Bro-ing Pains

Papa Chad & Corporate Papi
  • 5.0 (9)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

Bro-ing Pains is the show for men, and for anyone who’s ever loved one. Through vignettes and listener stories, we explore the conversations that live somewhere between your therapist’s office and the group chat.  Hosted by Chad Fraga, LMFT & Carlos (a theater kid turned self-proclaimed “Corporate Papi”), this show blends humor, lived experience, and mental health insight.  New episodes every other Thursday.  Join the conversation on TikTok & IG: @broingpains For collaborations, partnerships, or inquiries: broingpainspod@gmail.com

  1. MAR 12

    Are You Investing or Gambling? | Day Trading, Sports Betting & the New Gambling Economy

    Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are making headlines. Sports betting ads are everywhere. Day trading is framed as hustle culture. The line between investing and gambling has basically disappeared.  But something deeper is happening. Why are so many men drawn to risk right now? Why does betting feel empowering, even if it’s destructive? And what does it say about us that we’ve basically gamified uncertainty itself? In this episode, we explore the psychology of gambling and why it’s quietly becoming one of the most normalized coping mechanisms for men. We unpack:  • Why near-wins and volatility create powerful emotional highs  • How day trading and sports betting blur the line between investing and gambling  • Why feeling “behind” in life makes risk feel like a shortcut to power If you’ve ever felt the pull of risk, or watched someone you love get caught in it, this conversation is for you. Support & Resources: An animated breakdown of how mobile sports betting platforms are designed to encourage rapid, repeated engagement: "The Clever Trick Used By Sports Betting Apps”Free, confidential treatment and support services for individuals and families affected by problem gambling in California: Gambling Education & Treatment Services (CalGETS)Find licensed therapists and treatment providers specializing in gambling addiction and recovery: CalGETS Provider Directory

    36 min

  2. FEB 26

    Taking the Edge Off | Are We Self-Medicating And Don't Realize It?

    In this episode, we unpack the real reason so many of us turn to alcohol, weed, and drugs to escape pressure, stress, and exhaustion. This conversation isn’t about addiction labels, it's about understanding why we feel the need to “take the edge off” in the first place. We explore: Why being “high-functioning" doesn’t mean you’re emotionally healthyThe cultural normalization of drinking and substance useHow we learn to cope through escape instead of emotional regulationHow these patterns disconnect us from our partners, families, and ourselvesThis episode is part of our Season 2 series exploring the many ways men disappear while appearing completely fine on the outside. If you’ve ever told yourself “I don’t have a problem, I just need to relax,” this conversation is for you.

    31 min

  3. FEB 12

    The Hidden Reason Men Turn to Porn & Infidelity

    Why do some men turn to porn, cheating, or secret late-night doom-scrolling sessions when their relationship feels off? This episode, we're joined by Gottman Institute certified therapists Dr. Dana McNeil and Jeffrey Young, LMFT to unpack the hidden pressures many men carry in relationships. From late-night porn use to emotional affairs, we explore why these behaviors often aren’t about sex, but about shame, loneliness, performance, and the fear of being a burden. Through a fictional vignette, we break down how emotional disconnection quietly builds, why vulnerability can feel impossible for men, and what actually helps couples reconnect before it’s too late. For more information on Dr. Dana's group practice visit: The Relationship Place

    45 min

  4. JAN 22

    Why Anger is the Only Emotion Men Are "Allowed" to Show

    Anger is one of the most visible emotions men are "allowed" to have. In this episode, we unpack how anger often masks deeper emotions like depression, overwhelm, fear, and low self-esteem. Using a listener letter, we explore why so many men say “I’m not angry, I’m just frustrated,” while the people around them experience something very different. We dive into: The difference between anger vs. frustrationWhy men feel a false sense of urgency when their character is questionedHow performance, perfectionism and pressure of being a provider fuel emotional shutdownWhy anger becomes a tool for control and protectionHow trauma teaches men to survive through reactivityWhat it looks like to build a strong sense of self without defensivenessThis episode isn’t about excusing harmful behavior, but about understanding it well enough to change it. If you’ve ever been told you have an “anger problem,” felt constantly misunderstood, or noticed that your emotions only show up as irritation or rage, this conversation is for you.

