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In this episode, Boysen sits down with Geoff Laughton and Mark Johnson of The Undaunted Man to explore a radically different approach to men’s work—one that rejects external definitions of masculinity and instead helps men develop a deep connection to their own inner guidance.

Drawing from decades of experience, Geoff and Mark share how their work supports men in becoming internally governed—grounded, self-aware, and capable of making aligned decisions without relying on societal scripts.

They discuss:

• Why most definitions of masculinity fall short
• The danger of outsourcing your identity
• What “pro-human, pro-social masculinity” really means
• How men rediscover purpose, voice, and direction
• The role of discomfort and stillness in personal transformation

The conversation also dives into their powerful Silent Summit experience—a multi-day wilderness immersion where men unplug from all distractions and learn to truly listen to themselves.

Whether you’re navigating relationships, questioning your path, or simply feeling like something’s missing, this episode offers a grounded and deeply human invitation back to yourself.

Find the Undaunted Man - https://theundauntedman.com/

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What if thinking isn’t always your greatest asset?

In this episode, Boysen sits down with psychotherapist, meditation teacher, and author Charles Eigen to explore the surprising ways our thinking can become a barrier to clarity, connection, and peace.

Drawing from Internal Family Systems (IFS), Zen practice, and decades of therapeutic work, Chuck shares how most of us are conditioned to live in our heads—often at the cost of our emotional awareness and embodied experience.

Together, they unpack:

• The difference between thinking and thoughts
• Why anxiety lives in the future—and how to come back to the present
• How “parts” of ourselves can hijack our reactions
• The role of awareness as the deeper ground of who we are
• Practical tools to shift from reactivity to presence
• How to bring mindfulness into conflict and communication

This conversation offers a grounded, compassionate approach to personal growth—one that doesn’t try to eliminate thoughts, but instead helps us relate to them differently.

Whether you’re new to this work or deep on the path, this episode invites you to step out of your head… and into a fuller experience of being alive.

📘 Chuck’s book: When Thinking Is a Problem

Find Charles on LinkedIn

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This episode brings together Chris Kyle, George Kansas, and Tim Wade—co-founders of the Big Tent Summit—for a grounded and expansive conversation about the evolving landscape of men’s work.

Drawing on over a century of combined experience, they explore the shift from early mythopoetic men’s work to today’s diverse and rapidly expanding ecosystem of support for men. The conversation highlights a growing cultural openness: more men investing in personal development, therapy, and emotional growth—and more pathways than ever to do that work.

At the heart of the episode is the Big Tent Summit itself—a gathering designed not to resolve differences, but to hold them. The group discusses the intentional inclusion of diverse voices, the friction that naturally arises when perspectives collide, and why that tension is actually a sign of progress.

They also introduce the Big Tent Collective, an ongoing community fostering collaboration, resource sharing, and real-world impact between summits.

This episode is an invitation into a larger conversation—one that challenges rigid definitions of masculinity and opens the door to something more inclusive, more integrated, and more human.

Check it out! https://www.bigtentsummit.com/

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Clear minds lead purposeful lives.

In this episode, Brandon Clift sits down with Juan Carlos, a storyteller, product builder, and creator of the Re:Mind mental models system, a framework designed to help people think more clearly and navigate complex decisions.

Juan’s career spans filmmaking, technology, and product innovation. Through those experiences he discovered something powerful.

Most people struggle not because they lack intelligence.
They struggle because they lack frameworks for thinking.

This conversation explores how mental models can transform the way we see the world.

Together Brandon and Juan explore:

• Why mental models are essential tools for decision making
• How stories shape perception and belief
• The danger of operating without clear frameworks
• How leaders can simplify complex challenges
• Why clarity often leads directly to purpose
• How better thinking leads to better living

Juan shares the inspiration behind the Re:Mind system, which combines physical tools and digital frameworks designed to help individuals and teams develop clearer thinking habits.

If you have ever felt overwhelmed by complexity or stuck in decision loops, this episode will give you practical tools to see the world differently.

Better thinking creates better choices.
Better choices create better lives.

Juan Carlos

Website
https://www.remind.coach

Brandon Clift

https://brandonclift.com

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What if the version of strength most men were handed is quietly breaking them?

In this deep and honest conversation, Brandon Clift interviews Trey Tucker, founder of Rugged Counseling and author of Tough Enough, a book written specifically for men in their twenties who feel stuck, drifting, or disconnected.

Trey opens up about the sudden death of his father and how he navigated grief without shutting down emotionally. He shares the unconventional approach he used to process loss and how it shaped his model of therapy today.

Together, they explore:

• Why many men struggle with grief
• The biological differences in how men and women process stress
• Why traditional therapy can leave men stuck in awareness without action
• The rise of red pill culture and why it initially feels empowering
• Why Gen Z men are increasingly unmotivated at work
• The dangerous trend of “playing it safe”
• The need for mentorship and modern rites of passage
• Why men need vision, accountability, and action
• The difference between repression and strength

Trey argues that masculinity itself is not the problem. Misguided expression is.

