147: Feel More & Think Less with Dr. Zac Seidler (Movember)
From a young age, you’ve learned how to don various masks for different people. The problem with this is these masks aren’t the real you. But somewhere along the way, whether due to societal pressures, parenting, religious upbringing, or any other variable, you learn that it’s safer to be someone else instead of you. This strategy can work for a while. It’s how both Dr. Zac from Movember and I have gotten through life. But it always fails in the long-run because stacking up achievements (personal, professional, or fitness) can’t give you the unbridled joy you’re desperately seeking. The good news is that there’s a solution. But the bad news is that it’s difficult and takes a long time. The solution? Learning how to stop overthinking and underfeeling. This is particularly hard for men because we’ve been conditioned to think instead of feel. But learning to feel is perhaps the single most important skill you can hone. In this episode, Dr. Zac and I share the messy story of how we’re both trying to feel more and think less - and we invite you to join us. We also discuss: How to take off the masks you’re wearing that undermine your growth The overthinking and underfeeling crisis that’s affecting men How the term “toxic masculinity” is unhelpful and harmful to men Other highlights from the show include: How men who do both theater or music and sports in high school don a mask that hinders their personal growth later in life (2:19) The insidious way fear discusses itself as freedom of choice (and why this wrecks your relationship, including the one with yourself) (7:20) The disorienting “generational trauma” trap that nearly every guy falls into (and how to realize these feelings were never even yours) (15:58) Why men are so much better at thinking about their emotions rather than feeling about them - including Dr. Zac and myself (22:15) The “feeling is the solution” skill that can help you stop overthinking and underfeeling (22:59) How unleashing the grief monster gives you catharsis without drowning in your sadness (40:53) Why “toxic masculinity” has morphed into a meaningless catch-all term for bad behavior (and how this undermines men across society) (47:25) Listen now! Guest bio: Dr. Zac Seidler is a clinical psychologist, researcher and leading men’s mental health expert. He currently holds dual roles as Global Director of Men’s Health Research at Movember and Associate Professor with Orygen at the University of Melbourne. Zac has dedicated his academic and professional career towards further understanding men’s mental health and masculinity. His ultimate goal is to help reduce the staggering rates of male suicide and domestic violence worldwide. Through his research, Zac has advocated for a change in the way we think about treating men’s distress. As part of his research, he has uniquely focused on creating mental health services that account for masculinity. This has evolved into a fully funded project, Men in Mind, the world’s first training program for mental health clinicians, to help them better understand and respond to men’s distress and suicidality. Resources mentioned in this episode: 1. Download Movember’s Report, The Real Face of Men’s Health here: https://us.movember.com/the-real-face-of-mens-health 2. Follow Dr Zac Seider: Website: https://www.zacseidler.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zacseidler/ 3. Man Flow Yoga - Start your 7-day free trial here: https://shrtlnk.co/kP8M7
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146: Unlocking Consistency Against All Odds (Member Interview: David C.)
The difference between success and failure with any fitness plan usually comes down to how consistent you are. But today’s guest, David, had nearly all the odds stacked against him when it came to his consistency... He admitted he’s a chronic starter and stopper: In fact, it took him years to build up his consistency muscles and finish his first Man Flow Yoga Program. He’s a cook at a nursing home, and his shift begins at 4:30 am - adding another obstacle blocking his consistency. And, because he’s forced to wear non-stick shoes, his feet have overpronated and led to immense back pain. But you know what? Despite all of this, David never gave up. He learned to stop beating himself up (even when he wasn’t as consistent as he wanted to be). And best of all, just this year, he’s finally figured out how to be consistent. Since then, he’s managed his back pain, dropped 10 lbs, and changed his body composition. Here’s what David and I discuss in today’s show: How attending an in-person event created a snowball effect of consistency Why standing all day for work is almost as bad as sitting all day The unique challenges that come from having a wildly different sleep schedule than most of the world And more, including these highlights: How David’s overpronated feet caused him immense back pain (and how he’s made the pain manageable) (2:39) Why kids in the family is a literal cheat code for consistently working out (even if you’ve struggled to be consistent for years like David has) (12:16) How to trick your brain into working out even when you’re exhausted and unmotivated (14:51) David’s favorite stress relief pose that he does whenever stress rears its ugly head (17:10) The weird “dancing while standing” secret for eliminating back pain caused by standing all day (18:11) How a tiny change like swapping processed sugar for natural sugar can help you take back control of your cravings (22:36) Listen now! Resources mentioned in this episode: 1. Man Flow Yoga Events: David attending the January 2025 event in Austin laid the groundwork for his consistency. We’re bringing Man Flow Yoga to Denver, CO on February, 28. Get your ticket here: https://shop.manflowyoga.com/collections/in-person-events/products/mfy-workshop-denver-february-2026-02-28 2. Strength Foundations Challenge: Follow in David’s footsteps by joining the 6-week Strength Foundations Challenge here: https://manflowyoga.com/sfc 3. Man Flow Yoga - Start your 7-day free trial here: https://shrtlnk.co/kP8M7
