The Meaning of Men
What does it really mean to be a man in today’s world? With shifting expectations and growing pressures, many men are asking deep, personal questions about their identity, purpose, and value. The Meaning of Men is here to explore those questions with you and shine a light on mens mental health. From the complexities of masculinity, the role of fatherhood, maintaining meaningful friendships, and the impact of human evolution, we tackle the areas that shape the experience of being a man today. But this show isn’t just for men. If you’re a mother, wife, partner or friend and want to help a man in your life, this podcast is just as much for you. Through expert insights, heartfelt stories, and honest, raw conversations, The Meaning of Men provides a roadmap for navigating the highs and lows of manhood so you can show up as your best self in every area of life. Because we all can help expand what it means to be a man.
Episodes
What do you do when the life you’ve built suddenly disappears?
In this episode of The Meaning of Men we're joined by Adam Clayton, a former professional rugby player whose career was cut short by injury at 24. In the years that followed, Adam struggled with steroid addiction, a loss of identity, and the search for purpose. But hitting rock bottom became the start of something special.
Adam now runs APEX Everest, a powerful communi...
What does it really take to build a strong and healthy romantic relationship as a modern man?
In this episode of The Meaning of Men we're joined by Kristal DeSantis, a marriage and family therapist and author of Strong: A Relationship Field Guide for the Modern Man. We talk about the unspoken pressures men face in relationships, why many feel unequipped for emotional intimacy, and how to start building new relational skills from th...
Are we obsessing over sleep in all the wrong ways?
In this episode of The Meaning of Men, renowned neurologist and sleep expert Dr. Chris Winter unpacks the powerful connection between sleep and mental health.
Dr. Winter challenges the myth that some people “just can’t sleep,” and reveals why our obsession with perfect rest may be doing more harm than good.
We explore why falling asleep too quickly might be a red flag, how poor sle...
What happens when society defines you by your illness, but you decide to define yourself?
In this episode of The Meaning of Men we're joined by Kody Green, one of the most powerful voices speaking out about schizophrenia online today.
Diagnosed at 21, Kody’s story is one of profound struggle and remarkable transformation. He opens up about what it’s really like to live with schizophrenia—from hallucinations and delusions to the cru...
What if healing isn’t just about fixing your mind—but learning to listen to your body as well?
In this episode of The Meaning of Men we're joined by trauma-informed somatic coach Brad Golphenee to unpack how men can reconnect with themselves through the body.
Brad has spent nearly two decades helping men move from emotional disconnection to embodied self-awareness through the power of somatic healing.
He shares how unresolved tra...
What if the first step toward healing isn’t talking—but writing?
In this episode of The Meaning of Men we're joined by poet and author Drew Horner to explore how creative outlets can be a lifeline for men struggling to open up.
Drew shares how poetry helped him navigate grief, anxiety, and emotional isolation during the pandemic—and how writing became a form of therapy when words felt too hard to speak aloud. Through personal stori...
With nearly two-thirds of young men following masculinity influencers, isn’t it time we asked why?
In this episode, we welcome back to the show Dr. Krista Fisher from Movember. We unpack Movember's latest research into how digital spaces are shaping the health, relationships, and identity of young men.
The report, Young Men's Health in a Digital Age, explores the influence of online content creators — particularly those focused on ...
What does true gender equality in the home really look like—and how does it impact men's mental health?
In this episode of The Meaning of Men Kate Mangino, gender expert and author of Equal Partners, discusses the crucial link between domestic roles and men's health.
We explore how traditional expectations - like being the breadwinner, the problem-solver, or the “strong, silent type” - can silently chip away at men’s emotional resi...
What does it really take to raise boys into good men in today’s world?
In this episode of The Meaning of Men Andrew Reiner—author of Better Boys, Better Men, discusses the evolving landscape of masculinity and what young men are up against today.
We dive into why so many boys are struggling in school, withdrawing emotionally, and falling behind—not just academically, but socially and mentally. Andrew shares powerful insights on “th...
Why does rejection affect us so deeply—and what can we do about it?
In this episode of The Meaning of Men, professor of psychology Mark Leary uncovers the powerful role rejection plays in our lives. Drawing from decades of research, Mark explains how our sensitivity to rejection is deeply rooted in our evolutionary need to belong—and why that need still shapes our behaviour today.
We explore how rejection impacts self-esteem, relat...
We all love to laugh! But have you ever stopped to think how humour can be used more consciously to help build resilience, cope with stress, and improve your relationships?
In this episode of The Meaning of Men, comedian, author and humour strategist Paul Osincup explains how humour can be used as deliberately as things like yoga and meditation to improve our physical and mental health.
We explore the science and psychology behind...
For the first episode of Season 2 of The Meaning of Men, we’re tackling a topic that’s shaping our lives in ways we don’t even realise—dopamine.
Dopamine plays a crucial role in how we think, feel, and behave. You’ve probably heard people talk about “dopamine hits” when scrolling through social media or chasing that next big achievement. But what is dopamine really? And how does it influence everything from our motivation to our me...
We'll be launching Season 2 on Tuesday 25th March. Stay tuned!
In the Season 1 Finale of The Meaning of Men, Rachel Duncan shares the harrowing story of her nephew, James Bascoe Smith, who survived a brutal knife attack in Brixton in 2021. Once a talented gymnast and aspiring music producer, James was left with life-altering injuries after being stabbed multiple times in a case of mistaken identity. Rachel details the emotional trauma, the court case that followed, and the ongoing struggle o...
Is anxiety in men being fundamentally misunderstood? In this episode of The Meaning of Men Dr Krista Fisher, research fellow at Movember, unpacks how anxiety shows up differently in men—and why that often leads to it being overlooked.
Dr Krista shares groundbreaking insights from her research, revealing that men often express anxiety through physical symptoms rather than emotional distress. We also discuss how deeply ingrained idea...
For this weeks reflections session, we look back at our conversation with psychotherapist Aaron Balick who discussed how social media algorithms can impact our view of the world, our sense of identity and ultimately our mental health.
What happens when the thing that defines you is suddenly taken away?
In this episode of The Meaning of Men, ex professional MMA fighter Kojo Lewis shares the untold side of combat sports—the fear, the self-doubt, and the struggle to find purpose beyond the fight. From a chaotic upbringing to the highs of professional competition, Kojo used martial arts as a way to prove his worth. But when injuries forced him to retire, he was left...
For this weeks reflections session we look back at our conversation with Tom Bailey, who shared his experience of suffering postnatal depression after the birth of his son.
More men in the UK struggle with a porn addiction than a gambling addiction. But with such a heavy stigma attached, it remains a largely hidden and unspoken issue.
In this episode of The Meaning of Men, leading sexual and relationship psychotherapist Dr Paula Hall dives into the impact of porn addiction on men’s mental health. She breaks down how compulsive porn use can become a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, and even depr...
For this weeks reflections session we look back at our conversation with Dr Judy Chu, an expert in boys and men.
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