What do we
gain when we
let men get
real?
Making room for vulnerability, connection and humanity in what it means to be a man.
When you hide parts of yourself
from the people in your life,
how does it limit you?
Nine years as an active-duty Infantry Officer in the US Marine Corps and six and a half years in the construction industry gave Christopher Veal a close look at the narrow view of what many think it means to be a man. Christopher questioned why men are required to shut off whole parts of themselves in order to show up the way others expected. In 2016, he began interviewing men around the topic of vulnerability and in 2020 launched The Vulnerable Man podcast, holding hundreds of conversations along the way with men who yearned to show up more wholly and humanly.
The Whole Man: Evolving Masculinity explores the current parameters of masculinity, and challenges us to evolve them so they become more inclusive and allow men to stop hiding parts of themselves. Christopher shows why and how we benefit when we destigmatize the word ‘vulnerability’ for men so that they can better connect with themselves and the people in their lives.
“Christopher Veal knows well the typical images of masculinity and strength that often dominate our culture. He also knows how they can conflict with reality -- and with the importance of embracing humanity and vulnerability. By sharing his story and guiding the reader, Christopher offers beautiful insight into living an emotionally and psychologically healthy life and shows why doing so makes a man even stronger.”
– Josh Levs, author of the award-winning book All In: How Our Work-First Culture Fails Dads, Families, and Businesses – And How We Can Fix It Together
About Christopher
Christopher Veal is a former combat veteran, and a Black man with 25 years of experience in talent and leadership development. He hosts The Vulnerable Man podcast, is a TEDx speaker, and an executive coach and leadership consultant. He works with leaders to leverage vulnerability to create a deeper connection between themselves and those under their charge. Christopher continues to learn how to be more vulnerable himself, finding inspiration in his amazing daughter. His new book, The Whole Man, is an examination of what it means to be a man, and how we benefit from evolving our definitions of masculinity and manhood in the 21st century.
“Being vulnerable is counterintuitive to all that we learn and are taught but it is absolutely necessary if you want to really connect with the men and women you lead and want to truly gain their respect! When I was vulnerable, I was better. When was I not, I wasn’t nearly as effective!”
– Howie Cohen, Director, Charlie Mike Channel at Pivotal Moments Media
Technology has given us the ability to always be connected, yet it does so by removing real human interaction.
We wind up being more DIS-connected from ourselves and others, creating versions of us that we believe the world wants to see instead of being our authentic selves. In this TEDx BEND (Oregon) Talk, Christopher Veal shares three keys that help us find deeper and more meaningful connection with ourselves and others, which in turn will improve our health and create a better world.