Explore every episode of the podcast Gay Men's Life Lab with Buck Dodson

As I say at the end of my coaching and therapy sessions, “we’ll have to stop here.”  Join me for this final episode as I wrap up the podcast.  Tune in to hear about my decision, what’s next and how I hope to stay in touch. You may even hear some inspiration on approaching endings and new beginnings in your own life.

To stay in touch with me and be notified of future offerings from Gay Men’s Life Lab, please join my email list by visiting www.buckdodson.com.  

Even though there won’t be new episodes, I encourage you to ‘gay it forward’ by sharing any episode you think would help someone in your life.  

To gay superpowers! 
Buck

In this episode, I talk with sought-after coach, speaker, professor, and author, Dr. Joel A. Davis Brown about his new book, The Souls of Queer Folk.  

Join me as I talk with Joel about:

• What it means for leaders to be “Queer-minded”  
• How growing up LGBTQ teaches us to be leaders in life
• Queer culture as a wisdom tradition with value for all people, especially organizational and business leaders
• The 9 values that express the beauty of LGBTQ+ people 

Get your copy of Joel’s book, The Souls of Queer Folk and learn more about Dr. Joel A Davis Brown at:

• Linkedin
• Pneumos

Stay subscribed or start following to be notified when new episodes come out.  You can also join my email list by visiting www.buckdodson.com.  

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more folks like you find Gay Men’s Life Lab!

Thanks!
Buck

In this episode, I talk with trauma and recovery coach, spiritual companion, and queer elder, Hunter Flournoy. We dive deep into what it means to heal as gay, bi and queer men & how compassionate community and spirituality are key to embrace ourselves and each other. 

Join me as I talk with Hunter about:

• The importance of LGBTQ Heart Circles for gay men and queer people to see & feel seen
• How and why Hunter helps men to accept and embrace ourselves by coming home to our bodies and breath
• Relationships as a spiritual practice so we can be our true selves and be with others
• Creating queer community to recover from our individual and collective trauma so we find safety with other LGBTQ people and beyond
• The retreats and spiritual journeys he offers for GBTQ men to find our truth and our depth through 

Learn more about Hunter Flournoy and how you can work with him at  spiritjourneys.com and hunterflournoy.com.

Stay subscribed or start following to be notified when new episodes come out.  You can also join my email list by visiting www.buckdodson.com.  
 
If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more folks like you find Gay Men’s Life Lab!
 
Thanks!
Buck

In this episode, I talk with psychotherapists and founders of Calm Counseling, Dr. Vanessa Scaringi and Kate Garland, LCSW about the role of attachment styles and relationships in recovering from eating disorders, body dysmorphia and excessive exercise.

Join me as I talk with Kate and Vanessa about:

• Why disordered eating, body image and exercise issues “work” to address chronic loneliness and disconnection 
• How the search for sameness and conformity are risk factors for disordered eating and exercise
• The importance and challenge of being messy and imperfect in relationships
• How anxious, avoidant and disorganized attachment styles show up in eating and body image
• Ways to begin identifying feelings and needs and speaking up about them to safe people

Learn more about Kate and Vanessa and their psychotherapy practice, Calm Counseling, at www.keepcalmatx.com  and @calmcounselingpllc and follow them on Instagram.

Stay subscribed or start following to be notified when new episodes come out.  You can also join my email list by visiting www.buckdodson.com.  

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more folks like you find Gay Men’s Life Lab!

Thanks!
Buck

A “Gays On” episode featuring Burak Yilmaz on healing and self-discovery

In this episode, I talk with Burak Yilmaz about his remarkable path to freedom as a gay man which he chronicles in his upcoming book, If My Mother Never Left. 

Join me as I talk with Burak about:

• Being tortured for speaking out as a gay man in Islam
• Learning to survive alone on the streets of Turkey and New York City
• Overcoming shame and recovering from depression 
• How writing has helped him heal and live as his true self
• His work to support and guide younger generations 

Get your copy of Burak’s new book, If My Mother Never Left and follow him at https://burak212.com and on Instagram.

The “Gays On’ Series presents the voices of men who are on their journey of living openly and authentically. Not necessarily the perspective of therapists or coaches, these are the lived experiences and wisdom of gay, bi and queer man on what it’s like to heal through love.

Stay subscribed or start following to be notified when new episodes come out.  You can also join my email list by visiting www.buckdodson.com.  
 
If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more folks like you find Gay Men’s Life Lab!
 
Thanks!
Buck

We need our gay superpower now more than ever. Our communities, especially our members who are trans, gender non-binary and/or drag artists, are being subjected to assaults on our identities and human rights. Let’s double down on who we are and in this episode, why we’re here. 

Tune in to this ‘Quick Buck’ solo episode as I dive into the powers of camp and drag. I explore:

• What are gay and queer superpowers?
• How camp and campiness speaks to queerness and helps us feel seen
• The role of drag in cultivating joy, confidence, freedom and gay spirit
• The power of drag to artfully evoke thought and create social change 
• Drag as an invitation to expand with your own expression of the feminine

Stay subscribed or start following to be notified when new episodes come out.  You can also join my email list by visiting www.buckdodson.com.  

 If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more folks like you find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Thanks!
Buck

Let’s talk about sex. Healthy, pleasurable and healing sex that is. In this episode, I talk with Certified Sex Therapist, coach and clinical social worker, Dr. Israel Martinez, about helping gay bring sex into the light in order to have more enjoyable, enthusiastic and shame-free sex. 

Join me as I talk with Dr. Martinez about:

• The distinct challenges gay, bi and queer men face in having healthy sex
• What the 5 senses have to be with having pleasurable sex
• The difference between ‘spontaneous arousal’ and ‘responsive arousal’
• Expanding the definition of what sex actually is to you and your partner(s)
• Exploring more of your body during masturbation and self-pleasure
• Tips on using sex apps to find partners for the good sex you deserve
• Using www.fetlife.com and other sex-positive communities to find partners

Learn more about Dr. Israel Martinez at http://www.lgbttherapynj.com and get notified of the release of his forthcoming book on gay men’s sex and pleasure. In the meantime, you can purchase his first book Helping Gay Men Find Love.

