From Madonna to Mariah, Beyoncé to Barbra— throughout the generations, gay men have been obsessed with divas. But why?
In this episode of Gay Men Going Deeper, we’re diving into the deep connection between gay men and our beloved divas, exploring:
Who are the divas and what do they have in common?
Why divas resonate so deeply with gay men
How these women inspire us
The diva anthems that have become the soundtrack of self-confidence
What it means to channel your inner diva in everyday life.
Who are today’s divas?
This isn’t just about pop culture—it’s a conversation about power, identity, and how divas have given generations of gay men comfort and strength.
Today's Hosts:
Michael DiIorio
Matt Landsiedel
Reno Johnston
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Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
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Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com
- LEARN WITH US -
Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection: Lifetime access to BOTH courses + 45 coaching videos and 2 workshop series.
Take the Attachment Style Quiz to determine your attachment style and get a free report.
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44:16
The Women in Our Lives
The women in our lives have influenced us in ways we don’t always recognize, but when we take a step back, their impact is undeniable.
In this heartfelt episode, we’re celebrating the uniquely beautiful relationships gay men have with women—from mothers and grandmothers to besties, sisters, and beyond. We’re showing love to all the women who have supported us, shaped us, and often modeled the traits that helped us become who we are today.
Some of the topics we’ll explore:
How our childhoods were shaped by the women around us
The unique love and support between gay men and women
What makes female friendships different from male friendships
The role of empathy and emotional intelligence in these relationships
How friendships evolve over the years
Join us for a deep conversation about the power of women and how these relationships continue to shape us—today and always.
Today's Hosts:
Michael DiIorio
Matt Landsiedel
Reno Johnston
Support the Show - viewer and listener support helps us to continue making episodes
- CONNECT WITH US -
Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
Join the Gay Men's Brotherhood Facebook community
Get on our email list to get access to our monthly Zoom calls
Follow us on Instagram | TikTok
Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com
- LEARN WITH US -
Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection: Lifetime access to BOTH courses + 45 coaching videos and 2 workshop series.
Take the Attachment Style Quiz to determine your attachment style and get a free report.
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46:02
People Pleasing, Boundaries, and Fear of Conflict
Do you find yourself putting other people’s needs ahead of your own? Struggle to set boundaries? Feel responsible for keeping the peace even when it costs you your authenticity?
In this episode, gay therapist Michael Pezzullo joins Michael to go deeper into the roots of people pleasing—especially why so many gay men fall into this pattern. We’ll explore how people pleasing shows up in everyday life, why it’s so hard to stop, and how the fear of conflict and rejection keeps us from showing up fully in our relationships.
We’ll also discuss:
How to recognize when you’re people pleasing (and why it’s not the same as being kind)
The impact people pleasing has on your self-confidence and relationships
Why gay men are especially prone to it
How to handle the fear of disappointing others
What you can do to finally break the cycle
If you’re ready to stop performing for approval and start living with more authenticity, this episode is for you.
Today's Guest: Michael Pezzullo
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Today's Host: Michael DiIorio
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Support the Show - viewer and listener support helps us to continue making episodes
- CONNECT WITH US -
Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
Join the Gay Men's Brotherhood Facebook community
Get on our email list to get access to our monthly Zoom calls
Follow us on Instagram | TikTok
Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com
- LEARN WITH US -
Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection: Lifetime access to BOTH courses + 45 coaching videos and 2 workshop series.
Take the Attachment Style Quiz to determine your attachment style and get a free report.
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52:47
The Power of No
Many gay men struggle with saying no, setting boundaries, or engaging in difficult conversations due to deep-seated people-pleasing tendencies and fear of conflict. But staying silent often leads to resentment, burnout, or feeling disconnected from your true self.
As recovering people-pleasers themselves, Matt and Michael have plenty to share about their own journeys toward becoming more assertive in their boundaries.
In this episode, we dive into:
The difference between people-pleasing, healthy compromise, and values-based choices
Practical strategies to speak up with confidence and authenticity
How to set boundaries and say no without guilt or fear
If you’ve ever found yourself saying “yes” when you really meant “no” or avoiding confrontation at the cost of your own needs, this conversation is for you!
Today's Hosts:
Michael DiIorio
Matt Landsiedel
Support the Show - viewer and listener support helps us to continue making episodes
- CONNECT WITH US -
Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
Join the Gay Men's Brotherhood Facebook community
Get on our email list to get access to our monthly Zoom calls
Follow us on Instagram | TikTok
Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com
- LEARN WITH US -
Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection: Lifetime access to BOTH courses + 45 coaching videos and 2 workshop series.
Take the Attachment Style Quiz to determine your attachment style and get a free report.
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44:53
Eroticizing Shame – Turning Pain Into Pleasure
In this episode, Matt speaks with Psychotherapist, Merle Yost, about how shame may influence sexual desire and arousal by eroticizing shame as a way of coping with it. Merle shares his story about being sexually molested by his father and the impact this had on his sexual development. Join us for this interesting topic that is often not talked about but deeply impacts many of us.
The concepts and questions we explore in this episode are:
What does it mean to eroticize shame?
How do shame and desire become intertwined?
What is dissociation, and how can someone overcome it?
Why is there so much sexual compulsivity in the gay community?
What are some common ways people turn shame into pleasure in BDSM, kink, or other erotic practices?
How can someone safely explore these dynamics without reinforcing negative self-perceptions?
Can eroticizing shame be a healing experience? If so, how?
How can someone tell if they are using this exploration in a healthy or unhealthy way?
Today's Guest: Merle Yost
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Today's Host: Matt Landsiedel
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TikTok
Support the Show - viewer and listener support helps us to continue making episodes
- CONNECT WITH US -
Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
Join the Gay Men's Brotherhood Facebook community
Get on our email list to get access to our monthly Zoom calls
Follow us on Instagram | TikTok
Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com
- LEARN WITH US -
Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection: Lifetime access to BOTH courses + 45 coaching videos and 2 workshop series.
Take the Attachment Style Quiz to determine your attachment style and get a free report.
Gay Men Going Deeper is a weekly podcast that showcases raw and real conversations about personal development, mental health, and sexuality - from an unapologetically gay perspective.
Hosted by Matt Landsiedel and Michael DiIorio, and featuring a wide range of special guests, you can expect to be inspired, entertained, and even a little triggered from time to time.
This provocative podcast is for anyone who craves deeper conversations on topics ranging from spirituality to sexuality - and everything in between.
Visit us at www.GayMenGoingDeeper.com
Support the show: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=LT55M79CMH5FN