On October 19, 2024, 30 men were asked to partake in a series of conversations aimed at exploring male vulnerability and masculinity in today’s society. Over the span of 12 hours, each individual bared their most honest feelings—one by one. The questions varied, but revolved around one in particular… ‘What do you wish the men in your life spoke more openly amongst themselves?’ Link in @insidevoicesproductions & @insidevoicesseries bio Directed by: @quarialleyne & @stefanliautaud Director of Photography: @holytoldedophoto Cinematography by: @shupachi Production Assistants: @primarizero & @yourgoodfriendyoussoupha #mensmentalhealthawareness #fathersday

In the middle of a conversation I was having a few weeks back that took a slew of twists and turns, as long two hour conversations usually do, I remember saying something along the lines of, “We didn’t have examples of what to be, we had cautionary tales of who not to become.” It was something I don’t think I ever verbalized before that moment and it actually caught me off guard that I did without much forethought. It brought me back to this moment with my father during our @insidevoicesseries shoot a year ago today—that actually didn’t make the final cut. But as I watched this clip back more and more over the last few months, I’m realizing how much of what he says here is representative of so many of the issues that are perpetuated in our communities. Without even knowing it, my dad tackled that in less than a minute. His honesty in this moment, reflecting on what he lacked to see modeled in his own formative years, leading him to many of the same missteps that those before him failed to give him insight on, was sobering to witness in real time. I saw myself. I heard myself. And above all, I saw my father’s humanity front and center and it permitted me to see my own and reckon with it. We become what we see until we make a conscious decision not to be. And I’m grateful for the grace offered to stretch beyond the limits we’re often bound to and shift “norms” that fail to promote growth in the right direction. And much of that just starts with assuming and accepting your own responsibility. Follow @insidevoicesproductions and @insidevoicesseries for more

When we shot @insidevoicesseries on this day last year, I had no idea what to expect when it eventually came out. At certain points, I questioned whether it ever would. The ever present battle of self critical inner doubts—that I think we all suffer from at varying degrees—grew louder and louder as days passed by. And with as many projects that have been scrapped at the hands of this same inner critic—which @stefanliautaud can attest to on my behalf—I worried that this one would suffer the same fate. Dying before it even ever had a chance to come to life. But there was something about this project that kept quieting that critic every time it took center stage. Whether it was the time, honesty and vulnerability that each person that showed up displayed. The man and woman power that it took to create this offering. The countless hours of belaboring what this would become when there was nothing tangible to show for it other than the vision I was sharing verbally with those I told. For the first time in a long time, I believed that what was being made was bigger than myself. Not for recognition. Not for a check. Not for the potentiality of another opportunity. Not to prove anything to anyone. But for myself and the people that I knew personally and how their words, stories and emotions could potentially help and inspire others. In a lot of ways, I found my own inside voice through this project. And I owed it to a lot of people to find that voice, stand firm in it and utilize it more often. Nothing about this project was seeking perfection. And there’s a beauty in working with very beings who are imperfect themselves that made something like this work. I have nothing but gratitude for those who helped and showed up. Those who have kept it alive even after its release. And those who haven’t failed to let me know how it’s impacted them and their own loved ones. The most important project I’ve worked on thus far and I can say that without an ounce of hyperbole. The fact that a whole year later this project is still living and breathing is more than I could ever ask for. @stefanliautaud @holytoledophoto @shupachi @primarizero @yousdotcom Thank y’all❤️ 🗣️🤲🏾