Stay subscribed or start following to be notified when new episodes come out.  You can also join my email list by visiting www.buckdodson.com.  

 If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more folks like you find Gay Men’s Life Lab!

 Thanks!
Buck

Gregory Elsasser-Chavez on the high costs & high rewards of coming out

Part of the ‘Gays On’ Series featuring the voices and stories of gay, bi and queer men.

Welcome to a new season of Gay Men’s Life! In this episode, I talk with Gregory Elsasser-Chavez about his remarkable path to freedom as a gay man which he chronicles in his upcoming book, Terms of Estrangement. 

Join me as I talk with Gregory about:

• The impact of realizing he could be a gay dad or a dead dad
• Finding the will to leave the Evangelical Christian church
• The torment of “ex-gay” reparative and aversion therapies
• Coming out and ending a marriage to his wife
• His steadfast commitment to parenting his sons through painful resistance

You can follow Gregory on Twitter at GregoryElsasser and find his soon-to-published memoir, Terms of Estrangement on Kindle. 

 The “Gays On’ Series presents the voices of men who are on their journey of living openly and authentically. Not necessarily the perspective of therapists or coaches, these are the lived experiences and wisdom of gay, bi and queer man on their path to self love. 

Stay subscribed or start following to be notified when new episodes come out.  You can also join my email list by visiting www.buckdodson.com.  

 If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more folks like you find Gay Men’s Life Lab!

Thanks!
Buck

And we’re back! I’ve missed you all so I’m happy to bring this episode to close out 2022 and preview what’s to come when Season 3 launches next month. Clearly, I extended my “summer” sabbatical through Fall so I go into what I’ve been going through and how this impacted my return to the podcast. I invite you to tune in to hear some of my story and to reflect with me on what it’s like to come out as your most authentic self. 

Some of the topics I cover are:

• Moving through seismic transformations that rock you at your core
• Coming out as a metaphor for showing up as who we are today
• The “necessary relinquishing” we must face to grow
• What I’m learning through radical surrender with my body 

Stay subscribed or start following to be notified when Season 3 episodes start next month.  You can also join my email list by visiting www.buckdodson.com.  I’m looking so forward to being back in this conversation with you all. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more folks like you find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Happy new year!
Buck

I’m sorry for the podcast silence last month, especially since it was Pride Month. Although Gay Men’s Life Lab celebrates LGBTQ+ pride every month.  In this episode, I share about my decision to take a few months off from the podcast so I can spend the summer soaking up some extra self, relationship and business care. 

I hope you’ll tune in to join me for this relatively brief conversation about my decision. It involves filling my well, learning to set limits and listening to my inner creative. As always, I hope this might inspire you to double down on self care this summer or on whatever care your life is needing right now. 

Stay subscribed or start following to be notified when new episodes are on their way.  You can also join my email list by visiting www.buckdodson.com.  I’ll be in touch with podcast updates as well as new blogs, coaching programs and more. 

As always, I love hearing from you so feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or just say hello by leaving a message on our Phone Line at 512.808.0849. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Thanks and talk with you all in September!

Buck

In part two of my pro-dating, pro-relationship guide, I dive further into energizing your dating and relationship life. I cover the key topics my clients and I work on and offer practical ways you can beef up your relational dating skills. 

Check out the episode to hear…

1. How to approach pacing in dating so you can stay “sober” in the early stages of love
2. My suggestion for approaching sex 
3. The communication styles and skills you need for dating and relationship success
4. How to work with unfinished business before you start dating or when you’re dating
5. Why we don’t find Mr. Right, we create Mr. Right

Resources:

Check out Wired for Dating by Dr. Stan Tatkin for more detail on secure functioning dating. 

Want to share your thoughts? Have ideas for episodes? Leave a message on the Phone Line at 512.808.0849 .

Learn more about me and how I help gay, bi and queer men – and allies too - live, love and lead powerfully by visiting www.buckdodson.com and Gay Men’s Life Lab on Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Thanks!
Buck

In the first of this two-parter, I invite you into a conversation about becoming or rediscovering hope and eagerness about dating. Join me for this deep dive into how becoming “pro dating” and a pro at dating means could radically shift your perspective on dating and creating long term relationships. 

Tune in to hear…

1. What it means to be Pro-Relationship rather than Pro-Self
2. How to approach dating like you would in a relationship
3. The 5 characteristics of “Secure Functioning Dating”
4. Developing a Pre and Pro-Dating Mindset
5. Ideas for meeting dating partners IRL rather than relying solely on apps

Resources

Check out Wired for Dating by Dr. Stan Tatkin for more detail on secure functioning dating. 

Want to share your thoughts? Have ideas for episodes? Leave a message on the Phone Line at 512.808.0849 .

Learn more about me and how I help gay, bi and queer men – and allies too - live, love and lead powerfully by visiting www.buckdodson.com and Gay Men’s Life Lab on Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Thanks!
Buck

Join me for this engaging and important conversation about porn, sex, masturbation, and most importantly, pleasure. I’m talking with Don Shewey, a psychotherapist, pleasure activist and author of The Paradox of Porn: Notes on Gay Male Sexual Culture.

Tune in to hear Don and I discuss:

• His journey to being a pleasure activist and Sacred Intimate
• The integral yet complex role pornography plays in gay men’s self-discovery
• How porn both helps and hinders our views of our bodies, sexuality, and relationships
• Learning to distinguish sex, porn and masturbation
• The role of pleasure and desire in addressing issues with porn

RESOURCES:

Learn more about Don Shewey at http://bodyandsoulwork.com.

Purchase your copy of The Paradox of Porn here.

Gay Men’s Life Lab Phone Line – 512.808.0849

What do you think about this episode? I’d love to hear your thoughts about the role of porn in your life and in gay make sexual culture. Drop us a line at 512.808.0849 .

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about how I help leading edge gay, bi and queer men and allies find joy, deep connection and gay superpower by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following Buck Dodson Coaching on Instagram.

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps Gay Men’s Life Lab reach more men like you! 

Thanks!
Buck

Join me for this enriching conversation with licensed psychotherapist, Brian Torres, on what it means to be a Highly Sensitive Person and how embracing this part of your nature can help you create a more optimal lifestyle.  

Some of the topics Brian and I discuss:

• The core traits of highly sensitive people
• What D.O.E.S. - Depth, Over-Arousal, Emotional Responsiveness, and Sensitivity to Subtleties – has to do with high sensitivity
• Misconceptions that high sensitivity isn’t backed by science, is the same as introversion or is a mental health diagnosis
• The parallels of living with high sensitivity and living as LGBTQ individuals
• The “Five to Thrive” tenets of self-care for Highly Sensitive people

RESOURCES:

Learn more about Brian Torres and his work with HSPs at www.briantorrestherapy.com. 

Read about HSPs in Dr. Elaine Aron’s book, The Highly Sensitive Person. 

Check out Dr. Aron’s documentary, Sensitive: The Untold Story featuring HSP, Alanis Morissette 

Gay Men’s Life Lab Phone Line – 512.808.0849

What do you think about this episode? I’d love to hear your thoughts about Highly Sensitive People. Drop us a line at 512.808.0849 .

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about how I help leading edge gay, bi and queer men and allies find joy, deep connection and gay superpower by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following Buck Dodson Coaching on Instagram.

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps Gay Men’s Life Lab reach more men like you! 

Thanks!
Buck

You won’t want to miss this enlivening conversation about tapping into your erotic energy as a pathway to healing, aliveness and joy. Join me and my guest, Craig Cullinane from The New Body Electric School as we dive deep celebrating our erotic potential. 

Some of the topics Craig and I discuss:

• The role of “conscious eroticism” in self and collective healing
• His own journey from body shame to celebration
• The intersection of pleasure, desire, power, and unmet needs
• The foundational tool that superpowers inner growth 
• Healing that happens when erotic exploration is not limited by physical attraction
• The dance of shame and pleasure that builds intimacy with ourselves and our bodies
• How Body Electric courses help GBQT write new stories about our lives through erotic liberation practices

Learning more about Body Electric and other resources discussed in this episode:

The New Body Electric School

Easton Mountain

Healing Body Shame Online Course 

Gay Men’s Life Lab Phone Line – 512.808.0849

Want to share your thoughts on your conscious eroticism, self healing and body transformation? Drop us a line at 512.808.0849 .

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about how I help leading edge gay, bi and queer men and allies find joy, deep connection and gay superpower by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following Buck Dodson Coaching on Instagram.

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps Gay Men’s Life Lab reach more men like you! 

Thanks!
Buck

In this episode, I unpack codependence, developmental trauma and love addiction with Jodi White, a psychotherapist, sober recovering love addict and host of “Journals of a Love Addict.” 

Jodi and talk about:

1. The 5 core symptoms of codependence
2. How dysfunctional families set the stage for being over or anti-dependent
3. What love addiction is and how it’s different from codependency
4. Developing a Functional Adult Self to care for our “inner woundeds”
5. How experiential learning bypasses the ‘thinking brain’ to heal trauma
   
   

Jodi White, LPC
Learn how you can work with Jodi White, LPC at www.jodiwhitelpc.com
Subscribe to Jodi’s podcast Journals of a Love Addict.
Follow Jodi on Instagram. 

Read Pia Mellody’s books on Codependency, Love Addiction and Intimacy. 

Gay Men’s Life Lab Phone Line – 512.808.0849

Want to share your thoughts on codependence or love addiction? Have ideas for episodes? Leave a message on the Phone Line at 512.808.0849 .

Have you had experience with codependent relationships or love addiction? Let us know your thoughts about this episode or any other topics by leaving a message on the Phone Line. 

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about how I help leading edge gay, bi and queer men and allies find joy, deep connection and gay superpower by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following Buck Dodson Coaching on Instagram.

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps Gay Men’s Life Lab reach more men like you! 

Thanks!
Buck

Gay Men's Life Lab is all about trying things out, and since we have a lot of new listeners in the last year, we’re experimenting with a new Relationship Replay Series which features some of our earliest episodes on all things relationships such as…

• How to handle conflict
• Communicating your feelings 
• Navigating relationship dynamics
• How to identify your needs and get them met 

If there’s one thing I’ve learned on my own relationship journey and in those of my clients, it’s that we’re always learning and we can all use a refresher now and then. So even if you’ve already heard these episodes, you might discover something new if you take another listen.

We'll feature Relationship Replay episodes from time to time, but we'll also continue to have fresh content and new episodes for you every two weeks, so if you haven’t already, make sure you subscribe.

Now, let’s go to Relationship School.

- - -

Episode 8 Replay
"Get Closer" with Jeff Chernin, PhD

Hey guys! This episode is all about improving communication patterns and dynamics in your relationships. I dive deep with L.A.-based psychotherapist and author, Dr. Jeff Chernin, about his must-read book, “Get Closer: A Gay Men’s Guide to Intimacy and Relationships.”  If you’re in a relationship, you want to be in one or you’re learning from one that just ended, this episode is for you. 

Tune in to hear Dr. Chernin and I talk about…

• What to do when you and you’re man are in a “Pursuer-Withdrawer” pattern
• How to balance out differences in power that show up around money, status
• Taking responsibility for our part in unhealthy dynamics including infidelity
• Setting your partner up for success to meet your needs
• Identifying your “hidden goals” and “secondary gains” that block your intimacy
• What contribution you’re making to your “not enoughness”
• The benefits and advantages of being gay couples
• How gay, bi and queer men are leaders of negotiating healthy sexual lives together

Learn more about Jeff Chernin’s work, his books and articles at jeffreychernin.com and on Facebook.

