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Dad Starting Over

Dad Starting Over

286 episodes — Page 1 of 6

"I Didn't Have A Self" | An Avoidant Wife Explains What Broke

Aug 24, 202648 min

Sexless Marriage… She Says She Doesn't Feel "Safe" With You

Aug 21, 202615 min

Sexless Marriage... How Long Will You Wait For Her To Change?

Aug 14, 202613 min

She Wasn't Born Cold: Where Your Wife's Avoidance Really Comes From | Ralph & Cassie.

Aug 11, 202650 min

Sexless Marriage… She Told Me To "Get It Somewhere Else" — Then Got Mad When I Started Looking

Aug 7, 202616 min

Why Women Emasculate Men — and Why You Must NEVER Cave | Alison Armstrong Interview

Aug 3, 202657 min

Sexless Marriage... So I Stopped Initiating. She Didn't Notice.

Jul 31, 202616 min

"I Love You. I Just Can't Be What You Need." | A Live Chat with Attachment Expert Cassie N.

Jul 29, 202655 min

Chat LIVE with Ralph & Laura How: Attachment, Monogamy & Why Nobody Grows Up Anymore

Jul 27, 202658 min

Sexless Marriage: She Takes Care of Herself But Won't Touch Me

Jul 24, 202614 min

Taking Your Dead Bedroom Questions LIVE: 10-Year Droughts, Avoidant Wives & Why Ultimatums Work

Jul 21, 202648 min

She Called Me a Narcissist for Leaving. Was She Right?

Jul 17, 202614 min

Sexless Marriage... She Stopped Hugging Me Too

Jul 10, 202619 min

Sexless Marriage… She Cried and Said She Didn't Want to Lose Us. Two Weeks Later Nothing Changed.

Jul 3, 202615 min

Sexless Marriage… She Finally Agreed to Counseling. Then Used It Against Me.

Jun 26, 202614 min

Divorce Truths Men Need to Hear (Before It’s Too Late) - With Karen McMahon (Journey Beyond Divorce)

Jun 23, 202648 min

Sexless Marriage… She Says No Sex After Menopause Is Completely Normal

Jun 19, 202614 min

She Was Different Before Kids — What Actually Happened to Your Wife

Jun 12, 202630 min

Sexless Marriage… I Told Her It Was Over If Nothing Changed. She Laughed.

Jun 5, 202615 min

Sexless Marriage… Now She’s Always Going Out

May 29, 20268 min

Sexless Marriage: She Was Different With Him

May 22, 202610 min

Sexless Marriage… Wait, is My Wife Gay?!

May 15, 202611 min

Sexless Marriage… Then I Saw the Text Messages

May 8, 202614 min

Why Women Remember Everything

May 1, 202611 min

Sexless Marriage… Now She Wants an Open Marriage

Apr 24, 202618 min

Sexless Marriage for Years… Now She Doesn’t Want to Be Touched

Apr 17, 202615 min

Patriarchy Explained Without the Nonsense

Apr 10, 202610 min

Ep 372Sexless Marriage: “I Love You… But I’m Not In Love With You”

A 47-year-old husband wrote to me after 17 years of marriage.No big fights.No confirmed cheating.Just slow emotional drift.Then one day she said:“I love you… but I’m not in love with you.”Their marriage isn’t completely dead — but it’s nearly sexless. Rare intimacy. No initiation. No spark.I break down:• What that phrase usually really means• Why sexless marriages often slide into “roommate mode”• The role of new relationship energy• Why becoming “safer” makes things worse• What a man must do if there’s any real chance of rebuilding desireThis is not about blaming women.It’s about understanding the dynamic clearly.If you’re in a sexless marriage or feel like your wife is emotionally drifting away, watch this all the way through.Start with The Dead Bedroom Fix:https://deadbedroomfix.comIf you need grounded support from men who’ve been through this and won’t let you spiral, join the Brotherhood:https://helpformen.com/joinYou don’t want 20 years of polite indifference.You want to be chosen.

