men’s mental health, men suffering in silence, brotherhood for men, shame, fatherhood, healing, masculinity, loneliness, emotional growth, personal transformation, Raw Minds Podcast

Why do so many men suffer in silence until everything falls apart?

In this Raw Minds Podcast episode, Erick sits down with Jonathan Tarrant for a raw conversation about men’s mental health, shame, emotional isolation, fatherhood, relationships, masculinity, brotherhood, and what happens when a man finally stops pretending he is okay.

Jonathan shares how he lost almost everything while trying to carry the weight of life alone. His marriage, his connection with his kids, his home, his peace, and nearly himself. Like many men, he buried his pain, wore a mask, stayed quiet, and tried to hold everything together while breaking behind closed doors.

This conversation goes deep into why men stay silent, why shame keeps men stuck, how emotional isolation destroys relationships, and why brotherhood can become a lifeline for men who feel alone.

Jonathan also talks about Together Men Rise, Brothers and Kings, and Sterling Matchmakers. His work helps men reconnect with themselves, build real support, develop healthy masculinity, and create stronger relationships.

This episode is for any man who has ever felt alone, disconnected, ashamed, angry, lost, or tired of carrying everything by himself.

Raw Minds is here for the men fighting battles nobody sees.

If this episode hits home, like the video, comment below, subscribe to Raw Minds, and share this with someone who needs to hear it.

Guest:

Jonathan Tarrant

Jonathan’s Links:

Brothers and Kings:

https://brothersandkings.com

Sterling Matchmakers:

https://sterlingmatchmakers.com

Podcast:

The Path of Self Discovery with Jonathan Tarrant

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

02:23 Welcome Jonathan Tarrant

02:37 Jonathan’s work and platforms

04:02 Where Jonathan’s story began

05:51 Learning to internalize pain

07:47 Avoiding responsibility and self destruction

09:19 Burying pain and emotional pressure

10:55 Explosive rage and learning triggers

12:23 Shame, self judgment, and unhappiness

14:21 The body feels what the mind repeats

16:19 What pushed Jonathan to get help

16:45 Counseling and investing in himself

19:41 Why pain can feel familiar

22:58 The shame that keeps men stuck

26:17 Erick shares The Legacy Method

27:36 Brothers and Kings explained

30:14 What a real men’s group should feel like

33:04 Featured brothers and support inside the community

34:19 Together Men Rise

36:36 Sterling Matchmakers

39:01 Why your relationship with yourself matters most

42:01 Watching men open up

45:44 Unpacking the invisible backpack

46:50 Where to find Jonathan

47:43 Final message

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, addiction, or suicidal thoughts, reach out.

Canada Crisis Line:

Call or text 988

You are not alone.

Follow Raw Minds Podcast:

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ci?si=GyaUB-JNhmxF-tv1

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3I7hBJgYDdS8UQpbMl9bdt

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcast?igsh=MXI2cmh3cmUzcHNuMQ==

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcast?_t=8rM6xvJfjKZ&_r=1

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qh/

Website:

https://www.rawminds.ca

Email:

rawmindspodcast@gmail.com

Have you ever felt like your body is stuck in survival mode?In this Raw Minds Podcast episode, Erick sits down with Brooke Edwards for a deep conversation about PTSD, trauma recovery, nervous system healing, chronic stress, burnout, grief, resilience, and men’s mental health.Brooke Edwards spent over 30 years guiding people through extreme wilderness environments in Alaska, Japan, Antarctica, West Africa, and remote mountain terrain. She has faced grizzly bears, avalanches, helicopters, river crossings, extreme weather, death, grief, pressure, and life or death decisions.But her biggest battle was not outside in the wilderness.It was inside her nervous system.Brooke is a wilderness guide, nervous system specialist, somatic practitioner, resiliency coach, poet, and founder of Wild World Wandering. In this episode, she explains how chronic stress and trauma can build inside the body over time until a person starts living in fight or flight, freeze response, or fawn response without even realizing it.This conversation breaks down what nervous system injury really means, why PTSD does not always come from one major event, how burnout slowly changes the body, and why so many people carry invisible pain that nobody else can see.Erick and Brooke also talk about grief, emotional suppression, men’s mental health, intergenerational trauma, somatic healing, trauma recovery, resilience, and what it takes to rebuild your life after carrying too much for too long.Brooke shares how losing friends, surviving high pressure environments, donating a kidney, and rebuilding her life helped her move from guiding people through the external wilderness to guiding people through the internal wilderness.This episode is for anyone who feels overwhelmed, numb, anxious, burned out, grieving, stuck, or tired of pretending they are okay.This is not fake motivation.This is not “just push through it.”This is a real conversation about what happens when your body has been in survival mode for too long.GuestBrooke EdwardsWild World WanderingWebsite: https://www.wildworldwandering.comFacebook: Brooke Shiny EdwardsInstagram: Wild World WanderingsLinkedIn: Brooke EdwardsSubstack: Shiny BrookieChapters00:00 Intro03:30 Brooke’s links and background04:37 Who is Brooke Edwards?06:30 Grief, death, and culture09:31 Life as a wilderness guide12:08 Technical issues12:44 Life and death decisions in the wilderness14:35 Chronic stress load16:01 PTSD and nervous system injury16:57 How the nervous system reacts to danger20:42 Why your brain scans for danger21:51 Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn24:41 Getting stuck in survival mode26:33 Coping, addiction, and burnout27:53 Erick’s PTSD story30:36 Corrective healing experiences32:29 Brooke’s heli skiing career33:37 The crash that changed everything35:40 Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers37:38 Becoming a resiliency coach39:16 Lived experience and healing work42:30 Building Wild World Wandering45:00 Grief as love47:49 Men’s mental health and emotional honesty49:38 Pressure on men53:34 Shared humanity57:46 Breaking generational trauma59:54 Erick on grief, depression, and showing up63:18 The Legacy Method66:49 Brooke’s final links68:17 Final messageIf you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, addiction, or suicidal thoughts, reach out.Canada Crisis LineCall or text 988You are not alone.Check out The Legacy Methodhttps://thelegacymethod.comFollow Raw Minds PodcastYouTubehttps://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ci?si=GyaUB-JNhmxF-tv1Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3I7hBJgYDdS8UQpbMl9bdtInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcast?igsh=MXI2cmh3cmUzcHNuMQ==TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcast?_t=8rM6xvJfjKZ&_r=1Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qh/Contact Raw Mindsrawmindspodcast@gmail.comIf this episode helped you, like, comment, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Men’s mental health

Autism awareness

Parent mental health

Single dads

Neurodivergent parenting

TikTok mental health lives

South Africa mental health

Raw Minds Podcast

Candice Ninja

Ninja Talks

What happens when a woman creates a space where men finally feel safe enough to open up?

In this Raw Minds Podcast episode, Erick sits down with Candice, also known as Ninja, from South Africa.

Candice is the voice behind Ninja Talks, a growing mental health and awareness movement built around real conversations, autism awareness, parenting, neurodivergence, and emotional support.

This conversation fits the heart of Raw Minds because Candice has created a space where men, fathers, parents, and people carrying silent pain can speak without being judged.

She talks about raising her son Denver, who is on the autism spectrum, navigating ADHD, sensory struggles, parenting pressure, depression, online hate, and the reality of trying to help others while still carrying your own battles.

Erick and Candice also talk about why men’s mental health matters, why many men stay quiet, what single dads go through, and how online communities can become a real support system when they are built with honesty and care.

This episode is for the men who do not know how to speak.

It is for the parents trying to hold everything together.

It is for anyone raising a neurodivergent child and feeling lost.

It is for the people who carry pressure quietly and still show up for others.

If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone who needs it. That is how we reach the people who struggle in silence.

Guest:

Candice “Ninja”

Founder of Ninja Talks

Mental health advocate

Autism awareness advocate

South Africa

Follow Ninja Talks:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ninjatalks/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninjatalkslive

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ninjatalkslive

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ninjatalks-live

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ninjatalkshost

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:51 Welcome Candice “Ninja”

02:23 Where to find Ninja

03:12 Who is Candice and how Ninja Talks started

04:44 Autism, sensory struggles, and early signs

06:44 Parenting, postpartum, and trauma

08:18 Men can struggle after birth too

10:41 Injury, surgery, depression, and isolation

13:34 Missing her son’s milestone

16:23 Starting Ninja Talks

18:16 Online hate and internet trolls

20:06 Why men’s mental health matters to Ninja

21:12 Erick opens up about being a single dad

23:21 How men started opening up in her lives

27:20 Building trust with vulnerable conversations

31:17 Chris and the Ninja Talks support team

35:50 Building a real TikTok community

39:13 Odie’s story and finding safe support

45:04 Erick shares a personal win for his daughter

48:17 Autism support in South Africa

51:45 Canada health care, waitlists, and support gaps

54:38 School systems and neurodivergent kids

57:20 Final thoughts and thank you

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, addiction, or suicidal thoughts, reach out.

