Hey Man; It's Ok

Jackson Erdos - Climbing the Mountain Takes Years: American Ninja Warrior on Depression, Identity, and Resilience

In this powerful episode of Hey Man; It’s Ok, we sit down with American Ninja Warrior champion Jackson Erdos for one of the most honest conversations we’ve ever had. Jackson shares his journey from elite youth athlete to world-class competitor—while quietly battling depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicidal ideation as a teenager. He opens up about checking himself into residential treatment, losing close friends to suicide, and learning that success without identity and support can still feel empty. At just 18 years old, Jackson speaks with rare wisdom about: * Why your identity is not your performance * How mental toughness isn’t about being emotionless * The danger of tying self-worth to success * What rehab, therapy, and community truly changed for him * Why “climbing the mountain” takes years—not 30 seconds * How coaching kids and serving others saved his life * Navigating fame, pressure, and expectations as a young man * Bridging mental health conversations in sports and youth culture Jackson also talks about his “You Matter / 988” initiative, donating proceeds to suicide prevention, and why showing vulnerability—especially as an athlete—is not weakness, but leadership. This episode is for: * Athletes and coaches * Parents of teens * Young men struggling silently * Anyone who feels like they should be “doing better” but isn’t If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or afraid to ask for help—this conversation is proof that healing is possible and that you don’t have to climb alone. 📍 If you or someone you love is struggling, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Minh Nguyen - "I was ready to crash the car”: Losing Everything, Shame, and Choosing to Stay - HMIO 325

In this deeply honest episode of Hey Man; It’s Ok, hosts Sky Bridges and Ryan Heapy sit down with Minh Nguyen, a longtime friend, father, and entrepreneur, to share a raw conversation about shame, success, financial collapse, and choosing to stay alive. Minh opens up about his childhood growing up in a cult-like church, the pressure to perform and succeed, and how those early experiences shaped his identity as a man. He shares the staggering rise and fall of his career in the mortgage industry—including losing over $1.1 million—and the emotional toll that followed. At his lowest point, Minh found himself battling suicidal thoughts, overwhelmed by shame and the belief that he had failed his family. What followed was a turning point that changed how he defines success, fatherhood, and self-worth. In this episode, we talk about: * How shame quietly fuels depression in men * What happens when external success collapses * Navigating suicidal thoughts and asking for help * Escaping high-control belief systems * The pressure of social media and comparison * Breaking generational cycles as a parent * Redefining success, masculinity, and legacy * Learning self-compassion after failure This conversation is for men who feel like they’re carrying everything alone, who’ve tied their worth to performance, or who are silently struggling behind the appearance of “having it together.” If you’re in a hard season, you’re not broken—and you’re not alone. Because here, it’s ok to not be ok. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:02 Growing Up in a High-Control Church 02:06 Rise and Pressure in the Mortgage Industry 04:05 Success, Shame, and Identity 05:05 Financial Collapse and Emotional Fallout 06:43 Suicidal Thoughts and the Turning Point 08:34 Rebuilding Life and Finding Purpose 16:18 Stability, Healing, and Future Goals 18:39 Breaking Cycles Through Fatherhood 19:25 Parenting in a Social Media World 20:05 Social Media, Comparison, and Pressure 21:32 Leadership, Resilience, and Teams 23:29 Perfectionism and Authenticity 5:16 Life Reflections and Growth 26:41 Self-Love and Men’s Mental Health 31:01 Legacy, Healing, and What’s Next 34:04 Final Thoughts

Zander Keig -  Bridge Building in a Divided World: Men, Mental Health, and Being Pro-Human - HMIO 324

In this thought-provoking episode of Hey Man; It’s Ok, Sky Bridges and licensed marriage and family therapist Ryan Heapy sit down with Zander Keig—a veteran, licensed social worker, author, and bridge-builder—to explore how men can protect their mental health in an increasingly polarized and divided world. Zander shares insights from his life growing up in a Mexican Catholic family in Los Angeles, his time working with veterans at the VA, and his work with organizations like Braver Angels and the Prohuman Foundation (http://www.prohumanfoundation.org/) [http://www.prohumanfoundation.org/] . Together, the conversation digs into depolarization, empathy, identity, and why learning to see the human behind opposing beliefs is essential for personal wellbeing and societal healing. In this episode, we explore: * Why polarization is destroying families, relationships, and mental health * How men can engage in difficult conversations without losing themselves * The difference between activism and bridge building * Why social media amplifies division—and what happens when you step away * How identity, belief systems, and lived experience shape conflict * What it really means to be “pro-human” * Why time, place, and language matter in hard conversations * How prioritizing your own wellbeing makes you a better ally and leader Zander also talks about his book The Third Space: A Non-Conformist Guide to the Universe, his podcasts The Third Space and The Umbrella Hour, and leaves listeners with a powerful call to action: invest in your own mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing—because change starts with you. This episode is for men who: * Feel exhausted by political and cultural conflict * Want to stay connected without losing their values * Are navigating family tension, identity, or burnout * Believe empathy is strength—not weakness Because it’s ok to not be ok —and it’s okay to choose humanity over division.

