Let’s Talk MASKulinity, Bruh

SUMMARY

We’re joined by Jeremy Herte, Chicagoan host of the seminal Black masculinity podcast, Let’s Talk Bruh. 

• We’re always talking about patriarchy, but what is it exactly? And is it really the way it’s always been? Samantha shares the differences between matriarchy and patriarchy and highlights key differences beyond which gender is at the helm.

• We reflect on just a few societies that have maintained or developed matriarchal structures. Did you know there were hunter-gatherer societies in the present day? These societies are much more egalitarian than we might think.. 

• Did you attend a Muffins with Mom or Donuts with Dads event as a kid? Some schools hold these parent events which might seem harmless. We talk through the unforeseen impact of this event designed for dads and Remoy evokes the importance of challenging the social behaviors that we think of as natural and default.

• Jeremy shares the inspiration behind Let’s Talk Bruh and the big part that community played in starting the show and its impact on his life and perspective.

• Is there really a gender war? Jeremy gets into it and offers insight.

• Our guest explains how his unlearning of patriarchy required community in different aspects of his life. What’s the hardest part of patriarchy to unlearn? Jeremy’s answer might be different than you expect…

Referenced on this episode:

• What is patriarchy? A little helpful breakdown from CNN

• Hunter-gatherers operated a little differently than what we thought

• Rethinking “Muffins with Moms” and “Donuts with Dads

• Some names to make it more inclusive

• Let’s Talk Bruh episode discussing gender wars within communities.

• Let’s Talk Bruh podcast archive

COMPANION PIECES:

• Sugar Hill Band? Capitalism and MASKulinity in Hip Hop, with masculinity scholar and accountability strategist, Nalo Zidan

• Home ALONE for the Holidays, with resident men’s counselor,  Justin Lioi

• We’re All a Little MASKy, with #SameHere Global founder Eric Kussin

• Black Masculinity, Mental Health and Education, with clinical psychologist, Dr. Obari Cartman

• Some tips on men building community

• On Let’s Talk Bruh

OUR GUEST THIS WEEK:

Jeremy Herte, Host and Producer of Let’s Talk Bruh

Jeremy Herte (he/him) is a creative and communications strategist, content creator and award-winning producer building community at the intersections of masculinity, mental health, creativity, and culture.

In 2018, he and one of his closest friends, Kyr Mack (Howard U. English Professor), created a Let's Talk Bruh (LTB) to elevate the conversations Black men were having around masculinity and mental health.

Since its launch, they've built a thriving community of thousands of Black men through social media presence, a book club, and live events, demonstrating the ability to recognize the need for Black men to have safe spaces and platforms to be vulnerable and create authentic culturally relevant content and experiences to meet the needs of the community.

In 2022, LTB was recognized as a top creator pushing culture forward by META/Facebook being inducted into the "We The Culture" Class of 2022.

In the age of #MeToo and during a time when Black men are being targeted with misinformation by growing right wing platforms, Jeremy and the LTB team built a community of progressive leaning Black men of all backgrounds and orientations rooted in love and vulnerability pushing brothers to seek wholeness and community over destruction and isolation.