What if the first step toward healing isn’t talking—but writing?

In this episode of The Meaning of Men we're joined by poet and author Drew Horner to explore how creative outlets can be a lifeline for men struggling to open up.

Drew shares how poetry helped him navigate grief, anxiety, and emotional isolation during the pandemic—and how writing became a form of therapy when words felt too hard to speak aloud. Through personal stories, powerful spoken word, and reflections from his book My Life in Pieces, Drew offers a moving perspective on why emotional expression matters, especially for men's mental health.

This episode is a reminder that just putting your feelings into words in any capacity can be the first step toward healing and creating wider mental health awareness.

Hear more from Drew:

• My Life in Pieces: https://linktr.ee/TalesoftheNook?lt_utm_source=lt_share_link#275948678
• The Rage Whale movie podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6FSLdhTwH9WNMqcePFW31x?si=i_D4fXQfQMySjgRAqKQNXA&nd=1&dlsi=4e32c5bce1fd4008 (also on Instagram: @ragewhale_podcast)

Timestamps:

03:39: The Power of Poetry as Emotional Expression 06:51: The Journey of Discovering Poetry 13:38: Life in Pieces: The Meaning Behind the Title 20:48: Resilience and Rebuilding Through Adversity 25:35: The Essence of Poetry and Self-Expression 31:38: The Power of Poetry in Public Spaces 35:34: Exploring the Depths of Emotion 38:29: Mental Health and Vulnerability 41:29: Finding Meaning Through Poetry 44:29: Getting Started with Writing 52:19: Legacy and Impact of Drew's Poetry