Apr 3, 202612 min

Ep 371High-Conflict Divorce: What Men Get Wrong (w/ Chris and Lisa from "Been There, Got Out")

Divorce isn’t just emotional — it can turn into psychological warfare.In this livestream, I sit down with Chris and Lisa from Been There Got Out, two of the most experienced voices I’ve spoken with on high-conflict divorce, legal abuse, and custody battles.We dig into:Why “being a good guy” often backfires in family courtHow false allegations gain traction (and why men are especially vulnerable)The biggest mistakes men make when communicating with their exWhy courts reward cooperation — even when the other side is acting insaneParallel parenting vs co-parenting (and what NOT to call it in court)How manipulators weaponize kids, restraining orders, and the legal systemWhat to do if you’re terrified of custody evaluations or taking the standChris and Lisa don’t deal in theory. They deal with the worst cases — the ones that never “cool off” and never resolve on their own.If you’re in a contentious divorce, haven’t seen your kids, or feel like the system is stacked against you, this conversation will give you clarity, grounding, and practical direction.👉 Learn more about Chris and Lisa’s work at https://beentheregotout.com👉 Join my men’s support community at https://helpformen.com/joinThis is one of those conversations every man should hear before things get ugly.

Mar 27, 20261h 8m

Ep 370When Trauma Destroys Everything

How does someone hold their life together at a high level for years — career, marriage, kids — and then suddenly blow it all up?I read a message from a follower whose wife unraveled after the death of her father. What followed was extreme weight loss, heavy drinking, multiple affairs, disappearing for days at a time, and eventually abandoning her family.I don’t interrupt the story. I read it straight through — then I explain what’s actually going on beneath the surface.We talk about unresolved childhood trauma, avoidant attachment, high-achievers who outrun their pain, and why some people seem to “change overnight” when their emotional scaffolding collapses.If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t recognize her anymore,” this video will help you understand what you’re seeing — and what it means for you going forward.I also talk about these dynamics in my book REBUILD – The Complete Guide to Starting Over as a Man, and inside the Help For Men Brotherhood, where men work through this kind of fallout together instead of carrying it alone.🔗 Join the Brotherhood: https://helpformen.com/join 📘 Learn more about REBUILD: https://readrebuild.com

Mar 20, 202614 min

Ep 368Why Marriages Drift Into “Kids Only” Mode

Most marriages don’t blow up overnight.They drift.They drift from us… to the family… and eventually to two exhausted roommates running a daycare.Once kids enter the picture, something subtle but dangerous often happens: the couple stops being the center of the relationship. Not out of malice. Not because anyone planned it. It just happens.And in most marriages, if nobody actively protects the couple, the marriage slowly disintegrates.From what I see, this responsibility usually falls on the man — and when he pushes for dates, intimacy, boundaries, or adult connection, he’s often shamed for it.I break down:Why marriages predictably shift into “kids first, marriage last”Why this creates dead bedrooms and quiet resentmentWhy men get labeled selfish for trying to fix itAnd why a strong marriage actually serves kids better than a child-centered oneIf this topic hits home, you’ll want to check out my book The Dead Bedroom Fix and the Help For Men Brotherhood — where guys are having these conversations honestly, without being shamed.👉 Join the Brotherhood: https://helpformen.com/join

Mar 13, 202610 min

Ep 367Why Age Gaps Suddenly Became Creepy

For most of human history, age differences in couples weren’t controversial at all.Now they’re treated like a moral crisis.So what changed?I break down the actual historical reality of age gaps, why people now claim they were “rare,” and why that argument doesn’t hold up when you look closely.We’ll talk about:How marriage actually worked for most of historyWhy peasant data gets misusedWhy remarriage matters (and gets ignored)The “elite-only” argument — and where it falls apartHow modern power-based thinking reframed dating and relationshipsAnd why women’s agency is often defended by quietly taking it awayThis isn’t about encouraging or condemning age-gap relationships.It’s about understanding why something that was once normal is now treated as suspect — and how that shift affects modern men navigating dating and relationships.If you’re confused by modern dating rules, you’re not broken. The rules changed.I see this confusion every day inside the Help For Men Brotherhood — men trying to make sense of relationships without losing their backbone or their sanity.If this video resonates, check out my book REBUILD and the Brotherhood at 👉 https://helpformen.com/join

