<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill and Will Schneider: Men Talking Mindfulness: Mental, Physical, & Emotional Fitness to Elevate Performance and Resilience for Leaders and Teams Under Pressure!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Men Talking Mindfulness is dedicated to empowering men to embrace their true selves with bravery and authenticity. Our mission is to guide them on a journey of continual learning, developing self-love, and meaningful living. We work to inspire men to lead lives that they can look back on with pride and to create legacies that align with their deepest values. We are committed to cultivating a space where vulnerability is strength, being yourself is the norm, and where every man can unleash their potential to live a life of exceptional impact and fulfillment. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/s/men-talking-mindfulness-mental-physical</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JpVs!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7f9a1014-6ef1-4d02-a4c2-2a204dbba45b_793x793.png</url><title>Jon Macaskill and Will Schneider: Men Talking Mindfulness: Mental, Physical, &amp; Emotional Fitness to Elevate Performance and Resilience for Leaders and Teams Under Pressure!</title><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/s/men-talking-mindfulness-mental-physical</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:37:57 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[focusnowtraining@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[focusnowtraining@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[focusnowtraining@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[focusnowtraining@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Pain Is a Doorway: Alexander Love on Forgiving His Father’s Killer, Turning Toward What Hurts, and Why Being a Good Man Takes Courage]]></title><description><![CDATA[In 1998, Alexander Love&#8217;s father was murdered.]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/pain-is-a-doorway-alexander-love-73b</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/pain-is-a-doorway-alexander-love-73b</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215478/9f0ca2a8d1970a8e058101f115d25cd2.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In 1998, Alexander Love&#8217;s father was murdered. Years later, he sat down &#8212; on Zoom &#8212; with the man who did it. And what he found there was not what anyone expected.</p><p><br>Alexander Love is an acupuncturist, developmental coach, and senior faculty at the Newfield Network, where he created the Lumina Process &#8212; an integrative approach to shadow work weaving together Eastern wisdom, Integral theory, parts work, and polarity work. His TEDx talk is titled &#8220;How Embracing Pain Creates a Legacy of Love,&#8221; and his forthcoming book, the Evolutionary Gestures Trilogy, opens with the story of his father&#8217;s murder and the restorative justice dialogue he pursued with the man convicted of it. In this solo conversation with Will (Jon was away), Alexander makes a radical, gentle case: pain is not something to escape but a doorway to walk through &#8212; and the courage to turn toward it is what actually makes a good man.</p><p><strong><br>IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Why pain is a doorway, not a problem to eliminate &#8212; and what opens when you turn toward it<br>2.&nbsp; The restorative justice dialogue: forgiveness, and why &#8220;hero and villain&#8221; falls apart on contact with a real human<br>3.&nbsp; The belief that human beings are fundamentally good &#8212; even the man who took his father<br>4.&nbsp; The three-step practice: turn toward, locate the sensation in the body, and lovingly embrace it<br>5.&nbsp; Why the cultural story that &#8220;real men feel no pain&#8221; is a marketing myth &#8212; and being a good man takes the opposite</p><p><strong>More about Alexander Love:<br></strong>1.&nbsp; Website: alexanderlove.org<br>3.&nbsp; TEDx talk: &#8220;How Embracing Pain Creates a Legacy of Love&#8221; &#8212; search on YouTube<br>4.&nbsp; Newfield Network (9-month coach &amp; personal transformation training): https://www.newfieldnetwork.com</p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Asking for Help Early Is the Whole Game — Dr. Adjoa Smalls-Mantey, ER Psychiatrist]]></title><description><![CDATA[The crisis almost never arrives all at once.]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/why-asking-for-help-early-is-the-846</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/why-asking-for-help-early-is-the-846</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215479/b3b5461c4aaf048bb586e16bef221121.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><br>The crisis almost never arrives all at once. It builds &#8212; quietly, gradually &#8212; and then one day, people break.</p><p><br>Dr. Adjoa Smalls-Mantey has stood in two of the most extreme places a human can be. As an emergency psychiatrist in New York City, she sits with people at the absolute edge of crisis. Off the clock, she looks for her own edge on the sides of mountains &#8212;. A physician-scientist trained at Oxford and Columbia with a PhD in HIV immunology, an award-winning author, and a national mental health policy voice, she joins Jon and Will to talk about what actually brings people into the ER, why economic stress is now hitting the middle class and young adults, and the single lesson the mountains taught her that changes everything: ask for help early.</p><p><strong><br>IN THIS EPISODE YOU&#8217;LL LEARN:</strong></p><ol><li><p>What gets in the way when we need to ask for help?&nbsp; &nbsp;</p></li><li><p>The most common crises that bring people to the psychiatric ER &#8212; and how the demographics are shifting</p></li><li><p>Why economic stress is now breaking middle-class professionals and young adults who can&#8217;t find work</p></li><li><p>Crises build gradually, then people break &#8212; and why to call 988 and ask for help early</p></li><li><p>What mountaineering taught her about asking for help: inexperience delays it, and delay costs the whole team</p></li><li><p>Put your own mask on first, ask the right person, and keep the ask time-limited</p></li></ol><p><strong>More about Dr. Adjoa Smalls-Mantey:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Instagram &amp; Youtube: <strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/doctoradjoa/#">doctoradjoa</a></strong></p><p>2.&nbsp; Children&#8217;s book: Anjali the Brave (All About Vaccines) &#8212; on Amazon</p><p>3.&nbsp; New York Mental Health Foundation &#8212; launching soon&nbsp;</p><p>4.&nbsp; New York County Psychiatric Society (branch of the American Psychiatric Association) &#8212; Dr. Smalls-Mantey is immediate past president</p><p>5.&nbsp; If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline)</p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Male Loneliness Epidemic, and How Emotional Intelligence can help men Connect. - Dr. J.J. Kelly]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of the biggest reasons why many men are suffering with loneliness is their lack of emotional intelligence and emotional literacy.]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/male-loneliness-epidemic-and-how-b39</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/male-loneliness-epidemic-and-how-b39</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215480/931965cd0ceeb6c166fac5e0afaacb80.