For many gay men, friendship is complicated, performative, and sometimes downright painful. We crave genuine connection but end up navigating cliques, comparison, and quiet loneliness.

In this episode, Michael and Pepper are doing an exposé on gay friendships to unpack what’s really going on beneath the surface and why so many gay friendships fall short of the depth and safety we actually want.

We’re breaking it down in three parts:

• The Pretty Lies: Performative friendship, superficiality, and toxic group dynamics
• The Ugly Truth: How shame, fear, and survival strategies get in the way of true friendship
• True Friendship: What fun, nourishing gay friendship looks like and how we can build it

This episode is your invitation to shift from followers to friendship, and from competition to collaboration—and start building real connection.

Related Episodes:

• Making Friends (Introvert Edition)
• How to Make Friends with Gay Men

Today's Guest: Pepper Rojas

• Instagram

Today's Host: Michael DiIorio

• Instagram

Support the Show - viewer and listener support helps us to continue making episodes

- CONNECT WITH US -

• Watch podcast episodes on YouTube
• Join the Gay Men's Brotherhood Facebook community
• Get on our email list to get access to our monthly Zoom calls
• Follow us on Instagram | TikTok
• Learn more about our community at GayMenGoingDeeper.com

- LEARN WITH US -

• Building Better Relationships online course: Learn how to nurture more meaningful and authentic connections with yourself and others.
• Healing Your Shame online course: Begin the journey toward greater confidence and self-worth by learning how to recognize and deal with toxic shame.
• Gay Men Going Deeper Coaching Collection: Lifetime access to BOTH courses + 45 coaching videos and 2 workshop series.
• Take the Attachment Style Quiz to determine your attachment style and get a free report.