Dan kicks things off with his Brooklyn Half win—and how that somehow led to a night of trying way too hard to impress a woman. Marcel confesses to breaking his sobriety and reflects on the emotional spiral that followed. From dating drama to performative masculinity, the guys unpack why we chase validation and how true confidence comes from within. It’s raw, hilarious, and painfully relatable.

🕐 Timestamps:

00:00 Intro Buzzcuts & Not Giving a F***

00:40 Brooklyn Half Marathon Recap

07:40 Marcel Breaks Sobriety in Antwerp

13:50 Duolingo, Language Learning & Lily

19:10 The Lengths We Go To Impress Women

22:00 Overtexting and First Attempts at Love

27:00 Dan's Beach House Heartbreak

35:00 The Marathon for a Girl Story

43:00 Cringey Teen Romance and Club Dances

47:15 Marcel's Takeaway: Just Be Yourself

49:30 Outro: A Love Letter to Lily from Duolingo

🎥 Watch the episode on YouTube: youtube.com/@ImTryingDude

📷 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@ImTryingDude⁠⁠

❤️ Like the episode? Share it, rate it, or send it to a friend who’s also trying.

Keep trying, dudes.

— Marcel & Dan

Addiction comes in many forms — and not all of them look destructive at first glance. In this episode, Marcel and Daniel open up about their own struggles with addiction, both obvious and subtle, and how they’ve replaced old patterns with new “healthy” ones. But is constant replacement true healing? They explore the tension between obsession and discipline, what it means to be truly free from compulsive behavior, and why learning to sit in silence might be the ultimate unlock for your personal growth.

🕐 Timestamps:

00:00 Intro – Funny catch-up & framing the topic

02:20 “Addicted” to growth or just evolving?

06:10 The trap of replacing one addiction with another

12:45 Why stillness matters more than we think

17:20 Is therapy still therapy if you’re avoiding pain?

21:05 Projecting vs. living who we really are

24:10 Boredom, silence, and what we avoid

27:55 When “healthy” habits become harmful

32:20 Can you just sit with yourself?

38:00 Outro – Learning to be present without noise

🎥 Watch the episode on YouTube: youtube.com/@ImTryingDude

📷 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@ImTryingDude⁠⁠

❤️ Like the episode? Share it, rate it, or send it to a friend who’s also trying.

Keep trying, dudes.

— Marcel & Dan

This week, we’re diving into a topic we’ve both wrestled with — body image. Dan opens up about his long history with body insecurities, unhealthy dieting, and how a childhood comment stuck with him for years. Marcel reflects on his own struggles with feeling too skinny and how the desire for external validation shaped his early fitness habits. We unpack how body image affects not just how we look, but how we feel, and why doing things for yourself is the key to healing.Whether you've felt too small, too big, or just “not enough,” this episode is for you.In this episode:Why face yoga might (or might not) be worth your moneyChildhood memories that shape adult insecuritiesThe hidden reasons behind extreme dieting and over-exercisingHow male body image issues often go unspokenWhy working out for yourself is the real game changerBuilding a body-positive mindset through self-compassionDisclaimer:This podcast reflects personal experiences and opinions and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. If you're struggling, consider reaching out to a licensed therapist or counselor.

🕐 Timestamps:
00:00 Intro – Face yoga + body image preview02:50 Why Dan wanted to tackle this topic06:00 Marcel’s new morning routine shift09:40 Why men rarely discuss body image18:00 Dan’s pool party memory that changed everything22:00 Marcel’s “too skinny” story and validation trap26:50 Psychoanalyzing our younger selves31:30 Why trauma lingers silently35:00 Are you working out for yourself or others?37:10 The trap of turning insecurities into motivation39:00 Food, comfort, and the emotional side of body image45:00 Why quiet moments reveal hidden stressors47:20 Beauty standards, self-acceptance, and final takeaways

🎥 Watch the episode on YouTube: youtube.com/@ImTryingDude
📷 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@ImTryingDude⁠⁠

❤️ Like the episode? Share it, rate it, or send it to a friend who’s also trying.
Keep trying, dudes.
— Marcel & Dan