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of the biggest reasons why many men are suffering with loneliness is their lack of emotional intelligence and emotional literacy.&nbsp;</p><p>Dr. J.J. Kelly, the Punk Rock Doc, is a clinical psychologist who runs a practice called The Unorthodox. She is the author of the Holy Shit book series and recently wrote a piece for Vice on why men are so damn lonely.&nbsp;</p><p>In this returning appearance, she joins Jon and Will to make a blunt, funny, and genuinely useful case: the male loneliness epidemic is about emotional illiteracy. The good news is that emotional intelligence is a set of skills anyone can learn if they are willing to do the work. This common challenge stems from limited opportunities to develop these vital skills earlier in life.&nbsp;</p><p>Fortunately, emotional intelligence and emotional literacy are abilities anyone can strengthen through consistent practice. Men who cultivate these capacities gain the tools to identify their feelings, communicate with honesty, and form authentic connections. This growth supports men's mental health and creates space for deeper friendships and brotherhood. Mindfulness and emotional awareness practices further enhance resilience and a sense of belonging, leading to richer relationships, greater purpose, and happier, healthier lives.</p><p>IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:<br>1.&nbsp; Why emotional illiteracy &#8212; not circumstance &#8212; is the root of male loneliness<br>2.&nbsp; Insight is not a skill: why reading every book changes nothing until you practice<br>3.&nbsp; Name it to tame it: validation and acceptance before change (the backbone of DBT)<br>4.&nbsp; The values exercise: behaving according to your values even when you&#8217;re activated<br>5.&nbsp; Eating your shit sandwich with dignity, and why courage rarely backfires</p><p>More about Dr. J.J. Kelly:<br>1.&nbsp; Website: https://www.drjjkelly.com<br>2.&nbsp; TikTok: large free-content library &#8212; search &#8220;Dr. J.J. Kelly&#8221;<br>3.&nbsp; Get Real Self-Study: 8-week emotional intelligence course &#8212; via drjjkelly.com<br>4.&nbsp; Books: the Holy Shit series (incl. the loneliness book with the &#8220;note to men,&#8221; and the forthcoming Holy Shit I Think I&#8217;m In Love) &#8212; on Amazon<br>5.&nbsp; Gifted Misfits: her program in book form (most affordable entry point) &#8212; via drjjkelly.com<br>6.&nbsp; Vice article on male loneliness &#8212; https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-psychologist-has-a-blunt-theory-about-whats-really-driving-the-male-loneliness-epidemic/</p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Men Break When the Intimacy Stops: Dr. Celeste Holbrook on the Desire Gap, Purity Culture, and How to Fix It]]></title><description><![CDATA[What if the reason intimacy carries so much weight for men is that it&#8217;s the only place we&#8217;ve been given permission to be fully human?]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/why-men-break-when-the-intimacy-stops-7f0</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/why-men-break-when-the-intimacy-stops-7f0</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215481/670fb481bd0860050824bb2069a8389f.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What if the reason intimacy carries so much weight for men is that it&#8217;s the only place we&#8217;ve been given permission to be fully human?</p><p>Dr. Celeste Holbrook is a sexologist with a PhD in health education and thirteen years of practice working with couples. Her book, Missionary Position: A Slightly Irreverent Guide to Sex After Purity Culture, helps people rebuild their relationship with their own bodies after being taught to fear them. In this episode, she joins Jon and Will for one of the most direct conversations we&#8217;ve had about why men struggle to talk about intimacy, what purity culture actually did to boys, why rejection lands as a rejection of self, and what changes when men have more than one place to experience their own emotions.</p><p><strong>IN THIS EPISODE:<br></strong>1.&nbsp; How purity culture shaped men differently than women &#8212; and what it taught boys about their own bodies<br>2.&nbsp; Why intimacy becomes the only sanctioned outlet for male emotion &#8212; and the cost of that<br>3.&nbsp; The desire gap: why every couple has one, and how to negotiate it without resentment<br>4.&nbsp; Why a no can land as a rejection of self, and the work required on both sides<br>5.&nbsp; Focus on what you want to feel, not what you want to do &#8212; the reframe that changes everything</p><p><strong>More about Dr. Celeste Holbrook:<br></strong>1.&nbsp; Website: https://www.drcelesteholbrook.com<br>2.&nbsp; Book: Missionary Position: A Slightly Irreverent Guide to Sex after Purity Culture - available on Amazon and her website. Don't forget to check out her book club!&nbsp;</p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Can't I Focus? Janel Penaflor on the Real Science Behind Focus, Your Nervous System, and Why Stillness Is the Key]]></title><description><![CDATA[Trying harder to focus is making it worse.]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/why-cant-i-focus-janel-penaflor-on-049</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/why-cant-i-focus-janel-penaflor-on-049</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215482/00194305867ca2b54458c0d63585a3b8.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Trying harder to focus is making it worse. And there&#8217;s a reason for that.</p><p>There is a very intimate relationship between your body and your mind. It's actually the health and harmony of your body that determines the state of your mind. Once you know this, you change the game on what focusing is and then how to actually get back to focusing on what matters. &nbsp;</p><p>So we brought in Janel Penaflor to help us understand these intricacies.&nbsp; Janel has spent thirty years investigating why trained, capable people stop seeing the thing right in front of them &#8212; inside oil and gas plants, nuclear facilities, aviation systems, and chemical operations. What she found changed how she understands focus entirely.&nbsp;</p><p>In this episode, Janel joins Jon and Will to break down The real science behind focus, the lies have been told about focus and practices you can use every day to remain focused.</p><p><strong><br>IN THIS EPISODE, you will learn:<br></strong>1.&nbsp; The focus lie: why trying harder to focus makes it worse<br>2.&nbsp; The prefrontal cortex as a battery &#8212; how it drains and what depletes it fastest<br>3.&nbsp; The polyvagal ladder: where most people are living and how to come back down<br>4.&nbsp; Why your body controls your brain more than your brain controls your body<br>5.&nbsp; The default mode network and why stillness is where the deepest work actually happens</p><p><strong>More about Janel Penaflor:<br></strong>1.&nbsp; Website: https://www.safetysenseinc.com<br>2.&nbsp; Books: Search &#8220;Janel Penaflor&#8221; on Amazon for her full catalog<br>3.&nbsp; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janel-penaflor-09654119/</p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dr. Mark Gordon on Peptides & the Science Behind Them: Brain Repair, Hormones, and Safety]]></title><description><![CDATA[Everyone is talking about peptides.]