    36 min

  5. JAN 8

    The Hidden World of Depression in Men

    When men shut down, blow up, or run from their feelings altogether, it isn’t just a personal issue, it’s a public health concern. In this extended trailer for Season 2, we pull back the curtain on how men hide low self-esteem and how it often shows up as anger, avoidance, productivity, and escape.  This season explores how those patterns don’t stay contained within the individual, they spill into relationships, families, workplaces, and entire communities. We take a deep dive into anger as a mask, numbness as survival, cultural pressure to “hold it together,” and the loneliness that hides in plain sight. If Season 1 was about starting the conversation, Season 2 is about naming what men are really carrying and learning how to set it down, for their own well-being and for the people who love them.

    31 min

  6. 11/20/2025

    Grieving the Parent You Never Had: Estrangement, No-Contact & Finding Peace

    What happens when the people who raised you never learned how to show up emotionally? In our season 1 finale, we open up about our own relationships with our parents (spoiler alert: it's complicated), and the grief, the guilt, and the surprising relief that can come with finally choosing yourself. We dive into the rise of no-contact relationships among young adults, the impact of emotionally immature parents, and what it means to demand healthy boundaries when your family never modeled them. We explore the spectrum of differentiation (from helicopter parenting and enmeshment to complete cutoff) and how to find peace somewhere in between whether you're low-contact, still going home for the holidays, or not speaking at all. We unpack what it means to reparent your inner child, navigate family estrangement, and grieve a parent who is still alive… and still unable to meet you where you are. This conversation is for anyone who's ever left a family gathering and wondered, "maybe I'm not the problem?" Resources: Gentle Parenting Reimagined by Dr. Paul SunseriAdult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson This episode closes out our relationship series. We’ll be back January 2026 with a Season 2 deep-dive on covert male depression. In the meantime, catch up on episodes you missed, share this season with someone who needs it, and join the conversation over on TikTok @broingpains.

    38 min

  7. 11/06/2025

    The Myth of the "Perfect" Nuclear Family

    The "perfect" family having a mom, dad, 2.5 kids, and a white picket fence was basically a post-WWII fantasy. Today, most families look a lot more blended than nuclear, and that comes with a unique mix of beauty and chaos. This episode, we unpack what makes blended families both challenging and deeply human. From step-parent boundaries and gendered expectations around discipline to the hidden resilience that comes from growing up in complex family systems, this episode dives into the learning and grief that shape modern families. We even break down Structural Family Therapy and read a heartfelt listener letter from a stepdad navigating what it means to be a “real” father.

    36 min

  8. 10/23/2025

    What Polyamory, Kinks, and Monogamy Reveal About Modern Love

    Is the kink community part of the non-heteronormative world, or its own lane entirely?  This week, we unpack what counts as “sexual deviance,” why ethical non-monogamy isn’t just a free-for-all, and how the Six Pillars of Polysecurity could actually save any relationship. Featuring Jessica Fern’s Polysecure, the Gottmans’ Sound Relationship House Theory, and one big question: are you really committed to your partner, or just staying faithful out of security?

    35 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Bro-ing Pains is the show for men, and for anyone who’s ever loved one. Through vignettes and listener stories, we explore the conversations that live somewhere between your therapist’s office and the group chat.  Hosted by Chad Fraga, LMFT & Carlos (a theater kid turned self-proclaimed “Corporate Papi”), this show blends humor, lived experience, and mental health insight.  New episodes every other Thursday.  Join the conversation on TikTok & IG: @broingpains For collaborations, partnerships, or inquiries: broingpainspod@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Papa Chad & Corporate Papi
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Bro-ing Pains
  • Show Website
    Bro-ing Pains