“I think that’s a good example of being bottled up—the snake’s quick to react.” - @thegoosegoblin Excerpt from @insidevoicesseries When I first met Micah through @yousdotcom last year, I remember walking away from our interaction the same I do with so many that are similar, thinking to myself, ‘that’s a cool ass white dude.’ Which is a far cry from the adverse, ‘he’s a total asshole’ which is unfortunately much more common. But my judgment on him didn’t come without much interrogation. And not the typical, cheesy, low-hanging, ask a whole bunch of questions to see if he’s cool enough to get an invite to the ‘proverbial cookout.’ I watched him. How he talked. More importantly how he listened. How he saw us, a group of friends who had known each other for years, who shared common values, experiences, a language and an identity. And not only did he fit right in, he didn’t stand out—which I’ll say is much harder to do. I’ve got a respect for those who don’t try too hard for any level of acceptance in spaces where they’re the outlier. The ability to just be yourself, be comfortable enough in your own skin to know that who you are is more than what anyone is asking for. And on some level, it made me reflect on how I’ve operated in primarily white spaces throughout my life. And when I didn’t always feel comfortable doing exactly what I just mentioned. My respect for him alone made me want to feature him on @insidevoicesseries . I knew he had a certain depth to him and I was right. Right off the bat, he answered the questions I threw at him with a level of care, thought, introspection and reflection that the project was asking for. When I look at what we got from this project, there are certain portions where you think to yourself, ‘there’s no way this could’ve gone out without this being included.’ Many of Micah’s responses fit this criteria and I couldn’t be more grateful. To Micah, thank you for your transparency and vulnerability bro. It was a pleasure meeting you then, and it’s an honor to call you the homie today. Much love always and congrats to you and Autumn on the engagement!🫂 Follow @insidevoicesproductions + @insidevoicesseries for more.

What’s Inside? BTS 002 12. Hours. @stefanliautaud @shupachi @holytoledophoto @primarizero @yousdotcom THANK YALL❤️🫂

“I’m learning not to view where I’m currently at as a failure.” - @_.crownish Excerpt from @insidevoicesseries When I first met Rosman back in 2015, we were gearing up for our freshman year at Herkimer—both of us three hours from home, completely out of our element in what could only be described as “the boonies.” I arrived on campus with one goal in mind: how the hell could I get out of here as fast as possible? While many of my friends went off to blue blood schools or chose to forego college altogether, I saw JUCO as a waste of time. Looking back, those two years were some of the best of my life. What we learned, what we went through… ping-ponging each other’s cars to get around, living off the $200 RA checks that kept us afloat and the countless stories we still laugh about today. But one thing stood out the more we talked over the years: how much of an anchor he was for his family. The pressures of being the sons of single mothers aren’t unique to anyone. I think we all want to give our mothers the lives, love, care and honor that we often observe is often voided by a lack of male support. But in his case, it went a step further. Supporting himself and his mom while navigating college as a first gen and an uncertain future wasn’t easy by any means. And it’s enough pressure to break most. When we spoke on @insidevoicesseries , one word kept surfacing: failure. His fear of it, his perception of it, his hyper-awareness of it. It resonated deeply. And in a society that often measures men’s worth on what you can provide financially, it’s hard not to have it take up a load of mental space. To Rosman, as someone who’s watched you face every challenge—your brother’s incarceration, humble beginnings, and attempting to build something to be proud of—you could never be a failure—no matter what the world’s barometer of success is. Thank you for the years of inspiration, support, and friendship—from Res Run to Stony to now🫂 Follow @insidevoicesproductions + @insidevoicesseries for more.