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/dr-mark-gordon-on-peptides-and-the-3cb</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/dr-mark-gordon-on-peptides-and-the-3cb</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215483/b8cddf2e4f875ce2606c1319c226f6b6.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Everyone is talking about peptides. Dr. Mark Gordon has been developing and proving the science behind them for 25 years.</p><p>This man is the authority on peptides!&nbsp;<br>As a physician, researcher, and the Medical Director of the Warrior Angel Foundation for over a decade, Dr. Gordon has treated thousands of veterans, first responders, and athletes with neuroinflammation-driven conditions: TBI, PTSD, depression, cognitive decline. He&#8217;s appeared six times on the Joe Rogan Experience and advises the Clinical Peptide Society on neuropeptides. His new book, Peptides for Health, is the clearest map yet for understanding what peptides actually do and how to use them safely. In this episode, Dr. Gordon joins Will for a wide-ranging conversation on peptide basics, the brain after trauma, why men are literally rusting from the inside, and the one thing that kills the effectiveness of everything.</p><p><strong>IN THIS EPISODE You&#8217;ll Learn:</strong></p><p>-What a peptide actually is &#8212; and why they&#8217;re not the cure-all some people claim</p><p>-How to use peptides safely and effectively&nbsp;</p><p>-How neuroinflammation after TBI creates a cascade that drives PTSD, depression, and anxiety</p><p>-Growth hormone secretagogues: why stimulating your own production is better than replacing it</p><p>-How to know if peptides are right for you &#8212; and why quality is non-negotiable</p><p><strong>More about Dr. Mark Gordon:</strong></p><p>-Educational website: https://www.tbihelpnow.org</p><p>-Store (10% first-time discount): https://www.millenniumhealthstore.com</p><p>60% of proceeds from store go into veteran and first responder treatment funding<br>Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/drmarkgordon/#">drmarkgordon<br></a><br></p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hostage Negotiation: Make Someone Feel Heard and Everything Changes: Derek Gaunt on Tactical Empathy]]></title><description><![CDATA[A man walked into a room with a gun, a grievance, and nothing left to lose.]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/hostage-negotiation-make-someone-425</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/hostage-negotiation-make-someone-425</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215484/42e1fe81db9e648d344639aab40b7716.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A man walked into a room with a gun, a grievance, and nothing left to lose. The person who talked him down had spent 20 years learning one thing: the moment you make someone feel understood, the whole situation changes.</p><p><br>Meet Derek Gaunt; he spent 29 years in law enforcement, 20 of those on hostage negotiation teams in the DC metro area. Now an instructor and expert coach at the Black Swan Group &#8212; Chris Voss&#8217;s firm &#8212; Derek brings the same tactical empathy that resolved life-or-death standoffs into every boardroom, difficult conversation, and parenting moment he trains. He&#8217;s the author of Ego Authority Failure and the newly released Fight Less, Win More &#8212; a practical companion to Never Split the Difference. In this episode, Derek joins Jon and Will to break down what tactical empathy really is, why your tone does 13 times more work than your words, and how to get more of what you want by getting people to say no.</p><p><strong>IN THIS EPISODE:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; What tactical empathy actually is &#8212; and why 95% of people aren&#8217;t getting it anywhere</p><p>2.&nbsp; No-oriented questions: why asking for no gets you more than pushing for yes</p><p>3.&nbsp; The three levels of listening &#8212; and which one most people are stuck in</p><p>4.&nbsp; The three voices: accommodator, late-night FM DJ, and the BISS voice to never use</p><p>5.&nbsp; The blue flame, ego authority failure, and why rapid promotion creates toxic leaders</p><p><strong>More about Derek Gaunt:<br></strong><br></p><p>1.&nbsp; Website: https://www.blackswanltd.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; Book: Ego, Authority, Failure: Using Emotional Intelligence Like a Hostage Negotiator to Succeed as a Leader (2nd Edition) &#8212; on Amazon and blackswanltd.com</p><p>3.&nbsp; Book: Fight Less, Win More: How Master Negotiators Influence Hearts, Minds, and Deals (co-authored with Jonathan B. Smith, foreword by Chris Voss) &#8212; on Amazon</p><p>4.&nbsp; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-gaunt-2943a824/</p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Ultimate Superfood NASA Endorsed and You’ve Probably Never Heard Of: Dr. Catharine Arnston on Algae, Energy & Longevity]]></title><description><![CDATA[What if everything you&#8217;ve been taking to boost your energy, sharpen your focus, and fuel your body was covered by one single food?]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/the-ultimate-superfood-nasa-endorsed-346</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/the-ultimate-superfood-nasa-endorsed-346</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215485/345041aaf4d9e5c0fdbe2ac426284d78.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>What if everything you&#8217;ve been taking to boost your energy, sharpen your focus, and fuel your body was covered by one single food?</strong></p><p><br><strong>Dr. Catharine Arnston</strong> discovered algae sixteen years ago while researching how to help her sister heal from breast cancer, and it changed the entire direction of her life. NASA has endorsed algae as a complete food for space travel. The United Nations has called it one of the greatest solutions to human nutrition on Earth. Now 72, with a PhD earned last year and zero medications or chronic disease, Catharine joins Jon and Will to break down exactly how spirulina and chlorella work in the body,&nbsp; from mitochondrial energy and testosterone to heavy metal detox and why men, specifically, are prone to a problem most have never heard of: cellular rust.</p><p><br>As an algae nutrition expert, Catharine walks through the spirulina and chlorella benefits that define these algae superfoods, starting with mitochondrial health and its role in fueling cellular energy in men's nutrition. She explains how antioxidants for men neutralize free radicals, easing inflammation and testosterone disruption, while nitric oxide and blood flow support men's hormone health and performance. For men over 40, whole food supplements like <strong>ENERGYbits</strong> deliver longevity nutrition through high fiber content that strengthens gut health, complementing a Keto lifestyle. Catharine also details how algae supports heavy metal detox, binding toxic metals for gentle clearance, and positions itself as a natural energy supplement built on decades of research into cellular vitality and aging well.</p><p><strong>IN THIS EPISODE YOU&#8217;LL LEARN:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Why mitochondria are the real power plant behind energy, testosterone, and brain fog</p><p>2.