The Better Man Podcast

"Foot health is the new sleep" … [And] it may be that big toe strength is probably the greatest proxy for longevity, well beyond VO2 max and grip strength over the age of 65." - Mark Sisson 
 
The most neglected, overlooked, and downright ignored aspect of your overall health and longevity isn't your VO2 max, your grip strength, or even your sleep. 
 
It's your foot strength and health! 
 
The reality is that your feet have evolved over thousands of years to be your interface with the ground and the universe. But modern society forces us to stuff them into cushiony shoes, which leads to foot muscle atrophy. 
 
You might be wondering what the big deal is. But a lack of foot strength causes problems up the entire kinetic chain. 
 
In other words: your feet may be responsible for your knee pain, your hip pain, your lower back pain, and even your neck pain! 
 
It's also one of the primary driving factors behind why falls are often so fatal after 65. 
 
But bestselling health author, co-founder of Peluva, and friend of the show Mark Sisson has you covered in this episode. Mark reveals why foot health is the new sleep, why it may be the greatest longevity marker we have, and how modern shoes have ruined your foot health. 
 
Here's what Mark and I discuss: 
 
Why foot health is more important than I ever realized 

The importance of your feet being in contact with the ground 

How weak feet lead to feet problems (as well as knee, hip, back, and neck pain) 

How to ease your feet into being able to wear barefoot shoes 

 
And so much more!
 
Listen now.  
 
Other highlights include: 
 
What actually causes bunions (and why it has nothing to do with your genetics)? (4:47) 

Do balancing poses cause your feet to "hurt?" This is a common problem I hear … and yet Mark's reasoning about why you're feet aren't actually hurting demonstrates just how far our foot health has fallen (6:30) 

Why you don't have flat fleet (even if your foot has lost its arch) (8:02) 

How to roll your ankle without spraining it (and how this also prevents knee tweaks and pain) (8:44) 

The bizarre reason running shoes are the primary driver of runner injuries (15:31) 

The scientific "up the kinetic chain" reason why having weak feet results in bodily pain and injuries all over your body (21:30) 

Try these overlooked foot exercises to strengthen your feet enough to wear barefoot shoes without pain (29:31) 

Why weak feet are the silent culprit behind life-altering falls that shatter your hip in your 50s, 60s, and beyond (32:35) 

Why big toe strength may be the greatest proxy for longevity over age 65 (that means it could be MORE important than VO2 max and grip strength) (35:45) 

The "glove-shaped shoe" secret for strengthening your feet by doing nothing other than walking (44:30) 

 
Resources mentioned in this episode: 
 
1. Save 10% on Peluva's Barefoot Shoes with code ManFlowYoga: If you have lower back pain, hip pain, or knee pain, the problem may be your shoes. Not only do they feel like a mini foot massage with each step, but they're also the best way to strengthen your feet and relieve knee, hip, and lower back pain. Get your barefoot shoes here: https://peluva.com/ 
 
2. Get your free copy of The Definitive Guide To A Barefoot And Minimalist Shoe Lifestyle: If you want to learn more about the health benefits of barefoot living and why foot strength may be the #1 longevity marker of the future, get your free copy here: https://peluva.com/products/the-definitive-guide-to-a-barefoot-and-minimalist-shoe-lifestyle 
 
3. Follow Mark Sisson and Peluva on Instagram: 
 
@MarkSissonPrimal
@WearPeluva 
 
4. Man Flow Yoga Events: If you've been battling some of the themes I brought up in today's show alone, I want to invite you to come to an in-person event with me and other like-minded men. Find the full list of cities we're coming to here: https://manflowyoga.com/man-flow-yoga-events/ 
 
5. Man Flow Yoga: Haven't signed up yet? Start your 7-day free trial and see how yoga can eliminate aches and pains better than other types of exercise here: https://shrtlnk.co/kP8M7

There's a male loneliness epidemic ripping through society. I've felt it. You've felt it. I'm willing to bet the vast majority of listeners have felt it too. 
 
But hearing about it or feeling it yourself is a totally different thing than doing something about it. 
 
And so, since I've been feeling the loneliness that comes when all of your time is consumed by work and family, I decided to try a few different ways to connect with other men on a deeper level. 
 
In today's show, you'll hear what I discovered about male loneliness from running these social experiments, the #1 thing holding you (and other men) back from building better friendships, and a few simple ways you can find more connection and become less lonely in your day-to-day life. 
 
Listen now.  
 
