Soft Work: The Art of Facilitating True Brotherhood with John Morgan – Episode 457

Healing begins when we reframe the story. When we move past digital buffers and step into true presence, we realize we aren’t alone, and we finally welcome our full humanity. In this episode, host Peter Fenger sits down with John Morgan, a social worker, filmmaker, and the founder of Soft Work. Soft Work is a men’s mental health support network dedicated to helping men, particularly Black men, embrace vulnerability as a pathway to healing, connection, and emotional growth. With over a decade of experience in community mental health, including impactful work in Akron’s public schools and at the county’s first Black-owned, nationally accredited mental health agency, John brings a deeply informed, practice-driven approach to group-based healing. Alongside his clinical work, John is the co-founder of Live Your Purpose Media, a storytelling platform using film to explore issues at the intersection of wellness, equity, and social justice. Through powerful visual narratives focusing on Black maternal health, incarceration, and men’s mental health, his filmmaking extends the mission of Soft Work, challenging stigma, amplifying lived experience, and creating space for collective healing. We’re excited to welcome John back to the show as part of our Clinicians Series, where we take listeners behind the proverbial therapy door to explore the strategies and techniques that support men’s mental health. In this conversation, we dive into the philosophy and practice behind Soft Work, looking at how group-based support for men is thoughtfully designed, facilitated, and sustained, from building trust and navigating challenges to recognizing deeper needs and fostering long-term healing.   For more information about Soft Work, please visit: https://www.soft-work.org To contact Soft Work, please email at: [email protected] For more information about Live Your Purpose (LYP) Media, please visit: https://www.lypmedia.com For more information about Live Your Purpose podcast, please visit: https://www.lypmedia.com/podcast For more information about LYP Media films, please visit: https://www.lypmedia.com/film Contract LYP Media to purchase the film rental at:  [email protected]. Shop the LPY store at: https://www.lypmedia.com/shop Connect with LYP Media on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/liveyourpurposemedia Connect with LYP Media on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-morgan-133a47296 Connect with LYP Media on TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@mr.lyp1?_t=ZP-8u40QM2Q3Op&_r=1 Connect with LYP Media on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw1reF41STK-a0I5KjGhv4g Connect with Soft Work on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/softworkorg