Man Talk
Men often find it difficult to speak openly about their mental health, emotional wellbeing, relationships, and life in general. Man Talk is a series of conversations that explore real-life problems and practical solutions, offering tools, tips, and awareness to help men navigate their lives more successfully. The show is hosted by Howard Todd-Collins, a counsellor, psychotherapist, and coach who works with men, women, and couples. It is aimed at men and the people in relationships with them who want to invest in self-development, relationship health, and a rich, meaningful life.
Episodes
S.5 E.p 13. Why Do Men Pull Away? And What To Do About It!
Send us Fan MailDo you ever find yourself dodging tough conversations , or skilfully change the subject when things get a bit too real in your relationship? Do you keep people at arms length? Are there other parts of your life and relationship that you are avoiding, such as suppressing certain feelings, or putting off making certain decisions? Do the ways you avoid lead to feeling inadequate, not
Your Year in Review - 7 Essential Questions to Close 2025
Send us Fan MailNew year's resolutions often fail often due to psychological traps. Instead of setting resolutions I encourage you to consider some key questions to evaluate 2025 and set meaningful intentions for 2026. These questions allow you to:Focus on core valuesRelease unnecessary burdensSet healthy boundariesLive more authenticallyConfront your fearsReduce Avoidance This final episode
S5. Ep.11 - Is Vulnerability Really Necessary?
Send us Fan MailVulnerability is everywhere! It’s on social media, in self-help books, on Ted talks, discussed in countless therapy rooms.Vulnerability can be extremely confusing, especially for us blokes!In this episode Howard and Ryan unpack it all for you. What does vulnerability really mean?Why is it often mistaken for weakness?How it can actually be a source of strength.?Can vulnerability be
What Happens When You Start Therapy? In Conversation with a Male Counsellor
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Howard shares his personal journey from a stoic British upbringing to becoming a therapist who specialises in men's emotional health. He reflects on:His early emotional strugglesThe impact of cultural norms on his mental healthHis path to self-discovery and emotional wellbeingHoward delves into his therapeutic practices and how they helped him become more auth
Beyond Beer and Banter: Cultivating Authentic Male Friendships
Send us Fan MailIs true friendship a cornerstone of emotional wellbeing? Friendships that offers support, belonging and genuine connection. If so:Why are so many men in Australia and beyond quietly battling loneliness and isolation?How do male friendships change over time?What does it takes to move past surface-level banter and build friendships that matter? You are invited join Ryan and I in conv
S. 5 Ep. 8. Too Hard On Yourself? Rethinking Self-Compassion for Blokes
Send us Fan MailThere are too many blokes who are way too hard on themselves.In this episode I’m going to break down the myth that self-compassion is soft, weak, self pity or even selfish.What does Self-Compassion really mean?What are the skills?Why is it so hard for some men?How can it actually make you stronger—not softer.If this episode raises your interest to work on Self Compassion and you n
The Art of Sitting With Feelings - A Man's Perspective
Send us Fan MailWhy would you want to sit with uncomfortable feelings?A reasonable question!In this latest conversation Ryan and Howard discuss:What does sitting with feelings even mean and what stops most of us?The impact of avoiding our emotionsSome practical ideas of how to sit with feelingsThe value of finding a ritual or a practice and seeking supportThis episode delves into the complexities
Becoming a Better Bloke - The Purpose of Men's Work
Send us Fan MailIn this engaging and thought provoking conversation, the first co-hosted Man Talk episode, Howard and Ryan unpack what Men's Work is all about. They share some of their experiences of Men's Groups and broader themes of Men's Work today including:What is Men’s Work? Where does it originate? What are some of the core concepts of Men’s Work?Our personal experiences of
Why Bottling Emotion Hurts - How to Start Expressing Yourself
Send us Fan MailIf you push down your feelings and tell yourself to 'man up,' 'she’ll be righ't and keep going on with life, what happens? Bottling your emotions will make you more confused, more frustrated, disconnected from your partner, your kids, your friends, yourself! Despite telling yourself you’re fine, this internalising leaves you carrying the weight of the world on
What are you not talking about with your partner? – Conversations That Strengthen Your Relationship
Send us Fan MailIf communication is the foundation of connection how come relationships can feel distant, strained and disconnected? What are you not talking about with your partner? You know those times when:You want to share how you’re feeling, but you don’t know where to start, so you stay silent. Your partner brings up an issue, and instead of addressing it, you either shut down or get defensi
