Meet The Founder
Colin founded Manscending to help young men form meaningful connections in today's disconnected world. According to Equimundo’s State of American Men 2023 report, two thirds of US men ages 18 to 23 believe that “no one really knows me well.” In a society full of conflicting messages around what it means to be a man and without guidance from positive male role models, men are struggling to establish the quality relationships essential for long-term health and happiness.
While Colin faced his own struggles maintaining friendships amidst frequent moves growing up, it wasn’t until attending Davidson College and joining a fraternity that he realized the essential role community plays in supporting both lasting wellbeing and success. After graduating in 2017, he dedicated himself to mastering the art of creating meaningful connections and helping other men to contribute powerfully and sustainably. Today, Colin shares the insights and practices he’s learned to ensure young men are equipped to handle the unique challenges of modern society.
Manscending’s mission is to help every man drive positive change in his own life and the lives of all those around him through practicing mindfulness. More spaces are needed where men can show up with honesty and without judgment, and mindfulness provides just that. Join us as we work together to build a worldwide brotherhood of calm, competent, and compassionate men.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts - Davidson College (2017)
Certified Life Coach - Academy of Modern Psychology
Yoga Teacher (200YTT) - Kripalu Center for Yoga and Ayurvedic Health
Suicide Prevention Training - QPR Institute
The Power of Awareness Meditation Training - The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Manscending?
We equip young men with mindfulness-based tools, community, and structure to unleash their potential and build a legacy of compassionate action. Our innovative and effective programming inspires greater authenticity, unbreakable brotherhood, and the profound possibility that greatness is one decision away.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a word used to describe the experience of non-judgmental awareness in the present moment. While it is deeply rooted in faith and spiritually traditions around the world, mindfulness is not a religious practice in itself. It can be used as a category for any practices that enable us to observe our current state without judgment and navigate through our circumstances with greater compassion and ease.
Why is Manscending needed?
We are entering a new era of masculinity, where the conversation around what it means to be a healthy man is gaining momentum. People are realizing that the traditional ideals of masculinity including emotional detachment and punishing weakness aren’t working for us. They encourage men to suppress the very systems that balance us all - our bodies, feelings, thoughts, and relationships - leading to disproportionately high rates of isolation, self-harm, and violence. Something needs to change and it has to start with men.
Manscending tackles this challenge by equipping men with the community, training, and tools to build the self-awareness required for positive transformation. We strive to reignite the experience of brotherhood by bringing fresh perspectives to existing communities of men: fraternities, boys schools, clubs, and athletic teams, where some of the most harmful aspects of masculinity are learned and reinforced. By bringing guys together to compassionately reckon with our inheritance as men, we believe we can create a more sustainable culture of masculinity from the board room to the locker room.
How does Manscending help?
We offer engaging workshops, fraternity chapter coaching programs, and individual coaching for men seeking growth. Additionally, we provide training and accountability through the Mindful Manhood online community and free practices which we deliver through our Monthly Mindfulness newsletter.
Does feminism have a place in men’s work?
Feminism as a movement to end sexism and provide equal opportunity regardless of gender is everyone’s work, including women, men, and identities beyond and between the binary. While feminism has historically been a “women’s issue”, we firmly believe men benefit greatly from the expansion of narrow gender roles. We all have a stake in giving each other the chance to pursue our passions and grow into fully realized versions of ourselves.