Get your copy of Get Closer here and start learning how to have healthy relationships and more intimacy with your man. 

Learn more about me and how I help gay, bi and queer men – and allies too - live, love and lead powerfully by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Thanks!

Buck

Gay Men's Life Lab is all about trying things out, and since we have a lot of new listeners in the last year, we’re experimenting with a new Relationship Replay Series which features some of our earliest episodes on all things relationships such as…

• How to handle conflict
• Communicating your feelings 
• Navigating relationship dynamics
• How to identify your needs and get them met 

If there’s one thing I’ve learned on my own relationship journey and in those of my clients, it’s that we’re always learning and we can all use a refresher now and then. So even if you’ve already heard these episodes, you might discover something new if you take another listen.

We'll feature Relationship Replay episodes from time to time, but we'll also continue to have fresh content and new episodes for you every two weeks, so if you haven’t already, make sure you subscribe.

Now, let’s go to Relationship School. 

- - -

Episode 1 Replay
Rupture and Repair: How to Handle Conflict in Your Relationships

Stop avoiding conflict and repair your relationship wounds. 

Conflict sucks. Nobody likes it, and we’d all avoid it if we could. But when we face it head on, conflict is healthy and helps us build trust. Since most of us were never taught how to handle conflict, this episode I'm talking about what to do if you keep arguing about the same issues in your relationships. I’m chatting about some of the skills you need to resolve conflicts: 

• stop playing the blame game; 
• take responsibility for your part; 
• own your feelings; and 
• get curious about what the other person feels.  

Check out this episode for practical ideas to move you guys out of rupture and into repair.

Learn more about me and how I help gay, bi and queer men – and allies too - live, love and lead powerfully by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Thanks!

Buck

We’re going to mindset school. In this solo episode, I’m riffing on how our attitudes, perspectives and beliefs—our mindsets—make the difference between creating the life we want or staying stuck.  

Tune in to hear…

1. Buck’s update on his ‘Filling my Well’ commitment
2. How being a ‘design thinker’ can help solve problems and achieve goals
3. The core mindsets you need to move you toward personal and relationship growth
4. How to be curious, try stuff, shift your beliefs, and trust the process 
5. The secret sauce mindset to accelerate your vision  

Want to share your thoughts? Have ideas for episodes? Leave a message on the Phone Line at 512.808.0849 .

Start planning your 2022 commitments and goals by downloading a free Core Life Dimensions Guide. 

Check out Designing your Life for more guidance on how to use design thinking in your life. 

Learn more about me and how I help gay, bi and queer men – and allies too - live, love and lead powerfully by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Thanks!
Buck

This week, I dive into a misunderstood topic that we don’t talk about enough – Adult ADHD. Tune in as I talk with ADHD Coach and Founder of Queer ADHD, Sarah Dopp, about what it does and does not mean to live with ADHD. Even if you don’t have ADHD, I encourage you to check out this episode because someone in your life does and may be struggling alone. 

Sarah and I talk about:

• Misconceptions about Adult ADHD
• How coming out with ADHD mirrors coming out as LGBTQ
• The connection between fear of rejection, perfectionism and ADHD
• Why people with ADHD need to play BEFORE work not after
• How ‘body doubling’ and community increase productivity 

Learn all about Queer ADHD and follow them at:

• TikTok
• Instagram

Links discussed in the episode:

• noisli.com - sound generator
• focusmate.com - free virtual coworking

Stay up to date on all Gay Men’s Life Lab events and programs on Facebook and Instagram. 

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about how I help leading edge gay, bi and queer men and allies find joy, deep connection and gay superpower by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following Buck Dodson Coaching on Instagram.

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps Gay Men’s Life Lab reach more men like you! 

Thanks!
Buck

You won’t want to miss my bold conversation with David Pevsner, author of DAMN SHAME: A Memoir of Desire, Defiance and Show Tunes. Join us to hear about David’s journey as a 62-year-old actor, erotic provocateur and anti-ageist, anti-body shaming, pro-sexuality advocate.

David and talk about:

1. How becoming an escort changed his outlook on what he means to be a man
2. The missed opportunity that helped him see the cost of being a ‘body nazi’
3. His big “fuck you” to anti-gay religious fundamentalists 
4. Owning his age and power as a gay man in his 60s
5. The key to exploring all his sexual fantasies through his blog and Only Fans 

Get your copy of David’s book, Damn Shame and follow David Pevsner at:

Only Fans
Twitter
Photo Blog
Instagram
Facebook

Stay up to date on all Gay Men’s Life Lab events and programs on Facebook and Instagram. 

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about how I help leading edge gay, bi and queer men and allies find joy, deep connection and gay superpower by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following Buck Dodson Coaching on Instagram.

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps Gay Men’s Life Lab reach more men like you! 

Thanks!
Buck

Happy new year, everyone! What were the personal growth and gay takeaways from 2021? What did you learn and how are you going to apply that in 2022?  In today’s episode, I’m pulling back the curtain to share some of my own growth journey this last year and what I’m committing to next year. I’m guessing many of you might relate. 

Tune as I talk about…

1. Why 2021 was my yearlong “choppy growth phase”
2. Grieving the loss of my False Self & ego persona
3. Making your big, bold commitment for next year  
4. Choosing 1-2 of your Core Life Dimensions to focus on 2022
5. What from your past will you complete and release next year? 

Share your 2021 takeaways and 2022 commitments on the GMLL Phone Line at 512.808.0849 .

Start planning your 2022 commitments and goals by downloading a free Core Life Dimensions Guide. 

Learn more about me and how I help gay, bi and queer men – and allies too - live, love and lead powerfully by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Thanks!
Buck

In this episode, I’m talking about coming out later in life and what coming out looks like over the life span of gay and queer men. 