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145: The Dark Truth about Men's Health with Dr. Zac Seidler (Movember)
You have been sold a lie, and if you believe it, you’ll end up in a grave much sooner than you otherwise would’ve. It’s not your fault you fell for this lie. I have too. In fact, almost every man has fallen for it. The lie? That in order to be a “real man,” you have to tough everything out on your own. This lie has lethal consequences: it makes you feel unworthy of your own health, it forces you to avoid intimacy with other men, and it makes vulnerability impossible. The result? You fall into the deep abyss of loneliness… and don’t know how to get out. That’s one of the reasons why men commit more than 75% of the suicides in America. And it’s why I invited Dr. Zac Seidler, Global Director of Men’s Health Research at Movember, onto today’s show. One of the problems with men’s health is that disconnection and loneliness are discussed in a vague way. Well, Movember’s recent report, “The Real Face of Men’s Health” finally puts actual data to this vague description. And the data trends are alarming: Isolation is the single biggest threat to your physical health. It will put you in a grave sooner. The good news is, Dr. Zac shares a bunch of ways to stop living your life around this lie all men have been sold. Here’s what Dr. Zac and I discuss in today’s show: What’s getting in the way of men having more meaningful connections - other than being physically healthy? The insidious, borderline lethal effects of silence (and why a fear of rejection and vulnerability cause it) How to change how you think about yourself to be happier, stronger, more vulnerable, and a better version of yourself Other highlights from the show include: Why the life expectancy gap between American men and women is actually going backwards for men (and how to prevent dying sooner than previous generations) (3:02) The 2 biggest reasons behind the alarming suicide rates among men of all ages (worst part? it has only a small connection to complex mental health history) (6:04) The potentially lethal consequences of “toughing it out” by delaying a doctor’s appointment and putting your family or career before yourself (11:04) Why your fear of boredom and silence will put you in your grave faster (and how pooping without your phone is the first step towards being comfortable with boredom and silence) (19:50) The Harvard Longitudinal Survey, the longest running study on human health and happiness, has discovered one metric that’s more important for living a long life than how much you exercise, your nutrition habits, and even whether or not you smoke (24:55) The 5 areas of holistic health (and why most men only do a couple and completely neglect the others) (27:05) How the silencing of your emotional needs leads you down a road of poor physical health (32:38) The “WMQ” secret for not only sustaining male friendships but thriving and connecting with other men on a deeper level and actually living longer (52:23) Listen now! Guest bio: Dr. Zac Seidler is a clinical psychologist, researcher and leading men’s mental health expert. He currently holds dual roles as Global Director of Men’s Health Research at Movember and Associate Professor with Orygen at the University of Melbourne. Zac has dedicated his academic and professional career towards further understanding men’s mental health and masculinity. His ultimate goal is to help reduce the staggering rates of male suicide and domestic violence worldwide. Through his research, Zac has advocated for a change in the way we think about treating men’s distress. As part of his research, he has uniquely focused on creating mental health services that account for masculinity. This has evolved into a fully funded project, Men in Mind, the world’s first training program for mental health clinicians, to help them better understand and respond to men’s distress and suicidality. Resources mentioned in this episode: 1. Download Movember’s Report, The Real Face of Men’s Health here: https://us.movember.com/the-real-face-of-mens-health 2. Follow Dr Zac Seider: Website: https://www.zacseidler.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zacseidler/ 3. Man Flow Yoga - Start your 7-day free trial here: https://shrtlnk.co/kP8M7
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144: Unlocking the Compound Effect of Fitness (Member Interview: Oscar)
It’s easy to overcomplicate your fitness journey, then get overwhelmed and give up. That’s why taking baby steps and building momentum helps. But there’s another way it helps too… It helps you unlock the compound effect of fitness, where you grow fitter with each day. That’s what today’s guest, Oscar, did after seeing a picture of himself that betrayed his weight. First, he started eating healthier by focusing on portion control. Next, he started walking, then running, then competing in 5k races. Then, he continued to build on his momentum and started strength training, high intensity interval training, and finally yoga. Oscar’s results? When I ran into Oscar at an Austin event I hosted, he showed me he has only 17% body fat and built almost 100 pounds of lean muscle mass! Best part? Oscar got started on his fitness journey late in life and still accomplished these feats! Here’s what Oscar and I discuss in this episode: Why a desire to enjoy your life helps you commit to your fitness journey The importance of having support structures around your fitness journey (especially in the beginning) How to keep building momentum and improving your health as time ticks on And more, including these highlights: Here’s irrefutable proof that you don’t need to be a lifelong athlete to build 100 pounds of lean muscle mass or drop to 17% body fat (1:29) How to unlock the compound effect of fitness by only taking baby steps on your fitness journey (3:18) Why having your spouse invested in fitness is a cheat code for accountability (and how to use the “ease of life” argument to get your partner on board) (6:42) How to learn to listen to your body before suffering a gruesome injury that sets you back (12:45) Why external validation can cause injuries (13:45) How complementing a strength training routine with evening yoga improves your recovery, boosts your mind-muscle connection, and increases your gains (25:47) Why pushing yourself too hard with running devastates your knees (and why Man Flow Yoga is the best solution) (30:22) The “motion is lotion” secret for continuing to exercise even when you’re nagged by aches and pains (31:16) Listen now! Resources mentioned in this episode: Start your 7-day free trial to Man Flow Yoga here: https://shrtlnk.co/kP8M7
