The Imperfect Pod
By The Imperfect Pod
The Imperfect PodMar 13, 2020
#35 | Discussing The Porn Industry and How Sex Can Affect Men and Masculinity | Erik Everhard
Porn is such an uncomfortable conversation with so many people for so many reasons. Some of those reasons include: shame of performance anxiety; shame about sex or past sexual experiences; meeting the standards we believe society had set; penis size; shame of an addiction; fear of judgement; and much much more.
But is porn all that bad? Can we take anything away from actors who have lived that life? Can you have sexual intimacy in a relationship while being a porn star as your profession? Do porn stars think that everyone should be watching porn?
This episode is a mix of questions I was curious about asking Erik, as well as some very critical questions and perspectives around this being a job, sexual mastery, and porn as being a negative influence on young men. This had always been a conversation I’ve wanted to have since starting the podcast. I think sex and porn really do have a much larger impact on manhood and masculinity and sexual performance than we think.
About Erik: Erik Everhard is one of world’s top male porn stars, having starred in and directed over 3,000 films. Erik is a professional coach and one of the most decorated adult performers of the 21st century. He is a leading authority on sexual and mental techniques which can empower men and bring them success in the bedroom as well as in all other aspects of their lives. In addition to his wealth of practical knowledge, he holds a Masters level certification in Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP). You can find out more about Erik through his website where you can pre-order his book, join his Facebook page, and more! And make sure to follow him on Instagram @erikeverhardofficial and on Twitter @ERIK_EVERHARD
#34 | Increasing Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence Through Therapy and Meditation | Alan Stein, Jr.
How can you increase self-awareness and emotional intelligence? And what does this have to do with leadership? How can you be in control of your emotions? How can therapy and meditation be used as tools to learn more about yourself? What can we do to turn of the negative self-dialogue we have?
These are some of the questions that Alan Stein, Jr. answer's on this week's episode. But we also talk about the stigma of seeking help and counselling and how to have patience with yourself in your growth process.
About Alan Stein, Jr: Alan teaches proven strategies to improve organizational performance, create effective leadership, increase team cohesion and collaboration, and develop winning mindsets, rituals, and routines.
A successful business owner and veteran basketball performance coach, he spent 15 years working with the highest-performing athletes on the planet (including NBA superstars Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Kobe Bryant).
With the skills he acquired in the basketball world, Alan is now a successful Keynote Speaker with client like Pepsi, Starbucks, FDA and many sports programs. He is also the author of the book "Raise Your Game: High Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best". Make sure to check out more of his work on his website here. Make sure to connect with him on all socials @AlanSteinJr as well!
#33 | Navigating The Dating World As Young Men | Jordan Paris
This week's episode is all about the dating world. When it comes to dating, the world seems to be very confused. With access to all the dating apps - all being used for seemingly different purposes - it can be hard to understand everyone's intentions. The age of marriage seems like it has risen substantially. People want to focus on their careers while they are young. Hook up culture has made the dating scene more about "fun" but also leads to a generation that seems to not be able to communicate their true intentions. As feminism continues to grow and women are focused on their careers, who pays for the first date? Do "Nice Guys" really finish last? What does the term friendzone mean? Jordan and I talk about all these things and how young men navigate these spaces. I really hope you enjoy!
About Jordan: Jordan Paris is a 22-year-old author, podcast host, and entrepreneur featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Men’s Health, Yahoo! Finance, and Market Watch. Jordan’s podcast, Growth Mindset University, is ranked #6 in Apple’s Self-Improvement category, #3 in the Training category, #5 in the How-To category. In Education, one of Apple’s most competitive categories, the show was ranked #15. The show is also ranked highly in 40+ countries worldwide. On the show, he interviews young up-and-comers and the most successful people on planet earth like James Altucher, Grant Cardone, Robert Greene, Mark Manson, Dan Millman, Ryan Serhant, Dean Graziosi, and Naveen Jain. Jordan is the founder and creative director of Trend Up Media, a one-stop podcast agency that produces profitable podcasts to help businesses grow in both profit and influence. His approach to life and business is simple yet powerful: Don’t make a living, design a life. With this creator’s mentality, Jordan has been able to produce outstanding results for himself and challenge others to rise above circumstances, break the mold of society, and take control of their lives.
You can connect with Jordan on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and more. And make sure to tune into his podcast!
#32 | The Lifelong Journey Of Understanding Masculinity | Timothy Wenger
Timothy is a photographer, writer, business consultant, and a lover of living life. He founded The Man Effect out of a desire to find answers for what it means to be a man, this sent him literally around the world. This journey has not stopped and he continues to press on and create a conversation around what does it mean to be a man.
On this episode, we discuss how themes of masculinity transcend cultures or take different forms in different cultures, how to confront ideas of masculinity straight on, and why the definition of masculinity masculinity will never truly exist. His project of travelling the world to discover these ideas is a long-term goal of mine and this podcast. So it was really cool to speak with him about his journey and process.
