The Man and The Monkey Podcast

This episode discusses the barriers that are in our way and why it is that we are standing by idly, watching life pass us by. This episode is for you if you need that little push to get you moving into the direction you know you should be heading.

This episode views what happens when we compare our lives to other people. We dive into the psychology and spiritual aspects of what the comparisons do to us, and there are also some strategies to eliminate the comparisons. 
 
References for this episode:
Butts, R. (2026). Social comparison theory. Salem Press Encyclopedia.
Cherry, K. (2024). Social comparison theory in psychology. Verywell Mind. www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-social-comparison-process-2795872.
Psychology Today. (2026). Social comparison theory. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/social-comparison-theory

This episode explores the seasons of the soul and those inevitable cycles of life that include both joy and profound struggle. This episode speaks directly to anyone currently experiencing a difficult season and provides a few ways to help move you a little faster through the difficult time.

We encounter people daily, but we ignore the reasons they have been brought before us. Everyone who crosses your path does so for a reason. This episode looks at relationships and how we are affected, seasonally and long-term, by those who cross our paths. 

This episode discusses why the ego isn't always bad and how the unhealthy ego can weigh us down. Learn how to lighten your daily load and rid yourself of the unhealthy ego. 

This episode dives into issues for those of us who can't slow down and for those who feel they deserve more in their lives. 

We all have regrets, and they seem to be absolutely terrible. However, regrets are valuable to us in our lives, and this episode covers them, how we should look at them, and some suggestions for overcoming the nasty ones we get stuck on. 
 
Research from this episode comes from:
Beazley, H. (2004). No Regrets : A Ten-Step Program for Living in the Present and Leaving the Past Behind. Wiley.
Luan, M., Zhang, Y., & Wang, X. (2023). Gratitude Reduces Regret: The Mediating Role of Temporal Focus. Journal of Happiness Studies, 24(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-022-00597-0
Warren, J. (2021). Regret: A Study in Ancient Moral Psychology. Oxford. https://doi-org.acu.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/oso/9780198840268.001.0001,

Matthew and Jamie take a look at the sense of entitlement and the damage that it does to our mindset. 

In this final solo episode, Matthew tackles negativity and the reasons why we fall so easily into negativity traps. He discusses the biology behind human negativity, negative loops and cycles, rumination, and how to cultivate a more positive outlook. He also provides a researched secret for living a longer life.

Matthew dives into testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and provides you with a brief history before discussing the pros and cons of using TRT. This episode is packed with information and research on the topic for anyone interested in using it or gaining a better understanding of what they are using.