&nbsp; Spirulina vs. chlorella: nourishment in, toxins out, and why men need both</p><p>3.&nbsp; The connection between nitric oxide, blood flow, and male performance</p><p>4.&nbsp; Why men accumulate stored iron &#8212; and how that quietly damages the heart and brain over time</p><p>5.&nbsp; Why most supplements fail to get absorbed, and what makes whole-food nutrition different</p><p><strong>More about Dr. Catharine Arnston:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Website: https://www.energybits.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; Discount Code: MTM for 20% off sitewide, no expiration</p><p>3.&nbsp; Instagram (brand): https://www.instagram.com/energybits</p><p>4.&nbsp; Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/catharinearnston</p><p>5.&nbsp; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catharinearnston</p><p>6.&nbsp; YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/energybits</p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[What the Manosphere Really Is w/ Elliot Hulse; Is the Netflix Documentary all Propaganda?]]></title><description><![CDATA[What is the manosphere, and why are young men gravitating towards it?]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/what-the-manosphere-really-is-w-elliot-320</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/what-the-manosphere-really-is-w-elliot-320</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215486/322f51f60fe6e3812d2fa91f6e17e89e.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><strong>What is the manosphere, and why are young men gravitating towards it?</strong></em></p><p><strong>Elliott Hulse</strong> has been on YouTube since 2007. With over one billion views across his channels and 2.4 million subscribers, he&#8217;s been mentoring men longer than most of the manosphere&#8217;s biggest names have had smartphones. He was filmed for Louis Theroux&#8217;s Netflix documentary on the manosphere &#8212; three hours of footage with his family that was cut to seconds. In this episode, Elliott sits down with Will to break down what the manosphere gets right, where it goes wrong, the propaganda backed into the Netflix documentary,&nbsp; and what young men actually need.</p><p><strong><br>Disclaimer: </strong>The views, opinions, and beliefs expressed in this episode are solely those of the guest and do not represent the values, positions, or editorial stance of Men Talking Mindfulness, its hosts, or its affiliates. MTM is committed to open, respectful dialogue across differing perspectives.</p><p><strong><br>IN THIS EPISODE:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; The vacuum young men are trying to fill &#8212; and why the manosphere speaks to it</p><p>2.&nbsp; The history of the manosphere: how it started, how it evolved, and how the algorithm weaponized it</p><p>3.&nbsp; What real masculinity looks like vs. the caricature the internet sells</p><p>4.&nbsp; Why Elliott believes family &#8212; not content &#8212; is the answer for men today</p><p>5.&nbsp; What young men actually want when you get past the noise</p><p><strong>More about Elliott Hulse:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; <em>Website:</em> https://elliotthulse.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; <em>Instagram:</em> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/elliotthulse">https://www.instagram.com/elliotthulse</a> @elliotthulse</p><p>3.&nbsp; <em>YouTube &#8212; STRENGTH:</em> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ASolYU_Yh3yShLFQC0stg</p><p>4.&nbsp; <em>YouTube &#8212; WISDOM:</em> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLrI-dOLyDbRnPyUeWadsOg</p><p><strong>Take our Awareness to Action COURSE (A2A)</strong><br>12 modules structured curriculum on attention, presence, practices &amp; performance &#8212; plus an inspiring community built in for connection.<br><a href="https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course">https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course</a></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong><br>Join our free weekly Substack newsletter &#8594; Click HERE<br>Check out our MTM Website to see what else we are up too!<br><a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com/">mentalkingmindfulness.com</a></p><p><strong>GET FOCUSED!!</strong><br>Does your company need help, or would you like to reduce safety incidents?? Head over to <a href="http://focusnowtraining.com/">focusnowtraining.com</a> - we have you covered!</p><p>Produced by Robert Lopez <a href="http://cratesaudio.com/">cratesaudio.com</a></p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Professor Joseph Fuller on why men are falling behind and what it means for all of us (An MTM AI Short)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Harvard Business School Professor Joseph Fuller joins Jon Macaskill and Will Schneider to break down decades of data showing that men are quietly falling behind in education, the workforce, and health outcomes.]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/professor-joseph-fuller-on-why-men-1dc</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/professor-joseph-fuller-on-why-men-1dc</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:05:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215487/fc361a88fb17c12680e35b3ff6a2e8b4.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Harvard Business School Professor Joseph Fuller joins Jon Macaskill and Will Schneider to break down decades of data showing that men are quietly falling behind in education, the workforce, and health outcomes. Joe explains why this is the first generation since the Great Depression where young men don't expect to match their parents' lifestyle, how the job market shifted away from traditional male-dominated work toward social-skill-heavy cognitive jobs where women outperform men by 25 to 35 percentage points, and why the "college for all" philosophy fails 60% of 18-year-olds who will never finish a four-year degree.</p><p>The conversation covers how schools were designed in ways that disadvantage boys, the professionalization of youth sports ($40 billion industry), applicant tracking systems that create "scar tissue" work identities, the historical pattern linking young men without household formation prospects to societal instability, and practical solutions including apprenticeships starting in 10th grade, teaching social skills in elementary school, AI-assisted learning, and eliminating homework. Jon shares how these trends show up in his own family. Joe closes with a direct charge: don't wait for someone else to do something. Mentor a kid. Show up.</p><p>Full episode: <a href="https://pod.fo/e/3335aa">https://pod.fo/e/3335aa</a> Full video: <a href="https://youtu.be/ekGQtNiRP-k">https://youtu.be/ekGQtNiRP-k</a></p><p>Take the free awareness assessment: <a href="https://focusnowtraining.com/assessment-page">https://focusnowtraining.com/assessment-page</a> Get the free app (mobile): <a href="https://focusnowtraining.com/get-the-app-page">https://focusnowtraining.com/get-the-app-page</a> Learn about the Awareness to Action course: <a href="https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course">https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course</a> Get Jon's book DIAL in Your Leadership for free: <a href="https://dial.thrivecart.com/dial-book">https://dial.thrivecart.com/dial-book</a>&nbsp;<br>Text MTM to 33777 for all of this stuff in one link!