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
69 episodes
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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The Truth About Fear, Imposter Syndrome, and The 5 F's of Fear | David "Pep" Anderson (Part 2)
In this heartfelt and hilarious episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, James sits down with poet and wellbeing mentor David Anderson, also known as Pep the Poet, for a conversation that weaves together fear, humor, h...
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Episode 55
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40:44
Fear Tells Lies: Healing Anxiety & Reclaiming Joy | David "Pep" Anderson (Part 1)
In this powerful and heartfelt episode, I sit down with David Anderson—also known as Pep the Poet—to explore the many faces of fear and how it quietly shapes our lives. David shares his personal journey through anxiety, alcoholism, sel...
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Episode 54
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42:17
Returning to the Self: Silence, Nature, and Emotional Recovery | Selwyn Warren
In this powerful and emotionally rich episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, I sit down with therapist Selwyn Duke for an open, vulnerable conversation about what happens when life breaks us open—and how those moments become the cata...
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Episode 53
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48:58
The Truth About Love: Why Your Relationship Shapes Your Entire Life - Part 2 | Matt & Rebecca Albiges
In this powerful episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, James is joined by therapeutic coaches Rebecca and Matthew from Align with Love for a raw, heart-opening conversation about emotional connection, masculine embodiment, ...
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Episode 52
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43:37
The Truth About Love: Why Your Relationship Shapes Your Entire Life - Part 1 | Matt & Rebecca Albiges
In this powerful and emotionally raw episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, we explore how the quality of your relationships directly shapes the quality of your life — from your energy and mental health to your career, confide...
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Episode 51
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51:01
The Lost Art of Listening: Presence, Nature & the Masculine Journey - Part 2 | Josh Fineman
In Part 2 of my conversation with coach and community leader Josh Fireman, we explore what it really takes to create safety — within ourselves and with others — to have the kinds of conversations that can heal. We talk...
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Episode 50
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35:42
The Lost Art of Listening: Presence, Nature & the Masculine Journey - Part 1 | Josh Fineman
In this episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, I’m joined by men’s coach and community leader Josh Leigh for a powerful exploration into the transformative practice of deep listening—not just as a communication tool, but as a ...
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Episode 49
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46:28
Why Things Don’t Always Work Out — Lessons from Setbacks, Emotions & Evolving
Why Things Don’t Always Work Out — Lessons from Setbacks, Emotions & EvolvingSometimes, things just don’t go to plan. In this honest solo episode, James shares a real-time reflection after hitting a bump in the podcast journey...
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Episode 48
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30:04
High Standards, Mental Health, and Growth: A Conversation with Cain Leathem - Part 2
In this powerful part two, Cain Leathem returns to dive deeper into the inner blocks that keep so many men stuck. From the hidden roots of self-sabotage to the impact of walking away from someone we care about, Cain shares raw stories and hard-...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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43:59
High Standards, Mental Health, and Growth: A Conversation with Cain Leathem - Part 1
What does it mean to truly raise the bar in life? In this powerful conversation, Cain Leathem — a high-performance coach, veteran, and mental health educator — joins James to explore what it takes to move from self-sabotage and stagnat...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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42:17
Why We Resist: Breaking Through the Barriers That Keep Us Stuck
🎙️ Episode Title: Why We Resist: Breaking Through the Barriers That Keep Us StuckIn this solo episode of Man: A Quest to Find Meaning, James gets real about something most of us face but rarely talk about—resistance.<...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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25:39
