ManDown Podcast

About ManDown Podcast

Producing thoughtful content on male friendships, dating, relationships, wellness and sex.

Publisher

Ted Knutson

Category

education · health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Mar 2025

Latest episode

21 Oct 2025

Latest episodes

44 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Oct 2025

   Why You’re Always Anxious (Even When Nothing’s Wrong) | Ep. 43

   You can’t outthink anxiety — but you can learn to understand it.In this episode, Patrick and Ted unpack what anxiety really is, how it hijacks your body and thoughts, and why most of us make it worse by trying to “fix” it. Patrick brings lessons from the therapy room; Ted brings the reality of battling self-sabotage. Together they unpack how awareness, breathing, and daily habits can help you regulate instead of shut down. This one’s about emotional clarity — not control. 💬 Send us your questions in the comments or at mandownpodcast@varianceincorporated.com Follow us on our Socials: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLzsGH4hM9TxHC4hHPvgMJw X: https://x.com/ManDownPodcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:lm4shifbvs6k63eb54k2gmho Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandown.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mandownpodcast 00:00 Intro 00:25 Patrick on America 01:11 French Cowboy Boots Are Calling Patrick 01:35 Chili’s Got Cowboy Boots? 02:18 Fashion Kinks: The Allure of Line Dancing and Footwear 07:17 Why Good Jeans Make Everyone Look Great 09:27 Robin vs Taylor Swift 10:22 Taylor Swift + Swedish Producers? 10:58 Attraction Beyond Looks 12:12 Find your Joy 15:39 Seeing Behind People’s Masks 16:47 Patrick Can’t Take Compliments 17:16 Self-Sabotage in Action 19:29 Why Compliments Feel Weird 22:36 Anxiety: What It Really Is 24:00 Understanding Anxiety Symptoms 25:30 The Anxiety Loop 26:00 Slowing Down the Tempo 27:05 Finding the Real Fear 27:50 Pinpointing When Anxiety Starts 29:32 Physical Cues Matter 31:23 Recognising Emotional Impulses and Their Origins 33:07 The Importance of Self-Reflection in Managing Anxiety 35:50 Challenging Negative Automatic Thoughts 37:15 Breaking the Cycle of Anxiety 40:16 Is Your Body Holding Anxiety? 43:29 Sphincter Diamonds 44:16 Continuous Learning and Self-Discovery in Mental Health 47:57 Ted’s Routine for Processing Feelings 50:05 Breaking Down Anxious Thoughts 53:40 Can Discipline Build Emotional Resilience? 54:57 The Power of Affirmations and Self-Belief 56:56 Reprogramming Negative Thoughts 59:16 Understanding Anxiety and Its Triggers 1:01:42 Anxiety Tips/Tools 1:03:19 The Role of Medication and Long-Term Solutions 1:04:30 Outro

2. 

   14 Oct 2025

   Parenting in the Age of Radicalization | Ep. 42

   Ted and Patrick kick off with fatherhood, vasectomies, and the chaos of modern life before diving into social media radicalization and how to raise better men. They unpack how algorithms weaponize outrage, why politics feels broken, and what empathy and curiosity can still save. Then it’s on to Taylor Swift's new album, the burnout, and why joy might be her only way forward. Enjoy! 💬 Send us your questions in the comments or at mandownpodcast@varianceincorporated.com Listen to us on Megaphone (or find our RSS Feed!): https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/VI9326253269?selected=VI1151133526 Follow us on our Socials: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLzsGH4hM9TxHC4hHPvgMJw X: https://x.com/ManDownPodcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:lm4shifbvs6k63eb54k2gmho Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandown.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mandownpodcast 00:00 – Intro: Taylor Swift’s album and unexpected politics 00:36 – Patrick’s vasectomy waitlist story 01:10 – Ted’s “50% emissions” joke and pregnancy talk 02:17 – SlutCon, fertility, and age gaps in parenting 03:35 – Miscarriage, exhaustion, and parenting at 30+ 05:21 – The mental load of fatherhood 06:20 – Patrick’s parenting stories and “Hungry Caterpillar” moment 07:20 – Simple explanations as a superpower 07:55 – Anxiety, media, and radicalization begins 09:10 – The YouTube funnel and algorithmic outrage 10:49 – How right-wing influencers hook young men 12:44 – Why creators drift toward divisive content 14:49 – Jordan Peterson and the pull of extremism 17:13 – Boris, Trump, and populism’s moral void 18:57 – Radicalization and real-world violence 19:53 – Why platforms won’t shut down hate speech 21:10 – The collapse of consequence and fake morality 22:16 – Raising boys in the algorithm era 23:16 – The endless scroll and “slop content” culture 24:13 – Creating positive role models 25:12 – Housing, inequality, and political drift 27:07 – Media narratives vs. real voter concerns 31:23 – Local government and reform myths 33:37 – Depression, vulnerability, and radicalization 35:11 – Escaping social media doom loops 36:08 – Touching grass and finding purpose offline 37:41 – Why the world isn’t as bad as it seems 39:41 – Community and connection 40:15 – Education, critical thinking, and curiosity 43:52 – Raising resilient boys and men 45:45 – Taylor Swift, Elon Musk, and modern fame 47:09 – Taylor’s new album: where’s the fun? 49:27 – Lyrical fatigue and self-parody 51:36 – When success kills creativity 53:10 – Sally Rooney and artistic stagnation 54:10 – What Taylor needs next 56:07 – Cowboy boots and Copenhagen fashion detour 57:28 – Outro: podcast reflections and upcoming break 59:03 – What Man Down meant to Ted and Patrick 1:01:06 – Final thanks, Patreon shoutouts, and goodbye

3. 

   7 Oct 2025

   Avoid First Date Mistakes, Argue Smart & Mindful Media | Ep. 41

   Dating can be stressful, arguing can be messy, and social media can mess with your head — Ted and Patrick cover all of it in this episode. Learn how to handle first-date nerves, recognise real chemistry, and decide if a second date is worth your time, all while keeping your dating anxiety in check. They also get into how to argue with your partner without hurting the relationship and why understanding each other’s perspective matters. On top of that, they talk about the impact of the content you consume on your mental well-being and habits that help you stay grounded. This episode is packed with advice to help you navigate dating, relationships, and life with more clarity and confidence. 💬 Send us your questions in the comments or at mandownpodcast@varianceincorporated.com Follow us on our Socials: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLzsGH4hM9TxHC4hHPvgMJw X: https://x.com/ManDownPodcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:lm4shifbvs6k63eb54k2gmho Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandown.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mandownpodcast Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome Intro 00:06 Episode Intro 00:54 Patrick’s Take on Copenhagen… and Hot Dogs 03:18 Ted Visiting Copenhagen 03:42 Guest Pitches, Mafia Dons, and Boy Bands 05:18 Listener Questions 05:33 #1 Navigating Arguments in Relationships 13:44 #2 Dating Anxiety and Connection 21:20 Preparing for a Date 24:15 #3 Long Distance Relationships 24:50 #4 The Impact of Social Media on Dating 27:39 The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health 28:50 The Upside of Dating Apps 29:20 Finding Balance: Managing Social Media Consumption 32:58 #5 Physical Activity and Mental Well-Being 33:06 Patrick’s Fitness and Mental Health Practices 37:08 Ted’s Fitness and Mental Health Practices 38:52 Curating Your Music and Media Experience 43:23 Ranking Segment First Date Activities: What Works Best? 47:46 Date Outfits 48:56 Patrick’s Clothing Tips and Thoughts for Men 53:39 Outro

Contact ManDown Podcast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.