Last week, I introduced the “Free the Bulge” campaign. This movement is here to help guys feel confident in themselves and what they wear. It’s not just a one-time thing; it’s ongoing. Some of you have asked what’s next, so I’ve outlined the different phases of the movement.
Community Participation
I’m sharing my plans for “Free the Bulge” and what’s coming up. Some parts of the movement are already underway.
- Every Monday, I’ll post a “Free the Bulge” update to talk about the movement, what I’m working on, and what we hope you’ll join in too.
- We’ll host live shows on Riverside, where we can have real conversations and regular guys can call in to talk about different topics.
- Brief Tales will feature men sharing their stories to inspire others to feel confident in their favorite gear. You can share your story in writing or on the podcast.
- First Time Experiences: Share about the first time you wore a Speedo, tried spandex without shorts, or wore fun underwear to the gym, doctor, or anywhere else.
- Body Image and Acceptance: Guys can talk about their struggles and successes with how they see their bodies. It’s not always easy, but the more we share, the more we can normalize these experiences.
To make this work, I need your help! We need more guys to step up and share their stories. I already have a great group of regulars, but I hope many more of you will join in, be brave, and open up. If you’re thinking, “I don’t think I can share this,” remember how you feel when you hear someone else’s story and how it inspires you. Your story can do the same for others. Even if it feels ordinary or unremarkable, I promise it will inspire someone out there.
Books and more.
I’ve wanted to write a book about underwear for a long time. It started as a photo book idea, then became a book about underwear from our perspective. After seeing how great the Thong book was, I thought we could do something similar for other styles or for underwear in general. Here are some ideas I’ve had:
- Underwear 101: The basics every guy should know about underwear.
- History of Men’s Underwear: How styles have changed over time and what they say about our culture.
- Collections of short essays: Personal stories from guys about body confidence, how underwear has changed their lives (yes, it happens), and more.
I’ve already announced it, but I’m writing a romance novel centered around underwear. There’s a lot of myself in the story. I don’t have a title yet, and progress is slow because of work and school, but I keep working on the outline and timeline. The story is more about what could have been than what actually happened. I also have two more romance book ideas in mind, and I’m outlining one of them now. I hope you’ll enjoy them.
Real Life Meet Ups
I’ve been planning meetups and trips for a while now. I want to start a travel club so we can go places together, feel safe in a group, and wear Speedos or thongs at the pool or beach, even if it’s not always the most welcoming environment. Here are some of my ideas: Atlanta, where I live
- Live Podcasting – At events and when we travel
- Domestic Trips – Planned trips to San Diego, Palm Springs, Vegas, Puerto Rico, Porta Viarta, Miami, and more
- International Travel – Trips to attend Grip in London, Tight Storm in Austria, Australia (many things to mention), Tokyo, and more.
Real-life meetups are essential for moving this forward. It can’t just be an online community. We need to spend time together and really get to know each other in person. Meeting face-to-face makes our connections much stronger. There are so many people I want to meet, and I know there are many I haven’t met yet.
A big goal would be an event that UNB could host and enjoy, similar to a public Magic convention. For those who don’t know, Magic is a trade show in Vegas where brands used to showcase their new collections. This would be tough to organize since we’d need brands and guys to join and have fun activities. It’s probably for a later phase, but I like the idea of a yearly event like this. It may not happen, but it’s fun to plan!
Want to share your story or get involved fill out the form below.
Documentaries
I want to take the books a step further and create documentaries from our point of view. One idea I’ve had for a long time is a documentary about N2N Bodywear—their history, how the brand influenced the underwear and gear community, super fans sharing their thoughts, and models talking about working with N2N Bodywear. I have a full outline for this and have even talked to Andrew about doing it as a podcast. Why not take it to the next level?
Other documentary options include:
- Brands – how they affected the community
- Body issues and how underwear/gear helped.
This is a long-term journey, and I’ll need your support along the way. I hope you’ll share your stories and, if you can, help out financially. I plan to expand my Patreon to help cover these projects. Most of all, I’d love to hear your feedback and ideas. I don’t get much feedback now, but I know you’re up for it, and I’m excited to make more friends who love undies and gear.
