Before the Army, he was a shy boy who struggled at school and was told he would not amount to much. He lived with OCD that he kept to himself until he was about 30. In his early thirties he lost both parents close together, and he dealt with it the way soldiers are trained to. He ran gyms for 15 years and competed as a bodybuilder at the top amateur level in the UK. Only when bodybuilding ended did he see how much it had been holding together.

Lindsay now runs Modern Warrior and Warrior Expeditions. Ben and Lindsay talk about what to keep from military conditioning and what to let go of. They discuss why men’s spaces need structure as well as safety, and why the aim is not a life without problems but one where the same problem stops coming back. Lindsay also challenges Ben on a belief about age that Ben had not noticed he was carrying. He shares the idea that changed how he sees his own father: a man has matured when he could be his father’s father.

What did you leave behind to become who you are, and which parts are worth going back for?

If this feels relevant to where you are heading, book a call with Ben: https://bit.ly/15minswithben

In this episode
00:00 Introduction
00:14 From the infantry to Special Forces, gyms and coaching
04:02 Leaving the military: the struggle he did not see at the time
07:39 What to keep from military conditioning
08:21 The shy boy, school and dyslexia
12:41 The gym as a safe space, and OCD kept secret
14:11 Losing his parents, and the stiff upper lip
15:12 Why he started unpacking
17:52 Keeping the parts of you worth keeping
19:40 Balance, vulnerability and masculinity
22:52 Sunrise on Mount Rinjani
25:28 The lone wolf in business
26:59 Reframing a full diary
28:54 Self-doubt in successful men
30:43 When the same problem keeps coming back
32:38 Why men need to see strong men struggle
34:58 When support keeps men stuck
37:06 Banter, and when it gets in the way
39:27 Empathy from shared experience
41:53 Age, elders and a challenge for Ben
43:23 Imposter syndrome when your client has more
48:03 Taking the boy along with you
49:32 Becoming your father’s father
55:25 What makes a father proud
58:33 Bringing men into the room
1:02:27 Why men stay for the community
1:03:05 How Modern Warrior is structured
1:05:53 How to find Lindsay
1:06:33 What comes next

Connect with Lindsay
Website: themodernwarriorproject.com
Instagram: Lindsay Bruce Official https://www.instagram.com/lindsaybruceofficial/?hl=en

At 16 he found alcohol, and it gave him relief. For the next 16 years it also cost him relationships and opportunities. He stopped drinking at 32, then spent fourteen years sober trying to understand why he had been so set on working against himself. The answer did not come from talking it through. It came in 2019, the first time he listened to a hypnosis audio.

Enda now works directly with the subconscious to help people stop sabotaging themselves. Ben and Enda talk about outgrowing labels, the difference between healing something and managing it for life, and why the real work after any breakthrough is integration. Ben shares his three weapons for winning the war in the mind. Enda talks about raising his son with enough space to make his own mistakes, and to come to him when he does.

What are you still maintaining that you could resolve?

If this feels relevant to where you are heading, book a call with Ben: https://bit.ly/15minswithben

In this episode
00:00 Introduction
00:05 Adoption and the question of who he was
01:59 Walking into his first AA meeting
03:27 Outgrowing the label
04:24 Dublin, and the wheels coming off
05:51 Fourteen years sober and still asking why
07:19 The first hypnosis audio
07:43 Working with the subconscious
10:43 Working with his son
14:04 Guiding by giving space
15:23 Fathers, sons and initiation
18:34 Falling out with his own father
20:00 Wired for anxiety before birth
27:28 Why your story is rarely the real problem
27:58 Labels and diagnosis
32:19 Burnout in the music industry
34:46 Isolation in the west of Ireland
37:59 When your body stops being subtle
41:19 Escape, and what it showed him
44:48 Energy healing after his mother died
48:04 Finding the subconscious
50:05 Ben’s three weapons for the war in the mind
53:11 Enda’s mission
56:43 Healed, or still managing it?
57:40 Would you live it all again?
58:26 When talking goes in circles
1:04:22 Do men respond differently to talk therapy?
1:08:11 Psychedelics and the work of integration
1:10:25 Breakthroughs between sessions
1:12:18 A free taster audio
1:14:58 Curiosity, conditioning and refusing to be a small cog
1:17:07 How to find Enda

Connect with Enda
Website and free 22-minute taster

Website: https://endaquealy.com/

Group: https://stop.endaquealy.com/

One to One: https://wired.endaquealy.com/

LinkedIn: Enda Quealy

Sending your team on a mental health first aid course is a good instinct. Sarah Piddington argues it is not a strategy.

Sarah draws on her time with British Transport Police, where she used trauma risk management with officers, to explain what most businesses miss. Who is suitable to volunteer as a first aider, and who decides? Who supports them after a difficult conversation? Where do their notes end up? And where does someone go when the problem is their own manager?

She also shares the story of a first aider who supported a colleague in crisis without knowing what her employer expected of her, and what changed once she did.

If someone in your business reached a crisis tomorrow, would everyone know what to do next?

In this episode
00:00 Why mental health first aid needs more than good intentions
01:39 Supporting your first aiders and protecting what is shared
02:48 Plans, escalation routes and what to do when the manager is the problem
04:39 Lessons from trauma risk management in policing
06:14 Wrapping up

Connect with Sarah
https://safeandwelltogether.com/how-we-work/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahpiddington/

Connect with Ben

www.initiators.co.uk

Lesley Thomas is the founder of the Money Confidence Academy. She works with organisations on how financial pressure affects judgement, decisions and culture. A founder’s relationship with money, she explains, shapes how comfortable he is with debt, scaling, hiring and trusting other people’s judgement.

Ben and Lesley talk about where money stories begin, often with something we saw as children and misread. They discuss how comparison erodes what you have built, whether a man’s income has anything to do with his worth, and why men take longer to start this conversation but tend to commit fully once they do. Ben also shares the story of the car he bought to raise his own status, and what it actually did for him.

For fathers, there is practical guidance on talking to children about money. That includes why it is fine to say you do not know the answer and go and find it together.

What would change if your sense of worth no longer depended on the number?

If this feels relevant to where you are heading, book a call with Ben: https://bit.ly/15minswithben

In this episode
00:00 Introduction
00:38 How financial pressure affects judgement in organisations
02:06 How a founder’s money story shapes business decisions
04:12 Why financial decisions are rarely just strategic
05:47 Money as a forbidden topic
06:41 Good or bad with money is a story, not a fact
11:20 The need to be liked
12:27 How you do money is how you do everything
13:34 Awareness first, then accountability
16:46 Worry, catastrophising and controlling the controllables
20:17 Do men inherit their money story from their fathers?
22:17 What children pick up from what we do not say
25:14 Teaching children about money in a digital world
27:14 Games, goals and finding answers together
32:58 Why men find it harder to start the money conversation
40:25 Does a man’s income decide his worth?
43:44 The neighbour’s garden: comparison and self-worth
47:42 Crying in a Ferrari or a Fiat
49:06 Ben’s Tesla story
52:43 Attachment, need and your relationship with money
55:49 Beliefs about money worth challenging
1:00:24 If it is humanly possible
1:03:27 Is there a spiritual side to money?
1:08:49 Radical responsibility
1:10:03 How to find Lesley

Connect with Lesley
Website, free resources and socials: themoneyconfidenceacademy.com
Book: Parents, Let’s Talk Money

That was the first of three breakdowns. It took a move to the countryside, a job managing a friend’s farm and a decision to stop drinking for good before Paddy started listening to what those moments were telling him.

Paddy now runs The Rural Reset, a four-day retreat for men in nature. There is no alcohol and there are no phones. The men do green woodworking, ice baths and tai chi, and they hike the Brecon Beacons in cloud so thick you cannot see your feet. On his first retreat, ten men, most of them strangers, were talking openly around the fire on the very first night.

Ben and Paddy talk about the masks men wear, the warning signs that are easy to miss when work is going well, and what happens when men are given a high-trust space to speak.

Where are you still playing a role you have outgrown?

If this feels relevant to where you are heading, book a call with Ben: https://bit.ly/15minswithben

In this episode
00:00 Introduction
01:22 Life in the City and the day Paddy walked out
08:43 Three breakdowns, and what they were telling him
10:12 Ben on alarm bells and your reason for being
11:28 Alcohol, the missing off switch and the life-and-soul persona
16:00 No booze, no phones: what changed on the retreat
17:46 How The Rural Reset began
21:56 What the farm taught him
23:39 Inside the first retreat
31:33 Why men drop the mask when the judgement goes
34:07 The Digital Reset: getting 16 to 18-year-olds off their phones
38:09 Social media and the under-16s
39:08 Tribe, and why people miss war
41:30 What comes next for The Rural Reset
43:42 Marketing an offline business
48:06 How to get in touch with Paddy

Connect with Paddy
Website: theruralreset.com
LinkedIn: Paddy Burt

"Strategy should drive AI. AI shouldn't drive strategy."

