The Male Vacancy Project

#8 - The Summit of Life: Lessons From Everest w/ Andrew Katz

In this episode, I speak with Andrew Katz, a high-altitude mountaineer, base-jumper, Arcterix athlete, and Everest summiter, about his transformative journey through mountaineering. When you spend multiple days in the mountains, you have a lot of time to reflect on yourself and on life, and the amount of reflection that Andrew did on his journey is apparent. Our conversation explores the importance of community, vulnerability, balancing expectations with reality, and facing adversity head on. Andrew also shared his reflections on redefining masculinity, having respect for nature, and his belief that while it's beneficial to train alone, having a team to lift each other up is the best way to achieve success. All of these topics are shared through the lens of Andrew's training for, and his eventual successful 60-day trek to the top of the world.  Follow Andrew of IG: https://www.instagram.com/andrewpkatz/ [https://www.instagram.com/andrewpkatz/]  Follow Amadeus on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amadeus_heimann/ [https://www.instagram.com/amadeus_heimann/]  Follow the podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/themalevacancyprojectpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/themalevacancyprojectpodcast/]  Please Subscribe and Review to help the show! Sacred Spaces Vol. 3 on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0PHmbki [https://a.co/d/0PHmbki]

#7 - Boys to Men: How Relinquishing Control Will Change Your Life w/ Scott Holmes

In this conversation, R. Scott Holmes shares his profound insights on masculinity, vulnerability, and the importance of community and connection among men. He discusses his personal journey through grief and caregiving, emphasizing the need for men to share their stories and experiences. The dialogue explores the loss of traditional rites of passage and the evolving understanding of what it means to be a man in today's society. Holmes advocates for the establishment of men's groups to foster open communication and support, highlighting the significance of emotional expression and vulnerability in personal growth. Scott's Book: Scott talks about the book he's writing, where he's interviewing 200 men over the age of 30 on the topic of when they became a man. Scott seeks to highlight the stories of men to help readers feel less isolated in their experiences. If you're interested in being interviewed for this book, sed Scott an email at this email address and tell him you heard about the project on this podcast with Amadeus: rscott_holmes@yahoo.com [rscott_holmes@yahoo.com] Haymakers For Hope: Unfortunately, I'm out of the fight due to injury. But there are 28 fighters competing on September 25th, 2025 in DC. There are several fighters who have not yet reached their $10,000 fundraising commitment. I encourage you to donate to one of the other fighters' fundraising campaigns! Please support these fighters and the cause to raise money for Cancer research. And if you're in the DC area, buy a ticket to attend the fight. All ticket sales go towards cancer research as well. You can find information on the event and the fighters, and donate at this link: https://haymakersforhope.org/events/boxing/h4h-washington-dc-2025/matchups [https://haymakersforhope.org/events/boxing/h4h-washington-dc-2025/matchups] Sacred Spaces Volume 3: If you have not purchased the book that I wrote a chapter in, and would like to, please check your local bookstore or follow this link to find it on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8Sxg0er [https://a.co/d/8Sxg0er] Please subscribe, share with a friend, and write a review if you'd like to support the show.

#6 - Bridging the Divide: A Dialog Between a Gay Man and a Straight Man w/ Alex Hoekstra

This conversation delves into the complexities of masculinity, mental health, and societal expectations, particularly within the GBT+ community of men. Alex and I explore and work through the nuances of masculinity, mental health, community, homophobia, equality, privilege, societal expectations, the history between the greater communities of straight men and GBT+ men, and more. We discuss the different challenges faced by these groups, as well as the different strengths of these groups. We also talk about the importance of accountability among men, the power of bridging the societally imposed divide between our communities, and fostering understanding and support for one another. As I said at the end, please reach out with any thoughts you have from the conversation. Whether you agree or disagree with anything we said, if you've had a different life experience that caused you to think a different way about one of the topics, we want to hear from you. Please send me an email, or send Alex or I a message on Instagram.  Alex's IG: https://www.instagram.com/hoekedonphonics?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== [https://www.instagram.com/hoekedonphonics?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] The show's IG: https://www.instagram.com/themalevacancyprojectpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== [https://www.instagram.com/themalevacancyprojectpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==]  Send me an email: Amadeus.mvpp@gmail.com [Amadeus.mvpp@gmail.com]  Purchase Sacred Spaces Volume 3 on Amazon (also available at some local bookstores): https://a.co/d/abDioyl [https://a.co/d/abDioyl]

#5 - Becoming the Man You're Meant To Be & Stepping Into Elderdom w/ Dan Kain

In this conversation, I bring on my friend, Dan, a leader in health, fitness, wellness, and men's health advocacy in the DC area. Dan opens up on the public stage in a way that only those closest to him had previously seen. He shares his journey through the lens of what he calls "major trajectory changing moments", discussing personal challenges, the impact of childhood experiences on his identity, and why he cares so much about men healing. He discusses the importance of self-reflection, rolling with the punches of life, accountability, and finding purpose in life, while also opening up about his own mental health struggles. Dan emphasizes that every experience, whether perceived as good or bad, can serve as a catalyst for growth and transformation. Dan and I delve into the themes of tough love, accountability, overcoming the stigmas around working on yourself, and the importance of community in personal growth. We discuss the pivotal moments in Dan's life that led to self-discovery and the realization of his purpose. The dialogue emphasizes the need for men to embrace vulnerability, seek support, and step into leadership roles within their communities. Connect with Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielscottkain/ [https://www.instagram.com/danielscottkain/] Buy Sacred Spaces Vol. 3: https://a.co/d/g9lrHs0 [https://a.co/d/g9lrHs0] Join Male Vacancy Project Email List: https://christian-heimann.mykajabi.com/mvp-opt-in [https://christian-heimann.mykajabi.com/mvp-opt-in]

#4 - The Truth About Men and Vulnerability w/ Nick Beirne

Summary In this conversation, Amadeus and Nick discuss the profound impact of grief and adversity on personal growth and masculinity. They explore how the loss of Nick's father shaped his journey towards mature and healthy manhood, the role of exercise in coping with grief, the value of therapy, and the importance of vulnerability in a man's life. The discussion emphasizes the need for men to embrace their emotions, seek help, and engage in self-reflection to become healthier individuals and better members of society. They also discuss the disconnect between the men society tells us to be and the men society needs us to be. Purchase Sacred Spaces Volume 3 and read my chapter: https://a.co/d/5Y1CqFo [https://a.co/d/5Y1CqFo] Join my Email List: https://christian-heimann.mykajabi.com/mvp-opt-in [https://christian-heimann.mykajabi.com/mvp-opt-in]