Tune as I talk about…

1. Why coming out is about more than saying “I’m gay” 
2. How we’re always coming out and what it evolves through life
3. Identifying your “gay age” to decrease shame regardless of when you come out
4. The one thing we all need whether we’re coming out at 16 or 60

GMLL Phone Line

Call 512.808.0849 to share your ideas, questions and topic suggestions.

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay, bi and queer men—and allies too— live, love and lead powerfully by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab!

In this special “Quick Buck” episode, I’m having a conversation with listeners about what’s next for the podcast including the Gay Men’s Life Lab Phone Line! 

Tune as I talk about…

1. My desire to build community and connect more deeply with listeners in 2022
2. Finding ways to engage that aren’t through social media (which I suck at)
3. My search for an “intern” to help grow our community
4. How to expand our audience and how you can help

You can start engaging by leaving a message on the new GMLL phone line at 512.808.0849 with topic ideas, questions, guest suggestions, and helpful feedback. 

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay, bi and queer men—and allies too— live, love and lead powerfully by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab!

Join me for a spirited conversation with Martin Cowart, the founder of Financial Heart Space and prosperity mindset coach as we dive into how he helps gay, bi, and queer men business leaders create financial abundance through spiritual alignment and clarity of purpose.

Martin and I talk about:

1. What’s at the core of every financial issue
2. The spirituality of abundance and prosperity
3. Connecting net worth to self worth
4. Leading in the “post-pandemic abundance economy”
5. How skills of generosity, gratitude, forgiveness, and surrender build prosperity

About Martin Cowart

• You can find Martin at https://www.financialheartspace.com
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/martin.cowart
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmartincowart

Resources mentioned

Facebook Group – Financial Heart Space for Gay, Transgender and Bisexual Men

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Join me for this thoughtful conversation with psychotherapist, Steve Lapuk, as we discuss his work helping gay men address self-destructive behaviors by understanding the root causes and learning how to soothe ourselves to get our needs met. 

Steve and talk about:

1. How the trauma of growing up can fuel self-harming behaviors
2. How to use the “Hangover Effect” to determine if you’re self-medicating
3. What a “manic flight” is and why it drives self-destructive choices
4. What you can do to start taking better care of yourself 

About Steve Lapuk

Based in Los Angeles, you can find Steve at www.stevelapuk.com. 

Resources mentioned

Out of the Shadows: Reimagining Gay Men’s Lives by Walt Odets, PhD


About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Join me for a lively conversation with writer, purpose strategist and Sensitivity Mapper, Mike Iamele, as we talk about how his unique process for guiding gay, bi and queer man to live our purpose by embracing – rather than resisting – our greatest sensitivities. 

Mike and I dive into:

1. His journey to falling in love with a man and coming out to 100K people overnight
2. How knowing and mapping our sensitivities improves our lives, work and relationships
3. Why sensitive mapping helps queer men release shame around sexuality and desires
4. The key to living with purpose

About Mike Iamele

You can find Mike on Instagram and at www.mikeiamele.com where you’ll get access to his Free Training and Worksheet as well as courses in Sacred Branding©. 

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

In the first episode of the Self Esteem Series, I’m diving into one of the most effective tools to decrease the harsh judgement and self-criticism that make us feel unworthy and incapable of having the life we want and need. It’s called Self Compassion and it’s a simple yet powerful practice. 

Tune as I talk about…

1. What self esteem is and what GBQ men must do to recover ours
2. The reason high self esteem doesn’t always prevent self-criticism
3. Why we criticize ourselves and how to slow down the “Threat” State that drives it
4. The three components of self compassion practice 
5. Resistance to self compassion and what happens when there’s “backdraft”
6. Three self compassion practices to get you started

Resources:

• https://self-compassion.org
• https://www.compassionatemind.co.uk

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

In this episode, I’m talking with Paul Bailey, a nutrition coach with over 15 years experience helping gay men transform their health, body and self confidence. Join me as I talk with Paul about how focusing on our mindset, relationship with food and ourselves is the key to a balanced, healthy lifestyle that’s right for us. 

Join us for a fun and informative conversation that covers topics including:

1. Measuring success without focusing on weight
2. The key to staying motivated that Paul helps client discover
3. Paul’s tips for prioritizing health when you’re busy
4. Transforming your relationship to your body and health through community 

You can find Paul Bailey at paul.coach where you’ll get access to all his nutrition and health coaching resources. 

If you’re a gay man over 40 looking to improve your health, considering joining his free Facebook Group.


About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

I’m talking drag, animation and LGBTQ+ heroism with storyteller Anthony Hand. Tune in as he introduces us to Maxxie LaWow: Drag Super-Shero, the heroine of his new feature-length animated film releasing in 2024.

I talk with Anthony about his inspiration to create Maxxie LaWow and his vision for an animated world where LGBTQ+ culture, comic books and anime intersect in stories of good triumphing over evil.

Join us we chat all things MaxxieWorld and pay homage to the influence, power and significance of drag and camp in pop culture.

Follow the adventures of Maxxie LaWow & donate to the film’s Indigogo campaign at https://www.maxxie.com. 

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

In Part 2 of this “A Quick Buck” episode on relationships, I dive into some of the most common myths and misconceptions about relationships that block healthy intimacy. 

Tune as I talk about…

1. Approaching relationships with as a learner and with “beginner’s mind”
2. The difference between relationship anxiety and red flag issues
3. The key to building trust through conflict 
4. What’s underneath the myth that “gay men can’t commit”

Learn more about me and how I help gay, bi and queer men like you live, love and lead powerfully by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me Instagram and Facebook. 

Resources:

• Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson
• Mating in Captivity by Dr. Esther Perel
• Relationship Anxiety by Sheryl Paul
• Get Closer by Dr. Jeff Chernin

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

In Part 1 of this “A Quick Buck” episode, I cover one of my favorite topics – relationships! More specifically, what it takes to become a skilled “relator” as gay, bi and queer men.  

