In this deeply honest conversation, Jim Bernardo and Susie Mackie unpack the urgent realities of male mental health - from the silent suffering caused by societal expectations to the staggering statistics around suicide. Jim shares powerful personal stories, including a remarkable chapter from his time at Microsoft, where even at the height of professional success, he struggled to accept recognition and self-worth. Together, he and Susie explore how generational trauma, emotional repression, and outdated ideals of masculinity have left many men isolated and unseen. They discuss how redefining what it means to be a man - one rooted in vulnerability, emotional honesty, and connection - is essential not only for men’s mental well-being but for the health of our families and communities. “At the same time that we have celebrated the advances made for women, we have not taught boys and young men what it means to be a man in a world in which women are your equals - not subservient to you, not less than you, but your equals”.

Key themes include:

• The silent crisis of male suicide and covert depression • How societal conditioning stifles emotional expression in men

• The hidden cost of success and self-denial

• The power of vulnerability in healing and connection

• Why redefining masculinity can transform future generations

A thought-provoking and compassionate dialogue for anyone who believes it’s time to change the conversation around what strength and masculinity truly means.

We dive into: Why men struggle to ask for help How trauma shows up in relationships Tools for emotional recovery and self-awareness And how writing Echoes of Broken Skies became part of Jim’s own healing process This one is for the men who were told to “man up” but never taught how to heal. And for the women who love them.

The Men are not OK! Jim Bernardo talks with James Nunn, host of The Unleashed Podcast about the lasting effects of repetitive childhood trauma on men, and why 80% of all successful suicides are men.