There's a lot of wisdom packed into this episode so I hope you enjoy. You can follow his blog The Man Effect, follow his Instagram, and follow his Facebook page for more insights!
I hope you enjoy the episode!
#31 | Discussing Masculinity From a Perspective of Empathy | Jason Lee
Why is empathy so important in the discussion of masculinity? For one, it's important to understand but also interpret back another person's feelings. But it also allows you to walk in their shoes and understand how they feel. For Jason, Empathy is at the core of the work he does with Jubilee Media as the CEO. Jubilee is a digital media company that believes in the power of empathy for human good. With over 5 million subscribers, Jubilee is creating a global movement. Some of the topics we discuss on this week's episode include why Jubilee discusses the topic of masculinity so much, the importance of empathy in the masculine journey, how we've created unhealthy systems of manhood and dating, and the grey area in conversations about consent. They are one of the inspirations behind me starting this podcast in the first place, and they've done many many many videos talking about masculinity which I have linked bellow.
Men's Rights and Feminists and Feminists and Non-Feminists
You can find Jason on Instagram and Twitter at @jasonylee_ and you can find all of Jubilee's videos here. Jason has also given a Ted Talk on following your dreams which you can find here.
If you want to join a group of other Jubilee fans, you can find their FB group here!
Lastly, here is a link to BLM donations and petitions in order to continue the mission. I hope you enjoy the episode!
#30 | Coming to Manhood After Foster Care and An Affair | Roman Roberts
What is it like to be raised in foster care and how does that affect a young person's confidence? What is the difference between a good and bad foster care home? How do alcohol and pill addictions affect your life? And how can the military save you, shape you, but also hurt you? These are all themes that Roman and I discuss on this week's episode.
As a man who had been through foster care, the military, and had an affair on his wife, Roman's story fascinated me when he reached out, and I thank him so much for his authenticity and transparency of his story. I really enjoyed this conversation with Roman Roberts and how he lives by the words of his wife “you can’t have a testimony without a test”. And I’m so thankful that Roman reached out to me and shared his test!
You can find Roman on LinkedIn at Roman Roberts, and you can hear more of his story on his video podcast Real Talk with Roman which you can find here. I hope you enjoy!
#29 | Conversations With Myself, A White Man | Luke
This past week I've been more angry than I can remember. With everything going on regarding Black Lives Matter, it was an emotionally exhausting week. But I must remember that, as a white man, four days of anger is nothing compared to those in my life that have felt this anger their entire lives. This episode is a reflection on the past week, what's been going through my mind, how we can continue the conversation, this podcast's role in that conversation and more. It's also a conversation about how white men need to be allies, how I've worked in my life to fix racist thoughts when I have them, and why it's not okay for white people to tell black people how to protest.
Here are links that you can use to donate to the cause or sign petitions, depending on what you think is most important. We will get back to the "usual" programming next week, but I felt this was an important conversation to have with myself and my audience and how I can be better moving forward. Thanks for listening!
#28 | How Fraternities Can Shape Male Identity | Luke & Jordan
This conversation with Jordan is a surface level look at fraternities and his experiences participating in them in university. As someone who has always had an unfair judgement of them, I wanted to challenge my views on them. The way they are presented in movies isn't 100% accurate and I know I have unfair thoughts about them. Jordan, being a guy who was in one in America, shares his experiences with them and how they helped form his identity in both positive and negative ways! I hope you enjoy and make sure to connect with Jordan on LinkedIn here.
Jordan is a Northwestern and Kellogg School of Management graduate, a startup founder, a 2x TEDx speaker, and a #1 best-selling author. His new book, The Journey to Cloud Nine, provides a new approach to the personal development world by using fictional storytelling to reveal some of life's most meaningful principles. Jordan has been blazing new trails for people around the world, and he cannot wait to share this with all of you! You can find his book on amazon here.
#FUF | The Oddity of Human Psychology and Power of Leadership
Follow up Friday is back this week! I wanted to discuss this week's episode with Andrew Metz and two important things that stood out to me: the oddity of the conversations we have around quitting alcohol and how leaders can win big or completely fail! I want to get back into these as they allow me to reflect on this week's episode and share my own voice a bit more. I hope you enjoy :)
#27 | Quitting Alcohol and Writing Our Own Stories | Andrew Metz
Drinking and alcohol intake can often be seen as a taboo topic. Binge drinking, over indulgence, and debauchery are typically what we think is "too much". But what if you're just having casual drinks everyday? Is that such a bad thing? For Andrew, it's not that it was bad, but he realized that it wasn't serving him. There are many reasons he quit alcohol: Health and well being, realizing it wasn't pushing him towards his goals, but the large picture was that he realized that his kids were watching his every move. As such, he decided to quite once and for all.
