Good stuff I’ve seen recently
Ant
This week, I thought I’d share some of the good stuff I’ve seen, read, watched or listened to recently that has some broad associations to men and masculinity.
This is good stuff that makes me smile, or feel relief. Stuff that makes me feel good about being a man. Whilst much of the content that might find us on the internet is filled with fear about declining birth-rates and women who hate men because men hate women or how everyone is getting f*cked by the patriarchy and it’s your fault too - the stuff in this list is the breath of fresh air. The slap in the face that reminds us that the world is good, men are good, masculinity is evolving and we can be hopeful for the future.
This Richard Reeves article about what is actually happening in the “gender war” is a breath of fresh air. When I first read this, I just thought “how true” - yes in the extremes of social media it seems like men and women are further apart than ever. Yet actually in the middle ground, both men and women are moving the world forward to a more equitable place.
Richard Reeves is fantastic for any quality content like this, his latest podcast with Chris Williamson is good.
Jon Bellion’s album Father Figure
Greg James generally. I got into the habit of listening to Radio 1 in the morning recently. Not really for the music, but mainly for Greg James. He’s positive, optimistic, energetic and kind. He really is a good man. My day is always a bit better with a bit of Greg in it.
Wout van Aert and Cycling in general. I’m not a cyclist, but I watch a lot of cycling. It’s a brilliant sport. Amazing to watch and switch off to as they cover great distances in beautiful places. What I love about it too is the respect and integrity in the sport. There’s never any gossip or judgement. If someone loses they immediately congratulate the winner. The riders often push so deep that when they cross the line they break down in tears. I love it and all the professional cyclists I really believe are great role models. This interview with Wout van Aert sums it up, when he beat the best cyclist in the world and won Paris-Roubaix he was overcome with emotion and dedicated the victory to a cyclist who had died on his team eight years ago. A class act.
Close to Home - Michael Magee. It’s very hard to find modern fiction written by young men. As far as I can tell we have a real problem and gap here. This debut novel by Michael Magee about life in Belfast is exceptional though.
Small Prophets - BBC. Long live the BBC in my opinion, because comedy like this has such a place. If you’re a young guy, this is the kind of comedy you could probably get your dad to watch and ask him why he liked it so much. The main character is a man in the midst of grief and hoarding, with his own dad with dementia. Lots to talk about with an eccentric sci-fi-ish twist.
Rather than read about Epstein and Trump and Tate every day. A mixture of this stuff makes me much prouder to be a man and gives me much more inspiration for the man I am becoming, and how I can guardian my own son too.
Enjoy
P.s. share any stuff you’re reading, watching or listening to in the comments too.