This is an interesting essay, although I do think that Steven Tagle over-interprets male body-language. Yes, men often growl when they hug, but so do ladies when they go chest-to-chest. (Though, of course, it could be purring.)

By the way, the real male huggers in this world are not necessarily New Age or gay at all: they are merely Portuguese. Watch carefully: as Portuguese men (businessmen, politicians, everyone) extend their right hands for a shake, with their left hands they grasp each other tight around the back, and hug, and hug, and hug--turning even the most formal first encounter into a full-body grapple.

Back to radio: I think this essay would make a wonderful feature sound-piece, with the Steven's narration interspersed with real, live, you-are-there hug recordings. I can hear them now:

"Oh, John!...
"Oh, James!...

(Sound of male hug: "Grrrrr!" +pat-pat-pat)

Followed, of course, by:

"Oh, Latanya!......
"Oh, Trixie!!!..."

(Sound of female hug: "MMMMMmmm!...Purrrr!" + pat-pat-pat)

Unfortunately, I suspect that actual hug field recordings will turn out to be far less dramatic than the above, and sound more like:

(Traffic ambience. Then

"OK, so, like, I'll see you..."
"OK, like, whatever..."

Traffic fades...)

Thus, the radio hug will have to be cued in some way, perhaps with music provided by a convenient orchestra or, these days, cell-phone signal.

There are infinite possibilities. And I hereby give Steven Tagle an encouraging male...I mean, email...hug. (Grrr...pat-pat-pat...Music soars.)