Gentle Man

It’s official – men are in a loneliness epidemic. Equimundo recently published its “State Of American Men 2023” report, showcasing some alarming statistics related to men’s social and mental health. Some of the most striking statistics:  40% of all men show depressive symptoms; 44% of all men had thoughts of suicide in the prior two weeks; 65% of men aged 18 to 23 say that “no one really knows me well” ;  48% say their online lives are more engaging and rewarding than their offline lives ; and almost 30% of younger men reported not spending time with someone outside their household in the past week. Find the full report here: https://www.equimundo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/STATE-OF-AMERICAN-MEN-2023.pdf [https://www.equimundo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/STATE-OF-AMERICAN-MEN-2023.pdf] There are so many reasons for this, some of which are covered in the episode: men are lacking the soft skills (relational skills) that would help them build social infrastructures that support their wellbeing. Today’s discussion covers how this hurts men, especially when things take a turn for the worse in their lives, and how men can proactively address this. Men need to get better at finding and growing emotionally deep and resilient relationships. -- This episode references a previous episode, "Men's Groups - Why They're Critical to Everyone's Wellbeing". Listen to that here: https://pod.fo/e/20ec84 -- Follow Gentle Man on other platforms: https://www.instagram.com/gentlemanpodcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQdEk0mgyXDsql7PPyqUQA https://www.tiktok.com/@gentlemanpodcast https://gentlemanpodcast.org/ #boys #men #manhood #masculinity #feminism #maleviolence

Gentle Man is proud this week to host a longtime collaborator, Robin Nelson. Robin is a podcaster and lifelong enjoyer of videogames. We discuss videogames and their role (if any) in perpetuating real-life violence. We examine how gaming intersected our other childhood influences and the role it plays in our adult lives. Robin also explores gun ownership and how gaming fostered that interest in him. This conversation is a critical meditation on the role that outside and media influences play on male violence. -- Follow Gentle Man on other platforms: https://www.instagram.com/gentlemanpodcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQdEk0mgyXDsql7PPyqUQA https://www.tiktok.com/@gentlemanpodcast https://gentlemanpodcast.org/ #boys #men #manhood #masculinity #feminism #maleviolence

Today I’m thrilled to share my conversation with Shura Eagen, MS, LPC. Shura is a licensed therapist who works with men on a daily basis in a number of applied modalities. I invited her on the show to talk about the common issues she sees coming up for the men she works with. We discuss how men often experience unknown emotions as “anxiety”, and that befriending the sensations - rather than fixing them - is the way forward. We discuss the dynamics of partners in the home, dating in the age of digital loneliness, and raising children with more opportunity to play and find their self expression. -- Shura Eagen has a master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis in Somatic Psychology through Prescott College. She has completed advanced training in trauma-informed Hakomi Mindfulness-based Somatic Psychotherapy and Experiential Attachment Psychotherapy through the M.E.T.A. Institute in Portland, OR. In 2020, she became a level I AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) therapist, and her current focus in working with her clients is breathwork. Find Shura and learn more about her offerings at https://www.luminousheartwellness.org/ [https://www.luminousheartwellness.org/] -- Follow Gentle Man on other platforms: https://www.instagram.com/gentlemanpodcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQdEk0mgyXDsql7PPyqUQA https://www.tiktok.com/@gentlemanpodcast https://gentlemanpodcast.org/ #boys #men #manhood #masculinity #feminism #maleviolence

Today we are discussing the (what should be) controversial topic of male polarity. This is a theory popularized by David Deida that states that masculine and feminine energies must be balanced and opposite to create attraction between people. In his book "The Way of the Superior Man" and through his teachings, David outlines how people can improve their relationships and their sex lives by adhering to the behavioral guidelines of the polarity they're trying to achieve. In this episode we cover why these teachings are problematic and how they are essentially a New Age repackaging of old patriarchal ideals. We also cover alternate teachings and theories that provide much more useful and realistic blueprints for people trying to grow or preserve intimacy in their relationships. -- Esther Perel's article "In Long-Term Relationships, When Do You Find Yourself Most Drawn to Your Partner?" https://www.estherperel.com/blog/when-are-you-drawn-to-your-partner-in-long-term-relationships -- Follow Gentle Man on other platforms: https://www.instagram.com/gentlemanpodcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQdEk0mgyXDsql7PPyqUQA https://www.tiktok.com/@gentlemanpodcast https://gentlemanpodcast.org/ #boys #men #manhood #masculinity #feminism #maleviolence

The rigidness of expectation on male behavior from our culture is mirrored in the rigidness in the bodies of men. We internalize messages about how we’re supposed to hold ourselves and act, and these messages literally shape our bodies. It can take a lifetime to assess and address the implications of this. When we are held back from expressing our authentic desires, we restrict the flow of our life’s force. When we allow social expectations to limit our behavior, we stifle vital parts of ourselves. This episode identifies areas in which this commonly happens for men and outlines strategies for giving ourselves more freedom. -- Follow Gentle Man on other platforms: https://www.instagram.com/gentlemanpodcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQdEk0mgyXDsql7PPyqUQA https://www.tiktok.com/@gentlemanpodcast https://gentlemanpodcast.org/ #boys #men #manhood #masculinity #feminism #maleviolence