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143: How Your Subconscious Beliefs Keep You Inconsistent with Fitness with Dr. A (Fit Father Project)
Your mindset can either be your biggest supporter or your biggest detractor of your fitness journey. But sometimes simple mindset shifts don’t work because there’s a deeper, subconscious belief that wrecks your consistency before you even start. Like, for example, imagine you were always picked last in gym class growing up. This creates a subconscious belief that you’re in danger, emotionally, when you exercise. It doesn't matter how much willpower or motivation you have. It’s impossible to become more consistent without addressing this deeper, emotional belief. That’s why I’m excited to invite Dr. Anthony Balduzzi, founder of Fit Father Project and Fit Mother Project, back onto the podcast. Dr. A’s coached over 60,000 families through the emotional traps that keep them inconsistent. In addition to sharing a few strategies to address the heavier, subconscious stuff, we also share some of our favorite practical tips to make being consistent easier. Dr. A and I also reveal: How to address the deeper emotional stuff that’s holding you back Tactical tips for becoming more consistent that you can use for your workout today Hidden traps you fall into that make you inconsistent Other highlights from the show include: 3 insidious ways your subconscious beliefs sabotage your fitness regimen (4:48) How having too much flexibility in your workout regimen backfires and makes it easier to skip exercise (8:43) A few ways to design your visual environment to make it easier to exercise consistently (it might sound weird or too simplistic, but it works) (13:30) The “Press Play” habit building secret that stops your inner voice from undermining your next workout (15:51) Why your subconscious mind might not like exercise (and how to address these underlying consistency saboteurs) (17:40) The scientific explanation behind why late-night exercise can actually worsen your health (19:49) How to neurologically condition your life to become easier as you age instead of harder (24:35) This mindset shift can make every workout you do a healing experience (30:46) How to use shame-based motivation to start a new fitness habit (and why you must switch motivation sources once your started) (37:39) Why doom scrolling on social media during work will make your workout later in the day harder (and sometimes, impossible) (42:33) Listen now! Guest bio: Dr. Anthony Balduzzi is a health and weight loss expert and the founder of Fit Father Project and Fit Mother Project - leading health & weight loss programs for busy men and women over 40. Dr. Balduzzi holds dual degrees in Nutrition & Neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania, a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine, and is a former national champion bodybuilder. Dr. Balduzzi is most proud of the fact that he's helped over 60,000 families in over 100 countries lose weight and get healthy through his Fit Father and Fit Mother Programs. Resources mentioned in this episode: 1. Fit Father, Fit Mother LIVE! - This episode was recorded before the 2025 event… but there’s a 2026 version coming if you’re interested! More info (including super early-bird tickets) here: https://www.fitfatherproject.com/live-event-2026/ 2. Follow Fit Father Project on social media: Website: https://www.fitfatherproject.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/fitfatherproject Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fitfatherproject/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitfatherproject X: https://twitter.com/fitfatherproj LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fit-father-project TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fitfatherprojectofficial 3. Man Flow Yoga - Start your 7-day free trial here: https://shrtlnk.co/kP8M7
The Better Man Podcast is a podcast redefining what it means to be better as a man. In it, we’ll discuss how to balance success with our overall well-being, take on a more comprehensive understanding of fitness to include our physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and strive to align our actions with who we are at our cores. We can be successful and proud of who we are without sacrificing our core values or our well-being.
Dean Pohlman is known as THE yoga expert for men. His unique fitness-centric, strength-based approach to yoga—exemplified in his yoga workouts, programs, books, videos, blogs, and more—has helped to transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of men [and women] worldwide.
Join Dean as he explores the habits, mindsets, tools, and tactics that lead to health, happiness, and fulfillment for men. You'll hear interviews with world-class experts who pull back the curtain and share their proven strategies for taking your body and mind to the next level.
More significantly, we’ll discuss the challenges they faced that truly tested them on an emotional level, and work to better understand what they did to work through those events, and how it helped them to grow for the better.
Learn how to implement new habits sustainably and realistically. Discover systems and processes that will empower you to hit your biggest goals. And be prepared to go deep beyond the world of physical fitness, to explore the mental, spiritual, and emotional aspects of health that will truly allow you to thrive.
Get inspired and get ready. The Better Man Podcast is a conversation to help you become the better version of yourself.
Dean Pohlman
Founder / CEO of Man Flow Yoga
Best-selling Author of Yoga Fitness for Men & Yoga for Athletes
Co-Producer of Body By Yoga Series
Ireland