Tune as I talk about…

1. The core reason many of us struggle with finding and keeping healthy relationship
2. Why gay, bi and queer man are relationship leaders, innovators and teachers
3. Learning to move toward relationships as opposed to away or against them
4. Four core skills you need to “get better” at intimacy

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live, love and lead powerfully by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me Instagram and Facebook. 

Resources:

• Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson 
• Mating in Captivity by Dr. Esther Perel
• Relationship Anxiety by Sheryl Paul
• Get Closer by Dr. Jeff Chernin

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

In this episode, I have a powerful conversation with sought-after spiritual teacher, personal transformation coach, gay male thought leader, and author Christian de la Huerta. We talk about his latest book, Awakening the Soul of Power, and the hero’s journey we all must go on to access our authentic personal power. 

Tune in to hear Christian and I talk about:

1. The theory in his first book, Coming Out Spiritually, that gay men have spiritual functions
2. How his journey from Cuba to the US influenced his relationship to power
3. Why the empowerment of women is key to ending homophobia
4. Committing to the heroic journey of moving from Ego Power into Soul Power
5. Identifying “Power Plays” like the Pseudo-Macho and the Denier that block authentic power
6. The importance of Forgiveness as a pathway to true power for gay, bi and queer men

To find out more about Christian’s work and receive a free guided meditation, power practices and a chapter from the book, visit: https://soulfulpower.com/.

Join the Unleash Your Inner Hero FB Group and receive support from Christian on your personal development journey. 

Purchase his book, Awakening the Soul of Power here. 

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

In this episode, I have a lively conversation with ®EMMY Award-winning entrepreneur, faith-based communications expert and ordained minister, Tony Scott. Tony aka “The Apostle of Joy” and I talk about his new project, Grace for Gays, which is forging a new path ahead for those in our community who identify as gay, bi or queer as well as Christian. 

Tony’s story is about embracing his individuality and finding grace as a black, gay and Christian man. Regardless of your religious or spiritual orientation, you’ll be inspired. 

Tune in to hear Tony and I talk:

1. The 5 times he came out
2. Shifting from driving other people’s mission to driving his own
3. Embracing individuality as his superpower
4. Why he chose to go back in the closet on a quest for personal and spiritual growth
5. His vision for a new path forward to support LGBTQ Christians searching for grace and a loving connection with God

Follow Tony Scott on Instagram and Grace for Gays on Instagram. 

Follow Tony on Twitter. 

 Learn about Grace for Gays. 

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

In this episode, I talk with Certified Sex Therapist, Derek Leighton about how gay, bi and queer man can begin to recognize and heal sexual shame. This important topic is rarely, if ever, discussed and yet it’s one of the most commonly discussed issues in counseling. 

Tune in to hear Derek and I talk:

1. Defining sex therapy vs traditional talk therapy
2. Understanding how sexual shame impacts how we relate to our sexual interests, desires and preferences
3. The impact of words like “premature” and “dysfunction” in creating more shame
4. How early non-sexual messages about masculinity set the stage for later sexual shame
5. Learning to define and communicate your sexual desire, interests and needs

Learn more about Derek Leighton’s sex therapy services as well as EMDR, group therapy and relationship therapy by visiting www.leightontherapy.com.

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

In this episode, I talk with wellness entrepreneur and Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), Lance Pyburn, about healing through our bodies, storytelling and living with authenticity. Tune in as Lance and I discuss Brave New Love, his latest initiative that create spaces for about living authentically, especially for LGBTQ+ people. 

Highlights include:

• How Lance redefined authenticity and success by healing internalized homophobia 
• The chronic stress on gay men’s bodies and how our nervous systems respond or react
• What it means to develop an Authenticity Practice anchored in wellness 
• The 5 elements of Brave New Love’s Authenticity Framework
• Empowering gay, bi and queer men to share their stories and live more authentically

Learn more about Brave New Love and Lance Pyburn at:

IG: @brave.new.love
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/BraveNewLove
Website: www.bravenewlove.com

Get involved: Share your story, join the Brave New Love newsletter, and/or reach out to start a conversation about facilitating a workshop with your community, faith, or corporate group at lance@bravenewlove.com 

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Happy Pride and Happy Power! 

In this “A Quick Buck” episode, I dive headfirst into the special powers we have and why it’s time for gay, bi and queer men to take the next step to evolve.

Check it out as I talk about…

1. Why we need a Coming Out 2.0 to step into full power as gay men
2. Gay men’s roles, gifts, spiritual functions, and superpowers 
3. The work of thought leaders, Christian de la Huerta, Ray Rigoglioso and Toby Johnson
4. The ability we have to balance the Masculine and Feminine 
5. The importance of maintaining our outsider perspective while learning to belong

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live, love and lead powerfully by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

Resources

Gay Men and The New Way Forward by Ray Rigoglioso

Coming out Spiritually by Christian de la Huerta

Gay Spirituality by Dr. Toby Johnson

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Join me and gay thought leader, spiritual writer, novelist, and former monk, Dr. Toby Johnson, as we explore the essential role gay and queer men play in expanding spirituality and raising consciousness. 

In this episode, Toby and I chat about…

1. The intersection of spiritual practice and living as a gay man in a non-gay world
2. Defining spirit as the “observer inside” involved in the evolution of consciousness
3. The profound influence of “Follow your Bliss” author, Joseph Campbell on his teachings
4. The higher but not better spiritual perspective of gay men 
5. How gay men can participate and contribute to the evolution of consciousness
6. The role of gay men in being “surrogate parents” in society
7. How gay men help transcend rigid definitions of masculine and feminine

Learn all about Toby Johnson at www.tobyjohnson.com and follow him on Facebook and YouTube.

Purchase Toby’s books on Amazon.

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Join me and Chris Tompkins, author, TEDx speaker, spiritual life coach, and LGBTQ inner-advocate to discuss his new book, Raising LGBTQ Allies: A Parent’s Guide to Changing the Messages from the Playground.