“Once you lose yourself, it’s very hard to find yourself again.”- @irrick_ When I first moved to Ossining in 4th grade, I carried the same worries most “new kids” do. Would I make friends? Hate where I’m living? How many fights am I going to get into after telling people where I’m from? Thankfully, most of those fears dissipated quickly—thanks in large part to four people: Gregory Jackson (Rest Easy❤️🕊️), @shea.hb0 , @b.hoyt_ , and the man in the video above, Irrick “Slug” Maynes. I vividly remember one of my first days at Claremont Elementary, scanning the recess yard for someone to connect with. I needed an “in.” Then I spotted Slug, with his patented soft-spoken and at the time mightily squeaky voice, sitting courtside in the newly released LeBron IVs. That was it. A single compliment on a then stranger’s sneakers, in 2006, blossomed into a nearly 20-year friendship filled with everything—loss, laughs, fights, near-death moments, and everything else teenage boys get into as they come into their own. There are very few things bond people like collective grief. And God knows we’ve had our share of it. But we’ve remained crutches, literally at times, for each other throughout. When we lost G, we cried on each other’s shoulders. When Irrick lost the most important person in his life four years ago, we showed up again—with ears, words, and space to feel. That same intention guided me when I asked him to be part of @insidevoicesseries realizing that my own worst fear was one he had faced head on years earlier. To my brother—though distance separates us, the love remains infinite. My prayers and condolences are with you and your family through yet another tough chapter. And while I couldn’t make the service, I hope this serves as a living testament to your continued strength and resilience. Lastly, thank you for taking a lonely fish out of water under your wing in ‘06 so lunch didn’t feel so lonely. Love always, family. ❤️🫂 Ms. Val, Dutch and G are looking down on you proud. Follow @insidevoicesproductions + @insidevoicesseries for more

What’s Inside: BTS 001 Told @stefanliautaud keep the cams rolling.

“I don’t feel that manhood should be connected to who necessarily who you are.” - Barry Jaffess Excerpt from @insidevoicesseries I don’t think there was anyone throughout my high school tenure whose care, outside of my family, had a bigger impact on me than Mr. Barry Jaffess. Whether it was life advice, navigating relationships, family hardships, self doubt, the incessant reminder to never get into credit card debt, etc. I was fortunate enough throughout my time at OHS to get the human side of Jaffess every single time we interacted. There was never a time where he failed to speak life into me, even in my lowest moments. A voice of consistency, empathy and a lack of judgement that I could count on any time I went to him. When you hear me say I wouldn’t have graduated without him, I mean it. I had enough absences my senior year to disqualify me from walking the stage. And as someone who had always been a high achiever, having that be a reality for me was a wake up call to say the least. I should’ve failed. I deserved to. But because of our conversations, because of our connection, because of his humanity—I miraculously remember looking at my end of the year transcript and seeing I received an A in his class. I didn’t deserve it. I didn’t earn it. But he saw more in me than I saw in myself at the time. I’m blessed to have been able to not only make him proud 10 years later, but to not make him regret his decision to stick out his neck on my behalf out of his belief in me. To Mr. Jaffess, I’m grateful to call you a friend all these years later. Thank you for your consistent graciousness, the way in which you check up on me, your unsolicited advice that always seems to come at the PERFECT time. You’re a light for me, you’re a light for your family and you’re a light for every student who’s had the fortune of stepping through your classroom door. Here’s to your last and final year at OHS, good sir❤️🫂 Follow @insidevoicesproductions & @insidevoicesseries for more.

“One of the bravest things I feel like you can do is to allow yourself to be vulnerable.” - Dr. Randy Sconiers Excerpt from @insidevoicesseries As I scanned through my Rolodex of names that I considered featuring on @insidevoicesseries last year, many had been on my mind for some time. Many of the names I had known for well over a decade. But @doc.s_ was one of the few that didn’t meet this criteria. We actually didn’t meet in person until shoot day, funny enough. Yet, he was one of the people I knew would be vital to a project of this nature. Our paths crossed initially in 2019. I was heads down working on my final thesis project for one of my journalism courses. The topic at hand: The prevalence of metal detectors in inner city schools and their impact on students. As the son of two correction officers and a friend to many who have been impacted by the school to prison pipeline—the topic was near and dear to me. Low on sources for the story, I was lacking an authority who could speak to the mental health impacts of the device’s presence. Insert, @doc._s . A licensed social worker with a Doctorate in Social Work. Experience counseling youth in inner city communities. A trained mental clinician. He was the perfect person for my project… And five years later, I would be repeating those words again. Dr. Sconiers is the owner and founder of @mentalhop . A platform dedicated to exploring mental health education through hip-hop. What a concept. What a mission. Dr. Sconiers breathed life into this project before he even knew it. We discussed the power of vulnerability, the illusions our egos create and his own healing journey as a mental health professional. Dr. S, thank you for your mission, your work, your time and for your willingness to help whenever I reach out. It means the world. I’m inspired by your words, your action and your consistency. And much like my thesis project, this wouldn’t have been the same without you as a part of it. Follow @insidevoicesproductions & @insidevoicesseries for more

