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Change can be scary. And in today’s world of ever-evolving language around gender and identity, it can make it hard for someone to ask questions without feeling judged or misunderstood. In today’s episode, host Calan Breckon opens up the conversation around navigating non-binary with genderqueer author Jason June and what his journey was like and how it now informs his work as a writer. Together they explore questions like… What is Non-Binary and what does it mean to be non-binary? What’s the most important thing people need to know about Non-binary and genderqueer people? Why do you think we’re experiencing more of a conversation around gender and gender identities in recent years? and much more! After this episode, you'll have a better understanding of the term Non-Binary and how you can navigate this ever-evolving and growing landscape around gender and identity. Watch this ep on YouTube About today’s Guest: Jason June (it's a two-name first name, like Mary-Kate without the hyphen or the Olsen twin) is a genderqueer writer mermaid who loves to create picture books that mix the flamboyantly whacky with the slightly dark, and young adult contemporary rom-coms full of love and lust and hijinks. When not writing, JJ zips about Austin, Texas. He loves dinosaurs, unicorns, Pomeranians, and anything magical that takes you to a different world or time. JJ is a tried and true Laura Dern stan, and he is actively looking for an Andalite friend. Connect with Jason June: Website: https://www.heyjasonjune.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyjasonjune/ Books: https://www.heyjasonjune.com/books.html - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take our "Building Better Relationships" course Take the Attachment Style Quiz! Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community

Spirituality is an umbrella term that means many different things to many people. In this episode, we’re revealing our own experience with spirituality and spiritual practices by exploring these questions:  What does spirituality mean to you? What in your life brought you to spirituality? What does your spiritual practice involve? Where can someone start if they want to develop a spiritual practice? Whether you’re spiritual or religious or neither, this episode will give you much to think about when it comes to nurturing that deeper connection to something greater. Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Toronto PRIDE EVENT Join the private Facebook community Take our "Building Better Relationships" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community

Guilt and shame are two of the most challenging emotions we encounter. For those who grew up with a religious or spiritual belief system, guilt and shame can have a uniquely traumatic impact on your sense of self and in your relationships. In this episode, host Michael DiIorio speaks with inter-faith community leader, Jeremy Russo, who has used his experience with spiritual abuse to become a leader in the queer community helping others overcoming their own spiritual and religious trauma. In this episode we cover: The similarities and differences between guilt and shame What is spiritual abuse and religious trauma The unique impact this has on queer people Resources and tips to help along your healing journey Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, this episode will help you better understand and navigate your way through guilt and shame. TODAY'S GUEST: Jeremy Russo of Emerge, an inter-faith and ecumenical space for the “nones and dones,” LGBTQIA+ people, women, people of color, individuals with different abilities, ex-vangelicals, and anyone who feels like their voice and spiritual journey was discouraged or silenced by institutional churches. Connect with Emerge on Facebook or Instagram Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Toronto PRIDE EVENT Join the private Facebook community Take our "Building Better Relationships" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community

Toxic positivity is the belief that people should maintain a positive mindset, no matter how challenging a situation may be.  This belief invalidates your authentic emotions and is a form of avoidance.  In this episode, we're sharing our own experiences and understanding of toxic positivity and we'll answer the questions: What are your thoughts on toxic positivity and the effects it has on silencing negative emotions and experiences? What’s been your experience with pushing away negative emotions and how did it affect your mental health? How have you learned to embrace all of your emotions and honour them in healthy ways? What tips or practices can someone try if they’re just learning to engage with their negative emotions? By the end of this episode, you'll have a deeper understanding of how toxic positivity may be showing up in your own life, and what you can do about it. Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Toronto PRIDE EVENT Join the private Facebook community Take our "Building Better Relationships" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community

