Aaron Burros: Real Men Don’t Cry — Until They Have No Choice

Aaron Burros: Real Men Don’t Cry — Until They Have No Choice

Glow For Hope: Sparking Conversation on Mental Health REAL MEN DON'T CRY — UNTIL THEY HAVE NO CHOICE Men's mental health, trauma survival, PTSD, resilience, and what it really means to ask for help when the world tells you not to Host: Kelly Poelker Guest: Aaron Burros, The Running Servant Category: Men's Mental Health · Trauma · PTSD · Resilience · Suicide Prevention WHAT HAPPENS TO A MAN WHEN EVERYTHING IS TAKEN FROM HIM AT ONCE — AND NOBODY COMES TO HELP? In this episode of the Glow For Hope: Sparking Conversation on Mental Health Podcast, host Kelly Poelker sits down with Aaron Burros — known to many as The Running Servant — an RRCA-certified transformational run coach, ultra-marathoner, keynote speaker, and author of Medal Monday. Aaron's story begins long before running. It begins with a kid from Akron, Ohio who moved to Houston at ten years old, found his way through faith and Bible college, and then watched his health spiral to nearly 400 pounds before a doctor's warning changed everything. What followed was one of the most remarkable physical transformations in the running community — 178 pounds lost, and a growing passion for endurance athletics that would eventually be tested in ways he never imagined. In November 2015, Aaron was shot five times at his workplace. What followed was years of physical pain, debilitating PTSD, isolation, and a mental health battle that nearly broke him — fought largely alone, in silence, the way men are taught to fight everything. This is the story of what happened after. The crying spells that lasted two to four hours. The hallucinations. The ten days without sleep. Breaking down on the side of a Houston freeway and finally realizing — in his mother's words — that he wasn't Superman. And then, in 2021, lacing up his shoes and running 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 weeks to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — with a bullet still lodged in his body — because running was the only thing that gave him back a reason to get up. Released during Men's Mental Health Month, this episode is for every man who has been told to push through, suck it up, and carry it alone — and for everyone who loves one. IN THIS EPISODE * What the messages men receive about strength actually cost them over a lifetime * How Aaron went from nearly 400 pounds to competitive ultra-marathoner — and what running gave him that nothing else could * What surviving a violent workplace shooting actually looked like in the days, weeks, and years that followed * What PTSD feels like from the inside — not the clinical definition, but the lived reality * Why men are still not getting the mental health support they need — and why Aaron believes it's getting worse, not better * The moment on the side of a Houston freeway when Aaron finally broke — and what his mother said that changed everything * How the 50/50/50 challenge became his path back to himself * What running with chronic physical pain taught him about perseverance that no finish line ever could * What he wants every man who is quietly struggling to hear right now POWERFUL MOMENTS FROM THE CONVERSATION > "People don't cry at funerals because of who passed. They cry because it's the only acceptable place for a man to cry." > "The mental and emotional pain — I cannot describe it to someone to where your soul is pained. The pain I experience physically is nowhere near the mental and emotional pain I experienced." > "My mom said, you finally realize that you're not Superman, you're not invincible. And that was that whole thing — because all my life you're being told, real men don't cry." > "I would rather feel this physical pain from the bullet than the emotional pain. And so in 2019, I went back to running." > "Get help. Don't wait until you don't have a choice. People are going to make fun of you. But there will be a chosen few that are going to be there to tell you — you're not crazy." ABOUT AARON BURROS Aaron Burros is an RRCA-certified transformational run coach, ultra-marathoner, keynote speaker, and author based in Houston, Texas. Known publicly as The Running Servant, Aaron transformed his life by losing 178 pounds through running and went on to compete in endurance events across the country. In 2021, Aaron completed his 50/50/50 challenge — 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 weeks — to raise awareness and funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He now uses his platform to speak openly about men's mental health, PTSD, trauma recovery, and the power of running as a tool for healing. His book Medal Monday tells the full story of that journey. CONNECT WITH AARON BURROS * Email: aaronburros@yahoo.com [aaronburros@yahoo.com] * Instagram: @therunningservant [https://www.instagram.com/therunningservant/] * Facebook: Aaron Burros [https://www.facebook.com/aaron.burros] * Book — Medal Monday: Available on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Medal-Monday-Quest-Marathons-States/dp/B0BYRXP1H9/] * Supporting Men's Mental Health: NoStigmas.org [https://nostigmas.org] IF THIS EPISODE RESONATED WITH YOU If you're carrying more than you're saying — or you know someone who is — please reach out to someone you trust. You don't have to wait until things fall apart to ask for support. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 in the United States to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Find Mental Health Support [https://glowforhopenfp.org/resources/mental-health-help/] Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/glow-for-hope-sparking-conversation-on-mental-health/id1837796801] The post Aaron Burros: Real Men Don’t Cry — Until They Have No Choice [https://glowforhopenfp.org/real-men-dont-cry-aaron-burros-ptsd-running/] first appeared on Glow For Hope | Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness [https://glowforhopenfp.org].