In this conversation, Steve explains why most businesses will waste the capacity AI creates, and why staff who save time with AI often hide it. He shares how IKEA chose to redeploy thousands of staff instead of cutting them, and why that decision generated far more than the chatbot ever saved.

Inside:

• Human beings, not human capital
• A 90-day review rhythm for people and AI
• Why AI will stop being a differentiator within years
• What "it's not personal, it's just business" really means

Chapters
0:00 Who is Steve Jones?
4:12 Turning On the Profits Tap
4:42 The 180-item job description
7:08 How Fitness First won on positioning
8:07 Your standards vs your X factor
8:47 Product, market, service and price
9:58 Finding your ideal client
12:10 Find: who are your supermarkets?
15:32 Running the sales meeting and the close
16:58 Time and capacity
18:51 When the tap is blocked
19:37 £100k from one referral partner
21:21 The five fears that stop people referring you
25:18 Human beings, not human doings
26:03 Why write a book?
28:38 Writing and editing with AI
33:02 A 90-day plan for people and AI
34:54 AI saved three hours. Now what?
36:21 The IKEA story
38:58 Why staff hide the time AI saves them
41:11 Strategy should drive AI
43:50 Human beings, not human capital
44:44 Initiation and the path from boy to man
47:59 Brotherhood and elders
53:12 The three-year itch and the job Steve couldn't wait to leave
56:20 Becoming the voice of human performance beyond AI
58:12 Why your book needs to be on Audible
1:00:31 Where to find Steve

About Steve
Steve Jones helps fast-growth SMEs build the leadership, culture and engagement they need to scale. He was part of the Fitness First journey from one club to a global chain. He went on to work on UK employee engagement with a government task force. He is the author of Turning On the Profits Tap and co-author of Mapping Motivation for Engagement.
Website: skillsforbusinesstraining.co.uk
LinkedIn: Steve Jones https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevejonesmotivation/

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If you have ever said something positive to yourself in the mirror and heard your inner critic laugh, you already know the problem. Fiona Mary Ferrar explains why. Flipping a judgement over like a pancake leaves the roots in the ground.

In this episode of The Ben Price Experience, Fiona explains how she builds declarations with her clients. First you find the old judgement, then you forgive yourself for it, and only then do you create a new truth. She has spoken her own declaration every day for over four years.

We discuss:

• The lavender bush that kept growing back
• Why you have to learn it by heart, not by head
• Why breadcrumbs on the breadboard no longer bother her
• Moving from aspirational to declarative

Chapters
0:00 Who is Fiona Mary Ferrar?
5:06 Drawn to the masculine
6:44 Testosterone, anger and what men are allowed to feel
9:51 Giving men the words for their emotions
11:07 What raising a son taught her
15:21 Do boys still need initiation?
19:16 What initiation would give boys and society
22:25 Honour and the lost idea of a gentleman
22:49 Are we afraid of our young men?
27:00 Is it ever too late?
29:27 The overgrown garden
31:34 Declarations vs affirmations
32:51 The lavender that kept coming back
38:06 Breadcrumbs on the breadboard
39:39 Learning it by heart, not by head
43:19 The Way of Mastery
48:51 The golden rule starts with yourself
50:26 Forgiveness as daily cleaning
52:16 The message that arrived the same day
55:55 Holding people hostage in your mind
1:00:35 The two monks and the river
1:04:11 Forgiveness is for you
1:06:09 What happened vs the story you tell
1:09:14 Useful or not useful?
1:11:00 Declarations for children
1:13:09 All war starts in the mind
1:18:28 AI, politics and conscious custodians
1:24:06 The rain is neutral
1:25:33 Love, live and lead
1:25:56 Where to find Fiona

About Fiona
Fiona Mary Ferrar helps people create inner peace and lead their lives with agency, through her work on love, life and leadership. She works with men and serves what she calls the divine masculine. She also co-hosts a three-year study community for The Way of Mastery.
Website: fionamaryferrar.com
LinkedIn: Fiona Mary Ferrar https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionamaryferrar/

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This episode includes discussion of childhood sexual abuse (around 1:02:36).

We discuss:

• Agassi, Tiger Woods and success without passion
• Why Simon's parents believed work was not meant to be enjoyed
• Obsession versus passion as a long-term driver
• Being world class without losing yourself

Chapters
0:00 Who is Simon Hartley?
2:33 Everyone has the potential for greatness
3:47 Great at something you don't love
7:14 Successful and miserable at the same time
8:55 "Work's not there for you to enjoy it"
10:23 Feeling trapped by your own success
12:26 Prove the concept before you leap
14:14 You have more choices than you think
15:05 What the ego really is
19:13 The questions to ask when you feel stuck
20:35 Finding purpose in what you already do
24:44 What makes a great leader?
26:34 Should, need and want
28:42 World-class teams have world-class leaders
29:33 Align, empower, engage
32:42 Ask great questions, then give people space
34:42 Living your values, not just writing them down
38:58 A value always has a cost
41:21 Character is the tree, reputation is the shadow
42:01 How to find your values
44:31 Promoted to incompetence
48:20 What the military gets right about succession
50:39 Is leadership lonely?
57:05 The Atlantic rowing crew and the GPS
1:00:37 Celebrating progress along the way
1:02:25 Simon's new book on curiosity
1:04:54 What AI is doing to curiosity
1:08:41 Where to find Simon

About Simon
Simon Hartley is a performance psychologist who began his career in elite sport and Olympic programmes. He studies world-class performers and teams across sport, business, medicine and the military. He is the founder of Be World Class and the author of How to Develop Character.

Website: be-world-class.com
Free resources: worldclassresources.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beworldclass-simon/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SimonHartley

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Many capable men believe they have lost their sense of purpose. Seamus Fox, a coach to founders and business owners for over two decades, argues it never left. It shows up in where you spend your time, money and energy.

In this episode of The Ben Price Experience, Seamus explains how to spot your real values and why "should" and "have to" often point to someone else's. He also explains why the work you would do for free is usually where your business grows fastest.

We discuss:

• Your hierarchy of values and how it shapes your identity
• Imperative language and the values we absorb from others
• Following your joy without ignoring the work that pays
• Why people are drawn to a man doing what he loves

Chapters
0:00 Who is Seamus Fox?
1:00 Purpose and your highest value
4:07 The car crash that changed everything
6:34 From shy PT to gym owner
8:12 Why people quit the gym by February
10:47 Identity and your hierarchy of values
14:37 "Should" and "have to": spotting borrowed values
16:54 What your life shows you value
19:33 Follow your joy
23:22 The dark side of personal development
26:31 Never outsource your highest value
28:07 Go with the flow or change the flow
30:25 We see things as we are
33:05 Why your partner doesn't need to share your vision
34:07 Founders, guilt and family
37:49 People pleasing and fair exchange
39:39 Is investing in yourself selfish?
45:06 Accountability and being a man of your word
50:30 What your triggers are telling you
58:03 The unconscious handbrake
1:02:05 Growth beyond the business
1:04:09 Fatherhood and learning to let go
1:10:29 Where to find Seamus

About Seamus
Seamus Fox is a coach and mentor to men in business, from founders to CEOs. He spent over 20 years in the fitness industry before selling his business and moving into coaching full time. He runs [ACADEMY NAME: CHECK SPELLING], a community for male business owners with regular meetups in Derry.
Instagram: [LINK] | LinkedIn: [LINK] | YouTube: [LINK]

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In this episode, James breaks down what he does when he feels the old reaction rise. He takes a breath, questions whether the feeling is true, and asks what his part is in the situation. Ben shares the difference between anger and rage, and the moment a feelings wheel showed him where fear sat in his body.

Inside:

• Why your nervous system decides before your logic does
• "Go in first before you go out"
• Why James avoids anger release work on his men's retreats
• Whether fighting builds emotional control or feeds the ego

James worked in sports marketing at Reebok before moving on to the 2007 Rugby World Cup and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He then spent twelve years running the Bloomberg Square Mile Relay, growing it from a single London event into fourteen cities across eleven countries. He now runs Indurus, a performance operating system built specifically for founders.

We talk about why high performers sacrifice the health and freedom the business was meant to create, why performance gets mistaken for pushing harder for longer, and how James rebuilt his own energy after fatherhood and business growth flattened it. He walks through his five pillars of sustainable human performance: capacity, composure, clarity, conviction and cadence.

We also get into heart rate training, VO2 max, biological age testing, when wearables stop helping and start adding pressure, why most supplements do nothing unless you are supplementing for a deficiency, and what it means to raise sons with intention.

