Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens

240: Talk to Your Boys: Raising Confident, Caring Young Men

13 snips

Oct 7, 2025

Guest

Christopher Pepper

Guest

Joanna Schroeder

Joanna Schroeder, a writer and media critic focused on parenting, and Christopher Pepper, a health educator, share their insights on raising emotionally healthy boys. They discuss why many boys shut down emotionally and offer practical strategies for parents to engage them meaningfully. The conversation covers vital topics like teaching consent, combating harmful online influences, and fostering compassion over toughness. Their warm advice empowers parents to break through barriers and connect with their sons more deeply in today's complex world.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Grounded Expertise Matters

Christopher Pepper and Joanna Schroeder are 'boots on the ground' who understand boys from direct work and interviews.
That lived connection makes their guidance practical and rooted in boys' real needs.

ADVICE

Keep Emotional Engagement Through Early Teens

Do not stop engaging emotionally with boys around age 13; persist in conversations as they grow.
Keep connecting even if roles shift to driving or supervising activities.

INSIGHT

Emotional Armor Reduces Connection

Boys often learn to 'put on armor' emotionally to fit in and avoid bullying.
That protective armor interferes with close connection and increases loneliness.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Many boys are struggling, and parents are often left wondering how to reach them. If your tween or teen son seems distant, gives one-word answers, or is spending too much time online, you’re not alone.

In this episode of “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens,” psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan sit down with Joanna Schroeder and Christopher Pepper, authors of the book “Talk to Your Boys,” to tackle one of the toughest challenges parents face: raising confident, caring young men in today’s complicated world.

Joanna and Christopher draw on decades of experience working directly with boys to reveal what they really want from the adults in their lives, and how parents can help them grow into emotionally healthy, compassionate young men.

💡 YOU’LL LEARN:

- Why boys often shut down emotionally, and how to break through the silence- Practical strategies to start conversations that go beyond one-word answers- How to protect boys from harmful online influences and teach media literacy- Ways to talk about consent, respect, and healthy masculinity- How to support your son’s mental health and help him find purpose and connection

This conversation is full of warmth, honesty, and actionable advice. Whether you’re raising a middle schooler just starting to pull away or a high schooler navigating friendships, identity, and independence, you’ll leave with tools to connect more deeply with your son.

Follow and subscribe to our YouTube channel where you can see all our latest video episodes: https://youtube.com/@asklisapodcast

And follow us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn @AskLisaPodcast, @Lisa.Damour, @ReenaNinan.

Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources: https://www.drlisadamour.com/

Ask Lisa is produced by: https://www.goodtroubleproductions.com

Episode keywords: talk to your boys, joanna schroeder, chrisopher pepper, boys, parenting, teens, mental health, communication, masculinity, social media, emotions, raising sons

Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence