🎙️ Understanding Intimacy, Porn, and Modern Masculinity with Ben Dunks 🎙️
In this eye-opening episode of the TRUUMAN Podcast, host Lewis Hackney sits down with Ben Dunks, author of Intimacy: A Guide for Young Men About Sex and Men and Menopause: A Guide for the Bewildered. With a background spanning dance, education, and social change, Ben now works in schools tackling misogyny, harassment, and sexual bullying, helping young men navigate intimacy in the digital age.
About the Guest: Ben’s career has taken him from professional dance to education and social advocacy. After 10 years performing and 7 years managing a National Portfolio Dance company, he transitioned into teaching across disciplines like medicine, education, theatre, and dance. His writing and advocacy now focus on helping young men understand intimacy, relationships, and the impact of pornography. Through his work with MANCulture Plymouth, Ben actively fights male violence against women and girls. He also works with schools and colleges across Plymouth and Devon, educating students on healthy relationships and consent.
What to Expect in This Episode: This conversation tackles the modern challenges men face when it comes to intimacy, relationships, and masculinity.
Key topics include:
Ben’s Journey into Writing & Advocacy: From dance to publishing books on intimacy and masculinity.
Pornography’s Impact on Young Men & Relationships: How the digital age has reshaped expectations and intimacy.
Sexual Bullying & Harassment in Schools: Why schools are struggling and what Ben is doing to help.
The Emotional Side of Sex & Intimacy: What men are missing in their understanding of connection.
Men and Menopause: Why mid-life changes affect men too, and how they can navigate them.
The Work of MANCulture Plymouth: Addressing male violence against women and girls.
How We Can Teach Better Relationship Skills to Young Men: Tools for fostering respect, communication, and healthy masculinity.
Key Takeaways:
Porn is shaping how young men (and women) understand sex, often in unrealistic and damaging ways.
Many young men struggle with emotional intimacy due to a lack of education and discussion around relationships.
Sexual bullying and harassment in schools is a major issue, but conversations and education can make a difference.
Men also experience hormonal and emotional changes in mid-life—understanding these changes is key to well-being.
Tackling male violence against women requires men stepping up and being part of the solution.
Quotes from the Episode:
“Young men today are getting their sex education from porn, and it’s warping their understanding of intimacy.”
“We don’t just need to talk about consent—we need to talk about connection.”
“Porn sets up expectations that real relationships can never meet. We need to teach young men what intimacy actually is.”
“Sexual bullying is happening in schools every day. It’s time we address it properly.”
“Men face big hormonal shifts as they age too—it’s time we talk about male menopause.”
Resources and Links:
Read Ben’s Book: https://amzn.to/3SNulke
Read Ben’s Latest Book: Men and Menopause: https://bit.ly/4aimy6b
Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-dunks-a2390634/
Truman: www.truuman.io
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lewishackney
