Men's Resource Center of West Michigan

04/28/2026

We’ve been seeing an important pattern in our work with men lately.

Many men are being asked to grow, and that’s a good thing.
Some of the old ways of understanding masculinity needed to change.

But here’s where many men get stuck:

They’re hearing what not to be…
without being shown clearly how to become something better.

“Be less aggressive.”
“Be less controlling.”
“Be less defensive.”

That’s not a roadmap.

For a lot of men, it can feel like the only options are to either shut down…
or push back.

At the Men’s Resource Center, our work is about helping men find a different path.

A path where they can take responsibility for their behavior,
while also developing the emotional strength, self-awareness, and relational skills needed to grow.

Not by losing who they are, but by becoming a stronger, more grounded version of themselves.

When men are given a real path forward,
change becomes possible, not just for them, but for their relationships and families as well.

When decent men feel corrected, accused, confused, or suddenly behind, defensiveness can sound like resistance. Often, it is something messier than that.

04/24/2026

Tomorrow is Parental Alienation Awareness Day.

Parental alienation occurs when a child becomes distanced from one parent due to the influence of another—sometimes subtly, sometimes overtly.

The impact can be profound:
• Children lose connection with a loving parent
• Families become divided
• Emotional harm can carry into adulthood

And it often extends beyond the parent–child relationship. Grandparents, stepparents, and other extended family members may also lose meaningful connection with the child—often without a clear explanation or pathway to repair.

What is less often recognized is the toll this takes on the targeted parent. Many experience a form of ongoing, complex trauma from the loss and helplessness they face—what we refer to as C-TAP (Complex Trauma in Alienated Parents).

At the Men’s Resource Center, we work with many fathers (and families) navigating this painful experience.

If you’re facing this—or supporting someone who is—how you respond matters.

We’ve put together practical, grounded guidance to help:
👉 https://menscenter.org/respond-to-parental-alienation/

Awareness is the first step.
Support and informed action are what make the difference.

Rejected parents need specialized coaching and counsel on how to safely, smartly, and strategically respond to parental alienation in order to avoid total and permanent severance of parent/child contact.

03/27/2026

At the Men’s Resource Center, we don't discard strength. We expand it. We work on that calibration, social intuition, and emotional intelligence. Strengths that preserve relationships. Courage that tells the truth. And power used in the service of others. Inspired by John U. Bacon's book, "The Gales of November," and Gordon Lightfoot's haunting song, Randy Flood explores these themes in the tragic story of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald.

Randy Flood shares lessons in masculinity gleaned from John U Bacon's book on the SS Edmund Fitzgerald and Gordon Lightfoot's haunting song.

02/25/2026

In the decades Randy Flood has spent working in the field of domestic violence, parental alienation, and high-conflict divorce, he has witnessed how targeted parents are often misunderstood and pathologized in clinical and legal settings. He sees it as similar to how battered women were misunderstood until Dr. Lenore Walker coined the term “battered woman’s syndrome.”

His recent post on the MRC website highlights how everyday, average-range parenting can become weaponized in high-conflict divorce and resist-refuse dynamics. It provides resources and information for those navigating the hurt of parental alienation as well as for mental health and court professionals.

Targeted parents suffer when common and average parental behaviors are misconstrued and weaponized within the custody and legal system.

02/13/2026

What happens when technology begins to simulate intimacy, connection, and emotional presence?

As technology offers increasingly convincing substitutes for connection, the question isn't whether machines can keep us company. It's whether companionship without mutuality, contradiction, and staying put actually helps us grow or quietly teaches us to avoid the very intimacy we're starving for.

While not dismissing AI’s usefulness as a tool, Randy Flood and Dr. Simon Fokt, PhD, assess the effects it might have on human relationships overall, and on the emotional development of young men specifically.

https://menscenter.org/podcast/agi-impact-on-emotional-development-intimacy-and-human-relationships/

Dr. Simon Fokt PhD and Randy Flood discuss why and how AI and AGI companions may affect men and boys emotional development and social skills.

02/11/2026

The Epstein case has reignited debate over power dynamics, exploitation, and the imperative of accountability. The Men's Resource Center of West Michigan's work is built on the principle that accountability is foundational when working with men, emphasizing the need for men to accept responsibility for their actions, and to cultivate empathy—a critical governor of behavior!

It is also crucial that men hold one another accountable, with no room for collusion, silence, or exceptions. Beyond the alleged abuse, a significant concern is the perception that wealth and influence can protect some men from accountability, while others are swiftly held to account. For accountability to be meaningful, it cannot be selective based on status, race, or political affiliation; to be otherwise would be to condone impunity.

