EFR 907: Why Men Are (Quietly) Giving Up - Modern Masculinity in the US and Promising Mental Health Therapies with Benjamin Forest
Ever Forward Radio with Chase Chewning
Release Date: 11/11/2025
Ever Forward Radio with Chase Chewning
This episode is brought to you by Audible, and In this deeply philosophical conversation, James Beshara explores the timeless question of who we really are beneath our roles, labels, and ambitions, drawing from Vedanta, psychology, and modern life. Through powerful metaphors like the allegory of the cave and the hero’s journey, James challenges the idea that we’re defined by our careers, identities, or need to belong—arguing instead that most people are “living in shadows,” mistaking societal conditioning for truth. The discussion reveals how our fear of rejection keeps us from...
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This episode is brought to you by , and Breakups don’t just hurt emotionally—they rewire your brain. Cole Zesiger is here to unpack the science of heartbreak, why it can feel like addiction, and what actually helps you move forward. He dives into the truth about no-contact, attachment styles, and why many people stay stuck chasing closure or clinging to the idea of “the one.” Cole also shares practical strategies to rebuild your life after a breakup, explaining how healing comes from creating meaning, regulating your emotions, and building a life that feels better than the one...
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This episode is brought to you by In this episode of Ever Forward Radio, we sit down with wellness experts and holistic nutritionists from Ancient + Brave, Dana James and Madison Miller, to unpack the modern epidemic of “wellness fatigue”—why more information, supplements, and optimization tools aren’t necessarily making us healthier. We dive deep into the hidden role of stress, the nervous system, and gut health, revealing how chronic cortisol, subconscious belief systems, and overcomplicated routines may be sabotaging progress. From practical insights on sleep, nutrition, and...
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This episode is brought to you by , and Today we sit down with neurologist and brain health expert Majid Fotuhi, MD, PhD, author of , to challenge conventional thinking about Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. Dr. Fotuhi explains why Alzheimer’s may not be a single disease but rather the result of multiple processes—including inflammation, poor sleep, metabolic dysfunction, and lifestyle factors—that accumulate over time. The conversation explores the science behind brain shrinkage, the role of sleep in clearing toxins from the brain, why exercise may be one of the most...
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This episode is brought to you by , , and Heart disease is still the number one cause of death worldwide, yet most people misunderstand what actually causes cardiovascular disease. In this episode of Ever Forward Radio, we sit down with interventional cardiologist Dr. Christopher Davis, MD to break down the real drivers of heart disease, the role of cholesterol, and why nitric oxide may be one of the most important molecules for cardiovascular health. This masterclass explores the science behind oxidized LDL, endothelial dysfunction, nitric oxide production, inflammation, and...
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In this episode, we sit down again with veterinary epidemiologist and Fatty15 co-founder Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson to explore the emerging science behind C15:0, an odd-chain saturated fatty acid increasingly recognized as potentially essential for human health. The conversation begins by addressing skepticism and online claims that C15:0 research is a “scam,” before diving into the human and epidemiological evidence showing that higher circulating levels of C15:0 are associated with lower cardiometabolic disease risk. Dr. Venn-Watson explains why not all saturated fats behave the same...
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This episode is brought to you by In this episode, David Watumull breaks down the science behind astaxanthin — a powerful carotenoid antioxidant backed by over 4,000 peer-reviewed papers and 100+ human clinical trials — and explains why it may be one of the most underappreciated longevity compounds available today. The conversation explores how astaxanthin anchors across cellular membranes to protect mitochondria from oxidative stress, reduce chronic inflammation (“inflammaging”), support cardiovascular health by lowering oxidized LDL and CRP, and cross the blood-brain barrier to...
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This episode is brought to you by , , In this conversation, Dr. Tim Spector breaks down why modern life has quietly dismantled our relationship with fermented foods and how that loss may be fueling inflammation, metabolic disease, and poor mental health. Drawing from the landmark Stanford fermented foods study, he explains how just a few daily servings of fermented foods lowered inflammatory markers by 25%, outperforming fiber alone in immune impact. He outlines the hierarchy of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, why ultra-processed foods sabotage gut health, and how eating 30 diverse...
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This episode is brought to you by and What if the smallest molecule in the universe could have the biggest impact on your health? Welcome "Greg the Hydrogen Man" to explore the science, controversy, and real-world application of hydrogen water and molecular hydrogen therapy. This conversation goes beyond hydration — it explores how hydrogen acts as a biological signal, how it interacts with oxygen, and why it may be foundational to cellular health. Whether you’re into biohacking, longevity, performance, or holistic health, this episode will challenge how you think about water and what it...
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This episode is brought to you by , and In this episode of Ever Forward Radio, psychologist and addiction expert Dr. Adi Jaffe reframes addiction, compulsive behavior, and self-sabotage as intelligent coping strategies rather than personal failures. He explains why labeling people as “addicts” creates shame and traps identity, how early childhood and even preverbal experiences shape adult behavior, and why most habits don’t change through awareness alone. Dr. Jaffe introduces his SPARO Behavioral Loop—stimulus, perception, activation, response, outcome—to show how emotions and...
info_outlineIn this moving Veterans Day episode of Ever Forward Radio, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Benjamin Forest opens up about his personal battle with depression, grief, and identity loss after 25 years of service — and how psychedelics became a catalyst for healing, love, and authentic living. He and Chase explore the mental-health crisis among veterans, the epidemic of loneliness and suppressed emotion in men, and how plant medicine, breathwork, and community can help reconnect us to meaning and purpose. Forest shares insights from his book Trip of a Lifetime: The Psychedelic Guide to Healing, Loving & Living, explaining that true recovery requires vulnerability, relational healing, and learning to open the heart — whether through psychedelics or other integrative practices.
Follow Ben @benjamin.forest.bliss
Follow Chase @chase_chewning
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00:00 – Introduction & U.S. mental-health statistics
02:22 – A cultural depression: loneliness, disconnection & anxiety
04:29 – Playing a role vs. discovering the authentic self
07:07 – The military, identity, and emotional suppression
10:30 – Masculinity, vulnerability, and the loneliness epidemic
13:00 – Grief, alcohol, and the cost of unprocessed emotion
15:30 – Healthy masculinity and belonging after service
18:00 – The biology of belonging & the need for community
20:10 – Losing identity and brotherhood after leaving the military
23:10 – Lessons learned from 25 years in uniform
24:30 – Healing, loving, and living: wounds and relational repair
27:30 – Learning to love well and open the heart
28:45 – Doing life “right” and rediscovering joy
31:00 – Psychedelics as heart-openers & catalysts for healing
34:30 – Veterans leading the way for psychedelic legalization
38:40 – Alternatives to psychedelics: breathwork & somatic therapy
44:00 – Integration: applying lessons after the trip
46:50 – The danger of ego, money, and misuse in plant-medicine circles
49:50 – Writing Trip of a Lifetime and lessons learned
54:30 – Advice to young service members: asking for help is strength
56:16 – What “Ever Forward” means to Benjamin Forest
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Episode resources:
- Watch and subscribe on YouTube
- Learn more about Benjamin