We wrap Season 3 with one of our most personal, reflective, and laugh-filled episodes yet. From stupid humor that sends us into tears to deep questions about legacy, fulfillment, and friendship, this one hits on all fronts. Dan opens up about accountability and what it means to show up, Marcel reflects on chasing meaning beyond metrics, and together we look at what it means to keep trying—creatively, emotionally, and personally.

🕐 Timestamps:

00:00 – The last episode of Season 3

01:05 – Laughing until your chest hurts

05:30 – Hot sandwiches, pesto beef, and Nantucket stories

12:00 – Marcel on feeling like a show version of himself

15:15 – The power of routine and why we’re not done trying

27:00 – Dan opens up: apology, ownership, and planning struggles

38:00 – Marcel’s emotional reaction to a Staten Island movie

41:00 – The fear of being forgotten and leaving your mark

52:00 – Here and now vs. legacy: what really matters?

55:00 – Our goals for Season 4

🎥 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 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

Addiction comes in many forms — and not all of them look destructive at first glance. In this episode, Marcel and Daniel open up about their own struggles with addiction, both obvious and subtle, and how they’ve replaced old patterns with new “healthy” ones. But is constant replacement true healing? They explore the tension between obsession and discipline, what it means to be truly free from compulsive behavior, and why learning to sit in silence might be the ultimate unlock for your personal growth.

🕐 Timestamps:

00:00 Intro – Funny catch-up & framing the topic

02:20 “Addicted” to growth or just evolving?

06:10 The trap of replacing one addiction with another

12:45 Why stillness matters more than we think

17:20 Is therapy still therapy if you’re avoiding pain?

21:05 Projecting vs. living who we really are

24:10 Boredom, silence, and what we avoid

27:55 When “healthy” habits become harmful

32:20 Can you just sit with yourself?

38:00 Outro – Learning to be present without noise

🎥 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

This week, we’re diving into a topic we’ve both wrestled with — body image. Dan opens up about his long history with body insecurities, unhealthy dieting, and how a childhood comment stuck with him for years. Marcel reflects on his own struggles with feeling too skinny and how the desire for external validation shaped his early fitness habits. We unpack how body image affects not just how we look, but how we feel, and why doing things for yourself is the key to healing.Whether you've felt too small, too big, or just “not enough,” this episode is for you.In this episode:Why face yoga might (or might not) be worth your moneyChildhood memories that shape adult insecuritiesThe hidden reasons behind extreme dieting and over-exercisingHow male body image issues often go unspokenWhy working out for yourself is the real game changerBuilding a body-positive mindset through self-compassionDisclaimer:This podcast reflects personal experiences and opinions and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. If you're struggling, consider reaching out to a licensed therapist or counselor.

🕐 Timestamps:
00:00 Intro – Face yoga + body image preview02:50 Why Dan wanted to tackle this topic06:00 Marcel’s new morning routine shift09:40 Why men rarely discuss body image18:00 Dan’s pool party memory that changed everything22:00 Marcel’s “too skinny” story and validation trap26:50 Psychoanalyzing our younger selves31:30 Why trauma lingers silently35:00 Are you working out for yourself or others?37:10 The trap of turning insecurities into motivation39:00 Food, comfort, and the emotional side of body image45:00 Why quiet moments reveal hidden stressors47:20 Beauty standards, self-acceptance, and final takeaways

🎥 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

This week on I'm Trying, Dude, Marcel and Daniel dive into the moments that tested their moral compass — from small things they got away with as kids to the deeper question: are we actually good people? They swap stories about books that shifted their perspective, movement and recovery journeys, and share a hilarious moment involving running, falling, and friendship.
Tune in for laughs, reflections, and the kind of honest conversations that leave you thinking long after the episode ends.

🕐 Timestamps:

00:00Intro – Literature, Moral Compass, and Lunatic Energy

02:00Marcel’s Discovery: The Need for Fuel & Recovery

03:30Reading a Book in a Day – Veronika Decides to Die

07:00Reflection on Life, Death, and Madness

08:30Dan’s Reading Struggles and Audiobook Adventures

12:30The Fantasy Audiobook Mishap (Spicy Audiobooks in Public)

15:00Dan’s Running Fall and the Art of Laughing at Yourself

17:00Lessons from Embarrassment and Friendship

19:00Moral Compass Check – Subway Jumping & Chipotle Hot Sauce

23:30Dan’s Wild Story: Paintball Drive-By (Christmas Chaos)

30:00Marcel’s Reflection on Cheating and Weakness in Relationships

37:00Wrap Up – Growth, Understanding, and Owning Your Actions

🎥 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

We're back! Season 3 of I’m Trying, Dude kicks off with a deep dive into courage—what it means to show up, to try something new, to speak up, or to just sit with someone who's hurting.

From running marathons to asking for tea on a flight (yes, really), Marcel and Dan unpack why even the smallest decisions can take courage. We also talk about burnout, acting class breakthroughs, creative doubts, emotional expression, and our eternal quest for purpose.

If you're feeling stuck, inspired, lost, or just trying your best—this one’s for you.

💭 Topics in this episode:
– Courage in the mundane and extraordinary– Marcel’s marathon and injury aftermath– Dan’s acting class and emotional unlearning– Creative doubt vs. creative purpose– Being seen, asking for help, and saying no– Breathwork, Bashar, and bedtime intuition

🕐 Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome back!

3:12 – Marcel's marathon moment

8:40 – Dan’s acting breakthrough

12:55 – Creative work vs real impact

21:00 – The “AI therapy” idea

26:10 – Big dreams & new paths

39:15 – Ask for what you need

46:45 – Courage in small decisions

🎥 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