“I want to be able to be that version of myself that the younger version of myself always needed.” - @aviwizwer I can’t recall the first time I met Avi, but I do remember the impression he left on me. It had to be around 2010-11. He had this inherent younger brother energy to him—persistent, curious, sometimes endearing, sometimes overbearing (depending on the day). He was Josh’s little brother by blood, but everyone else’s by proxy. I think I always gravitated toward Avi because of his curiosity. He stayed with a question. And as someone who was the same way, I saw myself in him. It’s no surprise he’s wound up in the profession he did. The summer before I left for college, I used to pick him up around 5 or 6 A.M. to train for basketball. Heavily inspired by @devinthelab ‘10,000 Hours’ at the time. No matter how grueling the workout, Avi showed up with enthusiasm. Weights, getting shots up, hitting the track, running hills—he kept showing up. That work ethic earned my respect—especially for someone his age. Often, another one of my younger brothers by proxy, Kahseem (who’s no longer with us🕊️), would join us. I saw pieces of myself in both of them and think I felt a responsibility to pour into them however I could. That summer work ethic? Avi’s kept it going. And the @theonepercentpodcast_ platform he’s built through college and beyond is proof. In our recent conversation on @insidevoicesseries —ranging from struggles with vulnerability, self-doubt, recognizing his father’s own humanity, to his own self-exploration—I left this shoot with the same deep respect I had back at those breakfast club workouts at Club Fit. @aviwizwer , thank you for your time, your inspiration, your support—and for making me proud of all you’ve become. Be sure to check out Avi’s work @theonepercentpodcast_ Follow @insidevoicesproductions & @insidevoicesseries for more.

“Allowing that sense of vulnerability to actually be a part of your everyday life is very, very important as I get older.” - @bobby.bodega Excerpt from @insidevoicesseries “What’s Inside?” series. Link in bio The way I’ve been explaining what brought about the idea for the @insidevoicesseries to those who ask, is that every question I asked each person featured, was first asked by myself to myself. I’ve had to have some hard conversations with myself over the years. I’ve had to reckon with some things over the years. And if I’m being honest—I still am. But, I knew if that was the reality for me, then it had to be at least somewhat be the same for others. And the only I way was going to find out was to ask. I was first introduced to Bobby nearly a decade ago through my own brother, Olu (@primarizero ) They share an uncle/nephew relationship but are truly more like siblings themselves. I don’t think there’s ever been a conversation that I’ve had with O where Bobby wasn’t brought up at least once. That’s how much Bobby means to him. As an artist, Bobby’s natural disposition is reserved and interrogative. So much of why can be heard in music. Songs like ‘Famous Nobody 2’ detail why. Bobby’s entire life has been about survival. Surviving his environment growing up in a 90s/2000s Bronx environment that spared no one. Surviving the guilt that comes with being one of the only ones in your crew still present, whether in the physical or in spirit. Surviving the pressures that have made him who he is. And surviving the weight of losing the most important person in his life—his own mother. I’m grateful to Bobby for being willing to share so openly. His courage and openness inspired me on the day of, but as I’ve gotten to sit with this project in its completed state, I’m stricken by how much I’m noticing as a viewer of the work. I also implore you to check out some of Bobby’s music, which has been a soundtrack to many of my own introspective moments. His latest single, ‘Gravity,’ is on streaming platforms now. Follow @primari.color to stay up to date with his music. @bobby.bodega thank you, brother Follow @insidevoicesproductions and @insidevoicesseries for more.