Rephonic
Artwork for Learned the Hard Way

Learned the Hard Way with Kier Gaines

iHeartPodcasts
Relationships
Masculinity
Therapy
Marriage
Mental Health
Male Friendships
Anger
Masking
Code Switching
Toxic Masculinity
Depression
Ryan Clark
Humor As Coping Mechanism
Communication In Relationships
Leadership
Parenthood
Be My Peace
Money
Emotions
Fatherhood

No fluff. No judgment. Just real talk. Licensed therapist Kier Gaines brings over a decade of insight to break down what it really means to be a man today the pressure, the innovation, the grief, the joy, the grind, and the opportunities to thrive. With honest stories, actionable tips, and unfiltered insights, this is the space to level up, heal, and grow. On your terms.

Edited and produced by Id... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes33Founded7 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Mental HealthHealth & FitnessRelationshipsSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Learned the Hard Way

Latest Episodes

What happens when you stop believing your voice matters? And when it comes to Black men and politics, are we really disengaged, or are we just tired of being disappointed?

This week on Learned The Hard Way, Kier Gaines sits down with Cliff Albright... more

Let's have a conversation that a lot of men would rather avoid.

What does consent really mean? Why do so many men get defensive when women share their experiences with sexual violence? And why does it sometimes take something happening to our mothe... more

This week on (L)earned The Hard Way, Kier Gaines is getting into the business of online outrage, rage bait, and the way social media can quietly shape how we see ourselves, our relationships, and the people around us.From hate-watching content we can... more

What if the hardest part of parenting isn't raising your kids, but confronting the parts of yourself you haven't healed?

Parenting doesn't come with a manual, and even when you think you've figured it out, your kids have a way of reminding you just... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Cliff Albright
Co-founder and executive director of Black Voters Matter, organizer and political commentator
Black Voters Matter
Episode: EP 32: What Does America Owe Black Men? ft. Cliff Albright
Jamyle Cannon
Community advocate, father, and founder of The Bloc Chicago
The Bloc Chicago
Episode: EP 31: Who Taught Us That? Men, Boys & Consent ft. Jamyle Cannon
Dr. Becky Kennedy
Psychologist, founder of Good Inside
Good Inside
Episode: EP 29: Are You Parenting Your Kids or Your Childhood? ft Dr. Becky Kennedy
Charlamagne Tha God
Media personality
The Breakfast Club, Black Effect Podcast Network
Episode: EP 28: Surviving to Thriving ft. Charlamagne Tha God
Will Packer
Hollywood blockbuster producer; executive producer for the episode
Will Packer Media / multiple projects in film and TV
Episode: EP 25: What If Success Isn’t the Finish Line? ft. Will Packer
Jason Rosario
Guest; finance and inclusion leadership background, Chief Diversity Officer background
Former Chief Diversity Officer at a major advertising agency
Episode: EP 23: Your Job Is Not Your Identity ft. Jason Rosario
Dakotah Tyler
Astrophysicist, Dr. StarKid
Dr. StarKid / astrophysics community
Episode: EP 20: Why Men Are Afraid to Say “I Don’t Know” ft. Dr. Dakotah Tyler
Tiffany Aliche
Financial educator known as The Budgetnista
The Budgetnista / getgoodwithmoney.com
Episode: EP 18: Money Won't Make You Feel Safe ft Tiffany Aliche (The Budgetnista)
Savon Slater
Producer, podcaster, co-host of Can't Afford Therapy
Can't Afford Therapy
Episode: EP 16: The Performance Tax: The Price Black People Pay to Succeed (Ft. Savon & Antoinette from the Can’t Afford Therapy Podcast)

Host

Kier Gaines
Host of the show; licensed therapist; focuses on therapy-informed guidance, masculinity, relationships, and personal growth.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 337 ratings
  • Doing God’s Work

    Been following you for some years now so it’s great to see you start a podcast. This right here is exactly what’s needed right now for our community. You’re providing solutions to help us become whole so that we can show up as our best versions for our community. To me that doing God’s Work. Peace to you bro. Keep going!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Vonkc119
    United States2 months ago
  • Just WOW

    This podcast makes every other podcast look bad😭

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    okayke
    United States2 months ago
  • Grateful for the mirror

    Sometimes it is easier to look into a mirror when someone else is holding it up. Thanks for holding it up, so I have the space and energy to reflect! In addition, the conversation here feels approachable and trustworthy. It’s invigorating whenever I come across other black men who grew up in SE in the 90’s that made it through surviving and are living life. Hope you keep this space