If you run a business and the hours keep going up while the output quietly drops, this one is for you.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Who are you and why are you here
01:02 Father, husband, and twenty years in sport
02:16 Reebok, Rugby World Cup 2007 and London 2012
03:00 Building the Bloomberg Square Mile Relay
04:11 Helping founders scale without burning out
06:43 Why founders sacrifice their health and energy
09:28 Delegation, and why you become the business
11:13 What got you here will not get you there
14:49 What changes when you raise investment
15:39 We teach what we need most
17:00 A decade with almost no energy
18:55 How fatherhood changed training
20:09 Leaving rugby and taking up running
22:43 Ironman, heart rate zones and Morpheus
24:26 When wearable data starts adding pressure
25:43 Initiation, and raising a son with intention
29:59 How character actually gets built
33:15 Weighted vests, rucking and return on investment
36:00 MindFlick, self awareness and values
38:00 Biomarkers, biological age and the supplement question
39:35 Why VO2 max is the number that matters
43:54 The five pillars: capacity, composure, clarity, conviction, cadence
48:10 Can emotional intelligence be measured
50:54 Where to find James

FIND JAMES HASSETT
Website: https://indurus.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hassett-uk/

FIND BEN PRICE
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4eE4om7MzzIIIjaJkuh9Yn
Website: www.initiators.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachbenprice

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#JamesHassett #FounderFatigue #BenPriceExperience

In this episode of The Ben Price Experience, I sit down with Adam W. Barney to explore what happens when the next level of leadership requires more than just working harder.

Adam spent two decades in the corporate world, managing more than $100 million in advertising spend and leading teams inside global organisations. Through that experience, he began to recognise something he now calls “energy debt”: the hidden cost of constantly making decisions, carrying responsibility and pushing forward without properly replenishing what is being spent.

We talk about how great leaders increase their capacity, why delegation is often an identity problem rather than a time-management problem, and what happens when being “the hero” starts limiting the growth of the business, the team and the individual.

We also explore leadership versus control, masculinity, asking for help, emotional responsibility, social conditioning and the difference between looking successful and actually building a life that can sustain success.

One of the ideas I keep coming back to in my own work is that what got me here will not necessarily get me there.

At some point, greater ambition requires greater capacity.

Not more pressure.
Not more performance.
Not more sacrifice.

More self-awareness, better systems, stronger relationships and a more evolved way of leading.

This is a conversation about becoming capable of holding more without losing more of yourself in the process.

Adam W. Barney is a transition leadership coach and author of Make Your Own Glass Half Full: The Empowered Path to Optimism and Autonomy.

Connect with Adam on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamwbarney/

adamwbarney.com

Become the founder, leader and that "better man" your next chapter needs in business and at home in the next 100days http://www.initiators.co.uk

He was not unfit. He had built three companies, trained hard, played sport and travelled constantly. A year later he still could not walk two thousand steps without spending the following day unable to move.

What he had was long COVID. What he found underneath it was the more interesting part.

For years he had been running a cycle he thought was normal. A week away, then five or six weeks burning back down to empty, then another week away. He was on the permanent edge of it, and deep down he was afraid of the whole thing falling over, because he had attached who he was to what he had built.

The question driving all of it had been set a long time before. Au pair from the age of four. A father in the military, away for six to nine months at a time. Boarding school at nine, military boarding school at eleven. Then, in his words, being the only fat kid out of six hundred and forty.

Layers of asking whether he was worth anything.

That question built a career. It also nearly took him out.

This is a conversation about what happens when the engine that built everything finally stops, and a man has to go back and work out what he was actually chasing.

What we get into:

• Why he describes calling yourself self-aware as the thing that keeps you blind
• The habit that outlives the wound, and why spotting it is easier than the original work
• What his COO could see about his leadership that he could not
• Breathwork, psychedelics, and why he thinks one of them asks more of you than the other
• Why he decided not to turn any of this into a business, even though he wanted to
• The identity statement he wrote three years ago and has run on since
• Why he is unapologetic about the life he wants, and what he thinks makes British men soften their ambition

One line has stayed with me since we recorded it. On how to begin, when there is no obvious blueprint for any of this: just start, because no one knows what they're doing with this stuff.

Ben Coomber is a health and performance coach, and the founder and CEO of Awesome Supplements. He is forty, and a father of two daughters.

Hear the full story and the lessons behind it in the complete conversation.

Find out more

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencoomber/

Personal Coaching with Ben - https://www.bencoomber.com/
Supps - https://awesomesupplements.co.uk/

Become the founder, leader and that "better man" your next chapter needs in business and at home in the next 100days www.initiators.co.uk

Will Polston has a name for what leads up to it. He calls it "when-then syndrome". When I achieve this, then I will be okay. When I get there, then I will be all right.

He was running it himself for twenty years, and he can trace where it started. He was about ten. His father left the house at five in the morning, came home at eight at night carrying the day with him, then lost his work altogether and stopped going out. Will had two wealthy uncles who seemed perfectly content. Three men, one conclusion, drawn by a boy who had no reason to doubt it.

Money equals happiness.

It took him two decades to test it.

What he built instead is what he calls a North Star: a mission in life that you never achieve. Not a goal you finish. Something large enough that the numbers along the way stop having to carry the weight of your whole life.

In this conversation we get into what that actually looks like in practice.

What we cover:

• Why arriving at the goal so often produces the quiet week afterwards, and why that is not a flaw in you

• The difference between a mission and a target, and why Will dropped his own number entirely

• Five routes to working out what you are actually for, including the four pieces of evidence about yourself you have already been producing for years

• Why the man with the most opportunities is often the one who feels most stuck

• What happens to a man when the role ends and he is no longer the soldier, the owner, the husband

• Why Will believes time does not heal anything

We also disagree, properly. Will works hard not to feel pride. I think most entrepreneurs give themselves nowhere near enough credit for what they have built. Neither of us moved, and I have thought about it since.

Will is a coach and author who has run over five hundred events across the UK. You can find his work at willpolston.com.

Hear the full story and the lessons behind it in the complete conversation.

Keith served in Iraq and then Afghanistan in the summer of 2008. When he came home the standard routes did not touch what he was carrying. He tried antidepressants three times and stopped, describing himself as devoid of all emotion, blank and feeling nothing. He would rather have kept the suffering.

Six years later he was dropped at a wooden hut in the Amazon with no running water, no electricity and no toilet, and left there for ten days.

He now runs the UK branch of the Heroic Hearts Project, helping British military veterans and emergency services personnel access psychedelic therapy in Peru and the Netherlands.

What he built is deliberately not what he did. Three weeks of restrictions before anyone travels. A week more afterwards, then integration that can run for years. His view is that the discipline is not preparation for the work. It is the work.

Chapters

00:00 Who Keith is and what Heroic Hearts does
01:19 The spectrum of suffering, and who this is not for
04:33 Paratrooper. Iraq, then Afghanistan 2008
07:51 Devoid of all emotion: why he came off the medication
13:37 The bergen he left in a kitchen
14:32 Ten days alone in the Peruvian jungle
17:52 MDMA and psychedelics are not the same thing
20:26 The most common way this fails
22:26 Three weeks of preparation, and why it is the work
29:25 What actually happens on a retreat
32:10 Fresh snow on old tracks
34:15 The purging, honestly described
37:57 What he has seen change
39:59 The wives who have been bracing for years
44:11 Initiation, and young men being left behind
49:49 Active duty, Ukraine, and where he draws the line
58:35 The ten year vision
01:03:39 How to get in touch

About Keith J Abraham

Keith J Abraham is the founder of the UK branch of the Heroic Hearts Project. Heroic Hearts Project UK serves British military veterans and emergency services personnel: police, fire brigade and paramedics. Waiting list at heroicheartsuk.com. They are funded entirely by donation.

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This conversation discusses substances that are Class A in the UK, and mental health including a reference to suicide. It is not medical advice. Nothing here encourages illegal drug use.

In this raw conversation, I sit down with Jonnie Jensen, founder of the High Value Man Project, to explore what happens when a man loses himself inside work, marriage, fatherhood and the pressure to hold everything together.

Jonnie speaks openly about losing his mother at nine, being beaten by his father, his brother taking his own life, divorce, family court and the emotional breakdown that forced him to rebuild himself.

We confront the lie that men don’t talk, the damage caused by unprocessed wounds, the rise of the manosphere and what it actually means to become a strong, grounded man.

This is a conversation about responsibility, brotherhood, initiation and becoming the man your wife, children and future need you to be.

Because your family doesn’t need you to be perfect.

They need you to come back.

Then school happened. University. A career in salmon farming. Thirty years of the matrix, as he calls it. And then Tony Robbins, a room full of the world's wealthiest people, and a system that changed everything.

