Redefining “The Man”: Sex, Validation, and Machismo Culture

What does it really mean to be “the man”? In many Latino communities—and beyond—men are taught that having lots of sexual partners is proof of status, strength, and masculinity. In this special episode, Dramos unpacks that toxic message, sharing personal stories about chasing validation, peer pressure, and the role of machismo culture in shaping harmful expectations. He explores why this obsession with “numbers” can lead to dishonesty, emptiness, and broken trust, and why true masculinity means respect, empathy, and protecting the people you’re intimate with—including their sexual health. Dramos also gets real about what he’s learned from his own past, and why having tough, honest conversations is the foundation of healthy relationships and healthy sexuality.   This episode is brought to you by Healthysexual from Gilead Sciences.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.