In this episode of I'm Trying, Dude, Marcel and Dan dive into the real reason we struggle with consistency — especially when it comes to routines, working out, or picking up new habits. They explore how to shift from a mindset of “I should” to “I want to”, and why that simple change is the key to sustainable growth.

Things get personal, too. Dan relives some wild high school fights (including the time someone punched themselves), Marcel shares the time he stole a cop-jumper’s girlfriend, and they both open up about how repressed anger has shown up in their lives. From anxiety and outbursts to healing and humor — it’s all here.

Stick around to the end for a surprisingly deep take on nostalgia, living in the moment, and the mental photos we carry with us.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – The chaotic cold open00:40 – Connecting to divine energy before recording01:30 – HYROX weekend recap04:00 – Dan’s 7-minute penalty & Marcel’s Berlin HYROX plans06:15 – Nick’s struggle and friendship through shared goals08:00 – Marcel’s rooftop sickness & recovery reflection09:30 – Morning routine wins vs. video game temptation11:00 – Learning Italian & guitar as small daily wins13:45 – “I should” vs “I want to” — the mental shift that matters15:30 – Movement, motivation, and building sustainable habits19:00 – Yin yoga + the five-minute rule21:00 – Why it’s hard to keep up new habits22:15 – The piano example & gamifying consistency23:30 – Marcel’s thoughts on burnout, podcasting, and creative pressure25:00 – Have you ever been in a fight?28:00 – Dan’s wild high school fight story (First one's on me!)30:30 – Marcel gets hit in Spain — wrong guy32:00 – Dan almost gets roped into a brawl34:00 – Marcel dates the girlfriend of a guy who jumps cops35:00 – Rage, fights, and why anger builds up38:00 – How repressed emotions show up as anxiety41:00 – Learning to express anger safely43:00 – Comparing vs. competing44:00 – Nostalgia, memory, and trying to stay present47:00 – Capturing moments vs. being in them49:00 – Dan’s mental snapshots practice51:00 – How to consciously choose presence52:00 – The “Jim & Pam” mental photo54:00 – Wrap-up: being present, trying, and growing

🎥 Watch the episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠youtube.com/@ImTryingDude⁠⁠

📷 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ImTryingDude⁠⁠⁠⁠

❤️ Like the episode? Share it, rate it, or send it to a friend who’s also trying.

Keep trying, dudes.

— Marcel & Dan

In this raw and real episode, Marcel and Dan unpack everything from Memorial Day weekend plans gone sideways to the value of hard conversations in male friendships. From unexpected tension and honest apologies to food meditations, kombucha love, and being haunted by an ice bath fail—this one is truly all over the place in the best way.

Whether it's mindful eating, getting vulnerable in a sauna, or being called “daddy” at the grocery store, the guys navigate discomfort with humor and heart. Tune in for stories, self-awareness, and the unfiltered dynamic of two friends learning to show up better—for themselves and each other.

🎙️ Topics include:

• - Why Dan got grilled (literally and emotionally)

• - What Marcel should’ve said in the sauna

• - Why vulnerability can feel embarrassing—but is always worth it

• - A titanium-armed chef named Neil

• - The risks of wearing Knicks gear in public

• This episode is funny, messy, honest, and full of the stuff real friendships are made of. You in?

  
  

  ⏱️ Timestamps:

  00:00 - Intro & Memorial Day Vibes

  01:20 - Favorite Flavors & Fake Drink Reviews

  03:35 - Family Visits and Emotional Flashbacks

  06:45 - Aging, Injury, and Our Fathers

  09:40 - Food, Mindfulness, and “The Best Bite”

  14:00 - Stillness, Presence & Food Meditations

  16:20 - BBQ Wins & Burger Brags

  17:20 - Dan’s Disappearing Act

  21:00 - Real Talk: Feeling Like a Backup

  23:30 - Navigating Conflict in Male Friendships

  27:00 - Emotional Triggers & Taking Ownership

  30:20 - Knicks Sweatshirt & Sports Paranoia

  33:00 - Wearing Teams You Don’t Watch

  35:05 - The Old Lady Who Said “Thanks, Daddy”

  37:30 - The Cold Plunge Shame Spiral

  42:00 - Performing vs. Expressing Honestly

  45:20 - Mindful Masculinity & Vulnerability

  48:30 - Learning to Love the Real You

  52:00 - Boredom, Stillness & Who You Really Are

  53:50 - Final Reflections & Next Week’s Topic

  54:45 - Marcel's Subway Origins

  57:00 - Dan’s Titanium-Armed Chef Story

  01:00:45 - Wrap Up & Neil Lives On Forever

  
  

  🎥 Watch the episode on YouTube: ⁠youtube.com/@ImTryingDude⁠

  📷 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@ImTryingDude⁠⁠⁠

  
  

  ❤️ Like the episode? Share it, rate it, or send it to a friend who’s also trying.

  Keep trying, dudes.

  — Marcel & Dan

Dan kicks things off with his Brooklyn Half win—and how that somehow led to a night of trying way too hard to impress a woman. Marcel confesses to breaking his sobriety and reflects on the emotional spiral that followed. From dating drama to performative masculinity, the guys unpack why we chase validation and how true confidence comes from within. It’s raw, hilarious, and painfully relatable.

🕐 Timestamps:

00:00 Intro Buzzcuts & Not Giving a F***

00:40 Brooklyn Half Marathon Recap

07:40 Marcel Breaks Sobriety in Antwerp

13:50 Duolingo, Language Learning & Lily

19:10 The Lengths We Go To Impress Women

22:00 Overtexting and First Attempts at Love

27:00 Dan's Beach House Heartbreak

35:00 The Marathon for a Girl Story

43:00 Cringey Teen Romance and Club Dances

47:15 Marcel's Takeaway: Just Be Yourself

49:30 Outro: A Love Letter to Lily from Duolingo

🎥 Watch the episode on YouTube: youtube.com/@ImTryingDude

📷 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@ImTryingDude⁠⁠

❤️ Like the episode? Share it, rate it, or send it to a friend who’s also trying.

Keep trying, dudes.

— Marcel & Dan