when i attempt to open the file it pops up a message saying that it is damaged and can not be opened, suggesting i put it in the trash. Any ideas on whats going on? (im using a mac computer. i made sure i downloaded the one for mac os)

Yeah I know what is going on, it's not easy for me to change the app to get macOS not to do this, but you can still use the app.

The solution is to enter in the terminal:

xattr -cr “/path/to/application.app“

sorry for the awkwardness!

edit: Just to be clear, the app isn't actually damaged. But macOS considers any unverified app to be "wrong". It's ostensibly for security but it seems more like a racket to me.