Most men were taught the same script: make more money, buy the bigger house, upgrade the cars, send the kids to better schools… and then you’ll be worthy of love, respect, and a “good life.”
What if that script is actually wrecking relationships, families, and mental health?
In this episode, I bring back social worker and men’s advocate Jack Kammer for a very un-LinkedIn conversation about money, masculinity, and the silent cost of chasing the upgraded American Dream. We dig into how lifestyle inflation and “do better than your parents” expectations have turned normal men into stressed-out providers trapped in lives they don’t even want—while everyone pretends this is success.
We talk about:
Why a 900 sq. ft. family home used to be normal—and why the 3,200 sq. ft., 3-car-garage life often destroys connection instead of creating it
How modern relationship expectations still put financial failure almost entirely on men, even when women earn just as much (or more)
The branding problem of men: how “men are dangerous/useless” became the dominant cultural story—and what that does to normal, good men
Why so many guys quietly check out (MGTOW/incel energy) and why that’s really about exhaustion and sadness, not hatred of women
The case for redefining “provider” away from just money and toward presence, skills, emotional stability, and contribution
My own journey from big house + private school life into a small city apartment… and why I’m happier and more connected now
We also get into sovereignty: what it looks like for a man to stop being a walking ATM, reclaim his time and identity, and still be deeply valuable in his family and community—without waiting for culture to hand him permission.
If you’re a founder, operator, or executive who’s played the high-income game and still ended up lonely, resentful, or burned out, this one will hit close to home.
This isn’t financial advice. It’s relational triage for men rebuilding their second life.
Connect with Jack:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/malefriendlymedia/
