MENTALk

S2:E1 | Meet Bethany: Honest Conversations with a Therapist

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2327061/open_sms] Welcome back to the podcast, folks! This episode is one for the books—we’re diving deep into men’s mental health with Bethany, a therapist who’s not just in it for the paycheck but genuinely wants to make a difference. Bethany’s the founder of The Calming Center in Mount Airy, where she’s been doing amazing work for almost two decades, helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s rough patches. We covered a lot of ground in this conversation. Bethany opened up about what inspired her to get into this line of work—it’s rooted in her own teenage struggles and the drive to be better for the family she always dreamed of having. She’s all about creating safe spaces, including her new group therapy sessions, which tackle everything from ADHD to grief, parenting struggles, and even autism spectrum challenges. It’s all about connection and filling those gaps in support systems that society often overlooks. What hit me hard was the stigma we men face when it comes to talking about our emotions. Bethany broke it down—anger is often the only “acceptable” emotion we’re taught to express, but there’s so much more under the surface. Therapy, she says, is about breaking those cycles and learning tools to deal with life’s pressures, whether that’s at work, at home, or just in your own head. And hey, she keeps it real. Therapy with Bethany isn’t some stiff, clipboard-wielding stereotype. It’s conversational, authentic, and sometimes even a little messy—but that’s where the magic happens. This chat left me thinking: why did it take me so long to open up about my own mental health? And honestly, I think this episode might make you ask yourself the same thing. Whether you’re ready to take that step or just curious about what therapy can look like, this one’s worth a listen. Thank you for your support—let’s keep breaking the stigma together! Tune in to the MENTALk Podcast: 🎙️ Real talk, real experiences, real growth. Google Form - https://forms.gle/B5frYScQ1XJ11J6W7 Website - https://mentalk.buzzsprout.com Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentalk/id1772193764 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2pOMbjSPxSLeDTQru9pGdt YouTube Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/playlist YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@MENTALk.Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@MENTALk.Podcast] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327061/support] Thank you for tuning in to my podcast! I truly appreciate your support. To stay updated on all the latest episodes and content, be sure to follow me on my social media platforms: * Facebook: MENTALk Podcast [https://www.facebook.com/mentalk.pod] * Instagram: MENTALk Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/mentalk.pod/] * YouTube: MENTALk Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@MENTALk.Podcast] Your continued engagement means the world to me. Thank you for being part of this journey!

S1:E11 | Rambling Through the Struggles: Surviving the Holidays and Breaking the Stigma

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2327061/open_sms] Welcome back to Men Talk! The past few weeks have been tough—my wife’s brain surgery, family responsibilities, the holidays, and even my own health scare. In this raw and honest episode, I’m just rambling, sharing what’s on my mind, and talking through the emotional and mental challenges of this season, especially for men. I touch on the stigma around vulnerability, surviving the holidays under pressure, and finding joy for my kids even when life feels heavy. This is my way of getting back on track and preparing for Season 2, kicking off next week with an incredible guest, Bethany, as we tackle men’s mental health and therapy. Thank you for your support—let’s keep breaking the stigma together! Tune in to the MENTALk Podcast: 🎙️ Real talk, real experiences, real growth. Google Form - https://forms.gle/B5frYScQ1XJ11J6W7 Website - https://mentalk.buzzsprout.com Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentalk/id1772193764 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2pOMbjSPxSLeDTQru9pGdt YouTube Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/playlist YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@MENTALk.Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@MENTALk.Podcast] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327061/support] Thank you for tuning in to my podcast! I truly appreciate your support. To stay updated on all the latest episodes and content, be sure to follow me on my social media platforms: * Facebook: MENTALk Podcast [https://www.facebook.com/mentalk.pod] * Instagram: MENTALk Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/mentalk.pod/] * YouTube: MENTALk Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@MENTALk.Podcast] Your continued engagement means the world to me. Thank you for being part of this journey!