In this episode, Chris and I chat about…

1. The “messages from the playground” that become subconscious negative beliefs about being gay
2. Doing the work to talk openly with children and families about LGBTQ identity 
3. How coming out as a gay man doesn’t erase negative beliefs about being gay
4. Managing the insidious nature of internalized homophobia that blocks critical dialogue
5. How gay and queer men can lead the way in elevating consciousness and raising the next generation

Follow Chris Tompkins (@aroadtriptolove) on Instagram and Twitter.

Purchase his book Raising LGBTQ Allies: A Parent’s Guide to Changing the Messages from the Playground using the discount code RLLGBTQ30 to save 30% as a Gay Men’s Life Lab listener. 

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Thanks!
Buck

Perfectionism runs rampant in the gay, bi and queer male communities. Striving to the “best little boy in the world” is a strategy many of us use to cope with the shame, invalidation and rejection from growing up gay.  It’s time to set ourselves free so let’s start by addressing the root cause – our need for connection. 

Check out this episode to learn… 

1. Signs of perfectionism as well as over-achieving, over-functioning and people-pleasing
2. How our unmet needs for connection drive perfectionism and over-functioning
3. Why these strategies were “helpful” to us as gay boys 
4. The role of ‘doing mode’ vs ‘being mode’ 
5. Why choosing connection is the antidote to perfection
6. How we use perfectionism to cope with the uncertainty of the human experience

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Thanks!
Buck

Join me and Dating & Relationship Coach, Ken Reid, as we dive into Ken’s no-nonsense dating tips for gay men.  

In this episode, Ken and I unpack…

1. How our own thoughts, beliefs and assumptions are hurdles to finding a man
2. Transforming gay shame and self-abandonment into empowered action
3. Knowing and communicating your “terms and conditions” in dating
4. Healthy alternatives to ghosting and being ghosted
5. Using rejection as an opportunity to build your self-esteem
6. Authenticity as the foundation of healthy dating

Download Ken Reid’s Dating Cheat Sheet at www.kenreidrelationshipcoach.com.

You can also follow him Instagram. 

About Buck Dodson, Host

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please gay it forward by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps gay and queer men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Thanks!
Buck

Join me and The Gay Life Coach, Brian Falduto, for a fun conversation as we dive into his story as a twentysomething gay man, life coach, podcaster, and musician.  

In this episode, Brian and I chat about…

1. His experience as a child actor that kept him from coming out
2. How becoming a musician storyteller helped him heal
3. His mission as a life coach to inspire self-awareness in younger gay men
4. Developing a personal mindfulness practice to promote gay men’s healing
5. The power of connection with other men to support connection with self

Get in touch with Brian Falduto at www.brianfalduto.com. 

Follow him on Instagram and Facebook and YouTube. 

Learn more about The Gay Men’s Self-Help Book Club by joining The Gay Men’s Mindfulness Collective. 

Check out The Gay Life Coach Podcast with Brian Falduto. 

About Buck Dodson, Host. 

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please gay it forward by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps gay and queer men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Thanks!
Buck

This week, I dive deep into the story of empowerment coach, entrepreneur and author, Yatin Mistry.  Join us as Yatin and I go into his story and discuss how he approaches empowering his LGBTQ clients of color. 

In this episode, we cover:

1. Yatin’s journey to identifying as a first-generation British-Indian and as a gay man
2. The role of spirituality in coming to terms with sexuality
3. Realizing that you have a choice in how to respond to racism and homophobia
4. Mindset shifts and “brain muscle” practices to develop confidence and empowerment
5. Yatin’s “kindness, necessary and honest” rule of thumb for speaking with inclusion

Yatin Mistry is an empowerment coach, entrepreneur, and author, and for over ten years he’s been helping his clients overcome personal dilemmas and professional setbacks to seize the right opportunities that will help them excel.

Get in touch with Yatin to learn more about his coaching for gay men and LGBTQ people of color. 

www.yatinmistry.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yatininspire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yatininspire
Email: yatin@yatinmistry.com

Recommended resources for LGBT Southeast Asian people

•  NAZ Project:
  http://www.naz.org.uk - LGBTQ-affirming sexual health organization addressing sexual health for BAME communities. Based in the UK. 
  
  
• Naz and Matt Foundation
  https://www.nazandmattfoundation.org/services - UK based charity supporting LGBTQI+ communities around issues of religion. 
  
  
• https://www.facebook.com/lgbtsikh - Facebook group if you are Sikh and gay.
  
  
• Southeast Asian TV and Film with LGBTQ storylines and characters. These can be helpful around conversations with family, but Yatin recommends watching these first before sharing with family since some themes may be sensitive and/or explicit.
  Maryada: Lekin Kab Tak?
  Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
  Dostana
  Made in heaven
  Satyamev Jayate
  Lifestyle Asia

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps gay and queer men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Thanks!
Buck

Hey everyone, I hope you’re doing well and as always, thanks for supporting the podcast.

I see Gay Men’s Life Lab as a community and a big conversation that I’m having with you, so I’m sharing a quick update today to let you know a little bit of what’s going on behind the scenes, and what's in store in upcoming episodes. 

And remember, you can always reach out to me at www.buckdodson.com or on Instagram and Facebook to let me know a topic you’d like me to cover. 

Thanks, everyone and look out for a new episode on Tuesday! 
Buck

You knew it was coming, guys. Y’all knew I’d talk about anger at some point. To live fully as a powerful, loving and impact-making gay man, you must identify, express and transform your anger.  Gay shame often gets the attention but gay anger needs love too. Literally. 

Check out this episode to learn… 

1. That anger is healthy, natural and deserves your attention
2. Why gay men need to own our anger to level up individually and culturally 
3. How unaddressed anger fuels shaming and judging other gay men as well as ourselves 
4. Why anger work for gay men is essential to trauma healing, mental health recovery, releasing perfectionism, and addressing high rates of problems with substances, sex, food, and body hate
5. How healthy anger is the key to unlock intimate, loving relationships and start building trust
6. Tools to help you begin identifying, expressing and channeling your anger to grow

Learn more about me and how I help gay men like you live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you found this episode helpful, please ‘gay it forward’ by subscribing and leaving a quick review and rating. This helps more gay men find Gay Men’s Life Lab! 

