga by visiting https://ManFlowYoga.com/join.

The podcast explores strategies to overcome overwhelm and anxiety for a better headspace. Topics include curbing anxiety, practicing gratitude, staying present, bouncing back from mistakes, and the importance of being present with loved ones. The host also shares personal reflections and promotes upcoming episodes and the Manfloyoga app.

When you exercise consistently and push your body past its limits, injuries can happen. The problem is, most guys don’t know the best way to recover from current injuries and prevent future ones.  For example, most guys think passive stretching can reduce injuries, but this isn’t exactly true. Stretching does provide relief, but without strengthening the underlying muscles, joints, and tendons around the injured body part, you won’t prevent future injuries from happening.  The same is true for resting through an injury — in fact, staying active helps you recover from injuries faster than simply resting.  That’s why I’m pumped that Zach Long, a personal trainer, owner of The Barbell Physio, and expert in injury prevention and recovery joins us on this episode.  We cover a ton of injury prevention and recovery information in this episode, including…  Why the “Rest” component of RICE is outdated (and how to exercise safely when you’re injured)  Why technique isn’t the most important aspect for injury prevention (even though it is important)  The weird way your nervous system can make you experience pain that isn’t there  The 3 most common (and preventable) injuries for men 40+ And more! Listen now.  Show highlights include:  The easiest way to determine if your physical therapist is worth their salt or not (8:19)  Why resting after an injury can actually cause more problems than staying active (10:44)  The “PEACE & LOVE” injury rehabilitation method which is wildly more effective than the popular “RICE” method (11:43)  Why seeing a physical therapist before scheduling a surgery prevents you from having an unnecessary and costly surgery (20:39) The eye-opening “Surgery Placebo” experiment that may change your mind on whether or not you need surgery (21:52)   How to cut your risk of injury in half by simply sleeping 8 hours each night (26:57)  The “Red Light, Green Light” system to strengthen injured muscles without causing more severe injuries (30:54)  Why forgiving yourself for coming up short on your fitness goals actually increases your chances of reaching them (1:19:29)  Haven’t hit your protein intake goal today? Here’s a quick snack to help you eat enough protein every day (1:22:42)  Resources mentioned in this episode:  1. The Barbell Physio: Want to improve your performance while reducing injuries? Head to Zach’s website here: https://thebarbellphysio.com/  2. Performance Plus Programming: Want to prevent injuring yourself in just 10 to 15 minutes per day? Check out Performance Plus Programming to find supplementary injury prevention programs for any part of your body here: https://performanceplusprogramming.com/ 3. Follow Zach Long on Instagram: Want to learn more about preventing injuries (without sacrificing your strength and fitness)? Follow Zach on Instagram at @thebarbellphysio 4. Rhone: Save 20% on all high-quality, long-lasting, and comfy workout gear from Rhone by using this link: https://manflowyoga.com/rhone  Other important links:  Want to improve your sexual wellness, get stronger erections, and last longer in bed? Then join the FREE 7-Day Sexual Wellness Challenge here: https://shrtlnk.co/uA27H  Want to unlock more flexibility and strength, reduce your risk of injury, and feel your absolute best over the next 7 days? Then join the FREE 7-Day Beginner’s Yoga for Men Challenge here: https://ManFlowYoga.com/7dc.  Tired of doing a form of yoga that causes more injuries than it helps prevent? The cold, hard truth is men need yoga specifically designed for them. Well, here's some good news: You can start your 7-day free trial to Man Flow Yoga by visiting https://ManFlowYoga.com/join.

Most people believe that they need motivation to start a big task. Whether it’s a new project, a new workout routine, or a new way to enhance your relationships.  But here’s the problem:  Motivation ebbs and flows like the wind. Some days you feel a surge of motivation, but other days your motivational tank is on E.  The people who stick with their goals aren’t the most motivated, but they have a better grasp on how to leverage motivation. For example, you usually feel more motivated at the beginning of something new, then it tapers out.  In this episode, you’ll discover…  Why motivation isn’t actually important  How understanding motivation lets you use it to your advantage Proven strategies to follow when you’re lacking motivation  And more.  Listen now.  Show highlights include:  The biggest misconception about motivation which actually makes it more difficult to start a new fitness regimen (1:29)  The evolutionary reason behind why your brain doesn’t want to workout (and how to make yourself anyway) (2:00)  The scientifically-proven “PAM System” for making your body and mind ready for exercise (6:19)  How to hack motivation to your advantage by using the “Motivation Wave” (10:39)  2 simple things to do when your motivation is high to stick with your exercise program after motivation fades (12:02)  The “slightly more” secret for sticking with your fitness routine when your motivational tank is on E (16:26)  Feeling overwhelmed and unmotivated to workout? Try this “just one thing” mindset tweak to re-energize yourself (20:00)  Resources mentioned in this episode:  1. Birddogs: Need a new pair of the most comfortable shorts in the world? Try Birddogs shorts using our link, and get a free tumbler with your purchase: http://manflowyoga.com/birddogs   Other important links:  Want to improve your sexual wellness, get stronger erections, and last longer in bed? Then join the FREE 7-Day Sexual Wellness Challenge here: https://shrtlnk.co/uA27H  Want to unlock more flexibility and strength, reduce your risk of injury, and feel your absolute best over the next 7 days? Then join the FREE 7-Day Beginner’s Yoga for Men Challenge here: https://ManFlowYoga.com/7dc.  Tired of doing a form of yoga that causes more injuries than it helps prevent? The cold, hard truth is men need yoga specifically designed for them. Well, here's some good news: You can start your 7-day free trial to Man Flow Yoga by visiting https://ManFlowYoga.com/join.

Everyone on the planet ages the same way: We all lose muscle mass as we age.  And muscle mass is actually one of the most crucial aspects to your overall health and wellbeing:  Muscle mass can prevent diseases (from minor ones to severe ones). It makes you happier. And it’s actually the #1 biggest predictor of quality of life as you age.  In fact, the science is clear:  People who exercise live happier, healthier, and longer lives. Period.  But while exercise is one of the things we’re engineered to do as humans, our emotions tend to cloud our judgment. Shame and fear stop us from strength training—and it comes with a steep cost: A lower quality and length of life.  That’s why I invited Eric Levitan, CEO of Vivo, onto today’s episode to discuss…  Why strength training is the single most important exercise for aging without pain or disease  Why you don’t need heavy weights or a barbell to strength train  The easiest way to start strength training (even if you’ve never done it before)  Why strength training is even more important for you if you’re over 50 than if you’re in your 30s  And more.  Listen now.  Show highlights include:  The #1 most important (and most neglected) way to reduce your risk of disease as you age (3:33)  The insidious “Sarcopenia” disease of aging that begins in your 30s (and how to prevent it from causing minor and severe diseases) (5:03)  How shame stops you from doing the single best exercise to prevent diseases (and how to overcome your deep-seated shame before it's too late) (10:09)  How joining a class like Vivo can reduce your risk of injury when strength training to almost 0% (13:14)  Why the “walking is enough” mindset actually leads to more falling, broken bones, and a lower quality of life in older age (17:31)  Worried about dementia? Here’s why “Dual-task exercise” may be the best way to prevent it… (22:12)  How treating your workouts like a doctor’s appointment makes you more consistent (26:08)  The 3 “Holy Trinity” exercises for challenging your body (without stepping foot in a gym) (31:05)  The “above or below” reason behind joint pain which actually tells you how to reverse it (36:44)    How to get rid of knee pain by simply sitting down and standing back up (40:24)  The “30 per meal” method for eating enough protein to prevent serious muscle loss (47:32)  The 2 biggest “threats” which can wipe out all your benefits from strength training (50:40)  How strength training improves your sleep, quiets your mind, and enables you to move past your biggest fears (1:11:43)  Why men suffer from self-induced shame more than women (and how to overcome this) (1:21:16)  Resources mentioned in this episode:  1. Join Team Vivo: Save 50% on the first two months of your subscription to Vivo & discover how to strength train properly at any age to prevent diseases and injuries. Use this link to get this offer: https://teamvivo.com/manflowyoga/ 2. Birddogs: Need a new pair of the most comfortable shorts in the world? Try Birddogs shorts using our link, and get a free tumbler with your purchase: http://manflowyoga.com/birddogs   3. Follow Eric on social media: Follow him on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/elevitan13/ or on Facebook here:  https://www.facebook.com/eric.levitan.7/  Other important links:  Want to improve your sexual wellness, get stronger erections, and last longer in bed? Then join the FREE 7-Day Sexual Wellness Challenge here: https://shrtlnk.co/uA27H  Want to unlock more flexibility and strength, reduce your risk of injury, and feel your absolute best over the next 7 days? Then join the FREE 7-Day Beginner’s Yoga for Men Challenge here: https://ManFlowYoga.com/7dc.  Tired of doing a form of yoga that causes more injuries than it helps prevent? The cold, hard truth is men need yoga specifically designed for them. Well, here's some good news: You can start your 7-day free trial to Man Flow Yoga by visiting https://ManFlowYoga.com/join.