<br></p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[When We Connect, We Survive with Dr Shauna Springer on the 10 Beliefs About Mental Health That Are Quietly Killing Our Bravest]]></title><description><![CDATA[What if the things we say and do to support our bravest are actually the things putting them at risk?]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/when-we-connect-we-survive-with-dr-e69</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/when-we-connect-we-survive-with-dr-e69</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215488/fcff5b3333d2e0da8f15c0031c74c7b4.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><br>What if the things we say and do to support our bravest are actually the things putting them at risk?</p><p>Dr. Shauna Springer is back. A Harvard-trained psychologist and Chief Psychologist at Stella Mental Health, she&#8217;s spent over a decade as a trusted &#8220;doc&#8221; to warfighters and first responders. Her new book, <em>Fallout: 10 Common Beliefs That Kill Our Bravest and the Truths That Can Save Them,</em> dismantles the well-intentioned myths quietly costing lives &#8212; from suicide awareness campaigns to the idea that resilience can simply be taught. In this episode, Shauna aka Doc joins Jon and Will to dig into why connection beats every tool and treatment, why grief and trauma need completely different approaches, and the innovative biological treatment changing how PTSD is healed.</p><p><strong><br>IN THIS EPISODE:<br></strong><br></p><p>1.&nbsp; Why suicide awareness campaigns can increase risk instead of preventing it</p><p>2.&nbsp; The difference between grief, trauma, and moral injury &#8212; and why they need different treatment</p><p>3.&nbsp; Elasticity vs. resilience: a better framework for sustainable peak performance</p><p>4.&nbsp; Why suicide often feels selfless, not selfish, to a warrior &#8212; and how that changes prevention</p><p>5.&nbsp; The dual sympathetic reset (DSR/SGB): treating PTSD as a physiological injury first</p><p><strong><br>More about Dr. Shauna Springer:</strong></p><ol><li><p>Check out her website to connect and learn more plus find her latest books.: https://www.thinlineadvisory.com</p></li><li><p>Email: doc@thinlineadvisory.com</p></li><li><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/docshaunaspringer/</p></li><li><p>Column: Mental Edge Mondays &#8212; https://www.crackyl.com/mental-edge-mondays-the-body-keeps-the-score-but/</p></li><li><p>Stella Mental Health: dual sympathetic reset / stellate ganglion block treatment - https://stellamentalhealth.com/treatments/sgb-dual-sympathetic-reset</p></li></ol><p>-</p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mediocrity Happens by Default, Exceptional Happens by Design: Greg Scheinman on Releasing the Midlife Accumulation Trap]]></title><description><![CDATA[What if the move most men never make in midlife is the one that changes everything?]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/mediocrity-happens-by-default-exceptional-ddf</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/mediocrity-happens-by-default-exceptional-ddf</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215489/c15c20c44ad90629078d128b807f1e08.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What if the move most men never make in midlife is the one that changes everything?</p><p><br>Greg Scheinman has had two seven-figure exits &#8212; one acquired by Disney CEO Michael Eisner. He&#8217;s coached over 100 executives, completed HYROX Nationals, and at 53 is in the best shape of his life. But things weren&#8217;t always that way. Greg has been through alcoholism, depression, the loss of his father at 17, and hit rock bottom twice. What he found on the other side became the Midlife Mail &#8212; a weekly newsletter followed by over 50,000 men who are done going through the motions. In this episode, Greg joins Jon and Will to talk about the one move most men in midlife never make: releasing instead of adding. Dropping the old titles, the ego armor, the relentless accumulation of achievement &#8212; and designing the life you actually want.</p><p><strong><br>IN THIS EPISODE:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Why midlife is about releasing, not reinventing &#8212; and what that actually looks like in practice</p><p>2.&nbsp; The Six F&#8217;s framework: redefining success around Family, Fitness, Finance, Food, Fashion, and Fun</p><p>3.&nbsp; Conformity, complacency, and redundancy &#8212; the three traps keeping most men stuck</p><p>4.&nbsp; Show me your calendar, I&#8217;ll show you your priorities: the design-over-default framework</p><p>5.&nbsp; Why knowledge doesn&#8217;t make you better &#8212; and the one thing that actually does</p><p><strong><br>Follow Greg Scheinman:</strong></p><p>-Website: https://gregscheinman.com<br>-Newsletter, Podcast &amp; More: https://midlifemale.com</p><p>-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregscheinman/ (@gregscheinman)</p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dr. Varpas de Sa Pereira on Warrior Withdrawal: why leaving the military feels like going cold turkey (An MTM AI Short)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dr.]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/dr-varpas-de-sa-pereira-on-warrior-426</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/dr-varpas-de-sa-pereira-on-warrior-426</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215490/a44b9b1ffdf2b4a8443c4c8f1f71e8b2.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dr. Varpas de Sa Pereira, US Marine veteran, former USASOC Special Operator, and clinical psychologist at the VA, joins Jon Macaskill to break down warrior withdrawal syndrome and why traditional diagnoses like PTSD and adjustment disorder miss the mark for so many veterans. Dr. Varpas uses a substance abuse model to explain why military service functions like a drug and why separation produces real withdrawal symptoms, even in veterans who never deployed to combat. He covers why basic training alone is enough to create the warrior identity, how infinite choice after the military breeds anxiety the same way zero agency breeds depression, and the PLEASE acronym (physical health, limit screen time, eat right, avoid mood-altering substances, sleep, exercise) as both a skill set and a scoreboard.&nbsp;</p><p>Jon and Dr. Varpas also dig into sleep as the foundational fix, the grenade analogy for interpersonal conflict and why mindfulness extends the fuse, marksmanship as active mindfulness, and why that critical first six months after separation is when most major negative life events happen.</p><p>Full episode:<a href="https://podfollow.com/mentalkingmindfulness/episode/86acb8165fff47bf2f2fc2ffe3d04b830e3e9130/view"> pod.fo/e/2ebcc0</a> Full video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1330iIXzKk">here</a><br>Free A2A Awareness assessment, free Focus app, and limited free access to the full A2A course: text MTM to 33777</p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Community and Discipline Rebuilt Hal Hughes Life While recovering from TBI and Addiction]]></title><description><![CDATA[What does a man do when no one is coming to save him?]