Other highlights include: 
 
The weird connection between social anxiety and a lack of a fulfilling social life that's easy to overlook (2:36) 

How I started to address my own lack of social connection in my own life (3:06) 

How simply conversing with other men can help you make significant strides in your mental and emotional health (6:28) 

Why do men suck at friendships compared to women? Here's why it has to do more with guilt than you realize… (7:12) 

My favorite "ice breaker" for going deeper into a surface level conversation (12:31) 

The incredible burden unfelt emotions have on you (and a reliable way I've found to help me feel them before they bubble up and explode) (16:45) 

The "Stoics have emotions too" secret that helps you process and feel your emotions without bending to their will (18:20) 




Resources mentioned in this episode: 
 
1. Man Flow Yoga Events: If you've been battling some of the themes I brought up in today's show alone, I want to invite you to come to an in-person event with me and other like-minded men. Find the full list of cities we're coming to here: https://manflowyoga.com/man-flow-yoga-events/ 
 
2. Man Flow Yoga: Haven't signed up yet? Start your 7-day free trial and see how yoga can eliminate aches and pains better than other types of exercise here: https://shrtlnk.co/kP8M7

Michael's worked with over 1,500 men over the last 7 years helping them to conquer every type of sexual dysfunction they're going through. 
 
One such way sexual dysfunction manifests is with an inability to last longer than 60 seconds during sex. Or premature ejaculation for short. 
 
The problem Michael's stumbled upon, both through his own struggles and with coaching 1,500+ men through it, is that kegels are not enough. Sometimes they can actually make you finish quicker. But the reality is, if kegels solved this problem reliably for men, no man would suffer from finishing too soon. 
 
The real root of the problem is deeper and scarier: 
 
Your nervous system.


Modern life is set up in a way that sets everyone at a higher baseline level of the sympathetic nervous system (also known as the fight-flight-freeze response). This naturally lowers how long you last in bed. And then there are other problems like porn, sexual shame, emotional dysregulation, lack of emotional expression, overthinking, and the list goes on. 
 
In other words: 
 
If you struggle with premature ejaculation, you likely think it's a purely physical condition. But Michael's work over the last 7 years shows us that treating it as a purely physical condition sets you up for failure.
 
That's the bad news. 
 
The good news?
 
Michael's helped thousands of men like you and he shares some of his top tips in this episode. 
 
Here's what Michael and I discuss: 
 
Why premature ejaculation isn't only a physical issue

How your mind hijacks your nervous system and makes you finish faster

Why feeling your way into lasting longer is a more effective strategy (and Michael's favorite tools that make this easier) 

 
Other highlights include: 
 
How treating premature ejaculation like a purely physical condition can tighten its grip on your sex life (1:15) 

Why kegels can actually make you finish sooner (1:53) 

The strange way modern life itself can make you climax faster (and the holistic solution to last longer) (2:46) 

The "Pelvic Repatterning Method" Michael Hodge first used on himself, then 1,500 of his students, to reverse their sexual dysfunction (7:50) 

How to naturally take the pressure off of sex by engaging the 5 senses (and some of Michael's favorite activities to accomplish this) (19:12) 

Why Michael's 8-week "Vigor" program, currently 15% off to the MFY Community - the coupon's in the show notes, can help you last far longer in bed in two short months (and maybe even faster!) (20:22)

The biggest mistake men make when they're trying to regulate their nervous system (25:19) 

How your intelligence holds you back from healing your emotional gunk that's causing your nervous system to go haywire (27:38) 




Guest Bio:
 
Michael Hodge lived through 5 years of severe pelvic pain, urinary, and sexual issues. By merging his own healing experience with nervous system practices, he is helping thousands of men to transform their pelvic health. He also really likes dark chocolate and produces euphoric dance music.
 
Resources mentioned in this episode: 
 
1. Transform Men's Pelvic Health Website: https://www.transformpelvichealth.com/
 
2. Miachel's Vigor Sexual Strength Program (for ED and PE): https://bit.ly/vigorstrongsex   
 
(Use code MANFLOW to save 15% on Michael's Vigor program.)  
 
3. Overcome Pelvic + Urinary Issues Program: https://bit.ly/overcomepelvicpain  
 
4. Follow Transform Men's Pelvic Health on social media: 
 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformPelvicHealth   
Instagram: @transformpelvichealth  
Tik Tok: @transformpelvichealth
 
5. Man Flow Yoga: Haven't signed up yet? Start your 7-day free trial and see how yoga can eliminate aches and pains better than other types of exercise here: https://shrtlnk.co/kP8M7 
 
6. Man Flow Yoga Events: Find the full list of cities we're coming to here: https://manflowyoga.com/man-flow-yoga-events/

I ended up in the ER last week after my wife and mom had to threaten me with an ambulance because they thought I was having a stroke. 
 
(I didn't have a stroke, but I am dealing with, and on medication for, a case of stress-induced Bell's Palsy.) 
 
This surprise visit to the ER was a wake-up call for me on several fronts: 
 
Not only did I need to be threatened with an ambulance to go to the ER (I didn't think I was tough or anything… I just thought I'd be fine), but I was also surprised by just how many difficult emotions came up for me while getting an MRI and learning about my Bell's Palsy. 
 
Anyway, I promised myself I wouldn't make a podcast about this if it felt like work. But I think it can help you - whether you're going through something similar, battling your own kind of health problem, or just dealing with the harsh realization that you can't have full control over your future. 
 
Here's what I share in this episode: 
 
Why being in "great" physical health doesn't grant you full control over your health 

The most important things I learned about myself and my emotions from this surprise ER visit  

Why the cost of your health is a lot less than whatever the doctor's visit or ER trip will cost you 

 
Other highlights include: 
 
How my brain thought I was just fatigued when my eye started twitching and my face started looking asymmetrical (my wife and mom had to threaten me with an ambulance!) (1:07) 

Why I was surprised to go through such a wide range of emotions when I was getting an MRI (I mistakenly thought mindfulness would help me counteract the shocking sense of panic) (5:44) 

Did you know 5 out of 10 people who get an MRI have to hit the "tap out" button? Here's how I managed to get through it… (7:06) 

How I learned the hard way that I need to take my stress management more seriously (8:31) 

The most important lesson I learned from my surprise ER trip where I thought I was having a stroke (it's just Bell's Palsy, I didn't have a stroke, and I'm doing okay) (11:29) 

A weird way a scene from The Pitt (a very dramatic and intense show depicting what an ER room in Pittsburgh is like) made me feel better about my medical bills (14:30) 

 
Resources mentioned in this episode: 
 
1. Man Flow Yoga Events: If you ever wished that you could do yoga with me in person, I may just be coming to a city near you. Find the full list on in-person MFY events here: https://manflowyoga.com/man-flow-yoga-events/ 
 
2. Man Flow Yoga: My breathing practice helped most in the MRI than any other training I've ever done. Breathing is a natural extension of the MFY method. Experience it for yourself by starting your 7-day free trial here:  https://shrtlnk.co/kP8M7

Today's guest, Joe L., was blindsided about two years ago when he went to donate his blood and was denied. Joe has O- blood, which means every other blood type can accept his. As such, he's always been a big proponent of donating his blood. 
 
But he was denied a few years back because his blood pressure was sky high. 
 
Joe never would've suspected that his blood pressure was high at the time. His doctor then prescribed him blood pressure medication. But Joe didn't want to live the rest of his life dependent on medicine. So he asked his doctor to give him six months to lose some weight and see if he could be taken off blood pressure. 
 
Then, his doctor gave him life-changing advice: 
 
Lose 10 pounds. And when the first 10 pounds are gone, lose 10 more. 
 
Since this trip to the doctor's office in February 2025, he's… 
 
Lost 55 pounds 

Found out his hormones were out of balance and fixed his low testosterone and high prolactin levels (which made his libido return with a vengeance) 

His confidence has gone through the roof 

He stepped out of the depressive cloud that's been following him for most of his life 

 
And he even told me that he feels better today, at 62 years old, than he felt 20 years ago! 
 
How did Joe do it? 
 
He followed his doctor's advice: He broke down his wellness journey into baby steps, stayed the course, and he feels like a completely different person some 17 months later.
 
Not only does Joe's story prove that you are NOT too old to make significant health and lifestyle changes, but you'll also find that it was easier than you thought it would be if you follow the "baby steps" method. 
 
Here's what Joe and I discuss: 
 
Why being afraid of your doctor can put you into an early grave 

How Joe realized that aging was NOT the primary reason his body and health started falling apart 

Why taking your wellness journey seriously will transform your life in ways that seem impossible right now 

 
Other highlights from this episode include: 
 
How Joe avoided the "silent killer" (high blood pressure) after being denied to donate his O- blood (3:03) 

The "Baby Steps" method that saved Joe's life as he turned 10 pounds of weight loss into losing 55 pounds (4:47)  

2 exercises Joe started to lose his first 10 pounds without injuring himself like he always seemed to do in the gym (10:30) 

How coming to the MFY Wellness Weekend in LA last year motivated Joe to lose an additional 30 pounds (15:04) 

Does your head pound when you're doing downdog? If so, don't ignore this warning from Joe at (22:50) 

How to protect your fitness journey when you're plateauing and becoming hopeless over your lack of progress (26:00) 

How Joe learned - and fixed - his dangerously low testosterone levels and dangerously high levels of prolactin (and how fixing his hormones accelerated his weight loss and restored his lost libido) (30:47)

The trick to losing weight without giving up drinking alcohol completely (38:34) 

 
Resources mentioned in this episode: 
 
1. Man Flow Yoga Events: While Joe started his wellness journey before attending the LA Wellness Weekend, he emphasizes it was a key part to his continual weight loss. If you want to experience what caused Joe to lose an additional 30 pounds, find the full list of cities we're coming to and secure your ticket to a MFY in-person event here: https://manflowyoga.com/man-flow-yoga-events/ 
 
2. Man Flow Yoga: Joe also credits his yoga practice to being paramount to his 55 lb. weight loss journey. If you want to follow in Joe's footsteps,  start your 7-day free trial here: https://shrtlnk.co/kP8M7