What Owen taught me about money is not what I expected. The numbers are almost secondary. The real lesson is emotional. Most people buy when things are high because they fear missing out. They sell when things are low because they are afraid. The stock market, he said, is just a graph of human emotion. Fear and greed, repeating the same patterns, generation after generation.

"The market doesn't care about your feelings. But your feelings will destroy your returns if you let them."

He has built investment clubs in fifty countries, fifteen languages. His son started trading real money at six. Walked out of university with fourteen years of actual market experience. Owen's mission is to help a million people reach financial freedom. Not for the money. So they can get on with the work they came here to do.

That last line stayed with me.

Full conversation in the comments.

This is an honest, no-nonsense conversation about dating, identity, and what it actually means to show up as a man who knows who he is.

Find James at jamespreece.com and on Instagram @JamesPreeceCoaching.

In this episode, I sit down with Michael Serwa, a coach with over fourteen years of experience working exclusively with high achievers, to talk about the imposter syndrome that almost no successful man will admit to out loud. We get into why some of the most accomplished people in any room are also carrying the deepest self-doubt, why "I should have this sorted by now" is one of the most damaging sentences a capable man can say to himself, and why functioning well on the outside has almost nothing to do with what's actually happening underneath.

Michael doesn't dress any of it up. We talk about why successful men minimise their own struggle by comparing it to people who "have it worse." We talk about the specific kind of loneliness that comes from being the one everyone depends on, with no one checking in on whether you're actually okay. And we talk about why so many men wait until things get unmistakably bad before they ever consider getting support, by which point the cost has already quietly stacked up for years.

This isn't a conversation about fixing a broken person. It's a conversation about the gap between the man you're performing and the man you actually are, and why closing that gap is the only thing that ever really moves the needle.

If you've ever sat in a room you built, surrounded by evidence that you've made it, and quietly wondered if you're actually qualified to be there, this episode is for you.

In this episode:
Why imposter syndrome doesn't disappear with success, it often gets louder. The British habit of minimising your own struggle. Why "other people have it worse" is keeping capable men stuck. The difference between performing confidence and actually having it. What it costs to wait for permission to ask for help.

Kenny's story is extraordinary: raised in a Welsh refugee camp after fleeing Uganda, shaped by Fiji, Calcutta and decades of working with men at their lowest. He had to unfuck himself first before he could help anyone else.

Together Ben and Kenny go deep on the things most men never say out loud. Why men DO want to talk, the wound of male betrayal, the part of you that saved your life but is now costing it, and why descent and rock bottom aren't things to fear but things to move through.

Plus Ben shares his four-gate initiation framework and why so many men are trying to be kings without ever earning their warrior.

You'll want to listen to this one twice.

This is a 360 review. But it's terrifying. And it's essential.

What You'll Discover

You Have a Completely False Idea of Who You Are Every man has blind spots. Not flaws. Just behaviors, energies, and patterns that are obvious to everyone else but invisible to you. Left unseen, they quietly govern your results.

The Blind Spot Rules You What you see clearly, you can remedy. What you avoid seeing will rule you. The King's Reckoning brings these blind spots into the light so they can be governed.

This Is Not Feedback This is a truth-gathering exercise. Not validation. Not criticism. Just truth. And truth is what allows you to change.

You Need Courage and Restraint You will not defend yourself. You will not explain yourself. You will not correct perceptions or argue context. You will listen. Record. Receive. Acknowledge. Reflect.

Assemble Your Council Six people total. Two who know you intimately (partner, close friend, confidant). Two who know you quite well but not deeply (colleague, peer, collaborator). Two who don't really know you at all (neighbor, stranger, brief interaction). This stretch is the point.

The Script Approach each person directly. Say: "I'm undertaking a personal audit to become more self-aware and identify blind spots in how I show up. I'm seeking honest, direct feedback to help me grow as a man and leader. Would you give me 15-20 minutes to answer a few questions? During this conversation, I'm not allowed to reject, defend, justify or dismiss anything you say. I'm only allowed to listen for clarity. Is that okay with you?"

If they say no, move on. Deal with rejection. Keep going until you get six yeses.

During the Conversation

You may only ask these questions:

• What's your first experience of me at first glance?
• How would you describe my energy, body language and communication?
• What's my emotional state and stability?
• What are my professional strengths?
• What are my interpersonal strengths?

And clarifying questions only:

• Thank you
• Can you be more specific?
• Can you give me an example?
• Do you experience this as effective or ineffective?
• Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Silence is allowed. Discomfort is allowed. Defense is not.

After the Conversation

Thank them sincerely. Leave. Don't explain later. Don't discuss it. Preserve the integrity of the session.

Record it (voice notes work). Send it to someone you trust if needed. Don't judge or interpret. Just review it.

The Integration

What do you notice? What patterns repeat? What surprised you?

What was useful? What do you need to adjust in your declarations? What do you need to be aware of?

Who are you being? Is this who you want to be?

Why This Matters

"Feedback is the breakfast of champions."

Most men avoid this challenge. And they miss a key part of the whole initiation process.

Because it's terrifying.

But that's the point.

To become a man you've never been, you must see what you've never seen. You must hear what you've been avoiding. You must face the blind spots that have been running your life.

Listen to discover:

How your blind spots quietly govern your results

Why you can't change what you can't see

The courage it takes to listen without defending

How to assemble a council of truth-tellers

What patterns repeat across all your conversations

This episode is for any man brave enough to see himself as others see him.

Because that's where real change begins.

In this episode, Ben introduces the King's Leadership Audit, the tool that reveals whether you're actually leading or just managing consequences.

This isn't about your business performance or your team's results. It's about you.

What You'll Discover

Why Self-Leadership Comes First No one will follow a man who cannot lead himself. Not your team. Not your children. Not your partner. They may comply. They may tolerate you. But they will never fully trust you. Self-leadership is the foundation of everything.

Your Standards Set the Ceiling Your mood sets the tone. Your standards set the ceiling of where you can get. Your behavior teaches more than your words ever could.

The Audit Removes Self-Deception This isn't about judgment. It's about measurement. It's about honest, objective assessment of where you actually are. No fantasies. Just truth.

Integrity: Are You a Man of Your Word? Score yourself 0-5. Do you mean what you say? Do you always honor it with action? Do you meet commitments and deadlines? Simple. But most men fail here.

Radical Responsibility: You Are the Final Authority Nothing is outsourced. You don't blame the weather, the market, or your people. When you fall short, you look at your decisions first. The state of your world always reflects the state of you.

Alignment: Your Actions Match Your Values You act in accordance with your inner truth. In business, you make decisions from principles, not approval. At home, you speak the truth early and hold boundaries without guilt.

Accountability: You Restore What You Break When something breaks, you fix it without delay. You don't hide. You don't deflect. You own your mistakes openly and your behavior change is visible. Repair isn't verbal theater. It's lived.

Courage: You Advance in Spite of Fear You acknowledge fear, but you never obey it. In business, you make hard calls and have difficult conversations even when the outcome is uncertain.

Scoring System

0 = Broken. Not there at all. 1 = Inconsistent. You show up sometimes. 2 = Improving. Working on it. 3 = Solid. Your baseline. 4 = Strong. Who you are most of the time. 5 = Unshakable. Non-negotiable for you.

What Your Total Score Means

20-25: You're leading yourself well. Guard your standards.

15-19: You're functional but leaking authority. Tighten up discipline.

10-14: Inconsistent. Others are feeling it.

Below 10: You're managing consequences. Start implementing these traits in who you're being.

The Practice

Score yourself honestly on each trait: Integrity, Radical Responsibility, Alignment, Accountability, and Courage. Add up your total. Be objective. No excuses.

Then ask: Where are my gaps? Where do I need to tighten up in the next 90 days?

This is where the real work begins.

Why This Matters

"Your behavior teaches everybody around you more than you can say."

If you want your team to have integrity, you need integrity. If you want your children to be courageous, you need courage. If you want your partner to trust you, you need to lead yourself first.

There is no shortcut. There is only you, leading yourself, day after day, choice after choice.

Listen to discover:

The five traits that separate real leaders from managers

Why external accountability is a trap

How to score yourself honestly without self-deception

What your leadership audit reveals about your authority

Why your standards determine your ceiling

This episode is for any man ready to stop managing consequences and start leading himself. Because that's where everything begins.

This isn't abstract philosophy. This is the foundation of your initiation.

What You'll Discover

Why Most People Get This Wrong You think your identity is your job, your role, your achievements. But there's something deeper underneath. Something truer. This episode shows you how to find it.

The Power of Declarations A declaration isn't an affirmation you fake until you feel it. It's a statement of who you actually are, backed by evidence from your life. Ben shares his own declarations and explains how they became part of his nervous system.

