The Masking Tapes

Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe

The Masking Tapes, hosted by Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe, dives into the rapidly shifting changes to gender norms, connections, and expectations. On this podcast, we listen to insights from everyday individuals, from fathers to sons, organizers to engineers, and those with the questions and some answers.

  1. Why Is It So Hard for Men to Make Friends? And, What Actually Works?

    25 MAR

    Why Is It So Hard for Men to Make Friends? And, What Actually Works?

    On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina is joined by Alex Vans, the founder of the ⁠Choros⁠ app and social club. Choros is the first app designed for guys to make friends. It builds real friendships through small groups, shared activities, and repeat hang outs. This episode explores men's social connections, the role of community, and approaches to building friendships. It highlights the importance of transitioning from online to offline relationships. __________ Support the pod: Follow our Instagram Subscribe to our YouTube __________ Host and Producer: Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe Sponsor: Root For Good Studio: Open Gov Hub __________ 01:36 Building Community: The Impact of Choros 02:11 The Challenges of Male Loneliness 07:01 Building the App: From Concept to Reality 09:28 User Experience: How Choros Works 12:16 The Role of Small Groups 14:35 The Friendship Recession: Understanding Loneliness 17:11 The Importance of Community and Structure 21:42 Building Deeper Connections Among Men 23:19 The Evolution of Male Friendships 25:23 The Fragility of Male Friendships 28:33 Friendship Dynamics 30:42 Navigating Vulnerability in Male Friendships 34:00 The Importance of Purposeful Gatherings 36:14 AI and the Future of Human Connection

    41 min
  2. Is Gen Z Giving Up On Love?

    23 FEB

    Is Gen Z Giving Up On Love?

    On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina is joined by Charlie Sabgir, Director of Young Men Research Project, for a research-backed conversation about the Gen Z relationship recession. Young Men Research Project is a nonprofit that researches political and social trends among young men. Sabgir writes about the changing storylines among young men today, both online and offline. The two discuss relationship trends, influencers, the #MeToo movement's impact on Gen Z, and the impact of politics on relationships Follow the Young Men Research Initiative's work at substack.com/@youngmenresearchinitiative __________ Support the pod: Follow our Instagram Subscribe to our YouTube __________ Host and Producer: Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe Sponsor: Root For Good Studio: Open Gov Hub 1:42 Challenges of Being a Young Man Today 04:12 Changing Definitions of Masculinity 07:27 The Relationship Recession Among Young Men 09:55 Expectations and Barriers in Dating 13:05 The #MeToo Movement and Relationships 17:22 Political Divides and Dating Preferences 20:27 Aspirations for Fatherhood and Relationships 23:39 The Role of AI in Modern Relationships Further Reading: Why Young Men Aren't Dating Gender Divide in Dating and Relationships Is Romance Dead for Young People Who is Clavicular? NBC Poll on Gen Z and Relationships

    34 min
  3. "We're All Getting Screwed": Unpacking the Gender Disconnect

    17/10/2025

    "We're All Getting Screwed": Unpacking the Gender Disconnect

    On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina is joined by Daryl Auguste, a key opinion leader at the intersection of culture and style, with a largely young male audience. As a stylist and content creator he’s built up a following in the streetwear world. The two discuss algorithms, meme coins, sports betting, platonic friendships and more. You can follow Daryl's work at @theinhibitionist __________ Support the pod: Contribute on ⁠Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/TheMaskingTapes Follow our Instagram Subscribe to our YouTube __________ Host and Producer: Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe Editor: JD Gorman

    34 min
  4. Are Boys Lost?

    13/09/2025

    Are Boys Lost?

    On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina is joined by Eric Mungai, the founder and CEO of Yazua Afrika, an organization dedicated to equipping young boys with the tools to become leaders. Together we discuss global approaches to the challenges facing men and boys. You can follow Eric's work at @yazua.afrika __________ Support the pod: Contribute on ⁠Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/TheMaskingTapes Follow our Instagram Subscribe to our Substack Subscribe to our YouTube __________ Host and Producer: Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe Editor: JD Gorman

    46 min
  5. Fit for Life: Kevin Curry on Health, Manhood & Entrepreneurship

    27/08/2025

    Fit for Life: Kevin Curry on Health, Manhood & Entrepreneurship

    On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina is joined by Kevin Curry, the founder of Fit Men Cook, an online community that inspires nutrition and fitness through food. Fit Men Cook, which began as a blog in 2012, has become an online community for millions. Curry has collaborated with leading brands, written a cookbook, developed a top-rated app, and appeared on a number of publications and morning shows. You can follow Kevin at @fitmencook and fitmencook.com __________ Support the pod: Contribute on ⁠Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/TheMaskingTapes Follow our Instagram Subscribe to our Substack Subscribe to our YouTube __________ Host and Producer: Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe Editor: JD Gorman

    28 min
  6. Beyond the Rubble

    19/07/2025

    Beyond the Rubble

    On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina speaks with Abdallah, a young man calling in from his tent in Gaza. The two talk about the challenges of maintaining provider and protector status, keeping a sense of hope, and boyhood amidst war. __________ Support the pod: Contribute on ⁠Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/TheMaskingTapes Follow our Instagram Subscribe to our Substack __________ Host and Producer: Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe Editor: JD Gorman

    35 min
  7. Part 2: Manhood through the Lens of Transition

    11/07/2025

    Part 2: Manhood through the Lens of Transition

    On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina sits down with Madalena and June for a conversation about trans-identity, masculinity, and friendship. __________ Support the pod: Contribute on ⁠Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/TheMaskingTapes⁠⁠⁠Follow our ⁠Instagram⁠Subscribe to our ⁠Substack⁠ Host, Producer, and Editor: Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe Music by: Soliman Aboutaam

    27 min
  8. Part 1: Manhood through the Lens of Transition

    28/06/2025

    Part 1: Manhood through the Lens of Transition

    On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina sits down with Madalena and June for a conversation about trans-identity, masculinity, and friendship. "Boyhood feels like this very narrow singular channel and then kind of stepping out of that channel into transness feels like I have like 1 million channels now and I think for me that was super overwhelming." - June __________ Support the pod: Contribute on ⁠Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/TheMaskingTapes⁠Follow our InstagramSubscribe to our Substack Host, Producer, and Editor: Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe Music by: Soliman Aboutaam

    35 min
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About

The Masking Tapes, hosted by Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe, dives into the rapidly shifting changes to gender norms, connections, and expectations. On this podcast, we listen to insights from everyday individuals, from fathers to sons, organizers to engineers, and those with the questions and some answers.

Information

  • Creator
    Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe
  • Show Website
    The Masking Tapes