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People love simple villains. Real life doesn’t work that way, especially when you’re a Black trans man walking through the world already assumed to be angry, violent, controlling, or “toxic” before you say a word.

I’m Solomon, and I lay out why the Band of Brothers Mental Health Podcast exists: Black trans masculine folks and Black trans men deserve mental health support that is specific, affirming, and grounded in reality. I share the suicide statistics that pushed me to create this space, then I get clear about what this show is and isn’t. It’s educational and resource-focused, it can be triggering, and it’s not therapy or diagnosis. I also name crisis options for anyone dealing with suicidal ideation, including Trans Lifeline, BlackLine, Thrive Lifeline (text), and The Trevor Project.

Then we get into the hard conversation about gender, patriarchy, and the lazy logic of “all men.” I condemn abuse and violence without turning “men” into a single category, and I push back on the idea that trans men are automatically better than non-trans men. I’ve seen harm show up in every group, and pretending otherwise blocks growth. The real question is what we do with power, how we treat people when we don’t get what we want, and whether we’re willing to look at manipulation and control as real forms of violence.

If you care about Black trans mental health, gender-affirming therapy, peer support, and accountability that actually helps us heal, press play. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

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The Band of Brothers Mental Health Podcast is produced, written, and edited by Transman In Search of Media Atl, GA. Sound design and music production also created by Trans Man In Search of Media.

Support the Band of Brothers podcast, by becoming a paid subscriber or listener, info is on the website.

Tired of mainstream media ignoring Black trans folks and misrepresenting trans folks in general? Trans Man In Search of Media tells our stories, click the link below

Trans Man In Search of Media Substack:

https://transmaninsearchof.substack.com/

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We challenge the idea that Trans Day of Visibility is automatically empowering and ask who actually benefits when only one version of masculinity gets celebrated. We connect visibility, community standards, and self-definition to Black trans masculine mental health and offer concrete ways to seek support and protect your well-being.

• why the podcast centers Black trans masculine folks and Black trans men
• suicide statistics and why safety resources matter
• why visibility feels complicated when stealth is not a choice
• how the “ideal man” standard creates shame and exclusion
• questioning whether masculinity and manhood must look one way
• defining visibility and masculinity for ourselves as mental health work
• self-actualization as a path to stronger mental health and well-being
• gender affirming therapy and peer support groups like Band of Brothers
• supporting independent Black trans media through Trans Men In Search Of Media

Listen, follow, and subscribe to the podcast.

Share the podcast with other black trans masculine folks and black trans men.

Then subscribe to Trans Man In Search of Media. Support independent Black trans media.

If you enjoy the podcast, become a paid subscriber or supporter.

Support the show

The Band of Brothers Mental Health Podcast is produced, written, and edited by Transman In Search of Media Atl, GA. Sound design and music production also created by Trans Man In Search of Media.

Support the Band of Brothers podcast, by becoming a paid subscriber or listener, info is on the website.

Tired of mainstream media ignoring Black trans folks and misrepresenting trans folks in general? Trans Man In Search of Media tells our stories, click the link below

Trans Man In Search of Media Substack:

https://transmaninsearchof.substack.com/

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Isolation isn’t a personal flaw. It stems from the complexity of masculinity/manhood, blackness and transness. Black trans masculine folks and Black trans men have to navigate anti-blackness, transphobia and the double edge sword of manhood/masculinity. Because we can't find mental health care, community, peer support, friends, or family to help us navigate this complexity. Out of frustration, we may give up and avoid seeking the help we need, which pushes us into isolation and loneliness. This episode opens up a frank, unhurried conversation about how black trans masculine folks and black trans men are pushed into avoidance and loneliness.

We talk through the double-edged nature of masculinity and manhood: punished as toxic when it conforms, dismissed as weak when it refuses harm. The different factors that contribute to avoidance, isolation, and loneliness; and how forced conformity by the larger society through legislation and violence damages our mental health.

If you’ve felt alone inside complexity, this episode offers language and understanding in a way we as Black trans masculine folks and Black trans men don't hear often. Subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find care that affirms who they are.

Support the show

The Band of Brothers Mental Health Podcast is produced, written, and edited by Transman In Search of Media Atl, GA. Sound design and music production also created by Trans Man In Search of Media.

Support the Band of Brothers podcast, by becoming a paid subscriber or listener, info is on the website.

