In this special episode of the Visible Man podcast, VM Admin and veteran Bob Jurgensen sits down with fellow vets Roderick Castle, a crisis intervention specialist with the Veterans Outreach Center, and Matthew Murray, a veterans service officer with the Monroe County Veterans Service Agency to discuss veteran mental health, what’s being done about it, and what we can do to help.

If you’re a veteran in crisis or concerned about one, please call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and press 1

• What are we seeing and hearing from veterans regarding their mental health?
• How COVID affected veterans' mental health
• How can we help break the barriers and end the stigma regarding veterans' mental health?
• How do the various veterans' agencies work together to help veterans?
• PTSD in the military
• What’s out there to help veterans convert back to civilian life?
• Opening up the dialogue about veteran suicide
• How can civilians help veterans?

• Veterans Affairs: https://www.va.gov/
• Veterans Outreach Center: https://veteransoutreachcenter.org/
• Monroe County Veterans Service Agency: https://www.monroecounty.gov/vsa
• Subscribe to Beck’s Kid’s YouTube Account: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHKpj0_F_zTScHPAoBwNwZQ
• Support VM: https://www.patreon.com/visibleman
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) or text “VM” to 741741
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Loss Survivors: https://afsp.org/ive-lost-someoneAFSP
• After an Attempt: https://afsp.org/after-an-attempt
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for family members and caregivers: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Family-Members-and-Caregivers
• NAMI: https://www.nami.org/home
• Join Us: https://discord.gg/YbQDWqUC
• Visible Man: https://www.visibleman.org/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSPFY2_fDLiw0WLcxZErasg
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visibleman.org/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/VisiblemanO
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visibleman_org/
  Catch up on past episodes here: https://visibleman.org/the-visible-man-podcast/

The gang chats with Chris Martoche who shares how his mental health struggles lead him to abuse alcohol, almost attempt suicide, and spend time in an inpatient mental health facility. This is one powerful story.

Notes:

• White people food
• Getting Admin Bob on Tinder next week
• Chris tells his story of alcoholism, a suicide attempt, going to an inpatient medical facility, and his constant battle with his mental health
• Great news about the PHP Program in Buffalo

Links

• Grants Awarded to ECMC to Expand Innovative Outpatient Behavioral Health Programs: https://www.ecmc.edu/grants-awarded-ecmc-expand-innovative-outpatient-behavioral-health-programs/
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) or text "VM" to 741741
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Loss Survivors: https://afsp.org/ive-lost-someone
• AFSP After an Attempt: https://afsp.org/after-an-attempt
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for family members and caregivers: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Family-Members-and-Caregivers
• NAMI: https://www.nami.org/home
• Join Us: https://discord.gg/YbQDWqUC
• VisibleMan: https://www.visibleman.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visibleman.org/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/VisiblemanO
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visibleman_org/

Jeff chats with Mark Winston, the director of the US Men’s Shed Association, an international phenomenon that aims to help men and their mental health through “men’s innate need for activity.” The key to their popularity is best expressed in their motto: “Men don’t talk face to face, we talk shoulder to shoulder.

Just a quick reminder, this talk is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as medical or professional advice. If you need medical or professional advice, please seek out the appropriate person in your local area.

Notes:

• What are Men’s Sheds?
• How Men’s Sheds help men stand shoulder to shoulder
• Starting a Men’s shed
• What do Men’s Sheds do?
• How Men’s Sheds Help
• What do the members of a men’s shed look like?
• How Mark got involved with Men’s Shed
• The Benefits of Men’s Sheds
• Men suicide - the silent killer
• Audience Q&A

Links:

• US Men’s Shed Association: https://usmenssheds.org/
  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/usmenssheds/
• Mark’s Email: mark@usmenssheds.org
• Subscribe to Beck’s Kid’s YouTube Account: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHKpj0_F_zTScHPAoBwNwZQ
• Support VM: https://www.patreon.com/visibleman
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) or text “VM” to 741741
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Loss Survivors: https://afsp.org/ive-lost-someoneAFSP
• After an Attempt: https://afsp.org/after-an-attempt
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for family members and caregivers: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Family-Members-and-Caregivers
• NAMI: https://www.nami.org/home
• Join Us: https://discord.gg/YbQDWqUC
• Visible Man: https://www.visibleman.org/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSPFY2_fDLiw0WLcxZErasg
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visibleman.org/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/VisiblemanO
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visibleman_org/
• Catch up on past episodes here: https://visibleman.org/the-visible-man-podcast/

Getting out of a toxic relationship is important, but what happens next? How do we climb the mountain of healing to find peace in ourselves and healthy relationships in the future?

In today’s episode, Jeffrey Hoffman sits down with Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Jaime Mahler to discuss not only how to heal from toxic relationships, but how to break the cycle to assure that we won't find ourselves stuck in similar ones, again.

Just a quick reminder, this talk is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as medical or professional advice. If you need medical or professional advice, please seek out the appropriate person in your local area.

Notes:

• Defining toxicity and toxic relationships
• What is triangulation?
• Uncovering triangulation
• How toxic people view relationships as a currency
• How to break our own toxic patterns
• How toxic recovery and authenticity go hand in hand
• How do we recover from toxic relationships?
• How do we heal from toxicity within a relationship?
• Showing up authentically
• Audience Q&A

Links:

• GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE VM COMEDY NIGHT FUNDRAISER: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35843/production/1121480?performanceId=11068573
• Jaime’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recollectedself/?hl=en
• Jaime’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@recollectedself?lang=en
• Jaime’s Website: https://recollectedself.com/
• The Unlearned Podcast: https://anchor.fm/theunlearnedpodcast
• Subscribe to Beck’s Kid’s YouTube Account: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHKpj0_F_zTScHPAoBwNwZQ
• Support VM: https://www.patreon.com/visibleman
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) or text “VM” to 741741
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Loss Survivors: https://afsp.org/ive-lost-someoneAFSP
• After an Attempt: https://afsp.org/after-an-attempt
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for family members and caregivers: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Family-Members-and-Caregivers
• NAMI: https://www.nami.org/home
• Join Us: https://discord.gg/YbQDWqUC
• Visible Man: https://www.visibleman.org/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSPFY2_fDLiw0WLcxZErasg
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visibleman.org/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/VisiblemanO
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visibleman_org/
• Catch up on past episodes here: https://visibleman.org/the-visible-man-podcast/

Jeff and Jack cover a range of topics like gun control, dad jokes, the Australian election, and more in this freewheeling, open, and honest conversation.

Notes:

• Dad Jokes and the official uniform of fatherhood
• The importance of modular wardrobes
• Sick kids and new medicine technology
• Are you “that” kind of American?
• Dealing with American Stereotypes
• Jack’s first Australian Election Day
• Being Embarrassed to be An American
• Should Jeffrey Move to Australia?
• Jeffrey and Jack discuss gun control
• Texas is Pro-Life (except for the death penalty or if it interferes with their guns)
• VM In-person updates
• Finding a balance between work and home
• Dealing with challenges as a father figure

Links:

• GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE VM COMEDY NIGHT FUNDRAISER: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35843/production/1121480?performanceId=11068573
• Subscribe to Beck’s Kid’s YouTube Account: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHKpj0_F_zTScHPAoBwNwZQ
• Support VM: https://www.patreon.com/visibleman
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) or text “VM” to 741741
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Loss Survivors: https://afsp.org/ive-lost-someoneAFSP
• After an Attempt: https://afsp.org/after-an-attempt
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for family members and caregivers: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Family-Members-and-Caregivers
• NAMI: https://www.nami.org/home
• Join Us: https://discord.gg/YbQDWqUC
• Visible Man: https://www.visibleman.org/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSPFY2_fDLiw0WLcxZErasg
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visibleman.org/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/VisiblemanO
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visibleman_org/
• Catch up on past episodes here: https://visibleman.org/the-visible-man-podcast/

This “best of” episode comes from Jeff Hoffman's chat with Lisa Nolan, the Director of Prevention Education for the Willow Domestic Violence Center in Rochester New York.

Prior to her role at Willow, she spent over 14 years in higher education working with college students primarily in the field of student behavior and conduct. During this time, she gained many years of experience working with survivors, understanding trauma, and understanding the impact of dating and domestic violence on individuals and the impact on the broader community.

This conversation may be triggering to some and as a reminder, it is for educational purposes only and not medical or legal advice. If you need medical or legal advice, please seek help from the appropriate medical or legal professional.

