Mindfully Masculine: Personal Growth and Mental Health for Men
Charles and Dan are just two guys talking about relationships, masculinity, and authenticity. Join them as they discuss books and media, as well as their (sometimes messy) personal stories, to encourage men to join the fight for their mental, physical, and emotional health--because a world of healthy, resilient men is a thriving and more secure world for everyone.
Episodes
In this episode, Charles and Dan challenge the physical and psychological prescriptions found in chapters 10 and 11 of The Masculine in Relationship. The discussion begins with a critical look at the concept of embodiment, debating whether relationship friction is truly caused by overthinking or if it is the result of underthinking and reactivity in stressful moments.
The hosts take a skeptical stance on the author's suggested ...
In this crucial episode, Charles and Dan dive into the foundational responsibilities of the masculine and the subtle forces that either create deep, lasting intimacy or lead to eventual conflict.
The conversation begins by examining the crucial demand for masculine safety, exploring what happens when a man fails to "hold space and provide safety," forcing his partner to step out of her feminine and into an energy that stra...
In this episode, Charles and Dan unpack chapters four, five, and six of The Masculine in Relationship — and explore why so many men fall into the trap of becoming either strong-but-destructive or nice-but-ineffective. They dig into what it actually takes to embody the rare third option: a strong good man who leads with clarity, steadiness, emotional presence, and purpose.
The conversation moves through the core foundations of mascul...
In this first episode of our new series on The Masculine in Relationship by G.S. Youngblood, Charles and Dan dive into the foreword, preface, and opening chapters of the book that’s redefining modern masculinity.
They explore why real leadership in a relationship starts with grounded presence—not control—and how polarity, purpose, and emotional steadiness shape connection. This isn’t about blame or “fixing” your partner; it’s about ...
In this episode, Charles and Dan take a closer look at Stephen Bartlett’s conversation with Dr. Julie Smith on The Diary of a CEO — exploring what it really means to manage anxiety, build confidence, and grow through self-compassion instead of self-criticism.
They talk about why it’s so much easier to look “not needy” than to actually have your needs met, how rejection ties back to our deepest beliefs about worthiness, and why belie...
In this episode, Charles and Dan unpack one of their favorite conversations from The Diary of a CEO — Steven Bartlett’s interview with Simon Sinek.
They explore what it really means to “find your why,” why self-awareness beats self-improvement, and how honesty, feedback, and integrity all connect to a deeper sense of fulfillment that lasts longer than success or achievement ever could.
From the power of vulnerability to the courage o...
In this episode, Charles and Dan unpack key insights from The Diary of a CEO conversation with sleep scientist Matthew Walker — exploring how modern life undermines rest, what’s actually happening in your brain while you sleep, and the small, practical changes that can improve energy, focus, and overall well-being.
We discuss:
- Why sleep loss affects every system in the body
- The myths around caffeine, naps, and “catching up” on wee...
Charles shares a personal reflection on Elizabeth Gilbert’s new memoir All the Way to the River—a raw, beautifully told story about love, addiction, and loss. He explores what makes Gilbert’s writing different from typical books on recovery and co-dependence, how her honesty resonates with his own journey, and why the audiobook version delivers an especially powerful experience.
In this conversation, Charles and Dan unpack one of the most practical interviews they’ve ever heard on The Diary of a CEO—Steven Bartlett’s talk with body-language expert Vanessa Van Edwards.
Instead of vague “be confident” advice, this episode focuses on clear, actionable steps that make communication more intentional and effective.
They break down:
- How warmth and competence shape every first impression
- The body-language cu...
In this week’s episode of The Mindfully Masculine Podcast, Charles and Dan dive into Steven Bartlett’s most-viewed Diary of a CEO interview — his conversation with Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power.
What starts as a look at Greene’s ideas on seduction, confidence, and power turns into a bigger exploration of what really drives human behavior. Charles and Dan unpack the tension between authenticity and performance, confid...
Love, sex, survival — Esther Perel has spent decades showing how our relationships shape everything about the quality of our lives. In this episode of Mindfully Masculine, Charles and Dan unpack her powerful conversation with Steven Bartlett on The Diary of a CEO.
We explore the big themes from Esther’s interview:
- Why the quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life
- How childhood experiences shape adult patter...
In this episode of Mindfully Masculine, Charles and Dan dive into psychologist Dr. Orion Taraban’s provocative appearance on The Diary of a CEO. Taraban is known for his blunt take on dating, relationships, and masculinity—arguing that men are invisible until they bring value, that love is not earned but given, and that relationships at their core are transactional.
We unpack his biggest ideas, from the economics of attraction to th...
In this special solo reflection, Charles shares his perspective on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and what it reveals about masculinity, resilience, and political violence.
He argues that true masculine strength lies in threat assessment, resilience, and the ability to live alongside opposing ideas without collapsing into reactivity. Violence—whether through weapons, institutions, or media—is framed not as power but as fragility.
...
What happens when your “perfect” girlfriend lives in your phone, hits your credit card for $9.95 a month, and never says no? In this episode, Charles and Dan explore the rise of AI companions and what draws men to digital relationships over real ones.
We dig into questions like:
- Why some men are choosing AI girlfriends instead of dating apps or real partners
- Whether talking to a bot can really make you feel “chosen”
- How this trend ...
In this final episode of our Let Them Theory series, we dig into the last three chapters of Mel Robbins’ book—and we don’t hold back.
We talk about why the honeymoon phase blinds us to red flags, how to tell if someone is truly compatible (hint: if you’re confused, they’re not), and why waiting for a partner to change is wasted time. We also break down the “commitment conversation” that keeps us on equal footing instead of begging f...
In this episode of Mindfully Masculine, Charles and Dan dive into Chapters 16 and 17 of Mel Robbins’ The Let Them Theory: The More You Rescue, The More They Sink and How to Provide Support the Right Way.
They explore why stepping in to “rescue” often backfires, how shame and denial complicate real support, and why presence and patience are more powerful than quick fixes. Along the way, they share stories about hidden struggles, mone...
In this episode of Mindfully Masculine, Charles and Dan unpack Chapters 14 and 15 of The Let Them Theory—and the uncomfortable truth that you can’t force anyone to change.
We dive into why pressure backfires, why rescuing keeps people stuck, and how the most powerful form of influence comes from backing off. From partners and kids to friends and coworkers, if you’ve ever tried to “fix” someone, this one will sting a little.
Highlight...
Friendship in adulthood isn’t what it used to be — and in this conversation, we get into why that’s not always a bad thing. Charles and Dan dig into the myths we carry from childhood about how friends “should” work, and how those expectations crash into reality once proximity, free time, and shared schedules disappear.
We break down Mel Robbins’ “three pillars” of friendship — proximity, timing, and energy — and give our unfiltered ...
In this episode of Mindfully Masculine, Charles and Dan continue their exploration of The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins, turning a critical eye toward two major ideas: fairness and comparison.
First, they take on the statement “life isn’t fair”—not to reject it outright, but to unpack its usefulness. Is declaring unfairness a helpful truth, or a dead-end framing? The conversation pushes beyond the cliché to explore what men are act...
Why do grown-ups still throw tantrums? And why does doing the right thing sometimes feel awful?
In this episode, Charles and Dan dive into Chapters 7 and 8 of The Let Them Theory—where emotional maturity meets real-life discomfort. We unpack how adults act like kids (just with more email silence and fewer juice boxes), how to hold your ground when someone else is spiraling, and why making the right move often feels like the wrong on...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
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The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run “Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago. Season 1 - The Burden In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance. For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. Welcome to The Burden.
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