The Man Space Podcast

Burnout isn't just "being tired" anymore — it's reshaping the entire American workforce, and this episode breaks down exactly why. Russ and Lex kick things off with a wild AC repair horror story (miswired capacitors, $60K financing traps, and home warranty nightmares) before diving deep into the real topic: workplace burnout, corporate loyalty, and why so many employees feel stuck.
Pulling from reports by AFLAC and Glassdoor, the guys unpack why burnout is at a seven-year high, why workers are too mentally drained to even job hunt, and why companies prioritize profits over people. They share personal stories about corporate America, golden handcuffs, and the pressure of staying in high-paying jobs even when you're exhausted. Plus, expert clips from Janai Norman and Dr. Nekisha Hammond deliver practical, science-backed tips for preventing burnout — including the simple "take a minute" method anyone can use.
Key Takeaways:
Burnout mentions rose 65% year-over-year, with nearly 3 in 4 U.S. employees facing moderate to high work stress
Setting boundaries (like separating work and personal phones) is one of the most effective burnout preventions
Small daily resets — even just 60 seconds — can retrain your brain and body to slow down
Corporate loyalty often doesn't pay off anymore — salary compression and job market saturation make switching careers risky
Rest isn't laziness: recovery starts with acknowledging burnout instead of pushing through it
 
Call-to-Action: Feeling burnt out? Hit subscribe and drop a comment telling us how YOU set boundaries at work. Catch new episodes every Monday at 8 PM ET on WTMSTV.com — two days before they drop everywhere else!

Man vs Living with Mental Illness: Dave Mowry on Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety and Healing With Humor
What happens when life takes everything from you, and you find your way back through laughter? In this powerful episode of The Man Space Podcast, Russ sits down with comedian, author, and mental health advocate Dave Mowry to explore bipolar disorder, severe anxiety, recovery, and the unexpected healing power of humor.
Dave shares his deeply personal journey from successful businessman to experiencing a mental health breakdown, losing his businesses, becoming homeless, and spending years unable to work or interact socially. He also explains how stand-up comedy became a turning point, helping him transform painful experiences into laughter and giving others living with mental illness a way to feel seen and understood.
From managing bipolar disorder and anxiety to finding purpose through comedy, Dave offers an honest, inspiring conversation about resilience, mental health awareness, and discovering hope in dark moments.
Key Takeaways:
How bipolar disorder and severe anxiety impacted Dave’s life and recoveryWhy humor can help people process difficult experiences and feel less aloneHow stand-up comedy helped Dave rebuild confidence and purposeThe importance of medication, sleep, self-care, and a strong support systemWhy mental illness is not a moral failing, and people experiencing it deserve understanding
Watch the full episode, subscribe to The Man Space Podcast, and share this conversation with someone who needs a reminder that they are not alone.

What happens when the career that defined you suddenly ends? Whether retirement is planned or forced, stepping into life after work can bring uncertainty, financial concerns, and a deeper question: Who am I without my job title?
In this episode of the Man Space Podcast, Russ sits down with coach, speaker, author, and former financial planner Michael F. Kay to explore how men can navigate career transition, retirement, reinvention, and the search for purpose in their next chapter. Michael shares insights from his own transition out of a decades-long career and explains why life after work should be viewed not as an ending, but as an opportunity to explore what comes next.
The conversation covers financial preparedness, managing risk, overcoming fear of judgment, redefining success, building relationships and community, and creating an identity beyond your professional title. Michael also explains his “Chapter X” philosophy and why there is no one-size-fits-all blueprint for life after career.
Key takeaways:
How to turn forced retirement or career disruption into a new opportunityWhy your job title is not your identityPractical ways to prepare financially for unexpected career changesHow curiosity, experimentation, and failure can help you reinvent yourselfWhy purpose, relationships, gratitude, and contribution matter in your next chapter
Listen now, share the episode with someone navigating a major life transition, and start thinking about what your own Chapter X could look like.

What if the thing you were told was "wrong" with you turned out to be your greatest advantage? In this episode of The Man Space Podcast, Russ and Les sit down with high-performance coach Willie Blake, who was diagnosed with dyslexia in the first grade and spent years hiding, faking, and outrunning it—until he decided to lead with it instead.
Willie opens up about growing up neurodivergent, battling comparison and self-doubt, and the exact moment he stopped seeing dyslexia as a limitation and started seeing it as a superpower. The conversation dives deep into mindset, personal growth, and practical frameworks for building unstoppable momentum—including his signature 2% Rule and GPS Goal Method for turning big, overwhelming goals into daily, actionable steps.
Whether you're dealing with a learning difference, feeling stuck in comparison mode, or just need a push to get out of "park" and into motion, this episode delivers real talk, tough love, and hard-won wisdom on confidence, consistency, and self-belief.
Key Takeaways:
Reframe your "weakness" — dyslexia (and other challenges) can come with hidden strengths like creativity, pattern recognition, and empathy
The 2% Rule: consistent small daily actions beat overwhelming, all-or-nothing goals
The GPS Goal Method: Get clear, Plan the route (reverse-engineer from the end goal), Start moving
You're not behind — you're just still in park; motion, not motivation, is what gets you unstuck
Stop comparing your worst chapters to everyone else's highlight reel
Call-to-Action: Ready to stop feeling stuck and start moving toward your goals? Listen now, then head to coachwillieblake.com to grab Willie's free e-book, "Break Free," and discover the 12 limitations holding you back—and how to shatter them.

