What are cultural stigmas around masculinity and relationships? How are stereotypes of manhood imposed on boys in adolescence? Who would you call in the middle of the night if you were sick or afraid? In our first male exclusive, we interrogate the positionality of masculinity in relation to making and maintaining friendships with other men as well as the space for vulnerability!

**Trigger warning Suicide**

Declan, a Nigerian-American, is a single young black man currently working in Baltimore at the Kennedy Krieger Institute as well as a coordinator for the Baltimore Health Department.

Nate is a newly married, young white man having worked in various Christian campus ministries is currently located in Rhode Island with sights on Seattle.

Both of these men provide nuanced insights, bringing experiences from all boy high schools, friendship through marriage, and personal anecdotes of challenges and successes navigating male relationships!

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Thank you for listening!

Links to sources below:

NPR episode on masculinity and loneliness https://www.npr.org/2019/10/11/769538697/guys-we-have-a-problem-how-american-masculinity-creates-lonely-men

Harvard Study ;  https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-80-years-harvard-study-has-been-showing-how-to-live-a-healthy-and-happy-life/

Suicide rates; https://afsp.org/suicide-statistics/