In this raw and real episode, Marcel and Dan unpack everything from Memorial Day weekend plans gone sideways to the value of hard conversations in male friendships. From unexpected tension and honest apologies to food meditations, kombucha love, and being haunted by an ice bath fail—this one is truly all over the place in the best way.

Whether it's mindful eating, getting vulnerable in a sauna, or being called “daddy” at the grocery store, the guys navigate discomfort with humor and heart. Tune in for stories, self-awareness, and the unfiltered dynamic of two friends learning to show up better—for themselves and each other.

🎙️ Topics include:

• Why Dan got grilled (literally and emotionally)

• What Marcel should’ve said in the sauna

• Why vulnerability can feel embarrassing—but is always worth it

• A titanium-armed chef named Neil

• The risks of wearing Knicks gear in public

This episode is funny, messy, honest, and full of the stuff real friendships are made of. You in?

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & Memorial Day Vibes01:20 - Favorite Flavors & Fake Drink Reviews03:35 - Family Visits and Emotional Flashbacks06:45 - Aging, Injury, and Our Fathers09:40 - Food, Mindfulness, and “The Best Bite”14:00 - Stillness, Presence & Food Meditations16:20 - BBQ Wins & Burger Brags17:20 - Dan’s Disappearing Act21:00 - Real Talk: Feeling Like a Backup23:30 - Navigating Conflict in Male Friendships27:00 - Emotional Triggers & Taking Ownership30:20 - Knicks Sweatshirt & Sports Paranoia33:00 - Wearing Teams You Don’t Watch35:05 - The Old Lady Who Said “Thanks, Daddy”37:30 - The Cold Plunge Shame Spiral42:00 - Performing vs. Expressing Honestly45:20 - Mindful Masculinity & Vulnerability48:30 - Learning to Love the Real You52:00 - Boredom, Stillness & Who You Really Are53:50 - Final Reflections & Next Week’s Topic54:45 - Marcel's Subway Origins57:00 - Dan’s Titanium-Armed Chef Story1:00:45 - Wrap Up & Neil Lives On Forever

🎥 Watch the episode on YouTube: ⁠youtube.com/@ImTryingDude⁠

📷 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@ImTryingDude⁠⁠⁠

❤️ Like the episode? Share it, rate it, or send it to a friend who’s also trying.

Keep trying, dudes.

— Marcel & Dan

Dan kicks things off with his Brooklyn Half win—and how that somehow led to a night of trying way too hard to impress a woman. Marcel confesses to breaking his sobriety and reflects on the emotional spiral that followed. From dating drama to performative masculinity, the guys unpack why we chase validation and how true confidence comes from within. It’s raw, hilarious, and painfully relatable.

🕐 Timestamps:

00:00 Intro Buzzcuts & Not Giving a F***

00:40 Brooklyn Half Marathon Recap

07:40 Marcel Breaks Sobriety in Antwerp

13:50 Duolingo, Language Learning & Lily

19:10 The Lengths We Go To Impress Women

22:00 Overtexting and First Attempts at Love

27:00 Dan's Beach House Heartbreak

35:00 The Marathon for a Girl Story

43:00 Cringey Teen Romance and Club Dances

47:15 Marcel's Takeaway: Just Be Yourself

49:30 Outro: A Love Letter to Lily from Duolingo

🎥 Watch the episode on YouTube: youtube.com/@ImTryingDude

📷 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@ImTryingDude⁠⁠

❤️ Like the episode? Share it, rate it, or send it to a friend who’s also trying.

Keep trying, dudes.

— Marcel & Dan

Addiction comes in many forms — and not all of them look destructive at first glance. In this episode, Marcel and Daniel open up about their own struggles with addiction, both obvious and subtle, and how they’ve replaced old patterns with new “healthy” ones. But is constant replacement true healing? They explore the tension between obsession and discipline, what it means to be truly free from compulsive behavior, and why learning to sit in silence might be the ultimate unlock for your personal growth.

🕐 Timestamps:

00:00 Intro – Funny catch-up & framing the topic

02:20 “Addicted” to growth or just evolving?

06:10 The trap of replacing one addiction with another

12:45 Why stillness matters more than we think

17:20 Is therapy still therapy if you’re avoiding pain?

21:05 Projecting vs. living who we really are

24:10 Boredom, silence, and what we avoid

27:55 When “healthy” habits become harmful

32:20 Can you just sit with yourself?

38:00 Outro – Learning to be present without noise

🎥 Watch the episode on YouTube: youtube.com/@ImTryingDude

📷 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@ImTryingDude⁠⁠

❤️ Like the episode? Share it, rate it, or send it to a friend who’s also trying.

Keep trying, dudes.

— Marcel & Dan