🎙️ Episode 5 – Why You Struggle to Make Friends (And How to Fix It)

In this episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Certified EMDR Therapist) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach for Men) tackle a silent epidemic many men face today: loneliness and the struggle to build lasting friendships.

If you've ever found yourself wondering why it's so hard to make friends as an adult—or why your relationships feel shallow or disconnected—this episode is for you. Using a practical and memorable acronym called the NICE Formula, Mark and Zack break down the core skills needed to create meaningful bonds in a world that often leaves men isolated.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why men struggle to form friendships in adulthood (and why it’s not your fault)
• The impact of technology and modern culture on real human connection
• The psychology behind why remembering someone’s name really matters
• How to be more intentional in connecting with people in everyday life
• The NICE Formula: A simple strategy to start, grow, and maintain friendships
• Tips from How to Win Friends and Influence People that still work today
• How to overcome social anxiety and become more confident in group settings
• Why deep friendships are essential to mental health, success, and purpose

💬 Mark and Zack share practical steps rooted in counseling, coaching, and real-life experience to help you build the kind of friendships that sharpen, support, and strengthen you.

About the Show:
The Lion Counseling Podcast is here to help men escape the cages that hold them back—whether emotional, relational, or spiritual—and become the lions they were created to be. Topics include mental health, masculinity, faith, relationships, purpose, and personal growth.

👉 Want to improve your relationships or get unstuck? Visit www.escapethecagenow.com to schedule counseling or life coaching with Mark or Zack.

📲 Make sure to subscribe, hit the bell, and give this video a like if you found it helpful.

💬 Drop a comment: What’s been your biggest challenge when it comes to making friends?

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#MensMentalHealth #MakingFriends #LonelinessInMen #FriendshipTips #ChristianMen #EmotionalHealth #SelfImprovementForMen #SocialSkills #HowToMakeFriends #PodcastForMen #LionCounseling #EscapeTheCage #HowToWinFriends #NICEFormula

🎙️ Episode 4 – How to Stop Fighting with Your Significant Other

In this episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Certified EMDR Therapist) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach) tackle one of the most common issues couples face: relationship conflict.

Whether you’re married, dating, or engaged, this conversation dives into real-world strategies for improving communication, deescalating arguments, and building deeper emotional connection. From fights about sex, money, and chores, to everyday misunderstandings, Mark and Zack break down the patterns that keep couples stuck—and how to break free from them.

🔍 In This Episode:

• How to avoid the most common relationship fights before they start
• What your partner really needs when they’re upset (hint: not a solution)
• Why the emotion wheel is a game-changer for emotional awareness
• A simple method to de-escalate arguments using reflections of thought and emotion
• How to use the “slow startup” technique for difficult conversations
• The difference between criticism vs. expressing needs positively
• The power of empathy and validation in building connection
• Why timing and tone are just as important as the words you say
• How to ask open-ended questions that invite teamwork instead of conflict
• Faith-based insights on humility, self-awareness, and showing up well for your spouse or partner

💬 Zack and Mark share lessons from their work as therapists, coaches, and husbands—along with practical tips you can start using today to build stronger, more emotionally intelligent relationships.

About the Show:
The Lion Counseling Podcast helps men escape the cages that hold them back and become the lions they were created to be. Hosted by the team at Lion Counseling, we focus on mental health, marriage, masculinity, faith, and self-improvement from a grounded, real-world perspective.

👉 Want to strengthen your relationship? Visit www.escapethecagenow.com to schedule couples counseling or life coaching with Mark or Zack.

📲 Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode.

💬 What’s one communication skill you’ve learned that’s helped your relationship? Let us know in the comments.

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#RelationshipAdvice #MarriageHelp #ChristianMarriage #MensMentalHealth #CouplesTherapy #AvoidFights #BetterCommunication #EmotionalIntelligence #PodcastForMen #FaithAndRelationships #SlowStartup #ValidateEmotions #ConflictResolution #LionCounseling #EscapeTheCage

🎙️ Episode 3 – Jesus, John Wick, and the Truth About Being a Man

In this powerful episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Certified EMDR Therapist) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach) take on the complex topic of manhood—what it really means, how it’s misunderstood, and how to find the balance between strength and emotional sensitivity. From assertiveness strategies and emotional intelligence, to role models like Jesus and John Wick, this conversation breaks down the barriers many men face around identity, relationships, and personal growth.

🔍 In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why balancing authenticity and professionalism matters in men’s communication
• The truth about "nice guys" vs. "tough guys"—and why neither extreme works
• How to embrace both the grizzly bear and teddy bear sides of masculinity
• The difference between being nice and being truthful, loving, and grounded
• Strategies for healthy assertiveness and how to speak your truth without being aggressive
• The importance of emotional intelligence in becoming a complete man
• How trauma, childhood wounds, and people-pleasing affect masculine identity
• Insights from EMDR therapy, jiu-jitsu, and real-life challenges men face today
• Creative ideas for future content—like analyzing characters in movies and TV shows through a psychological lens

💥 If you’re a man who’s ever struggled with feeling like you’re “too much” or “not enough,” this episode offers encouragement, clarity, and practical tools to help you lead with confidence, courage, and purpose.

About the Show:
The Lion Counseling Podcast helps men escape the cages that hold them back and become the lions they were created to be. Hosted by the team at Lion Counseling, we explore topics like faith, masculinity, mental health, business, relationships, self-improvement, and emotional healing. No fluff. No shame. Just real talk to help real men grow.

👉 Ready to level up your life? Visit www.escapethecagenow.com to book counseling or coaching with Mark or Zack.

📲 Be sure to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

💬 What’s your take on modern masculinity? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

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#MensMentalHealth #Masculinity #ChristianMen #Assertiveness #Manhood #SelfImprovement #EMDRTherapy #PodcastForMen #JesusAndJohnWick #NiceGuysFinishLast #CommunicationSkills #EmotionalIntelligence #FaithAndManhood #LionCounseling #EscapeTheCage #StrongAndKind

🎙️ Episode 5 – Redefining Success: Why You Don’t Feel Successful (Even If You Are)

In this episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Certified EMDR Therapist) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach for Men) go deep into a topic that hits home for many men: success—how we define it, why it feels so elusive, and what really holds us back from experiencing it.

Whether you’re crushing it at work but feel like a failure at home, or you’ve achieved what others call “success” but still feel like you’re not enough—this episode is for you.

🔍 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How to define success based on your core values, not just culture or comparison
• Why success is a process, not a destination—and how moving the goalposts leads to burnout
• The truth about mindset, and how your beliefs directly shape your behaviors
• How cognitive distortions like all-or-nothing thinking, labeling, and comparison keep men stuck
• The difference between fixed mindset and growth mindset, and how to shift your thinking
• How early life experiences and lies we believed as kids can sabotage adult confidence
• Why guys who look successful on paper often still feel like failures—and what to do about it
• How CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and EMDR can help retrain your brain
• Practical steps for building success through daily habits and small wins
• The power of choosing your pain: passive suffering vs. purposeful struggle for growth

💬 Mark and Zack don’t just talk about success in abstract terms—they break it down with real stories, clinical insight, and a no-nonsense approach that respects your intelligence and calls you to action.

About the Show:
The Lion Counseling Podcast helps men escape the cages that hold them back and become the lions they were created to be. Hosted by the team at Lion Counseling, we explore meaningful topics like masculinity, mental health, relationships, business, faith, trauma recovery, and personal growth—all with a bold and grounded Christian worldview.

👉 Want to define and feel success on your terms? Visit www.escapethecagenow.com to book counseling or coachingwith Mark or Zack.

📲 If this episode spoke to you, subscribe, like, and leave a comment—what’s one lie you’ve told yourself that’s held you back?

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#MensMentalHealth #SuccessForMen #ChristianMen #CBTTherapy #EMDRHealing #AllOrNothingThinking #GrowthMindset #OvercomingFailure #PodcastForMen #FaithAndMentalHealth #EmotionalHealing #CoreValues #Motivation #SelfImprovementForMen #LionCounseling #EscapeTheCage

🎙️ Episode 1 – The Truth About Motivation: Why You’re Stuck and How to Move Forward

In this kickoff episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Certified EMDR Therapist) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach for Men) dig into the roots of motivation—why we lose it, how to regain it, and what’s actually driving our behaviors beneath the surface.

From New Year’s resolutions that fade to long-term personal goals that stall out, this episode is packed with real talk on why willpower alone won’t work, how emotions fuel human behavior, and why core values are the secret to lasting change.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why “trying harder” isn’t enough when your motivation dries up
• How emotions—not thoughts—are the real drivers of human action
• The difference between external motivation and intrinsic, values-based motivation
• How perfectionism, all-or-nothing thinking, and self-criticism kill momentum
• Simple strategies to build habits through the “start stupid easy” method
• How EMDR therapy helps connect truth from the head to the heart
• How trauma, stress, and unresolved emotional pain can sabotage your goals
• The connection between masculinity, emotional strength, and purpose
• A practical look at how to align your goals with your identity as a man

💥 Whether you're a high performer stuck in burnout, a husband and father feeling emotionally distant, or just a man looking to grow—this episode offers real insight and practical tools to help you move forward with clarity and strength.

About the Show:
The Lion Counseling Podcast helps men escape the cages that hold them back and become the lions they were created to be. Hosted by the team at Lion Counseling, we explore topics like mental health, masculinity, faith, business, relationships, trauma recovery, and personal growth—all from a grounded, faith-informed, and action-oriented perspective.

👉 Visit www.escapethecagenow.com to learn more or schedule counseling or life coaching with Mark or Zack.

📲 Be sure to subscribe, tap the bell, and leave a comment—what drives you to grow?

Click here to watch a video of this episode.’
Click here to view the episode transcript.

💬 Share this episode with a man in your life who’s stuck and needs a breakthrough.

#MensMentalHealth #ChristianMen #MotivationForMen #SelfImprovement #Perfectionism #FaithAndMasculinity #CounselingForMen #PodcastForMen #EMDRTherapy #TraumaHealing #EmotionalMastery #GoalSettingForMen #BurnoutRecovery #LionCounseling #EscapeTheCage