Disconnected Men & Why It Happens
Authentic Men's Group podcast
Episode 1 Overview: Disconnected Men — Why It Happens Most men don’t wake up thinking, “I have no friends.” They wake up thinking, “Why does this still feel… alone?” In Episode 1, we name what’s actually underneath so much frustration in modern male life—marriage tension, shallow friendships, feeling stuck in purpose, always being “fine” but never really okay. It’s not that men don’t want connection. It’s that many men are disconnected from Source—their inner world. And without Source, depth in any relationship is almost impossible. What we talk about in this...
info_outline
The Masculinity We Inherited… And Why It Stops Working
Authentic Men's Group podcast
The Masculinity We Inherited… And Why It Stops Working Most men didn’t choose their model of masculinity. We absorbed it—through family, culture, locker rooms, workplaces, and silence. This episode was sparked by a long conversation between Andrew Huberman and therapist/author Terry Real about masculinity, emotional health, and relationships. What stood out wasn’t a new, flashy idea—it was language. Language for something most men feel but don’t always know how to name. This isn’t a lecture. It’s not political. It’s three men thinking out loud about what works, what...
info_outline
You Don’t Earn Being a Good Man (Part 2)
Authentic Men's Group podcast
You Don't Earn Being A Good Man (Part 2) We’re talking about what actually happens in a man’s life when he believes one story versus the other, how seeing yourself as good or broken shapes your reactions, your relationships, and the way you show up in the world.” SECTION 1 — Identity Split (Good Man vs. Bad Man) When a man sees himself as GOOD: More present and grounded. Slower reactions. Empathy increases. Honest about emotions. Healthy boundaries. Accountability without collapse. Less numbing, more connection. Confidence without performing. When a man sees himself...
info_outline
You Don’t Earn Being a Good Man
Authentic Men's Group podcast
You Don’t Earn Being a Good Man: Reclaiming the Identity You Were Born With Authentic Men’s Group (AMG) Podcast Blog Every man wonders quietly, “Am I actually a good man?” Most men won’t say it out loud—but the question sits underneath their decisions, their relationships, their mistakes, and the way they carry themselves through life. For many, goodness feels fragile… like one wrong move can erase everything. Like your identity is something you perform into rather than something true about you. Most of us grew up earning approval, not building identity. This episode is about...
info_outline
How to Approach The Enneagram with Dr. Ev
Authentic Men's Group podcast
Episode Title: How To Appraoch The Enneagram? Introduction In this episode, we sit down with Ev, a coach and long-time student of the Enneagram who has spent years helping men uncover who they really are beneath the roles, habits, and masks they wear. The Enneagram isn’t about putting you in a box — it’s about showing you the box you’ve been living in and how to get out. Ev shares how the Enneagram has shaped his own journey, giving him language for the patterns that once ran on autopilot. This episode kicks off a conversation that many men in Authentic Men’s Group (AMG) will...
info_outline
How to Practice Self-Compassion with Enneagram Types 5-9
Authentic Men's Group podcast
Using Self-Compassion With The Enneagram (Part 2) Last time, we explored Enneagram types One through Four—seeing how each carries its own beauty, struggle, and path toward compassion. Today, we pick up where we left off. So often, we hear messages about what we should fix or change. But the real invitation of the Enneagram is to see the truth of how we’re wired and to treat that truth with kindness. It’s not about boxing you in—it’s about showing you the patterns you’ve been living out, and then inviting you back home to your truest self. As Ian Morgan Cron reminds us, “The...
info_outline
How to Practice Self-Compassion with Enneagram Types 1-4
Authentic Men's Group podcast
Using Self-Compassion With The Enneagram We often hear messages about what we need to fix or change. But what if the real invitation is to see and celebrate the unique way we’re wired? What if our greatest strength is learning how to show up with kindness to the exact story we’re living? The Enneagram isn’t about putting you in a box—it’s about helping you see the unique beauty of your wiring and how to live it out with grace. Ian Morgan Cron says, “The Enneagram doesn’t tell you who you are; it tells you who you think you have to be.” And in doing so, it also gently...
info_outline
Why Beating Yourself Up Isn’t Making You Better
Authentic Men's Group podcast
Why Beating Yourself Up Isn’t Making You Better Rewiring the Inner Critic For most of us men, we were raised on self-esteem, (either resourceful input, or non-resourceful input) Be confident. Stand tall. Don’t screw up. Win at all costs. That’s self-esteem culture. It’s about feeling good about yourself when you’re doing well — when you’re successful, strong, admired, competent, and on your game. But the second you fall short? That’s when self-esteem gets shaky. You feel like less of a man. This is where self-compassion comes in — and most of us weren’t taught this...
info_outline
Shame - The Silent Weight Most Men Carry
Authentic Men's Group podcast
7 Common Signs You’re Feeling Shame as a Man Most men don’t like to look in the mirror—not the one in the bathroom, but the one that shows us what’s going on inside. We’re raised with messages like: You can’t change the past. Just move on. Don’t dwell. And on the surface, that sounds like wisdom. But underneath, it keeps a lot of us from practicing self-reflection… because we’re not just afraid of guilt. We’re afraid of shame. See, guilt says, “I did something wrong.” Shame says, “There’s something wrong with me.” One leads to responsibility and growth. The other...
info_outline
Boundaries vs. Requests In Our Circles of Relationships
Authentic Men's Group podcast
Using Boundaries in Every Circle of Relationship Healthy relationships are built on respect, understanding, and trust. At the core of maintaining these elements are boundaries—clear lines we draw to protect our well-being. The Circle of Relationships model by Brian Frizzell offers a helpful visual to identify the depth and nature of our connections. When we combine this with a clear understanding of boundaries and requests, we gain powerful insight into how to handle different types of relationships with clarity and self-respect. Recap: Setting a boundary is knowing, checking, and...
info_outlineDeveloping Emotional Autonomy in Relationships
How do we navigate this vulnerability? By building emotional Autonomy. This means taking ownership of your emotions—understanding them, and managing them. It’s about knowing yourself and being responsible for your emotional state rather than numbing out or blaming others.
Emotional Autonomy vs. Emotional Immaturity:
-
Emotional Immaturity: “You made me feel this way.” / “I’m fine” (when it’s not true).
-
Emotional Autonomy: “I feel this way. It’s okay to feel this. I’m going to own this emotion and use my resources to support myself. So I can show up as my best self in all my relationships.”
Steps to Emotional Autonomy :
- Be curious & Non-Judgmental while Identifying body sensations, emotions, and feelings.
- Communicate and explore these feelings with a trusted support system.
- Own your emotional well-being—stop blaming others for how you feel.
- Take proactive steps to work through distressing emotions.
What does it look like to practice emotional autonomy in each circle of relationships?
Circle #1 Relationship: Self
This is where we discover self. It is internal and eternal. It is the basis of creativity and resourcefulness. It is here we discover the purpose and passion of existence. It is where inspiration can be found. It is the spring of self-love, acceptance, value and authenticity.
Circle #2 Relationship: Intimate
This is where we express our deepest self in the deepest way. This is the relationship of closest vulnerability and authenticity. This intimacy will find expression in sexuality. (i.e. spouse, sexual partner)
Circle #3 Relationship: Select Few
This relationship involves individuals to whom there is the deepest bond and devotion. It is a relationship that experiences sincere vulnerability and validity without sexuality. It establishes earnest trust (i.e. close sibling, dearest friends...)
Circle #4 Relationship: Few
These are relationships we do life with. There is association at mutually connected events like reunions, weddings, funerals, interest groups, (i.e. friendships, family, extended family, associates)
Circle #5 Relationship: Mandatory
These are the relationships we do because we have to. They are the associations that revolve around our ‘to do’ list. There is usually a common purpose or goal for the association. (i.e. Work and necessary commitments)
Circle #6 Relationship: Peripheral
These are people we keep at arms length for one of two reasons: one, these people have hurt us before and would probably do it again given a chance or two, these people need something every time they make contact. These are (i.e. adversaries, acquaintances, codependent relationships, service clubs)
Circle #7 Relationship: Temporal
This is the stuff of life. In this circle are the things that 100 years from now will have no value to us and 10 years from now will not mean as much as they do today. These are the houses, the cars and the toys of life. They also encompass things that we can get comfort from that have the potential to form addictions (food, drugs, alcohol, pornography, …)