175: The Case Against Becoming A Better Man

175: The Case Against Becoming A Better Man

June 12, 2026 · 29 min · Season 6 · Episode 175

About this episode

In this episode, Dean Pohlman explores the idea that becoming a better man may not be the key to happiness and fulfillment, challenging common beliefs about self-improvement.

I've always been suspicious of this idea that becoming more selfish is the path to happiness. It feels like a lie. Especially when you're a father. But you know what? After hosting a handful of in-person events this year, I've noticed a silent crisis amongst men: We don't know how to get our needs met. We carry around invisible rucksacks that weigh us down, dim the color and depth of our world, and snatch peace, fulfillment, and joy from our grasp. My suspicion about doing things that benefit me was an example of this invisible weight. Maybe yours is a productivity hack, a fitness schedule, or a weight loss journey. Defense mechanisms like these are smart and cunning, so they'll dress themselves up in a way that feels like moving forward… …while you slowly watch your world get duller and less fulfilling around you. So ponder these questions: What if there was nothing to fix about yourself? What if you didn't have to fill every spare second of your schedule to feel like enough? What if you didn't need to become a better man to be happy and fulfilled and connected? Join me as I try to answer these existential, yet empowering questions. Here's a sneak peek at what's in this episode…

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