Detoxicity: By Men, About Men, For Everyone

DetoxPod 195: Tom Gentry (Coach/Counselor)

Hope you are doing as well as can be given current times. Remember, we are stronger together! Community remains of utmost importance!
I'm excited to bring you my conversation with Tom Gentry. Tom is not only a treasured friend, but he's a counselor specializing in addiction. He's also a passionate advocate for progressive masculinity, which makes him a perfect fit for Detoxpod! Tom and I chat about his own experience as an addict and what drove him to recovery. We talk about familial cycles and how the things we learn growing up can affect us without even knowing it. Tom and I chat about the term "toxic masculinity" and how using those words can sometimes negatively obscure the work that we do. And there's so much more!
Check out Tom's website and his podcast.
Hope you get something positive out of this conversation. Feel free to drop me a line and share your thoughts!

DetoxPod 194: Rodney McCoy AKA Daddy Rod (Activist/Podcaster)

Hi Friends!
Happy to bring you the latest episode, starring Rodney McCoy AKA Daddy Rod. Rod's appearance (I'm pretty sure) marks the first instance of a romantic couple appearing in back to back episodes, as he is the partner of 2x DetoxPod guest Damon Jacobs.
Like Damon, Rodney is an activist for sexual health. But he has a story all his own. Rod and I connect over our shared Brooklyn upbringing, and the unique local pride that stays with you even when you move away. Rod also shares his coming out story, tying it in with familial hypocrisy and an understanding of the times (late '80s/early '90s). We also discuss issues around consent, and how a greater discussion needs to take place in sex positive circles that include gay and bi men. Of course, it's all part of our shared quest to expand the definitions of what masculinity means so that it calls in, rather than excludes. It's the first of what I'm pretty sure will be several conversations we have for this pod.
Also, Rod has his own podcast called "Listen to Daddy" that you can check out here!

DetoxPod 193: Damon Jacobs (Therapist/Activist) Returns!

I'm happy to welcome my friend Damon Jacobs BACK to the show, on a less-than-ten-episode turnaround. Damon is an NYC-based therapist who also hosts a great podcast called Tub Talks, and has been on the frontline of queer advocacy and STI (specifically HIV) awareness for years. Damon and I reconnect to talk about life in the new American presidential administration, and how to keep your wits about you when it seems like the world is falling apart. We discuss spirituality in depth, and it was really interesting to hear how someone else approaches their relationship with the universe. Of course, the topic of maintaining and cultivating community comes up, as I feel like it's an essential part of enjoying life even in the best of times and becomes even more important as we navigate turmoil. I'll admit to not being in a great place when this episode was recorded (I haven't been in a great place for most of 2025 if we're being honest), and Damon's words were enough to give me a re-think about how I'm getting through these days. I hope you get something uplifting and hopeful out of this episode. Feel free to leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

DetoxPod 192: Tyson Allred (Creator/Entrepreneur)

I'm super excited to bring you this conversation with Tyson Allred. Tyson is the founder of Copper John's, a natural men's grooming and beard care brand. He is also half of the team that makes up Dad Bods and Beards (hey, I have both of those!), which is a community and podcast centered around positive portrayals of masculinity and the acknowledgment of the work it takes to overcome some of the more toxic elements of being socialized male (hmm...sounds familiar?) Tyson and his partner Logan do it from a whiter, straighter lens, which I think might move the needle in Red America a little more than I might be able to.
Tyson and I discuss everything from body positivity to cold plunges to work/life balance to the mission of Dad Bods and Beards--stuff we usually cover on this pod, but the experiences of our guests make these topics unique to every episode, and my chat with Tyson is no exception. We also chat a little bit about my queer journey, and give the DBAB team props for being allies (which I imagine is not easy to do when you're Mormon and in Utah). I hope you enjoy our conversation. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

DetoxPod 191: John Hill Returns!

I'm happy to welcome my friend John Hill back to the podcast. He originally appeared on Episode 128, which was released in December 2022. That feels like a fucking lifetime ago. At any rate, it was good to catch up for the pod. John and I chat about a lot of things; including his bodybuilding journey, the current political climate (and dealing with a conservative parent), navigating popular culture as a middle aged person, and I ask John to sell me on Denver (which is on my list of cities to visit in 2025). Feel free to comment with your thoughts. I hope you enjoy the episode!

DetoxPod 190: Rob Cohen (2 Bi Guys Crossover Episode)

In this episode of Detoxicity, I welcome Rob Cohen back to the pod for a crossover episode. Rob first appeared in Episode 153, at which time Rob was promoting his podcast Two Bi Guys and his book Bisexual Married Men.
The main impetus behind us recording together again was to discuss our recent experiences with alternative therapies, including ketamine and ayahuasca, and how these experiences relate to our journeys with masculinity and mental health. While these therapies aren't necessarily everyone's cup of tea, I'd say we both gained some interesting insights on account of these experiences. Alternative medicines aside, we also discuss the importance of surrendering to emotions, the fluidity of change, and the need for safe spaces for men to explore vulnerability and masculinity more than ever in society. Our dialogue also touches on redefining personal goals and ambitions in light of newfound insights and connections with the universe. A slightly different edit of this same episode appears on Rob's podcast as well, making this a rare multi-podcast crossover. Hope you enjoy!

DetoxPod 189: Marco Anteros (Community Organizer/Surrogate Partner)

Hi Folks,
Marco is a group organizer for the polyamorous/non monogamous community here in Brooklyn. This is how he and I met. Digging a little deeper, Marco is now underway in a new and interesting career, as a surrogate partner. What is a surrogate partner, you ask? Well...listen to the episode to find out. You can also get a little more info about what Marco does here.
I've been fortunate enough to get to know a lot of people from wildly disparate backgrounds over the course of my life, but Marco is the first person I've met that hails from North Dakota, and we get a little insight on his experience in that environment as well as being a first-generation American. We also talk about bi/pansexuality, what it means to him, and how he (and I) often feels a bit out of place within queer male culture.
Hope you enjoy the conversation! As always, feel free to like, share and comment!

DetoxPod 188: Courtney Brame (Educator)

Happy New Year, friends!
Our first episode of 2025 spotlights Courtney Brame, who is doing a ton of work around men's mental health and erasing STI stigma. He's the founder of SPFPP (Something Positive for Positive People), which supports people who are living with herpes. He also founded SELFED, which promotes emotional wellness for men and recently hosted a symposium for Black men's emotional wellness, which is how he and I came into contact. Our conversation sits at the intersection of race, sexuality and wellness. We discuss Courtney's journey to becoming an educator, we ponder whether safety might be an issue with regards to the lack of straight Black men in wellness spaces, we talk about yoga therapy and changing the face of what yoga is to make it accessible to others, and we talk about cancel culture and how that can kill curiosity. Hope you enjoy this conversation!