Mar 6, 202611 min

Ep 366When Vulnerability Ends a Marriage

I got an email from a guy that perfectly captures a pattern I see over and over again.An anxious man.An avoidant wife.Years of emotional distance.One final attempt to “do the healthy thing” and open up…And then everything collapses.I break down:Why vulnerability isn’t the problem — but timing and containment matterHow passivity slowly kills attraction in long-term relationshipsThe anxious/avoidant dynamic so many men get trapped inWhy some divorces turn cold, transactional, and threatening overnightWhat men should focus on after the marriage ends instead of chasing closureIf you’re in a dead bedroom, walking on eggshells, or afraid to say the wrong thing in your own marriage, this video will probably feel uncomfortably familiar.I also talk about how men rebuild after this kind of emotional and financial hit, drawing from my book REBUILD – The Complete Guide to Starting Over as a Man, and why having other men around you — like inside the Help For Men Brotherhood — matters more than most guys want to admit.You’re not broken.You’re not alone.But passivity has a cost — and eventually, it comes due.

Feb 27, 202613 min

Ep 364How Men Drift Into Sexless Marriages

I want to read you a short email from a married man in a dead bedroom.There’s no cheating.No screaming fights.No dramatic collapse.Just a quiet decision to stop bringing it up.I break down how a lot of men end up in sexless marriages not because they chose them — but because they slowly became passive. They stopped rocking the boat. They stopped advocating for themselves. They let things happen instead of taking control.We’ll talk about:Why men confuse passivity with patienceHow avoiding conflict slowly erodes self-respectWhy guilt replaces desire in long-term relationshipsHow silence becomes the unspoken agreementAnd why wanting intimacy doesn’t make you selfishThis isn’t about demanding sex or blaming your partner. It’s about agency — and what happens when a man quietly gives it up.If you’ve ever felt like your relationship just drifted into something you didn’t choose, this one will probably hit close to home.Join the Brotherhood! https://helpformen.com/join

Feb 20, 202610 min

Ep 365The Real Reason Nothing You Try Ever Sticks

Most men don’t feel like their life is falling apart.It just feels… off.Not bad enough to force change.Not good enough to feel proud of.So they try new routines, new habits, new motivation — and nothing sticks.I break down why that happens and what actually causes men to stay stuck for years without realizing it. This isn’t about discipline, hustle, or grinding harder. It’s about structure, identity, and the quiet patterns that keep pulling you back to the same place.If you’ve felt frustrated by starting strong and slowly drifting back, this video will probably hit close to home.If you want support applying this kind of work in real life — with other men dealing with marriage problems, divorce, rebuilding, and direction — the Help For Men Brotherhood exists for that: https://helpformen.com/joinAnd if you’re in a rebuilding phase after a major life shake-up, my book REBUILD – The Complete Guide to Starting Over as a Man was written specifically for that chapter.This isn’t about reinventing yourself. It’s about choosing a direction you can actually live with.

Feb 20, 20269 min

Ep 363Why Doing Everything Right Fails

A lot of men reach a point where they say something quietly and honestly:“I did everything right… and it still fell apart.”I hear this all the time from men who showed up, stayed loyal, worked on themselves, went to therapy, avoided conflict, and tried to be good partners.And yet the relationship still deteriorated.The attraction faded.The resentment crept in.I explain why “doing everything right” often becomes the problem.We’ll talk about:How being patient, understanding, and accommodating can slowly erase youWhy avoiding conflict kills attraction and self-respectHow over-functioning turns good men into manageable menWhy some men work on themselves and suddenly see the relationship clearlyAnd why doing the right thing doesn’t always mean doing the healthy thingThis isn’t about blaming women.And it’s not about becoming cold or selfish.It’s about understanding how self-abandonment sneaks into long-term relationships — and why some men outgrow a relationship the moment they stop disappearing.If you’ve ever felt exhausted, resentful, or confused about how things still went wrong, this one will probably hit close to home.Join us! https://helpformen.com/join

