What does it mean to use tragic circumstances as a means to serve others?   How can men take the fear, uncertainty, and vulnerability that often accompany their darkest moments and turn it into a chance to connect with others and free themselves of the social stigma surrounding men and being vulnerable? Beyond this, what does it look like to create an environment where men can be vulnerable and open without fear of criticism or judgment? Shawn Nason speaks with Trevor Maxwell on today’s episode to discuss his journey as a cancer survivor, what it was like to overcome his darkest moments, the mental health component that often goes unnoticed in illnesses like cancer, and how he used his cancer battle as a springboard to set an example and serve others in a similar struggle. In This Episode (2:21) What Trevor does at Man Up To Cancer and why he does it (6:00) How healthcare organizations could better meet the needs of men with cancer and other serious illnesses (7:35) Understanding how cultural conditioning influences the needs of men vs. women  (9:14) Oftentimes, men don’t have the available resources to have their emotional needs met (12:18) Why Trevor created The Howling Place (15:34) How Trevor’s background helped him write his book, Open Heart, Warrior Spirit. (18:26) Finding your people: using social media to build a community (21:28) Trevor on his “Shawshank Moment” (25:41) What healthcare professionals need to know to help patients (27:15) Trevor’s advice for people who want to turn their life experiences into something that serves the world (29:35) The Combustion Questions What We Learned From Trevor Men are culturally conditioned to see asking for help as a sign of weakness, so even in cases such as a cancer diagnosis, men are more prone to isolate and “tough it out” than women. There is a gap in healthcare organizations, leaving the mental health component often undervalued despite the heavy emotional burden that accompanies illnesses like cancer. Men crave a space that allows them to share struggles with other men who understand their struggles and can offer support and understanding. The best time to start turning your life experiences into something that serves the world is right now - start where you are. Notable Quotes [4:41] “The cancer world needs guys who are going to step up, be honest about it, start talking about it.” [7:10] “A lot of us have been conditioned to think that if we ask for help, that that is weakness.” [20:33] “I needed to connect with others who were around the same age, you know, raising kids, going through the same challenge, like to know that I wasn't alone.” [27:02] “If we’re gonna enter this era of precision medicine, we need to do it so that everyone gets on the train.” Our Guest Trevor Maxwell is the owner of Maxwell Media and PR, which is a media/public relations consulting firm. He is also an author and founder of Man Up To Cancer, a purpose-driven company that sets out to inspire men to forge connections and avoid isolation when battling cancer.  With a background in consulting, writing, journalism, public relations, and being a survivor of stage 4 colon cancer, his focus is changing what the phrase “man up” means in the context of fighting cancer. He believes men are stronger as a pack than flying solo as a lone wolf. Trevor works tirelessly to spread the message that if you’re a man battling cancer, you are not alone.  Resources & Links Trevor Maxwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuptocancer Website: https://www.manuptocancer.com/ Shawn Nason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nasonshawn/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manonfiresocial/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/manonfiresocial Website: https://shawnnason.com/ MOFI: https://www.mofi.co/ The Combustion Chronicles Podcast Website: https://shawnnason.com/combustion-chronicles-episodes/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices