What if the content shaping men online is helping them and hurting them at the same time?

In this episode of This Triggers Me, a sociologist focused on masculinity and a psychologist specializing in therapy for men unpack the tension between growth and harm in male targeted spaces online.

They explore the pull of the manosphere, why its messaging resonates with boys and men, and how it intersects with men’s mental health and men’s wellbeing. They also get personal, diving into the challenges of showing up imperfectly, people pleasing, and what it means to model more honest, grounded conversations.

Key takeaways:

• How people pleasing and fear of imperfection can show up when talking about men’s mental health
• What the manosphere is (and why it’s more nuanced than people think)
• The difference between “on ramp” content (fitness, discipline) and more rigid or harmful ideologies
• How algorithms expose boys and men to increasingly extreme content over time
• Why black and white advice and confidence are so appealing in masculinity spaces
• The link between rigid “man box” norms and men’s poorer wellbeing, including higher suicide risk
• Why purpose and optimism can increase even within restrictive frameworks
• The need for better, healthier messaging around men’s therapy and emotional development
• A practical framework for modern masculinity: “build safety, show up, give a damn”
• How therapy for men can offer a grounded alternative to the noise and a space to build real emotional strength

Connect with us

Email- thistriggersmepodcast@gmail.com

Social media- https://www.instagram.com/dr.audra.horney/

https://www.instagram.com/re.masculine/

https://www.instagram.com/thistriggersmepod/

https://www.tiktok.com/@thistriggersmepod

Dr Audra’s Directory of Therapists for Men: www.draudra.com

Podcast post-production: Stacy Blackburn

Why has the phrase “toxic masculinity” become so triggering?

In this episode of This Triggers Me, Dr Audra Horney (a therapist for men) and Dr. Brendan K. Hartman (a sociologist who researches the emotional well being of boys) unpack why “toxic masculinity” is such a loaded and often counterproductive term. They explore how masculinity itself isn’t the problem, but how restrictive, rigid expectations can negatively impact men’s wellbeing, relationships, and emotional lives. Through cultural, psychological, and relational lenses, they reframe masculinity as something complex capable of both harm and growth.

Key takeaways:

• Why the term “toxic masculinity” often triggers defensiveness and derails meaningful dialogue
• The difference between masculinity and restrictive masculinity
• How emotional suppression, hyper-independence, and dominance impact men’s mental health
• Three lenses of masculinity: biological, social, and spiritual
• How cultural definitions of masculinity evolve over time (e.g., cowboys, provider/protector roles)
• The concept of “threatened masculinity” and how men respond when identity feels challenged
• How emotional intelligence (like RULER skills) can help men
• The importance of community, connection, and a healthier relationship with power
• How masculinity can be both empowering and harmful and why owning that complexity matters

Connect with us

Email- thistriggersmepodcast@gmail.com

Social media- https://www.instagram.com/dr.audra.horney/

Looking for a therapist for men? Visit Dr. Audra's global directory: www.draudra.com"

https://www.instagram.com/re.masculine/

https://www.instagram.com/thistriggersmepod/

https://www.tiktok.com/@thistriggersmepod

Podcast post-production credit to Stacy Blackburn

Is empathy for men dangerous or is the real danger what happens when empathy is withheld?

In this episode of This Triggers Me, a psychologist specialized in therapy for men and a sociologist focused on men and boy’s wellbeing take on one of the most polarizing questions about gender dynamics. They explore the tension between empathy and accountability, challenge the fear that supporting men’s mental health enables harm, and unpack how dehumanization fuels division. Through real life examples and psychological frameworks, they examine what it actually looks like to hold both compassion and responsibility at the same time.

Key takeaways:

• Why empathy for men is often seen as controversial
• The difference between empathy and excusing harmful behavior
• How dehumanization (not empathy) is what drives anger and division
• The “trauma triangle” (victim, villain, hero) and how it shows up in conflict
• How triggers and shame keep people stuck in reactive roles
• The impact of polarization in conversations around the male loneliness epidemic and men’s mental health
• Common themes in men’s therapy, including self loathing and difficulty with self compassion
• Why many men deeply want emotional closeness but struggle to access it
• How validating and witnessing pain can reduce defensiveness, anger, and disconnection

Connect with us

Email- thistriggersmepodcast@gmail.com

Social media- https://www.instagram.com/dr.audra.horney/

Looking for a therapist for men? Visit Dr. Audra's global directory: www.draudra.com"

https://www.instagram.com/re.masculine/

https://www.instagram.com/thistriggersmepod/

https://www.tiktok.com/@thistriggersmepod

Podcast post-production credit to Stacy Blackburn