Free Therapy with Ben & Kevin

This week, we sit down with New York Times bestselling author and clinical psychologist Dr. Shefali to talk about why men feel so misunderstood and what we’re getting wrong about masculinity. We explore the pressures men face, how the way we raise boys shapes their relationships, and what it takes for men and women to better understand each other. It’s an honest, hopeful conversation about moving beyond blame, making room for strength and vulnerability, and raising a more emotionally connected generation. If you’ve ever struggled to understand yourself or the men in your life, this one is for you. New episodes every week. Follow on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and on Instagram at @freetherapy. And as a reminder, we are not therapists, and while this may feel like therapy, it's not. So if you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health professional 00:00 Intro05:44 Conscious Masculinity17:34 Shame and Male Role Models28:31 Strength and Vulnerability36:47 Disconnection and Connection47:11 Raising Conscious BoysSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week is about what actually makes a man attractive today, why vulnerability is the real glue in any relationship, and how to stop taking your partner's feedback as criticism. Aliza Shapiro is the therapist behind @therapist_in_nyc, and she has an incredible read on how relationships actually work right now. She breaks down the three traits women consistently find magnetic, and makes the case that holding it together isn't strength, opening up is. If you've ever held something back from your partner because you thought it would make you look weak, this one is for you. New episodes every week. Follow on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and on Instagram at @freetherapy. And as a reminder, we are not therapists, and while this may feel like therapy, it's not. So if you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health professional who can help.0:00 Intro05:28 Attraction goes beyond financial success15:30 Feedback can feel like criticism25:57 Expressing needs without assigning blame36:06 Feeling heard without fixing everything43:40 Opening up and repairing connectionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week is about inner-child work, the patterns we carry from childhood, and how our past can continue to shape the way we think, feel, and behave as adults. Our guest is Kati Morton, a licensed therapist, author, and educator who has millions of followers online. She joins us to break down what inner-child work actually means, why certain patterns can be so difficult to change, and how understanding where they came from can help us respond differently in the present. We get into how our childhood experiences create an emotional blueprint for relationships, conflict, asking for help, and even how we see ourselves. Kati explains why we can know intellectually that a behavior isn't serving us and still find ourselves repeating it—and what we can actually do about it. We also talk about emotional triggers, boundaries, people-pleasing, and the difference between understanding your past and using it as an excuse. If you've ever wondered why you react the way you do, why you keep repeating the same patterns, or how much of your adult life is still being shaped by your childhood, this episode is for you. New episodes every Thursday. Follow on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and on Instagram at @freetherapy. And as a reminder, we are not therapists, and while this may feel like therapy, it's not. So if you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health professional who can help.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this special bonus episode, Ben shares his experience volunteering at Experience Camps, a free nonprofit camp for kids ages 9–18 who have lost someone they love. After spending a week alongside these kids, Ben talks with Kevin about what he learned about grief, healing, connection, and finding joy even in the middle of loss. To learn more visit www.experiencecamps.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week is about relationships, how to know if someone is actually right for you, and whether you're being too picky or holding out for what you really want. Our guest is Beverly Teller, Ben's mom, a longtime therapist, and one of the most requested guests we've had on the show. She's also been giving Kevin “free therapy” around the dinner table for years. We get into what makes a relationship right for you, what you should and shouldn't compromise on, and how to tell the difference between having standards and protecting yourself from getting hurt. Kevin opens up about what he was looking for in a partner, the pressure he put on himself to become “good enough,” and what dating taught him about himself. We also talk about healthy conflict, why relationships don't need to be free of disagreement, and how to know when you're fighting to be right instead of trying to understand each other. If you've ever wondered whether you're settling, asking for too much, or just afraid to take the risk, this episode is for you. New episodes every Thursday. Follow on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and on Instagram at @freetherapy. And as a reminder, we are not therapists, and while this may feel like therapy, it's not. So if you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health professional who can help. 0:00 Intro to Ben's mom10:30 Are you in the right relationship?17:32 Am I being too picky?23:02 What should I look for in a partner?32:15 What is holding Kevin back?44:56 Secret to a lasting marriage 45:30 Why commitment can feel scary  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.