How Your "I Am" Statements Shape Your Reality The lens through which you see the world determines what you see. If you say "I am a smoker," you notice smoking everywhere. If you say "I am loving, capable, joyful," you start noticing that instead. Your words create your world.

The False Identity You've Been Building You weren't born bad at relationships. Weren't born incapable. Weren't born a smoker or a drinker or someone "no good at leading." But you've spent years gathering evidence to prove these false declarations true. And the longer you've collected that evidence, the harder it becomes to reverse.

It Can Still Be Reversed No matter how long you've been telling yourself the wrong story, you can change it. You can go back to who you actually are underneath the ego, the roles, and the bullshit.

How to Create Your Document Start with your wins from the last 90 days. What positive traits do they reveal? Create declarations one at a time. Get clear on who you actually are. This may take a couple of years. That's okay.

Speaking It Into Existence Once you have Version One, speak your declarations out loud twice a day. Not in your head. Out loud. It makes a difference. Then start dropping them into conversation, replacing the old story with the new one.

The Reckoning You'll ask other people who they think you are. You'll clarify your grand vision and who you need to be to create it. Every time you do this work, your declarations deepen and become more true.

Shadows Are Still There Even after you clarify your real identity, old patterns will still pop up. You'll still get triggered. But eventually, the shadow becomes smaller while your true identity becomes bigger.

Ben's Core Declarations

"I am loved, loving and joyful. I am disciplined, focused, calm, efficient, capable, grounded, passionate, open-minded and playful. I am a king, a warrior, a magician, a lover. I am a gatherer of men and a world-class, life-changing coach. I am here to help guide men, to initiate men, to raise capable sons and to protect the natural world."

The Invitation

If you only take one thing from the entire Kingmaker Journal, let it be this: Answer the question of who you are and why you're here.

Because everything flows from that answer.

Your behaviours. Your relationships. Your business. Your peace. Your power.

All of it.

Listen to discover:

How to move from the identity you inherited to the identity you choose

Why your past doesn't determine your future

How to build evidence for who you actually are instead of against yourself

The practice that rewires your nervous system

Why speaking your declarations out loud changes everything

This episode is for any man tired of playing small, tired of the false identity, and ready to step into who he actually is.

Most business owners feel like they're not making progress. They feel behind. They feel like they're failing.

But the truth is, they're just not acknowledging what's actually working.

What You'll Learn

Why Seeing Gaps Becomes a Liability The skill that got you here (spotting problems and fixing them) becomes your biggest obstacle. It keeps you focused on what's wrong instead of what's working. And that creates frustration, overwhelm, and paralysis.

The Nervous System Effect How you think creates how you feel, which comes from your identity. When you're frustrated, you don't make constructive decisions. You spiral. You stall. You stop moving forward.

What Got You Here Won't Get You There Fear and urgency got you to where you are. But they won't get you to the next level. If you're stalling, your evidence is right in front of you.

The Record of Victory A simple but powerful tool: list your wins, gains, and moments of gratitude from the last 90 days. But don't stop there. Identify what each win says about you. Then make it real through acknowledgement.

Acknowledgement is Kingly A true leader doesn't posture, fake it, or become a tyrant. A leader acknowledges. Acknowledgement locks progress into your nervous system. It builds evidence of the positive. It creates confidence.

What is Appreciated Appreciates What is not acknowledged depreciates. This applies to fitness, relationships, money, employees, customers, everything. Unacknowledged effort erodes confidence. Both yours and theirs.

Self-Acknowledgement is Essential You're at the top of the pyramid. No one else is going to give you a thumbs up. You have to do it. Most entrepreneurs don't. Most engage in self-effacing behavior instead. That's a cultural problem. Fix it.

Loyalty Follows Recognition Your team doesn't give their best to those who overlook them. When effort is acknowledged, it's appreciated. When it's appreciated, it grows.

The Practice

Win or gain or gratitude from the last 90 days. What does it say about you? How do you make it real?

Example: Your girlfriend looked after the kids while you were away.

What it says about you: I picked a great partner. I have the ability to choose well.

How to make it real: Write her a note of gratitude.

Example: Your men's camp sold out.

What it says about you: I am a gatherer of men and community.

How to make it real: Send a message to all attendees expressing gratitude.

The Weekly Practice

Three to five wins per week. Keep topping it up. When business is down and you feel like everything's failing, go back and read your record of victory. It fills you with confidence.

Or do acknowledgement for someone else instead of wallowing.

The Core Truth

"An unacknowledged effort erodes confidence."

Most men forget how far they've come because they never acknowledged themselves, their family, or their team.

A king who honours his progress and appreciates his people does not need to posture. Does not need to fake it. Does not need to become a tyrant.

He just needs to acknowledge.

Listen to discover why your biggest barrier to progress isn't external. It's your inability to see what's actually working.

This episode is for any entrepreneur tired of feeling behind and ready to build confidence through evidence.

Why Identity is Everything

In this episode, Ben the Kingmaker Journal, a tool he's developed to help entrepreneurs and leaders build the structure, energy and flexibility needed for sustainable success.

But this isn't about productivity hacks or business strategies.

It's about who you're being.

What You'll Learn

The Three Elements of Success Energy, flexibility, and structure. Most entrepreneurs have plenty of energy but lack structure. This creates chaos. Ben shows why balance is essential.

The Brainwashing We Don't See We're all living someone else's definition of success. Ben uses the example of interviewing a suicide bomber to show how stories shape identity. Your version of success may not actually be yours.

Identity is the Key Whether you want to build a bigger business, improve your relationships, or get healthier, the question isn't "What should I do?" It's "Who do I need to be?" Ben shares his own transformation from being a smoker to running an Ironman, not through willpower or tactics, but through changing his identity.

The Four Archetypes The Warrior, the Magician, the Lover, and the King. Most men try to become the King before developing the others. Ben explains why the order matters.

Keeping Your Kingdom in Order Your body, mind, work, family, relationships, finances, energy and time are all part of your kingdom. The King doesn't do everything himself, but he's responsible for everything.

Why Most Personal Development Fails It operates at the level of behavior (what to do) instead of identity (who to be). When identity shifts, behavior follows naturally. When it doesn't, you're just grinding.

The Core Truth

"You don't see things as they are. You see things as you are."

If you're not getting the results you want in business, relationships, health, or life, you need to change the filter through which you're seeing the world.

That happens through initiation. Through understanding who you actually are. Through identifying the stories and beliefs that are running your life without your permission.

The Kingmaker Journal is the tool. The camps are where the real work happens.

Listen to discover:

Why your biggest obstacle isn't external

How to shift identity instead of forcing behavior change

The three forbidden topics in real community

Why most entrepreneurs are living in a fantasy world

How to rule your kingdom from a grounded, clear and focused place

This episode is for any man ready to stop grinding and start becoming.

There is an architecture to masculine development. It is not random. It does not happen at random times for random people. There are questions your nervous system has been asking since before you could walk and most men go to their grave without ever answering them.

In this episode, Ben Price maps the developmental stages of a man's life, from infancy to old age, and names the unanswered questions that are quietly running the show.

Why the 47-year-old founder with a six-million-pound business still doesn't feel like a man. Why the contract lands and the emptiness remains. Why success built on an old wound never heals the wound.

Ben covers

• The question your nervous system asked from birth — and what happens when it never got answered
• Why most men are still trying to earn love from a father who demanded performance
• What masculine initiation actually is, and why its absence is behind male suicide, knife crime, and the rise of extremism
• The most dangerous stage of a man's life — and why most men either grow from it or descend into it
• What it means to finally stop performing and start leading

This is not a motivation episode. It is a map. One that most men needed at twelve and are only finding now.

If something in this lands, go to coachbenprice.com.

From the "wrong narratives" we inherit in childhood to the sophisticated ways we sabotage our own growth, Ian explores why million-pound business owners still struggle with imposter syndrome and the paralyzing cycle of overthinking or what Ben calls "mental masturbation."

Key Highlights:

• The Early Conditioning: How subtle childhood experiences like a parent’s "top-to-bottom scan" before you left the house manifest as deep-seated "not enoughness" in the boardroom.
• Emotions vs. Data: Why "trusting your gut" is a double-edged sword and how to balance logical rationalism with emotional intelligence.
• The Anatomy of a Decision: Ian live-coaches Ben through a real business dilemma, breaking down the process of triangulation, red-teaming, and pilot testing to remove the fear of "irrevocable" choices.
• The Bias Trap: A deep dive into the cognitive biases that plague leadership:
  • Optimism Bias: Why you might be up-weighting one "good" opinion while ignoring nine warnings.
  • Urgency Bias: The false sense that you must act now or lose out forever.
  • Authority Bias: Overvaluing the opinions of "experts" without testing the market.

