Great Men w/ Shane Sams

Great Men Gather in Person (w/ Vincent Pugliese)

Shane Sams and Vincent Pugliese reunite after a social media misfire and copy-paste misunderstanding nearly derailed their friendship, turning a real conflict into a powerful masterclass on authenticity and male connection. In a world increasingly dominated by AI automation and digital noise, they challenge the temptation to clone voices or outsource relationships, arguing that true integrity means standing behind every word you write. The conversation dives deep into how men handle conflict, the engineering of outrage on social media, and the freedom found in allowing both our children and ourselves to face consequences. They also break down unconventional event models like the Unconference and the Great Men Brotherhood, which reject high-ticket upsells and gatekeeping in favor of generosity, curated spaces, and raw peer-to-peer connection. The heart of the episode shifts to the hidden traps of entrepreneurship and the emotional architecture of ambition. Shane opens up about a massive financial milestone that left him feeling empty, prompting a raw discussion on Vincent's philosophy of prioritizing freedom over luxury before a moving target of wealth steals the life you built. They close with a vulnerable exploration of the father wound, examining how the lifelong chase for paternal approval drives male ambition and often leads to profound misery. By sharing personal stories of late-in-life reconciliation and the power of peer validation, they highlight why every man needs a tribe of brothers to step into the gap, handle hard conversations straight, and remind each other that they are doing a good job. You're already a good man. Now become great on your own terms. No fake alpha nonsense. No paint-by-numbers 'family man' checklists. No endless trauma dumps. Get unstuck and reclaim your power in work, relationships, fatherhood, and life. End the war within. Find peace without. Learn more about The Great Men Project at https://www.greatmen.org [https://www.greatmen.org]

Great Men Overcome Bad Decisions (w/ Austin Netzley)

In this episode of Great Men, Shane Sams sits down with Austin Netzley, the founder of 2X and co-owner of Operations.com, to peel back the curtain on the raw, often messy journey toward high-level success. Austin shares his transition from a "rocky road" in small-town Ohio—marked by multiple arrests and a reliance on alcohol—to helping his clients generate over $250 million in revenue. The conversation centers on the pivotal moment at age 29 when a 10-day bender forced a total life recalibration. Austin reveals how he traded hangovers and the "smart sibling" complex for a focused engineering mindset that eventually allowed him to build a business designed for freedom rather than just validation. The dialogue dives deep into the "Inner Work" of a great man, exploring why a business is often a mirror reflecting the owner's unaddressed baggage. Austin and Shane discuss the three foundational pillars of growth: cutting the anchors of the past, building a vision larger than your problems, and establishing a present-day identity. They also tackle modern tools for alignment, ranging from the Two-Week Vacation Test to the use of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and therapeutic journeys for deep personal exploration. By the end of this episode, you'll understand why "making meaning" is more powerful than "finding purpose" and how learning to submit to your feelings is the ultimate key to professional and personal alignment. You're already a good man. Now become great on your own terms. No fake alpha nonsense. No paint-by-numbers 'family man' checklists. No endless trauma dumps. Get unstuck and reclaim your power in work, relationships, fatherhood, and life. End the war within. Find peace without. Learn more about The Great Men Project at https://www.greatmen.org [https://www.greatmen.org/]

Great Men are Comfortable Being Uncomfortable (w/ Scott Lamm)

In this episode of Great Men, Shane Sams sits down with Scott Lamm, a global speaker and real estate mogul who walked away from a high-level corporate career at Morgan Stanley by age 37. The two dive deep into the reality of "achieving the dream," debunking the common myth that lifestyle design alone leads to fulfillment. Through Scott's story of building a massive portfolio and Shane's personal reflections on the "Four Hour Work Week" trap, they explore why having a clear mission and a sense of purpose is far more vital than simply reaching a financial finish line. From the emotional anti-climax of paying off a home to the necessity of pushing through seasons of confusion, this conversation provides a raw look at what happens on the other side of success. The discussion also highlights the unconventional tools that build a lasting legacy, specifically focusing on the power of humor and the importance of health. Scott and Shane share insights into how humor serves as a "brain break" for audiences and a bridge for human connection, whether on a local stage or speaking internationally across Asia and the Middle East. Beyond the business tactics, they get personal about near-death health scares and the physical transformations required to lead a family effectively. Scott concludes with his philosophy on what it truly means to be a great man: a life rooted in faith, modeling a relentless pursuit for his children, and the commitment to leaving every person he encounters better than he found them. You're already a good man. Now become great on your own terms. No fake alpha nonsense. No paint-by-numbers 'family man' checklists. No endless trauma dumps. Get unstuck and reclaim your power in work, relationships, fatherhood, and life. End the war within. Find peace without. Learn more about The Great Men Project at https://www.greatmen.org [https://www.greatmen.org]