For Andrew, it wasn't really a long process. He read a book and within a few days and made the decision to stop drinking. There were awkward moments along the way including fear of judgement from his friends, being in a sales culture where that behaviour can be encouraged, and even growing up in Milwaukee culture which is heavily influenced by the beer industry. But he decided to stick with his guns and document his journey of quitting alcohol.
In our conversation we talk about his grandfathers impact on his life, why he chose to quit alcohol, fatherhood, what leadership is, and how anyone can take active steps to take a step beyond their vice.
About Andrew:
In a little over a decade Andrew Metz has risen from an entry level lead generation position to vice president, overseeing all new business generation and a team of 30 at a SaaS based InsureTech company in Milwaukee, WI. Andrew’s tremendous hard work, desire for continuous learning and improvement, generosity and humility have earned him recognition as a catalyst for growth within his organization. Metz invests in the people around him and inspires and encourages them to attain their own personal bests. His willingness to share the early lessons of his business career and personal mistakes make him a remarkable public speaker. His abilities have resulted in regular speaking requests from UWM’s Lubar School of Business, Marquette University’s School of Communication and local high schools. His generosity and accomplishments post-graduation from UW-Milwaukee has earned him “Graduate of the Last Decade” award from his alma mater. Metz is active on LinkedIn always sharing personal and business lessons through humor and entertaining story telling.
You can connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or through his website!
And as allows, if you want to see tidbits of the show, feel free to follow me on IG @theimperfectpod. This episode was recorded on video so you will get to see some exclusive video content there!
#26 | How Thinking Deeply Can Provide You More Life Clarity | Luke & Brian
Understanding who we are is something that we all struggle with. But does it have to be? How do we start? For myself, I've always understood that asking questions is the key to unlocking who we are. But how do you ask the RIGHT questions? And that's what fascinated me so much about Brian.
On this podcast, you will hear about making mistakes, human psychology, and how you become the person you are!
Brian Morgan is the President of Think Deeply, Write Clearly, a writing training organization that focuses on improving corporate reports and communications, as well as marketing and content deliverables. But on a personal level, Brian is a great question asker. So on this episode, we kind of take a different approach where Brian flips a lot of questions around on me and I'm able to share a bit more about my life and perspectives!
More about Brian: Brian was the 16+ year managing editor of one of New York City's premier planning and engineering firm, and he is also a professor at 2 NYC-area colleges. You can connect with him on LinkedIn and visit his company's website here.
And as always, don't forget to subscribe or leave a review on iTunes! Hope you enjoy!
#25 | What It's Like To Be A Woman in the Military | With Amanda Huffman
What is it like to be a woman in the military? Is the culture of the military changing and becoming more accepting of female leadership? How is the importance of have male allies in supporting women? How much more did she have to prove herself and her toughness while being deployed? These are all topics that discuss on this week's episode.
I am extra excited because Amanda is my first female guest! Yes, I know. Masculinity and manhood is not ONLY a men's discussion. Women can talk about it for hours and have deep insights into it. Especially working in a male dominated industry like the military and the importance of loving fathers in their lives, which we also talk about!
This week's guest is Amanda Huffman. Amanda is a military spouse and veteran who served in the Air Force for six years as a Civil Engineer including a deployment to Afghanistan. She traded in her combat boots for a diaper bag to stay home with her two boys and follow her husband’s military career. She published her first book in 2019 titled Women of the Military, sharing the stories of 28 military women. In 2019 she also launched her podcast also titled Women of the Military. On the podcast there has been representation from all five military branches and featured stories from the 23rd Secretary of the Air Force, the Women Air Force Service Pilots to present day. You can learn more about Amanda at her blog Airman to Mom.
You can connect with Amanda on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Patreon.
And as always, don't forget to subscribe or leave a review on iTunes!
#24 | How Men Can Overcome Their Body Issues and Insecurities | Luke & Adam
Why is it that body building can get such a bad wrap? Is it healthy to come at fitness from an angle of insecurity? How can you get over your daily battle with food and the struggles that come with it? Can therapy be good for your business, not just your personal life? What do you do if you don't feel like you fit in? These are all questions and topics we discuss on this week's episode of (im)perfect!
These week's guest is Adam Pecoraro. Adam is a fitness coach who helps people loss weight and fat and build strength and health! He’s also doing some amazing things with at home workouts right now. He has a podcast himself called “The Fittest Guy in the Office” so if that’s something that interests you, feel free to check him out on all streaming platforms.
You can also find him on TikTok @thefitadam for some great fitness techniques and hilarious mythbusters and on Instagram @thefitadam for more content! Lastly, he is very active on LinkedIn as well at Adam Pecoraro
If you enjoyed this episode, please let me know by reaching out on LinkedIn at Luke West, on IG @theimperfectpod, or leave a review on iTunes!
#23 | How Men Can Show Up More Purposefully In Their Daily Lives | Luke & Armando
How do you run a business with your wife and stay in a healthy relationship? How do you recover from a mid-life crisis? Why is it important to know the kind of woman you're looking for? What can entrepreneurs do to feel less trapped by the product and business they create? And how can men show up in their marriages and families more actively? All these topics will be discussed on this week's episode with Armando Cruz.
Armando is a husband, father, adventurer, author,ultra-marathoner, lifestyle physical therapist, and legacy coach. Armando helps growth-minded, married men live happier, more connected, and more fulfilled lives. He does this with his immersive coaching program that helps men show up powerfully in their marriage, in their health, in their business,and in their purpose. Armando's unique approach helps strip away the clutter both internally and externally that is stopping men from showing up daily as the greatest and grandest version of who they are for themselves, their family, and their legacy. Armando has climbed mountains, run over 50 miles in a day (I haven't even ran 50 miles in my life) in swamps filled with snakes and alligators, has lived out of his car, and has surfed in hurricanes, but his biggest adventure has been fatherhood. He is the creator of the Cleanse & Renewal Program, the Modern Man Virtual Summit, and the R.I.C.H. Man Experience. He is the co-owner of Cruz Country Fitness & Physical Therapy with his wife, Christian.
If you enjoyed this episode, please let me know by reaching out on LinkedIn at Luke West, on IG @theimperfectpod, or leave a review on iTunes!
Armando can be contacted through emailor online at:
Email: acruz@cruzcountry.com
Website: ArmandoCruz.com
Facebook thearmandocruz
Twitter: armando_cruz
LinkedIn: Armando Cruz
Putting Lessons Into Practice | Follow Up Friday #5
As I continue on my journey, I want to start implementing more of the practices I learn from the men I interview on a weekly basis. For this week, I had Clay Smeltzer on who talked about owning your stuff, loving your story and living with purpose. Well this week, I owned a piece of myself posting a body photo on Instagram for the first time with the caption about how I've felt insecure because of my body my entire life. It was weighing heavy on my heart to do and I had to put it into action and I did! And it wouldn't have been possible without the lessons I've learned along the way.
Follow Up Friday where I take one clip or soundbite from this week's episode and respond to it. I wanted to reflect a bit more on my recordings and thought this was the perfect way to go about doing it. It allows me to analyze what my guest said, what I said, go deeper into topics, or just be like "wow this was a horrible take, Luke". Anyways, here is the latest episode! Let me know what you think over at @theimperfectpod on IG!
#22 | How Men Can Find Their Purpose and Build Their Legacy | Luke & Clay
How can men find their purpose in life? How can we discover our identity? At heaven's gate, will we recognize the man we are supposed to become? This episode is all about dreaming about the man you are trying to become and how we can build our legacy everyday.
Clay Smeltzer is a man who owns himself, loves his story, and lives with purpose. He does this as a Man, husband, father, teacher, baseball coach, author, speaker, and with his company Purpose Infused Coaching. Clay has lived a pretty normal life nothing fancy and nothing too out of the ordinary. He followed what he was supposed to follow, did what he was supposed to do but at the age of 35 sat on a couch next to his wife having a panic attack over a TV show. With everything going great around him he still felt lost, floating, ashamed, and not where he expected himself to be in life at 35. There were two roads derived in the woods and he chose the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference.
You can find Clay on LinkedIn at Clayton Smeltzer, at his website, www.purposeinfusedcoaching.com, and on Instagram at @clay_smeltzer.
If you enjoyed this episode, please let me know by reaching out on LinkedIn at Luke West, on IG @theimperfectpod, or leave a review on iTunes!
#21 | How Men Can Find Their Hope and Identity | Luke & Jason
During this time, it is hard to feel hope. Even pre-COVID it was hard. For young men, we can really feel lost as we navigate life. Why might this be? Jason's theory? One key aspect of it is the idea of having a verbal right of passage. A real life declaration that "you are a man". In his religion, that means a type of Father's Blessing. When this happens is really important. It is has roots in tribal cultures but it all comes around from being told that you are ready for the world. And I think that's really important for men to hear. To know that we are ready. To have the trust that we are ready. Otherwise, we feel lost throughout our entire lives. I really hope you enjoy this conversation with Jason.
Jason is the owner of SHFT Marketing, a brand and marketing consultation firm that helps small and growing businesses generate leads and increase revenue with custom marketing strategies. He also runs Ignite, a nonprofit geared to helping youth and young adults find their identity and live out their calling both in the U.S. and in Europe. He is a dog dad to a rescue pitbull, an avid lover of coffee, and Superman in disguise.
You can find Jason on LinkedIn at Jason Vana, on Instagram at @jasonpaulvana, on TikTok @jasonpaulvana or on Twitter @jasonvana
If you enjoyed this episode, please let me know by reaching out on LinkedIn at Luke West, on IG @theimperfectpod, or leave a review on iTunes!
#20 | How Communication, Accountability, Perseverance and Habits Can Make You a Better Man | Luke & Marques
In this week's episode we have Marques Ogden. Marques is an Ex-NFL player, husband, father of two daughters, and a keynote speaker. In this episode, we talk a lot about his childhood and how he was raised by a single father and how that shaped his life. We also discuss the habit and values that are important for young men to succeed, the mental strength you need to survive the NFL, the importance of communication in relationships and marriage, and how he has grown as a father.
At the age 27, Marques also founded a construction company called Kayden Premier Enterprises. The company had fast growth and in 2010, Marques won The African American Subcontractor of the Year Award in the state of Maryland. Eventually his business went bankrupt, losing almost 2 million dollars on one project in a matter of 90 days. During his darkest hours, he pulled himself together, got a part-time job as a custodian and with hard work and determination became an inspirational keynote speaker, and business leader.
Where you can find Marques:
Instagram: @marquesogden
Website: https://marquesogden.com/
Youtube: Marques Ogden
Book: The Success Cycle: 3 Keys for Achieving Your Goals in Business and Life
Learning To Love Your Culture | Follow Up Friday #4
When you grow up in a culture that makes fun of your traditional culture, it's not easy to embrace that side of you. You learn to hate it. To distance yourself from it. To refuse that you are that. For Savantloup, it was much of the same thing. He hated the fact that he was Sri Lankan because no one celebrated that side of him. As such, he became "white washed". He hated that he was brown. He wished he was white or black. However, that has recently changed. He grew to want to learn more about that side of himself and even the "SL" in his name represents his home country. It hasn't been an easy process, but this is something that happens to so many immigrants, and we as a society need to learn how to help our friends and fellow people be comfortable with who they really are, rather than shaming them for it!
Follow Up Friday where I take one clip or soundbite from this week's episode and respond to it. I wanted to reflect a bit more on my recordings and thought this was the perfect way to go about doing it. It allows me to analyze what my guest said, what I said, go deeper into topics, or just be like "wow this was a horrible take, Luke". Anyways, here is the latest episode! Let me know what you think over at @theimperfectpod on IG!
#19 | Becoming A Gamechanger | Luke & Savantloup
To Savantloup, his art is more than just rapper and it's more than just music. Born and raised in Toronto, Savantloup has been exposed to a wide variety of musical influences from around the world, which directly relates to the city’s multicultural demographic.
Using the music theory he’s acquired through years of experience playing various instruments, Savantloup has been able to successfully integrate techniques from different musical backgrounds. From performing concertos at 11, to helping lead his congregation at 13, he has been immersed in music from a young age.
With this is mind, he looks to generate a sound that matches his upbringing and cultural influence. His goal is to bring together people from all walks of life, and he hopes to be a source of inspiration, especially to those who feel that their voices are not always heard.
With this, Savantloup is trying to change the game the way he knows best. Attempting to stand out and compete in a sport with many greats. He wants to go beyond that which is known and be a voice for many.
On this episode, we talk racism, the importance of standing up for yourself, how to make music that makes you proud and the journey of trying to become one of the best. It's real talk about loneliness, doubt, pressure, learning, ego and growth. Stick around until the end for his music.
Also, you can find Savantloup and his music on Apple Music and Spotfy and on Instagram @Savantloup.
Looking At How Asian Men Are Seen As "Less Masculine" In Western Culture | Follow Up Friday #4
Why is it that Asian men are seen as "weak" in Western Culture? Is it the lack of representation in media? Is it because they are seen as thin/beta? Is it because of their "timidness"? Why are they always seen as nerds and doctors rather than as sexy and heroic? These are some of the themes of this week's Follow Up Friday where I take a small clip from this week's episode, play it back, and then share my thoughts on it. This is definitely something I want to have an entire podcast episode in the future, but for now, this roughly 5 minute clip will have to do!
Let me know what you think over at @theimperfectpod on IG!
#18 | How Being Introverted Can Affect How You See Yourself As A Man | Luke & Godwin
On this episode, Godwin and I discuss how being an introvert can reflect your image of masculinity in both positive and negative ways. We also discuss his podcast, Digital Introverts, therapy, how you can uncouple rewards and self-esteem, being an Asian man in a Western culture, and the affects of COVID-19 on racism.
Godwin is a recent grad with over three years of experience in nonprofit organization management, event planning, and molecular biology and bioinformatics research. He is currently the Assistant Event Manager of Discover Your Personal Brand (DYPB), a startup that offers personal branding events, development, training, and resources to empower working professionals to kickstart and maintain their personal brand journey. He is also writing his first book, titled “Digital Introverts: Why Today's Most Successful Individuals Harness Introversion to Thrive," which is expected to be published in December 2020.
You can find or contact Godwin at any of the following:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/godwinhschan
Twitter: twitter.com/godwinhschan
Instagram: instagram.com/godwinhschan
Facebook: facebook.com/godwinhschan
Medium: medium.com/@godwinhschan
Podcast: linktr.ee/digiintroshow
YouTube: youtube.com/user/godwinhoksumchan
If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy the episode!
What Even is Toxic Masculinity? | Follow Up Friday #3
This episode of Follow Up Friday is about Toxic Masculinity and trying to decode what it even means. The term is thrown around so loosely and can make good men feel isolated. However, we need to take a harder look in the mirror about whether or not we are part of it and how we can help men get out of it!
Hey (im)perfect listeners. Welcome to my series called Follow Up Friday where I take one clip or soundbite from this week's episode and respond to it. I wanted to reflect a bit more on my recordings and thought this was the perfect way to go about doing it. It allows me to analyze what my guest said, what I said, go deeper into topics, or just be like "wow this was a horrible take, Luke". Anyways, here is the first episode! Let me know what you think over at @theimperfectpod on IG!
#17 | Screw Being Shy: Talking Social Isolation, Anxiety and Masculinity | Luke & Mark
On this episode, Mark Metry and I discuss his experiences with social isolation, suicidal thoughts, success, toxic masculinity and his upcoming book titled "Screw Being Shy: Learn How to Manage Social Anxiety and Be Yourself in Front of Anyone" which is available for pre-order here. Mark Metry is a Tedx speaker and hosts a global, top 100 podcast called "Humans 2.0", where he interviews some of the worlds top minds including Mark Manson, Seth Godin, Marc Randolph and more! His book comes out on March 14th and I highly recommend purchasing it. You can find him on LinkedIn at Mark Metry, on IG at MarkMetry, as well as his website here.
If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy the episode!
You Are Enough... Believe In Yourself | Follow Up Friday #2
Hey (im)perfect listeners. Here's episode two of my new series called Follow Up Friday where I take one clip or soundbite from this week's episode and respond to it. I wanted to reflect a bit more on my recordings and thought this was the perfect way to go about doing it. It allows me to analyze what my guest said, what I said, go deeper into topics, or just be like "wow this was a horrible take, Luke". Anyways, here is the first episode! Let me know what you think over at @theimperfectpod on IG! The intro music is by @Savantloup, podcast coming out March 18th. Thanks for tuning in.
#16 | No Child Is Born With An Angry Heart | Luke & Troy
How do you recover from being bullied at a young age? How do you learn that you are enough? What can young men do to learn empathy? How can young men and children learn patience? On this episode, Troy and I go deep into conversations about marriage, bullying, growth mindset and more.
You can find Troy on Instagram @troyricemi or on LinkedIn at Troy Rice. You can also find out more about him and his companies at https://www.troy-rice.com/ and https://www.farmbrigge.com/
If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy the episode!
Anger | Follow Up Friday #1
Hey (im)perfect listeners. I'm starting a new series called Follow Up Friday where I take one clip or soundbite from this week's episode and respond to it. I wanted to reflect a bit more on my recordings and thought this was the perfect way to go about doing it. It allows me to analyze what my guest said, what I said, go deeper into topics, or just be like "wow this was a horrible take, Luke". Anyways, here is the first episode! Let me know what you think over at @theimperfectpod on IG! Thanks for tuning in.
#15 | Talking Male Mentorship, Communities and the Balance of Feminine and Masculine Traits | Luke & Ahmad
Are there still spaces for men to come together on their own? What are the benefits of male models? Do those who are distant have the same effect on us? What is the significance of feminine and masculine energy balances? These are just a few of the topics discussed on this episode.
If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy the episode!
Media Monday #1 | Born A Crime - Trevor Noah
Starting this Friday I'm starting my new series Media Friday which reviews one form of media that I consumed that week that relates to masculinity (or just something fun that I learned to be honest). On this episode, I talk about Trevor Noah's book: Born A Crime. A fascinating memoir about his time growing up in apartheid South Africa. It's funny, it's sad and it's reflective! I've never read a book that covers language and race so intriguingly and self-assured. Definitely a must-read for everyone interested in what it's like to grow up black, not just in South Africa, but in the States as well. I'm sure the experiences are much similar! If you have any ideas for what I should review next, shoot me a message on IG at @theimperfectpod. Until then, see you next Wednesday for a conversation about #BellLetsTalk and mental health!
#14 | Conversations with Myself | Luke
After 13 episodes of (im)perfect, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on the good, the bad, and the future of the podcast. There's been a lot to think about. A lot of amazing discussions with friends. And a lot of ideas I have in my head. It's been hard to balance it all with work and still living my life, but I'm excited about the future of this podcast and the guests I'm currently speaking with about having on. It's only going up from here but is going to take a lot more dedication and time to fill these podcasts with guests.
I'm excited to bring new ideas like Friday Media to light where I will be discussing some sort of media I watched, read or experienced throughout my week and making my conversations more theme-oriented rather than general discussions!
Tag along for the ride. I believe 2020 will see amazing things :)
#13 | Discussing Family and How It Impacts A Young Man's Growth | Luke & Rene
How important is a young man's relationship with his father? How does divorce affect his growth? What are the impacts of traditionalist thinking on a young man? Is blood really thicker than water? Who's role is it to create stronger relationships with their parents? Or our siblings? And what does it mean to contribute to the home as an adult? These are just a few of the topics we discuss in this episode of the (im)perfect podcast!
If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy the episode!
#12.2 | The Importance of Mentorship, Purposefully Pursuing Women, and The Fake Superiority of Church | Luke & Jonathan
How important has mentorship been in Jonathan's life? How have other men supported him in his journey? What have been some of the strengths that the church has provided young men? What about the weaknesses? Why does the church think that they hold more say over the sanctity and values of marriage when the failure rate is just as high in the church as outside? These are some of the questions that we discuss on part two of this episode. I hope you enjoy our conversation about some of these insanely personal topics, our "truths", and how we take a critical objective and subjective views of our experiences.
If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy the episode!
#12.1 | How Addiction and the Church Have Shaped Our Experiences with Women and Sex | Luke & Jonathan
Is too much sex a bad thing? What have been some of the effects of pornography in us and some of our friend's lives? Why is the church so scared of discussing the meaning and relationship we have with sex and our bodies? What does sex education mean anymore and who is in charge of it's teaching? In part one of this episode, Jonathan and I discuss his sex and drug addiction and how it played a huge impact on his relationships with women in his young adult and formative years. We discuss the impact of pornography. The culture of clubbing. And how partying like a rockstar, dating apps and playing the "game" affected his relationship with sex and himself. Through his coming to Christianity, he feels like a changed man and has re-learned what it means to be a man and treat women and himself in healthy ways. I hope you enjoy our conversation about some of these insanely personal topics, our experiences and our "truths", and how we take a critical objective and subjective view of how the Church has failed in so many aspects of teaching young men and women about sex, drugs, and pornography.
If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy the episode!
#11 | How Cheerleading, Family, Politics and Kindness Shape Your Life | Luke & Noah
What does being a male cheerleader teach you about your masculinity? How did being the youngest of 4 shape your life? How do you deal with the death of a parent? Why did you quit work to support your sister's political career? How can we remove our judgments of people to see who they really are? These are just some of the questions I discuss with Noah on the "eppy" of the podcast. Noah is one of the kindest and most genuine people I've ever met and I really hope you take away something from this episode. Happy Holidays everyone!
If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy the episode!
#10 | Coming Out On Your Own Terms and Learning How To Love | Luke & Jofo
How hard was it to be gay at an all-male school? What are the challenges you face in your coming-out story growing up in a Catholic home? What are some ways you can build better relationships with your parents despite these differences? On this episode, Jofo and I go deeper into all of these questions, trying to navigate how you can "agree to disagree, agreeably".
A bit about the guest: Jofo is a great friend of mine that I've known very well for the last 5 years. We lived together in our first and third year of university. We've been through a lot together. We've seen each other at our worst and at our best but we still support each other through it all as we know we're both driven to be the best we can be. It was great to sit down and discuss some really personal things with him. Excited for you to hear!
If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy the episode!
#9 | Talking Divorce, Emotions, Relationships and More | Luke & Scott
Why are men teased and made fun of for being sensitive and emotional? How does divorce affect young men? How can selfishness lead to happiness for everyone? These are some of the topics that Scott and I talk about on our episode.
A bit about the guest: Scott Berty is the Chief Growth Officer of Trufan, www.trufan.io, helping brands activate grassroots communities of super fans & micro-influencers with data. We met about 3 years ago through LinkedIn and have stayed close ever since. I was so excited to have him on my podcast as he was one of the first people and encouragers behind this mission. It was great to sit down and discuss some really personal things with him. Excited for you to hear!
If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy the episode!
#8 | Digging Deeper | Luke & Pablo
On this episode, Pablo and I go deeper into our conversation creating things we're passionate about, mental health, and the importance of fathers and mentorship in a young man's life. Pablo also talks about growing up in the Rexdale neighbourhood and how that affected him and his friends and how he’s constantly trying to dig deeper into himself with meditation, reading and creativity. Pablo's honesty, sincerity, and soft-spokeness is endearing. He clearly is self-reflective in all aspects of his life which allows him to give a lot of authentic and clear opinions about how he sees his life and how accountability has been one of his biggest assets.
If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy the episode!
#7 | He's Hiding | Luke & Olaf
This is by far the most personal episode yet. Olaf goes into depth about his relationship with his parents, his love for bodybuilding, and how he has been affected by periods of homelessness in his life. Olaf shares the raw emotions he has felt throughout his life and how much power and determination it's taken to get where he is now. At the end of this episode, you will hear his beautiful poem, "He's Hiding", which he wrote after we recorded our podcast as a reflection on his relationship with his parents. It's a beautiful moment. I hope you get as much from it as I did.
If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy the episode!
#6 | Recording in a Glass Egg
Is karma and spiritually real? What does religion mean to us? Is therapy a legitimate option in today's age? Making the shift from University to "real life" can be challenging, especially if you're outgoing, social fellows like me and Andre. We talk about our struggles to adapt and what life has been like for us since. We also discuss social media, mental health, therapy, and what living ethically means. Listen as we share some serious thoughts on how life can feel empty without a focused goal and how we have to continue to chase our dreams. If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy the episode!
#5 | How the Reserves and Traveling Alone Can Change Your Perspective on Manhood
Traveling alone and joining the reserves can have a profound effect on your life. Godwin has led a really interesting life in this regard. I really wanted to dive deep into his perspective on industries that seem to get a lot of hate in terms of the types of masculinity they build/promote. However, I don't think those accusations are always fair, and getting an outlook from someone who has been in these moments, and who the world sees as traditionally "unmasculine". Also, just due to my schedule, I've gone back to doing one long-form episode. If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy the episode!
#4.2 | Getting Kicked Out Of The Room
On part 2 of this episode, Marco and I discuss our first perceptions of each other, the importance of happiness, and how hard it is to find relationships nowadays. I apologize for the audio throughout the episode too. There were a few workflow issues I ran into during the recording process and I hope to have that sorted out for the next episode. If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy episode #4 part 2!
#4.1 | Recording in the Dark
On part 1 of this episode of (im)perfect, Marco and I discuss cancel culture, our time in Communication Studies, and the masculinity and feminity of certain passions and how we can move away from discussing those interests in that way! If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy episode #4 part 1!
#3.2 | Why Becoming Your Own Person Is So Important
On part 2 of this episode of (im)perfect, Nick and I go deeper into our conversation about how to become your own person, how women have been hurt in the dating process, and how in a relationship, you share a responsibility to each other to make each other better. There's a lot of truth on this episode of how to value one's self within and without a relationship that I think will be useful to everyone. Also, listening to your feedback, I decided to turn this episode into a two-parter. As most of my interviews have gone over an hour, splitting them into two 30-45 minute segments makes sense. If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, iTunes, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy episode #3 part 2!
#3.1 | Nick Forgets Luke's Name... Twice
On part 1 of this episode of (im)perfect, Nick shares his journey to being comfortable with his masculinity, how much he loves human beings and connection, the importance of vulnerability and trust and more! I had so much fun editing this podcast and re-living the recording of this podcast. As I edit, I like to make little clips of moments that would offer value to people in smaller segments and I came away with 26(!!!!) small clips... That's how much value I felt came in this episode. Also, listening to your feedback, I decided to turn this episode into a two-parter. As most of my interviews have gone over an hour, splitting them into two 30-45 minute segments makes sense. If you have any more feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. You can also find (im)perfect on Google Play, iTunes, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy episode #3 part 1!
#2 | Luke and Josh on Fathers, Fatherhood, and Masculinity
On this episode of (im)perfect, Luke and Josh talk about their relationship from high school, Josh's passion and interest in reading, the impact of our fathers in our lives and more! If you have any feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. It's also on Google Play, iTunes, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. I hope you enjoy episode #2!
#1 | Real Talks with Gautham
On this episode of (im)perfect, Luke and Gautham talk about the maturation of their friendship, body image, how important alone time and self-reflection are, and more. If you have any feedback, want to be on the show, or have ideas about potential topics of conversation, please feel free to message me on Instagram @theimperfectpod. It's also on Google Play, iTunes, Spotify and more so make sure to follow and subscribe on whichever platform you prefer. Now let's enjoy episode #1! Also, I apologize for the clicking throughout the episode. Gautham is a fidgeter and was playing with his water bottle too much.
(im)perfect - the introduction
Hi! My name is Luke West and I'm starting off on my mission of creating a platform for men to share their vulnerabilities and ideas of masculinity. My goal is to build generations of men who love themselves, and others, more deeply and healthily. As I start this journey, I wanted to share why I am starting this podcast. Within this episode, I answer questions about why the topic of masculinity is important to me, where my interest comes from, why a podcast works best for me, what the name means and more. This is my first episode and I am always looking for people who are interested in sharing their stories as well as feedback. You can follow my page on Instagram @theimperfectpod! Let me know what you think!