31. Masculinity. Vulnerability. Growing up. Are the boys alright?
From Fully Lit by Impact Studios and The Sydney Review of Books
June 4, 2026 · 45 min · Episode 31
About this episode
The episode explores masculinity and vulnerability through a conversation with writers about the inner lives of men.
In this episode of Fully Lit , we head to the Addi Road Writers’ Festival for a wide‑ranging conversation on masculinity, vulnerability, and the inner lives of men. Writer Luke Carman is joined by George Haddad, author of Losing Face , and debut novelist Jet Williams to explore what it means to write — and read — men today. From graffiti culture and underground urban exploration to questions of embodiment, intimacy and cultural expectation, the discussion moves between lived experience and literary form. Williams reflects on writing for readers who don’t usually pick up books, while Haddad speaks candidly about hospitality, identity and the complexities of masculinity within family and culture. Together, they consider why art can still feel “embarrassing” for young men, the pressures of conformity, and the value of writing that resists easy answers. Along the way, they ask what it means to represent masculinity beyond crisis — and whether literature can offer something more honest, more expansive. At its core, this is a conversation about connection: how we find language for difficult experiences, and how the most personal stories can resonate far beyond the self. Voices Luke…
People in this episode
Host: Luke Carman
Guests: George Haddad, Jet Williams
Topics covered
- masculinity
- vulnerability
- literary representation
- identity
- cultural expectations
- connection
Keywords
- masculinity
- vulnerability
- literature
- identity
- cultural expectations
- writing
- connection
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Losing Face, Off the Rails, An Elegant Young Man, Intimate Antipathies
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