PODCAST · health
Built, Not Broken
by Max and Matt
Built, Not Broken is a raw, honest podcast about recovery and men’s mental health. Hosted by Max and Matt—two guys from very different pasts who found healing through vulnerability—each episode dives into the stuff most men were never taught to talk about. From addiction and body image to shame, sobriety, and self-worth. Because you’re not broken. You’re just being built.Please contact us at "[email protected]" with any questions, concerns, or comments. We'd love to hear from you all.
Episodes
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Episode 42: Intrusive Thoughts and What To Do.
Today we discussed how prevalent our intrusive thoughts are, especially negative or destructive ones. Having "bad" thoughts is completely normal but it is important that we acknowledge them and talk through them because through that we take away their power. If you are stuck feeling ashamed of...
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Episode 41: The Moments That Define Us
Some moments come and go. Others change who you are. In this episode, we talk about the defining moments that shape our lives, inspired by The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath. We get into major transitions, milestones worth celebrating, the “pits” that test us, and the people who show up...
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Episode 40: Does Everyone Need a Purpose?
Max hasn't found his purpose, while Matt lives his out wholeheartedly every single day. Do we need a purpose, or is it just unnecessary pressure to one day find it? Can your purpose change as you grow, and can living out your passions help you find yours? [email protected]
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Episode 39: The Return
We have been up to a lot since we've last been here, and want to catch you all up on some big life moments. We appoligize for being absent but are as excited as ever to be back.
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Episode 38: Why Giving Back Matters
Giving back isn’t just about helping others, it changes you too. In this episode, we talk about the importance of giving back and being part of something bigger than yourself. With Matt participating in Dancing For Special Stars, we get into what the experience has been like, what it’s taught…
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Episode 37: What Makes a Life Feel Full?
You can have everything and still feel empty. We talk about what actually makes a life feel full, why people confuse success with fulfillment, and what really matters at the end of the day.
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Episode 36: Clear Mind, Better Life
he more you think, the more stuck you get. In this episode, we talk about overthinking — what it looks like, why it happens, and how it keeps people from taking action. We break down the difference between thinking and doing, how your mind can make things bigger than they are, and what actually...
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Episode 35: How do you know if someone in your life is good for you?
How do you know if someone is good for you? We talk red flags, boundaries, and the hard truth about keeping people in your life just because you don’t want to be alone. Not everyone is meant to grow with you, and that’s okay.
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Episode 34: Where Did You Learn How To Be a Man?
In this episode, we talk about where our ideas of masculinity actually come from. Growing up, most of us learn what it means to be a man by watching the people around us — fathers, friends, mentors, and sometimes the wrong influences. Some of those lessons help shape us in good ways, and others…
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Episode 33: Energy is Contagious. What Are you Bringing in the Room?
DONATE TO MATT'S DANCING WITH THE SPECIAL STARS: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/26DFSSGF/Fundraiser During this episode, Matt and Max discuss how important your energy is. How having positive energy can shift the mood of not only yourself but those around you. We also talk about how our…
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Episode 32: How Are You Showing Up Lately?
How are you actually showing up right now - in your relationships, your work, your recovery, your life? In this episode, we unpack what “showing up” really means. Is it effort? Energy? Honesty? Consistency? We talk about the difference between performing and being present, showing up tired versus...
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Episode 31: Checking In With Max
On today's episode, Max shares the things he is currently struggling with and the tools he uses to push through. Secrets keep you sick, and the first step to working through things is to share honestly. This is part two of a two-part series. Reach out to us at "[email protected]"
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Episode 30: Checking In With Matt
On this episode of Built Not Broken, we check in with Matt about some things he is currently struggling with. We dive deep into his current hardships, along with the tools he uses to persevere. This is part one of a two-part series. Reach out to us at "[email protected]"
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Episode 29: Why Community Matters More Than Ever
Isolation is one of the biggest threats to mental health, recovery, and overall well-being - and it often goes unnoticed. In this episode, we talk about why community matters more than ever, how isolation quietly harms people, and how to find healthy connections without settling for unhealthy...
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Episode 28: Why Silence Is Uncomfortable for Most People
Most people avoid silence without realizing it. The moment things get quiet, we distract ourselves. In this episode, we talk about why silence feels uncomfortable, what it exposes, and how constant stimulation affects mental and emotional control. We also break down practical ways to build...
