Gaining Ground

SHOW / EPISODE

Men's Mental Health Expert: Why Men Aren't Happy In 2026

49m | Jun 8, 2026

A lot of men look successful on the outside but feel stuck, angry, anxious, or empty on the inside. They have the job, the family, the goals, the discipline, and the image of strength, but still find themselves wondering why none of it seems to produce peace.

In this episode of Gaining Ground, Landon and Drew sit down with Trey Tucker, founder of Rugged Counseling, to talk about men’s mental health, identity, purpose, anxiety, emotional maturity, and what it actually looks like for men to get healthy without becoming soft, passive, or self-absorbed.

Trey brings a direct, no-nonsense approach to therapy for men. He explains why success cannot become your identity, why distraction keeps men from becoming who God called them to be, and how anxiety and depression often function like a check engine light for the soul.

This conversation covers practical tools for silence, gratitude, emotional awareness, marriage, work stress, rejection, and building a stronger inner life. If you’ve ever felt like you should be happy but you’re not, this episode will help you slow down, look under the hood, and take the next honest step toward health.

IN THIS EPISODE:

0:00 – Why Am I Not Happy?

1:13 – Meet Trey Tucker of Rugged Counseling

3:10 – Why Men Resist Therapy

6:21 – What Healthy Men Actually Look Like

7:26 – Identity, Purpose, and Team

9:04 – Why Distraction Is Killing Men’s Growth

12:33 – Why Successful Men Still Feel Empty

15:04 – Finding Your Identity and Purpose

23:44 – Anxiety, Depression, and Mental Health

27:35 – How To Overcome Anxiety Biblically 32:48 – Be Still and Know That I Am God

36:02 – What To Do When You Feel Overwhelmed

40:18 – How To Harness Your Inner Caveman

41:12 – Healthy Responses To Real-Life Problems

48:04 – The Best Question To Ask Every Day

🚀 START HERE!

Learn more about the Gaining Ground men’s movement and how you can get involved at https://gaininggroundmen.com.

✅ ATTEND A GATHERING:

Join us every First Wednesday at 6:30am in the DFW area at a Compass Church campus. These in-person gatherings are designed to help men reset, refocus, and move forward with intention. Oh, and there’s coffee and breakfast of course. Register now at https://gaininggroundmen.com/gatherings/.

MORE FROM TREY:

- Trey Tucker / Rugged Counseling | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@RuggedCounseling)

- Trey Tucker / Rugged Counseling | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ruggedcounseling/)

- Rugged Counseling | Web (https://www.ruggedcounseling.com/)

- Trey’s Book, Tough Enough (https://www.amazon.com/Tough-Enough-Cultivate-Purpose-Strength/dp/0310370566)

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📱 STAY CONNECTED:

- Gaining Ground | Instagram (https://instagram.com/gaininggroundmen)

- Landon Sherman | Instagram (https://instagram.com/landonjsherman)