Have you ever found yourself conflicted about being top, bottom or vers? Or maybe you find yourself torn between whether or not you want monogamy or non-monogamy... Sometimes we can see pros and cons on both sides of our inner conflicts and it paralyzes us from making decisions. Being conflicted about your desires is completely normal. In this episode, Matt Landsiedel and Miguel Ezra Ramirez talk about polarity in life and how to navigate contradictions, preferences and the duality of the human experience. As human beings, we can’t have sadness without knowing happiness, and we can’t understand clarity without first knowing confusion - this is polarity. We are all navigating ourselves and this world through our minds and our souls, and the polarity of this experience can be overwhelming for some people. We created this episode to guide you towards embracing more of who you are and what this universe has to offer you through learning to let go of preferences or attachments and embrace opposites. Come on this ride with us and you might learn something new about yourself.  Together they explore concepts like: What is dualism and polarity? Matt and Miguel's personal experiences with dualism and polarity How holding on too tightly to preferences might be inhibiting your growth How fear prevents us from being able to embrace opposites How can someone begin to embrace opposites? Connect with Miguel: @miguelramirezintuitive & www.miguelramirezintuitive.com Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take the "Healing Your Shame" course Take our "Building Better Relationships" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community!

While emotional health falls under the overall umbrella of mental health, it deserves its own conversation because your emotions have a profound impact on how you show up in the world and your overall quality of life. This episode will answer questions such as: What does it mean to be emotionally healthy? How can you tell when your emotional health may be suffering? How do you handle challenging emotions? What are some simple things you can do to support your emotional health? By the end of this episode, you'll be equipped with loads of useful tips and skills that will support your emotional health. Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Toronto PRIDE EVENT Join the private Facebook community Take our "Building Better Relationships" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States that affects an estimated 17.3 million adults and 3.2 million adolescents according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Research shows that gay and bisexual men are at a higher risk for: Major depression, Bipolar disorder, and, Generalized anxiety disorder, and are more likely than heterosexual men to attempt suicide. In today's episode, host Calan Breckon unpacks the heaviness around depression with guest and therapist, Jacob Monkarsh (LMFT & CGP). Together they explore questions like: What is depression and how does it affect a person? Is it possible for someone to be depressed without knowing it? What are the signs and symptoms someone should be aware of? What are the biggest triggers for gay men struggling with depression? How can someone currently struggling with depression work to get out of the cycle? How can people best support someone struggling with depression? During the episode, Jacob asked a very important question concerning gay men and our childhood experiences: "What happens when someone can't connect with themself?" and as children, we often can't connect with ourselves fully once we realize something is "different" about us and we begin hiding who we truly are, but is that creating disassociation within us and our community? Listen to his answer and more in today's episode. Guest: Jacob Monkarsh www.jacobmonkarsh.com LGBTQ Therapy Space Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take our "Building Better Relationships" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community! -— - Therapy Options - Inkblot Therapy - Canada Based Mind Beacon - Free Therapy for Ontario Residents Open Path - Affordable Options Psychology Today - search for clinicians that take insurance OR have sliding scales Good Therapy - Sliding Scale Therapists Try looking up local counselling centres like Southern California Counseling Center or the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

Each year, over 800,000 people die from suicide and it is the 2nd leading cause of death among 10-24 year olds. The LGBTQ community has a significantly increased risk and that’s why we’re dedicating an episode to having a candid conversation about suicide. In this episode, we’ll answer questions such as: How have you been impacted by suicide? What are some of the stigmas around suicide? What is your advice to someone who is feeling suicidal? As a community, how can we best support someone who is suicidal? If you are feeling suicidal please reach out for support:  Trevor project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/ Crisis Services Canada: https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/ Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: https://suicideprevention.ca/ Suicide and Language: https://www.suicideinfo.ca/resource/suicideandlanguage/ USA national suicide prevention hotline: 1.800.273.8255 Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take our "Building Better Relationships" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community

Your environment plays an important role in developing a strong identity and sense of self. Everything from the people you spend time with, where you get your news, and the social media accounts you follow will influence your sense of belonging in a community. In this episode, LGBTQ+ affirmative psychotherapist Justin Oberste joins host, Michael DiIorio to discuss mirroring: how we reflect back our lived experience with the world around us. Today’s episode will answer these questions: What is mirroring? How can this strengthen our sense of self? How does this impact our relationships? How can we use this to elevate the gay community as a whole? By the end of this episode, you’ll understand how developing a more conscious approach to your environmental influences can have a positive impact on your sense of self, relationships with others, and the greater community. For more info on today's guest, Justin Oberste, visit his website or find him on instagram @justinoberste. Today's host: Michael DiIorio Michael's Instagram: @wellismo_coach Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take the "Healing Your Shame" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community

