Leeson Timms: Loneliness, the Manosphere, and Giving Boys Permission to Feel

At just 22, Leeson Timms is doing brave, beautiful work with The Man Cave—helping teenage boys find language for their feelings, lean on each other, and choose healthier role models. After appearing on 60 Minutes to talk about toxic masculinity, Leeson joins me to share his own story: the deep loneliness of COVID, the heartbreak of losing a friend to suicide, getting pulled into harmful online narratives, and the healing that came through connection, accountability, and a community of good men.This is a conversation about permission—permission to grieve, to ask for help, to get it wrong and learn, and to measure success by the strength of your relationships rather than the size of your status. Leeson talks about growing up with a dad who drew a firm line around respect for women, the slow slide into despair when sport, school, and friendship suddenly disappeared, and the life-saving power of one person who offered compassion and asked the right question at the right time. We also explore how charismatic online figures hook boys through humour and status, and how curiosity, conversation, and healthy male role models can unhook them and open better paths.Inside schools, The Man Cave uses a rite-of-passage framework to create space where boys can speak honestly, expand emotional awareness, and practice accountability without shame. Leeson shares the practical tools that keep him well—therapy, movement, coaching basketball, late-night gym sessions, and most importantly, picking up the phone and leaning on his village. His definition of success has shifted from money and popularity to resilience, community, and the capacity to face hard things with good people beside you.If this episode speaks to you, please share it with a young person, a parent, a teacher, or a coach. One conversation can change a direction. Our young men have everything they need when we meet them with compassion and offer healthier ways of being.Mentioned in this episode:The Man Cave***Thank you for listening to Stories of HOPE: Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton.Kerrie Atherton is an Inspiring Speaker, Professional Counsellor and Mental Health Coach. To find out more about "Stories of Hope: Worldwide", head to https://storiesofhope.com.au/.Purchase books in the "Stories of Hope" series, written by Kerrie: https://storiesofhope.com.au/product/stories-of-hope-australia-books/.With thanks to:Music: "Pilgrims" by Daniel Pratt (artlist.io)Editing & Production: Matthew Bliss (https://www.mbpod.com)Mentioned in this episode:Kerrie Atherton Offers Counselling Sessions to Support YouIf the topics discussed in this episode resonate with you and you'd like to talk to someone, Kerrie Atherton is available for counselling sessions. Click the link to book a session with Kerrie today.Book a Session with Kerrie TodayAdvertise with Stories of Hope PodcastHere at Stories of Hope, Kerrie Atherton's mission is to give people a platform to share their stories of hope with the world and we also want to provide the same chance to businesses that are passionate about mental health and want to support the podcast. If you'd like to partner with Stories of Hope and advertise your services on this podcast, send a message to [email protected] with your details.