The Book, The Brotherhood, and Ten Years in the Making

The Book, The Brotherhood, and Ten Years in the Making

IN THIS EPISODE OF WITH LOVE, MEN, CO-HOSTS JAKE FISHBEIN AND NICK PAPADOPOULOS SHARE THE ORIGIN STORY OF THEIR NOVEL THE MEN'S GROUP: A NOVEL OF MESSY FRIENDSHIPS — TEN YEARS IN THE MAKING — AND WHY MALE FRIENDSHIP MIGHT BE THE MOST UNDERRATED FORCE IN A MAN'S LIFE. Nick traces the book back to his frustration that almost nothing existed about men's mental health and transformation. Jake remembers the lunch in 2016 where he said yes — not because he cared about men's groups, but because something felt right. What followed was a decade neither expected: cancer, grief, hundreds of men in groups, and draft after draft that forced both of them to confront what they'd been avoiding. Their conclusion? Getting something out of your head — in a book, a group, or a conversation — is the first step to changing your relationship with it. 🔑 Topics Covered * How a research concept became a novel about messy male friendship * What writing the book forced each host to confront in himself * Why men's worlds shrink as they age — and what it costs them * Why this book is for everyone, not just men 💡 Reflective Prompt: Where are you so focused on the destination that you're missing the journey? 📍 Links + Resources * Jake's website: www.jakefishbein.com [http://www.jakefishbein.com] * Nick's website: www.coachnick.com [http://www.coachnick.com] * The Arena Men's Group: www.arenamensgroup.com [http://www.arenamensgroup.com] * Novel "The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships" (June 9, 2026) at menssgroupnovel.com [http://menssgroupnovel.com] 💼 Connect: Jake Fishbein & Nick Papadopoulos on LinkedIn With Love, Jake & Nick

Minotaur vs. Higher Purpose: Which Story Are You Living?

IN THIS EPISODE OF WITH LOVE, MEN, CO-HOSTS JAKE FISHBEIN AND NICK PAPADOPOULOS EXPLORE A FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPT FROM THEIR UPCOMING NOVEL: THE MYTHS WE TELL OURSELVES ABOUT WHO WE ARE. Jake and Nick introduce the idea that we're all "meaning-making machines" who create stories—myths—about ourselves. These myths come in two forms: the Minotaur (shame-based stories like "I'm stupid" or "I can't get a break") and Higher Purpose (the inspiring impact we make when we're at our best). Nick shares how his Minotaur shows up when he's triggered: "I'm all alone in this fucking world and I can't get a break." Jake traces his back to second grade when two classmates went as the Wright Brothers before he could. They discuss how these stories aren't bad—they're protective responses to pain that deserve empathy, not execution. On Higher Purpose, Jake reveals his is "to guide people home," while Nick's is inspiring people to live purposefully and leave things better than they found them. They explain how to find yours: look at moments you're most proud of, notice what fills you up, and ask people around you when they see you most alive. Their conclusion? You're always operating from either your Minotaur or your Higher Purpose—and that's what drives your behavior, not willpower alone. 🔑 Topics Covered * Why we all tell myths about ourselves (Minotaur vs. Higher Purpose) * How shame stories form and why they're protective, not evil * Using humor and community to loosen the Minotaur's grip * How to discover your Higher Purpose by looking backward * Why identity shapes behavior more than willpower 💡 Reflective Prompt: What myth are you telling yourself right now—and is it serving you? 📍 Links + Resources * Jake's website: www.jakefishbein.com [http://www.jakefishbein.com] * Nick's website: www.coachnick.com [http://www.coachnick.com] * The Arena Men's Group: www.arenamensgroup.com [http://www.arenamensgroup.com] * Novel "The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships" (June 9, 2026) at menssgroupnovel.com 💼 Connect: Jake Fishbein & Nick Papadopoulos on LinkedIn With Love, Jake & Nick

What Does It Mean to Be a Man in 2026?

