In this episode of With Love, Men, co-hosts Jake Fishbein and Nick Papadopoulos tackle one of the most avoided topics in men's conversations: pornography and its profound impact on intimacy and relationships.

With 91.5% of men aged 18-73 reporting porn consumption in the past month, this isn't a fringe issue—it's affecting nearly every man and their relationships. Nick courageously shares his traumatic first encounter with pornography at age 10, revealing how it was used as a tool of manipulation by a predator, and how his family's shame-filled reaction pushed him deeper into dangerous territory. His raw vulnerability illustrates the complex web of trauma, shame, and unhealthy patterns that can shape a man's relationship with sexuality and intimacy.

Jake explores why men rarely discuss porn or sex authentically in group settings, despite it being such a prevalent part of their lives. Together, they examine how shame, fear of vulnerability, and cultural conditioning keep these crucial conversations locked in darkness—and the devastating cost of that silence.

From financial ruin to relationship destruction, the hosts reveal how porn addiction affects real lives, including a powerful story of a man watching porn upstairs while his family gathered below—a metaphor for the isolation and disconnection that secrets create. They discuss how feelings of unworthiness drive men to retreat into fantasy rather than risk authentic requests or vulnerability with real partners.

The conversation extends to our digital age, where AI relationships and virtual interactions offer even more ways to avoid the messy, challenging, but ultimately rewarding work of real human connection.

🔑 Topics Covered

• The staggering statistics: Why 91.5% of men consume porn and what it means for relationships
• Nick's origin story: Childhood trauma, manipulation, and the birth of shame around sexuality
• The silence epidemic: Why men avoid authentic conversations about sex and intimacy
• The worthiness factor: How feelings of inadequacy drive men to fantasy instead of real connection
• The hidden costs: Financial ruin, relationship destruction, and emotional isolation
• Modern challenges: AI relationships and the increasing avoidance of human vulnerability
• Breaking the cycle: How bringing shame into the light begins the healing process

💡 Reflective Prompt
What aspects of your sexuality or relationship to intimacy are you keeping in the darkness? What conversations are you avoiding that might actually bring you closer to the connections you desire?

📍Links + Resources

• Jake's website: www.jakefishbein.com
• Nick's website: www.coachnick.com
• The Arena Men's Group: www.arenamensgroup.com

💼 Connect with Us on LinkedIn:

• Jake Fishbein
• Nick Papadopoulos

With Love, Jake & Nick

In this episode of With Love, Men, co-hosts Jake Fishbein and Nick Papadopoulos explore a fundamental question: Are you living in the arena or watching from the stands?

Drawing inspiration from Teddy Roosevelt's famous "Man in the Arena" speech, Jake and Nick challenge listeners to step out of the safety of spectating and into the messy, vital experience of being fully alive. Through baseball metaphors, immigrant stories, and raw personal reflections, they examine what it means to show up present, vulnerable, and accountable in your own life.

Expect honest conversations about the pain of avoiding your own arena, the courage required to feel everything, and practical strategies for being present in relationships—even when triggered. This isn't about perfection; it's about the willingness to strike out swinging rather than never stepping up to bat.

🔑 Topics Covered

• The arena vs. the stands: Why spectating your life hurts more than risking failure
• How to show up present and honest in relationships when it matters most
• The immigrant mindset: Lessons in resilience and commitment from Nick's parents
• Why being triggered isn't something to avoid—it's information to work with
• Practical preparation strategies for life's most important interactions
• The difference between outcome and experience: Why aliveness trumps winning

💡 Reflective Prompt Where in your life are you sitting in the stands instead of stepping into the arena?

📍Links + Resources

• Jake's website: www.jakefishbein.com
• Nick's website: www.coachnick.com
• The Arena Men's Group: www.arenamensgroup.com

💼 Connect with Us on LinkedIn:

• Jake Fishbein
• Nick Papadopoulos

With Love, Jake & Nick

In this episode of With Love, Men, co-hosts Jake Fishbein and Nick Papadopoulos dive into a question at the heart of modern masculinity: What gives men their sense of self-worth?

From childhood heartbreaks to the quiet pressures of adulthood, Jake and Nick explore how men lose touch with their intrinsic value—and how they can reclaim it. They share personal stories of early rejections, the cultural myth of the self-sacrificing man, and the long, often painful journey to realizing you matter simply because you exist.

Expect deep reflections, laughter, a powerful reminder that comparison is the thief of joy, and a practical invitation to build your self-worth from the inside out—not from likes, titles, or someone else’s approval.

🔑 Topics Covered

How early relationships shape a man’s sense of worth
The hidden dangers of the “self-sacrificing man” myth
Why real self-worth starts with internal validation
How to reconnect with what genuinely fills you up
The role of community, connection, and being seen
Why you don’t need permission to matter—you already do

💡 Reflective Prompt

What’s one small step you could take today to honor your own worth?

📍Links + Resources

Jake’s website: www.jakefishbein.com
Nick’s website: www.coachnick.com
The Arena Men’s Group: www.arenamensgroup.com

💼 Connect with Us on LinkedIn:

Jake Fishbein
Nick Papadopoulos

With Love,
Jake & Nick