

Gay Men Going Deeper
Michael DiIorio & Matt Landsiedel | Gay Men’s Brotherhood
Gay Men Going Deeper is a podcast about gay relationships, identity, sexuality, and personal growth for gay men navigating modern life.
Hosted by Matt Landsiedel and Michael DiIorio, the show dives into topics like dating, shame, masculinity, confidence, emotional intimacy, and the pressures of modern gay culture.
Expect raw conversations, psychological insight, and the kind of honest discussions that challenge assumptions and invite deeper reflection about what it means to live authentically as a gay man.
Hosted by Matt Landsiedel and Michael DiIorio, the show dives into topics like dating, shame, masculinity, confidence, emotional intimacy, and the pressures of modern gay culture.
Expect raw conversations, psychological insight, and the kind of honest discussions that challenge assumptions and invite deeper reflection about what it means to live authentically as a gay man.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 11, 2024 • 42min
Sexual Abuse
In this powerful episode, we address a topic that affects many but is often shrouded in silence and stigma: sexual abuse. Joining us for this important conversation is Michael Pezzullo, a seasoned therapist who works with trauma and sexual abuse recovery.
Together, we explore the impact that sexual abuse can have on one's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Some of the topics covered in this episode are:
Ways in which abuse can occur in childhood and/or adulthood
Setting and maintaining sexual boundaries
Navigating consent in queer spaces
Common misconceptions we have about sexual abuse
Long-term effects that survivors may experience
Unique challenges faced by gay men who have endured abuse
Types of therapeutic approaches available for survivors
Whether you are a survivor, know someone who is, or simply want to understand more about this crucial issue, this episode offers a compassionate and informative perspective on a topic that deserves our attention and empathy.
Today's Guest: Michael Pezzullo
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Today's Host: Michael Diiorio
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Support the Show - viewer and listener support helps us to continue making episodes
- CONNECT WITH US -
Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
Join the Gay Men's Brotherhood Facebook community
Get on our email list to get access to our monthly Zoom calls
Follow us on Instagram | TikTok
Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com
- LEARN WITH US -
Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection: Lifetime access to BOTH courses + 45 coaching videos and 2 workshop series.
Take the Attachment Style Quiz to determine your attachment style and get a free report.

Jul 4, 2024 • 58min
First Dates
First dates can be exhilarating, nerve-wracking, and everything in between. But fear not! On this episode of Gay Men Going Deeper, we're here to guide you through having a successful first date.
Join us as we share expert tips, personal stories, and practical advice for making a lasting impression and setting the stage for a potential connection. Some of the topics we’re covering in this episode:
What exactly makes a first date ‘successful’
What to talk about on a first date
Techniques for active listening and showing genuine interest
Chemistry and attraction
The art of having an engaging conversation
How to handle awkward moments
Communication after your date
Whether you're a seasoned dater or stepping into dating for the first time, grab your notepad, pour yourself a drink, and learn how to make your next first date an unforgettable experience.
Today's Hosts:
Michael DiIorio
Matt Landsiedel
Reno Johnston
Support the Show - viewer and listener support helps us to continue making episodes
- CONNECT WITH US -
Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
Join the Gay Men's Brotherhood Facebook community
Get on our email list to get access to our monthly Zoom calls
Follow us on Instagram | TikTok
Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com
- LEARN WITH US -
Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection: Lifetime access to BOTH courses + 45 coaching videos and 2 workshop series.
Take the Attachment Style Quiz to determine your attachment style and get a free report.

