Men’s Mental Health w/ Brenna Thompson, RDN — practical fixes for sleep, anxiety, energy, and connection.
Coffee cutoff at noon, alcohol’s rebound on sleep, blue-light wind-downs, magnesium/melatonin basics, protein that steadies you, and building real support.
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Men’s mental health is under pressure—restless sleep, anxious spikes, and low bandwidth are more common than ever. In this episode I’m joined by registered dietitian Brenna Thompson to skip the doom and go straight to simple, evidence-informed actions men can start today. We get practical about caffeine, alcohol, sleep routines, food choices, and building real connection so you’re not white-knuckling stress alone.
📅 Timestamps
00:00 – Intro & setup
00:05:20 – Why this matters now: men’s mental health crisis
00:06:09 – Suicide: recent trends & context
00:07:14 – “Deaths of despair”: overdoses + working-class/rural risk
00:10:43 – Brenna’s family history & personal context
00:17:39 – Melatonin for sleep
00:21:47 – Magnesium basics for sleep (200–400 mg glycinate)
00:23:18 – When short-term melatonin helps
00:23:53 – Blue light/screens and winding down
00:29:31 – Protein to stabilize energy & mood
00:33:55 – Animal protein, satiety, recovery
00:35:23 – “Hunt–Gather–Farm” grocery filter (fast whole-food meals)
00:37:17 – Caffeine timing & anxiety (no caffeine after noon)
00:38:59 – Alcohol as a downer; sleep disruption
00:42:11 – Rebound effects & next-day mood; non-alcoholic swaps
00:53:53 – Movement + sunlight and neurotransmitters
00:57:00 – Connection: why it matters for men
00:58:23 – “Find your people” — practical ways to keep support
01:02:44 – Building community & staying connected
Resources
• Twin Cities Kettlebell Club — Coaching interest form: https://www.twincitieskettlebellclub.com/interestform
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.): Call or text 988 anytime
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#mensmentalhealth #sleep #anxiety #caffeine #recovery #nutrition #habits #tckbclub #platformpodcast
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