The Men’s Roundtable Series : Trauma Disguised as Toughness: Childhood Wounds That Shape Today's Man

The MRTS Spotlight - How Travel Helped A Widower Rebuild His Life - Derrik Dyka

Your whole world can fall apart and nobody hands you a manual for what happens next. Mr. Yu sits down with author Derrik Dyka, who lost his wife of 24 years, to talk about the part of grief people don’t always name: the way it steals your direction. When the shared plan disappears, even “good” dreams like a quiet mountain home can start to feel like isolation you can’t survive. Derrik explains how his twin sons became his strength, pushing him out the door when he was stuck. That first leap turned into a bigger journey, from buying a ticket to Tokyo to finding himself in the islands of the Philippines, and eventually building a life with Bangkok as his hub. Along the way, travel becomes more than escape. We dig into community and connection, why being recognized in a cafe can feel like coming home, and what dense cities can teach you about belonging when loneliness is loud. We also go straight at men’s mental health, emotional honesty, and the “be tough” mindset that traps so many of us in silence. Derrik shares why he wrote Good Grief Travel, how he honors his wife through a simple ritual of engraved river rocks placed around the world, and the most practical advice he can give when life goes dark: find a door, even if it’s as small as bringing a six-pack to a neighbor or doing one kind thing without being asked. Listen, then share this with someone who’s going through it, and subscribe so you don’t miss the next conversation. If the show helps, leave a rating and a review and tell us what “door” you’re trying to walk through next. Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/theycallmemistayu]

The Men’s Roundtable Series : Trauma Disguised as Toughness: Childhood Wounds That Shape Today's Man

The word “trauma” can either be a doorway to healing or a shortcut to excuses, and we do not think men can afford to stay confused about the difference. We start light with daylight saving time, winter darkness, and the way small disruptions can mess with sleep, mood, and seasonal depression. Then we move into the harder truth: what looks like a personal struggle is often a generational pattern we never named, never processed, and quietly repeated in our homes. We wrestle with generational trauma and the way modern culture sometimes rewards victimhood. We’re careful to say it clearly: real PTSD and life-altering events are real, and they can scar the mind and body in ways that take time, support, and professional help to work through. At the same time, we call out how “trauma” can become a crutch that keeps a man from taking responsibility for his choices. We talk about what actually creates change: rock bottom, a mentor who confronts you, a reason big enough to live for, and the kind of community that does not let you hide. From there we get painfully practical: what our fathers taught us without words, what our kids absorb from how we handle conflict, and which generational patterns we refuse to pass down, from earned love to anger, abuse, passivity, and abandonment. We close with the sentences too many men never hear: “I see you” and “the world is better with you in it,” plus the question that turns talk into action, “how can I support you?” If this hits home, subscribe, share it with one man who needs it, and leave a review so more men can find the conversation. Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/theycallmemistayu]

The MRTS Interview Spotlight - Stop Being The Nice Guy Who Loses - Jason Lange

Most men don’t realize how fragile “I’ve got it handled” really is until something breaks: a body, a job, a relationship, or a sense of purpose. We’re joined by men’s embodiment coach and group facilitator Jason Lange to talk about the one advantage that shows up before the crisis and carries you through it: community you can actually lean on. We dig into why men’s groups matter in 2026, how social capital works like an emergency fund, and why learning to receive support can be just as masculine as providing it.  We also get specific about what separates a real men’s group from another night of hanging out. Jason explains how most male friendships rely on “triangulation,” bonding over an activity while avoiding direct emotional contact, and why that can still leave you crushingly lonely. From there we lay out the pillars of a high-quality men’s group: honest support, clear accountability, and embodied practices that slow you down into your felt body experience so stress, grief, fear, and shame don’t run your life from the shadows.  Then we define healthy masculinity in a practical “trifecta” you can train: grounded nervous system, open heart, and disciplined attention. If your focus is constantly hijacked by rumination and notifications, you aren’t free, and the people you love feel it. We also tackle No More Mr. Nice Guy, boundaries, and the man box, plus the relationship skill many partners crave most from men: real presence instead of instant fixing. If this conversation hits home, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more men can find the support they’ve been taught to avoid. Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/theycallmemistayu]

The MRTS Podcast: The Hidden Emotional Life Of Men

Some of the hardest parts of being a man never show up on the outside. We can look fine, sound fine, and still be carrying anxiety, chronic pain, pressure to provide, and a private storm of emotions we were never taught to name. We start by reflecting on what Men’s Mental Health Month stirred up for us and what we’re hearing from other men. Then we go straight at a question that keeps coming back: why do so many guys want brotherhood and support, yet hesitate to step into it? We talk about fear of being exposed, fear of not controlling the questions, and the quiet reality that vulnerability feels dangerous when you’ve been burned before. From there, we get practical. We share what emotional release actually looks like for us: yard work and gardening, walking outside and getting away from screens, writing to get thoughts out of our heads, lifting and motorcycles as “presence therapy,” and even massage therapy to manage chronic pain. We also name what happens when those outlets disappear and why stress and depression so often come out as anger for men who don’t have the emotional vocabulary to call it what it is. If you’re dealing with burnout, emotional overload, or that driveway moment before you walk inside, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more honest men’s mental health conversations, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. What does release look like for you? Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/theycallmemistayu]

MRTS - Men's Mental Health Month - Breaking The Mask And The Cost Of Performing

“I’m fine” can sound polite, but it can also be a mask that keeps us stuck. Tonight we get real about the gap between performance and reality and why men learn to look strong, successful, and unbothered while the inside is carrying a silent scream. We talk about what it costs to keep the act going, and what it looks like when the life behind closed doors finally matches the one everyone sees. We wrestle with a tough question: is masking always “being fake,” or is it sometimes self-protection? The roundtable breaks down the difference between healthy boundaries and deception, how to “speak the language of the room” without losing yourself, and why honesty does not have to turn into a full confessional. We also hit the mirage of success, how achievement can become armor that hides wounds, avoids conflict, and keeps us too busy to heal. If you’ve ever chased someone else’s definition of success, or used work, church culture, or reputation to cover pain, you’ll hear yourself in this one. Because it’s Men’s Mental Health Month, we also share practical crisis resources, including the 988 Lifeline, text options, and veteran support, and we remind you that asking for help is strength, not shame. If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with a brother, and leave a review so more men can find a safer path to authenticity. Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/theycallmemistayu]