Jun 27, 2024 • 1h 1min
Developing a Healthy Relationship with Anger
In this episode, Matt speaks with Psychotherapist, Nyle Biondi, about anger and how important it is to connect with and release anger from our mind and body. Anger can serve a great purpose if we consciously work with it. It can help us step into our power, and be a messenger of unmet needs or crossed boundaries. Many of us have social conditioning that tells us anger is inappropriate, or perhaps you were even shamed for being angry. Connecting with your anger in a healthy way might just be what's missing from your healing journey.
The concepts and questions we explore in this episode are:
Anger 101
Other words to identify anger
The difference between anger and rage
Ways unprocessed anger shows up
Your relationship with anger
How to identify it?
Implosive vs explosive anger
Why do we repress anger?
Why anger is helpful and why we need it
The connection between anger and other emotions - primary and secondary feelings
The challenges of exploring anger
The benefits of exploring anger
How to connect and activate anger in a healthy way
How to release anger from the body
Inner child work - letting your inner child have the temper tantrum it didn't get to have
How to soothe your nervous system after feeling anger
Soothing is like reparenting
3 Steps to Processing Anger:
Connect and activate
Past traumas
Daily stressors
Personality traits
Release
Primal screaming into a pillow
Punching pillows
Slamming pillows on your bed
Chopping wood
Batting cages
Demo rooms
Soothe
Deep, slow, and long belly breathing - in through the nose and out slow through the mouth
Hold your hand on your heart
Listen to a guided meditation.
Focus on positive sensations in your body
Listen to your favourite song
Smell something nice
Talk to a friend
Today's Guest: Nyle Biondi
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Facebook
Today's Host: Matt Landsiedel
Instagram
Related Links:
The Pain-Free Pathway: A Course to Get Out of Pain
Support the Show - viewer and listener support helps us to continue making episodes
- CONNECT WITH US -
Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
Join the Gay Men's Brotherhood Facebook community
Get on our email list to get access to our monthly Zoom calls
Follow us on Instagram | TikTok
Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com
- LEARN WITH US -
Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection: Lifetime access to BOTH courses + 45 coaching videos and 2 workshop series.
Take the Attachment Style Quiz to determine your attachment style and get a free report.

Jun 20, 2024 • 57min
Fear of Intimacy
Today, we are unpacking a seldom-discussed, but deeply relevant issue within the gay community: Fear of Intimacy.
Many men grapple with the challenge of opening up emotionally and forging meaningful connections. Often, we find ourselves settling for superficial encounters while yearning for something more meaningful. Today we’re discussing how the same emotional walls that protect us from getting hurt can also leave us feeling isolated and lonely.
In this episode, we are going deeper into the fear of intimacy – its roots, its impact on our relationships, and how we are overcoming these barriers. Some of the topics we’ll be covering are:
Signs of having a fear of intimacy
Why we fear the thing we want
Social conditioning
The impact of past relationship traumas
The power of vulnerability
Attachment styles
Join us as we share our own experiences with this topic in an effort to shed light on this important issue and dismantle the internal barriers to the deeper connections we truly deserve.
Support the Show - viewer and listener support helps us to continue making episodes
- CONNECT WITH US -
Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
Join the Gay Men's Brotherhood Facebook community
Get on our email list to get access to our monthly Zoom calls
Follow us on Instagram | TikTok
Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com
- LEARN WITH US -
Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection: Lifetime access to BOTH courses + 45 coaching videos and 2 workshop series.
Take the Attachment Style Quiz to determine your attachment style and get a free report.

Jun 13, 2024 • 59min
Anal Health Q&A with Dr. Evan Goldstein
In this informative episode, anal health expert, Dr. Evan Goldstein, addresses common questions and concerns about anal sex. If you've ever wondered about issues like hemorrhoids, fissures, or general rectal health, this is the perfect opportunity to get expert advice.
Taking care of your anal health is fundamental to feeling sexy in your body and showing up confidently in your relationships. Unfortunately, there are plenty of misconceptions and taboos surrounding butt health that hinder open discussions and proper care.
Today we are debunking myths, dismantling taboos, and providing valuable education on topics such as:
Understanding your butt anatomy
Anal cleansing/douching
Types of bottoms
Recommended sex toys and dilation techiques
Water vs. silicone lubricants
Reducing pain when bottoming
Proper hygiene practices
Hemorrhoids
Tears, anal fissures, and skin tags
Anal botox
Finding proper anal care
Join us for an episode where we are answering the questions you’ve always wanted to ask but never felt comfortable saying out loud.
Today’s Guest: Dr. Evan Goldstein
Author of Butt Seriously, founder of Future Method and Bespoke Surgical
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Today's Host: Michael DiIorio
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Support the Show - viewer and listener support helps us to continue making episodes
- CONNECT WITH US -
Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
Join the Gay Men's Brotherhood Facebook community
Get on our email list to get access to our monthly Zoom calls
Follow us on Instagram | TikTok
Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com
- LEARN WITH US -
Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection: Lifetime access to BOTH courses + 45 coaching videos and 2 workshop series.
Take the Attachment Style Quiz to determine your attachment style and get a free report.

