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Practice Makes Human

We often talk about healing as if it's a destination—something we'll finally arrive at once we've read enough books, attended enough workshops, or figured ourselves out.

But what if healing isn't something we achieve?

What if it's something we practice?

In this episode of the Men's Healing Network Podcast, host Vincent Perez sits down with Jason Hill and Mason Aviles, the team behind Beyond The Man Box, to explore what it actually takes to build emotional intelligence, strengthen relationships, and become more fully human.

Together, they unpack why self-love isn't self-indulgence, why empathy is a skill—not a personality trait—and why practicing difficult conversations may be just as important as having them. Through deeply personal stories about friendship, heartbreak, marriage, failure, suicide recovery, and personal growth, Jason and Mason challenge the idea that men need to be perfect. Instead, they offer something far more practical: the opportunity to practice.

Whether you're navigating conflict with a partner, struggling through loss, leading a team, or simply trying to become a more grounded man, this conversation is a reminder that growth doesn't happen overnight. It happens one conversation, one relationship, and one intentional choice at a time.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why healing is a practice—not a destination
• The difference between knowing and applying emotional intelligence
• How self-love changes the way we receive feedback
• Learning to separate self-worth from achievement and productivity
• Why empathy is a skill that can be developed
• The importance of practicing difficult conversations
• Navigating conflict without defensiveness
• Healthy masculinity, emotional regulation, and relationship repair
• Why community matters in personal growth
• How curiosity can transform relationships

About Our Guests

Jason Hill is the CEO and Lead Facilitator at Beyond The Man Box. For more than a decade, he has guided men through the high-stakes work of emotional regulation, relationship repair, and difficult conversations. Through transformational retreats and mentorship, Jason helps men become stronger partners, fathers, leaders, and human beings.

Mason Aviles leads technology, operations, and product at Beyond The Man Box, building the digital systems that make the organization's curriculum accessible beyond the retreat room. With more than 12 years of software engineering experience, he helps transform emotional growth into practical tools that men can use every day.

Connect with Beyond The Man Box

Website: https://beyondthemanbox.com/

Jason Hill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonthomashill/

Beyond The Man Box on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyondthemanbox/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588583007749

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemanbox/

Host: Vincent Perez

Producer: Tom Keppeler

Marketing and Logistics: Dee Enriquez

Special thanks to Choice Regional Health Network for supporting the Men's Healing Network Podcast and helping make these conversations about men's mental health, healing, and connection possible.

If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use the reminder that healing isn't about perfection—it's about practice.