The grind behind a meaningful show isn’t glamorous, but it’s honest—and that honesty is why we’re still here after fifty episodes. Today we pull back the curtain, thank you for riding with us, and share what’s next: a two-week pause, then a season two opener that will test assumptions about love, loyalty, and what growth actually looks like when history and heart collide.
We talk candidly about the work it takes to make a high-quality audio podcast: the quiet hours in pre-production, the pressure of staying present during tough conversations, and the meticulous edits that keep the soul while raising the standard. Listeners have laughed, cried, and called us out. We welcome it all. That feedback loop—your emails, DMs, and disagreements—shapes our craft and keeps the conversations sharp, compassionate, and grounded in real life.
Coming January 5, we sit with a guest whose choices will divide the room. Some will judge him. Others will see themselves in his story. He shows up with courage to unpack mistakes, own consequences, and share hard-earned lessons. We’ve been there too—believing we were right, only to look back and see how wrong we were. That’s the heart of this show: accountability, empathy, and growth you can feel.
1
As the holidays approach, we lean into simple acts of kindness and the quiet gratitude of being held by our people. If the world gets a little softer for a day or two, that matters. Until the season premiere, keep the conversation alive: share your takeaways, send your critiques, and bring someone new to the feed. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what you want explored next. Your voice helps us make the next fifty even better.
Email us at manhoodmatterspodcast@gmail.com
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Host: StéphaneAlexandre
IG: @stephanealexandreofficial
Music by Liam Weisner
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Episode Transcript
So I've got an amazing episode for you, but I
can't release it right now.
I'm gonna have to release it atthe start of season two, which
is coming up.
Today, all I want to do is thankyou for hanging with me.
I'm so grateful to you becauseyou make it worth it.
I have thought about stopping afew times because here's what
(00:46):
people don't realize about apodcast, especially if you want
to do it right.
Podcasting requires a lot ofwork, whether you're doing just
audio format only, which I'mdoing, or if you're doing video,
it's even more work.
And if you're like me and youtry to give a really good
product, a high-quality product,then you're going to spend a lot
(01:07):
of time editing.
Okay, it's a lot of work onpre-production, it's work to do
it, stay on track, and delivergreat conversations that you
want to listen to and be partof.
And post-production is just ashard.
So, what does this all mean?
Well, that explains why mostpeople, and by most, I mean
(01:28):
overwhelmingly the majority ofpeople who start a podcast don't
ever go past episode 7.
So we're just about a year in,and I've released over 50
episodes.
These episodes have beenamazing.
From the first episode wereleased, it was so dope.
We were getting calls, we weregetting compliments, people were
(01:51):
talking about theprofessionalism, just how good
everything sounded, the quality,the audio, the conversations,
the laughs, and the content, allof it.
It's provocative.
We've had conversations wherepeople have cried many times.
We've had conversations wherepeople have laughed
hysterically.
(02:11):
We've had conversations whereI've received angry phone calls
from friends who were justvehemently disagreeing with
something that was said, which Ienjoy because all of that is
part of what I bring you, and Iwant every one of you to be part
of the story.
So let me tell you what's aboutto happen next.
(02:32):
First off, today is December21st, 2025.
I'm going to take a two-weekbreak.
And then we will be back onJanuary the 5th, 2026, with
episode 1 of season 2.
In that episode, we talk to aman who is, by every definition
(02:56):
of the word, an amazing person.
Some are going to judge him.
Many of you will call him names,some will accuse him of things
he hasn't done because you willmostly disagree with his
behavior and how he's carried onwith his current relationship
and how it's all interlaced withhis ex.
(03:19):
But but when it's all said anddone, what's important to note
is that he had the courage toopen up and talk about what's
going on with him, to talk abouthis story, maybe as a warning to
others, maybe just to seekadvice, but it wasn't easy to
do.
A lot of you are gonna besaying, Man, I wish this was me.
(03:39):
If only I was in this situation,what I would do, and blah blah
blah.
I'm telling you, it's gonna beone of those conversations, and
the reality is you don't knowuntil you're in it.
I've done a lot of things whereI just believed that I was doing
the right thing, but lookingback, now that I'm outside of
the situation, I realize justhow stupid I was and how silly
(04:02):
it was.
So you don't know what you'recapable of, you don't know what
you will do until you're facingthat very situation.
And now he knows history willnot repeat itself because he's a
better person for it.
So I've given you enough.
Like I said, tune in for thisconversation on January the 5th,
(04:25):
2026.
In the meantime, it isChristmas.
I don't believe it has anythingto do with the birth of Christ,
but what I do love about theseason is that families get a
chance to get together, peoplego out of their way to be more
generous, a bit more kind, and Idon't really give a damn about
your religious reason for it oryour spiritual reason for it.
(04:48):
If the world benefits from yourkindness, and overall the entire
human race vibrates just alittle bit higher, even for one
or two days, I think we allbenefit.
So on that note, have a MerryChristmas, happy Kwanzaa, Joyeux
Noel, Bon Fete de Noel, FeliceNavidad, or whatever the hell
you think it's really about.
(05:10):
But I do hope that you find timeto appreciate the people who
love you and be grateful thatthey are with you, be grateful
that they have your back, begrateful for things that are
happening for you and not toyou.
I have one thing to ask and onething only.
Continue to show up and tap intothese conversations.
(05:32):
Continue to share, continue toreach out to me through email or
Instagram and let me know whatyou like, what you don't like.
I love to get feedback from you.
And please continue to supportthis podcast, bringing you
conversations about real things,real issues that we can embark
(05:53):
on as real people with realvoices.
This is Stefan with the ManhoodMatters Podcast, sending you my
strength and my love.
I'll catch you guys on Monday,January 5th, 2026, to start off
season two.
Peace.
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