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Money shapes nearly every part of a man's life. Yet most men never learn how to talk about it without shame. Success gets measured in income. Stability is tied to numbers. Worth often gets confused with earning power. When those pressures collide with relationships, identity, and a changing economy, many men feel anxious. Some become avoidant. Others feel silently overwhelmed.

In this episode, host Timothy sits down with financial therapist and educator Khara Croswaite. They have a wide-ranging conversation on money, masculinity, and the emotional lives of men. They draw from clinical work, financial psychology, and lived experience. They explore how money works as more than just a practical tool. It also works as a deeply emotional force in modern male identity. Together, they unpack how cultural expectations shape men's financial behaviors. Expectations around providing. Expectations around succeeding. Expectations around being independent. They also explore a key question. Why do so many men struggle to feel secure no matter how much they earn?

You'll hear us break down:

• Why money is never "just numbers": Emotions shape men's financial decisions. So does family history. So does cultural pressure. These forces matter far more than logic alone.
• Masculinity and financial success: Many men link their competence and worth to income. They link it to status. They link it to visible success. That belief quietly fuels anxiety and burnout.
• Saver vs. spender dynamics: Men often fall into rigid financial roles. Those roles create conflict in relationships. Neither extreme leads to real security.
• Financial gatekeeping: This is a subtle but common pattern. Men take full control of money out of responsibility or shame. It often costs trust. It often costs closeness.
• The provider role under pressure: Economic realities are shifting. Gender roles are changing. Men are being forced to rethink what providing actually means.
• Entrepreneurship myths: Hustle culture appeals to struggling men. So do "get rich quick" stories. But there's a real psychological cost. Chasing financial freedom without support takes a toll.
• Values-based money conversations: Practical tools for identifying what truly matters. This includes green-light, yellow-light priorities, and red-light spending priorities.
• Personality, attachment, and money: Enneagram types influence how men handle money. So do attachment styles. So do family money patterns. These shape how men save, spend, avoid, or obsess.

This conversation doesn't offer financial advice. It doesn't offer quick fixes. Instead, it gives men language for experiences they've often carried alone. Pressure. Fear. Comparison. The longing for stability without losing freedom. It invites a more compassionate, honest relationship with money. One rooted in values rather than shame.

Here is our affiliate link to buy the books discussed from a local bookstore in your area: www.bookstore.org/americanmasculinity

The American Masculinity Podcast™ is hosted by Timothy Wienecke — licensed psychotherapist, Air Force veteran, and men’s advocate.
Real conversations about masculinity, mental health, growth, and how men can show up better — as partners, leaders, and friends.
We focus on grounded tools, not yelling or clichés. If you have questions or want a tool for something you're wrestling with, leave a comment or send a message — your feedback shapes what we build next.
Note: While this doesn’t replace therapy, it might help you notice something worth exploring.