Men's Hidden Distractions And How To Be More Present in a Relationship
Send us Fan MailDo you get distracted? What kind of distractions get in the way of the kind of relationship u wan t?Do u ever feel:IsolatedDisconnectedMentally overloadedMissing intimacyEmotionally numbInternalising too many thoughtsThese are some of the consequences of distraction and a lack of presence…. the cornerstone of the connection u create with the love of your life!In this episode we unp
Breaking Negative Communication Patterns
Send us Fan MailBarriers to Communication - What does this actually mean?How aware are you of what gets in the way of communicating effectively?Why can it sometimes be so difficult to communicate in a relationship?In this episode we’ll explore:What emotional barriers meanWhy they exist How they impact your relationshipAnd, most importantly, how to overcome them. You will get 4 actionable steps you
S.5. Ep. 1 What’s holding you back in 2025? How To Overcome Limiting Beliefs
Send us Fan MailAs you strive to create a fulfilling and meaningful life it’s likely you may occasionally get in your own way! You know those seemingly invisible chains that hold you back from reaching your full potential, in relationships, in your career, personal growth, in your health and fitness, and overall well-being. Most of us have limiting beliefs that can create all kinds of self-inflict
S4. Ep. 6 Uncovering 4 Hidden Reasons Why Men Get Distracted
Send us Fan MailMen often find themselves too busy and distracted from connecting with their partners. There are many reasons for this. However, there are 4 hidden reasons why many men get distracted - which are harder to spot, because men don’t talk about them. This episode uncovers some internalised patterns that can distract men, how they impact men's emotional wellbeing and some ideas of
S.4 Ep.5 Work Hard, Talk Hard - 5 Steps to Balance Life and Mental Health
Send us Fan MailWe live in a world that glorifies hustle culture—where the value of hard work and being busy is emphasized, but emotional health often takes a back seat. Many men find themselves caught between the desire to provide and the toll it takes on their mental well-being.We’re conditioned to power through stress without talking about how we feel, but that just creates more pressure.This e
Calm Under Pressure - Handling Stress and Anxiety with Confidence
Send us Fan MailLife can be full of curveballs, uncertainties and moments that we simply haven’t planned for! Stress and anxiety are hard to ignore.If you've been feeling or ever felt worried, stressed, nervous, anxious and your brain has a mind of it’s own racing with overthinking, or looping thoughts - this episode is for you! We look at a bloke's experience of stress and anxiety, how
The Essential Ingredients of Good Communication in Your Relationship
Send us Fan MailGood communication is vital for a healthy relationship. Obvious right! Why do some men struggle with communicating with their partner? This episode provides the practical skills to not only communicate better but to build stronger connection in your relationship. Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?Download a free guide:Better Conversations for Blokes
Taking The Heat Out Of Conflict And Get Closer To Your Partner
Send us Fan MailHow do you manage conflict? What do men experience when conflict gets in the way of a healthy relationship?This episode takes a close look at negative conflict styles, how it impacts individual partners and relationships, and provides tips and strategies to see conflict as an opportunity to change. Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?Download a free g
How to Repair Emotional Distance in Your Relationship
Send us Fan MailHave you ever wondered why emotional distance happens in a relationship?It's more common than your realise. What do men experience when this disconnection happens and what helps to reconnect with your partner? This episode uncovers 6 ways to repair emotional disconnection.Do you want to learn more ways to improve your relationship skills?Download a free guide:Better Conversati
S3 Episode 1 - How to have a successful relationship
Send us Fan MailWhat is it that makes a relationship successful? This episode is the first of the Man Talk Interviews and in it my colleague and good friend Naomi Rubinstein and I chat about the ingredients required in order to become a master of relationships as opposed to a disaster! We discuss some of the processes values and relationship skills in the research. A bit of our work with couples
How To Tame Your Brain - 8 Steps to Control Emotions
Send us Fan MailLosing control of your emotions can be described in a variety of terms:“hissy fit” "throwing a tantrum"“ fit of rage” “losing the plot” “ out of control “The psychological terms that describe losing control of emotions include ‘'Flooding”' “Dysregulation”"Flipping your lid" It’s the experience of emotions spinning out of control?Whether triggered by a
S2. Ep. 3. The Other One About Anger!
