Lately, I’ve found myself in a rhythm of conversations that linger long after the recording stops.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been invited into podcast spaces to talk about connection, leadership, and positive masculinity—not as abstract ideas, but as lived, practiced commitments. I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with Dani Cee at Confident Authority, Megan Robinson at ELeader Experience, and Daniella De Grande from The Give Back Lab.
Each conversation was different.
Each was meaningful.
And all of them reminded me why this work matters.
Learning in the Presence of Women Leaders
One of the most grounding parts of this season has been connecting with so many thoughtful, values-driven women leaders. These weren’t performative conversations or rehearsed soundbites. They were honest explorations of power, responsibility, care, and courage.
Talking about positive masculinity in these spaces isn’t about reclaiming dominance—it’s about reclaiming presence, accountability, and relational strength. It’s about how men show up with others, not over them. And it’s impossible to have those conversations well without listening deeply to women who are doing this work every day.
I walked away from each dialogue not feeling like I had “spoken,” but like I had learned.
Holding Intention as a Daily Practice
Outside of the microphones, I’ve been intentionally keeping my focus narrow and my values clear as I move toward 2026. Not in a rigid way—but in a grounded one.
That intention has shown up in simple places:
- Being fully present with my family
- Letting rest be restorative instead of productive
- Choosing conversations that align, not just impress
There’s a quiet confidence that comes when your outer commitments match your inner compass.
Spring on the Calendar, Snow at the Door
It feels fitting to be welcoming Spring—even as we’re currently being blanketed with snow. There’s something poetic about that contrast. Renewal arriving slowly. Beauty showing up unexpectedly. Stillness reminding us not to rush the thaw.
Watching the snow fall outside my home has been a reminder that seasons don’t always arrive the way we imagine—but they arrive nonetheless.
Gratitude, Plain and Simple
More than anything, this moment feels saturated with gratitude.
For meaningful work.
For honest conversations.
For a warm home.
For lived experiences that continue to teach me.
And for the steady, grounding love of my family.
Connection—real connection—has a way of clarifying what matters most. And right now, I feel deeply aware of how fortunate I am to be living inside these moments.
Here’s to conversations that shape us, seasons that slow us, and gratitude that anchors us.
— The Social Capitalist
The Official Author Page of Dr. Rick L. Mask (The Social Capitalist) and the Home of Social Capital 2.0 