The Better Man Podcast

While the phrase “mental health” has never been more popular, the sad truth is that men’s mental health is at an all-time low.

We shy away from tough conversations with loved ones, we don’t have a group of other men to vent with, and sometimes we have no clarity over our emotions.

But there is nothing more important as a man than your mental health. Chase Chewning, today’s guest, is the perfect example of this.

Before he started taking his mental health seriously, from the outside looking in, he had it all: Good looks, a great woman, a successful career, peak physical fitness, and the list goes on. Despite this, he felt empty inside because he completely ignored and suppressed his emotions, which took a toll on his mental health.

Today, Chase has a super power: Being vulnerable with other men and helping other men open up to him. Nothing—not his fitness, not his relationship, not his career, or anything else—has filled Chase with more fulfillment, happiness, and healthiness than focusing on his mental health.

Men’s mental health issues are one of the biggest problems facing the world today. And Chase understands, perhaps better than anyone else, the secret to improving your mental health as a man.

In this episode, Chase and I discuss:

• The negative consequences of suppressing your emotions (and how it can tear everything you cherish in life apart)
• How to get comfortable with being vulnerable (and why your vulnerability helps other men open up)
• Why having emotional clarity can unlock a deeper sense of fulfillment in life
• The cold, hard truth about life after leaving the military (and why poor mental health results in 22 veterans a day committing suicide)

And more.

Do you have the courage to be vulnerable and take the steps needed to not only improve your mental health, but the mental health of men around the world?

If you do, listen to the episode now.

Show highlights include:

• How leaving your mental health unchecked causes physiological manifestations that could result in severe panic attacks that look like a seizure (and how to improve your mental health before it reaches this point) (7:43)
• How to spot the physical signs that you need to work on your mental health (10:34)
• Why being vulnerable instead of suppressing your emotions actually helps you become at ease with them (even if it’s hard to open up) (11:36)
• The “Doing the Opposite” secret for improving every aspect of your mental health instead of sending it down a vicious cycle of decline (20:57)
• How sharing meaningful things with other men—even if they’re negative or unexpected—makes you feel better (24:46)
• Why “video journaling” to yourself unlocks an unprecedented amount of clarity when it comes to your emotions and mental health (32:41)
• How to use every stressor in your life, both big and small, to create unshakable trust in yourself (and why this makes being vulnerable as a man easy) (40:25)
• Why prioritizing hanging out with and opening up to other men is one of the most effective ways to fortify your mental health (47:45)
• How “getting away” from your spouse can cause pent-up resentment (and the trick for bonding with the boys without feeding resentment for your partner) (51:15)
• The insidious way your mind jumps to the worst-case scenario even though it almost never happens (1:00:13)
• The “soft” type of masculinity most guys shy away from (even though it creates stronger connections with the most important people in your life) (1:05:35)
• How to increase the levels of fulfillment, joy, and love in your marriage by practicing “choreplay” (1:08:07)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Ever Forward Radio: Want to take the next step towards improving men’s mental health? Listen to Chase’s podcast, Ever Forward Radio, wherever you listen to podcasts.

2. A day in the life of Chase Chewning: See first-hand what Chase does during his day to fortify his mental health, become more fulfilled in life, and unlock a deeper sense of happiness by following him on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/chase_chewning/

Related Episodes:

Turning Tragedy Into Triumph | Chase Chewning | Better Man Podcast Ep. 020

Other important links:

Want to improve your sexual wellness, get stronger erections, and last longer in bed? Then join the FREE 7-Day Sexual Wellness Challenge here: https://shrtlnk.co/uA27H

Want to unlock more flexibility and strength, reduce your risk of injury, and feel your absolute best over the next 7 days? Then join the FREE 7-Day Beginner’s Yoga for Men ...

When you exercise consistently and push your body past its limits, injuries can happen. The problem is, most guys don’t know the best way to recover from current injuries and prevent future ones.

For example, most guys think passive stretching can reduce injuries, but this isn’t exactly true. Stretching does provide relief, but without strengthening the underlying muscles, joints, and tendons around the injured body part, you won’t prevent future injuries from happening.

The same is true for resting through an injury — in fact, staying active helps you recover from injuries faster than simply resting.

That’s why I’m pumped that Zach Long, a personal trainer, owner of The Barbell Physio, and expert in injury prevention and recovery joins us on this episode.

We cover a ton of injury prevention and recovery information in this episode, including...

• Why the “Rest” component of RICE is outdated (and how to exercise safely when you’re injured)
• Why technique isn’t the most important aspect for injury prevention (even though it is important)
• The weird way your nervous system can make you experience pain that isn’t there
• The 3 most common (and preventable) injuries for men 40+

And more!

Listen now.

