In episode 4, we dive into the world of modern intimacy — from awkward “birds and bees” talks to what school didn’t teach us.

We break down how pop culture and gendered expectations shape our ideas of desirability, with help from the documentary Miss Representation and Dr. Emily Nagoski's book Come Together.

Plus: navigating body counts, emotional intimacy, and queer perspectives on hookup culture. 

Whether you're figuring out your love language or wondering why men get praised for doing the bare minimum, this one's for you! 

In Part 1 of our 10-episode season on relationships, we explore how film, TV, and pop culture have shaped what men believe about masculinity and relationships.

From the frat-boy energy of American Pie and hyper-masculine bravado of Top Gun, to the emotional vulnerability in Moonlight and Love Island, we unpack how media continues to influence how men show up in relationships, often without even realizing it.

We also discuss the groundbreaking documentary Tough Guise by Jackson Katz, which explores the connection between media portrayals of men, toxic masculinity, and real-world violence.

Watch Tough Guise for free using a library or university login: (https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/tough-guise-0)

*Before we dive into our relationship series in episode 3, we had to start with the most important one: the relationship you have with yourself.*

This episode, we cold-plunge headfirst into the world of health & wellness. We break down our own wellness routines (the good, the weird, and the ugly crying) & put the internet's favorite trends to the test to decide: Wellness or Whack?

Whether you're deep in your healing era or just want your partner to stop telling you to "journal about it", this one's for you.

*Our 10-episode deep dive on relationships kicks off in episode 3, but this is where the Bro-ing Pains story begins. Keep listening*

In our very first episode, we pull back the curtain on masculinity and mental health: what we’ve unlearned, where we’ve healed, and why we started this podcast in the first place. From the outdated “man up” script to the quiet rise of men finally getting therapy, we share our own journeys and the cultural shifts reshaping what it means to be a man.

We even drop some eye-opening stats on how men are really doing (SPOILER: it’s rough out here) and why seeking support isn’t weak, it’s necessary.