Links

• Willow Domestic Violence Center: http://willowcenterny.org/
• The National Domestic Violence Hotline: http://thehotline.org/
• Rape Abuse & Incest National Network: http://rainn.org/
• The CDC
  • Fast Facts about DV: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/index.html
  • Information on Adverse Childhood Experiences: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces
• The Power and Control Wheel: https://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/2019-08/Gender%20Neutral%20Power%20Control%20Wheel.pdf
• Brene Brown’s RSA Short: Empathy: https://brenebrown.com/videos/rsa-short-empathy/
• GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE VM COMEDY NIGHT FUNDRAISER: https://visibleman.org/comedyshow/
• Subscribe to Beck’s Kid’s YouTube Account: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHKpj0_F_zTScHPAoBwNwZQ
• Support VM: https://www.patreon.com/visibleman
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) or text “VM” to 741741
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Loss Survivors: https://afsp.org/ive-lost-someoneAFSP
• After an Attempt: https://afsp.org/after-an-attempt
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for family members and caregivers: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Family-Members-and-Caregivers
• NAMI: https://www.nami.org/home
• Join Us: https://discord.gg/YbQDWqUC
• Visible Man: https://www.visibleman.org/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSPFY2_fDLiw0WLcxZErasg
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visibleman.org/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/VisiblemanO
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visibleman_org/
• Catch up on past episodes here: https://visibleman.org/the-visible-man-podcast/

Jeff and Jack have a freewheeling conversation that covers Australia’s obsession with Hawaiian BBQ, sparking joy, upcoming live events, burnout, and more. This is one of the most open, honest, and free-flowing conversations we’ve had on VM Live.

Notes:

• Australia’s obsession with BBQ Hawaiian food, shortening words unnecessarily, and why there are no Burger King’s down under.
• If you could draw your week as a roller coaster, what would it look like? - A callback to our live talk with Weston Karnes who created the card game for men’s mental health, “Let’s Get Real, Bro.” - https://youtu.be/7c01qwyZgEE
• Should you use the word should? (and other philosophical questions)
• What up with Jeff and busses?
• Adult coloring and the zen of cabinet making
• Duct tape and cable management
• Being lucky enough to love what you do for work
• Why entrepreneurs suck
• Sparking Joy
• Jeff’s first talk will be at the Lilac Festival: https://rochesterevents.com/lilac-festival/
• How men are hurting the men’s mental health cause
• Jack now sleeps like a normal person
• The official VM Comedy Night Fundraiser announcement: https://www.carlsoncomedy.com/
• How burnout has affected Visible Man
• The real meaning of brotherhood

Links

• GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE VM COMEDY NIGHT FUNDRAISER: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35843/production/1121480?performanceId=11068573
  Subscribe to Beck’s Kid’s YouTube Account: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHKpj0_F_zTScHPAoBwNwZQ
• Support VM: https://www.patreon.com/visibleman
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) or text “VM” to 741741
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Loss Survivors: https://afsp.org/ive-lost-someoneAFSP
• After an Attempt: https://afsp.org/after-an-attempt
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for family members and caregivers: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Family-Members-and-Caregivers
• NAMI: https://www.nami.org/home
• Join Us: https://discord.gg/YbQDWqUC
• Visible Man: https://www.visibleman.org/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSPFY2_fDLiw0WLcxZErasg
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visibleman.org/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/VisiblemanO
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visibleman_org/
• Catch up on past episodes here: https://visibleman.org/the-visible-man-podcast/

Dating can be a lot of fun, but once you get to a certain place in life, it becomes less about having fun and more about discovering and then finding what you want in a partner. How do we do this while still enjoying the process?

In this episode, Jeff speaks with husband, father, YouTuber, podcast, author, and PRE engagement coach, Shon Hyneman of Its Scary to Remarry about how to date intentionally.

Notes

• About It’s Scary to Remarry and Shon Hyneman
• How to date intentionally
• How being upfront about what you want in a relationship is beneficial for you and your partner
• The importance of finding out what you want in a partner and relationship
• The five questions that will help you find out what you want with relationships
• Audience Q&A
  

Links

• Shon’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ShonHyneman
• Dating Intentionally: 5 Ways To Know They Are The One: https://5waystoknow.podia.com/
• Subscribe to Beck’s Kid’s YouTube Account: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHKpj0_F_zTScHPAoBwNwZQ
• Support VM: https://www.patreon.com/visibleman
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) or text “VM” to 741741
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Loss Survivors: https://afsp.org/ive-lost-someoneAFSP
• After an Attempt: https://afsp.org/after-an-attempt
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for family members and caregivers: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Family-Members-and-Caregivers
• NAMI: https://www.nami.org/home
• Join Us: https://discord.gg/YbQDWqUC
• Visible Man: https://www.visibleman.org/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSPFY2_fDLiw0WLcxZErasg
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visibleman.org/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/VisiblemanO
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visibleman_org/
• Catch up on past episodes here: https://visibleman.org/the-visible-man-podcast/