Show highlights include:

• The easiest way to determine if your physical therapist is worth their salt or not (8:19)
• Why resting after an injury can actually cause more problems than staying active (10:44)
• The “PEACE & LOVE” injury rehabilitation method which is wildly more effective than the popular “RICE” method (11:43)
• Why seeing a physical therapist before scheduling a surgery prevents you from having an unnecessary and costly surgery (20:39)
• The eye-opening “Surgery Placebo” experiment that may change your mind on whether or not you need surgery (21:52)
• How to cut your risk of injury in half by simply sleeping 8 hours each night (26:57)
• The “Red Light, Green Light” system to strengthen injured muscles without causing more severe injuries (30:54)
• Why forgiving yourself for coming up short on your fitness goals actually increases your chances of reaching them (1:19:29)
• Haven’t hit your protein intake goal today? Here’s a quick snack to help you eat enough protein every day (1:22:42)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

1. The Barbell Physio: Want to improve your performance while reducing injuries? Head to Zach’s website here: https://thebarbellphysio.com/

2. Performance Plus Programming: Want to prevent injuring yourself in just 10 to 15 minutes per day? Check out Performance Plus Programming to find supplementary injury prevention programs for any part of your body here: https://performanceplusprogramming.com/

3. Follow Zach Long on Instagram: Want to learn more about preventing injuries (without sacrificing your strength and fitness)? Follow Zach on Instagram at @thebarbellphysio

4. Rhone: Save 20% on all high-quality, long-lasting, and comfy workout gear from Rhone by using this link: https://manflowyoga.com/rhone

Other important links:

Want to improve your sexual wellness, get stronger erections, and last longer in bed? Then join the FREE 7-Day Sexual Wellness Challenge here: https://shrtlnk.co/uA27H

Want to unlock more flexibility and strength, reduce your risk of injury, and feel your absolute best over the next 7 days? Then join the FREE 7-Day Beginner’s Yoga for Men Challenge here: https://ManFlowYoga.com/7dc.

Tired of doing a form of yoga that causes more injuries than it helps prevent? The cold, hard truth is men need yoga specifically designed for them. Well, here's some good news: You can start your 7-day free trial to Man Flow Yoga by visiting https://ManFlowYoga.com/join.

Most people believe that they need motivation to start a big task. Whether it’s a new project, a new workout routine, or a new way to enhance your relationships.

But here’s the problem:

Motivation ebbs and flows like the wind. Some days you feel a surge of motivation, but other days your motivational tank is on E.

The people who stick with their goals aren’t the most motivated, but they have a better grasp on how to leverage motivation. For example, you usually feel more motivated at the beginning of something new, then it tapers out.

In this episode, you’ll discover...

• Why motivation isn’t actually important
• How understanding motivation lets you use it to your advantage
• Proven strategies to follow when you’re lacking motivation

And more.

Listen now.

Show highlights include:

• The biggest misconception about motivation which actually makes it more difficult to start a new fitness regimen (1:29)
• The evolutionary reason behind why your brain doesn’t want to workout (and how to make yourself anyway) (2:00)
• The scientifically-proven “PAM System” for making your body and mind ready for exercise (6:19)
• How to hack motivation to your advantage by using the “Motivation Wave” (10:39)
• 2 simple things to do when your motivation is high to stick with your exercise program after motivation fades (12:02)
• The “slightly more” secret for sticking with your fitness routine when your motivational tank is on E (16:26)
• Feeling overwhelmed and unmotivated to workout? Try this “just one thing” mindset tweak to re-energize yourself (20:00)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Birddogs: Need a new pair of the most comfortable shorts in the world? Try Birddogs shorts using our link, and get a free tumbler with your purchase: http://manflowyoga.com/birddogs

Other important links:

Want to improve your sexual wellness, get stronger erections, and last longer in bed? Then join the FREE 7-Day Sexual Wellness Challenge here: https://shrtlnk.co/uA27H

Want to unlock more flexibility and strength, reduce your risk of injury, and feel your absolute best over the next 7 days? Then join the FREE 7-Day Beginner’s Yoga for Men Challenge here: https://ManFlowYoga.com/7dc.

Tired of doing a form of yoga that causes more injuries than it helps prevent? The cold, hard truth is men need yoga specifically designed for them. Well, here's some good news: You can start your 7-day free trial to Man Flow Yoga by visiting https://ManFlowYoga.com/join.

Everyone has certain traumas and insecurities that your body stores deep inside itself. And it turns out that yoga is one of the best ways to address this deep-seated trauma and insecurities.

Take today’s guest, comedian Drew Lynch, for example. While working on his dream to become an actor, Drew suffered a brutal softball injury that left him with a stutter. This stutter instantly wrecked his dreams of becoming an actor—his agent fired him as soon as he heard Drew speak.

After, Drew decides to become a comedian, landed a spot on America’s Got Talent, and came in second place. While his comedian career blew up afterwards, it wasn’t until the pandemic until Drew realized that he was using comedy to run from the deep-seated trauma he still suffered from ever since his injury.

But during the pandemic, Drew stumbled upon Man Flow Yoga, and to this day, nothing has helped him tackle his trauma and insecurities more effectively than his consistent yoga practice.

In this doozy of an episode, Drew and I discuss:

• How your body physically holds trauma—and why yoga is the best way to confront this
• Why working too hard can actually be your insecurity in disguise (and how seeking external validation leaves you feeling empty)
• How important your mental health is to your physical health, especially after being injured

And so much more.