Relationships can be a minefield to navigate when you don't have the right tools or language to help you. Whether it's romantic or platonic ones, we all could use a little more guidance and support with it comes to creating more secure, healthy relationships. In this episode, we're giving you a sneak peek into our exciting new course, Building Better Relationships, where we guide you on how to build better relationships in your life as well as deepen the one you have with yourself. Today we're sharing our personal experiences with the course content and how it helped us improve our own relationships. Join us as we discuss… Which of the course modules we have experienced the most growth personally? Which lessons are we currently working on now in our own lives? What was our favourite lesson to teach? What are the biggest benefits for students going through the Building Better Relationships course? By the end of this episode, you'll have a better understanding of what all relationships need in order to grow and deepen as well as our outline for the Building Better Relationships course. ► Want to go through the Building Better Relationships course LIVE with Michael and practice what you learn in a safe group of men also working through the course? Then Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community and sign up for the group cohort with Michael on the membership hub main page by May 4th!! ► SIGN UP HERE: www.GayMenGoingDeeper.com With membership, you'll also get access to our Healing Your Shame course, monthly group Zoom's, our private members-only Facebook group as well as 35+ coaching videos ready and waiting for you to dive in! Or, take our "Building Better Relationships" course at your own pace with our self-study option here: "Building Better Relationships" course (self-study) - Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Support the show on Patreon -—

In today’s episode, host Matt Landsiedel speaks with Nutrition Coach Scott Weisgarber about the relationship between fitness, nutrition and mental health. Together they explore questions like: What is the relationship between fitness, nutrition and mental health? How come gay men are so concerned about physical health and appearance? How does this obsession with appearance impact mental health? The difference between approaching health from feel good vs look good mentality How can we find more balance in our relationship between mind and body? Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take the "Healing Your Shame" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community!

Intimacy is defined as the feeling of mutual vulnerability and closeness in personal relationships.  In this episode of Gay Men Going Deeper, we’re talking about our unique experiences with intimacy as gay men. We’ll answer questions such as: What does intimacy mean to you? What was an intimate experience you’ve had that was not sexual?  What unique challenges do gay men face when it comes to intimacy? How can you nurture intimacy in any kind of relationship?  By the end of this episode, you’ll have a more in-depth understanding of the different types of intimacy and what it takes to enjoy deeper and more authentic connections with friends and loved ones. Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take the "Healing Your Shame" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community

Grief can be a hard experience to navigate because nothing can really prepare you for deep and emotional loss. It's something that everyone will have to experience at least a few times in their life and each person's experience with it is going to be different. In today’s episode, host Calan Breckon is joined by special guest Addison Brasil to talk about his journey with grief after the lose his brother to cancer, find his father from suicide and survive a fatal event that killed a dear friend and left him needing to relearn how to walk and deal with a brain injury. After 13 years in the grief arena, Addison has learned a thing or two about grief and shares what has helped him in his new book "First Year Of Grief Club: A Gift From A Friend Who Gets It." By the end of this episode, you should have at least a few more tools in your belt that can help you navigate grief whenever it might come up in your life. Guest: Addison Brasil Get the book - First Year of Grief Club : A Gift From A Friend Who Gets It @addisonbrasil / @sharemygriefclub on Instagram @thegriefguy on tiktok Facebook www.mygriefclub.com www.addisonbrasil.com Free messages to help you honour the journey: TEXT GRIEF CLUB to +1 (323) 431-9241 Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take the "Healing Your Shame" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community!

Relationships have a natural rhythm between feeling connected to your partner, and other times feeling disconnected from them. Each end of the spectrum can trigger different fears: the fear of being too close and/or the fear of abandonment. Understanding attachment styles helps you see how these fears show up in your relationships. In this episode, we're exploring our attachment styles and sharing ways we can find a greater sense of security in the naturals ebbs and flows of connection in relationships. We're answering questions such as: What attachment style(s) do you most relate to and why? What has prevented you from having secure relationships in the past? What does a secure relationship look like for you? What inner work have you done to have a more secure relationship style? Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take the "Healing Your Shame" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community

In this juicy and personal episode, Michael is letting you take a behind-the-scenes peek into his relationship with his partner, Star. While vacationing in Mexico, they are opening up about the lessons learned after one year together. Specifically, they're talking about relationship dynamics including conflict, intimacy, and communication.  They'll be answering questions such as: How have they grown over the last year? What have been their biggest challenges? How do they handle conflict?  What are some communication do's and don'ts?  This intimate and honest conversation between partners is full of tips and advice for couples and singles alike.  Referenced in today's show- Episode 20: Love, Intimacy, & Connection (behind the scenes of a modern gay relationship) Contact Info Michael DiIorio Star Semper ABCs of Connection Course Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take the "Healing Your Shame" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community

