Basecamp for Men E137: Learning to Listen

E137: Learning to Listen with Special Guest Glenn Gordon

 

E137 Introduction

My involvement with the Mankind Project and my work in the field of men‘s personal development has given me so many gifts in life. My mission and life path, my voice, my clarity of who I am and what I offer the world.

In addition, this work has given me incredible mentors along my Hero’s Journey. Men who have my best interest and growth as their lens and who have counseled me from a place of understanding, fierce compassion, and wisdom.

I have had many of these men on my show. Jon Wilson, Bob Beare, Eric Hansen, Earl Hipp, Mark Jackson, and Chris Pallis. Today‘s guest is another one of my mentors. A man who modeled for me how a mature man walks through the world: in his heart, in his mission, with authenticity and humor. My blessing to you dear listener is that you too draw to yourself the men and women who can offer you the wisdom of their years. Someone who sees you and your gifts and helps you live courageously and in alignment with who you want to be for the world. I hope you enjoy the interview.

Glenn Gordon Bio

Glenn Gordon is an Executive coach, graduate of the Cronkite school of journalism and works with individuals, couples, and executives teaching better listening skills and the neuro science behind coaching. Glenn has been a leader in the area of men‘s personal development and was a mentor of mine when I needed mature and wise guidance. Here is my interview with Glenn Gordon.

E137 Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed our time with Glenn. I like many of the things he addressed but one thing in particular that I want highlight. He talked about how we tend to give too many opinions and consequently, don’t listen all that well. These two aspects go hand-in-hand it seems. For me, I spoke of listening better and it is front and center for me. But the other side of that is this: how do I refrain from constantly giving my opinions? Really, are they helping? Usually not.

My experiment for myself and my invitation to you is this: let‘s work on our deep listening together and, collectively and individually, cut our opinions in half. What sort of world would that create? What would be there in the world without the flood of opinions, which are always laden with judgments and projections and always separates us and puts others in a negative context. Men, I think we can we do better. Aho!

 

 

 

 

 

Basecamp for Men E135: Punching Karl Marx

E135: Punching Karl Marx with Special Guest Mark Jackson

 

E135 Introduction

Well, I am back and refreshed after a week down on the Gulf side of Florida. Sun, sand, water, and lots of good food. I highly recommend a visit to the Gulf side of Florida if you have not been.

This week I have the pleasure of interviewing Mark Jackson, a man who I count as one of my best friends for the past 20 years. We have been through initiations together and supported one another on our respective Hero’s Journeys. I have sat with him over countless coffees and laughs around Manhattan to discuss the deeper issues and challenges that we face as men.

When I first became friends with Mark, we were both die hard liberals. Everything seemed fine back then. But communism and Marxism was shape shifting and moving along the American cultural landscape and both Mark and I started to sense something darker and sinister unfolding here in our own country.

This episode is really the first part of a primer on Marxism and America. Not as a scholarly expression. Neither Mark or myself feel qualified for such a deep dive. The episode is meant to show how two friends see what is becoming an obvious threat to our nation and its principles.

The next episode I do will be an exploration of American Marxism and its impact on our education system. Something I have an active interest in. Yes, the content is dark and heavy. But I believe it is necessary to warn you, my dear listeners. Particularly if you have young children.

Anyways, here is my friend Mark Jackson and I. Two men talking around the campfire, so to speak. I hope you enjoy it.

Mark Jackson Bio

Mark Jackson is the senior film critic of the Epoch Times whose film reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes and Flickster. He has been a professional actor for 25 years and is the official radio and television voice of the world touring Chinese classical dance show Shin Yun. He is also the narrator of the audiobook How the Specter of Communism is Ruling Our World. Here is my interview with Mark Jackson.

E135 Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed my conversation with Mark as much as I did. The audiobook and books are titled “How the Specter of Communism is Ruling Our World” from the Epoch Times and the editorial board of “Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party”. These writers are absolute experts and authorities on all things communist and Marx and how it is impacting us and threatening our future.

You can find the book at www.theepochtimes.com and go to their store at Epoch Shop. Go get yourself educated. It may change how you approach things like who you vote for or where you send your child to school. All food for thought.

 

 

 

Basecamp for Men E125: The Authenticity of Men

E125: The Authenticity of Men with Special Guest  Dr. Eric Hansen

 

E125 Introduction

One of the shadows of growing up as an American man is the manbox we have all been cultured in. Part of the messaging from the manbox is to be stoic and self-reliant at all costs. Never let men (or women) see you asking or seeking support. Never speak of your struggles is the message that men internalize. It seems a bit absurd now as I write this.

When I was brought into the tribe of men through a powerful initiation called the New Warrior Training with the Mankind Project, I saw something entirely different. I saw powerful, authentic men who spoke of the full spectrum of the male experience. The struggles and challenges that we all face without all the macho posturing that comes with the manbox. I also saw men that were emotionally expressive but they didn’t seem wimpy or weak. Quite the contrary. These men were emotionally truthful, comfortable in their skin, and skilled at relationships of all sorts. And I wanted some of that for myself.

The initiation and the work changed my life. I did episodes about this in the early days of the show. If you go back to that first season (particularly those first dozen episodes) or read my book, you will hear my testimony and gratitude for this work and the men who lead and participate in it.

My guest today is the man who brought me into this work. One of my early mentors. He guided me onto the path that would alter the course of my life for the better. I have been thinking a lot lately about mentoring. How do we better mentor the younger men? How do we meet them where they are and honor their gifts and their brilliant and offer the wisdom that we carry as the older generation? How do we see them with fresh eyes?