Tired of mainstream media ignoring Black trans folks and misrepresenting trans folks in general? Trans Man In Search of Media tells our stories, click the link below

Trans Man In Search of Media Substack:

https://transmaninsearchof.substack.com/

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Forgotten history sits just beneath the surface of our community, and today we dig it up with care. We walk through the Tenderloin after the Compton Cafeteria Riot to find trans organizers meeting at Glide Memorial, building Conversion Our Goal (COG) in 1967, and setting a standard for peer-led support that moved beyond survival. From there, we follow the thread to the National Transsexual Counseling Unit (NTCU) in 1968, a first-of-its-kind hub that offered counseling, referrals, job training resources, and legal guidance when official channels refused to see us.

We also spotlight the Labyrinth Foundation Counseling Service, founded in New York by trans man Dr. Angelo Torbene, also known as Mario Martino. Labyrinth shows what full-stack care looked like before the term existed: licensed mental health support tied directly to gender-affirming pathways, discreet coordination with outside institutions, help with name changes and IDs, and even weekend room, board, and transportation for clients traveling from out of town. Each piece speaks to a single goal—protect privacy, reduce harm, and get people to care faster. These organizations didn’t just resist stigma; they engineered solutions that worked on the ground.

By tracing these lineages, we connect the dots between yesterday’s mutual aid and today’s networks of telehealth, legal clinics, and community funds. We honor the Black and Brown trans leadership that set these efforts in motion, and we pull forward the practical lessons: centralize knowledge, build buffers against hostile systems, and keep services integrated so people aren’t left to navigate alone. If this history shifts how, you see our present, share the episode with someone who needs the receipts. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us which piece of this story you want us to explore next.

Further Info:

The Labyrinth Counseling Center, Dr. Angelo Torbene: 7d278t12c

History of Conversion Our Goal: Compton’s Cafeteria, 1966 – Guernica

Subject: National Transsexual Counseling Unit - Digital Transgender Archive Search Results

Support the show

The Band of Brothers Mental Health Podcast is produced, written, and edited by Transman In Search of Media Atl, GA. Sound design and music production also created by Trans Man In Search of Media.

Support the Band of Brothers podcast, by becoming a paid subscriber or listener, info is on the website.

Tired of mainstream media ignoring Black trans folks and misrepresenting trans folks in general? Trans Man In Search of Media tells our stories, click the link below

Trans Man In Search of Media Substack:

https://transmaninsearchof.substack.com/

Send us Fan Mail

This episode explores how social support shapes mental health for Black trans masculine folks and Black trans men, moving beyond crisis response to everyday thriving. The podcast offers a clear definition, two self-assessment questions, and practical ways to build aligned, reciprocal networks.

• mission and focus on Black transmasc folks and Black transmen’s mental health
• definition of social support and why it matters
• two questions to assess current networks
• shifting from crisis-only help to thriving support
• choosing affirming people who uplift goals
• reciprocity, consistency and staying connected
• fill out this questionnaire to measure support levels

Addition social support questions:

1. Family Support:

• How would you describe your relationship with your family? (close, distant, strained, no relationship)
• Do you feel comfortable discussing your gender identity and mental health with your family? (Yes/No)
• Have you experienced rejection or discrimination from your family due to your gender identity? (Yes/No)

2. Friend Support:

• How many close friends do you have?
• Do you feel comfortable discussing your gender identity and mental health with your friends? (Yes/No)
• Do your friends provide emotional support, practical help, or information related to your gender identity and mental health? (Yes/No/Don’t have any friends)

3. Community Support:

• Are you involved in any LGBTQ+ communities or organizations? (Yes/No)
• If yes, how does involvement in these communities impact your mental health? (Open-ended)
• Do you feel supported by the broader Black community? (Yes/No)

4. Overall Support:

• Overall, how would you rate your level of social support? (very poor, poor, acceptable, good, very good)
• What type of support do you find most helpful? (Open-ended)
• Are there any specific support needs that are currently unmet? (Open-ended)

The podcast was based on research found here. If you want to get into the technical aspect of social support, click the link.

Also, share, listen, follow, subscribe to the podcast, and continue to discuss mental health with other black trans masculine folks and black trans men

If you are suicidal or suffer from suicidal ideation, call TransLifeline 877-565-8860; Black Line 800-604-5841; Trans Lifeline text 313-662-8209; The Trevor Project 866-488-7396

Support the show

The Band of Brothers Mental Health Podcast is produced, written, and edited by Transman In Search of Media Atl, GA. Sound design and music production also created by Trans Man In Search of Media.

Support the Band of Brothers podcast, by becoming a paid subscriber or listener, info is on the website.