Thanks!
Buck

We’re finally talking about sex, boys! Sexual health, recovery and healing that is. Tune into this episode with Los Angeles-based psychotherapist and author, Andrew Susskind, as we discuss his new book “It’s Not About the Sex: Moving from Isolation to Intimacy after Sexual Addiction.” 

Andrew and I go deep on …

1. Long term healing from problematic sexual behavior 
2. “Brokenheartedness” as the root cause of out-of-control sexual behavior 
3. How longing for connection drives compulsive sexual 
4. Why work with your body, the brain and central nervous is key to deep sexual recovery
5. How gay men can begin to express our sexuality in a healthy way
6. Reimagining sexual recovery and healing in terms of pleasure, fun and play 

You can purchase “It’s Not About the Sex” by Andrew Susskind at https://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-About-Sex-Isolation/dp/1949481069. 

Learn more about Andrew Susskind, LCSW, SEP, CGP at www.westsidetherapist.com.

Listen to his podcast It’s Not About the Sex. 

Connect with him on social media:

Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter

As always, you can learn more about me and how I help gay men like you learn to live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram. 

If found this episode helpful in some way or you’d like to hear more or less of something, please leave a review and a rating. This helps me know what works for you and also helps get Gay Men’s Life Lab in front of more guys! 

Thanks!

It’s our first Happy Hour episode! And it’s all about gay men and the women we love. Tune as I have mock and cocktails with my crew of ladies and one of my best gays as we discuss what makes our relationships so special. 

We chat about:

1. Women and gay men being “co-revolutionaries” 
2. The unique dynamic that happens when sex is removed
3. The experience of safety, acceptance and lack of competition we feel
4. What we teach women and they teach us about emotions and intimacy
5. How we can apply the love from our unique connections we have to all our relationship

As always, you can learn more about me and how I help gay men like you learn to live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/buckdodsoncoaching. 

And a quick favor – if you found this episode helpful in some way or you’d like to hear more or less of something, please leave a review and a rating. This helps me know what works for you and also helps get Gay Men’s Life Lab in front of more guys! 

Thanks!

In this episode, I dive into the heated conversation about “PV Gays” going to circuit parties during the COVID pandemic.  Tune in as I talk with Gay Men & Blog writer and clinical social worker, Armando Sánchez about the underlying issues in gay male culture that draw men to these high-risk events during the pandemic.   

Tune in as we talk about…

1. How gay men’s hunger for connection fuels party culture
2. Holding other gay men accountable without creating more shame
3. Holding ourselves accountable for our contributions to gay party and privilege culture
4. Using empathy for ourselves and each other to start connecting with each other
5. The positive impact of gay men when we do our healing work

Follow Armando Sánchez and Gay Men & Blog on Medium at https://gaymenandblog.medium.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/gaymenandblog/. 

You can also find Armando on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gaymenandblog and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/gaymenandblog.

As always, you can learn more about me and how I help gay men like you learn to live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/buckdodsoncoaching. 

And a quick favor – if you found this episode helpful in some way or you’d like to hear more or less of something, please leave a review and a rating. This helps me know what works for you and also helps get Gay Men’s Life Lab in front of more guys! 

Thanks and much love, Buck

This week is all about body image. Tune in as I talk with therapist and male eating disorder and body image specialist, Brad Kennington, Licensed Professional Counselor. 

If you're preoccupied with how your body looks, what you eat and how much you exercise, you'll want to tune in to this episode.  

If you're feeling like your body is the only currency you have, you need to listen. 

Tune in to this episode to learn about developing a healthy relationship to your body, food and exercise. We talk about ways to do that like…

1. Releasing emotional weight 
2. Diversifying your sources of self esteem
3. Learning balance with body, food and exercise
4. Rejecting toxic body culture using your gay superpower 

Learn more about Brad Kennington at www.bradkennington.com and www.austinfamilyinstitute.org.

As always, you can learn more about me and how I help gay men like you learn to live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram at @buckdodsoncoaching. 

And a quick favor – if you found this episode helpful in some way or you’d like to hear more or less of something, please leave a review and a rating. This helps me know what works for you and also helps get Gay Men’s Life Lab in front of more guys! 

Thanks and much love, 
Buck

Happy New Year, guys!

Since self work + relationship work is where it's at in improving your life, I’m kicking off 2021 with an episode on Connection.

Every gay, bi and queer man I know and who I've worked with over the last 15+ years wants better connections so tune in to hear four ways you can improve your relationships with everyone in your life and help yourself in the process.

Learn how…

1. Being honest, especially when it’s hard, is a generous act of love
2. Asking for more help will get you closer to people
3. Talking more about yourself will bring people closer to you
4. Setting boundaries allows you to depend on others in a healthy ways

You can't fully realize self without solid connections with others, and you can't fully enjoy relationship (friends, spouses, coworkers) without a strong sense of self. You've got to work on both if you want to become your most authentic, liberated self.  I know it's hard, but you're worth it!

For us gay, bi and queer men, this is especially true because a) we're men so we're taught to turn away from relationship and b) most of us come to terms with our identity in isolation. We don’t get to be honest, ask for help or talk about our real feelings.

We start out deprived of the vital nutrition that connection provides which means we grow up thirsty, hungry and looking for love…often in all the wrong places.

That all changes now. Make 2021 the year of improving how you relate with others and deepening the connections in your life. I guarantee it will be a game changer and sky rocket your life, love and work.

As always, you can learn more about me and how I help gay men like you learn to live and love well by visiting www.buckdodson.com and following me on Instagram at @buckdodsoncoaching. 

And a quick favor – if you found this episode helpful in some way or you’d like to hear more or less of something, please leave a review and a rating. This helps me know what works for you and also helps get Gay Men’s Life Lab in front of more guys! 

Thanks and much love, Buck