On October 18 at the Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto, one of the world’s leading men’s health charities Movember put together a panel with the aim of pulling the curtain back on modern masculinity. The panel saw a full room of participants listen intently as our very own Editor, Samir Mourani, moderated a panel consisting of Grammy-nominated artist JP Saxe, professor Dr. Ellen Choi and Tychon Carter.
image: movember panel from l-r Samir Mourani, JP Saxe, ellen choi, tychon carter; credit steven branco
Movember Country Director Todd Minerson started off the event with opening remarks, sporting an incredible Movember-inspired jacket. But aside from the fashion statement, it was what he said that caught our attention. In June 2025, Movember will be releasing a groundbreaking report titled “The Real Face of Men’s Health.”It was released this past summer in the UK and Australia and is expected to be a foundational and groundbreaking report highlighting the realities of men’s mental health.
“Let them be there for you”
JP Saxe during movember panel
An important conversation
Moderator Samir Mourani opened the panel highlighting some key pieces about modern masculinity and the role it plays in shaping how men show up in the world. “There’s a lot happening in the world of masculinity and what it means to be a man” Samir noted. “You wake up one day and think to be a man you need to be strong, confident, and silent. Show aggression, dominance, force.” Ultimately what we’re seeing is a perception of masculinity that men feel they must attain and present to the outside world. This is an ever-important conversation to debunk this narrative in the hopes that men can begin to understand that vulnerability is not a weakness, it’s a strength. That it’s okay not to be okay. As Samir put it, “It’s easier to teach young men than it is to heal broken men”.
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image: audience members during movember panel; credit steven branco
You first
During the panel discussion, JP Saxe made it a point to talk about his approach with the people in his life when it comes to being honest and vulnerable. He refers to it by saying if you want someone to be open and honest with you, then you need to do the same with them. This in some way gives that person a sense of comfort that you feel comfortable in their presence and that they can reciprocate and share free of judgement in your presence. “Sometimes as a man, if you want people to feel safe around you and come to you with things…you show them by letting them be there for you.”
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image: audience members during movember panel; credit steven branco
Mindfulness practice
Name it to tame it. Dr. Ellen reflected on the importance of being mindful and how when you name it, you externalize it and can now step out of the very thing that’s troubling you. From there you suddenly are equipped with the ability to examine what’s triggering the emotion you’re feeling and can get to the root cause of the issue. “We all have attitudes based on a set of beliefs, we’re not always consciously processing the tape that’s inside of us running the program”.
You can either change your mindset about the thing or change the thing…
Tychon carter on the role of social media
Social media: Good or bad?
Social influencer Tychon Carter reflected on his challenges with the very platform that he makes a living off of. It’s a love-hate relationship that can at times way heavy on him. Something many of us can resonate with. Social media perpetuates a cycle of constantly searching for dopamine hits via likes, comments, and views. The reality is this is an unsustainable way of living and for that reason, Tychon reflected on why he had to finally take a break from the platform. “I felt like it was having such a negative impact on my mental health. Constantly comparing, constantly stuck in the numbers.
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image: samir mourani opening remarks during movember panel; credit steven branco
Gent’s Talk x Movember
For those who were unable to attend this powerful and impactful panel discussion, the event was recorded and will be converted into an episode on Gent’s Talk. The episode will air on Monday, November 4 at 2 pm ET.
