Why This Man Cries at Videos of Strangers — with Jesson Mata

Send us Fan Mail What if the bravest thing a man can do is cry — in public? Jesson Mata has become known online for doing exactly that: filming himself reacting openly, often tearfully, to videos of strangers in social media reels — moments of love, loss, courage, kindness, and heartbreak. No re-shoots, no staging; he only films when the tears are real. In a culture that still teaches men to harden up and hide what hurts, he's offering a different picture of strength. In this conversation, Jesson traces where that tenderness comes from: a year volunteering with Mother Teresa's sisters in Calcutta, six years in seminary studying philosophy and theology, and a personal trainer's front-row seat to how people really feel about themselves. He talks about choosing compassion over outrage in an algorithm built for anger, owning his effeminate traits as strength rather than apology, and the video that started it all — a grieving father in an ambulance who had lost his 12-year-old daughter, and the lesson Jesson took from him: we don't know the journey that brought someone to the moment we're witnessing. Warm, honest, and full of the reframes that make pain useful. You aren't broken. You're human. SHOW NOTES: - Free BETA course: "Addiction and How to Help: A Plain-Language Community Guide" — 100% free in exchange for feedback. Sign up at soulnotskin.com Resources & Workbooks: Book • Free Starter Guide • Heal What Raised You Workbook • Website © 2026 soulnotskin. All rights reserved.