MenLightened

On the final episode of MenLightened (for now) Chris shares his process on deciding to pause the podcast, and shares some words for the road.It's been a good ride. Thanks for sharing it! Though as Chris says today, it's time to double down and "put [his] mind and money where [his] heart is."Thanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

Why does it feel like something's missing from life sometimes, when, on paper, we should be happy? How can you start being more confident and lively in social situations, instead of clamming up and suddenly having nothing to say? And why does that happen?This week, Chris hosts the 2nd instalment of the Male Bag--the ongoing series where he answers listener questions. He addresses one listener who thinks he has it all, yet feels unsatisfied and can't put his finger on why.  Then moves to a second who wants to stop shutting down in social settings and start opening up, to feel more confident and free.Want to get a question on the show? Or just connect privately? Get in touch at the email below.Thanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

Did a "former" Neo-nazi satanist have some good ideas about masculinity? Chris thinks the answer is Yes...This week he unpacks Jack Donovan's "Four Tactical Virtues of Masculinity" from his book The Way of Men, sharing how they can be a useful way of understanding why we respect certain leaders, as well as pinpointing ways we can become better, more well-rounded men.Thanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

What would you tell your younger self? What pieces of wisdom or advice do you wish you'd heard years ago, that might have helped you steer clear of drama or troubles, and pointed you in the right direction?This week, Chris shares 10 big pointers he'd share with his 20-year-old self, if he could step into a time machine for a one-on-one. The discussion covers a wide range of ideas, including:- Nobody knows what they're doing- The messy underbelly of celebrities- Why the urge to fit in is a waste of time- The folly of YOLO- When doubting yourself is a good thing- Embracing the suck, and- Giving yourself permission.Thanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

Do you obsess over your performance and how people see you? Do you beat yourself up when making mistakes? Is there a voice in your head that constantly picks apart your work, your words, and your choices? If so, you're in good company...Inspired by recent encounters with the perfectionist gremlins in his own head, this week Chris talks about the delusion of perfectionism and the resulting "inner critic"--what it is, where it comes from, what it costs us, and useful ways he's learned to manage it over the years.Thanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

Michael Muscari is a Certified High Flow Coach, tenured entrepreneur, NLP practitioner and mastermind leader. Michael helps entrepreneurs and leaders unlock their full potential and accomplish their most meaningful goals.  He’s trained with the best in the world in the field of Flow Science—including Steven Kotler’s Flow Research Collective. He’s passionate about living out his deepest values, conducting himself purposefully, and assisting others to do the same.  Links to Connect More with MichaelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmuscari/Website: https://www.flowboss.coThanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

Leo Cheung is a Breakup Recovery Coach who supports people in the healing of their breakup and becoming secure in their relationships. His work is inspired by his own profound journey of heartbreak, and bridging the intersections of attachment theory, nervous system regulation, the spiritual nature of grief, self-compassion and the impacts of breakups and relationships on our physical and emotional body.Links to Connect More with LeoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakuprecoveryleo/Website: https://www.liinks.co/breakuprecoveryleoThanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

Devon O’Brien Ash is the founder of Social Fluency—a training system that has transformed the lives of thousands of men and women to become more confident and outgoing, so they can build the professional, social, and romantic lives we all dream of.The training was developed 12 years ago, after a series of unfortunate events that Devon turned into a life-changing curriculum, including his experience of overcoming skin cancer and the resulting scar that covers a large portion of his face. After proving his approach could change his own life, he started to share it with others.Devon has since traveled the world teaching this methodology so that we can create a more interconnected world with open communication. Devon’s teachings have been shared on stages around the world and taught at companies like Google, Apple, YouTube, Deloitte and Jive software, just to name a few. Links to Connect More with DevonTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@socialfluencyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/social_fluency/Website: www.socialfluency.com/smalltalk-exclusive Thanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