Canada Crisis Line:

Call or text 988

You are not alone.

Follow Raw Minds Podcast:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ci?si=GyaUB-JNhmxF-tv1

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3I7hBJgYDdS8UQpbMl9bdt

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcast?_t=8rM6xvJfjKZ&_r=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcast?igsh=MXI2cmh3cmUzcHNuMQ==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qh/

Contact Raw Minds:

rawmindspodcast@gmail.com

Website:

www.rawminds.ca

Subscribe, comment, and share this episode with someone who needs a real conversation today.

men’s mental health, bullying trauma, childhood bullying, army bullying, male depression, alcohol recovery, rock bottom recovery, suicide prevention, survival story, Raw Minds Podcast

What happens when a man spends his whole life being mocked, bullied, broken down, and still finds a way to survive?

In this episode of Raw Minds Podcast, Erick sits down with Steve Beaumont, author of The Story of a Short Ginger Kid: Bullied to Near Extinction, for a raw conversation about bullying, trauma, the British Army, alcohol, self destruction, recovery, and the power of finally speaking out.

Steve grew up in Yorkshire as the short ginger kid who became an easy target. The bullying started young. The jokes, the names, the shame, the isolation. To survive, he became the joker. He laughed first so nobody could see what was really happening inside.

Running gave him an escape. The army gave him identity. But the pain followed him.

Steve talks about being bullied again while serving, losing his army career, falling into alcohol, hitting rock bottom, and slowly finding his way back through the outdoors, adventure, purpose, and eventually writing his book.

This conversation is about more than bullying.

It is about what happens when men stay silent too long.

It is about the damage people carry when nobody checks on them.

It is about alcohol, depression, trauma, shame, recovery, and the hard truth that asking for help can save a life.

Steve’s story is painful, honest, and powerful. But it is also proof that your life is not over because of what happened to you.

If you have ever been bullied, felt alone, used alcohol to numb pain, struggled with depression, or felt like nobody understood what you were carrying, this episode is for you.

Steve’s book:

The Story of a Short Ginger Kid: Bullied to Near Extinction

Buy it on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.ca/STORY-SHORT-GINGER-KID-Extinction/dp/B0GHZDSW89

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

02:17 Steve’s book and story

03:11 Growing up bullied

04:22 Becoming the joker to survive

06:06 Running as an escape

10:05 Family struggles and early drinking

12:24 Joining the British Army

13:42 Bullying inside the army

15:29 Depression, alcohol, and pressure

19:30 Losing his army career

22:17 Rock bottom and self destruction

24:43 The advert that changed everything

25:55 Outdoor pursuits and rebuilding

28:20 Writing the book

31:29 Why Steve never asked for help

33:28 What he would tell his younger self

40:26 Speaking out to help others

41:21 Why Raw Minds exists

44:41 Raising his granddaughter

47:59 Steve’s message: don’t be alone

49:19 Where to find Steve’s book

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, addiction, or suicidal thoughts, reach out.

Canada Crisis Line:

Call or text 988

You are not alone.

Raw Minds Podcast is built for real conversations around men’s mental health, trauma, grief, addiction, recovery, fatherhood, discipline, pain, and personal growth.

Subscribe to Raw Minds Podcast for more real conversations that actually matter.

Raw Minds Podcast links:

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ci?si=GyaUB-JNhmxF-tv1

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3I7hBJgYDdS8UQpbMl9bdt

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qh/

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcast?_t=8rM6xvJfjKZ&_r=1

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcast?igsh=MXI2cmh3cmUzcHNuMQ==

Email:

rawmindspodcast@gmail.com

Website:

www.rawminds.ca

#MensMentalHealth #BullyingAwareness #TraumaRecovery #RawMindsPodcast #MentalHealthMatters #RecoveryStory #SurvivalStory #MenTalkToo #StopBullying #SuicidePrevention