Instead of eliminating grit, dominance, or ambition, he calls men to integrate emotional awareness with decisive action.

This episode is for:

• Men in their twenties who feel directionless
• Fathers raising sons in a confusing cultural moment
• Leaders managing disengaged young men
• Anyone wondering if therapy could be more effective for men

Strength is not the absence of emotion.
It’s the ability to face it without flinching.

Rugged Counseling (Trey Tucker’s practice)
https://www.ruggedcounseling.com/

Instagram

The main Instagram account associated with him and his work is:
https://www.instagram.com/ruggedcounseling/

Tough Enough Book: https://a.co/d/0erVME7U

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Five years. 250 episodes. Nearly 250,000 downloads.

In this milestone episode, Brandon and Boysen reflect on what they’ve learned about masculinity, fatherhood, therapy, connection, and the evolving conversation around modern manhood.

They talk about:

• Why connection is still the antidote
• Whether therapy is serving men effectively
• What changed in their own lives
• Where the podcast is headed next

And they invite you into the next chapter.

Contact

• Brandon: https://brandonclift.com
  
  
• MKP Communications: communications@mkpusa.org

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Can changing how men relate to one another reduce gender-based violence?

In this powerful international conversation, Boysen sits down with South African researchers Nicola Lazenby and Thaakirah Dollie, who conducted an in-depth qualitative study exploring how men’s relationships with other men influence their understanding of masculinity and mental health.

Set against the backdrop of South Africa’s gender-based violence crisis—where femicide rates are among the highest in the world—their research examines two distinct patterns of male bonding:

🔹 Hierarchical Homosociality

• Competition and dominance
• Emotional suppression
• Avoidance of vulnerability
• Aggression and status-seeking

This pattern reinforces rigid masculinity and is linked to diminished mental health and relational harm.

🔹 Horizontal Homosociality

• Collaboration and mutual accountability
• Emotional intimacy and safety
• Shared agreements and trust
• Authentic vulnerability

This model—found in structured men’s groups like those in the ManKind Project—was associated with increased well-being, deeper connection, and healthier expressions of masculinity.

The conversation also explores:

• Early socialization of boys through fathers and peer groups
• The systemic legacy of violence in South Africa
• Why compassion and accountability must coexist
• Fatherhood as a turning point for many men
• What it means to create healing cultural change

This episode is both sobering and hopeful. It reminds us that while masculinity is socially constructed, it is not fixed. And that how men gather matters.

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In this powerful return to The ManKind Podcast, John Henry Parker joins Brandon to unpack his latest book, Men Harvesting Wisdom: The 10 Heroic Dimensions of Transformational Self Leadership.

Two years after discussing Be the Dawn in the Darkness, John returns not with memoir, but with architecture. A field guide built from 35 years of sitting with men in crisis, veterans in transition, fathers on the brink, and leaders navigating identity collapse.

This episode explores:

• The identity crisis men face after military service, retirement, divorce, or career transition
• Why identity, mission, meaning, and purpose are stripped away during major life changes
• The 10 Heroic Dimensions that form a practical map and compass for self leadership
• How values clarify difficult decisions
• Why willingness matters most when you do not feel like showing up
• The role of brotherhood and why “Who are my men?” is a critical question
• The power of legacy as a stabilizing force in dark seasons
• How proximity to death or loss can strip away false stories
• Why passionate sustainable clarity is the real goal

John shares openly about bypass surgery, chronic stress, trauma, grief after losing his son, and the humility required to write about transformation while still living it.

This conversation is a reminder that men are not broken. They are often simply unstructured during transition.

If you are asking:

Who am I now?
What do I do with my life?
Who do I become next?

This episode is your call to adventure.

THE 10 HEROIC DIMENSIONS DISCUSSED

1. Identity – Know yourself
2. Values – Clarify what governs your decisions
3. Meaning – Your existential why
4. Purpose – Your existential how
5. Self Care – Physical, emotional, spiritual, financial
6. Roles and Intentions – Father, partner, leader
7. Vision – Where you are headed
8. Execution – How you will act
9. Willingness – Showing up when you do not want to
10. Legacy – How anyone will know you existed

LINKS MENTIONED

Men Harvesting Wisdom
https://menharvestingwisdom.com

Be the Dawn in the Darkness
https://johnhenryparker.com

BetterHelp: Get 10% Off Your First Month Of Therapy
The ManKind Podcast has partnered with Betterhelp to make it easier for listeners to access licensed mental health therapists who can aid them in their mental health journey. Brandon and Boysen stand by this service as they use BetterHelp for their therapy needs.
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