The Dishcast with Andrew Sullivan Tom Junod On Masculinity And His Dad
May 1, 2026
Tom Junod, acclaimed magazine journalist and memoirist, reflects on his complicated father and the rituals of masculinity. He recounts theatrical grooming, reinvention, hidden sexual lives, and how family secrets shaped him. The conversation traces origins of his memoir, the performance of manhood, and the cost of keeping painful truths silent.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Title Frames Masculinity As Taught
- Tom Junod's book title comes from Led Zeppelin and frames his memoir as a literal recounting of being taught manhood.
- He says he was "told what it means to be a man" in his youth, signalling the book's exploration of learned masculinity.
Father's Carefully Crafted Glamour
- Tom describes his father as obsessively groomed: gleaming tan, green eyes, pinky ring and a gold-plated WWII dog tag.
- He recalls specific wardrobe choices like turtlenecks or a white collar and constant self-polishing that created a theatrical persona.
Metrosexual Masculinity Before The Term
- Tom's father combined hyper-masculine style with feminine grooming rituals, making him an early 'metrosexual.'
- He carried a man-bag full of lotions and wore women's after-bath splash Jeunette as his signature scent.
