Mind Over Masculinity

What if real masculinity isn't a rejection of strength, but a return to ancient virtue? Bode Swanson, author of Great Souled Men, joins Mind Over Masculinity to explore what Aristotle's twelve virtues can teach modern men and women. Bode shares how writing for his own sons led him to Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, and why he believes real strength means serving your community, not chasing fame or fortune. About the Guest: Bode Swanson is the author of Great Souled Men, built on Aristotle's twelve virtues. A father of four in California, he wrote it for his sons after his own turn from youthful rebellion toward a more virtuous life in his mid-twenties. Key Takeaways: True masculinity looks like Aristotle's virtues, courage, temperance, justice, generosity, not brashness or performative toughness. Test courage directly: do something that scares you and notice how it feels, compared to avoiding it. Success is better measured by what you build for family and community than by money or fame. Good mentors plant lessons that may not take root until years later. Connect With the Guest: Website: greatsouledmen.com Book: Great Souled Men Social: @greatsouledmen on Instagram, X and Facebook Episode Chapters: [00:00] Welcome to Mind Over Masculinity (approx.) [02:00] From rebellion to writing a book of virtues for his sons (approx.) [06:00] Why Bode rejects the caricature of masculinity in media (approx.) [12:00] Are men taught to hide emotion, or built differently? (approx.) [20:00] Freedom, mentorship and lessons that take years to land (approx.) [28:00] A practical way to test the virtue of courage (approx.) [34:00] What genuine strength and success actually look like (approx.) 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? Send me a direct message on PodMatch. 👉 DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik 🌱 About Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Global Mental Wellness Podcast Network - focused, credible, no more identity clutter. 👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. Refer a Guest Know someone who would be a great fit for one of our podcast shows? Email us at [email protected] with the subject line “Refer a Guest.” Requests without this subject line cannot be catered to. Support Our Podcast: Support this Podcast 📬 Contact & Links Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Contact Us Based in: India & USA 🎧 All Podcast Shows 🤝 Be a Guest 📩 Newsletter Substack 👉 Join the LinkedIn Community 📌 Disclaimer - This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements. If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here. #podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #mindovermasculinity #masculinity #healthymasculinity #redefiningmasculinity #aristotlevirtues #courage #mensmentalhealth #fatherhood #personalgrowth #virtueethics #greatsouledmen #strengthandcharacter

What if traditional masculinity isn't really about gender, but about a system that never lets anyone rest? Maria Van Der Maaten, a sociologist and community development practitioner, joins Mind Over Masculinity to explore how rebuilding real social circles helps men reclaim their full humanity. Drawing on her work with subsistence farmers in Latin America and her own parenting, Maria shares why the first step out of old patterns is often the simplest one. About the Guest: Maria Van Der Maaten is a sociologist and community development practitioner who has worked with subsistence farmers in Latin America. She brings a sociological lens to self-care and parenting, and is the mother of two boys. Key Takeaways: Traditional masculinity's demand for emotional solidity often comes from economic pressure, not gender itself. Rebuild small social circles, like a hiking group, instead of relying on one or two people for all your support. Take the first step like a kid at the playground; try it once before deciding it's not for you. Strength is being at ease with who you are, not proving anything to anyone. Connect With the Guest: Maria can be found on LinkedIn and Instagram, under her first and last name. Episode Chapters: [00:00] Welcome to Mind Over Masculinity (approx.) [02:00] Maria's path from farming communities to self-care research (approx.) [06:00] The biggest misunderstanding about traditional masculinity (approx.) [12:00] Why rebuilding social circles matters (approx.) [18:00] Taking the first step like a kid at the playground (approx.) [26:00] Staying consistent when old patterns creep back (approx.) [32:00] What genuine strength looks like (approx.) 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? Send me a direct message on PodMatch. 👉 DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik 🌱 About Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Global Mental Wellness Podcast Network - focused, credible, no more identity clutter. 👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. Refer a Guest Know someone who would be a great fit for one of our podcast shows? Email us at [email protected] with the subject line “Refer a Guest.” Requests without this subject line cannot be catered to. Support Our Podcast: Support this Podcast 📬 Contact & Links Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Contact Us Based in: India & USA 🎧 All Podcast Shows 🤝 Be a Guest 📩 Newsletter Substack 👉 Join the LinkedIn Community 📌 Disclaimer - This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements. If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here. #podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #mindovermasculinity #masculinity #toxicmasculinity #redefiningmasculinity #healthymasculinity #mensmentalhealth #emotionalresilience #communitybuilding #parentingboys #selfcare #socialconnection #sociology #fatherhood #genderroles #personalgrowth