Feb 13, 202610 min

Ep 362Why Your Marriage Became Sexless

Most men in sexless marriages did exactly what they were told to do.They opened up more.They communicated better.They became more emotionally available.They went to therapy.And somehow, the sex life didn’t come back.In many cases, it disappeared completely.In this episode, I explain why that happens — especially when you’re married to a dismissive-avoidant partner.We’ll talk about:Why “more emotional connection” can actually create less attractionHow anxious and avoidant attachment styles quietly kill desireWhy many men work on themselves and then realize the relationship itself isn’t healthyWhy dismissive-avoidant partners often resist getting helpAnd why effort and effectiveness are not the same thing in long-term relationshipsThis isn’t about blaming women.It’s about understanding dynamics most men were never taught — and why doing everything “right” can still lead to a sexless marriage.If you’re confused, frustrated, or starting to question your relationship, this conversation will likely hit close to home. Check out my book! https://deadbedroomfix.comJoin the Brotherhood! https://helpformen.com/join

Feb 6, 202612 min

Ep 361Why Men Believe Women Cheat More

A lot of men end up believing things like “women cheat more,” “women want sex more than men,” or “most women cheat”.Those beliefs don’t usually come from careful analysis.They come from pain.I break down why these stories feel so convincing — especially for analytical, system-oriented, and neurodivergent men — and why certainty often feels safer than ambiguity after betrayal, dead bedrooms, and relationship failure.We’ll talk about:why men gravitate toward black-and-white explanationshow hidden-truth and conspiracy-style thinking sneaks into relationship beliefswhat the data actually says about libido differenceswhat long-running surveys show about infidelitywhy “women just lie on surveys” isn’t the argument people think it isand why flattening an entire sex into a slogan quietly keeps men stuckThis isn’t about defending women or blaming men.It’s about understanding how the male brain copes with uncertainty — and why rigid, comforting stories often cost you more than they protect you.

Jan 30, 202615 min

Ep 369My Live Chat with Melissa Vogel

In this episode, I sit down with Melissa Vogel — fitness and mindset coach, podcast host, and a woman who’s been through divorce herself — for one of the most honest conversations I’ve had about modern relationships.We talk about what really happens to marriages after kids arrive, why men and women slowly disconnect without realizing it, and how good people end up emotionally checked out years before divorce ever happens.Melissa opens up about her own marriage, why she drifted away emotionally long before it ended, and what she wishes someone had told her when she was younger. We get into attachment styles, masculine and feminine polarity, why accountability is so rare, and why “love” alone doesn’t save a relationship.We also tackle the uncomfortable topics most people avoid:Why attraction fadesWhy fitness and self-respect matter more than people admit Why men and women cheat for very different reasonsWhy second marriages fail so oftenAnd why many couples quietly become roommates instead of loversThis is the kind of conversation every couple should hear — especially before things break beyond repair.If you’re married, divorced, dating, or starting over as a man, this one will hit home.Join the HFM Brotherhood!

Jan 27, 20261h 21m

Ep 359Typical "Nice Guy" Behavior

A lot of men don’t realize they’re codependent.They just think they’re being “good husbands,” “nice guys,” or “doing the right thing.”I break down the real, everyday behaviors that point to codependency in men—especially how it shows up in relationships, dead bedrooms, anxious attachment, and emotional burnout.This isn’t about shaming men. It’s about recognizing patterns that quietly destroy attraction, confidence, and self-respect.If you:Walk on eggshells in your relationshipFeel responsible for your partner’s emotionsTie your self-worth to her mood, approval, or sexual interestOr feel like you’re slowly disappearing inside your own relationshipThis video is for you.I’ll explain why these behaviors develop, why they feel “right” in the moment, and why they usually lead to less intimacy—not more.If you want deeper conversations like this with other men who actually get it, check out the Brotherhood at https://helpformen.com/join

Jan 23, 20267 min

Ep 360Your Avoidant Wife Had an Affair (Here’s Why)

For an anxious guy, nothing is more confusing than discovering that your avoidant, seemingly asexual wife was having an affair.No touching. No sex. Years of rejection.And yet… she was sleeping with someone else.I break down a real message from a man in a long-term dead bedroom who discovered his dismissive-avoidant wife had been cheating for years. We dig into anxious vs. avoidant attachment, why this dynamic is so common, and why the affair usually has nothing to do with you lacking masculinity, confidence, or sexual value.If you’ve ever wondered:“How could she want sex with him but not me?”“What does an avoidant partner actually want?”“Why counseling never seems to work with avoidant spouses?”“Was I just too needy or anxious?”…this video will make things click.We’ll also talk about:Why “new” always beats “safe”Why anxious partners are usually the only ones willing to do the workWhy avoidant people struggle in long-term monogamyAnd why this pattern tends to repeat itself again and againIf you’re dealing with a dead bedroom, infidelity, or the anxious–avoidant trap, you’re not alone.👉 Join the Brotherhood: https://helpformen.com/join Private forums, live Zoom calls, all my books, over 1,400 hours of member-only audio, and real conversations with men who’ve been there.

Jan 16, 202612 min

Ep 357She Says She’s “Touched Out”… Except With Him

In today’s episode, I read an email from a husband living one of the most brutal modern realities: his wife says she’s “touched out” and has no energy for intimacy… yet somehow has unlimited emotional energy for another man at the gym.This is the pattern I see over and over in dead bedrooms:She didn’t lose desire.She redirected it.If you're a man dealing with a sexless marriage, emotional disconnect, or a wife who has checked out but won’t leave — this one’s going to hit hard.Grab my book The Dead Bedroom Fix: https://deadbedroomfix.comJoin The Brotherhood here: https://helpformen.com/join

Jan 9, 202612 min

Ep 356The Care & Feeding of Your Anxious Husband

Today we’re talking about something that a lot of men won’t admit, but a lot of women quietly suffer through: living with an anxious husband. And yes, I’m going to make fun of us a little.This video is a tongue-in-cheek “instruction manual” for how to care for the anxious, approval-seeking, reassurance-addicted man. The guy who needs constant validation, panics at every text message pause, reads every word you say like a legal document, and assumes you’re leaving him if you’re quiet for more than 30 seconds.It’s funny… but it’s also painfully accurate.The point of this episode isn’t to shame anxious guys. It’s to shine a big bright spotlight on the behaviors that slowly choke the life out of a relationship. And more importantly, to show that these patterns aren’t permanent. You can fix this. You can rebuild your confidence, your identity, and your internal leadership as a man.If this video hits a little close to home, that’s good. It means you’re ready for change.📘 Read my book, REBUILD – The Complete Guide to Starting Over as a Man: https://readrebuild.com👥 Join The Brotherhood – live meetings every week, private discussion forums, over 1,300 hours of audio content, coaching, and support from men all around the world: https://helpformen.com/join

Jan 2, 20267 min

Ep 355Rejection Sensitivity: Why You Overthink Everything

Rejection hits some men harder than others. For a lot of guys, it’s not just discomfort—it feels like danger. One cold look from your wife. One delayed text. One “Can we talk later?” from your boss. Suddenly you’re spiraling, apologizing, chasing, overreacting, or completely shutting down.This isn’t weakness. It isn’t you being dramatic.It’s rejection sensitivity—and most men who grew up in chaotic, unpredictable, or emotionally unstable homes are living with it without ever knowing what it’s called.In this episode, I'll break down:— Why some men live relationships on “hard mode” — How your childhood wired your brain to scan for danger — Why neutral things feel like personal attacks — Why you over-apologize, over-explain, and overreact — How rejection sensitivity contributes to sexless marriages — Why anxious men attract avoidant or narcissistic partners — And, most importantly, what you can do to rewire thisIf you’re neurodivergent (ADHD, autism, etc.), this is going to make even more sense. RSD (rejection sensitive dysphoria) is something I see constantly in men in my audience and inside The Brotherhood.You’re not broken. You’re trained. And you can retrain yourself.If you want deeper work on this, my book REBUILD and our Brotherhood community are powerful tools to help you break out of this pattern and build confidence, boundaries, and emotional stability.► Get my book REBUILD on Amazon (hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook for members): https://a.co/d/e6KBqYE► Join The Brotherhood – private men’s community, daily Zoom groups, 1,300+ hours of audio, coaching, and more: https://helpformen.com/join

Dec 26, 202516 min

Ep 351It’s Not Fair — I Did Everything Right!