Great Men Wrestle With Their Beliefs (with Travis Chappell)

What truly separates the great from the good? In this episode of Great Men, Shane sits down with Travis Chappell, the high-capacity host of Travis Makes Friends and Travis Makes Money. With over 1,300 episodes and 15 million listens under his belt, Travis has spent more time than almost anyone on the planet deconstructing the habits and mindsets of elite performers. He shares his hard-earned perspective that greatness isn't a byproduct of raw talent, but rather a relentless willingness to sacrifice more than the average person is comfortable with. Travis challenges listeners to stop climbing the wrong mountain and instead define a version of success that aligns with their own soul rather than someone else's expectations. The conversation takes a deep and personal turn as Travis opens up about his upbringing within a fundamentalist religious bubble and the isolating process of deconstructing that identity to find his own faith and purpose. From selling solar door-to-door to building a podcast empire, Travis reveals the tactical moves he made to curate his inner circle, including the bold story of maxing out a $42k credit card to invest in high-level community. Whether you are navigating a transition in your career, struggling with the modern male friendship crisis, or looking for the courage to walk away from institutional religion, this episode provides a roadmap for building a life on your own terms. Shane and Travis also discuss Travis's star-studded upcoming project, Dinner Party, and why every man should consider the podcast format as the ultimate tool for relationship building. You're already a good man. Now become great on your own terms. No fake alpha nonsense. No paint-by-numbers 'family man' checklists. No endless trauma dumps. Get unstuck and reclaim your power in work, relationships, fatherhood, and life. End the war within. Find peace without. Learn more about The Great Men Project at https://www.greatmen.org [https://www.greatmen.org]

Great Men Use Psychedelics (w/ Dr. Daniel Franz)

On April 19th, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order directing his administration to speed up reviews of psychedelic drugs including ibogaine, psilocybin, and others for treating severe depression, PTSD, and addiction. Standing next to Donald Trump in the Oval Office was Joe Rogan, who told reporters he texted Trump about ibogaine and the president responded "Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let's do it." The mainstream is finally catching up to what great men have been talking about for years. In this episode of Great Men, Shane Sams sits down with Dr. Daniel Franz, a clinical psychologist with over two decades of experience, for a deep dive into the psychology, the value of therapy, of meaning and the rapidly evolving world of psychedelic assisted therapy. Built on the foundational work of Viktor Frankl and his masterpiece Man's Search for Meaning, the conversation explores why so many men feel empty even after achieving professional success. Dr. Franz explains the core principles of logotherapy and why modern prescriptive therapy often fails men by focusing on reductionist labels rather than the pursuit of purpose. Shane shares his own existential crisis from 2023 and how shifting his mindset from relentless to resilient helped him find a new sense of responsibility in his daily life. The episode transitions into a detailed look at the clinical use of ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA to facilitate breakthroughs that traditional talk therapy might take years to achieve. From Shane's personal experiences with ego death to the importance of neuroplasticity and integration, they discuss how these tools can open the heart and mind when used in the right set and setting. They also touch on how couples can use these therapeutic modalities to strengthen their relationships. This is a wide ranging conversation about how great men navigate pain, guilt, and mortality to find a life that is truly meaningful. Learn more about The Great Men Project at GreatMen.org Topidcs: sychedelic therapy, psilocybin, ketamine therapy, ibogaine, MDMA therapy, Viktor Frankl, logotherapy, Joe Rogan, Trump executive order, PTSD treatment, veterans mental health, ego death, neuroplasticity, men's mental health, psychedelic assisted therapy, depression treatment, meaning and purpose, midlife crisis, great men.