Featured Guest: Ian Price

Ian is a high-level coach and mentor based in the Chichester area, leading exclusive peer groups for established entrepreneurs. His philosophy centers on caring, courage, and curiosity, helping leaders move from ruminating in the dark to scaling in the light.

Connect with Ian:

• Website: ianpricenewplace.co.uk
• LinkedIn: Ian Price
• Email: ian@ianpricenewplace.co.uk

"Lose, but don't lose the lesson." — Ian Price

Ben Price — former British Army Intelligence Corps soldier, father of two sons, men's coach and initiator — makes the case that every crisis of young men in Britain today traces back to the same missing thing: initiation.

In this episode, Ben explains what initiation actually is and why every culture in human history has understood its necessity — until ours. He walks through the three-stage structure that has moved boys into manhood across every functioning civilisation: separation, ordeal and teaching, and the return with recognition. He explains what boys get from it that they cannot get from a phone, a school trip, or the manosphere. And he lays out, in precise terms, what a school can do about it within one academic year.

This is not theory. This is a former soldier who once interviewed a suicide bomber in Helmand Province, spent years working with men at the identity level, and woke up as a father of two boys with something urgent to offer.

Boys are not broken. They are unbuilt. This is about building them.

Ben Price is a men's coach, former British Army Intelligence Corps officer, and founder of The Kingmaker Initiation Programme. He works with entrepreneurial men who are outwardly successful but know something is missing.

This podcast is that conversation. The one that changes things.

Each episode Ben goes deep with men who have done the work, therapists, coaches, warriors, and everyday heroes, on identity, leadership, fatherhood, masculinity, and what it actually takes to become the man you were built to be.

No performance. No motivational fluff. Just honest conversations for men who are ready to stop running and start becoming.

Most successful men hit their 40s with everything they were told to want. And feel nothing. This conversation with Ori Latter, men's coach, former Israeli soldier and single dad, goes into why achievement without initiation leaves men hollow and what the crossing into the second half of life actually demands.

Key soundbites:

• 00:02 "A lot of men spend their entire lives never daring to know themselves"
• 19:30 "I was picking up male role models to follow. Only to find out this man would ultimately let me down"
• 43:00 "One of the gateway emotions to becoming a king is joy. A real elder can zoom out and just giggle at the whole thing"

2. LEVEL UP - What High Achieving Men Get Wrong About Growth

More revenue. Better systems. Optimised everything. Still something's missing. Ben and Ori break down why the next level for most successful men isn't found in the business, it's found inside themselves. And why that's the hardest climb they'll ever attempt.

Key soundbites:

• 05:30 "I thought I was masculine. Years later I realised I was just trying to prove something"
• 30:00 "In the last six years I've developed more than I could have ever asked for. You'd never learn this in any university course"
• 56:30 "It's very hard to have time for self pity when we are consciously doing something for someone else"

3. THE ELDER WITHIN - Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Man

We have plenty of older men. Almost no elders. Ori and Ben dig into what we lost when we dismantled the structures that used to guide men through life's hardest crossings, and what it's going to take to rebuild them.

Key soundbites:

• 22:20 "We no longer have genuine men who we can collectively agree are worthy of being male role models"
• 44:50 "Mentorship goes both ways. There's a lot we can learn from the people we mentor"
• 58:40 "Long before therapists were around, the village, the elders, everybody took care of each other. We didn't need them"

4. OPEN HEART, STRONG BACK - Leadership, Fatherhood and Becoming

For the man who's strong on the outside and quietly starving on the inside. Ori unpacks what it means to lead with an open heart and a strong back as a father, a coach and a man still very much in the process of becoming.

Key soundbites:

• 38:00 "The open heart is the willingness to be vulnerable. The strong back is the values, where I draw the line and say this is where I end and you begin"
• 41:50 "Every challenge my daughter puts me on is a door opening for me to step into the next level"
• 43:00 "A real elder can zoom out and just giggle at the whole mad thing"

5. THE UNINITIATED - Why Successful Men Are Still Lost

Success without initiation is just a well-decorated cage. Ben and Ori go deep on why so many high-achieving men, entrepreneurs, fathers, leaders, are still fundamentally lost, and what the path up actually looks like.

Key soundbites:

• 02:00 "Men follow someone else's map and at some point wake up and say, what am I doing this for? This is not me"
• 21:00 "We end up with substitute role models. Pop culture figures who we can't actually learn from"
• 53:20 "Men translate major life changes as, it will always be this bad. And when we don't have an emotional vocabulary to process that, things get dark fast"

He built The Whole Man Academy after spotting a gap in the UK for men who want to improve their life without posturing.
We talk about the shift from personal development into mens work, why most men want solutions not labels, and how community changes outcomes fast.
Anthony breaks down what his dinners, focus days, and Adventurer Experience actually look like, plus why he built a low cost membership tier so men can start without overthinking.
We also get into identity after leaving a role, the shame loop men carry, and why you need the right group of men, not just any group.
Next step, take Anthony’s Whole Man Blueprint quiz, then choose your next move.

https://www.wholemanacademy.com/

In this episode, Ben makes the case that that feeling is more legitimate than anyone has ever told you.

Drawing on striking research, the fact that 80% of men who died by suicide were actively in therapy and had been assessed as low or no risk Ben unpacks why the mental health system, despite its evolution, was never really designed with men in mind. From the historical pathologising of women to the silent damage of "man up" culture, he traces how we got here and why simply telling men to open up isn't the answer if we don't have the tools to receive them when they do.

He also explores what actually works challenge-based relationships, somatic work, male community, useful frameworks and why the absence of initiation and male elders in modern society has left so many men without a map for the inner journey.

This one is honest, direct, and long overdue.

Ben sits down with Liz Court, a certified Transcendental Meditation teacher since 1970 who learned the technique directly from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi himself, the man who brought TM to the Western world. Liz shares what it was like to travel to India as a young woman in an era when crossing the Channel was considered adventurous, what it means to work for a real-life yogi, and why TM is fundamentally different from every other meditation technique out there.

They cover what consciousness actually is, the science behind group meditation reducing crime and conflict, and why — unlike so many paths to inner peace — TM asks you to believe absolutely nothing. Just get on the train.

Whether you're a seasoned meditator or someone who's always been curious, this conversation might be the nudge you've been waiting for.

Penny shares her journey from a “reluctant businesswoman” to building a global entrepreneur community (E-cademy) before LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter existed — and what happened when it all collapsed. They talk about identity, ego, scarcity, and the real work of rebuilding after losing everything.

The conversation moves through parenting under pressure, why attention is love, and how hard seasons can create resilience and deeper gratitude. Penny also explores significance as a human need — how contribution and vulnerability build real connection — and why simply noticing people can change their day.

Finally, they touch on masculinity and modern culture: the shifting roles, the confusion many men feel, and why men need more support as society changes.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome + “Who are you and why are you here?”
01:22 Serving business owners through community (BIP100)
03:44 Why BIP stands out: culture, calibre, care
05:28 Early life + becoming a “servant leader”
10:15 Motherhood, loneliness, and creating connection
11:45 The gift of scarcity and valuing the small things
13:58 Finding meaning in adversity
16:00 Detaching from material stress
18:12 Ego, identity, and being known vs being free
23:50 Home computing → the birth of E-cademy
27:42 Global growth and in-person community
28:41 Social media shift: conversation → broadcast
30:14 Collapse, debt pressure, “minus millionaires”
31:54 Rebuilding and endurance
32:40 Paying off £750k, then cancer
33:36 Parenting priorities: attention = love
38:20 “Parent first” as a non-negotiable
42:08 Significance, contribution, and vulnerability
47:25 Noticing people: dignity costs nothing
50:30 Masculinity, roles, and supporting men
56:12 Where to find Penny + BIP100
57:11 Closing reflections

This isn’t a war story. It’s a story about the war inside your own mind: friendly fire, the hostages you’re holding in your nervous system, and the moment you realise you’ve been living on a borrowed mission. If you’ve built success but lost peace, this is for you.

The book isn’t available yet. Join the waiting list via the link on this page to be first in line for release + updates. If you’re ready for initiation and want to work together, book a 15-minute call via the links.

https://go.coachbenprice.com/book_wait_list_cwasb

In this episode, Ben Price sits down with Mac Macartney, founder of Embercombe and one of Britain’s true elders, to explore initiation, elderhood, power, integrity, and what it really means to live a life in service.

They speak about rites of passage, the loss of elders in modern culture, the danger of power on the spiritual path, deep connection to land, and why the greatest crisis of our time is not climate, politics, or economics, but the passivity of good people.

This is not a motivational talk.
It’s not comfort.
It’s a call to responsibility, courage, and clean leadership.