He had the career. The family. The success.Then his body shut down.In this episode of Raw Minds, Erick sits down with Gary Smart, a former high-performing tech leader who pushed through life for decades until he hit a full collapse.No warning. No slow down. Just done.Gary opens up about what happens when you ignore stress, suppress emotions, and live your life in constant grind mode.This is the side most men never talk about.From prescription medication dependency to rehab, depression, and rebuilding from nothing, Gary breaks down the reality of what it takes to come back when your entire identity falls apart.This conversation is about more than burnout.It is about facing yourself.If you feel like you are holding everything together on the outside but falling apart inside, this episode will hit.WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE• Why high-performing men silently burn out• The danger of suppressing stress and emotions• How pushing through can destroy your mental health• The reality of prescription medication dependency• What rock bottom actually feels like• Why most men avoid asking for help• The truth about recovery and rebuilding your life• How to give yourself permission to stop• The role of fitness and movement in recovery• How to rebuild your identity after collapseABOUT GARY SMARTGary Smart is a former tech leader turned coach who helps high-performing men reconnect with themselves before they hit burnout.After years of pushing through stress, ignoring his mental health, and relying on medication to function, he experienced a full physical and mental collapse.He rebuilt his life from the ground up and now works with executives and founders to help them avoid the same path.His focus is simple. Awareness, honesty, and real change.GARY SMART LINKSWebsitehttps://garrismart.com.auVIDEO CHAPTERS00:00 The Collapse That Changed Everything01:30 Meet Gary Smart03:00 Growing Up With “Push Through” Mentality06:00 Living As A High Performer10:00 The Slow Burn Of Stress14:00 Medication And Dependency18:00 The Moment Of Collapse22:00 Rehab And Reality Check26:00 The Truth About Recovery30:00 Depression And Suicidal Thoughts34:00 Rebuilding From Nothing38:00 Permission To Stop42:00 Finding Purpose After Pain46:00 Final AdviceFOLLOW RAW MINDSYouTubehttps://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ciInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcastTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcastFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qh/Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2DTczix6Egs7fscQiqCpfaWebsitehttps://www.rawminds.caEmailrawmindspodcast@gmail.comIf you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, addiction, or suicidal thoughts, reach out.Canada Crisis LineCall or text 988You are not alone.

Why do men keep ending up in the same toxic relationships?

In this Raw Minds Podcast episode Erick sits down with Mr. J, a relationship coach and betrayal trauma practitioner, to break down why most men struggle in relationships and keep repeating the same patterns.

This is not surface-level advice. This is real work.

Mr. J explains how childhood trauma, lack of emotional awareness, and avoidance shape the way men show up in relationships. From betrayal and cheating to codependency and emotional shutdown, this conversation exposes what is actually happening beneath the surface.

They dive into why men avoid hard conversations, why boundaries are rarely enforced, and how most people enter relationships without even knowing who they are.

If you have ever been cheated on, felt lost in a relationship, or keep attracting the same problems, this episode will hit.

This is about taking responsibility, facing your past, and building something real.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• Why most men repeat toxic relationship patterns
• How childhood trauma affects adult relationships
• The truth about cheating and betrayal
• Why men avoid emotional conversations
• How codependency actually forms
• The role of boundaries and why most people fail to enforce them
• What it takes to rebuild trust after betrayal
• Why relationships fail without self-awareness
• How to stop avoiding pain and start facing it
• The mindset needed for a healthy relationship

ABOUT MR. J

Mr. J is a relationship coach and betrayal trauma practitioner who helps individuals and couples navigate broken trust and rebuild their lives.

He focuses on intrapersonal relationships, helping people understand themselves first so they can build stronger relationships with others.

His work centers on accountability, emotional awareness, and real change. No shortcuts.

MR. J LINKS

All Links
https://linktr.ee/traumapractitionerjay

VIDEO CHAPTERS

00:00 Why Most Men Struggle In Relationships
01:40 Meet Mr. J
03:20 What Is Betrayal Trauma
06:00 Why Rebuilding Trust Is So Hard
10:00 The Pain Of Being Cheated On
14:00 Why People Stay In Toxic Relationships
18:00 The Truth About Affairs
22:00 The “Bermuda Triangle” Of Cheating
26:00 Why Men Avoid Emotions
30:00 Codependency And Losing Yourself
34:00 How To Build A Healthy Relationship
38:00 Facing Your Trauma
42:00 Fear, Growth, And Change
46:00 Final Advice

FOLLOW RAW MINDS

YouTube
https://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ci

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcast

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcast

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qh/

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/2DTczix6Egs7fscQiqCpfa

Website
https://www.rawminds.ca

Email
rawmindspodcast@gmail.com

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, addiction, or suicidal thoughts, reach out.

Canada Crisis Line
Call or text 988

You are not alone.

What does rock bottom really look like?

In this Raw Minds Podcast episode Erick sits down with Karyn Ward, a recovery leader who went from addiction, prison, and losing everything to helping others rebuild their lives from the ground up.

Karyn shares her raw story. From losing children, battling addiction, and living a life of crime, to hitting rock bottom and choosing a different path.

This is not theory. This is lived experience.

She now leads sober living homes, helps people stay clean, and builds real systems that give people a second chance at life.

