Lion Counseling Podcast
The Lion Counseling Podcast helps men escape the cages that hold them back and become the Lions they were created to be. It exists to help men obtain success, purpose, happiness, and peace in their career and personal lives. The podcast is hosted by the founder of Lion Counseling, Mark Odland (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified EMDR Therapist), and Zack Carter (Counselor and Coach with Lion Counseling). In their podcasts, they address a variety of topics relevant to men, including: mental health, relationships, masculinity, faith, success, business, and self-improvement.
Star Trek and the Circle Method: A Game-Changing Roadmap for Sobriety & Breaking Bad Habits
🎙️ Episode 16 - Star Trek and the Circle Method: A Game-Changing Roadmap for Sobriety & Breaking Bad Habits
In this episode of the Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Licensed Therapist & EMDR specialist) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach) reveal a practical, battle-tested roadmap to help men break free from addiction, compulsive habits, and self-sabotaging patterns.
Using a simple yet powerful visual framework known as "The Circle Sheet"—borrowed from 12-step traditions and infused with a healthy dose of Star Trek wisdom—Zack walks you through how to create your own personal sobriety plan. Whether you’re battling po...
How to Find a Spouse: What Actually Matters in Love & Dating
🎙️ Episode 15 – How to Find a Spouse: What Actually Matters in Love & Dating
In this practical and insightful episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Certified EMDR Therapist) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach) dive deep into what it really takes to find a lasting romantic relationship. Whether you're looking for a wife, evaluating someone you’re dating, or just feeling frustrated by the modern dating world, this episode is for you.
🔍 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
What traits people think matter—but actually don’t (hint: looks and income aren’t everything)
Why your top thre...
Jonathan Pageau on Trauma, Memory & the Symbolic Path to Healing
🎙️ Episode 14 – Jonathan Pageau on Trauma, Memory & the Symbolic Path to Healing
In this profound conversation, Mark Odland (Certified EMDR Therapist & founder of Lion Counseling) is joined by renowned Orthodox Christian artist and cultural commentator Jonathan Pageau (The Symbolic World) to explore a topic rarely covered in Pageau’s public work: trauma, memory, and personal transformation.
With approximately 250,000 subscribers, Jonathan is known globally for helping people rediscover the symbolic patterns that shape reality—in scripture, culture, art, and personal life. In this episode, he and Mark dive into how trauma and memory shape identity, and how both psycho...
Understanding Trauma and How to Heal
Episode 14 – 🎙️ Understanding Trauma and How to Heal
What is trauma really—and why can it affect us years after the event?
In this episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Certified EMDR Therapist) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach) explain trauma in a clear, practical, and non-intimidating way. If you've experienced stress, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm that feels hard to shake, this episode offers helpful insights and next steps.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
What trauma is and how it impacts the brain and nervous systemThe difference between PTSD and complex trauma (CPTSD)How past exper...Burnout: Why You’re Exhausted (Even When Life Looks Good)
🎙️ Episode 12 – Burnout: Why You’re Exhausted (Even When Life Looks Good)
In this raw and honest episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Certified EMDR Therapist) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach) open up about their personal experiences with burnout—and what they learned through the process. Whether you're a business owner, husband, leader, or just a guy trying to hold it all together, this episode will help you understand why you’re running on fumes… even when life looks “successful” on paper.
🔍 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
The real symptoms of burnout and how they dif...
Manhood, Music, and Redemption: The Story of Aaron Dahl
🎙️ Episode 11 – Manhood, Music, and Redemption: The Story of Aaron Dahl
In this powerful episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland sits down with Aaron Dahl, worship pastor at Eagle Brook Church, former touring rock musician, husband, and father of four. From addiction and homelessness to healing, fatherhood, and leading worship at one of the largest churches in the U.S., Aaron’s story is a raw, honest testimony of faith, transformation, and legacy.
Whether you’re a man struggling with addiction, questioning your purpose, or just trying to find your footing in a chaotic world, this episod...
How to Be Happier: Real Strategies for a Life That Matters
🎙️ Episode 10 – How to Be Happier: Real Strategies for a Life That Matters
In this episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Certified EMDR Therapist, LMFT) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach) explore one of life’s biggest questions: How can I be truly happy? Whether you're killing it at work but feeling empty inside, or just trying to shake off stress and find peace, this episode will give you the clarity—and the tools—you need.
Drawing from positive psychology, biblical wisdom, and decades of experience helping men grow, Mark and Zack break down what happiness act...
How to Conquer Anxiety: Real Tools for Real Men
🎙️ Episode 9 – How to Conquer Anxiety: Real Tools for Real Men
In this episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Certified EMDR Therapist & LMFT) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach for Men) dive headfirst into one of the most common issues men face—but rarely talk about: anxiety.
