The Biggest Struggle for Modern Men | Ryan Barraclough | EP34
Show notes
What does it actually mean to become a man?
Therapist, men's facilitator, and co-founder of the Embodied Man Institute, Ryan Barraclough believes the biggest crisis facing modern men isn't a lack of strength—it's a lack of belonging, purpose, and healthy initiation into adulthood.
After growing up as a chronic people pleaser following his parents' divorce, Ryan spent years searching for identity, approval, and meaning. Along the way, he experienced two periods of severe suicidal ideation that forced him to confront the big question: How do I stop living in fear?
Through psychotherapy, men's work, and deep spiritual practice, Ryan discovered that healing isn't about becoming someone new—it's about remembering who you were before the world told you who you had to be.
In this deeply reflective conversation, Geoff and Ryan explore identity, masculinity, attachment theory, childhood trauma, people pleasing, purpose, fatherhood, addiction, spirituality, and why so many young men feel lost in today's world. They unpack the influence of figures like Andrew Tate, the hidden impact of emotionally immature parenting, and why asking better questions can be more powerful than searching for easy answers.
Whether you're trying to better understand yourself, strengthen your relationships, raise emotionally healthy children, or find greater meaning in your own life, this conversation will leave you reflecting long after it ends.
What You'll Learn:
🧠 Why people pleasing often begins in childhood
❤️ How attachment shapes identity and adult relationships
👨 Why so many young men are searching for purpose
🔥 Ryan's perspective on Andrew Tate and the modern masculinity crisis
🌱 What healthy masculinity actually looks like
🫂 The importance of rites of passage and men's communities
⚡ Why purpose is one of the greatest antidotes to addiction
✨ How healing begins by remembering who you already are
Please note: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation and mental health. Please listen with care if these topics are difficult for you.
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