Man Up

Masculinity, race, and relationships in the modern world.

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About the Show

On Man Up, host Aymann Ismail invites men and women to tell embarrassing, funny, and sometimes disturbing stories about their lives as they try to figure out what they still have to learn—and unlearn—about being a man. They’ll talk relationships, family, sex, and identity, trying to understand their experiences to help listeners make more sense of their own.

Host

It’s a Tough Time for Men With No Friends

Male loneliness was already a problem. Quarantine is making it worse.

Single Guys Are Really Going for It Right Now

The pandemic has actually emboldened men to pursue romance, companionship, and, in some cases, sex.

What Women Are Learning About Men During Self-Quarantine

A relationship test no one could have anticipated.

Why Men Who Are Sick Insist on Going to Work

Don’t cough on me, bro.

What It’s Like to Be an American Ninja Warrior With Parkinson’s

Jimmy Choi can’t tie his shoes, but he can run ultra-marathons.

The Secret to a Healthy Porn Habit

Because quitting isn’t for everyone

Why Can’t My Wife and I Pray Together?

How to be a Muslim feminist when you confront segregated mosques every week.

Why So Many Men Scramble on Valentine’s Day

Year after year after year.

Why Straight Bros Are Important to Gay Guys

It’s often a symptom of an internal struggle.

What It’s Like to Be a Black Man Managing an Office of White Women

Bias doesn’t go away just because you’re the boss.

Why Men Would Rather Suffer Than Ask for Help

It’s nearly impossible for some men to admit their limitations. So I forced myself to, painfully, on tape.

How to Raise Sons Who Aren’t Terrible

Two moms discuss strategies.

What You Lose When You Don’t Drink

In some male-dominated spaces, it means a lot more than giving up alcohol.

Why a Dad Dancing to Frozen Is Still a Big Deal

The reaction to a viral video shows how divided we still are about gender norms.

A Man Learns How to Cry Again

At 20, he had already forgotten how.

Why So Many Men Still Dress Like They’re 16

It’s not laziness or bad taste.

A Father Tries to Talk to His 16-Year-Old Daughter About Sex

How does a dad tell his daughter to prioritize her own pleasure?

Why Men Say They Want “Nothing” for Christmas

And how to get them to talk.

Can a 30-Year-Old Man Change His Worst Habit?

Man Up host Aymann Ismail confronts the thing about himself that frustrates him most.

A Virgin in His Mid-20s Starts to Worry

After searching for answers to his bad romantic luck online, one guy hears someone else: an actual woman.