Jun 6, 2024 • 1h 7min
Fear of Rejection
One of the greatest fears that holds us back in love and in life is the fear of rejection.
In this episode, we are acknowledging the daunting prospect of putting ourselves out there, whether it be romantically, sexually, or professionally. We dissect the psychology of rejection as it pertains to our past traumas, beliefs, and inner narratives.
Some of the topics we cover in this episode are:
The need for belonging and connection
Being pursued versus pursuing
The narratives we construct around rejection
The impact of shame and resilience
People pleasing vs. having compassion
Normalizing the fear of rejection
How to cope with the pain of rejection
Reframing rejection to make it more palatable
By sharing personal stories, we confront the harsh realities of shame and insecurity that often accompanies rejection.
With empathy and insight, this episode offers listeners a roadmap for navigating the fearful terrain of rejection by offering powerful reframes and new perspectives to face your fears head-on and reclaim your power in the face of rejection.
Today's Hosts:
Michael DiIorio
Matt Landsiedel
Reno Johnston
Support the Show - viewer and listener support helps us to continue making episodes
- CONNECT WITH US -
Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
Join the Gay Men's Brotherhood Facebook community
Get on our email list to get access to our monthly Zoom calls
Follow us on Instagram | TikTok
Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com
- LEARN WITH US -
Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection: Lifetime access to BOTH courses + 45 coaching videos and 2 workshop series.
Take the Attachment Style Quiz to determine your attachment style and get a free report.

May 30, 2024 • 1h 12min
Healing with Plant Medicine (Psychedelics)
In this episode, Matt speaks with Reunion Founder, Brad Wells, and Psychotherapist/ Ayahuasquero, Alex Theberge, about healing with plant medicine (psychedelics).
We unpack the benefits of psychedelics and how plants can be used to heal many common issues where traditional psychotherapy might not be as effective. Psychedelics are becoming more mainstream and their powerful healing benefits are becoming more known. Come on this journey with us and see if psychedelics may benefit your healing journey.
The concepts and questions we explore in this episode are:
What is Ayahuasca?
What are other types of plant medicines or psychedelics?
How does Ayahuasca heal? What can it heal?
Our personal experiences using plants to heal
Is plant medicine for everyone? Contraindications?
Healing in community with psychedelics
Learn about a special opportunity to explore Ayahuasca
Today's Guests:
Brad Wells - Instagram
Alex Theberge - Facebook
Today's Host:
Matt Landsiedel - Instagram
Related Links:
Learn More About Reunion
Link for the Retreat
Promo Code to Save $250 on Registration: MLREUNION
Support the Show - viewer and listener support helps us to continue making episodes
- CONNECT WITH US -
Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
Join the Gay Men's Brotherhood Facebook community
Get on our email list to get access to our monthly Zoom calls
Follow us on Instagram | TikTok
Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com
- LEARN WITH US -
Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection: Lifetime access to BOTH courses + 45 coaching videos and 2 workshop series.
Take the Attachment Style Quiz to determine your attachment style and get a free report.

