In this powerful episode, Pete Hunt sits down with Nick Duffell, psychotherapist, author, and pioneer of work around boarding school trauma. They explore why so many high-achieving men with these privileged backgrounds feel emotionally stuck, the hidden impact of early survival strategies, and how intimacy becomes one of life’s greatest challenges. A raw and essential listen for men navigating midlife, relationships, and identity.

Timestamps 

 00:00 – Introduction

01:29 – Why relationships are so hard for men

04:46 – Boarding school and emotional shutdown

07:52 – The missing emotional training

11:15 – Listening as a lost skill

15:08 – Survivor roles and disconnection

22:04 – The gift of emotional energy

24:06 – The mother wound

32:00 – The child self in adult relationships

36:10 – Institutional life vs. intimacy

43:00 – The missing father figure

47:02 – Mentorship and male role models

50:00 – The impact of porn and overstimulation

53:40 – Power through vulnerability

To find out more about the private network that Pete founded for growth focused leaders, visit www.monumental.global