Why Is It So Hard for Men to Make Friends? And, What Actually Works?

Where AI and the Manosphere Collide

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina is joined by Dr. Saed D. Hill, a Counseling Psychologist who specializes in the promotion of pro-social masculinities and violence prevention. This episode explores the allure of frictionless AI relationships, Louis Theroux's new documentary 'Inside the Manosphere,' how friction can strengthen relationships, and how AI is reshaping human dating dynamics. Watch Louis Therox: Inside the Manosphere [https://www.netflix.com/cr-en/title/81920687] on Netflix. __________ Support the pod: Follow our Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/maskingtapes.pod/] Subscribe to our YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMaskingTapes.Podcast] __________ Host and Producer: Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe Sponsor: Root For Good

Why Is It So Hard for Men to Make Friends? And, What Actually Works?

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina is joined by Alex Vans, the founder of the ⁠Choros⁠ [https://chorosapp.com/] app and social club. Choros is the first app designed for guys to make friends. It builds real friendships through small groups, shared activities, and repeat hang outs. This episode explores men's social connections, the role of community, and approaches to building friendships. It highlights the importance of transitioning from online to offline relationships. __________ Support the pod: Follow our Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/maskingtapes.pod/] Subscribe to our YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMaskingTapes.Podcast] __________ Host and Producer: Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe Sponsor: Root For Good Studio: Open Gov Hub __________ 01:36 Building Community: The Impact of Choros 02:11 The Challenges of Male Loneliness 07:01 Building the App: From Concept to Reality 09:28 User Experience: How Choros Works 12:16 The Role of Small Groups 14:35 The Friendship Recession: Understanding Loneliness 17:11 The Importance of Community and Structure 21:42 Building Deeper Connections Among Men 23:19 The Evolution of Male Friendships 25:23 The Fragility of Male Friendships 28:33 Friendship Dynamics 30:42 Navigating Vulnerability in Male Friendships 34:00 The Importance of Purposeful Gatherings 36:14 AI and the Future of Human Connection

Is Gen Z Giving Up On Love?

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina is joined by Charlie Sabgir, Director of Young Men Research Project, for a research-backed conversation about the Gen Z relationship recession. Young Men Research Project [https://www.ymrp.org/] is a nonprofit that researches political and social trends among young men. Sabgir writes about the changing storylines among young men today, both online and offline. The two discuss relationship trends, influencers, the #MeToo movement's impact on Gen Z, and the impact of politics on relationships Follow the Young Men Research Initiative's work at substack.com/@youngmenresearchinitiative [https://substack.com/@youngmenresearchinitiative] __________ Support the pod: Follow our Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/maskingtapes.pod/] Subscribe to our YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMaskingTapes.Podcast?themeRefresh=1] __________ Host and Producer: Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe Sponsor: Root For Good Studio: Open Gov Hub [https://www.opengovhub.org/] 1:42 Challenges of Being a Young Man Today 04:12 Changing Definitions of Masculinity 07:27 The Relationship Recession Among Young Men 09:55 Expectations and Barriers in Dating 13:05 The #MeToo Movement and Relationships 17:22 Political Divides and Dating Preferences 20:27 Aspirations for Fatherhood and Relationships 23:39 The Role of AI in Modern Relationships Further Reading: Why Young Men Aren't Dating [https://youngmenresearchinitiative.substack.com/p/why-young-men-arent-dating] Gender Divide in Dating and Relationships [https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/from-swiping-to-sexting-the-enduring-gender-divide-in-american-dating-and-relationships/] Is Romance Dead for Young People [https://aibm.org/commentary/is-romance-dead-for-young-people/] Who is Clavicular? [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/style/clavicular-looksmaxxing-braden-peters.html] NBC Poll on Gen Z and Relationships [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/poll-gen-zs-gender-divide-reaches-politics-views-marriage-children-suc-rcna229255]

"We're All Getting Screwed": Unpacking the Gender Disconnect

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina is joined by Daryl Auguste, a key opinion leader at the intersection of culture and style, with a largely young male audience. As a stylist and content creator he’s built up a following in the streetwear world. The two discuss algorithms, meme coins, sports betting, platonic friendships and more. You can follow Daryl's work at @theinhibitionist __________ Support the pod: Contribute on ⁠Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/TheMaskingTapes [www.patreon.com/c/TheMaskingTapes] Follow our Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/maskingtapes.pod/] Subscribe to our YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMaskingTapes.Podcast] __________ Host and Producer: Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe Editor: JD Gorman

Are Boys Lost?

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina is joined by Eric Mungai, the founder and CEO of Yazua Afrika, an organization dedicated to equipping young boys with the tools to become leaders. Together we discuss global approaches to the challenges facing men and boys. You can follow Eric's work at @yazua.afrika __________ Support the pod: Contribute on ⁠Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/TheMaskingTapes Follow our Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/maskingtapes.pod/] Subscribe to our Substack [https://substack.com/@maskingtapespod?utm_campaign=unknown&utm_medium=web] Subscribe to our YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMaskingTapes.Podcast] __________ Host and Producer: Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe Editor: JD Gorman