Listen now.

Show highlights include:

• How yoga helped Drew recover from a traumatic brain injury that affected his speech and forced him to give up on his dream career (13:32)
• The weird way yoga helps you confront “stored trauma” in your body and fast tracks your healing process (14:13)
• Why finishing a yoga session makes you feel more like your true self (and how this helps you overcome suffocating mental anguish) (27:22)
• The reason why comedian Drew Lynch enjoys Man Flow Yoga more than having his own personal trainer (34:21)
• The “Yoga Backdoor” secret which makes yoga the single best exercise modality for addressing deep-seated trauma and insecurities (35:36)
• How your mental health can speed up (or slow down) your recovery from injuries—even more so than your physical health before you were injured (41:09)
• Why simply saying “no” more often is the best way to improve your physical, mental, and emotional health (51:13)
• The best 5-minute evening routine you can do even when you’re so busy you can’t think straight (1:08:40)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Sunlighten Saunas: Consistently using a sauna is one of the best ways to relieve aches and pains, reduce your stress, and make your skin glow. Go to https://manflowyoga.com/sunlighten to save up to $600 on an in-home, infrared sauna.

2. Need more laughter in your life? Follow Drew Lynch’s social media pages below:

Drew’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDrewLynch

Drew’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedrewlynch/

Drew’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedrewlynch

Drew’s website: https://drewlynch.com/

Other important links:

Want to improve your sexual wellness, get stronger erections, and last longer in bed? Then join the FREE 7-Day Sexual Wellness Challenge here: https://shrtlnk.co/uA27H

Want to unlock more flexibility and strength, reduce your risk of injury, and feel your absolute best over the next 7 days? Then join the FREE 7-Day Beginner’s Yoga for Men Challenge here: https://ManFlowYoga.com/7dc.

Tired of doing a form of yoga that causes more injuries than it helps prevent? The cold, hard truth is men need yoga specifically designed for them. Well, here's some good news: You can start your 7-day free trial to Man Flow Yoga by visiting https://ManFlowYoga.com/join.

Humans are lazy: We want to spend the least amount of energy for the greatest award. It’s built into our DNA.

Yet, when it comes to setting goals, we forget how lazy we can be, how fickle motivation is, and have a tendency to make big, elaborate goals.

Here’s the problem:

When our motivation levels fall, we give up on these big elaborate goals completely. The good news is there’s a better way to set goals and actually achieve them:

Start small.

When you start small, you tap into your own human psychology of being lazy, you don’t have to rely on motivation, and you build confidence and consistency with each day that passes.

Not only is starting small easier, but it’s more effective too.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why starting small is the best way to achieve your goals (even your big ones)
• How to start small, so you don’t need any motivation to work on your goals
• Why setting big, elaborate goals gives you a deadly “failure mindset”

And more!

Listen now.

Show highlights include:

• 5 reasons why starting small on your fitness or nutrition goals unlocks the greatest results (1:07)
• The “Baby Steps” method for simplifying your goals and increasing the likelihood you stick with them (1:29)
• How having almost no motivation for your latest goal actually makes it easier for you to do long-term (3:55)
• Why planning goals for longer than 28 days skyrockets your risk of giving up on it (5:41)
• Do you struggle with sticking with fitness programs? Here’s the unusual way to stick with them... (9:50)
• The ridiculous “one minute per day” secret that helps you achieve your fitness goals (even if you’ve failed in the past) (14:11)
• How to pinpoint the exact moment you should try another fitness program (16:55)
• Why it’s false it takes 28 days to form a new habit (and why habits can form in as little as one day) (20:20)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Strength Foundations Challenge: Build your strength, improve your mobility, and get rid of pain, discomfort, or long-lasting injuries with this 6-week, strength-focused challenge. A new challenge begins every Monday for only $9 here: https://shrtlnk.co/LRBUn

2. Absolute Beginners Program: A program designed for absolute beginners to Man Flow Yoga. Available exclusively for Man Flow Yoga Members here: https://manflowyoga.tv/programs/collection-absolute-beginners-program

3. Rhone: Save 20% on all high-quality, long-lasting, and comfy workout gear from Rhone by using this link: https://manflowyoga.com/rhone

4. Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg: Available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Habits-Changes-Change-Everything/dp/0358362776

5. Atomic Habits by James Clear: Available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-James-Clear-audiobook/dp/B07RFSSYBH

Other important links:

Want to improve your sexual wellness, get stronger erections, and last longer in bed? Then join the FREE 7-Day Sexual Wellness Challenge here: https://shrtlnk.co/uA27H

Want to unlock more flexibility and strength, reduce your risk of injury, and feel your absolute best over the next 7 days? Then join the FREE 7-Day Beginner’s Yoga for Men Challenge here: https://ManFlowYoga.com/7dc.

Tired of doing a form of yoga that causes more injuries than it helps prevent? The cold, hard truth is men need yoga specifically designed for them. Well, here's some good news: You can start your 7-day free trial to Man Flow Yoga by visiting https://ManFlowYoga.com/join.