Episode #64: Healing Through Connection with Duey Freeman
Episode Intro
In this episode of the Miles Ahead Podcast, Miles is joined by Duey Freeman for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation about grief, masculinity, attachment, and healing. Miles opens up about being MIA and moving through a difficult personal season, creating space for an honest dialogue about loss, fragmentation, and the need for meaningful connection.
Together, Miles and Duey explore attachment theory, father wounds, addiction, and the importance of relational contact in emotional healing. The conversation weaves through Duey’s work with horses, the therapeutic power of movement and embodiment, and the growing crisis of male loneliness, emphasizing that healing is not linear, fixed, or performative, but fluid, relational, and rooted in contact.
Key Moments & Timestamps
00:00 — Introduction and Personal Struggles
Miles shares about stepping away and navigating a challenging personal period.
03:03 — The Impact of Loss and Grief
An exploration of grief as an expression of love rather than something to overcome.
05:53 — Father Wounds and Male Mentorship
Discussion on the role of male figures in shaping attachment, safety, and healing.
08:44 — Attachment Theory and Its Evolution
How attachment theory has expanded beyond static categories into something more fluid.
11:48 — Fragmented vs. Integrated Attachment
The difference between disconnection and wholeness in relationships.
14:16 — Addiction and the Need for Contact
How addiction often reflects unmet needs for connection and predictability.
16:57 — The Role of Food, Touch, and Movement
Why embodied experiences matter in emotional regulation and healing.
20:03 — Fluidity in Attachment and Relationships
Attachment as something dynamic rather than fixed or broken.
35:47 — The Importance of Relational Contact
Why healing requires real contact, not just insight or coping strategies.
43:04 — Connecting with Horses as Therapy
How horses model presence, boundaries, and attunement in powerful ways.
45:12 — Understanding Horse Behavior and Communication
What humans can learn from the nonverbal language of animals.
01:10:10 — Masculinity and Therapy
Challenges men face in therapeutic spaces and why many struggle to engage.
01:14:00 — The Crisis of Male Therapists
A look at the shortage of male role models and healers in mental health spaces.
01:23:00 — Isolation and Mental Health in Men
The growing epidemic of male loneliness and disconnection.
01:25:50 — Healthy Masculinity and Connection
Reimagining masculinity through vulnerability, presence, and relationship.
How to Connect with Duey Freeman
To learn more about Duey’s work and community spaces:
Website: https://www.dueyfreeman.com
Instagram: @dueyfreeman
Work With Me
If this conversation resonated with you, particularly themes around grief, attachment, masculinity, addiction, or relational healing, my counseling and coaching services are designed to support individuals navigating these exact experiences.
I work with clients on:
Attachment and relational patterns
Grief and life transitions
Men’s mental health and emotional depth
Nervous system regulation and embodiment
Explore counseling and coaching services or schedule your free 15 minute consult here.