Men Speak: Recent Episodes
Campfire Initiative
Men Speak focuses on the stories of Wyoming men that challenge socialized beliefs surrounding masculinity. Men Speak events feature storytellers from diverse backgrounds sharing true stories about fighting the stigma of men’s mental health, challenging gender stereotypes, and simply learning how to be a good person.
The Men Speak podcast tells these stories as well as taking a deeper dive into each of the subjects with prevention specialist Bob Vines and journalist Cooper McKim. It is our belief that storytelling can be used as a catalyst for social change, teaching empathy, and making a safer world for everyone.
Men Speak is sponsored by the Albany County Campfire Initiative, a joint effort between the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Albany County SAFE Project.
Through is community Facebook Group, Landyn finds opportunities to check in with his followers, always advocating for mental health, and suicide prevention. But he wasn't doing a very good job of taking care of himself. In his story, Landyn shares how his focus on his own sobriety has helped him find peace.
Dominic is a Cheyenne comedian, actor, and educator that didn't always live up to his father's definition of manliness. But when he found himself in the middle of a prison riot, he learned quickly that kindness might just be the best way to be safe.
When Thom finally found the love of his life, we had to quickly learn how to be a father to two teenage boys. Thom's story isn't about being a step-father, though, it's about growing into a father. This is a touching story about how families can all look different.
Ray Burgion spent most of his life battling substance abuse. He finally found sobriety when he started asking for help. He tells a fascinating story from stealing beer trucks, working the games at a traveling carnival, battling addictions to cocain and meth, and finally finding redemption by simply striving to be a kind person.
Men Speak Alum Charles Fornier comes back to the stage to tell a story about how the epitome of masculinity from the mid-20th century, Ernest Hemingway, may not have been all that was portrayed through the media.
In this episode, Jeremy Bay talks tells a story about experiencing a traumatic event while service in the Navy. It took him years to accept that the event had effected him in many different ways and that he needed help. Today, Jeremy is dedicated to helping others who have experienced similar trauma.
In this episode, Men Speak veteran Matthew tells the story about the decision to bring his mother from Florida to live with him in Cheyenne while she fights stage 4 cancer. Matthew sees this as an opportunity to repay his mother for all of the care and love she had showed him while growing up.
Host Bob Vines connects with lifelong friends Mike Raymond and Scott Lillian to discuss raising families, losing loved ones, mental health, connecting through one's culture, raising children who are LGBTQAI+, and how important male friendships are.
Season 2 will be out soon. We will feature storytellers from Cheyenne and Casper, with a couple different special episodes this year.
In this episode, co-host Bob Vines shares his own story about struggling with depression and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the height of his struggle, he found himself in a fight against COVID that landed him in the Intensive Care Unit hooked up to a ventilator. Upon his release after nearly two months in hospitals, the first thing he did was seek help through therapy for his depression and survivor’s guilt.
Men Speak focuses on the stories of Wyoming men that challenge socialized beliefs surrounding masculinity. Men Speak events feature storytellers from diverse backgrounds sharing true stories about fighting the stigma of men’s mental health, challenging gender stereotypes, and simply learning how to be a good person.
The Men Speak podcast tells these stories as well as taking a deeper dive into each of the subjects with prevention specialist Bob Vines and journalist Cooper McKim. It is our belief that storytelling can be used as a catalyst for social change, teaching empathy, and making a safer world for everyone.
Men Speak is sponsored by the Albany County Campfire Initiative, a joint effort between the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Albany County SAFE Project.
In this episode, Dr. Julio Brionez speaks about his experiences growing up struggling with self-image issues and depression. He overcame those barriers and today works as a psychologist helping others. Dr. Brionez is a SAFE Men alum, and volunteer for SAFE Project, Devine Eats, Give an Hour, and Laramie Reproductive Health.
Men Speak focuses on the stories of Wyoming men that challenge socialized beliefs surrounding masculinity. Men Speak events feature storytellers from diverse backgrounds sharing true stories about fighting the stigma of men’s mental health, challenging gender stereotypes, and simply learning how to be a good person.
