Show Notes
The case of the podcast host who can't speak bro. For twelve years, Yowei has been trying — and failing — to have a normal conversation with her husband's best friend. It's not for lack of goodwill. Her theory? He speaks bro, and she doesn't know how. But what exactly is bro-speak, and can she learn to be fluent? Yowei finds herself a proxy bro who can teach her the language. In this episode: the unspoken rules of bro banter, why some men communicate through shit-talking, and how to connect with someone who speaks a different emotional language.
From the episode: — Jason Stewart — podcaster, DJ, and co-host of How Long Gone. Follow him on Instagram and X @themjeans. — Scott Kiesling — professor of linguistics at the University of Pittsburgh, whose work explores masculinity and how men use talk to build relationships and their identities. Learn more at sfkiesling.com.
New to Proxy? Try Bisexual Wife Guy for a classic case, or The First Ever Extrovert-Introvert Cage Match for another case about what happens when friends have different ideas of connection.
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