Mental Health And Men's Health With Hearts Wide Open
Hearts Wide Open
Mental health focused on men's health. Hearts Wide Open is a mental health podcast started by two friends who discovered that opening up about their struggles in life can feel liberating. With the stigmas surrounding men's health, opening up to one another doesn't often come naturally to men. We're here to change that. This podcast is a safe space for men opening up about their story & experts from the fields of psychology, spirituality, mindfulness, movement or somatic bodywork sharing valuable insights related to living a more fulfilled, purpose driven life. You're not alone ❤️
#46 Turning 33: Men, Aging & the Pressure to Have It All Figured Out
Men’s mental health and aging as a man—what a combo. In this special birthday episode, Dennis turns 33 and dives headfirst into what it really feels like to be a man in his 30s, reflecting on life not quite going as planned, the weird pressure to "have it all figured out," and the little existential crisis that can sneak up with every passing year.Turning 30 used to feel like the beginning of adulthood… now 33 feels like a weird milestone no one warned us about. From the nostalgia of our early 2
Apr 8, • 17:39
#45 Heart Health for Men: The Hidden Risks You Can’t Ignore | Heart Disease Prevention Secrets
Most men ignore their heart health—until it’s too late. Don’t be one of them. Discover the secrets to heart health for men and learn heart disease prevention strategies that could save your life.In this episode of Hearts Wide Open, the Men's Health Podcast, host Dennis sits down with Michelle Routhenstein, a leading cardiology dietitian and preventive cardiology nutritionist from EntrielyNourished.com. They dive deep into the biggest risk factors for heart disease prevention, how gut health
Mar 25, • 27:49
#44 Why Going Home Feels Like Going Backwards – And How to Change That
Going home as an adult can feel like stepping back in time. No matter how much we’ve grown, family dynamics and personal growth often clash, making us feel like a younger, outdated version of ourselves. In this episode, I share my experience of visiting home while staying in a BnB instead of my childhood home—and how it completely changed my relationship with myself and my family.Why does going home as an adult sometimes feel like going backwards? How do family dynamics and personal growth shape
Mar 11, • 11:19
#43 Resilience Is My Superpower & How It Can Be Yours Too With Paul Doughty
Resilience isn’t something we’re born with. Resilience can be developed. How? That’s exactly what we talked about with Paul Doughty!Paul is a published author who’s just released his new book “Resilience My Ultimate Superpower: Empowering Young Lives to Overcome Challenges”. We asked Paul what resilience means to him, what role resilience plays in his life and why he is helping young people specifically in becoming more resilient. Paul has had a LIFE! From growing up with domestic violence to li
Feb 25, • 39:49
#42 From Getting Rejected By A Therapist To Actually Getting Help - Franz's Story
Franz tried to get therapy for the first time and got rejected on the phone. On this episode Franz opens up about his story and how he stayed on course to eventually get professional help.He also talks about shame and shows us a new perspective, how shame is part of all of our life's in ways we sometimes cannot see. Today Franz changes the way we perceive shame and works with individuals like you and me to help "un-shame" them.Make sure to give this one a listen! Franz even does a
Feb 11, • 59:34
#41 My Friends Saved My Life! How To Build & Maintain Lasting Friendships With Ruan
How do you successfully build and maintain lasting friendships? And how can a friendship evolve when it's over a long physical distance? Is this even possible? Dennis sat down with his longterm long-distance friend Ruan in Brazil to discuss friendship and more! Did you know that 1 in 5 men say that they do not have a single friend? His friends form Ruan's support system and he opens up about the time when they literally picked him up from a very dark place and saved his life. Ruan also t
Jan 28, • 54:32
#40 From Blaming Parents & Villainizing Your Partner To Solving Problems TOGETHER With Nikki
Soroosh sat down with Nikki from the Hearts Wide Open Family and discussed a variety of issues and topics related to relationships. Nikki is a psychologist and somatic movement coach who's recently joined the Hearts Wide Open family and supports us in organizing events for our community online and offline in the Netherlands. Wanna join one of our events? Stay tuned on our Instagram and/or subscribe to our newsletter via our website! On this episode Nikki opens up about growing up without a prese
Jan 14, • 56:42
#39 Our Year In Review & Wishes For 2025 | Join The Hearts Wide Open Team Call
