How Men Turn Pain Into Unbreakable Strength (ft. Alan Lazaros) Grit Part 1

Send us Fan MailMost men think grit means suffering in silence — but they’re dead wrong. In this episode, Tim Wienecke sits down with Alan Lazaros, Co-Host of Next Level University, to challenge the myth that toughness is endless grinding. From growing up fatherless to surviving a near-fatal car crash, Alan shares how sadness can signal growth, how mentors fill the gap of absent fathers, and why grit is less about white-knuckle endurance and more about skills you build through reflection and practice.What You’ll Learn: • Why sadness and setbacks often mark growth, not weakness • How mentorship can buffer the impact of father absence • Why grit is a skill you can learn, not a trait you’re born with • How self-control strengthens your brain’s “willpower network” • Why men avoid therapy and what that means for resilience • The truth behind the “3% written goals” mythChapters: 00:00 – Defining grit vs. grind 02:15 – Father absence & mentorship 05:30 – Growth and the “Santa Claus” analogy 09:30 – Grit as a learned skill 16:00 – The car crash that changed everything 22:00 – Fitness as metaphor for grit 29:00 – Willpower and the brain 37:00 – Men bond side-by-side 45:00 – Why so few men go to therapy 52:00 – The written goals myth 59:00 – Takeaways and next stepsFull Show Notes: www.empoweredchangece.com/americanmasculinity→ Next Level University: https://www.nextleveluniverse.com/→ Alan Lazaros on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/The American Masculinity Podcast™ is hosted by Timothy Wienecke — licensed psychotherapist, Air Force veteran, and men’s advocate. Real conversations about masculinity, mental health, growth, and how men can show up better — as partners, leaders, and friends. We focus on grounded tools, not yelling or clichés. If you have questions or want a tool for something you're wrestling with, leave a comment or send a message — your feedback shapes what we build next. Note: While this doesn’t replace therapy, it might help you notice something worth exploring.