What if the same armor that protects men is also what keeps them isolated? Shaun Dawson, host of the Raising Men podcast, joins Mind Over Masculinity to unpack why performative strength quietly hurts the people it's supposed to protect. Shaun shares the castle metaphor that reshaped how he thinks about masculinity, and why building a wider, safer space for the people around you matters more than building higher walls. About the Guest: Shaun Dawson is the host of Raising Men, a podcast about parenting, masculinity and raising boys with courage and character. He started the show after realizing the patterns he grew up with wouldn't serve his own son, and now reaches an audience split evenly between men and women. Key Takeaways: Picture masculinity as a castle built to protect a thriving community, not just to keep threats out. Treat discomfort during growth as a sign of progress, not a warning to stop. Willpower fades, so build systems and surroundings that support who you're trying to become. Real strength protects and never punches down; picking on someone weaker is a sign of weakness. Connect With the Guest: Website: raising.men Social: @raising_men_podcast (all platforms) Podcast and YouTube show: Raising Men Episode Chapters: [00:00] Welcome to Mind Over Masculinity (approx.) [02:00] Shaun's path to starting Raising Men (approx.) [06:00] Where our idea of the "strong silent type" comes from (approx.) [10:00] The castle metaphor: performative strength versus real strength (approx.) [16:00] Why most male friendships stay shallow (approx.) [22:00] Starting small: systematic change over willpower (approx.) [28:00] Discomfort as a sign of progress (approx.) [34:00] Community, humility and what real strength looks like (approx.) 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? Send me a direct message on PodMatch. 👉 DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik 🌱 About Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Global Mental Wellness Podcast Network - focused, credible, no more identity clutter. 👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. Refer a Guest Know someone who would be a great fit for one of our podcast shows? Email us at [email protected] with the subject line “Refer a Guest.” Requests without this subject line cannot be catered to. Support Our Podcast: Support this Podcast 📬 Contact & Links Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Contact Us Based in: India & USA 🎧 All Podcast Shows 🤝 Be a Guest 📩 Newsletter Substack 👉 Join the LinkedIn Community 📌 Disclaimer - This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements. If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here. #podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #mindovermasculinity #masculinity #toxicmasculinity #redefiningmasculinity #healthymasculinity #mensmentalhealth #emotionalresilience #communitybuilding #parentingboys #selfcare #socialconnection #sociology #fatherhood #genderroles #personalgrowth

