In this episode, Amy is joined by Jon Symes, a self-described “recovering man” who helps others untangle themselves from the rigid stories of masculinity that quietly limit their humanity.

Together, they explore what happens when the identities we were taught to live by (success, strength, productivity, control) stop working. Jon shares how a failed venture forced him to confront who he was beneath achievement, while Amy reflects on how a decade of living with a broken neck dismantled her ability to push through and demanded a deeper surrender.

This conversation moves gently but powerfully through themes of authenticity, vulnerability, intuition, and the long-overlooked balance between masculine and feminine energies within all of us. They speak honestly about the “cages” society builds, especially for men, and how reclaiming wholeness requires allowing, not forcing; listening, not proving; feeling, not fixing.

If you’ve ever sensed that the way you were taught to be strong is actually keeping you small, this episode offers a compassionate invitation to loosen the armor, trust another way of knowing, and remember the fuller version of yourself that’s been waiting underneath.

Connect with Jon:

jonsymes.com

wholeandfree.me/tools

Learn more about Amy, apply to be a guest on the podcast, or schedule a personal Holding Space session for yourself, your business, school, community, organization, etc. here:

amy@getamyshelp.com

linktr.ee/getamyshelp

https://www.getamyshelp.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amythurman

https://www.instagram.com/amycthurman