If you’re a man asking deeper questions about legacy, purpose, initiation, or how to live with integrity in a fractured world, this conversation will meet you where you are and challenge you to stand taller.

They unpack Monica’s Queen vs Princess framework (and the male mirror: King vs Prince), why “being chosen” keeps women dating from insecurity, and why men are more confused than ever about approaching women post-MeToo. They also go into masculine leadership in dating, the difference between assertiveness and control, and why “nice guy” energy gets rejected.

A big chunk of the conversation hits porn, dopamine, and “leaking sexual energy”, plus the controversial but practical truth: women want safety and devotion, and men need brotherhood so they can process emotion without dumping it all on their partner.

This is a grounded, polarity-based conversation about identity, standards, and responsibility in relationships.

Time stamps

00:01 Intro: who Monica is and why she’s here
00:53 “Queen Treatment”: Queen vs Princess, King vs Prince framework
04:25 Monica’s origin story: pattern repetition, responsibility, turning pain into purpose
07:42 Why her angle is deeper than “dating tips”: wounds, barriers to love, healing
09:11 Ben: most pressure is on men in dating. Monica: women must stay empowered too
11:26 Post-MeToo approaching: fear, stakes, respectful pursuit, and reality
14:46 “Good men aren’t bothering”: porn, apps, games, easy dopamine
16:47 Porn: what Monica believes are the real negative effects
20:21 The pursuit: why courtship motivates men and bonds relationships
21:17 “Too much too soon?” King energy vs needy prince energy
23:30 Assertiveness in dating: “I’ve got the restaurant”
24:12 What women truly want: safety and devotion (emotional, physical, sexual, financial)
28:14 Mixed messages: men resisting provider/protector, women resisting feminine
30:13 No initiation: why modern men don’t know what “being the man” looks like
34:30 Women out-earning men: “provider mindset” vs being the breadwinner
36:16 Vulnerability: should men process emotions with women or elsewhere too?
39:01 What women can do: holding space, patience, not punishing emotion
41:37 Monica’s mission: restoring healthy relationships and countering modern chaos
44:03 Cultural confusion: toilets, gender roles, and the cost of denying differences
45:48 Biggest challenge: media indoctrination and shallow relationship models
48:19 Where to find Monica + book plug + possible UK collab and camps

Jeff Mask joins Ben Price for a grounded conversation on leadership, fatherhood, initiation, and what it means to be a man in the modern world. Jeff shares a defining childhood accident that shaped his commitment to “spread light and love,” breaks down why most adults accidentally create the teenagers they complain about, and explains how great leaders use specific acknowledgement to pull greatness out of people.

They also explore rites of passage for boys and men, discomfort as a reset ritual, and why emotional suppression doesn’t make you strong, it makes you brittle. If you’re a father, leader, or high-performing man who wants more presence, clarity, and integrity, this one hits.

Timestamps

Top 10 Timestamps (Main Points)

00:06 Jeff’s identity and mission: faith, family, “spread light and love”
01:20 The childhood accident that shaped his purpose
05:21 Fatherhood seasons: stop dreading the future, choose the best phase now
06:38 “Wait till you…” programming and how to rewire it
10:47 Teens: respect vs disdain, and how adults often create the behaviour they hate
13:35 How to connect with teens: name, care, and what makes them come alive
16:15 Why acknowledgements work (and how great leaders use them)
18:23 How Jeff became a coach (Infusionsoft/Keap origin story)
24:38 Initiation for boys and men: mountains, discomfort, confidence earned
36:02 What it means to be a man today: integrate masculine + feminine, don’t suppress emotion

Key Takeaways

• You don’t “get” a great season of parenting. You create it.
• Teenagers respond to the respect (or disdain) you carry before you speak.
• Specific acknowledgement is leadership leverage, but only if you know the person.
• Initiation is not a nice-to-have. It’s a missing ingredient for many modern men.
• Unprocessed emotion doesn’t vanish. It compacts, hardens, and leaks out sideways.

Guest

Jeff Mask coaches CEOs globally and focuses on people and leadership patterns across any industry.
Find Jeff: jeffmask.com / maskprinciples.com

They discuss Stuart’s turning point in Afghanistan, where he first realised the transformative impact of coaching. He explains how timeline therapy helps individuals detach from traumatic memories and how coaching approaches can differ across genders, with women often more open to emotional exploration. They discuss the evolving definition of masculinity and the lack of true initiation into adulthood in modern culture. The conversation also explores alcohol’s ability to lower inhibition and reveal hidden aspects of identity, and the ongoing complexity of self-discovery.

The dialogue shifts into nature, nutrition, and consciousness. Stuart and Ben explore how time in nature increases oxygen intake, reduces stress, and enhances mental clarity. They examine energy exchange with the natural world, the importance of mindful food choices, and how emotional states influence eating behaviours. Stuart emphasises conscious eating, the impact of judgment on the nutritional value we receive, and how meditation connects us to higher consciousness.

The core message is clear: healing, growth, and clarity come from understanding the mind, grounding in nature, and making conscious choices about how we live, eat, think, and connect.

Takeaways

• Stuart’s coaching breakthrough occurred during military service.
• Timeline therapy helps detach emotion from traumatic memories.
• Coaching men and women can require different approaches.
• Modern culture lacks true initiation into adulthood.
• Masculinity is grounded in standing for personal truth.
• Alcohol reveals aspects of identity by lowering inhibition.
• Emotional healing creates profound internal shifts.
• Collaboration is more effective than competition.
• Nature calms the brain and increases oxygen for performance.
• Humans exchange energy with living beings, including plants.
• Conscious eating creates better physical and emotional outcomes.
• Judgment of food shapes how the body receives it.
• Meditation connects the individual to higher consciousness.
• Emotional states strongly influence food choices.
• Mindfulness and nature connection are essential for mental health.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Stuart Holcroft
02:00 Defining Moments in Coaching and Psychology
04:41 The Power of Timeline Therapy
08:56 Gender Dynamics in Coaching
13:14 Exploring Modern Masculinity
19:03 Alcohol and the True Self
22:31 Nature and Mental Well-being
32:02 Conscious Eating and Nutrition
38:01 Consciousness and Life Choices

Next Steps

1. Attend Camp O.C.C.C.E.
A transformational men’s experience designed to pull you out of autopilot, reconnect you with who you really are, and place you among high-standard men committed to growth.
If you feel the pull, trust it.
www.ceocampout.com

2. Explore 1:1 Coaching with Ben Price
For men ready for radical honesty, identity work, and a higher level of leadership.
This is deep transformation, not surface-level coaching.
If it is a hell yes, reach out.
If it is a maybe, it is a no for now.

Keep moving.

They explore Transcendental Meditation and how it differs from other forms of meditation, focusing on effortlessness, stillness, and accessing deeper states of being. Charlotte highlights how identity shapes thought and behaviour, and how shifting who you are being can transform how you show up in the world. They discuss the power of declarations, visualisation, and conscious intention in creating opportunities.

The conversation moves into the realities of public speaking, communication skills, and the psychological work required to build confidence. They discuss practical tools such as practicing in similar environments, verbal journaling to release stress, and breaking preparation into manageable pieces. Charlotte’s philosophy of shifting “fear to fun” reframes public speaking as a chance for connection rather than performance.

They also touch on the role of AI in communication and the irreplaceable value of human connection. With loneliness rising, they emphasise the need for presence, authenticity, and real conversation. The core message: confidence grows when you address the deeper identity-level challenges beneath behaviour.

Takeaways

• Purpose can emerge through meditation and stillness.
• Presence creates real connection.
• Transcendental Meditation offers unique access to deeper states.
• Authenticity makes communication effortless and powerful.
• Identity shifts lead to personal growth.
• Declarations and visualisation help manifest opportunities.
• Practicing in safe environments builds resilience for public speaking.
• Verbal journaling helps release stress before networking or speaking.
• Preparation should be consistent and broken into small steps.
• Transforming fear into excitement changes how you communicate.
• AI cannot replace real human presence and connection.
• Loneliness highlights the need for authentic interaction.
• Confidence grows when deeper personal challenges are addressed.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Purpose and Reincarnation
02:58 Presence and Connection
06:01 Understanding Transcendental Meditation
09:08 Being and Authenticity
11:50 Identity and States of Being
15:00 Declarations and Visualisation
17:59 Communication in a Modern World
21:03 Public Speaking Tools
24:00 Verbal Journaling and Stress
26:50 Preparation and Practice
30:00 Deeper Self-Development
33:01 Transforming Fear into Fun
39:06 AI and Human Connection
44:01 The Confidence Journey

Next Steps

1. Attend Camp O.C.C.C.E.
A transformational men’s experience designed to pull you out of autopilot, reconnect you with who you really are, and place you among high-standard men committed to growth.
If you feel the pull, trust it.
www.ceocampout.com

2. Explore 1:1 Coaching with Ben Price
For men ready for radical honesty, identity work, and a higher level of leadership.
This is deep transformation, not surface-level coaching.
If it is a hell yes, reach out.
If it is a maybe, it is a no for now.

