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Being a man today often means being asked to lead without ever being taught how. Strength is still expected. Responsibility is still assumed. But the models for authority, leadership, and masculinity are increasingly thin, either rigid and domineering or so hands-off they leave men unformed. Many men are left wondering how to hold power without becoming the thing they once feared.

In this episode, host Timothy sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist and leadership consultant Logan Cohen. Logan’s work involves working with traumatized youth in wilderness therapy. His current role is developing leaders in high-pressure industries. Together, they explore what healthy masculine leadership actually looks like when safety, trust, and accountability all matter.

This conversation moves through violence and restraint, power and humility, and the difference between domination and authority. Logan shares formative stories, from growing up around abuse and survival, to a pivotal moment in the wilderness where choosing restraint over force reshaped an entire group dynamic. Together, they unpack how men learn to take hits, build resilience, and lead without needing to control.

You’ll hear us break down:

• Leadership without domination: Why fear-based authority only works once, and how trust creates lasting influence.
• Fairness and vulnerability as strength: How consistency, boundaries, and emotional regulation build real loyalty in groups.
• Taking the hit on purpose: Why the ability to absorb pain, without collapsing or retaliating, is central to masculine maturity.
• Wilderness lessons for modern men: What working with violent, traumatized youth reveals about power, safety, and group dynamics.
• False independence vs. earned resilience: How extreme self-reliance isolates men and undermines leadership.
• The window of tolerance: How men expand their capacity for stress, responsibility, and growth without burning out.
• Mentorship and generativity: Why older men are often waiting to be asked—and why younger men need guides more than motivation.

We explore the tension between comfort and integrity, safety and growth, and strength and compassion. This episode isn’t about softening men or glorifying toughness. It’s about forming men who can hold authority without fear, lead others without crushing them, and build lives that are both demanding and meaningful.

The American Masculinity Podcast™ is hosted by Timothy Wienecke — licensed psychotherapist, Air Force veteran, and men’s advocate.
Real conversations about masculinity, mental health, growth, and how men can show up better — as partners, leaders, and friends.
We focus on grounded tools, not yelling or clichés. If you have questions or want a tool for something you're wrestling with, leave a comment or send a message — your feedback shapes what we build next.
Note: While this doesn’t replace therapy, it might help you notice something worth exploring.