Sport culture shapes so much of how we understand masculinity — strength, stoicism, triumph, and the pressure to “play on” no matter what.
In this episode, we chat about moments that push back against that script, from athletes using big stages to speak about mental health, to teammates openly showing affection for one another. We unpack why it’s not as simple as telling men to “just open up,” and why healthy expressions of masculinity can still attract backlash. The conversation then widens to the male hormonal cycle, before diving into emerging sex and relationship trends like scrolling social media during intimacy and declining condom use in young people.
Hosts: Anthony Stefanos (@anthonystefanos) & Tess Fuller (@tesssfuller)
This podcast is produced by Annabelle Kablean (@hellsbell.es), Teach Us Consent and I Want It Yesterday Studios, and supported by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
Want to go deeper? We've created hundreds of resources to help you get confident with consent, sex and relationships - visit teachusconsent.com.
Content note: This material contains sensitive content, and includes references to suicide, mental health, sexual harassment and assault, and other forms of violence. Please listen with care and compassion for yourself, and feel free to switch off at any point.
If you need support, call Lifeline on 11 13 14 or head to lifeline.com.au, or call 000 in emergencies. For a full list of support services, visit https://www.teachusconsent.com/get-support for more resources such as 1800RESPECT and 13YARN.
In Australia, Mental Health Care Plans are available through GPs and can provide access to subsidised sessions with mental health professionals. Reach out to your GP to discuss your options.
This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal and Bidjigal people. The Teach Us Consent team respects and honours Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders past and present, and their enduring connection to this land. We acknowledge that First Nations people disproportionately experience sexual violence, and we are committed to ending sexual violence.
Studies and references in this episode:
Paddy Pimblett - Post Fight Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZF28H1ORD0
No Holds Barred - GWS Docuseries
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1464497/go-inside-the-gws-giants-with-new-docuseries-no-holds-barred
1 in 3 college students admit to having done this shocking act during sex (NY Post)
https://nypost.com/2026/02/07/lifestyle/1-in-3-college-students-admit-to-having-done-this-shocking-act-during-sex/
A focus on adolescent sexual health in Europe, central Asia and Canada (WHO)
https://www.hbsc.org/new-who-hbsc-report-reveals-alarming-decline-in-adolescent-condom-use-across-europe-central-asia-and-canada/#:~:text=Decline%20in%20condom%20use%3A%20The,more%20dramatic%20reductions%20than%20others.
Casual Condomless Sex, Range of Pornography Exposure, and Perceived Pornography Realism (Wright, Herbenick, Paul)
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350743820_Casual_Condomless_Sex_Range_of_Pornography_Exposure_and_Perceived_Pornography_Realism
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