Episode: 48 - Is Growing a Mustache Cheaper Than Therapy?

It’s that time of year, Movember is back, and it’s not just about growing facial hair. In this Tabbo Talk Not Safe for Brunch episode, we’re diving into the real conversations that matter: men’s mental health, physical wellness, and the power of speaking openly.

We’re sharing stories, laughs, and a few mustache jokes while highlighting the impact of Project 11, a Canadian initiative helping young people learn how to talk about mental health early.

Because it’s not about toughing it out, it’s about checking in, showing up, and starting the conversation.

Links Mentioned:
 🔗 movember.com
🔗 projecteleven.ca

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Transcript

Coralie: Okay. Brunch crew, it's that time of year again. The air is crisp, the mimosas are bottomless, and the upper lips across the nation are getting very experimental.

Amber: It is MoMovember the only time we cheer for uneven mustaches and patchy facial hair in the name of a good cause.

Vicki: And that cause is, of course men's health, the kind that we don't talk about enough. Prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health. MoMovember's been tackling all of that since 2003. And it's not just about growing a stash, it's about growing the conversation.

Coralie: Welcome to Taboo Talks, not Safe for brunch where nothing is off the table. 

Coralie: I'm Coralie tuning in from Vancouver. my superpower is going deep down rabbit holes [00:01:00] and getting to the real root of things. 

Amber: And I'm Amber. I'm based in Ontario. And proudly blunt, I cut through the fluff and get straight to what matters.

Vicki: I'm Vicki and I'm from Manitoba. And my magic is creating real connection because intimacy starts with trust. 

Coralie: Grab your mimosa, your matcha, or whatever turns you on, and let's dive in.

Coralie: So we got some insight from a long time MoMovember supporter who's a not safer brunch listener. He's a guy who's been raising awareness for years, hosting events and supporting 

Coralie: mental health through MoMovember and Project 11. 

Amber: He said he's more of a full beard kind of guy, but maybe this year the stash makes its comeback.

Vicki: Yeah, and we support it totally. Even a patchy stash deserves its moment. If it's for a good cause, and honestly good for him. Movember is the one time that you're gonna look like a seventies cop and be applauded for your emotional growth.

Coralie: Uh, or a porn star, I mean,

Vicki: [00:02:00] Yeah, 

Coralie: MoMovember isn't just about growing hair, it's about action, and that includes showing up for hard conversations. That's what we're doing today.

Amber: Yeah. So before we dive in too deep, let's talk about another local powerhouse connected to. To men's health. That has trickled into an opportunity to talk to youth about recognizing the importance of their own mental health in an effort to help them grow into adults who continue on their journey of protecting and prioritizing their own mental health, along with those around them, which is Project 11.

Vicki: Yes, I love Project 11 and it started right here in my home city, you guys. It was created by the true north, youth foundation in honor of a gentleman named Rick Rippin, who was a former Winnipeg Jets player. He's played, I think, in a few teams across Canada, and I just strongly encourage you to do a deep dive into the story of Rick Rip and the journey that ensued after his passing.

Coralie: he was known for his [00:03:00] grit on ice, but also off the ice. He struggled with depression, and after his passing in 2011, his teammates in the true North community wanted to honor his legacy by creating something that could help others open up about mental health, especially kids.

Amber: And that's how Project 11 was born. Name. After Ribbon's jersey number, it brings mental wellness education into the classrooms across Manitoba, teaching students mindfulness, coping skills, and how to talk about their feelings before things hit crisis mode.

Vicki: And I'm just excited to say that it's now grown beyond Manitoba, so teachers across Canada are

Vicki: actually using Project 11 resources and it's been introduced into the sports programs and workplaces

Vicki: phenomenal. 

Amber: Exactly. I mean, it's the emotional education. Some of us wish we had when we were 12 and crying in the locker room and by we, we are mainly talking about men here and boys and you know, pretending that it was sweat. So yeah. When people say [00:04:00] men don't talk, project 11 is making sure that the next

Coralie: Hmm. We all know all of us women were crying in the locker room. No one was hiding that.