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/how-community-and-discipline-rebuilt-494</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/how-community-and-discipline-rebuilt-494</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215491/d3892f390035b381b5b179d0b1fdfb65.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>What does a man do when no one is coming to save him?</strong></p><p><br><em><strong>Hal Hughes</strong></em> is a registered psychotherapist, former police officer, and federal corrections officer who survived two traumatic brain injuries, a bipolar and PTSD diagnosis, and an opiate addiction that nearly killed him. At his lowest, he was on eight psychiatric medications and undergoing electroconvulsive shock therapy. Today, Hal runs Hughes Counseling in Smiths Falls, Ontario, specializing in first responders, military personnel, and anyone navigating the wreckage of a life that got away from them. In this episode, Hal joins Jon and Will to break down the philosophy, the structure, and the daily discipline that actually gets a man through the hard stuff &#8212; not the kind you read about, but the kind he earned the hard way.</p><p><strong><br>IN THIS EPISODE:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Two TBIs, bipolar, PTSD, and opiate addiction &#8212; Hal&#8217;s full story</p><p>2.&nbsp; The sharp instrument: why the human mind cuts us when we&#8217;re untrained</p><p>3.&nbsp; The rat park experiment and why addiction only gets fixed in community</p><p>4.&nbsp; The healing circle that led to forgiveness &#8212; and where &#8220;more love, less judgment&#8221; was born</p><p>5.&nbsp; Get the vehicle right first: the body-mind framework that makes everything else possible</p><p><strong><br>More about Hal Hughes:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Website: https://www.halhughes.com</p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Power of Forgiveness: A Father's Day Special]]></title><description><![CDATA[Father's Day is almost here, so Jon and Will sat down to talk about what fatherhood actually asks of us.]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/the-power-of-forgiveness-a-fathers-9ed</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/the-power-of-forgiveness-a-fathers-9ed</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215492/374abbd5c9cbf251f964c2b5fd2ff012.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Father's Day is almost here, so Jon and Will sat down to talk about what fatherhood actually asks of us. Not the highlight-reel version. The real one.</p><p>This episode is about forgiveness. The kind you give your kids, the kind you give your own father, and the kind you eventually have to give yourself. We get into how holding onto resentment quietly wrecks the connection you say you want, and what changes when you finally put it down.</p><p>We talked as dads. We also talked as sons, because you can't really separate the two. Some of this got personal. That felt right for the topic.</p><p>If you're a father, or you're still working through things with your own, this one's worth your time.</p><p><strong>What we cover:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Why Father's Day is a good excuse to look honestly at how we show up as dads</p></li><li><p>Forgiveness as a real tool, not a soft one, for repairing the father-child bond</p></li><li><p>How resentment blocks the peace and clarity most of us are chasing</p></li><li><p>What we've learned sitting on both sides of the relationship... as fathers and as sons</p></li><li><p>Where forgiveness actually starts the healing, and where it just papers over things</p></li></ul><p>Most of this work starts with one skill, paying attention to what's actually going on inside you before you react. That's the whole premise of our Awareness to Action course. If you want to build that skill on purpose, you can check it out here: <a href="https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course">https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course</a></p><p>And if you're not sure where you stand right now, start with our free Awareness Self Assessment. It takes a few minutes and gives you a real read on where your attention is going: <a href="https://focusnowtraining.com/assessment-page">https://focusnowtraining.com/assessment-page</a></p><p>Time stamps: <br>(00:01)Forgiveness and Fatherhood: An Advanced Human Skill<br>(10:16) Forgiveness and Fatherhood<br>(12:39) "Understanding and Forgiving Our Fathers Across Generations"<br>(15:09) Forgiving and Accepting Parents for Who They Are<br>(17:45) The Neuroscience and Psychological Benefits of Forgiveness<br>(19:04) "Parental Influence on Adult Behavior: A Study on Forgiveness and Vengeance"<br>(20:45) "The Interconnection of Forgiveness, Mindfulness, and Self-Compassion"<br>(24:33) "Understanding Emotional Differences and Healing Relationships with Fathers"<br>(26:25) Forgiveness and Self-Compassion: Healing Relationships and Moving Forward with Integrity<br>(28:08) "Transformative Power of Awareness and Forgiveness"<br>(29:53) Modeling Forgiveness for Our Children<br>(31:42) <strong>The Power of Empathy and Forgiveness in Personal Growth</strong><br>(37:22) "Understanding and Forgiveness: Transforming Relationships"<br>(44:41) "Discussing 'The Living Years' Lyrics"<br>(45:21) The Importance of Forgiveness in Relationships<br>(48:49) "Podcast Sign-Off and Father's Day Wishes"</p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dr. Lisa Larkin: what every man needs to know about menopause (and why it matters for your relationship)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dr.]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/dr-lisa-larkin-what-every-man-needs-6be</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/dr-lisa-larkin-what-every-man-needs-6be</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 20:02:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215493/76f6462d79305ae085a40dc0c21354e3.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dr. Lisa Larkin, doctor of internal medicine and 35-year women's health specialist, joins Jon and Will to explain what men need to know about menopause and perimenopause. She covers why women age completely differently than men (fits and starts vs. gradual decline), the biological reasons behind declining libido, sleep disruption, mood changes, and body changes in women's 40s and 50s, and why communication is the single most important thing couples can do during this transition. She also breaks down breast cancer risk assessment (25% of women are high risk and don't know it), the history of hormone therapy from the 2002 Women's Health Initiative scare to where the science stands now, why she opposes high-dose testosterone pellets for women, and why lifestyle beats supplements every time. Dr. Larkin is a breast cancer survivor herself and past president of the Menopause Society.