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 instead
• The current cultural polarization around masculinity and gender
• How boys and men are often socialized into emotional restriction
• The role of loneliness in men’s mental health today
• Common barriers and misconceptions around men’s therapy
• Why men may struggle to ask for guidance or support
• Foundational concepts like the window of tolerance and stress responses (fight, flight, freeze, fawn)
• How to approach difficult conversations with more curiosity and accountability

Connect 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