by Todd Adams
MenLiving is all about connection, real conversations, and a community where you can show up exactly as you are. But even if you’ve been around for a while, there are probably a few things you didn’t know about us. So, here’s a totally random, slightly quirky list of things that make MenLiving what it is.
The Origins of MenLiving
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We started on Leap Day—because why not be a little different?
The very first MenLiving meeting happened on February 29, 2012 (yes, a Leap Day) and was led by Frank Naugo and me. Back then, we called ourselves The Tribe and met once a month in person. The first topic? “The Morning vs. the Afternoon of Our Lives.” Five guys showed up.
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When you get down to it, it’s all about making friends.
MenLiving was born after a golf weekend with college friends, where I realized 72 hours had passed without a single authentic or vulnerable moment. The thought of future friendships like that hit me hard—I knew I needed a change. The only rule for our first meeting? No alcohol, no TV.
How We Connect Today
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We have at least one meeting every single day.
And guess what? All Full House meetings are completely free. No hidden fees, no fine print. Just show up.
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The Zoom link is not playing hide and seek—we promise.
This has been a thorn in the side of many MenLiving members. When you RSVP for a virtual meeting, the Zoom link is at the very bottom of the confirmation email. I’d love to put it at the top, but our meeting platform doesn’t let me.
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No weird jargon here.
We do our best to keep our conversations free of confusing “self-help speak.” If you don’t know what something means, just ask—no judgment. We want MenLiving to be a place where anyone can jump in at their own pace.
The Men Who Make It Happen
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MenLiving doesn’t “save lives”—but men do.
I’ve been told more than once that MenLiving saved someone’s life. I wish that were true, but I believe that only a man can save his own life—we’re just one of the support systems to help him do it.
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Our facilitators come from all over the world (literally).
We have 35 active facilitators (and growing!), trained through a program led by Jim Herbert. Most are based in the U.S., but we also have Jonathan from Dublin, Ireland, and Martin from Perth, Australia—so yeah, we’re pretty global. Want to know more about them? Click here.
Ways to Get Involved
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Our Full Houses are like a buffet—something for everyone.
We have general Full House meetings open to all, plus focused Full Houses for guys navigating Separation/Divorce, Accountability Monday, and Fatherhood. We also run Small Batches from time to time which is for smaller groups focused on something specific. Our current Small Batches are the MenLiving Music Small Batch as well as a Men Who Love Books Small Batch. Want to join one, or start your own? Let me know.
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MenWalking—yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like.
MenWalking is simple but powerful—walk and talk with other men. We’ve got chapters in Chicago, IL; Tallahassee, FL; Batavia, NY; Madison, WI; and Raleigh, NC. Want to start your own? We’ll help you get started. Just pick a date and location, then email me (todd@menliving.org).
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New around here? We’ve got you.
Membership is free. All you have to do is complete this form. I also host a monthly orientation for new(ish) guys to help them get a feel for MenLiving. If you’re not into live meetings, I also made a short video so you can check us out on your own time.
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¡Hablamos español también!
We host a monthly Spanish-speaking meeting, led by Frank Tirado.
The Spirit of MenLiving
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There’s a lot of laughter.
MenLiving isn’t all deep talks and soul-searching. We joke. We laugh. We throw each other shit.
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Don’t need us? We need you!
I invite a lot of men into our spaces, and I often hear, “I’m good, I don’t need much support.” My response? Great, but we need you to provide support to others.
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We got SWAG
Take a look at our amazing merch…
Want to Help?
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We’re volunteer-run (which means we’d love your help).
MenLiving runs on the time, energy, and generosity of volunteers. If you’re interested in helping us grow the organization, please consider donating. Here is our most recent list of donors to the organization. If cash is tight, but you have time and talent to offer, shoot me an email: todd@menliving.org.
That’s my random things! Hopefully, you learned something new—and if you didn’t, well… at least now you know exactly where to find the Zoom link. 😄
Got a question, a fun fact, or a suggestion for another random thing to add? Let me know!
Meet Todd Adams
Executive Director • Board Member • Facilitator
For 30 years, Todd has been a leader in the construction industry. He is also a certified life and leadership coach for men. Since 2010, he and his wife have cohosted Zen Parenting Radio, a top-ten kids and family podcast.
Biography
Todd is a certified coach through Conscious Leadership Group, Tony Robbins Core 100, and the HeartMath Institute. He is a member of the Mankind Project and a staff member for its New Warrior Training Adventure. He also blogs for the Good Men Project.
Realizing that his friendships with men were becoming more shallow, Todd took action. He cofounded the Tribe Men’s Group in 2012. His intention was to create a space that invited men to be vulnerable and authentic. In 2019, the Tribe rebranded as MenLiving, and Todd has served as its executive director since.
Todd is from Chicago and is a graduate of Drake University with a degree in finance and management. He is happily married to his best friend, Cathy. Together, they have three amazing daughters and a zen bunny named Smokey.
Funny and accurate. Thanks Todd