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Episode 27: Why We Avoid the Things That Would Actually Help Us
Most people know what would help them feel better, and still avoid it. In this episode, we talk about why that happens. We break down avoidance as a survival strategy, how it quietly keeps people stuck, and the small, practical ways to interrupt the cycle. This conversation isn’t about willpower…
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Episode 26: What to Do When You Fall Off Track
Everyone falls off track. Sometimes that looks like slipping on habits - and sometimes it means relapse. The real danger isn’t the slip itself, but the shame, silence, and spiral that follow. In this episode, we talk honestly about what to do when you fall off track, including relapse, and how to...
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Episode 25: WOOP there it is
Everyone wants something: better habits, more peace, stronger relationships, better health. But most goals fall apart because people don’t plan for what gets in the way. In this episode, we break down the WOOP method, which stands for Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan - a simple, science-backed...
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Episode 24: Getting SMART in the New Year.
Every year people make New Year’s resolutions - and every year most of them fall apart. In this episode, we break down why that happens and how to set goals that actually stick. We talk about SMART goals, why vague motivation isn’t enough, and how to build realistic goals that support recovery,...
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Episode 23: Surviving Christmas Without Losing Yourself
In this episode, we talk about how to survive Christmas without losing yourself. We cover the pressure to perform happiness, how grief shows up louder during the holidays, ways to protect your sobriety on Christmas Day, and healthy ways to celebrate that don’t drain you emotionally or mentally....
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Episode 22: Becoming Someone You Trust
In this episode, we talk about what it really means to become someone you trust. We break down how addiction and chaos destroy self-trust, why rebuilding it is essential for recovery and mental health, and the simple, practical habits that help you prove to yourself that you’re reliable again....
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Episode 21: Seasonal Depression - When Winter Hits Hard
In this episode, we break down Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - why winter hits so hard emotionally, how it affects recovery, and the science-backed tools that actually help. From light therapy and movement to mindset, connection, and routine, we get real about staying steady when the days get...
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Episode 20: 25 Years Inside: The Transformation of Dormen Lisby Sr.
Today, we sit down with Dormen H. Lisby Sr., a man who served 25 years and 8 months in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and came home determined to rebuild his life with purpose, service, and discipline. Dormen shares what it was like to grow up inside the system, how time in segregated...
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Episode 19: Staying Sober Through the Holidays
In this episode, we talk about how to handle the holidays sober - one of the hardest seasons for anyone in recovery. We break down why the holidays are full of triggers, family stress, and drinking culture, and we share real, practical tools to stay grounded, prepared, and sober through it all....
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Episode 18: The 11 Codes We Live By
In this episode, we break down the 11 Shining Light Community Codes - the values that shaped us in and after incarceration, and still guide how we move through recovery, relationships, and community today. The 11 codes... 1. Be Open, Be Curious 2. Brush Off the Small Stuff 3. Accept…
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Episode 17: The Energy You Keep
In this episode, we talk about The Energy You Keep - how the people, places, and habits in your life can either protect your peace or poison it. We share our own experiences with changing our circles, setting boundaries, and learning how to be intentional with who we let influence us. Because…
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Episode 16: Emotional Sobriety: Staying Sane After Getting Sober
In this episode, we talk about emotional sobriety - how to stay grounded when your emotions try to take over. We break down what emotional relapse looks like, why stress and isolation are the biggest triggers, and the real tools that help you regulate, reset, and respond instead of react. Because...
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Episode 15: How to Feel Better - Starting Today
In this episode, we break down how to feel better — starting today. From sunlight and movement to food, gratitude, and cleaning your space, we cover the small daily habits that science proves can change your brain chemistry and your mood. Because recovery isn’t just about not falling apart — it’s...
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Episode 14: Kindness Is Strength
In this episode, we talk about kindness — not the fluffy kind, but the kind that takes real strength. We break down what kindness looks like in recovery, in conflict, and in everyday life, and how it’s not about being soft — it’s about staying grounded when your ego wants to react. Because being...
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Episode 13: Stillness is the hardest work.
In a world addicted to noise, movement, and distraction, being still might be the hardest thing you’ll ever do. In this episode, we talk about why stillness feels so uncomfortable — especially for people in recovery — and how slowing down forces you to face what’s really going on inside. We share...
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Episode 12: Hope isn't a dream... It's a mindset.
