Second Take Tuesday – Silence, Weight, Truth

I sat down with Henri Hyttinen from Miessakit, an organization that supports men’s mental health in Finland. And what struck me most wasn’t just what he said—it was how honestly he said it.

We talked about loneliness. About the pressure to hold everything in. About how so many men feel isolated not because they don’t care—but because they’ve never been taught how to say what they’re feeling without shame.

Henri sees this every day. Men carrying silent burdens. Divorce, fatherhood, trauma, depression—all packed down into something they’re expected to “man up” through.

We covered:

• The cultural pressure on men to be strong but emotionally silent

• How societal expectations punish vulnerability

• Why men are more isolated than we want to admit

• What real support can look like—and how to reach for it

• And how fatherhood can open or shut emotional doors

For me, this episode was deeply personal. I’ve felt that weight. I’ve lived it. And I know I’m not alone.

Things I Learned from Henri

• Silence can feel safe, but it’s often a cage.

• Asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s self-respect.

• Honesty is the beginning of every healing process.

Your Weekly Jolt

Raw truth, no filter. Thompson’s gloves are off.

Enough pretending you're fine when you're drowning. Enough “I got this” when you don’t. No one's handing out medals for emotional constipation.

Talk to someone. Say the hard thing. Crack open the armor before it rusts shut.

The real strength? Choosing to feel when it’s easier to fold.

🎤 Next Week: I sit down with Melanie Kirwa, a woman whose story stretches across continents. We talk about motherhood, cultural identity, navigating life as an immigrant, and what resilience looks like when you're holding more than most people see. It’s tender, bold, and full of heart.

Thanks for reading Second Take Tuesday – Silence, Weight, Truth.
If it stirred something in you, don’t let it sit in silence. Reach out. To someone. To yourself. That’s where it starts.

See you next week,
Daniel