Defining Healthy Masculinity & How to Build It | Terry Real
Huberman Lab
2025/12/29
Defining Healthy Masculinity & How to Build It | Terry Real
Defining Healthy Masculinity & How to Build It | Terry Real

Huberman Lab
2025/12/29
In a deeply insightful conversation, therapist Terry Real joins Andrew Huberman to unpack the emotional and relational challenges facing men today. They explore how outdated models of masculinity are failing men’s mental health and undermining their ability to connect meaningfully with others. Rather than framing the issue as political or ideological, they approach it through a psychological lens, emphasizing that emotional intelligence and relational skills can be learned at any stage of life.
The discussion reveals how traditional masculinity—built on stoicism, emotional suppression, and performance—leads to isolation, low self-esteem, and disconnection. Men often equate strength with invulnerability, making it difficult to ask for help or accept criticism without defensiveness. The solution lies in developing 'relationality': the ability to be emotionally present, express vulnerability, and engage in honest, non-reactive communication. Practical tools like asking 'What do you need?' during conflict, practicing relational mindfulness, and taking responsible distance during emotional flooding help rebuild connection. Meaningful male friendships and mentorship are vital for growth, countering the epidemic of loneliness. Healing also involves shifting from seeking intensity (e.g., through substances or porn) to cultivating intimacy through everyday presence. Ultimately, healthy masculinity is redefined as integration—balancing strength with tenderness, action with awareness, and independence with interdependence.
06:36
06:36
The psychology of patriarchy is toxic, not just its politics.
07:46
07:46
Denying vulnerability leads to anxiety and depression in men
19:31
19:31
Relational joy is deeper than mere gratification and is often lost in today's narcissistic culture.
27:27
27:27
Healthy self-esteem means feeling proportionally bad about bad behavior while still having self-compassion.
34:13
34:13
Responding non-regressively when a woman is upset by asking 'what do you need?'
38:36
38:36
True strength is responding with curiosity instead of defensiveness
40:47
40:47
AG1 supports immune system, mood, and mental focus with a blend of vitamins, probiotics, and adaptogens
42:33
42:33
You can't be mad about not getting what you never asked for.
56:08
56:08
Many couples on the brink of divorce are in the 'adaptive child' state.
1:06:46
1:06:46
The essence of new masculinity is seeing life as relational and ecological.
1:11:44
1:11:44
Father absence can let in 'demons' like addiction and emotional collapse
1:22:57
1:22:57
Complaining can be a form of self-abuse; men should train friends to support their mature selves.
1:27:28
1:27:28
Hiking to Yosemite is a simple yet powerful solution for isolated young men.
1:39:15
1:39:15
A great Masai is adaptable—fierce when needed, tender when required
1:43:39
1:43:39
Many men became addicts between the 1980s and 2000s, not all from severely traumatic homes.
1:51:45
1:51:45
A child who parents a heart-broken mother becomes a love-avoidant caretaker in adulthood.
1:54:47
1:54:47
A partner ends a potential long-term fight by expressing personal feelings and making a request instead of exchanging objective accusations
1:59:06
1:59:06
The cure for addiction is intimacy, not abstinence alone.
2:11:28
2:11:28
The 12-step program is a great template for learning to listen in relationships.
2:17:00
2:17:00
Relational connection is what people are born for
2:25:41
2:25:41
Make 99 requests for every complaint to foster healthier relationships
2:30:41
2:30:41
All relationships involve harmony, disharmony, and repair — the key is learning how to return.
2:41:22
2:41:22
Self-compassion is a skill that can be developed over time, leading to liberation.
2:44:00
2:44:00
Being male has awesome features, but often separates from the relational aspect.