What if the "man up" script we hand boys is actually working against them? Robert Gourlay, an environmental research scientist who grew up on a farm with six brothers and later served as an army officer, joins Mind Over Masculinity to unpack where toxic masculinity comes from and what real courage looks like. Robert shares how nature, sleep and unstructured play built his sense of self as a boy, and why today's constant technology may be quietly taking away the imagination and critical thinking young men need most. About the Guest: Robert Gourlay is an Australian environmental research scientist and inventor, and Managing Director of Resonate Research Pty Ltd. He grew up on a farm bordering a national park, served as an army officer during the Vietnam War era, and has been married for 55 years. He now runs health and well-being workshops from his property in Australia. Key Takeaways: Give boys real unstructured time in nature, especially between ages one and seven, the window Robert ties directly to how courage develops. Swap "what's the problem" for "what's the objective," a habit from Robert's military training that brings clarity instead of blame. Protect full sleep and an early morning routine; Robert has kept this rhythm since childhood and credits it for his focus. Treat screens as a distraction from a boy's own intuition and imagination, not a substitute for either. Connect With the Guest: Websites: phion.com.au, meawater.com and primalwater.com.au Also runs the Environmental Research and Information Consortium at eric.com.au Robert offers free workshops and papers on human health, water and biological farming, with documentaries on water and wellbeing in the works Episode Chapters: [00:00] Opening and welcome to Mind Over Masculinity (approx.) [02:00] Defining masculinity across a lifetime (approx.) [04:00] Growing up with six brothers, farm life and army service (approx.) [10:00] Why courage takes root between ages one and seven (approx.) [16:00] What technology is quietly taking away from boys (approx.) [24:00] Problems versus objectives, a lesson from military training (approx.) [32:00] Nature, sleep and the habits behind a 55-year marriage (approx.) 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? Send me a direct message on PodMatch. 👉 DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik 🌱 About Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Global Mental Wellness Podcast Network - focused, credible, no more identity clutter. 👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. Refer a Guest Know someone who would be a great fit for one of our podcast shows? Email us at [email protected] with the subject line “Refer a Guest.” Requests without this subject line cannot be catered to. Support Our Podcast: Support this Podcast 📬 Contact & Links Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Contact Us Based in: India & USA 🎧 All Podcast Shows 🤝 Be a Guest 📩 Newsletter Substack 👉 Join the LinkedIn Community 📌 Disclaimer - This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements. If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here. #podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #mindovermasculinity #toxicmasculinity #redefiningmasculinity #mensmentalhealth #courage #raisingboys #fatherhood #emotionalhealth #naturetherapy #criticalthinking #healthymasculinity #menshealth

Why does asking for help still feel like failure for so many men? On Mind Over Masculinity, host Sreemedha sits with author Alan Gillanders to unpack where the pressure to "have it all together" really comes from, and what it costs us to keep performing it. Alan shares why talking to a trusted friend, not toughing it out alone, is often the real starting point. Expect an honest look at masculinity, vulnerability, and finding strength in speaking up instead of staying silent. About the Guest: Alan Gillanders is an author based in Australia who writes about higher consciousness and the "divine energy" within us. His work explores how tuning into that inner guidance shapes everyday decisions and relationships. Key Takeaways: Notice the pressure to "have it all together" as an old script, not a personal truth. Talking to one trusted friend, without needing to fix anything, is often the first honest step back to yourself. Sitting quietly and asking what you need to know often brings answers faster than pushing for them. If you're carrying something alone, men's support groups or a workplace counsellor exist, you don't have to battle it solo. Connect With the Guest: Website — alangillanders.com Also on Facebook, Instagram, Blue Sky, and LinkedIn (search "Alan Gillanders"). Episode Chapters: [00:00] (approx.) Cold Open — What If Hiding Is the Real Weakness? [02:00] (approx.) Meet Alan Gillanders — Author and Voice on Higher Consciousness [05:00] (approx.) Where "Having It All Together" Really Comes From [10:00] (approx.) The Cost of Suppressing What's Real [15:00] (approx.) One Practice — Sitting Quietly and Asking Your Higher Self [20:00] (approx.) Signs You're Disconnected, and Why Talking Helps [26:00] (approx.) Closing Reflection — Strength Is Letting Something Out 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? Send me a direct message on PodMatch. 👉 DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik 🌱 About Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Global Mental Wellness Podcast Network - focused, credible, no more identity clutter. 👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. Refer a Guest Know someone who would be a great fit for one of our podcast shows? Email us at [email protected] with the subject line “Refer a Guest.” Requests without this subject line cannot be catered to. Support Our Podcast: Support this Podcast 📬 Contact & Links Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Contact Us Based in: India & USA 🎧 All Podcast Shows 🤝 Be a Guest 📩 Newsletter Substack 👉 Join the LinkedIn Community 📌 Disclaimer - This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements. If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here. #podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #mindovermasculinity #mensmentalhealth #vulnerabilityisstrength #toxicmasculinity #innerguidance #higherself #emotionalstrength #malemindset #consciousliving #breakthestigma #innerworkformen #speakupdontshutdown