    PS Brova 60 mins too short that's right when you really start cooking cooking

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TheFadeArcade
    United States2 months ago
  • Incredible Wisdom & Inspiration

    I’ve appreciated following Kier on social media for a while now and I’m extremely excited about the pod. Just in the first few episodes I’ve listened to, I’ve gained wisdom, I have questions and conversation material for me and my friends to grow from, and more than anything I feel like I have another dope resource for me to grow in my own experience as a husband and father. Really appreciate you and your work bro. Keep going

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Coach_Bgodfrey
    United States3 months ago
  • Much Needed

    Kier gives great insight about many issues that go unspoken when it comes to men’s mental health. It’s also relatable for both men and women! Keep up the much needed and phenomenal work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JojoDilworth
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans note the show's honesty and depth, with actionable takeaways.
Audiences appreciate authentic storytelling and diverse guests that challenge stereotypes.
Listeners praise practical, stigma-reducing discussions of men's mental health and relationships.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP 32: What Does America Owe Black Men? ft. Cliff Albright
Q: How do you build up the stamina to keep going?
Albright says organizing brings both victories and setbacks, and that losses should be understood as part of a longer story rather than its end. He also emphasizes making space for Black love, joy and culture.
EP 32: What Does America Owe Black Men? ft. Cliff Albright
Q: When you go out and talk to folks about voting, what are you seeing, specifically when you talk to Black men?
Albright says people may not participate because they lack information or confidence, but he prefers to start conversations about power and what people want for their families and communities rather than beginning with voter registration.
EP 31: Who Taught Us That? Men, Boys & Consent ft. Jamyle Cannon
Q: Why is it that a lot of us can feel the gravity of the conversation only if you say something like, 'What if it was your sister?'
Cannon says men can treat harm to female relatives as an affront to their own ego rather than empathizing with women generally, a pattern tied to being taught to disconnect from their emotions. Gaines adds that people often feel empathy more intensely when an issue affects them directly.
EP 31: Who Taught Us That? Men, Boys & Consent ft. Jamyle Cannon
Q: What did you learn about consent as a kid?
Gaines says he learned that consent must be overt, that no means stop, that intoxication can make consent invalid, and that consent can be withdrawn during sex. Cannon adds that a yes is not sufficient if someone is afraid, pressured, too intoxicated, or repeatedly asked.
EP 19: You Can't Fix People You Love
Q: How should a spouse support someone dealing with anxiety or depression when the other person isn't ready to seek help?
Start with a light touch: notice and name what you see without diagnosing, express genuine care, and avoid pressuring for immediate change; focus on your own reactions and invite dialogue rather than forcing therapy.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Learned the Hard Way

What is Learned the Hard Way about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A pragmatic, therapy-informed conversation about modern manhood, relationships, mental health, and personal growth. Across episodes, the host and guests explore masculinity, boundaries, parenting, career pivots, and financial wellbeing, blending real-life stories with actionable strategies for healing, communication, and self-authorship. The show often features high-profile guests and practitioners who share hard-won insights on resilience, vulnerability, and leading with intention in work and family life. A standout is the steady focus on reducing stigma around mental health for men while offering concrete frameworks for everyday change, making it helpful for listeners seeking practical guidance and deeper self-work.

Particularly notewort... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Learned the Hard Way?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Learned the Hard Way. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Learned the Hard Way and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Learned the Hard Way get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Learned the Hard Way, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Learned the Hard Way?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Learned the Hard Way, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Learned the Hard Way have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Learned the Hard Way has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Learned the Hard Way?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Learned the Hard Way:

1. LOVERS by Shan
2. Ellis Ever After
3. Myleik Teele's Podcast
4. Baby, this is Keke Palmer
5. Ratchet & Respectable

How many episodes of Learned the Hard Way are there?

Learned the Hard Way launched 7 months ago and published 33 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Learned the Hard Way?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Learned the Hard Way?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Learned the Hard Way from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Learned the Hard Way?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Learned the Hard Way. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Learned the Hard Way?

Recent guests on Learned the Hard Way include:

1. Cliff Albright
2. Jamyle Cannon
3. Dr. Becky Kennedy
4. Charlamagne Tha God
5. Will Packer
6. Jason Rosario
7. Dakotah Tyler
8. Tiffany Aliche

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days