Corey Corpodian - Emotional Fitness: Building Resilience and Overcoming Depression - HMIO 323

In this powerful episode of Hey Man; It’s Ok, hosts Sky Bridges and Ryan Heapy, LMFT sit down with Corey Corpodian—a board-certified orthodontist, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate—to explore the hidden cost of high achievement and the life-changing power of emotional fitness. Corey shares his deeply personal story of success on paper and depression behind the scenes. After graduating early, building a prestigious career, and checking every box of the traditional “American Dream,” Corey found himself burned out, unfulfilled, and struggling with severe depression. A turning point came through physical fitness, a melanoma diagnosis, and a radical shift in mindset that led him to redefine mental health as something that must be trained daily—just like the body. In this conversation, Corey breaks down: * What emotional fitness really means and how to build it * Why information alone doesn’t change mental health—action does * How daily habits, discipline, and mindset rewiring create lasting change * The role of pain, discomfort, and responsibility in personal growth * Why leadership starts with leading yourself—especially as men, fathers, and entrepreneurs * How screen time, comfort, and avoidance quietly sabotage fulfillment This episode is packed with actionable mental health tools, honest reflections on depression and burnout, and a refreshing take on leadership, purpose, and fulfillment. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or successful but empty, this conversation will challenge you to take ownership of your life and build resilience from the inside out. 🎙️ Because success without fulfillment isn’t success at all. Episode Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Hosts 00:20 Meet Corey Corpodian: From Orthodontist to Mental Health Advocate 01:01 Early Success, Burnout, and Depression 03:28 Physical Fitness as a Turning Point 04:59 Melanoma Diagnosis and Mortality Wake-Up Call 06:22 Discovering Emotional Fitness 07:54 Tony Robbins and Mindset Shifts 12:39 Rewiring the Mind and Overcoming Depression 1 7:24 Why Action Creates Change 20:40 Reinvention After Life’s Roadblocks 23:42 Breathwork, the Nervous System, and Resilience 25:23 Pain vs. Pleasure as Motivation 26:16 Escaping Comfort Zones and Mediocrity 26:55 Screen Time, Dopamine, and Mental Health 28:12 Using Future Pain to Drive Growth 31:06 Discipline, Identity, and Daily Habits 32:43 Cold Showers and Mental Toughness 36:05 Balancing Ambition, Family, and Purpose 38:01 Rethinking Mental Health and Leadership 46:36 Final Reflections and Emotional Fitness Resources

Esther Perry - Rewriting Survival: Men's Path to Mental Wellbeing HMIO 322

In this powerful episode of Hey Man; It’s Ok, hosts Sky Bridges and licensed therapist Ryan Heapy sit down with Esther Perry, EMDR consultant and author of When Survival Is Killing You, to unpack what men are rarely taught about mental health, trauma, and emotional expression. Esther helps explain the why behind common mental health tools — from EMDR and mindfulness to nervous system regulation — and why many men struggle to connect with approaches that don’t feel safe or practical. Together, they explore how trauma lives in the body, the overlooked “fight” response in fight-or-flight, and how cultural expectations around masculinity make vulnerability feel uncomfortable — or even threatening. The conversation also dives into Esther’s unconventional path to becoming a therapist, her work in juvenile detention facilities, and her unique experience providing therapy while living and traveling in an RV. Throughout the episode, the focus stays grounded in compassion, science, and the reality of what men face when they’re told to “open up” without ever being shown how. This episode is an honest, accessible conversation for men navigating emotional growth, healing from trauma, and learning how to feel without shame. Episode Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 00:47 – Esther Perry’s background and book inspiration 02:58 – Trauma, survival, and coping mechanisms 05:34 – Men’s mental health and the fight-or-flight response 09:57 – EMDR and creating emotional safety 12:29 – From juvenile detention to therapy work 15:49 – Challenges in correctional mental health 18:00 – Gender differences in emotional processing 23:57 – Why expressing emotions is so difficult for men 26:13 – Science, emotions, and nervous system regulation 29:50 – Life as a traveling “nomad therapist” 34:47 – Writing and publishing When Survival Is Killing You 37:12 – Practical therapeutic advice for men 41:57 – Final reflections If you want, I can also: * Write a short YouTube description version * Create a Spotify-optimized summary (slightly different SEO rules) * Pull quote-based timestamps for Shorts & Reels Just tell me where this is going live first.