What is a men's group? How does it work? Why bother joining one? Today Chris wraps up the "Big Ideas of Men's Work" where the lofty rubber meets the road: Men's Groups. And gives quick tips on what to look for and what to avoid when finding or starting one.He talks about forming the "Third Cord," why the climate of a group is radically different from regular life, the power of accountability and having your mind and actions challenged, the life-changing effects of mutual vulnerability, and many other topics.Find the books mentioned in today's episode, and more, here at the digital library.Grab tickets here to the show on May 25 in Vancouver, BC.Thanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

“Feminization” is a BIG trigger word. But it's a misunderstood signpost for key, nuanced issues. This week, Chris builds on the last episode, breaking down why the absence of male mentorship causes headaches with women, weakness, passivity, and a lack of vital “edge” in life--something's supported by having "integrated" male mentors, who can help us tame and transmute the darker forces in our humanity, instead of divorcing ourselves from a vital resource.If you haven't caught the last episode, be sure to start there to put this one in full context.Thanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

What is "men’s work?" Where did it come from? What are the core ideas? In part 1 of a 3-episode series, Chris begins answering these questions and dives into the topic of male initiation. He draws from men's literature and in-group experience to explain why: A) Initiation is a key ingredient in men's lives, B) Millions of men today are struggling without it, and C) It's a forgotten and absent phenomenon in the modern world. Thanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

What is “life purpose?” And how the f*ck do you find yours? Do you even have one? In this episode, Chris unpacks the grandiose concept of purpose--breaking it into sensible building blocks, dispelling misleading definitions, and explaining why you'll want to investigate "the intersection where you and the world meet." Link to the full conversation mentioned this episode between Daniel Schmachtenberger and Lex Fridman:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGRNUw559SE&t=0s&ab_channel=LexFridmanThanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

In this episode, Chris begins on ongoing series where he answers listener questions.  Topics on the inaugural Male Bag include: debunking “sh*t testing” and dating games, boundary setting, the insecurities driving most of our relationship dramas and anxiety, and getting over the fear of communicating what we need.  Want to get one on the show? Or just connect privately? Get in touch at the email below.Thanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

Near-death experiences make huge impacts on our lives, generating profound positive changes in our outlook and priorities. But why wait for a car crash or a terminal diagnosis? In a quick episode this week, Chris talks about the value of contemplating mortality, and shares a powerful exercise you can do to extract the transformative force of near-death experiences from the safety and comfort of your home.Thanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

Wondering how to get more dates or meet the perfect person? In this week's episode, Chris dives into a (mostly) counter-intuitive approach to find and sustain awesome relationships, highlighting some key mistakes and best practices. He also shares his experience with this process, and the one book that changed everything.Topics include purpose, social circles, pattern recognition, getting clear on desired outcomes, dating apps, why the kind of person we *think* we want often isn't the one we need, and an optimal dating style.Thanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

Why are video games so addictive? What’s the price you pay? And how can you quit a gaming addiction, if you want to? Growing up with a controller in his hands, Chris knows gaming is both wickedly fun AND hard to keep in check. Most people know about dopamine in the brain, and how it keeps you hooked. But there’s a much bigger reason why we get addicted to gaming… If you're a regular gamer, or used to be, don’t miss this episode.Thanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

Those two words direct our entire lives. But we rarely examine them. Join Chris this week to dig deeper into the meanings of success and happiness, how blindly adopting common definitions leads us astray, and how looking to their true definitions can set us up to lead the most fulfilling lives possible.Thanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com

Welcome to MenLightened! A show that helps guys build stronger minds and better lives, while searching for the Goldilocks Zone in men’s development. On the first episode, Chris shares his background, the purpose of the show, who it’s for (and who it’s not) and privately realizes he has a sh*t ton to learn about being a better podcaster...Thanks for tuning in!For recommended books, check out the digital library at menlightenedpod.com/libraryFollow the pod on Instagram: @menlightenedpodHave a question or want to chat? Connect with Chris via email at chris@menlightenedpod.com