Shows / Bro-ing Pains
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…
Episodes
- Bro-ing Pains
What Do You Stand For? | How Values Shape Your Identity
We all like to think we're good people, but what happens when being true to yourself means disappointing people you love? On this episode, we dive into values…
- Bro-ing Pains
Why Do Men Feel They Have Something to Prove?
In this episode, we unpack the expectations and pressure men face to prove they belong. Carlos reflects on growing up queer and feeling like an outsider, while…
- Bro-ing Pains
Sexual Identity: Do You Actually Know What You Like?
What does sexual identity mean beyond who you’re attracted to? In this episode, we unpack the messages we receive about sex, attraction, masculinity, and what…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
"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…
- Bro-ing Pains
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…
- Bro-ing Pains
How Media Shapes Masculinity | Relationships, Role Models & Pop Culture
In Part 1 of our 10-episode season on relationships, we explore how film, TV, and pop culture have shaped what men believe about masculinity and relationships…
- Bro-ing Pains
Men’s Wellness Trends | Ice Baths, Microdosing & Modern Masculinity
Before we dive into our relationship series in episode 3, we had to start with the most important one: the relationship you have with yourself. This episode…
- Bro-ing Pains
Why Men Need Therapy | Emotions, Masculinity & Mental Health
Many of us learned the same unspoken rules growing up: Don’t show weakness. Don’t show emotion. Don’t let anyone see you break. In our first episode, we share…