Man Up

Masculinity, race, and relationships in the modern world.

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.

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.

What Happens After a Public Proposal

Two stories of men popping the question in a big, public way. Two very different outcomes.

About Guys Who Insist on Paying the Bill …

If you’re fighting your date for the check, it’s probably about more than being “polite.”

What It Takes to Quit Football

Former linebacker Joshua Perry explains why he abruptly retired from the NFL at 24.

How Not to Be a Reply Guy

According to someone who used to be one.

The Real Threat of Video Games

White supremacists see male gamers as recruits. What does that say about “gamer” culture?

How a Drag King Parodies—and Finds Joy in—Masculinity

The art of glued-on facial hair, lip-syncing to 2 Chainz, and skewering male swagger.

The Fear of Male Birth Control

Women’s bodies are regularly put through the wringer. What’s keeping men from sharing more of the burden?

Becoming “Man of the House” Too Soon

After his father passed, Kareem told himself he needed to fill his dad’s shoes.

Where Mass Shootings Often Start

The police chief in Dayton, Ohio, said it was hard to fathom the killer would shoot his sibling. Kim Gandy knows better.

Therapy Shouldn’t Be Scary for Men

I should know—I just had my first session live on this podcast.