</p><p>Full episode: <a href="https://podfollow.com/mentalkingmindfulness/episode/03387a9002dca750859496876727425e576ad645/view">https://podfollow.com/mentalkingmindfulness/episode/03387a9002dca750859496876727425e576ad645/view</a><br>Full video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-gSueDpfWY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-gSueDpfWY</a><br>Free A2A course access: use code FREE at <a href="https://men-talking-mindfulness-a2a.circle.so/checkout/free-access">https://men-talking-mindfulness-a2a.circle.so/checkout/free-access</a><br>Free Awareness assessment and Focus app: <a href="https://mentalkingmindfulness.com/linkinbio">https://mentalkingmindfulness.com/linkinbio</a> or text MTM to 33777</p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[One Practice That Changes All Your Relationships w/Jimmy Wightman]]></title><description><![CDATA[The longest relationship you'll ever have is the one inside your own mind.]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/one-practice-that-changes-all-your-af7</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/one-practice-that-changes-all-your-af7</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215494/9dc96f7345bcc21edc122a982c2aad98.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The longest relationship you'll ever have is the one inside your own mind. Most men have never been formally introduced.</p><p><strong>Jimmy Wightman</strong> &#8212; former London DJ turned global meditation teacher &#8212; joins Jon and Will for an honest conversation about what a consistent medit3<strong><br>IN THIS EPISODE:</strong></p><ol><li><p>How Jimmy's Meditation practice saved his relationship in real time</p></li><li><p>Concentration, sensory clarity, and equanimity are the three components that rewire behavior</p></li><li><p>Equanimity: the magical third option between reacting and suppressing</p></li><li><p>How people-pleasing is a nervous system pattern mindfulness exposes and rewires</p></li><li><p>What Jon, Will, and Jimmy still get triggered by &#8212; and what they do about it</p></li><li><p>How to choose a meditation style: interest, opportunity, necessity</p></li></ol><p><strong>RELATED EPISODES:</strong></p><ol><li><p><a href="https://smartlink.ausha.co/men-talking-mindfulness/creating-emotional-stability-jay-fields">Ep. 120 &#8212; Creating Emotional Stability with Jay Fields</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://smartlink.ausha.co/men-talking-mindfulness/accessing-inner-harmony-luke-iorio">Ep. 111 &#8212; Accessing Inner Harmony: Mind-Body Integration with Luke Iorio</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://smartlink.ausha.co/men-talking-mindfulness/curiosity-is-key">Ep. 138 &#8212; Curiosity Is Key to Breaking Men Free from Judgment and Rumination</a></p></li></ol><p><strong>More about JIMMY WIGHTMAN:</strong></p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/that_meditation_guy/">Instagram: @that_meditation_guy</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.delvedeep.com">Website &amp; Courses: delvedeep.com</a></p></li></ul><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Navy SEAL Jocko Willink on discipline, ownership, and the freedom on the other side (an MTM Short)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink joins Jon and Will to break down what "discipline equals freedom" actually looks like in daily life.]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/navy-seal-jocko-willink-on-discipline-113</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/navy-seal-jocko-willink-on-discipline-113</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215495/94d7a32a5470345cc7ec0396ba637061.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink joins Jon and Will to break down what "discipline equals freedom" actually looks like in daily life. They cover getting up early and imposing your will on the day, recognizing over-training before it wrecks you, extreme ownership as a leadership tool and a life tool, the detachment story that changed how Jocko leads, humility as the single most important trait in a leader, default aggressive (and knowing when to override it), and applying battlefield leadership principles to parenting and family. Jocko also shares what it was like to lose Mark Lee, Ryan Job, and Mikey Monsoor in Ramadi, and how that loss fuels his gratitude for every single day. Jon opens up about his own survivor's guilt from Operation Red Wings and how it led him to mindfulness. The episode closes with Jocko's first on-air one-minute meditation.</p><p>Full episode: pod.fo/e/2d9003 Full video: youtu.be/_FmnCrniCq4</p><p>Take the free A2A Awareness self-assessment or check out the full A2A course: text MTM to 33777 or click here for more info: <a href="https://mentalkingmindfulness.com/linkinbio">https://mentalkingmindfulness.com/linkinbio</a></p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Power of Showing Up, Building Community, and Doing Challenging Things with Your Brothers Featuring David Valadez]]></title><description><![CDATA[What happens when you stop doing things virtually and actually show up for each other? Jon, Will, and returning MTM guest David Valadez reflect on a weekend in Colorado Springs that started with an excruciating Spartan 10K &#8212; 7 miles of mud, hills, b...]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/the-power-of-showing-up-building-d99</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/the-power-of-showing-up-building-d99</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215496/8619701b08e0b3df15aadcb19717e456.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What happens when you stop doing things virtually and actually show up for each other?</p><p>Jon, Will, and returning MTM guest David Valadez reflect on a weekend in Colorado Springs that started with an excruciating Spartan 10K &#8212; 7 miles of mud, hills, barbed wire, and shared struggle &#8212; and ended with something harder to measure. Every wall and climb was a reminder that we are stronger together than we will ever be alone. Outside the race, the moments kept coming: Jon's Family embracing the gang for dinner, and a visit to Dan Carcillo's plant medicine retreat center in Golden.<br></p><p>This is a short episode about the one thing that accelerates everything else &#8212; real, in-person community between men. It's one of the core tenets of Men Talking Mindfulness: we are stronger together, and this weekend proved it.</p><p>MORE ABOUT DAVID VALADEZ:<br>Business advisor to the show, investor, partner, and advisor across multiple business ventures and startups. In 2018 he walked away from a corporate operations career &#8212; including senior roles at Convergint, a global systems integrator in security and building automation &#8212; to focus on investing in and advising growth-stage companies. He also brings a background in youth sports performance leadership as former VP of Operations at Dedicated Athletes and Legerity Sports Performance. David is a Partner at Kitsap Olhava Management and one of the men behind the scenes at MTM.</p><p>Check out his past ep:<br><strong><a href="https://smartlink.ausha.co/men-talking-mindfulness/men-s-journey-through-and-healing-after-divorce-stories-of-support-and-recovery">Men's Journey Through and Healing After Divorce</a></strong><br></p><p>IN THIS EPISODE:</p><p>-Why shared struggle creates a depth of connection no Zoom call can replicate</p><p>-How co-regulation works &#8212; and what Jon's wife saw in him after just one weekend</p><p>-The visit to Dan Carcillo and Experience Onward &#8212; what happened in that room</p><p>-Why doing something hard together is different from just hanging out</p><p>-The first step if you've been isolating &#8212; and how to take it</p><p>-A direct invitation to join MTM community and future in-person events<br></p><p>Tired of just listening and want to become more mindful?