In this episode, Matt and Max dive into hope as a character strength - not a dream or wish, but a mindset you can choose and build. They explore how hope and mindset shape recovery, the difference between optimism and action, and how to live each day with intentional belief that things can and…
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Episode 11: Boundaries Save Lives
In this episode, we break down why boundaries are the difference between surviving and slipping in recovery. From toxic friendships to family pressure, dating, and even the limits we set with ourselves, we share our own struggles with saying “no” - and why learning to set boundaries has been one…
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Episode 10: Don't lose it all before you get better
We’ve all heard the phrase: “You have to hit rock bottom before you can change.” But it’s not true. In this episode, we unpack the myth of rock bottom, share our own stories, and talk about why waiting to lose everything is dangerous. With overdose and suicide numbers higher than ever, we explore...
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Episode 9: Bias, Stigma, and Sobriety: The Boxes We’re Put In
In this episode, we dive into the prejudices and biases people face around race, sexuality, addiction, recovery, and even being a straight white man. We share our own experiences about judgment, talk about the stereotypes we’ve both been boxed into, and get honest about the biases we’ve carried...
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Episode 8: Cross-Addiction: Swapping One Fix for Another
Sobriety doesn’t always mean the addiction is gone — sometimes it just shifts. In this episode, we break down cross-addiction: swapping drugs or alcohol for something else that feels safer but can still take over your life. From food, fitness, and work to relationships and even recovery itself…
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Episode 7: Finding sobriety in AA
In this episode, Max opens up about his journey with Alcoholics Anonymous - from the first meeting he almost didn’t attend, to the principles, people, and community that helped him finally get sober. We break down what AA really is (and isn’t), tackle some common misconceptions, and explore why…
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Episode 6: Character Strengths & Positive Psychology in Recovery
In this episode, we dive into the role of character strengths and positive psychology in recovery - a framework Matt uses in his own program. We break down what positive psychology really means, how it shifts focus from what’s “wrong” to what’s strong, and why that matters for anyone healing. We...
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Episode 5: Listener Q&A: Sobriety, Prison, and Finding What Works
In our first listener Q&A, we sit down to answer some of the biggest questions you sent us about recovery and mental health. From what sobriety looks like behind bars, to the moment we finally chose change, to how we replaced substances with healthier habits - we’re diving deep. We also share our...
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Episode 4: Mental Health Isn't Weakness
We grew up thinking mental health was something you kept to yourself - push it down, keep moving, “man up.” The truth? That mindset almost broke us. In this episode, we open up about depression, therapy, shame, anger, and the daily work it takes to stay grounded. We talk about the moments we hit...
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Episode 3: Tackling Body Dysmorphia
We grew up thinking body image issues were something only women struggled with. But the truth? Men carry that same shame - we just don’t talk about it. In this episode, we open up about body dysmorphia, disordered eating, gym obsession, and the pressure to look “perfect.” From growing up insecure...
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Episode 2: Sobriety Isn't Boring
Before we got sober, we thought life was over. No more fun, no more freedom, no more identity. But the truth? Sobriety didn’t kill the vibe - it saved it. In this episode, we talk about what we feared most about getting clean, the unexpected joy we’ve found in recovery, and the tools that help us...
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Episode 1: Who We Are & Why We're Here
In this first episode of Built, Not Broken, we introduce ourselves - Max and Matt - and share our stories of addiction, recovery, and what led us to create this podcast. Max is a 22-year-old from Grand Forks, North Dakota, sober from alcoholism and drug abuse for over a year. Matt is a…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Built, Not Broken is a raw, honest podcast about recovery and men’s mental health. Hosted by Max and Matt—two guys from very different pasts who found healing through vulnerability—each episode dives into the stuff most men were never taught to talk about. From addiction and body image to shame, sobriety, and self-worth. Because you’re not broken. You’re just being built.Please contact us at "[email protected]" with any questions, concerns, or comments. We'd love to hear from you all.
HOSTED BY
Max and Matt
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Built, Not Broken have?
Built, Not Broken currently has 42 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Built, Not Broken about?
Built, Not Broken is a raw, honest podcast about recovery and men’s mental health. Hosted by Max and Matt—two guys from very different pasts who found healing through vulnerability—each episode dives into the stuff most men were never taught to talk about. From addiction and body image to shame,...
How often does Built, Not Broken release new episodes?
Built, Not Broken has 42 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Built, Not Broken?
You can listen to Built, Not Broken on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Built, Not Broken?
Built, Not Broken is created and hosted by Max and Matt.
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