S1:E10 | Breaking Cycles: Fatherhood, Business, and the Fight for Balance

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2327061/open_sms] Hey everyone, welcome back to the show! This week, we’re diving into a really raw and real conversation with my good friend Ben Nichols. Now, if you’ve been wondering where this episode is, trust me, it’s been worth the wait. We actually recorded this once before, but I wasn’t happy with it—I wasn’t in the right headspace, and Ben deserves so much better. So, here we are, round two, and we’re going deep. In this episode, we talk about everything—balancing life as fathers, building businesses from scratch, and dealing with the mental and emotional weight that comes with it all. Ben opens up about his journey, from working countless odd jobs to finally finding his groove as an entrepreneur. He shares how his upbringing, struggles with bullying, and life experiences shaped who he is today. We also get into some heavy stuff: emotional availability, breaking toxic cycles, and the importance of therapy. Ben talks about how therapy has helped him uncover patterns and start living more intentionally. And me? I’m reflecting on what it means to break the mold, especially when it comes to fatherhood and raising my kids differently from how I was raised. This episode is a mix of laughs, hard truths, and some powerful takeaways about growth, resilience, and learning to embrace the challenges life throws at us. Tune in—this one’s a game-changer. Tune in to the MENTALk Podcast: 🎙️ Real talk, real experiences, real growth. Website - https://mentalk.buzzsprout.com Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentalk/id1772193764 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2pOMbjSPxSLeDTQru9pGdt YouTube Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/playlist... Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327061/support] Thank you for tuning in to my podcast! I truly appreciate your support. To stay updated on all the latest episodes and content, be sure to follow me on my social media platforms: * Facebook: MENTALk Podcast [https://www.facebook.com/mentalk.pod] * Instagram: MENTALk Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/mentalk.pod/] * YouTube: MENTALk Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@MENTALk.Podcast] Your continued engagement means the world to me. Thank you for being part of this journey!

S1:E9 | The Little Things That Hold Us Together

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2327061/open_sms] In this one, it’s a bit different — less about mental health and more about relationships. We dive deep into what keeps us going, the little things we do as a couple and family that maybe don’t get as much attention these days. From eating dinner together every night, sharing all the household tasks, and praying as a family, to having each other’s backs on everything, even parenting, it’s all about staying connected. We even get into our “team” approach to life, like how we handle the hectic schedules and balance work with family. We talk about making those everyday routines like chores, driving, and bedtime rituals more fun and less like tasks. We also cover the big stuff that makes us unique as a couple, like keeping our finances together, making big decisions side by side, and going to bed at the same time every night to stay in sync. And let’s be real about the hard stuff too, like when we’re both worn out and stressed but still find a way to support each other. We touch on parenting and the simple things we’re teaching our kids about love, life, and even a little about money. This episode is about what we’re doing to stay grounded and how we’re setting up a strong foundation as a couple and family, hoping it might spark ideas for anyone listening. Tune in to the MENTALk Podcast: 🎙️ Real talk, real experiences, real growth. Website - https://mentalk.buzzsprout.com Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentalk/id1772193764 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2pOMbjSPxSLeDTQru9pGdt YouTube Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/playlist... Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327061/support] Thank you for tuning in to my podcast! I truly appreciate your support. To stay updated on all the latest episodes and content, be sure to follow me on my social media platforms: * Facebook: MENTALk Podcast [https://www.facebook.com/mentalk.pod] * Instagram: MENTALk Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/mentalk.pod/] * YouTube: MENTALk Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@MENTALk.Podcast] Your continued engagement means the world to me. Thank you for being part of this journey!

S1:E8 | Love, Loss, and Living Through It: Our Raw Journey with Grief

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2327061/open_sms] In this episode, we get incredibly personal, talking about grief, resilience, and the very different ways people handle loss. Joined by my wife, we share our experiences with losing our son, Emmitt, and how it impacted our relationship and individual healing journeys. We dive into the contrast in how we coped: one of us found comfort in keeping reminders close, while the other felt the need to put things away and create some distance. It wasn’t easy, and at times, it felt like we were grieving in two separate worlds under the same roof. We also address the societal expectations around grief—the assumptions and judgments we encountered, and the idea that there’s only one “right” way to grieve. This conversation really challenges that, showing that each person's way of processing loss is valid and deeply personal. There’s a focus on the importance of communication, respecting each other's coping mechanisms, and allowing space for all feelings, even the messy ones. The episode also touches on the effects of grief on our boundaries and everyday life, like the discomfort we feel now around holding newborns and the cautiousness we have about germs due to the loss we experienced. This is a raw, heartfelt discussion on love, loss, and finding a path forward, together and individually, through one of life’s toughest trials. Tune in to the MENTALk Podcast: 🎙️ Real talk, real experiences, real growth. Website - https://mentalk.buzzsprout.com Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentalk/id1772193764 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2pOMbjSPxSLeDTQru9pGdt YouTube Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/playlist... Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327061/support] Thank you for tuning in to my podcast! I truly appreciate your support. To stay updated on all the latest episodes and content, be sure to follow me on my social media platforms: * Facebook: MENTALk Podcast [https://www.facebook.com/mentalk.pod] * Instagram: MENTALk Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/mentalk.pod/] * YouTube: MENTALk Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@MENTALk.Podcast] Your continued engagement means the world to me. Thank you for being part of this journey!