May 23, 2024 • 55min
Authenticity and Social Media
In this episode of Gay Men Going Deeper, we delve into the complexities of authenticity in the digital age. From Instagram to OnlyFans, we are living in an increasingly performative world where authenticity seems harder to discern.
Today we are going deeper behind the blurred lines between being fake and putting your best self forward. We’ll be discussing the nuances of genuine self-expression versus performative behavior with personal examples and anecdotes to illustrate.
Some of the topics we’ll be discussing are:
Why insincerity thrives in social media
How do you define authenticity?
The pressures to “keep up” with other gay men
The tendency to compete and compare
Is curating your social media still considered authentic?
The fine line between being authentic and performative
Ascertaining authenticity in the age of filters and algorithms
Tune in to gain valuable perspectives on social media, insincerity, and the pursuit of authenticity in the digital age.
Today's Hosts:
Michael DiIorio
Matt Landsiedel
Reno Johnston
Support the Show - viewer and listener support helps us to continue making episodes
- CONNECT WITH US -
Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
Join the Gay Men's Brotherhood Facebook community
Get on our email list to get access to our monthly Zoom calls
Follow us on Instagram | TikTok
Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com
- LEARN WITH US -
Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection: Lifetime access to BOTH courses + 45 coaching videos and 2 workshop series.
Take the Attachment Style Quiz to determine your attachment style and get a free report.

May 16, 2024 • 58min
Gay and Asian: Panel Discussion
Join us for a compelling panel discussion as we spotlight the experiences of Asian gay men with our diverse panel of guests. Against the backdrop of intersectionality, our panelists share their personal journeys, confronting stereotypes, and navigating the complexities of race, sexuality, and culture.
The sacrifices we make to feel included
Discrimination in dating
Common stereotypes and microaggressions
Fetishization
Challenges of visibility
Media representation: then and now
Code-switching
The diversity within the Asian community
Having a sense of pride in one’s cultural heritage
Hierarchies that exist within minority communities
Allyship within the LGBTQ+ community
Through personal anecdotes and thought-provoking dialogue, we are looking at celebrating intersecting identities and the quest for acceptance and belonging.
Join us for this much-needed discussion that advocates for understanding, empathy, and solidarity among all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Today's Panelists:
JP Fernandes
Aldwin Era
Jarrod Bruce Lee
Today's Host:
Michael DiIorio
Support the Show - viewer and listener support helps us to continue making episodes
- CONNECT WITH US -
Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
Join the Gay Men's Brotherhood Facebook community
Get on our email list to get access to our monthly Zoom calls
Follow us on Instagram | TikTok
Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com
- LEARN WITH US -
Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection: Lifetime access to BOTH courses + 45 coaching videos and 2 workshop series.
Take the Attachment Style Quiz to determine your attachment style and get a free report.

May 9, 2024 • 1h 3min
Self-Disclosure
In this episode, we are discussing the intriguing topic of self-disclosure and its role in fostering genuine connections. Self-disclosure, the art of revealing personal information about yourself to others, shapes our relationships on various levels.
Join us as we explore the psychology behind self-disclosure, its benefits, risks, and the delicate balance required for meaningful communication.
Some of the topics we’re covering in today’s episode:
Knowing what to share and what not to share
The fear of being seen
Vulnerability hangovers
Building trust and intimacy
How we practice self-disclosure
How to maintain boundaries
Coming out as an act of self-disclosure
If you’re wanting to enjoy richer, more fulfilling connections in both personal and professional spheres, this episode is for you!
Today's Hosts:
Michael DiIorio
Matt Landsiedel
Reno Johnston
Support the Show - viewer and listener support helps us to continue making episodes
- CONNECT WITH US -
Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
Join the Gay Men's Brotherhood Facebook community
Get on our email list to get access to our monthly Zoom calls
Follow us on Instagram | TikTok
Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com
- LEARN WITH US -
Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection: Lifetime access to BOTH courses + 45 coaching videos and 2 workshop series.
Take the Attachment Style Quiz to determine your attachment style and get a free report.


