Bro-ing Pains
Bro-ing Pains is the show for men, and for anyone who’s ever loved one. Through vignettes and listener stories, we explore the conversations that live somewhere between your therapist’s office and the group chat.
Hosted by Chad Fraga, LMFT & Carlos (a theater kid turned self-proclaimed “Corporate Papi”), this show blends humor, lived experience, and mental health insight.
New episodes every other Thursday.
Join the conversation on TikTok & IG: @broingpains
For collaborations, partnerships, or inquiries: broingpainspod@gmail.com
Episodes
28 episodes
What Do You Actually Believe? | God, Religion & the Unknown
This episode we get into religion, spirituality, God, and what happens when the beliefs and stories we inherit stop fitting who we’ve become.But building an identity outside of organized religion doesn’t make the bigger questions disappe...
I Thought I Had More Time | Mortality, Aging, and Grief
We spend much of our lives assuming there will be more time. More time to call our loved ones, take the trip, slow down, or finally start living the life we actually want.But what happens when we accept that our time on earth is finite?<...
Who Are You Around Your Friends? | Friendship, Identity & Male Loneliness
Friends don’t just influence what we do, they can shape who we feel like we’re allowed to be.In this episode, we explore the relationship between friendship and identity: the roles we learn to play in our social circles, what happens whe...
Can You Build a Life With Someone Without Losing Yourself?
What does it mean to be a good partner?In this episode, we discuss the invisible expectations that come with relationships: balancing individuality and togetherness, navigating emotional labor, and figuring out whether compromise means g...
Why Confidence Isn't Always What You Think
Why do some people believe they can accomplish anything while others constantly question themselves even when they're succeeding?Through candid conversations about our own journeys, we unpack the difference between self-esteem and self-e...
Why Becoming Your Own Person Is Harder Than You Think
What does it actually mean to become an adult?Most of us grow up following scripts from our families, culture, and life experiences that quietly shape who we become. But adulthood isn't just about paying bills or hitting milestones, it's...
When Success Isn’t Enough | Beyond Pressure, Performance & Possibility
Recent tragedies involving young professional athletes Kyren Lacey, Marshawn Kneeland, and Rondale Moore raise larger questions about pressure, identity, and what happens when people are expected to keep performing no matter what they’re carryi...
I Thought Love Meant Staying | Unpacking Abuse, Manipulation & Shame
For years, Mauricio thought love meant staying through the cheating, the control, and the abuse.In one of our most vulnerable conversations yet, Mauricio Amaral-Vazquez opens up about the shame that kept him silent, and how growing up in...
Why Knowing Your Attachment Style Isn’t Fixing Your Relationships
You know your attachment style… so why is nothing actually changing?In this episode, we go beyond awareness, into the work it takes to break patterns and show up differently in your relationships.Through a relatable vignette, we e...
Burnout: The Truth About Work-Life Balance
You’re not burned out. You’re just… doing what you’re supposed to do: working. Providing. Building something for your future. So why does it feel like something’s off?In this episode, we break down the version of burnout that looks like ...
Who Gets to Be a Gamer? How Video Games Shape Identity and Belonging
For years, video games have been blamed for laziness, addiction, and wasted potential. But what if that’s not the full story?In this episode, we sit down with Dr. M. Coopilton, a video game ed...
Are You Investing or Gambling? | Day Trading, Sports Betting & the New Gambling Economy
Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are making headlines. Sports betting ads are everywhere. Day trading is framed as hustle culture. The line between investing and gambling has basically disappeared. But something deeper ...
Taking the Edge Off | Are We Self-Medicating And Don't Realize It?
In this episode, we unpack the real reason so many of us turn to alcohol, weed, and drugs to escape pressure, stress, and exhaustion.This conversation isn’t about addiction labels, it's about understanding why we feel the need to “take t...
The Hidden Reason Men Turn to Porn & Infidelity
Why do some men turn to porn, cheating, or secret late-night doom-scrolling sessions when their relationship feels off?This episode, we're joined by Gottman Institute certified therapists Dr. Dana M...
Why Anger is the Only Emotion Men Are "Allowed" to Show
Anger is one of the most visible emotions men are "allowed" to have.In this episode, we unpack how anger often masks deeper emotions like depression, overwhelm, fear, and low self-esteem. Using a listener letter, we explore why so many m...
The Hidden World of Depression in Men
When men shut down, blow up, or run from their feelings altogether, it isn’t just a personal issue, it’s a public health concern.In this extended trailer for Season 2, we pull back the curtain on how men hide low self-esteem and how it o...
Grieving the Parent You Never Had: Estrangement, No-Contact & Finding Peace
What happens when the people who raised you never learned how to show up emotionally?In our season 1 finale, we open up about our own relationships with our parents (spoiler alert: it's complicated), and the grief, the guilt, and the sur...
The Myth of the "Perfect" Nuclear Family
The "perfect" family having a mom, dad, 2.5 kids, and a white picket fence was basically a post-WWII fantasy. Today, most families look a lot more blended than nuclear, and that comes with a unique mix of beauty and chaos....
What Polyamory, Kinks, and Monogamy Reveal About Modern Love
Is the kink community part of the non-heteronormative world, or its own lane entirely? This week, we unpack what counts as “sexual deviance,” why ethical non-monogamy isn’t just a free-for-all, and how the Six Pillars of Polysecurit...
Why Adult Friendships Matter | Is the Male Loneliness Epidemic Real?
What do healthy friendships look like as an adult? In this episode, we dive into the world of friendship: why it gets harder to make new friends as we age, what healthy connection actually looks like, and how genuine curiosity can transform the...
Attachment Styles Explained | Anxious, Avoidant & Healthier Communication
This episode is part droppin’ gems, part toolkit, and all about communication. We dive into the history of attachment styles and how our earliest bonds with our primary caregivers shape the way we connect with romantic partners toda...
Why Couples Fight: From Breadwinning to Boundaries
Every couple has disagreements, but the real issue isn't money, chores, or snooping. Underneath it all is one core question: do we share the same values?In this episode, we break down the most common relationship struggles. From househol...
Why Men Cheat: Infidelity, Culture & the Psychology of Betrayal
Infidelity isn’t just about broken vows, it’s about culture, psychology, and the messy ways we define love and commitment.In this episode, we dive deep into the uncomfortable but necessary conversation about cheating. From Carlos’ childh...
"D" is for Divorce: From Starter Marriages to Staying Together for the Kids
Is divorce really the worst-case scenario—or is staying in the wrong relationship worse? In this episode, we explore the cultural, religious, and emotional weight of divorce. From “starter marriages” to the myth of staying together ...
Let's Talk About Sex | Body Counts, Hookup Culture & Masculinity
In episode 4, we dive into the world of modern intimacy — from awkward “birds and bees” talks to what school didn’t teach us.We break down how pop culture and gendered expectations shape our ideas of desirability, with help from...