The painful sting of heartbreak is a uniquely awful experience that brings up a lot of our wounds around abandonment and rejection. In today's episode, we're getting raw and real about our heartbreak and breakups. We'll be answering questions such as: What was your hardest breakup and why? What do you need when you go through a breakup and how do you usually manage it? What have been some of the biggest life lessons you’ve learned through heartbreak? Looking back, what are you grateful for about your past dating experiences? Listen to this personal and poignant episode to learn how heartbreak can be a valuable part of your personal growth and development. Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take the "Healing Your Shame" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community

Sensitivity is one of the most misunderstood temperament traits due to toxic gender norms and stereotypes about masculinity and femininity. Come learn about the science of sensitivity and ditch the stigma you may have inherited about what it means to be a sensitive gay man. In today’s episode, host Matt Landsiedel unpacks all you need to know about sensitivity with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Chris Horan. Together they explore questions like: What does it mean to be sensitive? (the science and the stigma) What is a Highly Sensitive Person? Our sensitivity stories Unique challenges of being a sensitive man Why do gay men and HSP have such similar struggles? Challenges we face as sensitive people Benefits of being a sensitive person Take the HSP test to find out if you are a Highly Sensitive Person Join the next Authentic Relating & Empowerment (ARE) 8 week course Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take the "Healing Your Shame" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community!

Forgiveness is a necessary part of the healing process. When we are able to truly forgive others, we liberate ourselves from the pain of the experience so we can find peace and move on. But forgiveness isn't always easy In this episode, we're here to help you out by answering questions such as: Do you find it harder to forgive or to apologize? Can you truly ‘forgive and forget’? How can you tell if an apology is sincere? What advice do you have for people who have a hard time with forgiveness? Whether you're asking forgiveness or forgiving others, join us to learn how you can heal these emotional wounds and find peace within. Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take the "Healing Your Shame" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community

Therapy is crucial for our mental health, yet some people still look at it as unobtainable due to financial struggle. There are also still myths around Therapy that say you’re weak if you need to go, you’re less of a man if you want to talk about your emotions, and that Therapy is only for “other people who are broken.” In today’s episode, host Calan Breckon unpacks all you need to know about Therapy with licensed marriage and family Therapist, Jake Myers, who’s also founder and CEO of LGBTQ Therapy Space and writes a regular column for Queerty.com. Together they explore questions like: Why is it important LGBTQ+ peoples have access to specialize therapists from the community? What are some of the old myths about therapy that just aren’t true? How long does someone usually go to therapy? Where can someone find funding or support if they don’t have the means right now to cover the costs of Therapy? By the end of this episode, you’ll have broken down the myths about Therapy and you’ll have the knowledge on how to start (or continue) your own Therapy journey. Guest: Jake Myers LGBTQ Therapy Space Instagram Facebook Twitter Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take the "Healing Your Shame" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community! -— - Therapy Options - Inkblot Therapy - Canada Based Mind Beacon - Free Therapy for Ontario Residents Open Path - Affordable Options Psychology Today - search for clinicians that take insurance OR have sliding scales

Whether we're aware of it or not, we all have an inner victim within us that needs to be acknowledged. Processing this can be uncomfortable and triggering, but it is necessary in order to grow and evolve beyond it. In this episode, we're talking about victimhood both at the macro level as queer people, right down to the micro level as individuals. We are answering questions such as: How have we been victimized as gay men? What impact do you see in our community from this victimization? What is your personal experience with victimhood?  How have you moved through victimhood?  What advice can you offer people who may be stuck in victimhood? By the end of this episode, you'll have a better understanding of how victimhood is showing up in your life and how you can take the first steps to move through it. Watch this ep on YouTube - Connect with us - Join the private Facebook community Take the "Healing Your Shame" course Instagram GayMenGoingDeeper.com Patreon -— Join the Gay Men Going Deeper Membership coaching community! Inkblot Therapy LGBTQ Therapy Space Mind Beacon (Free Therapy for Ontario Residents)