<br>Take our Awareness to Action COURSE (A2A)</p><p>12 modules structured curriculum on attention, presence, practices &amp; performance &#8212; plus an <em>inspiring community</em> built in for connection.</p><p><strong><a href="https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course">https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course</a></strong></p><p><em>&#8594; This episode is a living example of what A2A is building &#8212; community as the foundation of growth</em><br></p><p>GET MORE FROM MTM:</p><p>Join our free weekly Substack newsletter &#8594; <strong><a href="https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/subscribe?next=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack.com%2F%40focusnowtraining&amp;utm_source=profile-page&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=substack_profile&amp;just_signed_up=true">Click HERE</a></strong></p><p>Check out our MTM Website to see what else we are up too!<br><strong><a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com</a></strong></p><p><br>GET FOCUSED!! (Corporate Trainings)<strong><br></strong>Does your company need help, or would you like to reduce safety incidents?? Head over to <strong><a href="http://focusnowtraining.com">focusnowtraining.com</a></strong> - we have you covered!</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez <a href="http://cratesaudio.com">cratesaudio.com</a></em></p><p>Hosted on Ausha. See <a href="https://ausha.co/privacy-policy">ausha.co/privacy-policy</a> for more information.</p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Green Beret Chris Lee on Meditation as a Superpower: Match Your Pace to Your Breath]]></title><description><![CDATA[What does a dedicated meditation practice look like off the cushion and in the real world? On this episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, hosts Jon Macaskill and Will Schneider sit down with Chris Lee... former Green Beret, 18 Delta medic, author of Beyo...]]></description><link>https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/green-beret-chris-lee-on-meditation-179</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://newsletter.focusnowtraining.com/p/green-beret-chris-lee-on-meditation-179</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Macaskill & Will Schneider]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:12:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/215215497/a6ae2d26ff690dcfb1de5337eda2f0da.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What does a dedicated meditation practice look like off the cushion and in the real world? On this episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, hosts Jon Macaskill and Will Schneider sit down with Chris Lee... former Green Beret, 18 Delta medic, author of Beyond the Battlefield, and newly signed president of Machine Mentality alongside Nick Lavery. Chris came on to talk about why meditation is the quiet superpower that most men keep putting off, and what actually changed when he stopped treating it like a checkbox.</p><p>Chris shares his walking meditation practice (72 steps per lap in his backyard, nearly killed the grass), the moment he realized he'd been matching his breath to his pace instead of his pace to his breath, and why flipping that became a metaphor for his whole life. He talks about the shift from knife-handing his daughters to being present during driving lessons, the self-talk change that cracked everything open, and a psychedelic-assisted therapy session where he heard: stop striving for peace, just be peace.</p><p>Jon shares his own meditation gap... learning the practice in 2015, dropping off, and coming back in 2017 when his newborn daughter's nighttime feedings forced him to rediscover the tool. Will talks about teaching non-doing meditation to high performers in New York and why you'll never out-clever your own mind.</p><p>The episode gets practical with the five-minute rule, the gym analogy for beginners (start with 45 seconds, not an hour), and two responses to common meditation pushback that are worth remembering: "I can't quiet my mind" is like saying "I'm too dirty to take a shower," and the deadlift analogy for people who think sitting still is a waste of time. Chris closes by guiding a liquid light body scan meditation.</p><p>What you'll hear in this episode:</p><ul><li><p>Chris's walking meditation practice and matching pace to breath as a life metaphor</p></li><li><p>The self-talk shift: being gentle when your mind wanders</p></li><li><p>How meditation changed Chris's parenting with two daughters</p></li><li><p>Jon's nighttime feeding story and rediscovering the tool</p></li><li><p>The five-minute rule and why 45 seconds is a great place to start</p></li><li><p>"I can't quiet my mind" = "I'm too dirty to take a shower"</p></li><li><p>The deadlift analogy for meditation skeptics</p></li><li><p>Non-doing meditation and why fighting your mind gives it control</p></li><li><p>Peace as a reservoir, not a mountaintop</p></li><li><p>Sleep, alcohol, the Brick device, and variables that affect your practice</p></li><li><p>Community and accountability for sustaining a meditation habit</p></li><li><p>Guided liquid light body scan meditation</p></li></ul><p>Chris's book: Beyond the Battlefield (available now) Chris's upcoming book: Beyond the Serpent (early 2026) Chris on Instagram/TikTok: @coach_chris.lee Machine Mentality with Nick Lavery</p><p>Full episode: <a href="https://pod.fo/e/34fabf">https://pod.fo/e/34fabf</a></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 for updates on new episodes, the A2A course, and resources from Focus Now Training.</p><p>Jon's book, DIAL in Your Leadership: 4 Non-negotiables for Leading with Clarity, Trust, and Purpose, is available now on Amazon. <a href="https://a.co/d/0hYwI2Sz">https://a.co/d/0hYwI2Sz</a></p><p>Follow Men Talking Mindfulness, Jon Macaskill, and Will Schneider for more.</p><p>Hosted on Ausha. See <a href="https://ausha.co/privacy-policy">ausha.co/privacy-policy</a> for more information.</p><p><strong><br>Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE &amp; COMMUNITY:</strong></p><p>12 modules on attention, presence &amp; performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.</p><p>1.&nbsp; www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course</p><p><strong>JOIN US IN PERSON &#8212; Future Events and Retreats.</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; Live in-person event: <strong>Warrior Defined. <br></strong>We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info <strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-defined-strength-is-not-silence-tickets-1985856414995">HERE</a></strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Or <a href="http://mentalkingmindfulness.com">mentalkingmindfulness.com<br></a><br></p><p><strong>GET MORE FROM MTM:</strong></p><p>Text MTM to 33777 &#8212; free weekly newsletter</p><p>1.&nbsp; Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com</p><p>2.&nbsp; FNT: focusnowtraining.com</p><p><strong>BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:</strong></p><p>1.&nbsp; focusnowtraining.com/contact</p><p><em>Produced by Robert Lopez | <a href="https://cratesaudio.com">https://www.cratesaudio.com/</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>