There’s a trap that we all fall into when we want to build healthier habits. Everyone falls into this trap. Myself included.  The trap?  Waiting until we’re out of a busy season of our life to get started on our goals.  Here’s the truth:  Life never stops throwing things at you. You will NEVER have the perfect time to start.  And you know what?  Avoiding this trap is much simpler than you think...  You just have to find the smallest version of whatever habit you want to build. And just start.  It sounds too simple to work, but you’ll surprise yourself by how effective it is.  In this episode, I cover… The “Start Small, But Now” secret for finally achieving your goals  How to find the smallest version of any new habit you want to build Why relying on motivation almost always fails  And more.  Listen now to finally get out of your own way and build any new habit you want.  Show highlights include:  The “get on the mat” method for finally starting—and sticking with—your yoga practice (3:03)  Why worrying too much about the benefits of your new habits actually strips away your motivation (4:02)  How having a certain pair of shoes for running or weight training forces your brain to stick with it (even when you don’t want to) (6:43)  Why celebrating even the tiniest of milestones pours gasoline on the fire of forming new habits (even if it feels silly) (7:15)  The counterintuitive “action inspires motivation” secret for building motivation to accomplish any goal (14:15)  Resources mentioned in this episode:  1. Bird-Dogs - Use this link and get a free stainless steel tumbler when you purchase on manflowyoga.com/birddogs  Other important links:  Want to improve your sexual wellness, get stronger erections, and last longer in bed? Then join the FREE 7-Day Sexual Wellness Challenge here: https://shrtlnk.co/uA27H  Want to unlock more flexibility and strength, reduce your risk of injury, and feel your absolute best over the next 7 days? Then join the FREE 7-Day Beginner’s Yoga for Men Challenge here: https://ManFlowYoga.com/7dc.  Tired of doing a form of yoga that causes more injuries than it helps prevent? The cold, hard truth is men need yoga specifically designed for them. Well, here's some good news: You can start your 7-day free trial to Man Flow Yoga by visiting https://ManFlowYoga.com/join.

CJ Finley, founder of Thrive On Life & the Thrive On Life Podcast, shares secrets to building a thriving and fulfilling life. Topics discussed include finding purpose, conquering dreams, overcoming people pleasing, and building a fulfilling life through embracing uniqueness and improved communication. They also touch on health and wellness practices, gratitude, and reflection.

