<p>In this deeply honest episode of <em>Hey Man; It’s Ok</em>, hosts <strong>Sky Bridges</strong> and <strong>Ryan Heapy </strong>sit down with <strong>Minh Nguyen</strong>, a longtime friend, father, and entrepreneur, to share a raw conversation about <strong>shame, success, financial collapse, and choosing to stay alive</strong>.</p><p>Minh opens up about his childhood growing up in a <strong>cult-like church</strong>, the pressure to perform and succeed, and how those early experiences shaped his identity as a man. He shares the staggering rise and fall of his career in the mortgage industry—including losing <strong>over $1.1 million</strong>—and the emotional toll that followed.</p><p>At his lowest point, Minh found himself battling <strong>suicidal thoughts</strong>, overwhelmed by shame and the belief that he had failed his family. What followed was a turning point that changed how he defines success, fatherhood, and self-worth.</p><p>In this episode, we talk about:</p><ul><li>How shame quietly fuels depression in men</li><li>What happens when external success collapses</li><li>Navigating suicidal thoughts and asking for help</li><li>Escaping high-control belief systems</li><li>The pressure of social media and comparison</li><li>Breaking generational cycles as a parent</li><li>Redefining success, masculinity, and legacy</li><li>Learning self-compassion after failure</li></ul><p>This conversation is for men who feel like they’re <strong>carrying everything alone</strong>, who’ve tied their worth to performance, or who are silently struggling behind the appearance of “having it together.”</p><p>If you’re in a hard season, you’re not broken—and you’re not alone.</p><p>Because here, <strong>it’s ok to not be ok</strong>.</p><p>⏱️ Timestamps</p><p>00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome </p><p>01:02 Growing Up in a High-Control Church </p><p>02:06 Rise and Pressure in the Mortgage Industry </p><p>04:05 Success, Shame, and Identity </p><p>05:05 Financial Collapse and Emotional Fallout </p><p>06:43 Suicidal Thoughts and the Turning Point </p><p>08:34 Rebuilding Life and Finding Purpose </p><p>16:18 Stability, Healing, and Future Goals </p><p>18:39 Breaking Cycles Through Fatherhood </p><p>19:25 Parenting in a Social Media World </p><p>20:05 Social Media, Comparison, and Pressure </p><p>21:32 Leadership, Resilience, and Teams </p><p>23:29 Perfectionism and Authenticity </p><p>5:16 Life Reflections and Growth </p><p>26:41 Self-Love and Men’s Mental Health </p><p>31:01 Legacy, Healing, and What’s Next </p><p>34:04 Final Thoughts</p>