ManTalks Podcast

I break down why self-worth isn’t a motivation problem and why trying to “think” your way into confidence rarely works. I explain how your identity is built from predictable behavioral patterns and how your nervous system resists change that feels unfamiliar or threatening. We dive into the biology behind self-worth, including dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, and how they shape drive, discipline, and resilience. Finally, I lay out practical steps you can use to rebuild self-worth through action, repetition, and new patterns.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Why Self-Worth Isn’t a Motivation Problem
01:07 - Identity as Predictable Patterns
02:37 - The Rider and the Elephant
03:56 - Why the Brain Rejects Change
05:16 - Self-Worth as a Felt Experience
06:59 - Dopamine and Direction
07:12 - Serotonin and Self-Control
08:21 - Norepinephrine and Resilience
09:28 - Why Change Feels Like Death
11:07 - Practical Steps to Rebuild Self-Worth
14:56 - Self-Worth Is Built Through Action
***
Tired of feeling like you're never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth
Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/
Heard about attachment but don’t know where to start? Try the FREE Ultimate Guide To Attachment
Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship
Build brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance.
Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the tools and training they’re looking for. And don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify
For more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

I sit down with Leland Vittert to talk about his childhood diagnosis of autism and the extraordinary role his father played in shaping his resilience. We explore why removing adversity from children often backfires, and how discipline, honesty, and responsibility can become acts of love. This conversation isn’t about romanticizing struggle, it’s about learning how to do hard things and refusing to be defined by limitations.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Introduction
02:10 - Autism Diagnosis and Early Childhood
05:40 - A Father’s Radical Commitment
08:05 - Growing Up Without Friends
10:55 - Self-Esteem Outside School and Sports
13:20 - Why Adversity Was Never Removed
17:30 - Learning You Can’t Be Broken
20:05 - Living With Autism as an Adult
23:45 - Discipline Versus Accommodation
27:00 - Teaching Social Skills Deliberately
30:40 - Protection, Trust, and Character
34:50 - Letting Kids Become More
39:35 - Discipline as Strength
45:10 - Parenting Without Expectations
48:10 - Final Reflections and Where to Find Leland
***
Tired of feeling like you're never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth
Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/
Heard about attachment but don’t know where to start? Try the FREE Ultimate Guide To Attachment
Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship
Build brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance.
Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the tools and training they’re looking for. And don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify
For more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

I break down the single most critical masculine trait every man needs to master this year: self-control. I explain why true masculinity isn't about suppressing your emotions or killing your aggression, but rather channeling that intense energy into mastery and leadership. I also share four practical pillars you can use immediately to stop reacting to the chaos around you and start leading your life with power under command.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - The Single Most Important Masculine Trait
02:57 - Why Masculinity Itself Isn’t the Problem
06:16 - The Cost of Losing Control
08:14 - Pillar #1: The Power of the Pause
10:04 - Pillar #2: Channeling Aggression into Mastery
12:54 - Pillar #3: Disciplining the Body First
14:31 - Pillar #4: Ending the Need for Validation
15:44 - True Masculinity is Power Under Command
***
Tired of feeling like you're never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth
Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/
Heard about attachment but don’t know where to start? Try the FREE Ultimate Guide To Attachment
Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship
Build brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance.
Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the tools and training they’re looking for. And don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify
For more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

I sit down with Mark Walsh for a wide-ranging and unfiltered conversation about the collapse of meaning in modern life and how it is impacting men in particular. We explore why young men feel lost, why modern psychology and culture are failing them, and what it actually takes to stay grounded in an increasingly chaotic world.
We talk about masculinity, embodiment, faith, community, and why comfort-driven modernity is producing anxiety rather than fulfillment. This is a challenging conversation that does not offer platitudes, but it does offer a path forward
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - The Death Cult of Modernity
01:21 - What Is Really Happening to Young Men
06:15 - Meaning, God, and the Collapse of Culture
10:28 - Why Modern Life Feels Insane
16:10 - The Gender Divide and Radicalization
23:47 - Why Men Feel Politically Homeless
31:30 - Joker Energy and Cultural Breakdown
36:27 - The Four Reconnections Men Need
44:16 - Feminism as Ersatz Religion
48:20 - What Modern Psychology Gets Wrong
54:22 - How Men Become Embodied Again
***
Tired of feeling like you're never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth
Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/
Heard about attachment but don’t know where to start? Try the FREE Ultimate Guide To Attachment
Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship
Build brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance.
Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the tools and training they’re looking for. And don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify
For more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram

In Part 2 of this video, I dive into the works of Dostoyevsky, Nietzsche, and Kant to share five psychological pillars that will help you build inner sovereignty and resilience. We explore the necessity of integrating your aggression and choosing meaningful suffering over empty comfort. Finally, I challenge you to speak the truth even when it risks your social approval, as this is essential for maintaining trust in yourself.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 The 5 Psychological Pillars from Great Philosophers
2:02 Why Comfort is Not Meaning
12:57 Choosing Truth Over Approval
20:28 Recap: The 5 Pillars of Manhood
***
Tired of feeling like you're never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth
Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/
Heard about attachment but don’t know where to start? Try the FREE Ultimate Guide To Attachment
Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship
Build brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance.
Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the tools and training they’re looking for. And don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify
For more, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram