You know the type — ambitious, perfectionistic, and always striving to do more and be more… yet secretly fuelled by pressure, anxiety, and fear.
In this episode, Michael is joined by special guest Scott Stirrett as they share their own stories of hustling for achievement and how they’ve learned to stay ambitious without destroying themselves in the process. Together, they unpack how perfectionism, internalized shame, and the need for external validation can be ways we attempt to outrun our insecurities — and pivot toward ambition that’s healthy, sustainable, and soul-driven.
Topics covered in this episode:
- Why gay men are uniquely wired for overachievement
- How perfectionism shows up in covert and overt ways
- How adversity can build anti-fragility and real confidence
- The difference between healthy ambition vs shame-fuelled hustle
- Learning to slow down without feeling lazy, guilty, or like you’re falling behind
- Rewiring your motivation so it feeds you instead of drains you
By the end of this episode, you’ll be inspired to pursue success in a way that keeps you driven and impactful — without burning yourself out — and to start measuring your worth from the inside out.
Today's Guest: Scott Stirrett
Today's Host: Michael DiIorio
Support the Show - viewer and listener support helps us to continue making episodes
- CONNECT WITH US -
- Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
- Join the Gay Men's Brotherhood Facebook community
- Get on our email list to get access to our monthly Zoom calls
- Follow us on Instagram | TikTok
- Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com
- LEARN WITH US -
- Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
- Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
Chapters
- (00:00:00) - Gay Men Going Deeper: Overachieving Gays
- (00:01:39) - How I Became A Perfect Male Athlete: The Shame
- (00:08:11) - Scott on Struggles With Self-Valuation
- (00:13:35) - The Need For External Validation In Gay Men
- (00:19:17) - How to Get Out of Gay Workplaces
- (00:21:52) - Gay Men: The Importance of Internal Validation
- (00:25:30) - The Gay Men's Brotherhood
- (00:26:34) - What Does Healthy Willing Look Like vs Perfectionism?
- (00:31:22) - Coming Out: Don't Be Afraid of Failure
- (00:36:57) - Mental Health Support for Men
- (00:40:20) - Self-Motivation and the Uncertainty Advantage
- (00:42:47) - What's Your Tipping Point?
- (00:43:48) - Michael Jackson on His End
- (00:44:24) - Healthy Work Life Balance
- (00:46:47) - Michael Buble Reveals His Personal Values
- (00:50:52) - How to Say No to Stuff
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.