Man: A Quest to Find Meaning
Man: A Quest to Find Meaning is the podcast for men who feel stuck, disconnected, or uncertain about their place in the world — and are ready to reconnect with purpose, emotional strength, and a more authentic way of being.
Hosted by James Ainsworth, each episode explores the deeper questions of modern masculinity through honest, unfiltered conversations. You’ll hear from men who’ve overcome inner battles — and from women offering powerful perspectives that challenge, inspire, and expand how we think about growth, relationships, and healing.
From purpose and vulnerability to fatherhood, fear, and identity, this is a space for men who want more than just surface-level success. It’s for those on a journey to live with intention, courage, and truth.
New episodes weekly. Real talk. No ego. Just the quest.
Episodes
80 episodes
Feeling Disconnected? Discover Buddhist Tools & Modern Psychology That Reconnect You | Ed Barry
In this powerful and deeply insightful episode, I sit down with Ed Barry to explore Buddhist meditation, authentic relating, and the journey of self-awareness.We dive into the ancient Nine Stages of Meditation, also known...
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Episode 80
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56:59
Your Beliefs Create Your Reality: How to Rewire Your Mind and Transform Your Life | Lawrence Harris
In this episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, I sit down with speaker and mental health advocate Lawrence Harris to explore how our beliefs shape our reality. We dive into the power of subconscious programming...
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Episode 79
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59:07
The Truth About Navigating Burnout: Lessons from High Performance and Hard Falls | Gurps Khaira
In this deeply honest and powerful episode, James sits down with Gurps to explore what it really means to navigate burnout and grow through pain. From a childhood marked by civil war and personal tragedy to a high-performing career in ...
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Episode 78
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48:24
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Trust, Power, and Presence: A Real Talk on Rebuilding Confidence from Within
In this powerful solo episode, we dive deep into the real meaning of self-trust — and why so many of us think we trust ourselves, when in truth, we’re quietly living in doubt, procrastination, and overwhelm. I share my personal j...
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Episode 77
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25:44
Awaken Your Power: Trust, Trauma & Transformation | Cara Elizabeth
In this powerful and soul-stirring episode, James is joined by healer, creator, and guide Cara Elizabeth to explore what it truly means to live in your power. From the role of trust and surrender, to working with archetypes like the dragon and ...
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Episode 76
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1:05:53
Prioritising Pleasure: How to Reclaim Your Body, Boundaries, and Desire | Jem Ayres
In this deeply honest and wide-ranging episode, I’m joined by sex coach and sexological bodyworker Jem Ayres for a powerful conversation about reclaiming pleasure, presence, and connection in everyday life.We explore how prioritis...
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Episode 75
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1:06:00
Relationships: How to Navigate Conflict & Create a Vision of Collaboration in Love | Jack & Erica
In this raw and deeply honest episode, I'm joined by relationship mentors Jack and Erica to explore the true nature of long-lasting, meaningful relationships. Together, we dived into the inherent mess that real conn...
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Episode 74
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1:17:08
5 Lessons That Changed My Life (And Could Change Yours Too)
In this soul-stirring solo episode, James opens up about five powerful lessons transforming his life—and how they can shift yours too. He shares his journey of reclaiming personal power, embracing patience, and recognising worth as something al...
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Episode 73
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27:19
No More Quick Fixes: The Truth About Fat Loss, Goal Setting & Emotional Blocks | Ashley Bryant
In this powerful episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, James sits down with biomechanical specialist and master personal trainer Ashley to dive deep into the truth about fitness, nutrition, and the mindset behind lasting transformat...
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Episode 72
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1:13:09
Discovering Your True Purpose: A Journey Through Crisis, Identity & Growth | Stephen Whitton
We dive deep into a topic that affects every single one of us: purpose. What does it truly mean to live with purpose — and how do we even begin to discover it?My guest today is Steven J. Whitten, a veteran of the automotive industry turn...
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Episode 71
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1:03:13
The Truth About Male Conditioning: Why Men Struggle With Emotions and Identity
In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, James sits down with Merlin Matthews to explore the deep-rooted conditioning men receive from childhood—and how it continues to shape their emotional lives...
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Episode 70
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58:04
From Self Doubt to Confidence: Simple Steps That Actually Work
Do you ever feel like you’re not good enough, no matter how hard you try? That little voice inside your head that whispers “you’re going to fail” — that’s self-doubt. And if left unchecked, it can quietly sabotage your dreams, relation...
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Episode 69
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24:42
Reclaiming the Real You: Healing the Inner Child and Ending Self-Sabotage | Nathan Simmonds
In this deeply powerful episode, Nathan Simmons takes us on a raw and revealing journey into the nature of trauma, perception, and inner transformation. Exploring the quote “What’s normal to the spider is chaos to the fly,” Nathan unpacks how o...
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Episode 68
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56:41
From Chaos to Calm: How Breathwork Heals Trauma and Restores Self | Anthony Abbagnano
In this episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, host James welcomes breathwork teacher and healer Anthony Abbagnano to explore how men can reclaim their wholeness without reliving painful trauma. Together, they discuss why true transf...
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Episode 67
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58:16
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What You Were Never Taught About Money (But Deeply Need to Know) | Taylor Eaton
In this episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, James sits down with money mindset mentor Taylor Eaton to explore how wealth and success are built from the inside out. They unpack why so many of us put money on a pedestal,...
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Episode 66
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1:17:38
Releasing the Weight of the World: Practical Steps to Presence, Power, and Peace | James Ainsworth
In this episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, James explores what it’s like to carry the “weight of the world” on your shoulders—literally and emotionally. Drawing from his own experience of tight shoulders, neck and upper back, he un...
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Episode 65
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25:25
The Power of Collaboration: Lessons from Surviving the 2004 Tsunami | Michelle Mills-Porter
In this inspiring and deeply moving episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, James sits down with speaker, behavioural profiler, and collaboration expert Michelle Mills-Porter to explore the transformative power of working toget...
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Episode 64
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51:37
Initiation for Men: Awaken Sexual Energy, Purpose & Presence | Gayatri Beegan
In this powerful episode, host James sits down with transformational mentor Gayatri Beegan to explore the deep roots of male shame, confusion, and disconnection—especially around sexuality and identity. Together, they uncover how the lack of...
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Episode 63
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1:18:04
Boundaries, Ownership, and Growth: The Secrets to Healthy Relationships | Jack Longbottom - Part 2
In this powerful conversation, relationship coach Jack Longbottom joins James to explore the real meaning of boundaries, the courage it takes to own your part in a relationship, and why “the work” is simply the part of you that keeps try...
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Episode 62
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45:02
Why Great Relationships Aren’t Conflict-Free (and How to Thrive in Them) | Jack Longbottom - Part 1
In this deeply honest conversation, James and guest Jack explore the truth about conflict in relationships — why it’s not a sign of weakness, but a natural and even necessary part of building something lasting. Together, they unpack the myths a...
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Episode 61
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56:44
Intuition, Leadership & Survival: A Woman’s Journey Through War Zones and Reality TV
In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation, we sit down with JJ — a trailblazing former Royal Air Force servicewoman, bodyguard, and reality TV contestant — to talk about the lessons life has taught her on the front lines and beyond. From s...
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Episode 60
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1:20:10
Mind Games & Mental Anchors: The Secret Psychology of a Champion | David Legro - Part 2
What if the key to elite performance, emotional healing, and personal transformation wasn’t pushing harder — but learning to rewire your mind?In this episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, James is joined by cycling...
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Episode 59
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47:49
Mastering Pain, Pressure & Performance: NLP and the Athlete’s Mind | David Legro - Part 1
What does it take to bounce back from broken bones, broken hearts, and broken beliefs — and still chase gold?In this raw, honest, and often hilarious episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, James sits down with Da...
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Episode 58
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47:40
You’re Not Broken: Why Healing is Possible for Everybody | Mark Hashimi
In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, James sits down with psychotherapist and shamanic practitioner Mark Hashimi to explore how true healing happens when we go beneath the surface—and how a...
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Episode 57
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56:53
Heartbroken but Not Hopeless: How to Take the First Step After a Breakup
Healing After Heartbreak — Taking Ownership & Feeling My EmotionsIn this solo episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, I open up about one of the most painful experiences of my life—dealing with a breakup that ...
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Episode 56
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33:26
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