It's A Man's World: Part 3, Bodies, Belonging, and Re-Imagining Masculinity

In our last It's A Man's World episode, Power, Safety, and Conflict, we explored what it means to navigate risk, hierarchy, and survival inside men’s spaces — the constant calculations around visibility, safety, and when to speak up or stay quiet. Today, we’re taking that conversation deeper, into the body, into belonging, and into the question of what masculinity actually becomes once you’re living inside it.

Hosts: Ez (he/him),Elliott (he/him)

Welcome back to Tranzmission’s series It’s A Man’s World. This is Part Three: Bodies, Belonging, and Re-imagining Masculinity.

In our last It's A Man's World episode, Power, Safety, and Conflict, we explored what it means to navigate risk, hierarchy, and survival inside men’s spaces — the constant calculations around visibility, safety, and when to speak up or stay quiet. Today, we’re taking that conversation deeper, into the body, into belonging, and into the question of what masculinity actually becomes once you’re living inside it.

Because entering men’s spaces doesn’t just change how others see you — it changes how you move, how your body is read, how you relate to yourself, and where you’re allowed to belong. From locker rooms and gyms, to workplaces, dating, and everyday public life, masculinity is experienced not just socially, but physically and emotionally.

For trans men and trans-masculine people, this often means navigating new expectations around strength, size, voice, emotion, and desirability — while also carrying histories, identities, and ways of being that don’t always fit narrow ideas of the “Aussie bloke.”

In this episode, we’re exploring what it feels like to inhabit masculinity in the body, how belonging is negotiated and sometimes withheld, and how trans-masculine experiences open up space to re-imagine masculinity beyond dominance, silence, and control.

I’m your host Ez, he/him, joined by my best friend Elliott, he/him. As always, we’re not speaking for all trans men, trans-masculine people, or cis men. This series reflects our lived experiences — how we question, reshape, and survive masculinity in so-called Australia.

🔗 If you'd like to listen back to the unedited episode - with the music - head to our On Demand website. And don't forget to follow our socials at Facebook and Instagram.

Timestamps and Links:

00:00 - Acknowledgement of Country
00:20 - Welcome to Tranzmission
01:16 - Community News and Events - Links In The Notes
08:05 - It's A Man's World: Part 3 - Bodies, Belonging, and Re-Imagining Masculinity
09:55 - Bodies, Masculinity, and Difference
17:30 - Pressure to Perform: Confirmation Bias
21:50 - Mental Health, Medical Labour, and Emotional Isolation
29:08 - Asking For Help
31:08 - Isolation: Community and Belonging
38:00 - Gender Identity: Hair
39:08 - Health Consciousness: Cycles and Stability
41:14 - Text In: Gender Euphoria
44:03 - Looking Forward: Reclaiming Manhood, Responsibility, Freedom, and Sacred Care
47:14 - The Repeating Stories (Colonial V Indigenous)
50:49 - Listening and Learning is Power
52:35 - Wrapping Up: Advice Mascs
56:02 - Final Words: Being A Man
58:33 - Support 4zzz! and MegaHerzzz

Community News and Events Links:

Q News: QLD faces new court challenge over ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth by Laura Koefoed
ABC News: Concerns over abortion, vasectomies, IVF, gender-affirming care access as Catholic organisation Calvary buys Hobart Private by Josh Duggan
Q News: Mardi Gras Board accused of transphobia: what you need to know by Laura Koefoed
In Our Words: Youth LGBTIQA+ health and wellbeing in Australia Survey
pinkNOISE Valentines @The Cave Inn Sat, 14 Feb, 2026 - 6-10pm AEST

Support Services

4ZZZ's community lives and creates on Turrbal, Yuggera, and Jagera land. Sovereignty was never ceded.

Produced and recorded by Ez and Elliott for Tranzmission at 4zzz in Fortitude Valley, Meanjin/Brisbane Australia on Turrabul and Jaggera Country and edited by Tobi for podcast distribution for Creative Broadcasters Limited.