I’ve gone through several different “phases” of my fitness routine over the years. I’ve done both weight training exclusively and yoga exclusively, and each of them caused their own set of problems: Only lifting weights impacted my mobility, and led to more frequent injuries. While only doing yoga hurt my muscle mass, and caused me to develop weakness across various muscle groups. But for the past 3 years, I’ve done something different than ever before: I mixed weight training with yoga, and my results have never been better.  Weight training keeps me strong, but yoga keeps me mobile and reduces my chance of injury.  In this episode, I peel back the curtain for you so you can decide which type of workout routine works best for you.  We also cover… Is fluctuating with your fitness goals or routines optimal?  The easiest (and most effective) way to decide which type of workout you should do  And what my current fitness “stack” looks like today, so you can mix yoga with weight training in the most effective way  Listen now.  Show highlights include:  The REAL cause of knee pain (hint: it has nothing to do with your knees…) (5:58)  Have a knee or hip surgery scheduled? Listen to this first… you may not need surgery at all (6:38)  Why mixing weight training with yoga unlocks the best injury-prevention benefits (12:35)  How Man Flow Yoga speeds up your recovery process and can get you back in the gym within 3 months (16:38)  The perfect balance between weight training and yoga (and why only doing one prevents you from reaching your fitness potential) (21:10)  Why you only need 2-3 strength training sessions per week for your muscles to reap the most rewards (25:59)  Resources mentioned in this episode:  1.Sunlighten Saunas: Consistently using a sauna is one of the best ways to relieve aches and pains, reduce your stress, and make your skin glow. Go to https://manflowyoga.com/sunlighten to save up to $600 on an in-home, infrared sauna Other important links:  Want to improve your sexual wellness, get stronger erections, and last longer in bed? Then join the FREE 7-Day Sexual Wellness Challenge here: https://shrtlnk.co/uA27H  Want to unlock more flexibility and strength, reduce your risk of injury, and feel your absolute best over the next 7 days? Then join the FREE 7-Day Beginner’s Yoga for Men Challenge here: https://ManFlowYoga.com/7dc.  Tired of doing a form of yoga that causes more injuries than it helps prevent? The cold, hard truth is men need yoga specifically designed for them. Well, here's some good news: You can start your 7-day free trial to Man Flow Yoga by visiting https://ManFlowYoga.com/join.

Everyone has certain traumas and insecurities that your body stores deep inside itself. And it turns out that yoga is one of the best ways to address this deep-seated trauma and insecurities.  Take today’s guest, comedian Drew Lynch, for example. While working on his dream to become an actor, Drew suffered a brutal softball injury that left him with a stutter. This stutter instantly wrecked his dreams of becoming an actor—his agent fired him as soon as he heard Drew speak.  After, Drew decides to become a comedian, landed a spot on America’s Got Talent, and came in second place. While his comedian career blew up afterwards, it wasn’t until the pandemic until Drew realized that he was using comedy to run from the deep-seated trauma he still suffered from ever since his injury.  But during the pandemic, Drew stumbled upon Man Flow Yoga, and to this day, nothing has helped him tackle his trauma and insecurities more effectively than his consistent yoga practice.  In this doozy of an episode, Drew and I discuss:  How your body physically holds trauma—and why yoga is the best way to confront this  Why working too hard can actually be your insecurity in disguise (and how seeking external validation leaves you feeling empty)  How important your mental health is to your physical health, especially after being injured  And so much more.  Listen now.  Show highlights include:  How yoga helped Drew recover from a traumatic brain injury that affected his speech and forced him to give up on his dream career (13:32)  The weird way yoga helps you confront “stored trauma” in your body and fast tracks your healing process (14:13)  Why finishing a yoga session makes you feel more like your true self (and how this helps you overcome suffocating mental anguish) (27:22)  The reason why comedian Drew Lynch enjoys Man Flow Yoga more than having his own personal trainer (34:21)  The “Yoga Backdoor” secret which makes yoga the single best exercise modality for addressing deep-seated trauma and insecurities (35:36)  How your mental health can speed up (or slow down) your recovery from injuries—even more so than your physical health before you were injured (41:09)  Why simply saying “no” more often is the best way to improve your physical, mental, and emotional health (51:13)  The best 5-minute evening routine you can do even when you’re so busy you can’t think straight (1:08:40)  Resources mentioned in this episode:  1. Sunlighten Saunas: Consistently using a sauna is one of the best ways to relieve aches and pains, reduce your stress, and make your skin glow. Go to https://manflowyoga.com/sunlighten to save up to $600 on an in-home, infrared sauna.  2. Need more laughter in your life? Follow Drew Lynch’s social media pages below:  Drew’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDrewLynch  Drew’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedrewlynch/  Drew’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedrewlynch  Drew’s website: https://drewlynch.com/  Other important links:  Want to improve your sexual wellness, get stronger erections, and last longer in bed? Then join the FREE 7-Day Sexual Wellness Challenge here: https://shrtlnk.co/uA27H  Want to unlock more flexibility and strength, reduce your risk of injury, and feel your absolute best over the next 7 days? Then join the FREE 7-Day Beginner’s Yoga for Men Challenge here: https://ManFlowYoga.com/7dc.  Tired of doing a form of yoga that causes more injuries than it helps prevent? The cold, hard truth is men need yoga specifically designed for them. Well, here's some good news: You can start your 7-day free trial to Man Flow Yoga by visiting https://ManFlowYoga.com/join.