Keep moving.

Christian shares his personal journey through self-doubt, rebuilding confidence, and understanding the importance of boundaries. He highlights how cultural and religious conditioning shape masculinity and often limit emotional range. The discussion also explores the deep link between the mind and body, showing how gut health, nervous system regulation, and bodily sensations influence emotional awareness.

Together, they examine why community and brotherhood are essential for men’s well-being, why many men feel disconnected from purpose, and how self-concept directly affects mental health. They also touch on the potential of psychedelics in therapy and the need to rewrite the narrative around seeking help.

This episode reinforces a simple truth: men do not heal alone. Real change comes from connection, honesty, and taking responsibility for the man you choose to become.

Key Takeaways

• Many men struggle with identity and purpose, especially in midlife.
• Men often delay seeking help until breaking point.
• Community and human connection are essential for mental health.
• Societal expectations lead men to mask emotional struggle.
• Boundaries are critical for self-respect and emotional clarity.
• Emotional expression is limited by traditional masculinity.
• Culture and religion shape men’s perceptions of masculinity.
• The gut-brain connection influences emotional regulation.
• Bodily awareness helps unlock emotional responses.
• Healing the gut can deepen emotional capacity.
• Self-concept and community strongly influence mental well-being.
• Many men feel a gap between external success and internal fulfilment.
• Changing the narrative around seeking help is essential.
• Personal transformation often begins with a single moment of truth.
• Authentic ambition means alignment with personal values.
• Psychedelics show therapeutic promise.
• Brotherhood accelerates healing and growth.
• Choice is the foundation of identity.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Christian Chalfont
06:07 The Reluctance to Seek Help
11:51 Christian’s Personal Journey
17:55 Emotional Expression in Men
23:59 Connecting Mind and Body
34:29 Healing the Gut and Emotional Connection
41:37 Changing the Mental Health Narrative
46:43 Ambitions for a Better Life
01:03:41 Finding Help and Resources

Next Steps

1. Attend Camp O.C.C.C.E.
A transformational men’s experience designed to pull you out of autopilot, reconnect you with who you really are, and place you among high-standard men committed to growth.
If you feel the pull, trust it.
www.ceocampout.com

2. Explore 1:1 Coaching with Ben Price
For men ready for radical honesty, identity work, and a higher level of leadership.
This is not surface-level coaching. This is deep transformation.
If it is a hell yes, reach out.
If it is a maybe, it is a no for now.

Keep moving.

This episode invites you to slow down, reconnect, and lead your life from a deeper place.

Key Takeaways

1. Head and Heart
   Most people lead from the head. True growth comes when the heart returns to the conversation.
2. Identity is formed early
   Schooling, parenting, and early expectations shape the identities many adults still live inside, identities they never consciously chose.
3. Women must recreate after motherhood
   Not return to who they were, but evolve into who they are now.
4. Masculine and feminine energies matter
   Not gendered. Human. Understanding them reduces friction, builds connection, and transforms relationships.
5. Self-love is foundational
   You cannot build healthy relationships on top of self-rejection.
6. Agreements over Expectations
   Expectations create resentment. Agreements create adult partnership.
7. Community is essential
   Humans are not meant to grow alone. Men need spaces where truth is welcomed without judgment.
8. Emotional intelligence is the future of leadership
   People no longer follow titles. They follow connection.

Powerful Quotes

"The heart of this family is me."
"You are not broken, thank God."
"You have a choice, don't you?"

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
03:08 Head and Heart
06:08 Societal Expectations
09:04 Motherhood and Identity
12:07 Homecoming vs Recreation
15:17 Inner Foundations
18:06 Self-Love
21:00 Relationships and Community
23:57 Women as the Heart
26:55 Men's Safe Spaces
30:09 Feminine Power
33:09 Masculine and Feminine Dynamics
38:19 Balancing Energies
40:17 Vulnerability
42:08 Attachment Theory
44:07 Neediness and Avoidance
46:05 Expectations vs Agreements
48:08 Self-Awareness
50:07 Emotional Intelligence
52:12 What Men Need
54:04 Evolving Gender Roles
56:03 Family Balance
58:09 Personal Growth
01:00:08 Future of Leadership
01:09:33 The Ben Price Experience
01:10:03 The CEO Campout
01:11:01 Community and Connection

Next Steps

1. Attend Camp OCCC.E.
A transformational men's experience designed to pull you out of autopilot, reconnect you with who you really are, and place you among high-standard men committed to growth.
If you feel the pull, trust it.
www.ceocampout.com

2. Explore 1:1 Coaching with Ben Price
For men ready for radical honesty, identity work, and a new level of leadership.
This is not surface-level coaching. This is deep transformation.
If it is a hell yes, reach out.
If it is a maybe, it is a no for now.

Keep moving.

Being a maverick means finding your own unique path and individuality.

Authenticity is crucial for personal fulfillment and connection with others.

Many people wear masks that prevent them from being their true selves.

Cultural norms around masculinity can hinder emotional expression in men.

Self-discovery has a ripple effect on those around us.

Vulnerability is a strength that fosters deeper relationships.

Personal development is a journey that requires ongoing effort and reflection.

Understanding the balance of masculinity and femininity is essential for modern men.

Family dynamics play a significant role in shaping our identities.

Summary

Shari Teigman, a transformational coach and creative business strategist, discusses the importance of authenticity, self-discovery, and the masks people wear in their lives. She emphasizes the need for individuals to find their unique paths, embrace vulnerability, and challenge cultural norms surrounding masculinity. The dialogue explores the ripple effect of personal development on relationships and the significance of asking better questions to foster deeper connections. Shari shares her personal journey and insights on navigating the complexities of modern identity, ultimately encouraging listeners to embrace their individuality and seek fulfillment in their lives.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Shari Teigman

03:04 Understanding the Maverick Mindset

06:04 The Concept of Masks and Authenticity

09:07 Cultural Perspectives on Masculinity and Mental Health

12:10 The Ripple Effect of Self-Discovery

15:02 The Role of Vulnerability in Healing

18:07 Personal Growth and Its Impact on Relationships

21:14 The Journey to Self-Awareness

24:09 Reflections on Military Experience and Identity

27:50 The Journey of Self-Mastery

28:10 From Darkness to Discovery

30:15 Rediscovering the Inner Child

31:56 The Masks We Wear

35:59 Understanding Masculinity

41:44 The Evolving Roles of Men and Women

47:51 Questions for Self-Discovery

This episode explores the shift from external achievement to internal mastery. Joe and Ben examine why many high-performing men feel successful yet unfulfilled, and how true leadership begins with leading yourself first. They break down the traps of outcome-attachment, stress as avoidance, and constant doing, and replace them with identity-driven behaviour, presence, emotional self-control, and clear personal standards. Health, sleep, and nutrition are positioned as foundational to performance. They discuss masculine identity, the power of male connection, and why oscillation between roles creates more stability than chasing balance. The core message: fulfilment is earned through who you become, not what you achieve.

Show Notes

Episode: The Journey of Self-Discovery: Balancing Being and Doing
Guest: Joe

Core Insight

Being first. Doing second. Identity before tactics. You build the man, then the outcomes follow.

Key Themes

• Lead self before leading others
• Identity shapes behaviour and results
• Outcome obsession drains fulfilment
• Stress can be procrastination in disguise
• Conscious awareness precedes change
• Sleep, movement, nutrition = performance base
• Masculinity requires responsibility and brotherhood
• Men grow in connection, not isolation
• Oscillation beats balance for high performance

Tactical Principles

• Anchor identity with declarations
• Use data as feedback, not judgement
• Recover as intentionally as you push
• Build environments and relationships that elevate standards

Sound Bites

• “Being is more important than doing.”
• “Sleep is crucial for performance.”
• “Food quality is massively underrated.”

Chapters

00:00 Identity and leadership
02:51 Being over doing
05:54 Detaching from outcomes
11:10 Fulfilment vs satisfaction
14:01 Stress and avoidance
16:59 Health as the base layer
22:39 Integrating fitness, work, relationships
28:11 Sleep and performance
31:15 Stress recovery
46:43 Modern masculinity
55:17 Brotherhood and vulnerability
01:02:48 Movement standards
01:09:37 Nutrition fundamentals
01:17:20 Oscillation vs balance
01:32:06 Conscious living challenges

You built the business. Now build the man.

For men ready to lead with discipline, presence, and power: apply for www.campoccce.com