The Men Speak podcast tells these stories as well as taking a deeper dive into each of the subjects with prevention specialist Bob Vines and journalist Cooper McKim. It is our belief that storytelling can be used as a catalyst for social change, teaching empathy, and making a safer world for everyone.
Men Speak is sponsored by the Albany County Campfire Initiative, a joint effort between the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Albany County SAFE Project.
Charles Fournier, a high school English teacher in Cheyenne and freelance podcaster, tells a humorous story about his own journey through the spectrum of masculinity and how he uses these experiences as learning opportunities with his students.
Men Speak focuses on the stories of Wyoming men that challenge socialized beliefs surrounding masculinity. Men Speak events feature storytellers from diverse backgrounds sharing true stories about fighting the stigma of men’s mental health, challenging gender stereotypes, and simply learning how to be a good person.
The Men Speak podcast tells these stories as well as taking a deeper dive into each of the subjects with prevention specialist Bob Vines and journalist Cooper McKim. It is our belief that storytelling can be used as a catalyst for social change, teaching empathy, and making a safer world for everyone.
Men Speak is sponsored by the Albany County Campfire Initiative, a joint effort between the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Albany County SAFE Project.
Andrew Kern is a transgender student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette who is currently studying sociology and working towards a career in public relations. A Laramie High School graduate, he shared his story about acceptance and non-acceptance in the transgender community at our Laramie Men Speak event in July of 2021. In this episode, he revisits that night and talks about his journey to acceptance through traditional and non-traditional ways.
Men Speak focuses on the stories of Wyoming men that challenge socialized beliefs surrounding masculinity. Men Speak events feature storytellers from diverse backgrounds sharing true stories about fighting the stigma of men’s mental health, challenging gender stereotypes, and simply learning how to be a good person.
The Men Speak podcast tells these stories as well as taking a deeper dive into each of the subjects with prevention specialist Bob Vines and journalist Cooper McKim. It is our belief that storytelling can be used as a catalyst for social change, teaching empathy, and making a safer world for everyone.
Men Speak is sponsored by the Albany County Campfire Initiative, a joint effort between the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Albany County SAFE Project.
Eric Quallen is a doctoral student at the University of Wyoming and a wildlife biologist. In this episode, Eric talks about his gender transformation after living 23 years as a female and his challenges of serving in the military during Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Eric has experienced gender role stereotypes from both ends of the spectrum. Although his story is complex, his message is simple: check in with each other.
Men Speak focuses on the stories of Wyoming men that challenge socialized beliefs surrounding masculinity. Men Speak events feature storytellers from diverse backgrounds sharing true stories about fighting the stigma of men’s mental health, challenging gender stereotypes, and simply learning how to be a good person.
The Men Speak podcast tells these stories as well as taking a deeper dive into each of the subjects with prevention specialist Bob Vines and journalist Cooper McKim. It is our belief that storytelling can be used as a catalyst for social change, teaching empathy, and making a safer world for everyone.
Men Speak is sponsored by the Albany County Campfire Initiative, a joint effort between the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Albany County SAFE Project.
In this episode, counselor and SAFE Men alum Aaron Ashear tells a story from his childhood when he felt compelled to challenge his bully who constantly made fun of Aaron’s Jewish faith. It didn’t go as planned, but it taught Aaron a valuable lesson about self-worth.
Men Speak focuses on the stories of Wyoming men that challenge socialized beliefs surrounding masculinity. Men Speak events feature storytellers from diverse backgrounds sharing true stories about fighting the stigma of men’s mental health, challenging gender stereotypes, and simply learning how to be a good person.
The Men Speak podcast tells these stories as well as taking a deeper dive into each of the subjects with prevention specialist Bob Vines and journalist Cooper McKim. It is our belief that storytelling can be used as a catalyst for social change, teaching empathy, and making a safer world for everyone.
Men Speak is sponsored by the Albany County Campfire Initiative, a joint effort between the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Albany County SAFE Project.