Healthy masculinity is about embracing moral courage: standing up, speaking out at personal cost, confronting power, and enduring the consequences of doing so. Real strength is embodied in robust accountability. Anything else is succumbing to our fears and our insecure need to cling to our personal status, rather than justice, morality, and the welfare of others.

01/28/2026

In moving beyond the easy right–wrong binary, it matters to say this: Alex’s masculinity was expressed through using his strength and power in the service of others.

As an ICU nurse, he cared for and honored our military veterans at their most vulnerable. As a citizen in Minneapolis, he felt called to practice what he described as neighborism—showing up, engaging, and taking responsibility for the well-being of others.

He died as he lived: sacrificing himself to protect, empower, and help others. That is not weakness. That is strength, courage, and power guided by masculine purpose.

MAGA is obsessed with "masculinity" — Pretti showed them what it really looks like.

01/16/2026

What happens when technology starts outperforming men physically, mentally, and cognitively in a world where masculinity has been equated with utility?" In the first segment of a two-part Revealing Men podcast series on how men will adjust to the advance of artificial general intelligence (AGI)*, Randy Flood looks through the lens of decades of clinical experience, and speaking directly to listeners, addresses how our ideals of masculinity will need a reset if we want to preserve our humanity.

If you're seeking support to face the challenges of today’s world, the Men's Resource Center is here to help. For over 25 years, we've been at the forefront of helping men more fully develop their humanity. Reach out - we're here to help.

Randy Flood discusses how men's view of their masculinity is challenged by the advent of AI and AGI, and how we can adjust to this new world.

12/17/2025

Just in time for the holidays, Randy and Zach Flood discuss the 1980s holiday classic: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on the Revealing Men podcast. A family favorite, Randy calls it a "masterclass parody in holiday psychology.” The movie portrays how societal pressures can script men and women into very particular roles, especially this time of year.

With over-the-top portrayals of what were then considered traditional and emerging gender roles for men (and women), it provides an excellent opportunity for laughter—how far men have come —and reflection—how far men have yet to go.

We're reminded, Randy notes, that “at the end of the day, Christmas [the holidays] isn’t about the perfect tree, the perfect lights, the perfect memories. It’s about presence, truth, boundaries, and genuine connection.” Randy and Zach's wish for each of us: Laugh more, stress less, and remember what actually matters this season. And, if you get the chance, watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

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The Revealing Men podcast highlights how a movie from the 1980s offers a masterclass parody in holiday psychology that still resonates today.

12/03/2025

Scott Galloway’s new book has brought a lot of attention to the idea of a “masculinity crisis.”

At MRC, we’ve been supporting men through these challenges for years. And while the crisis is real, what we see every day is hope — men choosing to show up, take responsibility, and build more empathy, connection, and confidence in their lives.

Through our groups, counselling, and coaching, we’re here for anyone ready to make positive change. If you or someone you know needs support, we’re only a message away.

When his book Notes on Being a Man was released last month, it raced to the top of the bestseller lists. The US author, tech entrepreneur and podcaster explains his theories on dating, crying – and the rise of Donald Trump

11/24/2025

"An Audacious Idea Thrives at 25!" Shelley Irwin talks with Randy Flood about celebrating the Men's Resource Center's 25th anniversary (their conversation starts at 24:00). In 2000, men were 3x less likely than women to seek mental health services. In 2025, they are 2x less likely. The stigma is decreasing, but the struggle remains. You don't have to be in crisis to seek our services; think of us as where you go for a mental health tune-up. We'll be here when you need us. Call 616-456-1178; visit menscenter.org.

Mackinac Island, The Purse Project, Rotary Club of Grand Rapids, Men's Resource Center, and the Michigan Wine Collaborative.

11/11/2025

Did you know that the Men’s Resource Center has been helping men grow into healthier partners, fathers, and human beings for a quarter-century?!

We were founded in 2000, built upon the "audacious" idea that men could be encouraged to use and would benefit from mental health services.

Read more on our website “Celebrating 25 Years of Giving Men the Tools to Heal, Grow, and Succeed,” and/or listen to Randy Flood and Al Heystek on a special episode of the Revealing Men podcast for insights into what has made this endeavor a success. Here’s to the next 25 years of helping men live with courage, humility, and heart!

The Men's Resource Center of West Michigan helps men think beyond stereotypes and build lives of courage, compassion, and connection.