EP148: Breaking the Masculine Myth Artwork

The Company of Dads Podcast

Paul Sullivan, former NY Times columnist, explores the lives, stories, joys, and challenges of Lead Dads – fathers who lead in raising children, supporting their partner, and balancing their career. New episode drops every Tuesday.

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The Company of Dads Podcast

EP148: Breaking the Masculine Myth

September 16, 2025 • Paul Sullivan • Season 1 • Episode 148

Interview with Jim Chastain / Founder of Reality Check

HOSTED BY PAUL SULLIVAN

Men want to grow, but too often feel like they can’t without losing a part of themselves. Jim Chastain is a father of two, founder of the market research firm Reality Check, and now a researcher of men and modern masculinity. He discusses the five core insights that hold men back - from the pressure to always prove rather than improve, to the conflicting narratives of what a man “should” be. Jim explains why growth is often stigmatized as weakness, how social expectations keep men stuck, and why “only-ness” can be more isolating than loneliness.

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