Breaking Down Men

Breaking Down Men

By Jay Thomas, Jim HillearyComedySociety & CultureHealth & Fitness
Download on the App Store

Breaking Down Men episodes

  • The One About Christianity’s Irredeemable Sexism
    Which came first Christianity or Patriarchy? How has the church propped up inequality? Is the bible hopelessly infected with male superiority? Jim & Jay discuss these and other questions about role of religion in promoting sexism. The guys also chat about the middle-class satisfaction of golf, the moral dilemma of My Pillows, and how Rupert Murdoch is like Mr. Burns. Plus, they pick their favorite articles of clothing and explain why pajamas are better when they DO catch on fire.
    59 min
  • The One About How Scary Men Are
    Many people who are not men, are afraid of men. And they have good reasons. This week, Jim & Jay discuss why men are scary and how they can respond to the fear they provoke. Also, Jay shares his love of acoustic guitars and harmony while Jim pays tribute a Savannah hero everyone should know. Plus, the guys pick their favorite sit-com moms, debate Jim’s new baseball team, and shit on vile racist John C. Calhoun (seriously, fuck that guy).
    1 hr 14 min
  • The One About Male Friendship

    Why is it so hard for men to make and keep friends? Will better friendships really make men happier and healthier? Recording in-person for the first time, Jim & Jay discuss men’s “friendship recession.” The guys also note how close Jay came to being Ryan Gosling, scoff at calls for decorum, and pick the best “readily available” cuisines. Plus, Jim advocates for Russian dressing, even during a war, and Jay contends life is worth living mostly because of carbs. 

     

    Links to articles mentioned in the show. Plus, after we recorded, the Surgeon General said loneliness is worse for you than smoking.

    https://apnews.com/article/surgeon-general-loneliness-334450f7bb5a77e88d8085b178340e19

    https://www.americansurveycenter.org/commentary/american-men-suffer-a-friendship-recession/

    https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/23323556/men-friendship-loneliness-isolation-masculinity

    https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/28/well/family/male-friendship-loneliness.html

    https://www.chefspencil.com/most-popular-ethnic-cuisines-in-america/

    59 min
  • The One About Shame
    Jim opens up about a new phase in his marriage and the pain of facing past failures, while Jay shares conflicted feelings about work. The guys discuss how debilitating shame can be, the role of competition in male relationships, and one decent insight from a 1990s relationship book. Also, Jim cheats at Encyclopedia Brown books, Jay rants about the misnaming of monkey bars, and everyone’s favorite childhood books reveal surprising insights.
    57 min
  • The One About The Patriarchy
    If we live in a patriarchy, and patriarchy privileges men over women, then why are so many men breaking down? Jim & Jay dive into this conundrum and discuss the many ways patriarchy sucks for everyone. The guys also chat about the weather, Jay’s thwarted love of dance, and the majesty of Caitlin Clark. Plus, Jim advocates for an “attitude of gratitude” (but is he being serious or ironic?) and Jay claims the best baseball player ever is overrated.
    1 hr 1 min
  • The One About Body Image For Men
    In the 1980s, only action heroes had crazy muscles, now everyone has to look like an action hero (even philosophy professors). In this episode, Jim & Jay “marvel” at the increased body image pressure faced by men, and the toll it takes on men’s physical and mental health. The guys also share childhood experiences that taught them about masculinity, shout out their favorite anti-drug commercial, and pick their favorite imaginary creatures of diminutive size. Plus, Jay reflects on protesting against Atlanta’s “Cop City,” while Jim notes the value of clever branding in social justice movements.
    52 min
  • The One About Women You, You Oughta Know
    Do you know the brilliant work of Mileva Marić? Zelda Fitzgerald? Marcia Lucas? How about Albert Einstein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and George Lucas? Hmmmm, I wonder why some of those people are more familiar? This week, Jim & Jay talk about women you’ve never heard of who collaborated with men who are household names, and muse over whether intellectual theft is an essential quality of masculinity. They also ask if billionaires should give up philanthropy in favor of paying taxes, and argue over which Disney Princess rules them all. Plus, Jay badmouths the most successful animated movie in history, Jim proclaims we should all be in therapy, and everyone craps on Jar Jar Binks.
    56 min
  • The One Where Jay Rants about Misogyny
    If you like hearing men give off-the-cuff rants about the inequality faced by women, this one’s for you! Jim & Jay continue their conversation about the dos and don’ts of manhood, delving into men’s drive to show strength through violence and the limitations placed on men’s expression of emotion. Meanwhile, Jim shares a life lesson from the poker table, Jay proposes edits to romantic comedy movies, and someone’s picks for best Kevin Bacon movies raise intriguing questions about childhood trauma.
    55 min
  • The One That Forced Us to Feel Something
    Jim & Jay discuss the dos and don’ts of manhood and share personal experiences about the drive for achievement, falling short of expectations, and what 80s movies taught them about the desperate need to get laid. Also, Jay opens up about how he handles rejection as a writer, and Jim reflects on the life of Jimmy Carter while recalling a personal encounter with the former president. The guys close the episode by picking their favorite terrifying weather events, and revealing which formerly Christian nation is punished by God with 75% of the world's tornadoes.
    52 min
  • The One Where We Introduce Ourselves
    Who are these two random guys and why should you listen to anything they have to say? Find out in this slightly-shorter-than-normal intro/teaser/aperitif episode. Jim & Jay explain why they decided to start a podcast about masculinity and what they hope to bring to the conversation, even though they are definitely NOT experts. They also discuss how long they have been friends, why this show is laced with 80s references, and the importance of not kink shaming people who enjoy overhearing their roommates having sex.
    25 min

About Breaking Down Men

From the publisher's feed

Men are breaking down. The Breaking Down Men podcast asks why? And what can be done about it? Long-time friends Jim & Jay (a therapist and a comedian) explore manliness and masculinity in conversations that are sometimes informative, often humorous, and always interesting.