Send us Fan MailIn the book “Emotional Intelligence,” Daniel Goleman describes how anger causes blood to flow to our hands, making it easier for us to strike an enemy or hold a weapon. Our heart rate speeds up, and a rush of hormones…creates a surge of energy strong enough to take “vigorous action.”In this way, he says, anger is ingrained into our brain to protect us.What else do you know about th
S2. Ep. 2 The one about Anger - Part 1
Send us Fan MailDo you get angry? What kind of anger is it? How do you make sense of anger and it’s impact on you and your life?In this episode we take a deeper look at anger, one of the most primitive emotions we experience. We’re going to explore:Your relationship with angerHow Men Mask their angerThe 5 destructive types of AngerA Positive and Constructive form of angerThe most important first s
S2. Ep. 1 Talking about Stress Takes Balls! - How big are yours?
Send us Fan MailThere are many men that withhold talking about their stress… for way too long. It ‘s as if we don’t want to burden anyone! It’s as if we are, invincible, even superman! This episode dedicated to all the superman men, out there! How do you know you’re stressed? What happens in your mind? In your body? In your head? Does your behaviour change? What stresses u out? How do you take c
Episode 5 - Men and Emotion Part 2 - Emotion and Feelings
Send us Fan MailDo you find it’s hard to describe emotions or put into words exactly how you’re feeling? There appears to be anywhere between 6, 8, or 34,000 emotions! You can see why emotions are messy and confusing. This episode will provide a little more clarity.Whilst feelings and emotions make our life colourful. Without them, where would we be? We'd be like robots and life would be………
Episode 4. Men and Emotion Part 1 - To Feel or Not to Feel?
Send us Fan MailMany men have a mixed relationship with emotions. There are men who describe themselves as an ‘emotional retard’ a truly awful term, or some men who see themselves as ‘closed off’ or ‘numb’ to their feelings. There are many dilemmas for men when it comes to feelings. And yet, men's emotional lives are so important for understanding and maintaining good mental health.In this
Episode 3. Intimacy - It's not just about sex - is it?
Send us Fan MailThere’s a common myth that says men think about sex every 7 seconds!That's more than 500 times an hour! And more than 8,000 times during the average day!Men can get fixated with sex or physical affection sometimes above and beyond emotional closeness. The truth is that men, women and all genders share the same needs for deep connection physically and emotionally.In this episod
Episode 2. Man Up! What Kind Of Man Are You?
Send us Fan MailMan TalkSeries 1. Episode 2.Man Up! What Kind of Man Are You? How have you become the man you are today? What or who has influenced you? This episode invites you to think about What Kind of Man Are You?We explore what it means to be a man through the lens of: Masculine IdentityMale StereotypesValuesRole ModelsResources from this Episode Attitudes toward men and masculinityVicHealt
S1. Episode 1. Man Talk - The Who, the What and the Why?
Send us Fan MailMan TalkSeason 1. Episode 1. The Who, The What, and The WhyWhy on earth would a Podcast for men and their emotional wellbeing be of any interest to anybody? And who is the bloke behind it all? Thank you for showing an interest in Man Talk. This first episode explains:- What Man Talk is all about- Why there's a need for a podcast dedicated to the emotional wellbeing of Men- W