A lot of men struggle with the realization that they don’t actually have full control over how life or their marriage turns out. You can do everything “right”—be faithful, provide, stay fit, treat her well—and still end up rejected, divorced, or alone.In this episode, I talk about why that happens, and why it’s not a sign that you failed. Life isn’t fair… and that includes relationships. I also share a real message from a man dealing with a sexless, disconnected marriage due to his wife’s ADHD and perimenopause, and we unpack what’s really going on beneath the surface.If this hits close to home, you’re not alone. Join The Brotherhood — a private support community for men struggling in marriage, divorce, or dating after divorce. 👉 https://helpformen.com/join

Dec 19, 202516 min

Ep 358REBUILD is now available in audiobook format! (here's a free sample)

"REBUILD: The Complete Guide to Starting Over as a Man" is now available in audiobook format! Here is a quick sample for you to enjoy. Want to hear more? Check out the links below:Amazon: https://a.co/d/0k5nxmvAudible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0G75ZH84YApple: https://apple.co/45eKbNh

Dec 16, 20255 min

Ep 353Why Women Had More Sex Under Socialism

I recently read a New York Times article claiming that women under socialism had more sex and better orgasms than women in capitalist Western countries. Sounds wild, right?But when you dig deeper, the real message is actually something I talk about all the time:Women shut down sexually when their lives are full of stress, chaos, financial pressure, and mental overload.This has nothing to do with politics — and everything to do with the realities couples face today.If you need a deeper dive into this, grab my book The Dead Bedroom Fix — and if you’re ready to actually change your life, join The Brotherhood at https://helpformen.com/join

Dec 12, 202510 min

Ep 352Stop Forcing Closeness – How Anxious Men Kill Intimacy

If you lean anxious in relationships, this one’s for you.I see it all the time—guys who crave closeness so much that they choke the relationship. You text too much, talk too much, try too hard to keep things “good.” But that desperate energy ends up pushing her away.I’ll show you what’s really happening under the surface—why your attachment system freaks out when she pulls away, and how to stop feeding that panic. You’ll learn how to regulate yourself, stop chasing reassurance, and build the kind of calm confidence that actually creates attraction.If you want more depth, grab my book The Dead Bedroom Fix or check out The Brotherhood, our private men’s community with live meetings, courses, and 1,000+ hours of member-only content: 👉 https://helpformen.com/join 👉 https://deadbedroomfix.com

Dec 5, 202516 min

Ep 354Andrew Wilson’s Meltdown Caught Live

Today we’re digging into something wild: how a guy who talks about masculinity, strength, and “doing it right” completely lost his cool when his own story was challenged. That guy is Andrew Wilson.If you’re rebuilding your life, your identity, or trying to walk the line of integrity after a setback—I promise you: this matters.We’ll cover:Who Andrew Wilson is and what he representsThe “rulebook” many men in the debate/manosphere space are handed (never date a single mom, don’t be a step-dad)The viral meltdown: what triggered it, what it revealsAnd most importantly: the real takeaways for you, the man rebuilding (not just surviving)My latest book: https://readrebuild.com🌐The HFM Brotherhood (private group for men only): https://helpformen.com/join

Nov 28, 202515 min

Ep 350Why You Feel So Needy (And How to Stop)

Let’s talk about neediness — what it really is, where it comes from, and how to stop letting it ruin your relationships.Neediness isn’t about “having needs.” It’s about trying to make one specific person fix your emotional state on demand. That’s not love — that’s panic.I’ll walk you through what’s actually happening inside your nervous system when you feel desperate for someone’s attention or affection… and how to train yourself to stay calm, confident, and grounded instead.We’ll cover:The difference between connection and controlHow “emotional hunger” tricks you into chasing validationThe 90-second anti-neediness drill you can do anytimeWhy secure men build multiple emotional pillarsHow to stop confusing gratitude with entitlementAnd why self-respect kills desperationIf this one hits home, grab a copy of my book REBUILD – The Complete Guide to Starting Over as a Man at https://readrebuild.com, and join our Brotherhood of men doing this work together at https://helpformen.com/join.

Nov 21, 20259 min