Podcast Summary: The Determined Society with Shawn French

Episode: How Jeffrey Delaney Is Rewriting the Rules of Men’s Health

Date: November 17, 2025
Host: Shawn French
Guest: Jeff Delaney, Founder of T Clinic and New Viva

Episode Overview

In this deeply candid and practical episode, Shawn French invites men’s health expert Jeff Delaney to discuss how modern men can reclaim their physical and mental health—rewriting mainstream narratives around masculinity, fitness, hormones, and well-being. The conversation delves into personal transformation, the vital role of hormone balance, the dangers of fitness misinformation, the impact of community and accountability, and the challenges men face in today’s shifting cultural landscape. The duo also tackle the nuanced use of medications like GLP-1s (Ozempic, Wegovy), and even address the evolution of women's hormone therapy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Intersection of Physical and Mental Health

• Shawn’s Personal Journey (02:08–06:12)
  Shawn shares his lowest points—feeling withdrawn, unable to engage because of mental and physical malaise. He credits Jeff’s clinics with helping him “wake up” mentally and emotionally by prioritizing nutrition, hormone therapy, and consistent routines.

  • Quote:
    “I was literally on the couch in a blanket, hiding from the world.” —Shawn [01:28]
    “The moment I started implementing that routine, my mind woke up. I became less angry.” —Shawn [06:12]

• Hormones as an Anchor (07:54–10:08)
  Jeff stresses that declining testosterone and hormone imbalances are major contributors to low motivation, increased stress, even cognitive fog for men as they age. Balanced hormone therapy can have a “positive cascade effect.”

  • Quote:
    “Hormones is probably the biggest anchor in the water for a lot of people...it kind of halts the deterioration process.” —Jeff Delaney [07:54]

Navigating Fitness & Nutrition Confusion

• Information Overload and Starting Small (10:08–14:23)
  The internet is rife with conflicting advice. Both agree incremental change—not radical overhauls—is the key to lasting progress.

  • Jeff’s Approach:

    • Focus first on nutrition over everything (80% of results)
    • Stack “small wins” instead of going “all in” and burning out
    • Find a resource/provider with consistent, science-based messaging

  • Quote:
    “I hate when someone goes all in overnight. Let’s look at the food…80% is nutrition. Stack small little wins.” —Jeff Delaney [11:49]

• Protein, Cravings, & Real-Life Struggles (16:12–19:47)
  Practical tips for dealing with cravings include always eating enough protein during the day and not allowing yourself to get to the “eff it” hunger point.

  • Quote:
    “One of the best and easiest things you could do is never let yourself get to the ‘eff it’ point when it comes to hunger…have consistent meals.” —Jeff Delaney [17:16]

• Low-Carb, Carnivore, and Individualization (17:41–21:22)
  Both men found “modified carnivore” high-protein, high-fat diets energizing, but Jeff cautions that needs are individual, and the average person benefits from low carbs unless very active athletically.

The Role of Accountability, Consistency, and Community

• Consistency Over Perfection (21:00–32:43)
  Both stress that life is seasonal; balance is impossible, but consistency is achievable by tailoring expectations and schedules. Jeff suggests men stop self-flagellating for missed workouts and restructure routines around real life.

  • Quote:
    “You restructure that plan so it fits your life and current schedule. Once you get past that season, you readjust.” —Jeff Delaney [04:59]

• Power of Community (03:04, 49:00–51:03)
  Shawn emphasizes the accountability and non-judgmental environment of T Clinic and New Viva, affirming that the communal aspect sustains motivation and produces results.

  • Quote:
    *“It’s a community…every time I would come in, it was like, ‘Damn, you look different than you did last week!’ —Shawn [49:00]

Men, Masculinity, and Modern Cultural Pressures

• Loneliness, Withdrawal, Toxic Masculinity (23:51–28:53)
  The discussion draws on current literature (e.g., Notes on Being a Man) and media narratives around “toxic masculinity.” Jeff and Shawn agree that traditional roles are misunderstood—men need connected relationships and positive self-image. When withdrawn, men often turn to vices.

  • Quote:
    “Guys, we need positive reinforcement or positive affirmations...without it, we go in our little hole and become a hermit.” —Jeff Delaney [25:40]
    “Normal masculinity has been coined as toxic masculinity…getting back to fundamentals is almost a must.” —Jeff Delaney [26:04, 28:22]

• Family Impact When Men Aren't Okay (26:54–29:52)
  If the man’s stability falters, the marriage and children suffer—a point they both see as under-addressed.

