There was a midlife frown, furrowed and creased with feigned interest growing on the host’s face, while pitching my story of love, hope and recovery to this domed male podcaster who had heard it all before. He was rolling his eyes, waiting impatiently for a juicy story angle to descend like manna from heaven.

My story was thought to be missing a hook for male listeners expecting a fix of modern masculinity, and as we talked, there was a distinct sense of opposing views sliding into sinking sands, of crossed communication lines, with neither party having the enthusiasm, will, or energy to close the deal or terminate the conversation.

A breakdown survivor’s love story for the modern age, twenty years on the writer’s comeback trail, all proofed and sealed in paperback glory was, it appeared, frayed old rope for this podcast branded on conversation and context around real men with real lives.

So, with gnawing hostility spilling over, on trying to find some common truthful ground on what makes a man a man these days, we left the question hanging across the dead air of the internet. And, in respect of any future collaboration, we took the mutually beneficial decision to pull the plug on the microphone lead for the time being.