Send us Fan Mail

Episode Summary
What does it mean for one man to truly be there for another—not to fix him or tell him to get back up, but to meet him where he is and stay beside him?

In this episode of the Men’s Healing Network Podcast, Michael “Roddy” McDowell invites his friend Dan Dantzic into a deeply personal conversation about brotherhood, vulnerability, and the healing power of being known.

Roddy and Dan reflect on the experiences that challenged their identities and changed their understanding of what it means to be a man. They discuss learning to treat emotions as information, recognizing sensations in the body, creating relationships grounded in trust, and asking another person whether he wants to be helped, heard, or held.

Throughout the conversation, they return to a simple but powerful truth: men do not have to carry life’s hardships alone. Sometimes support means offering advice or a practical next step. Other times, it means sitting on the ground beside a brother until he is ready to rise.

About the Guests
Michael “Roddy” McDowell is a commercial airline pilot and former Navy pilot whose experiences serving on a military honor guard and accompanying veterans through VA hospital visits led him toward a deeper calling.

Roddy earned a master’s degree in social work from New York University and trained in trauma, cognitive behavioral therapy, somatic work, and EVRYMAN facilitation. Today, he coaches and facilitates groups for men shaped by the mission-focused, go-it-alone cultures he knows firsthand—cultures that can teach men to mistake performance for worth and providing for love.

Now based in the Bay Area, Roddy also enjoys road cycling, hiking, traveling, writing, improv, and exploring the Meisner acting technique.

www.copiloting.net

www.roddypilot.com

Dan Dantzic is a father, brother, and friend who divides his time between New York City and the Hudson Valley. He is happiest cooking something new, traveling somewhere unfamiliar, or sharing an honest conversation about what truly matters.

After 30 years in technology, Dan stepped away from his career following his youngest child’s college graduation. Having encouraged his children to pursue their passions, he realized it was time to follow his own advice. He is now exploring opportunities to spend significant time abroad doing work that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

In This Episode
Roddy, Dan, and Vincent explore:

• How cultural expectations shape men’s understanding of masculinity
• The difference between being a man and performing a role
• What happens when fatherhood, marriage, career, and other identities change
• Why intimacy between men is not inherently sexual
• How the body can provide an entry point into emotional awareness
• The importance of self-regulation when supporting someone else
• How emotions such as envy can offer useful information
• The difference between fixing someone and being present with him
• Why asking for help can evoke shame
• How men can practice receiving love, affirmation, and support
• What it means to be a thought partner, feeling partner, and spiritual partner
• Why healing is a continuing process rather than a final destination

A Reflection From the Conversation
You are already whole. You are not broken. And when life knocks you down, you do not have to find your way back to your feet by yourself.

Credits
Host: Vincent Perez

Producer: Tom Keppeler

Marketing Support: Dee Enriquez

Made possible through the generous support of the Choice Regional Health Network.