We’ve been told that real men don’t cry. That feeling makes you weak. That silence is strength.

But what if that story isn’t true? What if it never was?

In this episode, I share my personal story of learning—and still struggling—to open up. We explore the cultural roots of male emotional suppression, the cost it’s had on our mental health and relationships, and how we might begin to change the story for ourselves and the next generation.

I’ll offer practical reflections for:

• Men who feel stuck, numb, or disconnected
• Partners, friends, and loved ones who want to help without pushing
• Parents raising boys who know how to feel without shame

This isn’t about becoming soft. It’s about becoming real. Present. Unedited. Human.

Because beneath the armour and silence, there’s a man who still feels. And maybe he’s ready to come home.

This minimalist, non-performative meditation invites you to rest beneath the noise of thought and remember the freedom already present in awareness. There’s no goal here. No state to achieve. Just the simple act of noticing and the radical shift that comes when we stop identifying with the story of who we are. Includes a guided version of Douglas Harding’s “Headless Way” pointing-out exercise.

We’ve been sold a version of freedom that looks like escape with more choices, fewer responsibilities and total control. But what if real freedom isn’t out there… but already here? In this episode, Samuel explores the difference between surface freedom and deep liberation, blending teachings from yoga, Stoicism, Dzogchen, and the Headless Way. Through personal stories and piercing questions, we’re invited to remember a kind of freedom that doesn’t depend on changing your life but on seeing it clearly.