The topic of mentoring and elderhood is one we will be diving a bit more into as season four unfolds.

Eric Hansen Bio

My guest today is Eric Hansen. Eric has been a leader in the fields of economic development and men’s work.

He has travelled the world MANY times over as the President of Economic Transformations Group for the past 23 years. And he has been leader on dozens of trainings for The Mankind Project. Eric has also staffed a number of these trainings in Folsom Prison with the Inside Circle. Bringing healing and transformation to the men who reside there. Here is my interview with Eric Hansen.

E125 Final Thoughts-

I hope you enjoyed our conversation with Eric. The film we were speaking about is called The Work and it is a powerful expression of how men’s work can transform lives, no matter the circumstances.

And lastly, if you find the show valuable and would like to support us, please consider a small monthly donation. Any donation is greatly appreciated and you can do that at the donation tab at www.basecamp-podcast.com . Thank you listeners.

 

Basecamp for Men E102: The Alchemy of Vibration

E102: The Alchemy of Vibration

 

E102 Introduction

I have long been a fan of esoteric studies. This has been true for around 20 years or so. It could be just about anything off the beaten path- alchemy, meditation, ET stuff, Tesla, fractal geometry, crop circles, secret space program. Anything that is in the occult, which is a word that means “hidden”, not “devil worshipper” as some would have you believe.

In some of the spiritual/consciousness communities there is something that starts to come into focus over time. That frequency or vibration may just be the key to understanding the whole kit and caboodle.  Here is a quote by the great visionary scientist and futurist Nicola Tesla. He said,

“If you want to know the secrets of the Universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration.”

 

The esoteric classic The Law of One speaks of vibration on dozens of occasions. Mystery schools east and west speak of vibration and alchemy as keys to something astounding. What could it be, I wonder? It seems there is something here that we are discovering in this process of our awakening.

We have been so conditioned to receive the world as a passive observer. That whatever happens in the world is out of our control. Like a hand at blackjack, whatever happens is just unfolding. Is this true or have we all just been taught and then internalized this belief?

Does happiness, bliss, creativity, inspiration, joy and play just happen when the circumstances are just right? Or are these higher states of consciousness that we cultivate and grow in our neuropathways to be shared and co-created with others in our tribe. Remember, alchemy is an inside game and spiritual awakening is a group effort.

Come listen in on a discourse about frequency, energy, and vibration.

 

Basecamp for Men E100: The Learning Inside of Your Marriage

E100: The Learning Inside of Your Marriage with Special Guest Kimberly Holmes

 

E100 Introduction

Wow, I can’t believe we have made it to episode 100! I feel a sense of accomplishment with this and I want to start off  by thanking my excellent sound editor Chris Rodd. Chris, I couldn’t have done it without you.

And I would like to thank you my listener for giving our show a try and, for many of you, putting it into your regular rotation of podcasts. I really appreciate the follow. And if you are a fan of the show, help us by recommending it to a friend or two or giving us a review on Apple podcasts. Both of these actions help us to continue to grow and get the word out.

As many of you know, one of my interests is how we can best show up as men in our most important relationships. These primary relationships (with our spouses or life partners, with our children, with our siblings and our parents) will inevitably bring our most challenging issues to the surface.  They always do.

There is an interesting dynamic at play. These most intimate relationships are the ones we CARE the most about. And what tends to show up in the things we care about the most? Challenges and obstacles. Ones that we seem to sub-consciously put in our own way as we learn to love one another and ourselves unconditionally.

It is not hard to see that is is not always the great parts of us that are in our marriages and partnerships. We each show up with our unique wounds and insecurities. Our neediness, our upsets, our fears.

And there is a paradox at play. We seem to want unconditional love from one another but then keep putting parts of ourselves out there that we don’t even love. It is like we are telling our partners, “I don’t really like this small, needy, insecure part of myself, what do YOU think?”.

We long for the healing of our deepest wounds and then misguidedly ask our poor unsuspecting partner to do the healing. We often don’t suspect that it is ourselves that hold the key to the healing and love we have been looking for from our partners.

I sometimes think that our spouses and life-partners are really here to  bear witness to our courage to confront ourselves and to change. They encourage us to be true to ourselves and do our best to love life and them, with a full and open heart.

My guest today knows a lot about learning in a relationship. Let’s go have a conversation.

 

Kimberly Holmes Bio-

Kimberly Bean Holmes is the CEO of  Marriage Helper, an organization that seeks to give couples new resources for their journey.  She is also the CEO and Creator of PIES University. Kimberly is also the host of the It Starts With Attraction Podcast. Her videos, podcasts, and following reach over 200K people a month who are making changes and becoming the best that they can be. Here is my interview with Kimberly Holmes.

E100 Final Thoughts-

I hope you enjoyed my interview with Kimberly Holmes. I love what she said about how even if you are the only one to do inner work to help the relationship. This will often be enough to get positive development going. Because some of you might have partners that are not interested in therapy or working on things and that is ok. As long as YOU are willing to work on yourself, things will tend to grow in the relationship as well.

I also love what she said about  remember that how you make your spouse FEEL is so important. I think this is such an important point and I think it can get lost in long-term relationships. I know I lose sight of it from time to time.

Lastly, I asked Kimberly for a couple of book recommendations for you and I have a couple as well. Kimberly recommends 8 Datesby Dr. John Gottman and Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. My two relationship books that I love are Getting the Love You Want by Harville Hendrix and Passionate Marriageby David Schnarch