Charles shares a personal reflection on Elizabeth Gilbert’s new memoir All the Way to the River—a raw, beautifully told story about love, addiction, and loss. He explores what makes Gilbert’s writing different from typical books on recovery and co-dependence, how her honesty resonates with his own journey, and why the audiobook version delivers an especially powerful experience.

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In this conversation, Charles and Dan unpack one of the most practical interviews they’ve ever heard on The Diary of a CEO—Steven Bartlett’s talk with body-language expert Vanessa Van Edwards.
Instead of vague “be confident” advice, this episode focuses on clear, actionable steps that make communication more intentional and effective.

They break down:

• How warmth and competence shape every first impression
• The body-language cues that build trust (and the ones that destroy it)
• Why open posture and visible palms instantly change how people read you
• The difference between uptalk and downtalk—and how Obama mastered it
• What AirPods, small talk, and friendship say about modern connection
• The subtle gestures that make others mirror and agree with you

If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, overlooked, or disconnected, this episode shows how to realign your physical cues with your intentions—and become someone people actually hear.

🎧 Watch or listen to every episode at mindfullymasculine.com

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In this week’s episode of The Mindfully Masculine Podcast, Charles and Dan dive into Steven Bartlett’s most-viewed Diary of a CEO interview — his conversation with Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power.

What starts as a look at Greene’s ideas on seduction, confidence, and power turns into a bigger exploration of what really drives human behavior. Charles and Dan unpack the tension between authenticity and performance, confidence and insecurity, attraction and manipulation. They discuss the fine line between influence and deceit — and why the word seduction can mean either self-mastery or self-deception, depending on the intent behind it.

The conversation also moves beyond power dynamics into addiction, codependence, and vulnerability — including how chasing validation can become its own form of addiction, and why genuine confidence has to be built, not performed.

Topics include:

• Why “seduction” can feel manipulative — and how Greene tries to reframe it
• The difference between cultivating attraction and playing games
• Power as self-control vs. control over others
• The role of confidence, competence, and comfort in your own skin
• Masks, roles, and authenticity in modern life
• How addiction and codependence mirror our search for control
• What real strength looks like in relationships and leadership

If you’ve ever wondered where healthy confidence ends and manipulation begins, this episode offers a nuanced take on the psychology of power, presence, and connection.

Listen, follow, and share The Mindfully Masculine Podcast wherever you get your podcasts, and visit mindfullymasculine.com for more.

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