JD Tremblay: It Doesn’t Get Better — You Get Stronger

Glow For Hope: Sparking Conversation on Mental Health   JD TREMBLAY: IT DOESN’T GET BETTER — YOU GET STRONGER Men's mental health, military service, identity, silent struggle, nervous system regulation, and what it really means to rebuild from the inside out Host: Kelly Poelker Guest: JD Tremblay Category: Men's Mental Health · Military Veterans · Identity · Resilience · Suicide Prevention WHAT DOES STRENGTH ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE WHEN THE WEIGHT NEVER STOPS COMING? In this episode of the Glow For Hope: Sparking Conversation on Mental Health Podcast, host Kelly Poelker sits down with JD Tremblay — military veteran, ultra-endurance athlete, certified naturopathic practitioner, and author — for an honest conversation about men's mental health, silent suffering, and what it takes to stop surviving and start paying attention to what's happening on the inside. JD is one of only three people in the world to complete the EpicDeca: 10 Ironman-distance triathlons in 10 consecutive days across six Hawaiian Islands. But that's not where this conversation starts. It starts with a 14-year-old being bullied, caught between two broken homes, making the decision to leave both parents behind and join the military — because that felt safer than staying. JD opens up about years of searching for answers, the addiction he's spoken about publicly, the pressure of military culture to never show weakness, and why the traditional mental health resources he turned to didn't work for him. He talks about what chronic stress actually does to the body, how men learn to outrun their pain instead of facing it, and what finally began to shift. This is not a highlight reel. It's a real conversation about the gap between how high-achieving men look on the outside and what they're carrying privately — and why closing that gap starts with being honest about the struggle. Released during Men's Mental Health Month, this episode is for anyone who has ever performed strength while quietly falling apart inside. IN THIS EPISODE * Why so many men can't tell the difference between vulnerability and weakness * How military culture trains men to hide struggle — and what that costs them * What living in chronic stress actually does to the body over time * The difference between feelings and emotions — and why it matters for healing * Why high achievement and extreme discipline can become a way to avoid inner work * How to regulate the nervous system when you're constantly overwhelmed * The identity crisis that follows when men root themselves in a role that disappears * What active and passive meditation actually look like — and why both are necessary * What JD would tell his younger self — and why the answer is not what you'd expect * What he wants men who are quietly struggling to hear right now POWERFUL MOMENTS FROM THE CONVERSATION > "There's a stigma of not allowing others to see your weaknesses. But there's a difference between vulnerability and weakness — and many people, especially men, aren't able to see it." > "I tried to look for answers. One of them was a psychologist. It might work for some people. For me, it didn't." > "Everybody doing these ultra events definitely has some mental health going on. They're trying to outrun certain other parts of their life — and then they figure out that it becomes part of their life anyway." > "The hard part of the EpicDeca wasn't the 10 days in Hawaii. The hard part was going back to a storage unit with boxes, hoping I was going to make it." > "It doesn't get any better. What gets better is how you react to it." > "Not talking about it isn't strength. You're just trying to do everything by yourself — and that's the problem right there." ABOUT JD TREMBLAY JD Tremblay is an integrated engineer, military veteran, certified naturopathic practitioner, ultra-endurance triathlete, and author of the bestselling book Hunger for More in Life. He is one of only three people in the world to have completed the EpicDeca — 10 Ironman-distance triathlons in 10 consecutive days across six Hawaiian Islands. As the founder of Hungry Warrior Academy, JD works with men to rebuild their mental, physical, and spiritual capacity so they can lead with clarity, purpose, and resilience. CONNECT WITH JD TREMBLAY * Book: Hunger for More in Life [https://hunger4more.com] * Hungry Warrior Academy: hungrywarrioracademy.com [https://hungrywarrioracademy.com] * Instagram: @hungrywarrioracademy [https://www.instagram.com/hungrywarrioracademy/] IF THIS EPISODE RESONATED WITH YOU If you're carrying more than you're saying — or you know someone who is — please reach out to someone you trust. You don't have to wait until things fall apart to ask for support. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 in the United States to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Find Mental Health Support [https://glowforhopenfp.org/resources/mental-health-help/] Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/] The post JD Tremblay: It Doesn’t Get Better — You Get Stronger [https://glowforhopenfp.org/jd-tremblay-mens-mental-health/] first appeared on Glow For Hope | Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness [https://glowforhopenfp.org].

Sean Carey: I Was Holding Everything Together… Until I Wasn’t

What happens when the man holding everything together is quietly falling apart inside? In this deeply honest episode of Glow For Hope: Sparking Conversation on Mental Health, Sean Carey shares the real story behind his message of discipline, ownership, and personal growth. Sean opens up about surviving years of alcoholism in the home, protecting his children during chaos, becoming a single father, emotional exhaustion, grief, survival mode, and the moment he realized he had to rebuild himself from the inside out. This conversation explores: ✔ Men’s mental health ✔ Emotional suppression ✔ Fatherhood and resilience ✔ Entrepreneurship and burnout ✔ Addiction’s impact on families ✔ Vulnerability and leadership ✔ Learning to ask for help ✔ Rebuilding after trauma If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, isolated, or like you had to carry everything alone — this conversation is for you. 🎙 Hosted by Kelly Poelker ✨ Glow For Hope: Sparking Conversation on Mental Health #MentalHealth #MensMentalHealth #SeanCarey #GlowForHope #MentalHealthPodcast #AddictionRecovery #Fatherhood #EmotionalHealth #SuicidePrevention #Resilience

