Ep.9- Who Triggers Us?

What if the people who trigger you the most are actually showing you something about yourself?In this episode of This Triggers Me, Dr Audra Horney (a therapist for men) and Dr. Brendan K. Hartman (a sociologist who researches the emotional well being of boys) turn the conversation inward by unpacking who they get triggered by and why. Instead of using triggers as proof someone else is wrong, they explore how triggers can become invitations toward self awareness, accountability and growth.From online outrage culture to jealousy, self censorship, polarization, and fear of being misunderstood, this conversation dives into the emotional complexity behind public discourse around men’s mental health, gender, and relationships.Key takeaways:Why triggers can be opportunities for self-reflection instead of just blameHow outrage culture rewards certainty, confidence, and black and white thinkingWhy people with overlapping views can sometimes feel more triggering than complete oppositesThe emotional impact of online audiences, comment sections and public scrutinyHow fear of credibility loss shapes conversations around masculinity and men’s mental healthAudra’s reflections on jealousy, self censorship and being compared to creators she disagrees withBrendan’s critique of gender essentialism and overly simplistic relationship advice onlineThe tension between intention, audience impact and nuance in creator spacesHow polarization makes meaningful dialogue more difficultWhy therapy for men and emotionally honest conversations require tolerating discomfort and complexityConnect with usEmail- thistriggersmepodcast@gmail.comSocial media- https://www.instagram.com/dr.audra.horney/https://www.instagram.com/re.masculine/https://www.instagram.com/thistriggersmepod/https://www.tiktok.com/@thistriggersmepodFind a Therapist for Men: www.draudra.comPodcast post-production: Stacy Blackburn