When men become fathers, what impact does that have on their identity, way of living, and sense of self? Is it something they prepare for or something that’s sprung on them?Few relationships impact a man as much as his relationship with his father, whether his father was absent or present. Many times, the nature of this relationship carries far into his life and impacts how he chooses to be a father, in his own right, or whether he chooses to be a father at all. While conversations for women around motherhood are commonplace in our society, it’s rarer for young men to be asked to explore their own relationship with fatherhood before becoming fathers themselves.In this 75-minute conversation, Coach Jake Fishbein and Dr. Grinman explore what fatherhood means to men and how men can prepare for fatherhood. They share their own experiences and explore how the lack of conversation about intentional fatherhood impacts our society in many ways. And they talk about what’s possible for men, women, their children, and their communities when men engage in a conversation about fatherhood long before becoming fathers themselves.To learn more about The Arena Series, visit www.thearenaseries.com.

Coach Nick Papadopoulos, Coach Jake Fishbein, and Dr. Jessica Koblenz to explore ‘Men & The Cave’ in this 75-minute conversation.When men are living in the cave, what impact does it have on their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being? When men don’t take care of themselves, what’s the impact on them and others?For men, it can be challenging and societally unacceptable to ask for help or to admit when something is wrong and isn’t working. Instead of acknowledging the need for support or change, many men retreat to the metaphorical cave instead. While the cave can feel safe, it ultimately gets in the way of men taking care of themselves and asking for the support they need. And when men don’t take care of themselves, the people around them are impacted.In this 75-minute conversation, Coach Nick, Coach Jake, and Dr. Koblenz explored alternatives to the cave and what’s possible for men when they ask for support and take care of their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. They share their own experiences of retreating to the cave and how disconnecting has impacted their lives and relationships. And they talk about what’s possible for men, women, and even organizations when men are encouraged to speak up about their challenges rather than retreat and hide.To learn more about Coach Nick & Coach Jake, visit www.thearenaweekend.com.

Coach Nick, Coach Jake, and special guest Stephanie D’Ambra explore Men & Friendship in this episode of The Arena Series.What does friendship mean to men in general?How has COVID-19 impacted men’s relationship to friendship?There are many stereotypes and jokes about male friendship, but most of the time we don’t talk about what’s at the core and what’s possible when men connect with each other (and women) in different ways. In this hour-long conversation, we’ll talk about how men usually choose friendships that are side-by-side and activity-based vs. face-to-face friendships grounded in vulnerability. We explore why men don’t always share with their male friends and often turn to women for emotional support during challenging times. In the age of Covid, where so many of the traditional male bonding opportunities have vanished, it’s more important than ever for men to redefine what it means to be friends and how they interact with their communities and themselves.

In this hour-long conversation, Coach Nick Papadopoulos, Coach Jake Fishbein, and Dr. Jessica Koblenz explore Men & Intimacy. What does intimacy mean to men? What gets in the way of men experiencing and creating the intimacy they desire?Men often find themselves in a competitive mindset, focused on winning and accomplishment. While this mindset can lead to tremendous tangible results, it can also get in the way of men creating intimate relationships.In this conversation, we explore how men can experience greater intimacy in their lives. We’ll share our own experiences with intimacy and what’s gotten in the way for us as we’ve looked to create meaningful relationships with partners, friends, and family. And we’ll talk about what’s possible when men (and women) allow for greater intimacy in their relationships.