Tired of mainstream media ignoring Black trans folks and misrepresenting trans folks in general? Trans Man In Search of Media tells our stories, click the link below

Trans Man In Search of Media Substack:

https://transmaninsearchof.substack.com/

Send us Fan Mail

Ever wonder how far we've come in understanding transgender mental health? The journey from pathologization to progress has been long and challenging, but knowing this history is essential for appreciating our present and building a better future.

The Band Brothers Mental Health Podcast dives into the origins of transgender mental healthcare, tracing its evolution from the 19th century—when trans folks were misunderstood, labeled as homosexuals, and institutionalized—to today's more affirming approaches. This eye-opening exploration reveals how pioneering figures like Magnus Hirschfeld and Harry Benjamin began distinguishing transgender identities from sexual orientation, setting the stage for gradual improvements in understanding and care.

We reveal the significant shifts in medical perspectives, from the first formal diagnosis of "Psychopathia Transsexualialis" in 1949 to the inclusion of "transsexualism" in diagnostic manuals in the 1980s, and finally to the revolutionary change in the DSM-5 in 2013 that focused on gender dysphoria rather than pathologizing identity itself.

If we don't know where we have been, how far we have come, we will become discouraged and fall into despair. This episode offers a crucial historical perspective while emphasizing the importance of continued advocacy. The work isn't finished, but by understanding our collective journey, we can draw strength from those who persevered before us. Subscribe now to join a community committed to improving the mental health and support for Black transmen and Black transmasculine folks, because knowing our history empowers our future.

• DSM: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
• DCD: Disorders of Sexual Development
• ICD: International Classification of Diseases
• Reference: Psychiatry.org - Gender Dysphoria Diagnosis

Support the show

The Band of Brothers Mental Health Podcast is produced, written, and edited by Transman In Search of Media Atl, GA. Sound design and music production also created by Trans Man In Search of Media.

Support the Band of Brothers podcast, by becoming a paid subscriber or listener, info is on the website.

Tired of mainstream media ignoring Black trans folks and misrepresenting trans folks in general? Trans Man In Search of Media tells our stories, click the link below

Trans Man In Search of Media Substack:

https://transmaninsearchof.substack.com/

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Mental wellness begins with pruning our inner garden. Before we can create healthy boundaries with others, we must first address the negative thought patterns that lead us into relationships that don't serve us.

The Band of Brothers Mental Health Podcast tackles this crucial concept in our latest episode, "Is Your Cutoff Game Strong?" Host Solomon challenges the common understanding of "cutting people off" by suggesting a more profound approach: identifying and eliminating the internal thought patterns that attract harmful relationships in the first place. Using the powerful metaphor of gardening, Solomon explains how negative thoughts act as weeds, slowly choking our mental and emotional growth until we hardly notice the damage being done.

Through personal insights and a thoughtful analysis of a scene from Issa Rae's "Insecure," the episode explores how self-awareness about our mental health needs can guide healthier relationship choices. This is especially crucial for Black trans men, who face alarmingly high rates of suicidal ideation – 60% among young Black transmasculine folks according to the Trevor Project. The podcast exists precisely because these statistics demand specialized mental health resources for this community.

The episode offers practical guidance for distinguishing between cutting people off from a place of pride versus doing so from a place of growth. By understanding our mental health triggers and cultivating self-awareness, we can create space for positive thoughts and nurturing relationships that support our journey toward Black trans joy and wellbeing. Ready to strengthen your cutoff game from the inside out? Listen now and join us in cultivating mental wellness that begins with tending to your internal garden.

Support the show

The Band of Brothers Mental Health Podcast is produced, written, and edited by Transman In Search of Media Atl, GA. Sound design and music production also created by Trans Man In Search of Media.

Support the Band of Brothers podcast, by becoming a paid subscriber or listener, info is on the website.

Tired of mainstream media ignoring Black trans folks and misrepresenting trans folks in general? Trans Man In Search of Media tells our stories, click the link below

Trans Man In Search of Media Substack:

https://transmaninsearchof.substack.com/

Send us Fan Mail

A short introduction about the podcast.

Support the show

The Band of Brothers Mental Health Podcast is produced, written, and edited by Transman In Search of Media Atl, GA. Sound design and music production also created by Trans Man In Search of Media.

Support the Band of Brothers podcast, by becoming a paid subscriber or listener, info is on the website.

Tired of mainstream media ignoring Black trans folks and misrepresenting trans folks in general? Trans Man In Search of Media tells our stories, click the link below

Trans Man In Search of Media Substack:

https://transmaninsearchof.substack.com/