This Triggers Me

Dr Audra Horney and Dr Brendan K Hartman

This is not a safe space, it’s a real one. Hosted by Dr Audra Horney a licensed psychologist and sociologist Dr. Brendan K Hartman, this conversation driven podcast explores masculinity, gender, and emotional development by leaning into charger or triggering topics. Each episode blends psychological insight, sociological perspective, and real dialogue to unpack some of the most polarizing conversations around men today. If you’re tired of surface level takes and ready for conversations that challenge you, stretch you, and actually move you forward, this is where that work begins

Episodes

  1. 2D AGO

    Ep.5- Is Therapy For Men Safe?

    What if therapy for men isn’t always the safe, supportive space it’s made out to be? About this episode: In this episode of This Triggers Me, a sociologist and a psychologist specializing in men’s therapy unpack why conversations about men’s mental health can feel so triggering and why many men feel let down by therapy itself. They explore the gap between cultural messaging (“men just need therapy”) and the real experiences of men who report feeling dismissed, misunderstood or judged. This conversation challenges assumptions while offering a more honest look at what actually supports men’s wellbeing. Key takeaways: Why men’s mental health and therapy for men can feel triggering or unsafe for some menCommon experiences of invalidation, minimization, and dismissal in therapyThe problem with blanket statements like “all men need therapy”How the perceived feminization of therapy can create resistanceThe impact of weaponized therapy language in relationships and cultureHow masculinity norms like self-reliance shape help-seeking behaviorWhy the therapeutic relationship not techniques is the strongest predictor of successA reframing of men’s therapy as collaborative, challenging, and accountability driven (not just venting)Structural barriers: cost, lack of choice, and gaps in training around men’s experiencesThe need for more accessible, nuanced support systems for men’s wellbeingConnect 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

    1h 4m
  2. APR 27

    Ep.4- Is There Truth in the Manosphere?

    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 healthWhat 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 ideologiesHow algorithms expose boys and men to increasingly extreme content over timeWhy black and white advice and confidence are so appealing in masculinity spacesThe link between rigid “man box” norms and men’s poorer wellbeing, including higher suicide riskWhy purpose and optimism can increase even within restrictive frameworksThe need for better, healthier messaging around men’s therapy and emotional developmentA 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 strengthConnect 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

    1h 1m
  3. APR 20

    Ep.1- This triggers me: Trigger warnings, trauma responses, and why we're leaning into discomfort

    What if the things that “trigger” us are actually the doorway to heal and connect? In this first episode of This Triggers Me, licensed psychologist Dr. Audra Horney (therapist for men) and Dr. Brendan K Hartman (sociologist focused on boys’ and men’s social emotional wellbeing), unpack why they’re creating a podcast that leans into discomfort instead of avoiding it. From the realities of modern masculinity to the resistance many men feel toward therapy, this conversation sets the tone for deeper, more honest dialogue. Key takeaways: Why avoiding triggers can actually make emotional reactions worse and what to do insteadThe current cultural polarization around masculinity and genderHow boys and men are often socialized into emotional restrictionThe role of loneliness in men’s mental health todayCommon barriers and misconceptions around men’s therapyWhy men may struggle to ask for guidance or supportFoundational concepts like the window of tolerance and stress responses (fight, flight, freeze, fawn)How to approach difficult conversations with more curiosity and accountabilityConnect 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 Podcast post-production credit to Stacy Blackburn

    59 min
  4. APR 20

    Ep.2-Is Empathy for Boys & Men Dangerous?

    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 controversialThe difference between empathy and excusing harmful behaviorHow dehumanization (not empathy) is what drives anger and divisionThe “trauma triangle” (victim, villain, hero) and how it shows up in conflictHow triggers and shame keep people stuck in reactive rolesThe impact of polarization in conversations around the male loneliness epidemic and men’s mental healthCommon themes in men’s therapy, including self loathing and difficulty with self compassionWhy many men deeply want emotional closeness but struggle to access itHow validating and witnessing pain can reduce defensiveness, anger, and disconnectionConnect 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

    1 hr
  5. APR 20

    Ep.3- Is Masculinity Toxic?

    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 dialogueThe difference between masculinity and restrictive masculinityHow emotional suppression, hyper-independence, and dominance impact men’s mental healthThree lenses of masculinity: biological, social, and spiritualHow 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 challengedHow emotional intelligence (like RULER skills) can help menThe importance of community, connection, and a healthier relationship with powerHow masculinity can be both empowering and harmful and why owning that complexity mattersConnect 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

    1h 7m

About

This is not a safe space, it’s a real one. Hosted by Dr Audra Horney a licensed psychologist and sociologist Dr. Brendan K Hartman, this conversation driven podcast explores masculinity, gender, and emotional development by leaning into charger or triggering topics. Each episode blends psychological insight, sociological perspective, and real dialogue to unpack some of the most polarizing conversations around men today. If you’re tired of surface level takes and ready for conversations that challenge you, stretch you, and actually move you forward, this is where that work begins

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