The Masking Tapes

In this episode of The Masking Tapes, host Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe sits down with Johnny Cole, founder of Hey Brother Co. for a conversation about masculinity, brotherhood, and what young men are really looking for. Johnny opens up about growing up in a household with domestic violence and how his search for role models became a driving force behind his work: building spaces for brotherhood, mento...

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina is joined by Dr. Saed D. Hill, a Counseling Psychologist who specializes in the promotion of pro-social masculinities and violence prevention. This episode explores the allure of frictionless AI relationships, Louis Theroux's new documentary 'Inside the Manosphere,' how friction can strengthen relationships, and how AI is reshaping human d...

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina is joined by Alex Vans, the founder of the ⁠Choros⁠ app and social club. Choros is the first app designed for guys to make friends. It builds real friendships through small groups, shared activities, and repeat hang outs. This episode explores men's social connections, the role of community, and approaches to building friendships. It highlights th...

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina is joined by Charlie Sabgir, Director of Young Men Research Project, for a research-backed conversation about the Gen Z relationship recession. Young Men Research Project is a nonprofit that researches political and social trends among young men. Sabgir writes about the changing storylines among young men today, both online and offline. The two discus...

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina is joined by Daryl Auguste, a key opinion leader at the intersection of culture and style, with a largely young male audience. As a stylist and content creator he’s built up a following in the streetwear world. The two discuss algorithms, meme coins, sports betting, platonic friendships and more. You can follow Daryl's work at @theinhibitionist __...

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina is joined by Eric Mungai, the founder and CEO of Yazua Afrika, an organization dedicated to equipping young boys with the tools to become leaders. Together we discuss global approaches to the challenges facing men and boys. You can follow Eric's work at @yazua.afrika __________ Support the pod: Contribute on ⁠Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/TheMaskingT...

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina is joined by Kevin Curry, the founder of Fit Men Cook, an online community that inspires nutrition and fitness through food. Fit Men Cook, which began as a blog in 2012, has become an online community for millions. Curry has collaborated with leading brands, written a cookbook, developed a top-rated app, and appeared on a number of publications and mo...

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina speaks with Abdallah, a young man calling in from his tent in Gaza. The two talk about the challenges of maintaining provider and protector status, keeping a sense of hope, and boyhood amidst war. __________ Support the pod: Contribute on ⁠Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/TheMaskingTapes Follow our Instagram Subscribe to our Substack __________ Host and Pro...

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina sits down with Madalena and June for a conversation about trans-identity, masculinity, and friendship. __________ Support the pod: Contribute on ⁠Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/TheMaskingTapes ⁠⁠⁠ Follow our  ⁠Instagram⁠ Subscribe to our  ⁠Substack⁠ Host, Producer, and Editor: Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe Music by: Soliman Aboutaam

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, Carolina sits down with Madalena and June for a conversation about trans-identity, masculinity, and friendship. "Boyhood feels like this very narrow singular channel and then kind of stepping out of that channel into transness feels like I have like 1 million channels now and I think for me that was super overwhelming." - June __________ Support the pod: Contr...

In this episode of The Masking Tapes , Carolina sits down with Sebastián Molano for a powerful conversation about fatherhood, masculinity, and growing up amid violence in Colombia. With over 20 years of experience in international development, diplomacy, and gender equity work, Sebastián brings insight and lived experience to the pod. Sebastián is the founder of Defying Gender Roles (DGR) , an onl...

On this episode, Carolina and Alice unpack 'The Great Gen Z Gender Divide.' Together, they explore current research around men, relationships, and the manosphere. They dive into discussing the emotional labor carried by women amidst the 'masculinity crisis' and what it means to be a woman doing this work. ______ Alice Lassman is a researcher and policy expert on economic policy and societal dynami...

On this episode of The Masking Tapes , Carolina sits down with Jesse Mahler, Senior Program Manager at Futures Without Violence. Together, they explore Jesse’s journey in the violence prevention field, what it takes to build healthy relationships, and the lasting impact of the #MeToo movement. “The way in which we have been raising boys and men has made us woefully unprepared for a future where wo...

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, host Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe sits down with JD Gorman, one of the student leaders of B-Team (Brown Transforming, Exploring, and Affirming Masculinities) to talk about his work leading dialogues about manhood and masculinity. In addition to his work on campus, JD is a talented bass player. ------- Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe, your host, has local, national, and glo...

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, host Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe sits down with Fran Salazar and Marcos Posadas, the Yes Men, for a conversation about the bear vs man debate, machismo, role models, and what they love about being a man. This is the second part of a two-part conversation. ------- Fran Salazar, originally from Colombia, is a young development professional based in Bogota. Marcos Po...

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, host Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe sits down with Fran Salazar and Marcos Posadas, the Yes Men, for a conversation about their friendship, therapy, and an unexpected night with the male rugby team in college. Together, they unpack topics such as emotional gold digging, joining the workplace, and building a strong friendship. This is the first part of a two-part conv...

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, host Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe sits down with her younger cousin Joey for a conversation on becoming a man. Joey is in what he calls a time of transition. He's back home after two years of college, recently left his fraternity, and is starting fresh at community college. It's what he considers a "ball up top" moment, a reset of the play. Togeth...

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, host Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe sits down with Ryan Drysdale for a heartfelt conversation on grieving with intention and courage. After losing his father in 2023, Ryan has deepened his understanding of the grieving process, learning to lean on others—including his male friends—as he navigates loss and healing. Together, they explore the power of vulnerability, co...

On this episode of The Masking Tapes, we learn from Oscar Romero, a community organizer and software engineer in Durham, North Carolina. Together, we discuss his experiences breaking social norms, navigating masculinity and immigration status, building male friendships, approaching this world with wonder, and practicing compassion. Carolina Hidalgo-McCabe, your host, has local, national, and globa...

On this first episode, I interview my dad, Mike and my boyfriend Soliman to talk about what it means to be a provider in the 21st century, let alone a man. We unpack male friendships, pride, and connection on this episode. Soliman, an entrepreneur and young diplomat-in-the-making, speaks to the Gen Z perspective of expanding notions of what is feminine and masculine, how to connect deeper, and wha...

Join me as we start to unpack, learn, and dive deep into conversations across the gender divide. What does it mean to be a man in the 21st century? How can we build stronger relationships? Where do we go from here? These are just a few questions that the Masking Tapes will tackle in season one, together.