What does it really take to build a strong and healthy romantic relationship as a modern man?
In this episode of The Meaning of Men we're joined by Kristal DeSantis, a marriage and family therapist and author of Strong: A Relationship Field Guide for the Modern Man. We talk about the unspoken pressures men face in relationships, why many feel unequipped for emotional intimacy, and how to start building new relational skills from the ground up.
Kristal unpacks her “STRONG” model—a practical tool that gives men a framework to communicate better, self-regulate in conflict, and create meaningful connection. Whether you’re single, dating, or in a long-term relationship, this episode offers real insight and encouragement for showing up more fully as a man and a partner.
Hear more from Kristal:
Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strong-Relationship-Field-Guide-Modern/dp/1959099027 Schedule a call: https://calendly.com/kristal-desantis Speaker Website: www.strong.love Therapy Website: www.austinstrongrbc.com Instagram @atxtherapist https://linktr.ee/atxtherapist
Timestamps:
04:28: Cultural Dynamics in Relationships 07:11: Men's Perspectives in Relationships 09:55: The Strong Model for Healthy Relationships 12:34: Redefining Masculinity in Modern Society 14:27: Self-Regulation and Emotional Intelligence 25:12: Self-Regulation in Conflict Resolution 28:16: Navigating Gender Roles in Relationships 31:37: The Shift from Function to Connection 33:24: Traits of Healthy Relationships 36:34: The Importance of Presence Over Performance 38:47: Challenges of Modern Dating 44:17: Emotional Vulnerability in Men 45:51: Celebrating Positive Male Contributions 47:01: Hope and Growth in RelationshipsPopular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!