Update: the first episode is out now!
“What’s Good, Man?” debuts on November 6 (with a live show the same date!), so technically we don’t yet have a lot of questions that are “frequently-asked.” But whatever. Here are our responses anyway. I’m Kyle. tony is tony.
Q: Oh you’re starting a podcast? That’s really cool and not cliche at all and even though the market is completely saturated I’m sure *yours* will succeed. What’s it about?
Kyle: It’s a podcast on men, masculinity, and culture. It’s especially for men who maybe haven’t had a ton of conversations about issues like toxic masculinity or patriarchy or whatever, and are just looking for a space to explore, to process, to grow.
tony: It seems like we’re all realizing that outdated stereotypes of masculinity are unfulfilling and wack, but haven’t quite figured out what comes next. The conversation can get stuck sometimes on where we’re at, rather than where we can go. So we decided to talk about it!
Q: I don’t actually listen to podcasts, but I assume there are already a bunch out there on that same topic. Why is yours the BEST? What makes yours special?
Kyle: My goal isn’t to be the “best” or be some magical wellspring of knowledge. I just want our show to contribute, to add something to the larger conversation. That being said, this particular piece of the conversation is being driven by two hosts who happen to both be rappers. That isn’t something we lean in to in super explicit ways, but I do think it matters, both in terms of the tone of the show and its substance– this isn’t some intellectual, academic “debate” about masculinity. We’re trying to ground these issues in everyday experiences, stories, and real life. We’re also activists, so while we want to create space to honestly talk about these ideas and just process in general, we also want to at least share some tools or ideas for action.
tony: Kyle was one of the first people I ever heard speak about the problems with stereotypical masculinity in a deep and nuanced way. He’s spent the better part of a decade leading conversations and workshops around gender, so that alone gives us a pretty deep grounding into this topic. As for me…I guess I’ve spent a lot of time in the last couple of years thinking about and trying to break down toxic masculinity, in myself and others. So I have an appreciation for how important this work is, but how messy and difficult it can be, too. And I want to keep exploring that!
Q: So it’s two guys… talking about feminist stuff… so whether I’m on the right or the left, I’ll probably hate it?
Kyle: This show exists because we listened to people (especially women) in our lives who told us that it was important for men to talk to other men about issues like toxic masculinity, gender violence, consent, and beyond. We say at the beginning of every episode: men need to speak up more about this stuff, but we also realize that “men speaking up more” isn’t always the answer. It’s often the problem. So the goal is to be super intentional with the topics we choose, and make sure that we’re speaking from our own experience and not trying to tell other people’s stories for them.
I think the audience we really want to reach is in the middle: people (especially men) who understand that there’s *something* weird or broken or dangerous about this traditional stereotype of the invincible, emotionless manly-man, but just don’t necessarily know where to start. But I hope people who don’t agree with us tune in. And I hope people who HAVE already had these conversations tune in too, since one thing we talk about is how “healthy masculinity” isn’t a destination we ever actually reach; it’s a constant process.
tony: Haters gon hate. Our show won’t be for everybody, and that’s okay. If we can contribute to a growing wave of understanding that masculinity doesn’t have to be like this, that we can do better, then it’s worth doing. That said, I do think lots of folks are hungry to hear and participate in these conversations – everyone from feminist organizers to conservative men has told me that they’re interested in hearing more men talk about their experiences of masculinity.
Q: I see you’re doing a live episode recording on November 6, the same day your first episode comes out. Isn’t that PRESUMPTUOUS?
Kyle: Even though we’re the hosts, this podcast is very much a community effort, and we’re proud to have so much support from all over our networks– from the arts scene, to the activist world, to the different offices and organizations at the University of Minnesota (where we’ll be doing this first live show) and beyond. It isn’t just that we’re cool and charming and already kind of well-known as individuals; it’s like tony said: people seem hungry for this topic. People have a lot to say, and a lot of questions too. We’re excited to build with them. The live episode is also going to feature like a half-dozen really smart, amazing surprise guests too.
tony: Plus, we’re rappers. We’re used to getting to celebrate new releases with parties, and I think it’d feel mega weird to hit the “release” button on the podcast and then just…wait for people to respond to it on Twitter. Kyle has a lyric that goes “Power is a hundred people in the same place at the same time,” and though we can make great connections and critique each other and build movements on the internet, it’s nice to be around each other in person sometimes, too. Man cannot dismantle toxic masculinity on Twitter alone, feel me? Hopefully next Wednesday is just one of many opportunities for us to get together and chat in real life about this stuff.
Q: Great. I’m definitely subscribing and am now your biggest fan! Tell me all of the in-the-weeds technical stuff that you know no one actually cares about but your fear compels you to share publicly anyway.
Kyle: We recorded this first season of episodes between July and November of 2019, so there aren’t a ton of ripped-from-the-headlines stuff, or direct responses to audience questions or feedback. We tried to keep the first season pretty DIY, but have a lot of ideas and plans for the second season to do more interactive stuff, have more guests, etc. As episodes are released, we’ll also be sharing full transcripts, plus links and resources, at www.wgmpod.com.
tony: This project is really exciting and really scary! Neither of us have done a podcast before, and we’re doing everything ourselves, so we need your help to make sure it’s as powerful as it can be. If you have questions, concerns, critiques, connections, or want to book us for a live show, you can email us at elguante@gmail.com and tonythescribemgmt@gmail.com. Podcasts spread best via word of mouth, so make sure to subscribe to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get podcasts, and tell your friends about it! #WhatsGoodMan
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