IN THIS EPISODE OF WITH LOVE, MEN, CO-HOSTS JAKE FISHBEIN AND NICK PAPADOPOULOS TACKLE THE TIMELESS QUESTION: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A MAN IN 2026? Jake reflects on lessons from his father—leading with heart, embracing vulnerability, and making a difference without seeking credit. Nick shares his immigrant father's blueprint: being a man means contributing more than you take, not from unworthiness, but from trust that giving creates its own rewards. They challenge the "Happy wife, happy life" mentality, clarifying that loving the relationship more than yourself isn't about self-betrayal—it's about full participation. Jake reveals how wedding industry norms expect grooms to be disengaged, and why he's intentionally showing up differently. Their conclusion? Being a man in 2026 means being fully engaged—present, responsible, heart-centered, and actively shaping your experience rather than passively following someone else's script. 🔑 Topics Covered * What fathers teach us about masculinity (for better or worse) * Contributing more than you take vs. playing victim * The difference between healthy giving and self-betrayal * Why full participation matters in relationships and major life moments * Coming from the heart vs. coming from unworthiness 💡 Reflective Prompt: Are you fully participating in your life—or are you following a script written by someone else? 📍 Links + Resources * Jake's website: www.jakefishbein.com [http://www.jakefishbein.com] * Nick's website: www.coachnick.com [http://www.coachnick.com] * The Arena Men's Group: www.arenamensgroup.com [http://www.arenamensgroup.com] * Novel "The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships" (June 9, 2026) 💼 Connect: Jake Fishbein & Nick Papadopoulos on LinkedIn With Love, Jake & Nick

The Money Chase: What Men Are Really After

In this episode of With Love, Men, co-hosts Jake Fishbein and Nick Papadopoulos explore why men chase money—and what they're really seeking beneath the surface. Nick argues men are chasing self-worth and validation, measuring themselves against others to prove "I'm okay, I'm a real man." Jake adds that economic shifts have stripped away traditional pathways: only 15% of 30-year-olds own homes today (down from 50% in 1960), women graduate college at twice the rate of men, and younger generations face stagnating wages. Many men feel their masculinity and purpose eroding. The hosts examine the toll: never being present, missing relationships, playing an endless game with no finish line. Nick quotes Pink Floyd—"dig that hole, forget the sun"—as the perfect metaphor for this exhausting chase. Their solution? Ask better questions. Help men define what matters on their own terms, not what they've been told should matter. 🔑 Topics Covered * What men are actually chasing: self-worth, validation, worthiness * How economic shifts impact men's identity and sense of purpose * The cost of chasing external validation: disconnection and exhaustion * Why asking questions beats prescribing solutions 💡 Reflective Prompt  What are you actually chasing when you pursue financial success? Is it on your terms—or someone else's game? 📍 Links + Resources * Jake's website: www.jakefishbein.com [http://www.jakefishbein.com] * Nick's website: www.coachnick.com [http://www.coachnick.com] * The Arena Men's Group: www.arenamensgroup.com [http://www.arenamensgroup.com] * Novel "The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships" (June 9, 2026) 💼 Connect: Jake Fishbein & Nick Papadopoulos on LinkedIn With Love, Jake & Nick

Men and Sex

In this episode of With Love, Men, co-hosts Jake Fishbein and Nick Papadopoulos tackle one of the most avoided topics in men's work: sexuality and physical intimacy. Opening with a striking story from a joint men's and women's group session where men were paralyzed by fear while women spoke explicitly and comfortably about sex, they explore why this topic remains so taboo—even in spaces designed for vulnerable conversation. Nick shares how religious shame, non-affectionate parents, and childhood sexual abuse distorted his relationship with intimacy for decades. Jake opens up about growing up in the internet age, his father's warnings, and how chat rooms became his secretive, shame-filled introduction to sexuality—eventually getting caught with all his conversations saved on AOL for his parents to read. The hosts examine how shame creates profound disconnection in relationships, with men hiding everything from porn addiction to their honest desires from their partners. They turn the mirror on themselves as facilitators, asking why they avoid addressing sex in men's groups when they tackle every other area of life. Jake shares how Nick's transformative homework assignment—"go get laid in two weeks"—helped him redefine his entire relationship with sexuality. The conversation deepens as they explore sex as the ultimate vulnerability of being truly seen, and offer practical invitations for normalizing these crucial conversations and letting go of sexual shame. 🔑 Topics Covered * Why women spoke explicitly about sex while men froze in fear at a joint group session * Early messages that shaped sexuality: religious shame, parental formality, and internet-age secrecy * How shame creates disconnection and secrecy in committed relationships * Why sex is the one topic consistently avoided in men's groups—even by facilitators * Jake's transformative "go get laid in two weeks" homework assignment * The vulnerability paradox: Sex as being ultimately seen and connected to creation * Practical steps for normalizing sex conversations and letting go of shame 💡 Reflective Prompt What shame are you still carrying around sex and intimacy? What would it take for you to normalize conversations about your sexuality—first with yourself, then with your partner, and potentially with trusted friends? 📍 Links + Resources * Jake's website: www.jakefishbein.com [http://www.jakefishbein.com] * Nick's website: www.coachnick.com [http://www.coachnick.com] * The Arena Men's Group: www.arenamensgroup.com [http://www.arenamensgroup.com] * Their novel "The Men's Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships" (coming late June 2026) 💼 Connect with Us on LinkedIn: * Jake Fishbein * Nick Papadopoulos With Love, Jake & Nick