Real Talk With Rev

Content Warning/Trigger Warning | Content Warning/Trigger Warning: In this episode, topics of self-harm, suicide, and suicidal ideations will be discussed.In the Season 1 Finale, I'm sharing something that's near and dear to my heart—my journey understanding mental health. As someone who lives and copes with depression and anxiety, I want to share my experiences along with how I pursued therapy. There's still misunderstandings about mental health, but I also think there are misunderstandings about pursuing counseling (I've had a lot of misconceptions, y'all). There's always plenty to talk about, but through it all, let's keep trying and keep going. Also, I've added a link to Pride Counseling, the counseling service I use that is specifically designed for the LGBTQ+ community. It's truly been a lifesaver and I hope it helps someone. Sending you love, light, supportive energies, and manifestations of your favorite snack. And, like always - let's talk about it.Pride Counseling - pridecounseling.comWebsite - marqmervin.com/podcastSupport the show

Holding space for others and ourselves requires energy—mental, physical, and emotional. And, sometimes, I'm completely tapped out and unable to hold anything except my phone in my hand (and that's a big maybe). In this episode, I'm talking about what emotional capacity means for me. I also have some Rev Reveals (that'll be the new term for when I have an epiphany or make a breakthrough/neural pathway) where a few things start to click and I ponder my relationship with my bandwidth. Let's talk about it!Support the show

Making friends is hard...or is it? In this episode, I'm doing some serious rambling about friend circles. To be honest, I didn't think I'd have many friends. Especially when I'd often hear "making friends as an adult is hard". But I'm here to tell you, 1. I've met some wonderful people whom I consider friends (chosen family) and 2. It's absolutely possible to make friends. After all, friendships are relationships (and relationships require some work to be fulfilling for everyone involved). Let's talk about it!Support the show

I can't be the only one who has some battles with jealousy...right? In this episode, I'm sharing a major breakthrough I had about the root of my envy. And y'all are in for a real treat - I have an epiphany in the middle of my rambling and it's a good one! There was a lot of impromptu self-discovery in this episode! Let's talk about it.Support the show

One of my most intimate and longest struggles has been accepting my body. As a person of size, I've had quite a number of interesting things said about me (some flattering, some not-so-nice). Being a big man has its perks, but I've had to learn how to navigate romance, sex, intimacy, culture, and the world in particular ways to keep my sanity. I'm not always the happiest when I look in the mirror, but I've been learning to give myself more credit. I've also been learning to appreciate my body for the wonderful job its done of keeping me going. Let's talk about it.Support the show

In Episode 3, I'm sharing something I still struggle with to this day - forgiving myself. Oftentimes, I'll tear myself down for not being good enough, not knowing better, falling off track with my health goals, etc. Though, I've slowly been giving grace to myself. This includes speaking kinder to myself and allowing myself to mess up. Why? Because I'm only human. Though, I'm here to tell ya, it's been harder than it seems. But it's been so worthwhile. Let's talk about it.Support the show

In Episode 2, I talk about something I (and, I think, everyone at some point) struggle with - communication. Honest communication has been an act of accountability, bravery, and healing. But, even more importantly, I think it involves a level of trust to be that open. I'm far from a master, but I try to get better with it in all of my relationships (I'm definitely sharing some mishaps in this episode, y'all). Let's talk about it!Mark Williams on Mindfulness (The School of Life) - https://youtu.be/WY08aXxor20Support the show

Episode 1 starts off with a bang by diving right into a conversation (a.k.a. Rev Rant) about masculinity. I talk about the peculiar origins of Real Talk With Rev, learning what "manhood" was "supposed to mean" in a not-so-nice moment from my childhood, defining my own sense of masculinity, and the places and conversations I still dread despite being more comfortable with myself. At the end of each episode, I offer a light challenge to listeners (which also works as a challenge to myself). Each challenge is rooted in love and compassion, so if you're interested, give it a shot. Let's talk about it!Support the show

Welcome to the podcast! Here's a brief introduction to Real Talk with Rev.Support the show