What if the biggest battle you fight isn't overseas, but the one against your own comfort zone? On this episode of The Man Space Podcast, hosts Russ and Less sit down with Ben Fudge — former Army Ranger, four-time combat veteran, and head coach at Trevor Kashey Nutrition — for a raw conversation about the gap between the life men build and the health they neglect while building it.
Ben opens up about trading a finance career for the Ranger Regiment, the mental toll of coming home from deployment, and how he turned military discipline into a coaching philosophy centered on "cognitive nutrition" — training the mind first so the body follows. The conversation dives deep into today's most talked-about weight loss trend, GLP-1 medications, covering how they work, the risks of misuse, and why they should be treated as a tool, not a shortcut. Ben also breaks down why crash diets fail, why "12 weeks to a new you" is the wrong mindset, and how sustainable men's health comes down to skill-building, not willpower.
This episode is packed with real talk on veteran mental health, nutrition coaching, and building a life on purpose — with purpose.
Key Takeaways:
GLP-1 medications can be a helpful tool, but only alongside proper protein intake and resistance training — not as a replacement for nutrition fundamentals
"Cognitive nutrition" means treating food decisions as a behavioral and emotional skill, not just a calorie count
Crash diets fail because they train for a 12-week sprint instead of building lifelong habits
Veterans often struggle most not in combat, but in reintegrating — community and open conversation matter
Motivation fades; discipline and purpose are what actually change lives
Visit https://trevorkasheynutrition.com/ to start your journey — and don't forget to grab Russ & Less: Freshman Year, available now on Amazon

What does real commitment actually look like when life gets hard? In this heartfelt and often hilarious episode of the Man Space Podcast, Russ and Less move from lighthearted conversations about sports, funny everyday mishaps, and aging to a powerful discussion about marriage, caregiving, and what it truly means to love someone through life's toughest seasons.
The conversation explores the realities of caring for a spouse during illness, why so many men struggle to ask for help, and how military experiences, pride, and independence shape the way men approach vulnerability. Along the way, the hosts share personal stories, plenty of laughs, and a meaningful reminder that growth often begins by taking a chance, even when the outcome is uncertain.
Key takeaways:
Why true love is revealed through sacrifice, caregiving, and commitmentThe hidden challenges men face when asking for help or showing vulnerabilityHow life experiences shape resilience and relationshipsWhy taking risks is essential for personal growth and successPractical inspiration to stop waiting for the "perfect" moment
If this episode resonates with you, subscribe to the Man Space Podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a reminder that courage, love, and growth often begin with one simple decision: take the chance.
 

On this episode of The Man Space, hosts Russ and Les welcome author John David to discuss his LeMaster Files series, including his new novel The Pawn and the journey from book one to book three.The conversation covers John’s writing process, plot ideas and rewrites, publishing life, opinions on trends like man-purses and AI in writing, and what readers can expect next in the series.

Season 7 is HERE — and we're coming in with a major announcement. After a year of late nights and quiet sacrifice, host Russ drops a bombshell that's been years in the making: the Russ and Less: Freshman Year novel is officially on the way. This premiere episode is part celebration, part real talk, and all Man Space.Russ and Less kick off the new season by honoring the journey — sharing the divine signs and unexpected confirmations that kept the book moving forward, reflecting on seven years of brotherhood that built this show, and getting into a hilariously honest debate about men and man purses (sling bags, messenger bags, fanny packs — nothing is off limits).They close things out with a powerful message about seasons of life: growth, struggle, waiting, and harvest — and why where you are right now is exactly where you need to be.Key Takeaways:
📖 Russ and Less: Freshman Year is coming — a YA novel built from real friendship and real stories🙏 Divine confirmation shows up in unexpected ways — learn to recognize the signs🤝 Real brotherhood means having hard conversations and giving people their flowers💬 Men need spaces to talk to each other, not just at each other🌱 Every season of life has a purpose — even the hard ones are growing you

What happens when society decides you're expendable the moment you turn 22? Author T.A. Thompson joins the Man Space Podcast to unpack The Mark, his gripping dystopian thriller that imagines a world where no one is expected to survive past their youth. From the biology course that sparked the idea to building an anti-hero readers can't help but root for, T.A. breaks down his unconventional writing process, his love of horror movies (with one very memorable exception), and how his day job in commercial insurance quietly fuels his darkest ideas.
This episode digs into world-building without elders or institutions, writing a flawed female protagonist, and why some stories are better left for adults. Plus, a Lightning Round full of quick, honest answers and a heartfelt Last Word on believing in yourself enough to finally put your ideas into the world.
Key Takeaways:
Dystopian fiction can explore morality, mortality, and legacy while staying propulsive and fun
Writing an anti-hero means embracing discomfort before readers find the redemption
A career in underwriting can double as creative fuel for worst-case-scenario storytelling
Outlines are optional — some writers discover the story as they go
Believing in yourself is the first step to finishing (and sharing) creative work
 Grab The Mark on Amazon today and follow T.A. Thompson at tathompsonwriter.com. Subscribe to the Man Space Podcast for more author interviews, laughs, and real talk — new episodes drop every week.

Veteran entrepreneur and podcaster Jim Tracy sits down with the Manspace hosts to recount his rise from garage startup to building and selling multimillion-dollar infrastructure companies, with stories from aviation, tower work, and family life.They explore mentorship and manhood, leadership and company culture, embracing uncertainty, and ‘management by cliché’—practical proverbs and small actions (like handwritten birthday notes) that shape teams and character.Listeners will hear personal anecdotes, insights behind his book Building Men, and clear, usable advice for fathers, leaders, and anyone who wants to build people and businesses with gratitude and care.