Humans are lazy: We want to spend the least amount of energy for the greatest award. It’s built into our DNA.  Yet, when it comes to setting goals, we forget how lazy we can be, how fickle motivation is, and have a tendency to make big, elaborate goals.  Here’s the problem:  When our motivation levels fall, we give up on these big elaborate goals completely. The good news is there’s a better way to set goals and actually achieve them:  Start small.  When you start small, you tap into your own human psychology of being lazy, you don’t have to rely on motivation, and you build confidence and consistency with each day that passes.  Not only is starting small easier, but it’s more effective too.  In this episode, you’ll discover:  Why starting small is the best way to achieve your goals (even your big ones)  How to start small, so you don’t need any motivation to work on your goals  Why setting big, elaborate goals gives you a deadly “failure mindset”   And more! Listen now.  Show highlights include:  5 reasons why starting small on your fitness or nutrition goals unlocks the greatest results (1:07)    The “Baby Steps” method for simplifying your goals and increasing the likelihood you stick with them (1:29)  How having almost no motivation for your latest goal actually makes it easier for you to do long-term (3:55)  Why planning goals for longer than 28 days skyrockets your risk of giving up on it (5:41)  Do you struggle with sticking with fitness programs? Here’s the unusual way to stick with them… (9:50)  The ridiculous “one minute per day” secret that helps you achieve your fitness goals (even if you’ve failed in the past) (14:11)  How to pinpoint the exact moment you should try another fitness program (16:55)  Why it’s false it takes 28 days to form a new habit (and why habits can form in as little as one day) (20:20)   Resources mentioned in this episode:  1. Strength Foundations Challenge: Build your strength, improve your mobility, and get rid of pain, discomfort, or long-lasting injuries with this 6-week, strength-focused challenge. A new challenge begins every Monday for only $9 here: https://shrtlnk.co/LRBUn  2. Absolute Beginners Program: A program designed for absolute beginners to Man Flow Yoga. Available exclusively for Man Flow Yoga Members here: https://manflowyoga.tv/programs/collection-absolute-beginners-program  3. Rhone: Save 20% on all high-quality, long-lasting, and comfy workout gear from Rhone by using this link: https://manflowyoga.com/rhone  4. Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg: Available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Habits-Changes-Change-Everything/dp/0358362776  5. Atomic Habits by James Clear: Available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-James-Clear-audiobook/dp/B07RFSSYBH  Other important links:  Want to improve your sexual wellness, get stronger erections, and last longer in bed? Then join the FREE 7-Day Sexual Wellness Challenge here: https://shrtlnk.co/uA27H  Want to unlock more flexibility and strength, reduce your risk of injury, and feel your absolute best over the next 7 days? Then join the FREE 7-Day Beginner’s Yoga for Men Challenge here: https://ManFlowYoga.com/7dc.  Tired of doing a form of yoga that causes more injuries than it helps prevent? The cold, hard truth is men need yoga specifically designed for them. Well, here's some good news: You can start your 7-day free trial to Man Flow Yoga by visiting https://ManFlowYoga.com/join.