Vicki: No, no, I, I was standing in front of, uh, uh, something nasty that somebody had written about me on the wall in the shower, and I was like, oh, it was horrible. We all experiencing the, the mental health side effects and the bullying and all that stuff, but again, we're actually talking about it as women and men are, you know, trying to

Coralie: Right. That's the big difference. Yep. So let's go over some, quick fire facts to stir into your mimosa today.

Amber: MoMovember started with just 30 men in Australia back in 2003. Now it's over 6 million participants strong in more than 20 countries.

Vicki: That's pretty cool. And men are facing crisis in silence. They are three to four times more likely to die by suicide than women.

Coralie: Mm-hmm. And every year MoMovember funds over a [00:05:00] thousand projects on men's health, from cancer research to mental health tools.

Amber: And Project 11 now reaches tens of thousands of students across Manitoba and beyond helping normalize talking about mental wellness early.

Vicki: Oh, and fun fact, you can donate, so you can start your own campaign. You can join like a mo team, men and women alike, because raising awareness doesn't always require a stash. I am certainly not letting mine grow. Our MoMovember insider said it best when he said, most men just don't talk.

Amber: So he did say that people don't realize how many men we lose to suicide every single day, and that silence is one of the biggest barriers in Canada. We lose 12 people a day to suicide at a rate of three to one men versus women, 

Coralie: And that's why campaigns like Movember and Project 11 matter so much because they're breaking that old school [00:06:00] man up and replacing it with speak up.

Vicki: I love that and Movember's Global, right? So this message really hits home. Just like projects like Project 11, teaching kids how to say, Hey, like, I'm not okay, right?

Vicki: Before it turns into a crisis or tragedy or, you know, something that we can't dial it back to a

Vicki: manageable position. 

Coralie: Let's pivot to something a little more brunch flavored.

Vicki: Our Movember pal gave us the slogan of the year. In my opinion, don't let your eggs spoil. Show them you care. Check 'em often.

Amber: Iconic. I would buy that t-shirt immediately. Seriously.

Coralie: Okay, there's the even talk of a signature Movember drink this year at a local fundraising event in Winnipeg. We know Vicky's gonna be there. We're drinking this up. Um, it's called the Nut Knowledge Mocktail. So it's coconut water, pineapple juice, black ginger, and a hint of smoke. Yeah. Vicky's gonna be there sipping that.

Vicki: Oh yeah, a hundred percent. Yeah. Yeah. [00:07:00] You'll, you'll find me there. , But on a serious note, did you know that men should be seeing their doctor yearly and prostate checkups should start as early as 40 years old? Unless there's a lump or a concern, then they should go sooner. Men. Men, are we going to the doctor yearly?

Amber: Uh, not mine. 

Coralie: Like it has to,

Vicki: When I.

Coralie: yeah, like it basically has to be falling off to be like, let's.

Vicki: Yeah,

Amber: Right, right, right.

Vicki: checked. Yeah. Yeah. So I think that that's also part of the culture that needs to be changed, right? We really need men to be putting themselves as a priority when it comes to their wellness, their health,

Vicki: their mental health. 

Amber: Yeah, absolutely.

Amber: Also men should be doing monthly testicular checks too, and contact their doctor if they experience urinary disturbance at any time. Testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers in men aged 15 to 39, but [00:08:00] when it's caught early, the survival rate is 95%. So yeah, check yourself. 

Vicki: yourself.

Vicki: I think I was most surprised by the age of 15. A part of that

Amber: That's wild.

Coralie: I mean, I, I'm most surprised that. They have to be reminded, like I thought they'd be touching those things every day.

Vicki: Well, but are they paying attention to changes and,

Vicki: you know, right. I mean,

Coralie: seems to be very 

Vicki: I mean, obviously 

Coralie: you know? It's like so special.

Vicki: Yeah, I think

Vicki: they have their hands on it. 

Amber: told like a lump or something different or whatever, oh, it's just me, whatever. You know? If they're not told anything, they might not know to alert themselves to go, oh, maybe I should get this checked. And also embarrassment comes into play too, I think.

