Unmasking Masculinity with Simon Rinne of Mindful Men

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The portrayal of men in media has been fairly consistent. Take one part muscle (see Thor), one part pain tolerance (see, well, any Fast and Furious film), add a dash of handsomeness (again, Thor, but also anything with The Rock), and stir using a stick made out of the strongest metal in all the land. This recipe will bring you the manly-man, a person who is not just tough physically, but emotionally so strong that nothing will ever break him. Because he can't be broken! Or can he?
In this episode I am talking with Simon Rinne of the Australian organization Mindful Men which is dedicated to supporting men with mental illness and disability. We discuss the role of pop culture in shaping societal perceptions of masculinity and Simon also discusses his personal journey dealing with undiagnosed mental health conditions, leading to his passion for mental health advocacy. The interview also touches on how men struggle with loneliness, the power of social media in promoting mental health, and the positive impacts of openly discussing mental health issues, especially within the framework of masculinity.
Simon Rinne is a loving husband and father of two, mental health advocate and social worker. He is also the Founder of Mindful Men, a therapy practice that is dedicated to supporting men with mental illness and disability. Simon’s passion for mental health comes from living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Depression, Anxiety, Burnout throughout the last 30 years. During this time, he struggled in silence; believing that boys and men can’t cry, all whilst using alcohol as a way to feel “normal”. At the age of 28, Simon finally reached out for help, and ever since has been on a journey of healing. By sharing his story, Simon hopes to inspire others to believe that they can turn their pain into purpose, and move from surviving to thriving.
https://www.mindful-men.com.au
https://linktr.ee/MindfulMen
Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com.

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