This conversation breaks down what addiction actually takes from you, why most people relapse, and what it really takes to rebuild when everything falls apart.

If you have ever felt lost, stuck, or like you are fighting your way back alone, this episode matters.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• What rock bottom actually looks like
• How addiction takes everything from you
• Why most people relapse after treatment
• The truth about recovery and rebuilding your life
• What it takes to stay clean long term
• The role of structure and community in recovery
• Why men struggle to open up emotionally
• How trauma shapes addiction
• The power of second chances
• What real accountability looks like

ABOUT KARYN WARD

Karyn Ward is the Director of Eau Claire Sober Living, where she leads multiple recovery homes focused on helping individuals rebuild their lives after addiction.

After spending years in addiction, prison, and losing everything, she turned her life around and now works on the front lines of recovery.

She is actively involved in sober living communities, public speaking, and is working toward becoming a substance abuse counselor.

Her mission is simple. Help people who are struggling find a path forward and build a life that does not fall apart again.

KARYN WARD LINKS

Website
https://www.ecsoberliving.com

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ecsoberliving

VIDEO CHAPTERS

00:00 Why You Need To Hear This
01:10 What Rock Bottom Really Looks Like
02:30 Meet Karyn Ward
04:00 Losing Everything Early In Life
08:00 Addiction And Entering The Drug World
12:00 Crime, Prison, And Survival
16:00 The Moment Everything Changed
20:00 Facing Consequences And Letting Go
24:00 Starting Recovery From Nothing
28:00 Building Trust And Structure
32:00 Why Men Struggle Emotionally
36:00 Recovery, Relapse, And Reality
40:00 Rebuilding A Life That Lasts
44:00 Final Thoughts

FOLLOW RAW MINDS

YouTube
https://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ci?si=GyaUB-JNhmxF-tv1

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcast

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcast

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qh/

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/3I7hBJgYDdS8UQpbMl9bdt

Email
rawmindspodcast@gmail.com

Website
www.rawminds.ca

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health addiction or suicidal thoughts reach out.

Canada Crisis Line
Call or text 988

You are not alone.

Nobody teaches you how to grieve.It just hits you.In this episode of Raw Minds, Erick sits down with Krista McDonald to break down what grief actually looks like and how people rebuild after loss.Most people are not prepared for death.Even less are prepared for what comes after.Krista has spent years working around death as an EMT and hospice nurse. She has seen what happens in the final moments and what families go through after.The problem is not death.The problem is there is no system for grief.This conversation gets into:Why grief feels overwhelmingWhat actually happens when someone diesWhy grief hits in wavesWhy people avoid dealing with itHow to process loss without shutting downWhat rebuilding your life actually looks likeIf you have ever lost someone or feel stuck after loss, this will hit.WHAT YOU WILL LEARNWhy most people are unprepared for griefWhat happens in the moment of deathWhy grief comes in wavesWhy people suppress emotionsHow to process grief in real timeHow to rebuild after lossWhy grief changes your identityHow to move forward without forgettingABOUT KRISTA MCDONALDKrista McDonald works in end of life care and grief support.She has experience as an EMT and hospice nurse and has helped people through both death and what comes after.Her focus is simple. Help people face loss, process it, and rebuild their life with awareness.KRISTA MCDONALD LINKSWebsitehttps://www.gledcommunity.comGLAAD LaunchJune 17Live Event and Book LaunchApril 14VIDEO CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction00:18 What Raw Minds is about00:50 The Legacy Method02:45 Meet Krista McDonald03:11 What GLAAD Community is04:14 Early exposure to death05:07 First experiences with loss08:01 Trauma and early life10:19 No system for grief12:02 EMT experiences13:26 PTSD and impact14:43 Hospice work18:33 Personal loss20:28 What happens when someone dies22:22 The moment of death24:14 Creating GLAAD25:30 How grief shows up27:37 Grief support systems28:34 Why men struggle with grief30:08 Why people delay change32:00 Presence and awareness34:29 Perspective on life and death37:02 Mindset and regret40:54 Understanding grief43:19 How grief evolves44:54 Processing emotions46:02 Avoidance of death48:20 Mental health and grief49:27 Turning pain into purpose50:08 Rebuilding after lossFOLLOW RAW MINDSYouTubehttps://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ciInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcastTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcastFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qh/Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2DTczix6Egs7fscQiqCpfaWebsitehttps://www.rawminds.caEmailrawmindspodcast@gmail.comIf you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, addiction, or suicidal thoughts, reach out.Canada Crisis LineCall or text 988You are not alone.