Basecamp for Men E18: Embracing Challenges

E18: Embracing Challenges with Special Guest Tania Poletti

 

E18 Introduction

One of the things I really enjoy about doing this show is the variety of guests that I get to talk to. I just love it. And I have found that the best way to line them up is to let them come to me in a natural way. I may read a book and want to speak with the author, or I will come across a teacher that I want listeners to know about.

Or maybe a listener or friend will recommend someone to interview. It’s fun to have a name pop up on my radar and then a week or two later, I am speaking with them and making an episode. It gives the show an organic flow that speaks to the creative side of me.

Today’s guest is a perfect example of this. I originally connected with Tania Poletti on Facebook. She was posting all about Basecamp for Men and how much she loves the show and our message. So I reached out to her to see if she would be willing to have a chat with us. And she said yes!

She lives in Australia and is an expert on health and fitness, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to connect with Tania, find out what is happening with men in Australia, and ask her some important questions about men’s health.

Check her out at https://www.facebook.com/SchoolOfStrengthForWomen/

Thank you, dear readers and listeners, and enjoy this week’s episode!

Tony

 

Basecamp for Men E17: The Trickster- Disrupting the Status Quo

E17 The Trickster: Disrupting the Status Quo with Special Guest Shepherd Siegel

 

E17 Introduction

Across time and culture, when things get soooo serious, there will arise the expressions of an archetype that will have none of this nonsense.

The mythical Trickster.  The boundary crosser. Tricksters violate principles of the social and natural order, playfully disrupting normal life and then re-establishing it on a new basis. The Trickster openly questions and mocks authority.

As a collective expression, The Trickster can show us new possibilities when things get too regimented, too bound up by rules, and too mature or predictable. The Trickster wants to reshuffle the deck, to pull your pants down as you’re addressing the crowd, to keep us all on our toes so that play can have its say.

Play may very well be the key to our transformation. By bringing creative thought to the forefront of our issues, we move from traditional problem solving with traditional modes of thinking to radical re-imagining along with the Tricksters hearty appetite for fun, dynamic change, and complete disregard for the status quo.

What would a “Play Society” look and feel like? It sounds interesting to me. There are some problems that need a serious approach, no doubt.  But I sometimes wonder where the light, playful approach would yield more vibrant and interesting possibilities. What would the Trickster do today? It is certainly an intriguing idea.

Best,

Tony

Basecamp for Men E16: Understanding Men, Understanding Women Part 2

E16: Understanding Men, Undestanding Women Part 2 with Special Guest Allison Armstrong

E16 Introduction

I hope you all enjoyed Part 1 of our discussion with Alison Armstrong. If you are just jumping into the show now, I highly recommend you listen to Part 1 first as this is a continuation of our talk last week.

In Part 2, Alison and I talk about the differing communication style of men and women. Alison tells us why it is so important for women to be accurate and specific in their communication (men, you will want to hear this!). We cover men and anger and why our anger is so unsettling for the women in our lives.

And lastly, we talk about the #metoo movement and what it means to men. We have not really addressed this topical issue yet on Basecamp for Men and this is a great first run at it. Alison, with her usual wisdom and humanity, has a different take on men in the #metoo era. It was a delight to hear her view of this situation and her story can help all of us regain a more compassionate and humane perspective on this divisive and charged issue.

I hope you enjoy this interview with Alison as much as I did 🙂

Thank you listeners!

Tony

Basecamp for Men E15: Understanding Men, Understanding Women Part 1

E15: Understanding Men, Understanding Women Part 1

with Special Guest Alison Armstrong

 

E15 Introduction

The male/female dynamic is one that has fascinated me for a long time. As a leader inside of the men’s movement, I have an understanding of what makes men tick. I get them. I see how men hide and get stuck and I have found  approaches  that help and support them. It’s second nature after almost two decades of men’s work.

Women on the other hand, have confounded us. We love women! Yet their communication style and complex emotional lives can confuse and befuddle us men. I have been with my wife for almost twenty-five years and sometimes I feel like I have barely scratched the surface of this mystery.

And yet there is perhaps no greater training for men than to learn to dance with the feminine (literally as well as metaphorically). The beloved women in our lives are so important to us. We want to hold onto what is true for us men as well as partner in powerful new ways with women. In many ways THIS dynamic is where the rubber meets the road, in terms of personal development.

My guest today has been on the front lines of this work for twenty plus years. Alison Armstrong has brought an understanding of gender dynamics to a new level. By bringing compassion, authenticity, and humor to the conversation, Alison has elevated our understanding of how men and women work off one another and how all of us can partner in more powerful, loving, and joyous ways.

Enjoy this two-part conversation with Alison Armstrong.

Thank you listeners!

Tony

Basecamp for Men E14: The Porn Trap

E14: The Porn Trap with author Wendy Maltz

 

E14 Introduction

Just a generation ago, only a small minority of men would have been considered regular porn users. Today porn reaches an unprecedented number of people from all walks of life. And it reaches them 356 days a year, 24/7. In the United States alone, forty million people visit Internet porn sites at least once a month. Some visit for only a few minutes at a time, while others stay for hours on a regular basis.

A whopping 25% of all daily Internet search requests and 35% of all downloads are for pornography. There are more than 400 million pages of pornography on the Internet. As one man said, “You no longer have to go looking for porn, porn is looking for you!”

As you might expect, most regular porn users are male (75-85%). You may be shocked to learn that youth under the age of eighteen have become one of the largest consumer groups of porn.

So how do you know if using pornography is a healthy choice for you or not? Join author Wendy Maltz (The Porn Trap) and myself as we unpack this somewhat awkward but extremely relevant topic.

We discuss the pitfalls of pornography, how to know if it has become a problem, and what to do if you suspect pornography has become an unhealthy choice. This is one of our top episodes so far with a topic that men need to know more about and get the straight talk about.

Thank you listeners!

Tony