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April 22, 2025 14 mins

The episode features host Keith Bilous and co-hosts Jon Anderson and Marty, along with guest Wade Channell, an expert on healthy masculinity and international development.

I. Male Contraception: A New Frontier and Shifting Responsibilities

* The Announcement: The show opens with the announcement of a hormone-free male contraceptive pill, YCT-529, currently in human trials in New Zealand, boasting a 99% effectiveness rate in preclinical trials and reversible fertility within weeks of stopping.

* Potential Impact: The hosts discuss the potential "game changer" this could be for relationships, allowing men to share the responsibility of contraception without hormonal side effects or permanent procedures. Keith notes, "sharing the load on contraception could change relationships overnight."

* Male Agency and Protection: Jon highlights the empowering aspect for men, giving them the "ability to protect himself" in situations where partners may not be forthcoming about their contraceptive status or intentions. He shares a personal story where an unintended pregnancy led to his parents' divorce, underscoring the potential for male control in such situations.

* Differing Perspectives: Marty expresses initial skepticism, jokingly referring to himself as "Pull out Pete" or "Condom Chris," indicating a current reliance on traditional methods. However, he also acknowledges the weight of responsibility on women and expresses a preference for taking a pill over a partner having an abortion: "I'd rather take the pill instead of asking her to get an abortion."

* Shared Responsibility: The consensus among the hosts is positive, emphasizing the idea of shared responsibility. Keith suggests, "whether if she's on it or not on it, I'm on it too. We're both on it." They also acknowledge the continued importance of condoms for preventing STIs.

* Timeliness of Choice: Jon emphasizes the broader impact of having more choices in life, stating, "the more choices a person has, the better off that, you know, their life should be."

* Accountability on Both Sides: Marty stresses the need for both men and women to be accountable in sexual relationships, with men taking precautions and women not allowing unprotected sex if they don't want it.

II. Redefining Masculinity: Breaking Free from Restrictive Gender Roles

* Introducing Wade Chanel: Wade Chanel, an expert with 30 years in international development and author of "To Be a Man: Rethinking Our Roles, Rules, and Relationships for a More Rewarding Life," joins the conversation. His work focuses on dismantling "masculinity myths" and redefining traditional gender roles.

* Responsibility as Core: Wade immediately connects the male contraceptive discussion to responsibility, stating, "it's about one thing, responsibility. Boom. And if we are not responsible, we are not men, we're boys." He emphasizes that "men need to be men. Take responsibility for what we're doing."

* Unhealthy Masculinity and its Consequences: Wade argues that "unhealthy masculinity" stemming from "cultural lies and myths" (e.g., the need to dominate and suppress emotions) is a root cause of various societal issues, including gender-based violence and inequalities. He notes, "Every statistic had one common denominator in my mind, and that was unhealthy masculinity."

* The Myth of Emotional Suppression: Wade challenges the notion that men shouldn't show emotions, recounting his own experience and appreciating the hosts' previous discussion on crying. He points out the societal pressure: "a lot of guys will tell you, I can't cry. Everybody will say I'm a Ws. You know, man up. Don't be a girl."

* Redefining Strength: The disc

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