In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, host Dr. John W. Price sits down with pioneering therapist and author Terry Real, whose decades of work have redefined how we understand men, relationships, and emotional life.
Nearly thirty years after the release of his groundbreaking book I Don’t Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression, Terry reflects on the evolution of men’s inner worlds, the cultural forces that still shape them, and the courageous work required to heal.
This conversation moves between the personal and the collective—between the suffering of individual men and the systems that taught them to suffer silently. Together, John and Terry explore how patriarchy has halved both men and women, severing men from their emotional lives, and how healing requires a return to connection, empathy, and embodied relational practice.
Through heartfelt stories, clinical insight, and grounded wisdom, Terry calls us toward a new model of masculinity—one rooted not in dominance or disconnection but in courage, accountability, and love.
This episode is an invitation to anyone longing to understand the hidden pain of men and the pathways toward relational wholeness.
Key Themes
-Male depression as a covert epidemic—often masked by addiction, anger, or withdrawal rather than sadness.
-How patriarchy teaches men to fear vulnerability and equate worth with production, control, and performance.
-The intergenerational inheritance of silence and shame between fathers and sons.
-Why true intimacy depends on empathy, humility, and repair—not dominance or emotional avoidance.
-The call for a new relational culture that honors interdependence and shared healing.
Time Stamps
00:00 – Introduction & framing the conversation
03:00 – Revisiting I Don’t Want to Talk About It nearly 30 years later
06:30 – How patriarchy harms men and the women who love them
10:45 – Understanding covert male depression
16:20 – The producer model: when net worth becomes self-worth
22:10 – Loneliness and the erosion of male friendship
29:40 – Family systems, shame, and the father wound
37:15 – Relational Life Therapy: a model for repair
44:00 – Vulnerability as strength
50:30 – Healing through accountability and compassion
58:00 – The future of masculinity and relational wholeness
Connect with Terry Real
Explore Terry’s courses and trainings in Relational Life Therapy (RLT) for both professionals and general audiences:
🌐 terryreal.com
🌐 relationallife.com
Connect with Dr. John W. Price
Website: https://drjohnwprice.com
Podcast: https://thesacredspeaks.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjohnwprice/
If this conversation resonates, please like, share, and subscribe to The Sacred Speaks to support these ongoing dialogues at the crossroads of psyche, soul, and the sacred.
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In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, host Dr. John W. Price sits down with pioneering therapist and author Terry Real, whose decades of work have redefined how we understand men, relationships, and emotional life.
Nearly thirty years after the release of his groundbreaking book I Don’t Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression, Terry reflects on the evolution of men’s inner worlds, the cultural forces that still shape them, and the courageous work required to heal.
This conversation moves between the personal and the collective—between the suffering of individual men and the systems that taught them to suffer silently. Together, John and Terry explore how patriarchy has halved both men and women, severing men from their emotional lives, and how healing requires a return to connection, empathy, and embodied relational practice.
Through heartfelt stories, clinical insight, and grounded wisdom, Terry calls us toward a new model of masculinity—one rooted not in dominance or disconnection but in courage, accountability, and love.
This episode is an invitation to anyone longing to understand the hidden pain of men and the pathways toward relational wholeness.
Key Themes
-Male depression as a covert epidemic—often masked by addiction, anger, or withdrawal rather than sadness.
-How patriarchy teaches men to fear vulnerability and equate worth with production, control, and performance.
-The intergenerational inheritance of silence and shame between fathers and sons.
-Why true intimacy depends on empathy, humility, and repair—not dominance or emotional avoidance.
-The call for a new relational culture that honors interdependence and shared healing.
Time Stamps
00:00 – Introduction & framing the conversation
03:00 – Revisiting I Don’t Want to Talk About It nearly 30 years later
06:30 – How patriarchy harms men and the women who love them
10:45 – Understanding covert male depression
16:20 – The producer model: when net worth becomes self-worth
22:10 – Loneliness and the erosion of male friendship
29:40 – Family systems, shame, and the father wound
37:15 – Relational Life Therapy: a model for repair
44:00 – Vulnerability as strength
50:30 – Healing through accountability and compassion
58:00 – The future of masculinity and relational wholeness
Connect with Terry Real
Explore Terry’s courses and trainings in Relational Life Therapy (RLT) for both professionals and general audiences:
🌐 terryreal.com
🌐 relationallife.com
Connect with Dr. John W. Price
Website: https://drjohnwprice.com
Podcast: https://thesacredspeaks.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjohnwprice/
If this conversation resonates, please like, share, and subscribe to The Sacred Speaks to support these ongoing dialogues at the crossroads of psyche, soul, and the sacred.
Check out Richard Rohr’s latest book, The Tears of Things, where he explores the wisdom of the prophets and the realities of social sin.
In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, I sit down with Father Richard Rohr—one of the most respected spiritual teachers of our time. We dive into the significance of prophecy, the necessity of self-awareness in transformation, and the ways in which religion can both illuminate and obscure the path to truth.
Father Rohr shares insights from The Tears of Things, his latest book, which reframes the role of the prophets—not as finger-wagging moralists but as voices crying out against the deep, systemic sins that threaten to unravel society. Our conversation moves through themes of non-dual thinking, the dangers of religious idolatry, and how true spiritual growth requires both inner work and a commitment to the collective good.
Throughout the episode, Richard offers deeply personal reflections on his own spiritual journey, the necessity of sadness and self-doubt, and the ongoing process of transformation that never really ends.
Episode Timestamps
(00:00) Introduction and Announcements
(02:44) Richard Rohr’s Spiritual Journey and Early Influences
(08:21) The Franciscan Way and the Practice of Humility
(13:39) The Trap of Dualistic Thinking and the Ego
(18:43) The Power of Initiation and Rites of Passage
(35:00) The Role of Prophets in Society Today
(47:23) Understanding the Concept of Demons and Possession
(49:14) The Father Wound and Healing Parental Relationships
(50:23) The Prophets and Their Enduring Insights
(50:52) The Remnant and the Wisdom of the Minority
(53:27) The Problem with Majority Rule and Empires
(57:29) Personal Struggles, Doubt, and the Spiritual Journey
(01:06:17) The Role of Sadness in Awakening and Solidarity
(01:10:55) Medicalizing Sin and the Social Consequences
(01:14:49) The Prophet’s Vision and Its Relevance Today
(01:18:40) Reflections on Life, Death, and Spiritual Evolution
(01:27:52) Final Thoughts: Reward, Punishment, and the Nature of Grace
Watch & Listen:
YouTube: The Sacred Speaks
Instagram: @thesacredspeaks
Twitter: @thesacredspeaks
Facebook: The Sacred Speaks
🙏 Brought to you by: The Center for Healing Arts & Sciences
🎵 Theme music by: Modern Nations
Announcements & Updates
Exciting news! In May, I’ll be hosting my first online workshop, where I’ll explore key ideas from my upcoming book. This is a free offering, and if you want to be part of it, you can sign up when the new website is live @. www.drjohnwprice.com
You’ll have six weeks to register—don’t miss it!
Also, I’m getting back into a regular podcast rhythm—two episodes per month, including at least one solo episode where I’ll dive deeper into the themes of spirituality, psychology, and transformation. I’ve had a full year, but I’m excited to re-engage with these conversations and this community.
So, let’s get into it. Richard Rohr, welcome to The Sacred Speaks.
The Sacred Speaks
In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, host Dr. John W. Price sits down with pioneering therapist and author Terry Real, whose decades of work have redefined how we understand men, relationships, and emotional life.
Nearly thirty years after the release of his groundbreaking book I Don’t Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression, Terry reflects on the evolution of men’s inner worlds, the cultural forces that still shape them, and the courageous work required to heal.
This conversation moves between the personal and the collective—between the suffering of individual men and the systems that taught them to suffer silently. Together, John and Terry explore how patriarchy has halved both men and women, severing men from their emotional lives, and how healing requires a return to connection, empathy, and embodied relational practice.
Through heartfelt stories, clinical insight, and grounded wisdom, Terry calls us toward a new model of masculinity—one rooted not in dominance or disconnection but in courage, accountability, and love.
This episode is an invitation to anyone longing to understand the hidden pain of men and the pathways toward relational wholeness.
Key Themes
-Male depression as a covert epidemic—often masked by addiction, anger, or withdrawal rather than sadness.
-How patriarchy teaches men to fear vulnerability and equate worth with production, control, and performance.
-The intergenerational inheritance of silence and shame between fathers and sons.
-Why true intimacy depends on empathy, humility, and repair—not dominance or emotional avoidance.
-The call for a new relational culture that honors interdependence and shared healing.
Time Stamps
00:00 – Introduction & framing the conversation
03:00 – Revisiting I Don’t Want to Talk About It nearly 30 years later
06:30 – How patriarchy harms men and the women who love them
10:45 – Understanding covert male depression
16:20 – The producer model: when net worth becomes self-worth
22:10 – Loneliness and the erosion of male friendship
29:40 – Family systems, shame, and the father wound
37:15 – Relational Life Therapy: a model for repair
44:00 – Vulnerability as strength
50:30 – Healing through accountability and compassion
58:00 – The future of masculinity and relational wholeness
Connect with Terry Real
Explore Terry’s courses and trainings in Relational Life Therapy (RLT) for both professionals and general audiences:
🌐 terryreal.com
🌐 relationallife.com
Connect with Dr. John W. Price
Website: https://drjohnwprice.com
Podcast: https://thesacredspeaks.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjohnwprice/
If this conversation resonates, please like, share, and subscribe to The Sacred Speaks to support these ongoing dialogues at the crossroads of psyche, soul, and the sacred.
