Numb, Not Broken: Why We’re Folding In - And How to Feel Human Again
We're not falling apart - we're folding in. In this episode, [Your Name] unpacks why so many of us feel emotionally numb in an age of endless crisis, digital overload, and a culture that's mining our inner lives for profit. From melancholy and powerlessness to the quiet radicalism of showing up, discover why your numbness might not be brokenness - but wisdom. And how we can start feeling human again.
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Why Men Are Choosing Pain Over Peace: Inside the Rise of Hardness Culture
Why are so many men swapping softness for structure, and comfort for cold plunges? In this episode of The Brink, Matt explores the rise of "hardness culture"-a fast-growing, male-coded approach to wellness rooted in control, discomfort, and performance.From dopamine detoxes and fasting windows to ultra-marathons and testosterone tracking, this isn't your typical self-care. But behind the spreadsheets and Spartan routines lies something more human: a quiet search for meaning, safety, and emotional permission in a world that rarely offers it.We unpack the cultural shifts, psychological roots, and emotional undercurrents driving this trend-and ask a deeper question: what happens when healing looks more like discipline than softness?If you've ever wondered why some men turn to structure instead of support, or whether there's room in wellness for both grit and gentleness-this episode is for you.In this episode:Why "hardness" is trending in male wellnessThe rise of cold plunges, biohacking, and dopamine fastsHow control becomes a coping mechanismThe hidden emotional needs behind performance-based self-careWhat a softer, more sustainable version of male healing could look likeMentioned in this episode:Andrew HubermanSacred Sons, Ed Mylett, Lewis HowesData on cold plunge and ultra-endurance trends🎧 The Brink is where culture, mental health, and meaning intersect. Subscribe for more conversations that go beneath the surface.
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When the Algorithm Talks Back: the rise of ChatGPT Induced Psychosis
In this episode, we dive into the unsettling rise of AI-induced psychosis—cases where users report hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions triggered by deep interaction with large language models like ChatGPT. We explore what happens when the line between simulation and reality blurs, how vulnerable minds are interpreting AI as sentient or supernatural, and what mental health experts are saying about this emerging phenomenon. From Reddit confessionals to clinical case studies, this is a journey into the psychological shadow of artificial intelligence.
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The Feeling That Isn’t There
We're talking about the emotion nobody talks about: none.Not anxiety. Not rage. Just numbness.What it is, why it shows up, and why staying in it too long might be more dangerous than we think.Plus: where it comes from, why men are especially prone to it, and how to start the slow journey back to actuallyfeelingsomething again.It's not a fun ride. But it might be a necessary one.
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Man Enough: Inside the Manosphere
What do you get when you cross heartbreak, internet algorithms, and a crisis of masculinity? You get the manosphere-a sprawling, messy, often misunderstood world of forums, influencers, and ideologies shaping how millions of men see themselves. In this episode of The Brink, I take you deep into the factions that make up this digital ecosystem-from pick-up artists to black pill nihilists-not to gawk, but to understand. Why is this space so magnetic to men in pain? What's fuelling the anger, the isolation, and the need to belong? And most importantly: what are we missing when we write it all off as toxic nonsense? I'm a therapist. I've sat with men in crisis. And I've seen what happens when society offers them silence, and the internet offers them answers. This isn't a takedown-it's a reckoning. Because men in pain aren't the enemy. But the systems that ignore them might be.
The Brink is a weekly podcast all about the mysteries of what goes on inside our heads. There are many myths surrounding psychology, psychiatry and therapy, and this podcast is going to help sort that all out for you.
If you're interested in therapy, mental health and the mysteries of the brain, this one is for you. Written, produced and presented by Matt Hussey, a qualified therapist and journalist with more than 20 years experience.
Ireland