  • Quote:
    “If the man is not okay, the family struggles. The kids, the wife. I believe that.” —Shawn [26:54]

Scheduling, Guilt, and Sustainable Routines

• Optimizing Workouts and Family Life (30:07–34:03)
  They discuss the importance of fitting training into real schedules—sometimes by working out very early, sometimes by including children in activities.

• Self-Comparison & Running Your Own Race (51:03–52:26)
  Addressing the toxic nature of social comparison, Jeff recommends individualized goal-setting.

  • Quote:
    “Comparison will crush your happiness. Run your own race…Let’s set goals per you and stack wins.” —Jeff Delaney [51:03]

GLP-1s (Ozempic, Wegovy) & Peptide Therapies: Myths and Realities

• GLP-1 Cautions & Benefits (34:03–40:48)
  Jeff provides a masterclass on semaglutide, tirzepatide, and other GLP-1 medications. He warns that:

  • They aid most when paired with the right nutrition and exercise

  • “Poisons in the portion”—overdosing/using without lifestyle leads to muscle loss, metabolic slowdown, and rebound weight gain

  • Proper medical supervision is essential

  • Quote:
    “The poison’s in the portion with that stuff. It just enabled them to starve…they’re malnourished, lost a lot of muscle, metabolism’s in the dirt. When they stop, they rebound.” —Jeff Delaney [37:10]

  • Memorable Moment:
    Shawn jokes about “Ozempic ass,” highlighting the importance of muscle preservation and confidence, not just weight loss. [40:31]

Women’s Hormone Therapy: New Opportunities

• FDA Removes Warnings, Shifting the Narrative (41:16–45:03)
  Jeff is cautiously optimistic about hormone therapy for women, emphasizing it must be individualized and carefully managed—but removing the “demonization” is a step forward.

  • Quote:
    “You not managing your hormones is worse than you managing them and keeping them homeostatic.” —Jeff Delaney [42:04]

• Across Genders, Hormones Are Often the Hidden Anchor (45:03–47:03)
  Both men and women often experience profound malaise or dysfunction before lab values reflect “clinical deficiency”; individualized care is essential.

Measurement, Progress, and Setting Realistic Goals

• Measurement Tools & The DEXA Debate (52:26–56:19)
  The duo discuss the differences between caliper, impedance, and DEXA scans for body fat, agreeing that measurement tools are best used to track progress, not as a personal “truth.” Setting mini-goals and focusing on muscle gain & fat loss over metrics keeps motivation intact.

  • Quote:
    “Whatever device or tool we’re going to use, let’s stay consistent and work off that.” —Jeff Delaney [56:19]

Notable Quotes & Highlights

• On mental health and movement:
  “One of the best antidepressants you could ever do is physical movement.” —Jeff Delaney [21:38]

• On the domino effect of self-criticism:
  “A lot of guys…try to put an unrealistic plan to their schedule. When they don’t hit it, they almost beat themselves up. That makes things worse.” —Jeff Delaney [30:32]

• On the foundation of change:
  “The vehicle is going to be the food. It’s forever going to be the food.” —Jeff Delaney [39:07]

• On building back after setbacks:
  “For the guy struggling…you look good, and you’re the goal. But what matters is how you feel and what you can do to move yourself forward every single day.” —Shawn [49:44]

Segment Timestamps

• 00:00–01:15 — Shawn’s vulnerability & mental state before getting help
• 02:08–06:12 — The initial impact of hormone and nutrition interventions
• 07:54–10:08 — Hormones, aging, and motivation
• 10:08–14:23 — Nutrition confusion, information overload, and starting strategies
• 16:12–19:47 — Managing cravings, protein, and evening pitfalls
• 21:38–23:51 — The power of daily movement and the “four pillars” of health
• 23:51–28:53 — Men’s cultural pressures, the need for positive relationships, and impact on families
• 29:52–34:03 — Scheduling workouts, guilt, parenting, and real-world integration
• 34:03–40:48 — GLP-1s: what people get wrong, risks, and the right way to use them
• 41:16–47:03 — Women’s hormone therapy, myths, and new research
• 52:26–56:19 — Body composition tracking, calipers vs DEXA, and healthy mindset

Episode Tone & Takeaways

This conversation is equal parts raw, relatable, and instructive—embracing humor and candor while never losing sight of the bigger picture. Both Shawn and Jeff champion an empathetic, incremental, and science-rooted approach to health that’s sensitive to the realities men and families face. Their message:
Lasting change isn’t about chasing perfection, but about stacking small wins, seeking support, and returning to foundational routines—and that self-care is vital, not selfish, for the health of everyone around you.

If you’re feeling stuck, confused by conflicting advice, or tired of “all or nothing” thinking—this episode delivers real-deal wisdom on how to move forward, both inside and out.