Whether it shows up as stress, overthinking, irritability, or a pit in your stomach, this episode breaks down what anxiety really is, why it's not always the enemy, and how you can take back control using real-world strategies backed by psychology and faith.
🔍 In This Episode, You’ll Learn...
"I Almost Died Twice” - Surviving Crackland with Jiu Jitsu (with Lael Rodrigues)
🎙️ Episode 8 – Manhood, Pressure, and the Power of Jiu Jitsu (with Lael Rodrigues)
In this powerful episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland sits down with Lael Rodrigues, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, coach, business owner, missionary, and founder of Superior Jiu Jitsu in Superior, WI. From surviving poverty in Brazil to transforming lives through martial arts and faith, Lael’s story is one of grit, purpose, and redemption.
🔥 Whether you're a man seeking more discipline, deeper purpose, or just wondering if you still have what it takes—this episode will challenge you.
🔍 In This Ep...
How to Improve Your Sobriety: Understanding the Root of Addiction
🎙️ Episode 7 – How to Improve Your Sobriety: Understanding the Root of Addiction
In this episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Certified EMDR Therapist, LMFT) and Zack Carter(Counselor & Coach for Men) go far beyond surface-level recovery strategies to help men understand what’s really driving their addiction.
If you’ve ever thought, “I just need to stop watching porn, drinking, or gambling—then my life will be fine,” this episode will challenge and encourage you. Because the real issue isn't the behavior. It's the pain underneath it.
🔍 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why your addiction i...Why am I so Angry? Understanding the Roots of Rage
🎙️ Episode 6 – Why Am I So Angry? Understanding the Roots of Rage
In this episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Certified EMDR Therapist & LMFT) and Zack Carter(Counselor & Coach for Men) dig deep into a question that haunts many high-functioning men:
"Why am I so angry?”
If you’ve ever found yourself snapping at your wife, yelling at coworkers, or boiling over in traffic—and then immediately wondering, “Where did that come from?”—this episode is for you.
With honesty, clinical insight, and personal stories, Mark and Zack break down the real reasons me...
Why You Struggle to Make Friends (And How to Fix It)
🎙️ Episode 5 – Why You Struggle to Make Friends (And How to Fix It)
In this episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Certified EMDR Therapist) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach for Men) tackle a silent epidemic many men face today: loneliness and the struggle to build lasting friendships.
If you've ever found yourself wondering why it's so hard to make friends as an adult—or why your relationships feel shallow or disconnected—this episode is for you. Using a practical and memorable acronym called the NICE Formula, Mark and Zack break down the co...
Why You Keep Fighting About Money, Intimacy, and Chores (and how to stop it)
🎙️ Episode 4 – “Why You Keep Fighting About Money, Intimacy, and Chores (and how to stop it)"
In this episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Certified EMDR Therapist) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach) tackle one of the most common issues couples face: relationship conflict.
Whether you’re married, dating, or engaged, this conversation dives into real-world strategies for improving communication, deescalating arguments, and building deeper emotional connection. From fights about sex, money, and chores, to everyday misunderstandings, Mark and Zack break down the patterns that keep couples stuck—and how to break free fr...
Jesus, John Wick, and the Truth About Being a Man
🎙️ Episode 3 – Jesus, John Wick, and the Truth About Being a Man
In this powerful episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Certified EMDR Therapist) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach) take on the complex topic of manhood—what it really means, how it’s misunderstood, and how to find the balance between strength and emotional sensitivity. From assertiveness strategies and emotional intelligence, to role models like Jesus and John Wick, this conversation breaks down the barriers many men face around identity, relationships, and personal growth.
🔍 In This Episode, We Cover:
Why balancing...Redefining Success: Why You Don’t Feel Successful (Even If You Are)
🎙️ Episode 5 – Redefining Success: Why You Don’t Feel Successful (Even If You Are)
In this episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Certified EMDR Therapist) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach for Men) go deep into a topic that hits home for many men: success—how we define it, why it feels so elusive, and what really holds us back from experiencing it.
Whether you’re crushing it at work but feel like a failure at home, or you’ve achieved what others call “success” but still feel like you’re not enough—this episo...
The Truth About Motivation: Why You’re Stuck and How to Move Forward
🎙️ Episode 1 – The Truth About Motivation: Why You’re Stuck and How to Move Forward
In this kickoff episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Certified EMDR Therapist) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach for Men) dig into the roots of motivation—why we lose it, how to regain it, and what’s actually driving our behaviors beneath the surface.
From New Year’s resolutions that fade to long-term personal goals that stall out, this episode is packed with real talk on why willpower alone won’t work, how emotions fuel human behavior, and why...