Maliha Khan: Identity, Belonging & Finding Your Voice

Glow For Hope: Sparking Conversation on Mental Health MALIHA KHAN: IDENTITY, BELONGING, AND FINDING YOUR VOICE The good girl blueprint, code-switching, cultural stigma, and the freedom of finally showing up fully Host: Kelly Poelker Guest: Maliha Khan Category: Identity & Mental Health · Belonging · Women’s Wellbeing · Cultural Stigma · Finding Your Voice What happens when you spend years being too much for some spaces and never enough in others? In this episode of the Glow For Hope Podcast, host Kelly Poelker sits down with Maliha Khan, founder and CEO of Khanect the Dots and Khancepts Studio. Behind a successful career in marketing strategy and AI is a deeply personal story — one about navigating layered identity, silencing yourself to fit in, and the long journey back to showing up fully and unapologetically. Maliha talks about growing up between cultures, the “good girl blueprint” she was handed from birth, the mental exhaustion of constantly adjusting herself for every room she walked into, and what it actually cost her. She also gets real about mental health stigma, why she sought therapy in college, and how motherhood became the turning point that finally made her stop dancing to everyone else’s tune. This conversation is for anyone who has ever toned themselves down, waited for permission to take up space, or wondered when it would finally feel okay to just be themselves. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN * What the “good girl blueprint” is — and how it shapes the way women show up in every area of life. * What it means to be too much for some spaces and not enough for others — and the mental toll that takes. * How code-switching creates a specific kind of exhaustion nobody talks about. * Why high-functioning people often suppress emotion until the body pushes back. * How cultural stigma impacts mental health decisions like seeking therapy. * Why motherhood became the turning point that unlocked her voice. * What finding your voice actually looks like — boundaries, honesty, and letting go of guilt. * Why setting a boundary is one thing — and holding it is another. * How to remove the noise when everything feels overwhelming. * How conversations can begin to shift mental health stigma in communities. GUEST SPOTLIGHT: MALIHA KHAN Maliha Khan is the founder and CEO of Khanect the Dots and Khancepts Studio, a marketing consultancy helping brands find clarity and direction. She is a recognized voice in marketing and AI, known for helping organizations communicate with purpose. Behind the business success is a story of navigating identity — American, Pakistani, and Muslim — in spaces that didn’t always make room for all of her. Maliha spent years shrinking herself before choosing to show up fully and unapologetically. She now speaks openly about identity, belonging, and mental health stigma, encouraging others to claim their voice and stop living small. KEY QUOTES “Belonging isn’t always handed to you. It starts with self.” “I was too much for some spaces and not enough for others.” “The more I focused on everyone else’s opinion, the more I doubted myself.” “Eventually you have to choose authenticity over everyone else’s comfort.” “I don’t need anyone else’s permission.” RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS * Connect with Maliha Khan: * Khanect the Dots Website [https://www.khanectthedots.com] * Khancepts Studio [https://www.khanceptsbyktd.com/] * Start a conversation: Share this episode with someone who has ever felt like they had to shrink to fit in. * Visit Glow For Hope: https://glowforhopenfp.org [https://glowforhopenfp.org] NEXT EPISODE We’ll continue sparking conversations that help people feel seen, heard, and supported. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. SUPPORT THE SHOW Glow For Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to mental health awareness and suicide prevention through conversation, community, and connection. Make a Donation [https://glowforhopenfp.org/donate] Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/glow-for-hope-sparking-conversation-on-mental-health/id1837796801]  CRISIS RESOURCES If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. * United States: Call or text 988 * Emergency: Call 911 DISCLAIMER This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional care. The post Maliha Khan: Identity, Belonging & Finding Your Voice [https://glowforhopenfp.org/maliha-khan-identity-belonging-finding-your-voice/] first appeared on Glow For Hope | Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness [https://glowforhopenfp.org].

Dr. Patrick Porter: What Chronic Stress Does to Your Brain and How to Reset It

Dr. Patrick Porter joins Glow For Hope: Sparking Conversation on Mental Health for a powerful conversation on what chronic stress is really doing to your brain—and how to take control of your mental health again. As the founder of BrainTap and a leading expert in brainwave entrainment, Dr. Porter breaks down the science behind brain fog, exhaustion, negative thought patterns, and why so many people feel mentally depleted today. More importantly, he shares practical, everyday strategies to reset your brain and improve your mental clarity. In this episode, we discuss: how chronic stress impacts the brain why sleep is critical for mental health and recovery what brainwave entrainment is and how it works how breathwork can regulate your nervous system why negative thoughts drain your energy what’s happening in the brains of children with ADHD how small, consistent habits create lasting change This episode is for anyone feeling overwhelmed, mentally drained, or looking for simple ways to support their brain and overall well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text HOPE to 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).