Vicki: Hundred percent. And I think unless there's pain involved, 

Vicki: it's not necessarily top of mind or getting the

Vicki: attention it deserves. 

Amber: So our Movember NSFB listener who wrote in [00:09:00] also said, if mental health check-ins were like ordering brunch, it'd be a loaded pancake with all the toppings and extra whip, obviously a number one priority.

Vicki: Right, right. That, I mean, that's therapy energy, man. I'll take it all day long. Right. All the messy toppings, all the feelings, all the things. I think that we deserve that men are paying

Coralie: Yeah, absolutely. I have a lot of feelings about that. He said he checks in with his friends regularly, sometimes to plan something fun and sometimes just to say, Hey, man, I love you. Like, I love you man. Love you, man. I think everyone needs to say that more often.

Amber: Did you see that TikTok going? Around of men calling like, Hey, I'm just calling you before I go to bed. How are you doing tonight? Dah, dah, dah, dah.

Coralie: Oh, that.

Amber: say goodnight. Did, oh, they're kind of pranking their friend. But at the same time I was like, we should normalize that. Like this should

Amber: be normal. 

Coralie: be normal. And you know, that kind of relates where I was sitting here saying like, I have a lot of feelings about it because I think that sometimes people get so caught up in the feminist movement and they think it's [00:10:00] about women, but the feminist movement is also about men being able to be themselves without having to man up.

Coralie: You know, it's about everyone being equal and doing all the things because we're all better people. If we can take on some of more of those masculine qualities like assertiveness or whatever that have been bred into us, that those are more masculine and they can take something from the qualities that have been bred into us, like to be good listeners and talk about your feelings and all that stuff, we're better together, all of it.

Coralie: Any who? I'm done.

Vicki: Yeah, I agree. Well, and I think that we've said it a couple of times in the last few minutes here, if we could take one term away, I would love for it to be man up. If that could just dissipate out of society,

Vicki: I would be thrilled because men cry, strong man talk. It's just a part of who

Vicki: we need to be. 

Coralie: that reminds me of a story I saw and I actually screenshot it and I saved it on my phone. It was like a meme or a [00:11:00] Reddit thread so these couple guys were getting together and one of them was a trans man and a cis man together. And the cis man kept saying, man up. And the trans man was like, you know, can we, can we find another way to say that?

Coralie: So he started saying, fortify. Fortify. And so now this just fortify. And I've started saying that too, like fortify, you know?

Vicki: Yeah,

Coralie: Right.

Vicki: but man up. I'm down.

Coralie: Fortify like, you know, you're about to engage, like walk in, let's go.

Vicki: Yeah.

Vicki: I like it.

Coralie: So we asked our listener if growing a mustache is cheaper than therapy.

Vicki: Yeah. And he said, yeah, one's uncomfortable for you and the other's uncomfortable for the other person. I love that. Uh, so do it, do it scared, do it confidently. Just do it

Amber: So [00:12:00] basically they're both itchy, but one raises money for a good cause.

Vicki: correct. 

Coralie: He says he might keep the stash this year because he likes to savor the flavor.

Vicki: Well,

Coralie: Oh, we do? Yes. Okay guys, so here is your brunch, homework. We got some for you. We want you to check your eggs, check your bros, and check in with yourself.

Amber: and Project 11 are doing incredible work. They're not just raising money, they're raising awareness and resilience. One conversation, one classroom, and one mustache at a time.

Vicki: So to learn more or get involved, you can go to Movember.com or you can go to projecteleven.ca, donate, grow a Stash, or just show up for someone that you love.

Amber: Thanks for pulling up a seat at the Taboo [00:13:00] Talk. Not Safe for Brunch Table. If today's chat made you laugh, think squirm, or all three. Do us a solid like follow and leave a review. It's basically the podcast world's version of a good tip. 

Vicki: Want more juicy, unfiltered conversations? Tap the link in the show notes and sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Vicki: Your VIP pass to what didn't make it on the air. 

Coralie: Brunch isn't just about the bites and bubbles, it's about showing up real raw and ready to talk about what really matters. So until next time, keep it bold, keep it curious, and definitely keep it not safe for brunch.