Join our end of year team call where we review the year, look back at a big Movember month and what we wish for ourselves and everyone else in 2025. This one is a relaxed behind the scenes call where we go through some of these questions. We wanted to share this call with you to let you get to know the hearts wide open team behind the scenes. We wish you all a good start to the next year and hope to see you back with Hearts Wide Open in 2025, no matter if it's going your way or not. Want to tal
Dec 24, 2024 • 59:48
#38 Gaining Clarity & Guidance With Ayahuasca? How Plant Medicine Helped Cris Improve The Relationship With His Mom
Salsa teacher Cris unpacks his recent Ayahuasca experience with Dennis! Hear about how he got to taking the substance and what it ultimately did for him in healing the relationship with his parents. Note that this is Cris' personal experience and Ayahuasca can be different for every individual. When parents grew up with tough love and have a hard time receiving love, what can you do as a son or daughter to support and help their healing? Breaking generational cycles is hard work, but when succ
Dec 10, 2024 • 46:58
#37 "I Didn't Believe In Myself At First!" How Anyone Can Become Confident In Public Speaking With Jelmer
Pro public speaker Jelmer and Soroosh sat down to talk about his rocky path of becoming a public speaker! Jelmer was interested in speaking as a kid then started doubting himself due to what other people believed, but eventually ended up going for it anyway years later. In between, Jelmer went through a corporate career that almost made him burn out, overcoming self-doubt, experiencing therapy for the first time. All of this unpacked in this episode! On top of that Jelmer shares his best tips f
Nov 26, 2024 • 52:56
#36 From Childhood Menace To Embracing Emotional Freedom & Therapy With Stijn
Dennis sat down with Stijn Herpers from the Man-up club to talk about Stijns story, what shaped him, how he is dealing with moving out of his parents and more. Stijn truly showed up for this one and opened up about sabotaging himself and his relationships, why he started the Man-up club and therapy at the age of 17. This conversation is truly wholesome, Dennis and Stijn are talking about serious things with a smile on their faces and even go into the question "how to sit on a date?". Join and l
Nov 12, 2024 • 42:18
#35 Cycling Around The Globe For Mental Health: How Physical Activity Supports Mental Well-Being With Juriaan
Dennis interviewed Juriaan, a Dutch man who is travelling around the globe by bicycle! You've heard right! By B-I-C-Y-C-L-E. You probably know that Dutch people love to get from a to b by bicycle, but what makes a person want to do that around the entire planet? This is exactly what we've asked Juriaan in this episode. He talks about his motivation behind doing this challenge, how it supports his own mental health and how he wants to make a difference for others too, by raising awareness and fu
Oct 22, 2024 • 45:28
#34 How To Deal With A Person That's Always Negative? Surviving Negative People & Energy
We explore the hidden ways negativity can manifest in our lives and how we can recognize when someone’s negative attitude is a reflection of their own struggles or just a part of who they are. Feeling Tense? It Might Be the People Around You. Have you ever noticed tension in your body that seems to linger for days, weeks, or even months? Sometimes, stress and negativity from the people around us can creep into our lives unnoticed, leaving us feeling drained and overwhelmed. It could be the const
Oct 8, 2024 • 37:19
#33 PSOAS & What Happens When We Express Emotions With Priscilla
We interviewed our yoga teacher about her philosophy, the PSOAS muscle and how it stores emotions that want to be released and how we can learn this. Priscilla talks to us about the light and shadow, the yin and yang, why she loves working with men and what a healthy man is to her. We discover why it’s so important to restore the balance and create a safe space for all genders to support connection with self and others. We also dive into men and women healing by themselves vs. healing together
Sep 24, 2024 • 55:24
#32 This Is How I Transformed My Life - Finding Purpose, Direction & Alignment With Personal Values, Intentions & Daily Rituals
Life moves in cycles and this episode is testament to that. Dennis has been through a transformational experience at the start of the month, which realigned him to his purpose and values, brought him back on track in terms of the direction he was taking in life and left him with clarity of what his north star is. Dennis takes you on a journey throughout this experience: What happened to him at the start, how he was all of the sudden able to deal with topics he'd felt stuck with and how this
Sep 10, 2024 • 43:39
#31 What Is Attachment Theory, How Do I Know My Attachment Style & How Does This Help My Relationships?
In this episode, we talk about attachment theory. Attachment theory talks about how we attach in romantic relationships with a partner and how it relates to the love and care we receive as a baby or child. Our guest is Rita Bliven. Rita has a lot of experience in the field of attachment theory and opens up about her own personal story on attachment which starts with a child kidnapping. She also coaches Dennis and Soroosh on their past love relationships and how attachment styles played a role th
Aug 27, 2024 • 45:25
#30 Overcoming Self-Sabotage & Unlocking My True Potential Without Setting Myself Up For Failure
In this episode, Soroosh gives the definition of self-sabotage from a technical point of view. How sometimes we set high goals for ourselves and set ourselves up for failure. Are you also inspired by the success story of other people and plan to wake up at 4 am, and then fail? Do you criticise &set high expectations for yourself? We talk about how you too, can plan properly. Furthermore, we dive deep into the patterns and mindset traps that hold us back, exploring practical strategies to bre
Aug 13, 2024 • 33:34
#29 I Deleted Instagram 2 Years Ago: How He Did It & How It Changed Lenny’s Life
Lenny shares about his decision to quit Instagram and delete the app on this episode of the Hearts Wide Open Podcast. He deleted Instagram over 2 years ago and talks about the process and impact it has on him today. We also discuss other social media platforms like Twitter / X and how they have changed. We all choose what type of content we consume and in the end it is important to be conscious about where we spend our time. In this episode Lenny even offers to take us through a short meditatio
Jul 23, 2024 • 35:26
#28 Authentic Conversations With Anyone: Valuable Lessons From Our Men's Circle
Ever wondered why it seems so hard to have an authentic conversation #realtalk with one of your friends, a family member or maybe even a stranger you've just met? Then this episode is for you! In this episode we not only discuss why it can seem so hard to finally see and really talk each other through the thick surface of small talk, people pleasing, playing a role and so on, but ALSO how we can foster more of these spaces and what we can do to be more authentic in our environment and with t
Jul 9, 2024 • 35:01
#27 What We Learned In 1 Year Of Podcasting About Men's Health & Men's Mental Health
Hearts Wide Open is celebrating its first anniversary! 1 year podcasting about men's health and men's mental health related topics. In this episode hosts Soroosh and Dennis are getting interviewed by former guest Tamara and look back at their highlights, lowlights, learnings and take aways from 1 year of hosting a men's health podcast. The two not only share about the past year, but take a deeper look at some of their learnings and what being a healthy man means to them. They go on giving some
Jun 25, 2024 • 43:08
#26 Childhood With An Abusive Parent (2/2): How Alican Saved Himself & How Setting Boundaries Helped Him
In this episode, Sooroosh and Alican delve into the reality that everyone faces low moments in life, times when the weight of challenges can feel overwhelming. It's crucial to recognize that these experiences are part of the human condition and do not reflect personal failure or weakness. Seeking help is a courageous step, not a sign of inadequacy. Whether it’s talking to a friend, consulting a therapist, or finding solace in a support group, asking for assistance is a proactive way to man
Jun 18, 2024 • 41:03
#25 Growing Up With An Abusive Parent (1/2): How Growing Up With My Mom Impacted My Development & Self-Worth With Alican
In this powerful episode, Soroosh and Alican dive into the complex and often painful reality of toxic relationships with parents during the teenage years and even adulthood. As a teenager, dealing with toxic parental dynamics can be particularly challenging. The pressure to meet unrealistic expectations, constant criticism, and a lack of emotional support can lead to severe consequences such as depression, anxiety, and difficulties in establishing personal boundaries. We explore how these toxic
Jun 11, 2024 • 43:40
#24 Why Doesn't She Want Me? Dealing With Rejection, Perfectionism & Blaming Ourselves
In this episode we tried something new! If you're able to, definitely check out the video version of this episode on Spotify or YouTube, because we're PAINTING as we have this conversation about a variety of thought-provoking topics that we as young men are faced with. It helps us a lot, if you take a moment to let us know what you think about this new format. This week Soroosh asked himself why he obsesses about the reasons why someone rejected him after a date. We're sure you can
May 28, 2024 • 55:55
#23 The Modern Dad: How To Be A Good Father, When I’m Still Dealing With My Own Childhood? Equal Parenting With @Vollblutvater
On this episode Soroosh and Dennis sat down with Lukas aka @vollblutvater who is an advocate for the equal parenting model and sharing his experience as an involved father on his social channels. Lukas explains what equal parenting or shared care means for him and his wife and why they chose this model. He shares about building a father son connection with his newborn and how equal care looks in practice also talks about the struggles that come with juggling both work and being a parent and why
May 14, 2024 • 57:15
#22 Performance Pressure At Work - Where Does It Come From And How Do We Experience Pressure Today?
Soroosh had a talk with a friend recently and thought he'd bring the topic to the podcast to dive deep and discuss our thoughts on the pressure to perform. What is pressure to perform? What types of pressures are there that we can experience and where do they come from? How do these pressures affect us today and how do we still attach to them? We discuss all these questions and more around the topic of pressure on this episode and share real examples from our own lifes to illustrate how dif
Apr 23, 2024 • 57:54
#21 From Consultant To Working At The Zoo For A Happier & More Purposeful Life: This Is How Daley Did It
We talked to Daley who went from being unhappy as a strategy consultant to working at the zoo. He talks about the dark side of being a strategy consultant, how he discovered his passion for animals and how working at the zoo feels more aligned to his purpose, which ultimately makes him much happier. Daley opens up about how being a "nice guy" worked against him and how he strives to become an "integrated male", embracing all his different components of self: Emotional, physic
Apr 9, 2024 • 57:21
#20 Men Can Get Se*ually Abused? How We Use Language To Distance Ourselves From Our Old Selves
Have you ever consciously or subconsciously talked about a past event using third person language? This can mean different things like creating distance to our past self because it doesn't serve us anymore or we evolved from this person. Take a moment and think about it. Why am I using third person language here? We also talk about s*xual abuse on men and that if it happens to a man, it can challenge us in our manhood. "I don't wanna be the guy that this happened to" These are
Mar 26, 2024 • 38:06
#19 The Impact Of P*rn On Men & Evolving To Who I Really Am - We Had Coffee With An Award-Winning Barista
We invited Jaideep to the pod and the conversation that unfolded left us speechless 🤯 Jaideep is an award-winning barista at Wide Awake Coffee in Brussels by day, but he is so much more than that and you can witness this in his thoughts about a wide range of topics related to men's health. He's been working on evolving and becoming his best self a lot over the past decade and it shows. Join us on this episode as we dive deep into topics of evolving oneself or reinventing yourself and wh
Mar 20, 2024 • 1:27:50
#18 Visiting Our Younger Selves Through Creative Writing & Hearts Wide Open Behind The Scenes Reflections
Grab a pen and paper and join us on this episode, where we dive into the power of journaling. We begin the episode with some general chit chat between men, exchanging ideas and thought and our reflections on how the journey has been for Hearts Wide Open: From starting our first podcast 6 months ago, to regularly releasing better and better episodes for a growing audience of men who want to embrace themselves and live more authentically. Halfway into it, we invite you to join us on the creative
Feb 27, 2024 • 41:45
#17 Feeling Vs. Releasing Emotions - What Is Emotional Release? What's The Difference Compared To Feeling Emotions? We Asked An Emotional Release Expert!
On this episode we talk with Leon who's currently in training to become a neo-emotional release facilitator. Dennis and Leon met on a retreat last summer where they instantly connected as "tent buddies" in the camp. Leon's energy and capacity to hold space for people and their emotions is inspiring. Together we were able to go deep into our own emotions and experience what emotional release can feel like. Yes you heard right, we did this live on this episode! This episode felt
Feb 13, 2024 • 1:09:21
#16 I Need A Break - From Realizing To Coping With Feeling Overwhelmed In Life: This Is How It Went
Ever felt like you need to take a step back? There's too many things going on in your life and you know it can't go on like this? That's what Soroosh started to feel, before he took a break from a few things in his life, to get back focus and peace of mind. Now he's recharged and ready to go at it again. In this episode Soroosh takes us through the journey from realizing his overwhelm, considering different options to the path he eventually took. It's inspiring how Soroosh has grown to deal with
Jan 23, 2024 • 1:00:20
#15 Help! I Think I'm Traumatized - What Is Trauma, Where Does Trauma Come From And How Can I Cope? Conversation With A Traumatherapist
Have you ever asked yourself whether we may all carry some sort of trauma with us? How do I know whether I have trauma? What is trauma and where does it come from? We'll dive into this and more with Tamara who is a Corporate Health Manager and Traumatherapist in training. Soroosh and Dennis met Tamara this past summer whilst on their trip to Portugal, check out the full episode about their trip here: #10 What Surfer Mentality Can Teach Us On Being In The Moment - Going On A Conscious Vacati
Jan 9, 2024 • 48:42
#14 Spending Time With Family Over Holidays! Interview With A Psychologist
This episode is perfect for you, if you're with family for the holidays and experiencing some sort of struggle or anxiety about it. In this epsiode Dennis interviews one of his oldest and best friends Jakob. Jakob is also a world traveler, journalist, political scientist, activist and so much more. Tune into this one as the two friends are having a conversation from the heart. They talk about Jakob's research, psychology myths and share valuable insights, experiences and more from their
Dec 26, 2023 • 58:32
#13 Self Love, Routines, Addictive Personality And Other Life Challenges - Interview With Enes
In this episode, podcast host Dennis interviews Enes who he's met at the Men's Retreat this summer. #04 What Happens At A Men's Retreat? Join us, as Enes shares about his ongoing journey with self-worth, self-love and self-acceptance. The two discuss Enes' current training and focus in Spain, as he shares some valuable insights on changing his environment to create focus for a specific goal. Enes is a voice actor, yoga teacher, retreat cook, handstand practitioner, aspiring co
Dec 12, 2023 • 41:42
#12 Authentic Self-Expression: Why Does It Matter? How Can We Express Ourselves Authentically? With Examples From Our Own Lifes
Join us for a deep dive into the world of self-expression. In this episode, Dennis and Soroosh explore the reasons behind expressing ourselves and share real-life examples of the different ways they personally like to express who they are and how they experience this. From verbal communication to ecstatic dance, discover the many dimensions of self-expression. As the conversation unfolds, we unravel the profound benefits of embracing authenticity in self-expression. What happens when we stifle
Nov 28, 2023 • 44:42
#11 Running And Mental Health - How I Experienced My Longest Run Ever Physically And Mentally
This episode is special! Why? Because it's Movember? Because it's number 11? Yes, but also: Soroosh challenged himself last week! He's never been a "runner", but now he calls himself one! Why? How? That's exactly what we'll be discussing in this episode. Join us as Dennis interviews Soroosh on running the Haarlem Urban Trail, the why behind his decision to run, his preparation, and the pivotal role running plays in mental health. They discuss the highs, lows, and
Nov 14, 2023 • 45:32
#10 What Surfer Mentality Can Teach Us On Being In The Moment - Going On A Conscious Vacation
Join us on our 10th episode! What a milestone and what an opportunity to talk about the holiday that Dennis and Soroosh went on most recently. They said it themselves: Let's go on an active holiday Let's limit social media and phone usage Let's connect with each other, but also connect with strangers like you would on a solo trip Dennis and Soroosh are unpacking all this and much more in this very special episode! They discuss the challenges they faced, the learnings they b
Oct 24, 2023 • 40:39
#09 How Far Can You Push Yourself? - Movember Award Winner Anil Toraty On The Power Of Running As A Tool To Cope With Mental Health
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Movember Distance Award Winner Anil Toraty, who's embarking on an incredible challenge this November, as he has committed to run 600km throughout the month to support men's mental health through his #Movember600 campaign. Discover why and how he pushed boundaries last year, running 465km and raising over £20,000. How far can you push yourself is not only about pushing yourself as a runner, but also pushing ones mental health. We cannot push for
Oct 10, 2023 • 37:22
#08 You Don't Have To Be So Strong - How Can I Find A Support System And Build A Safe Space?
In this episode we dive deep into the topic of safe spaces and support systems. We explore the journey of finding, defining, and utilizing your support system to navigate life's challenges. For far too long, the stigma surrounding masculinity has pressured men to bear their burdens alone, to be strong without vulnerability. But the truth is, we all need support, especially during difficult times. Join us as we shatter the myth of self-sufficiency and embrace the idea that leaning on our supp
Sep 26, 2023 • 52:42
#07 On Being Present In The Moment & Reconnecting With Family After A Long Time Apart
Soroosh takes the mic to share his summer reflections: Exploring being present in the moment, reconnecting with loved ones after a long time apart, and the invaluable art of keeping a cool head when everything seems to go wrong. Soroosh also shares about his personal journey of reuniting with family after a long separation. This episode covers the emotions, challenges, and rewards that come with reconnecting with loved ones and the importance of these bonds in our lives. How do we keep a cool he
Sep 12, 2023 • 41:16
#06 Dennis On The Being Borderless Podcast With Musa Bajwa: Growing Up With Two Cultures, Life After Uni, Hearts Wide Open, Therapy, Love & More
This week we're trying a different format and are sharing a conversation Dennis recently had with Musa on the Being Borderless Podcast. In this insightful interview, the two "long lost friends" discuss Dennis' journey, which is far from ordinary: Dennis shares about growing up with two (not so similar) cultures, his post-study experiences, the birth of Hearts Wide Open, men's health and more. From the depths of love to the nuances of therapy, this talk covers a variety of
Aug 22, 2023 • 53:53
#05 The Social Dilemma: Can I Find Happiness Online?
In this conversation, Dennis and Soroosh discuss the intricate relationship between social media, mental health, and the relentless pursuit of happiness. Join them as they unravel the impact of social media on our perceptions of self-worth, contentment, and well-being. In a world where we're bombarded with advertisements and ideals, let's explore how the pressure to be 'enough' often leads us down a never-ending cycle of chasing the next thing that promises happiness. Make sure
Aug 8, 2023 • 39:44
#04 What Is A Men's Retreat? - My Experience At The Reconnection Men's Retreat 2023 By Freedom Of Movement
This summer, Dennis went on a Men's Retreat. A Men's Retreat? WTF is that? Sounds weird? Why would you go there? This is not for me! Feeling triggered? Let's fill in the blanks together. In this episode Soroosh interviews Dennis about his recent experience at the Reconnection Men's Retreat by Freedom Of Movement. Discover what a men's retreat is really about, how it can look like in terms of activities, discussions, and connections that can unfold at such a intimite gathering
Jul 25, 2023 • 52:14
#03 Does The Vulnerable Man Exist? - Why It Is Important To Be Your Authentic Self And The Benefits Of Opening Up
This episode goes back to the core of why Dennis and Soroosh started Hearts Wide Open to begin with: To open and hold a space where men can be their full, true, vulnerable and most authentic selves. Take part in this very raw and honest conversation about vulnerability. Dennis and Soroosh explore what vulnerability means to them and why it holds immense importance, also and particularly for men. Join this deepdive on the challenges and benefits that come with embracing vulnerability, listen to
Jul 11, 2023 • 41:14
#02 I Can Buy Myself Flowers - On Self-Appreciation, Self-Care & Self-Love
This is our first viral episode which has already been streamed over 500 times! In this episode the two friends Dennis and Soroosh talk about the power of self-kindness, self-appreciation, and the intriguing dynamics between self-love and self-care. In this thought-provoking conversation, they explore the question: Is there a difference between self-love and self-care? In a world where it is not normal for men to receive flowers from others (form of appreciation), we take a moment to celebrate t
Jun 27, 2023 • 26:12
