The conversation around men feeling lonely has become a lightning rod for social, political and cultural weigh-ins by everyone - but how do guys actually feel about their loneliness? We asked you to cut through the noise to give your honest experiences of loneliness and male friendship, and we investigate the research to find out if this can even be called an ‘epidemic’.  Mensline Australia: 1300 789 978 Lifeline: 13 11 14  SHOW NOTES: The State Of Loneliness 2023 data https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/press-release/half-a-million-more-people-are-lonely-all-or-most-of-the-time/   Social Isolation And Loneliness in Australia https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health/topic-areas/health-wellbeing/social-isolation-and-loneliness   ‘An uphill battle’: why are men struggling to make – and keep – friends? https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-interactive/2025/jul/10/male-friendships-midlife#:~:text=According%20to%20data%20from%20the%20Survey%20Center,in%202021%2C%20compared%20with%203%25%20in%201990.   Male loneliness and isolation: What the data shows https://aibm.org/research/male-loneliness-and-isolation-what-the-data-shows/   The surprising truth about loneliness in America https://www.vox.com/even-better/366620/loneliness-epidemic-coping-demographics-america-social-connection-mental-health   Side talk: Half of men feel more comfortable having difficult conversations shoulder-to-shoulder https://www.greeneking.co.uk/newsroom/shoulder-to-shoulder?utm_source=chatgpt.com   Is Male Loneliness an Epidemic? A Gendered and Structural Reframing https://static1.squarespace.com/static/67e9bb2b8ad1d04967a0459c/t/68abcf2e684fb76f348bc0c0/1756090158503/Is+male+loneliness+an+epidemic.pdf   The men's loneliness epidemic might not exist https://www.npr.org/2025/02/17/1263527043/its-been-a-minute-male-loneliness-epidemic-real   Vulga Drawings instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFVr4eXopWw/?img_index=1   Females were more likely to have mental health conditions https://www.americashealthrankings.org/learn/reports/mental-and-behavioral-health-data-brief/key-findings-gender?utm_source=chatgpt.com   Theorizing Mankeeping: The Male Friendship Recession and Women’s Associated Labor as a Structural Component of Gender Inequality https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385006823_Theorizing_Mankeeping_The_Male_Friendship_Recession_and_Women's_Associated_Labor_as_a_Structural_Component_of_Gender_Inequality   Men value romantic relationships more and suffer greater consequences from breakups than women https://www.psypost.org/men-value-romantic-relationships-more-and-suffer-greater-consequences-from-breakups-than-women/?utm_source=chatgpt.com DM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: thehookup@abc.net.au The Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.