AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Creating a safe space for boys to open up and have deeper conversations is crucial. Boys often struggle with emotional fluency and have difficulty expressing their feelings or concerns. By modeling vulnerability and actively listening, parents can encourage boys to share and be more emotionally fluent. It is important for parents to treat boys as equals and not underestimate their capacity for understanding. Avoiding judgment and offering support can help boys develop more genuine friendships and navigate emotional challenges.
Toxic forms of masculinity perpetuate harmful attitudes towards women and hinder boys' emotional growth. Boys may feel the pressure to conform to societal expectations and compensate for perceived weaknesses. Challenging these stereotypes is crucial in promoting healthier relationships and overall well-being. Providing boys with tools to navigate relationships, communicate authentically, and challenge toxic beliefs can empower them to redefine masculinity on their own terms.
Fostering open communication within families, especially between parents and teenage boys, plays a vital role in addressing emotional well-being. Parents should create a judgment-free space where boys feel comfortable discussing their thoughts and feelings. Instead of overreacting, parents should approach conversations with curiosity, actively listening, and avoiding judgment. Establishing trust and respecting boys' agency allows for more intimate parent-child relationships and healthier emotional development.
Parents can support boys' emotional development by encouraging them to explore and express their feelings, while also teaching healthy coping mechanisms. This includes distinguishing between being hurt and being injured, as well as fostering emotional resilience. Having open, non-reactive conversations about discomfort and providing space for boys to learn how to navigate tough moments helps them develop agency and resilience. Parents should focus on being present, empathetic, and teaching boys that vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.
Having male role models in a child's life, regardless of biological relation, is crucial for their development. The speaker shares their experience as a single mother who used a sperm donor to conceive her son. Despite not having a father figure, the child has had various male role models, such as a male babysitter, family friends, and coaches, who have provided guidance, taught valuable life lessons, and filled the role of a father figure. These positive male influences have shaped the child's growth and understanding of the world, highlighting the significance of non-biological role models for boys.
Boys are often discouraged from being emotionally vulnerable and expressing their feelings openly. The conversation emphasizes the importance of creating a space where boys feel safe to share their emotions and have authentic relationships. It is suggested that by fostering an environment that encourages open communication, vulnerability, and accountability, boys can develop stronger emotional awareness and connection with others. This enables them to grow holistically and overcome the societal pressures associated with traditional definitions of masculinity. The significance of modeling vulnerability, sharing personal stories, and teaching boys the value of accountability and responsibility is highlighted.
For the first time, we welcome a teen boy talking to teen boys about positive masculinity. Through his platform “Talk with Zach”, Zach Gottlieb is connecting Gen Z teens globally on mental health challenges. He joins us with his mother Lori Gottlieb, renowned psychotherapist, bestselling author and podcast host, to share how parents and teens can find paths to better health and communication together. Drawing from Lori's expertise, explore gender-specific therapy approaches and learn how parents can create secure emotional spaces for their sons. Zach provides insights on social media's impact on mental health and relationship building among teens. Tune in for actionable tips on how to nurture the boys and young men in your life, with an approach that will feel more comfortable to them.
Watch this episode on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/wearemanenough
Sign up for the Man Enough newsletter to get full video episodes and positive masculinity news every Monday: http://manenough.com/newsletter
The Man Enough Podcast is produced by Wayfarer Studios and presented by Procter and Gamble, in partnership with Cadence13, an Audacy company.
Timecodes:
02:50 - Introducing Zach & Lori Gottlieb
05:22 - Zach wants to model vulnerability for young boys
07:18 - “Enoughness” is a cultural belief, not an emotion
09:25 - Social media has created a culture of isolation
12:25 - Why do teenage boys like men like Andrew Tate?
16:10 - How Lori and Zach practice open communication at home
24:26 - Our society emotionally stunts young boys
31:50 - The modern man is working to be the dad he didn't have
36:44 - Jamey believes in teaching resilience
39:34 - Tips to communicating with your teenager
47:15 - Zach has a village of male role-models
53:20 - Men, and the fear of 'failure'
1:00:28 - Boys contain the capacity for great emotional depth
Quotes:
"I think sharing and being vulnerable, that's hard...that's harder to me than keeping everything inside. I think going against the culture, that's very difficult. That's the strength. Vulnerability, to me, is the strength." - Zach Gottlieb
“I’ve noticed that people of all genders need to be talking more…" - Zach Gottlieb
“You’re not resilient because you avoid your emotions, you’re resilient because you can sit with your discomfort and know you’ll survive” - Lori Gottlieb
Support Man Enough
Man Enough Newsletter: https://manenough.com/newsletter
Man Enough book: https://manenough.com/books
Boys Will Be Human book: https://boyswillbehuman.com
Follow The Hosts
Justin Baldoni
https://instagram.com/justinbaldoni
https://www.tiktok.com/@justinbaldoni
https://facebook.com/justinbaldoni
https://twitter.com/justinbaldoni
Text Justin: +1 (310) 845-6909
Liz Plank
https://instagram.com/feministabulous
https://tiktok.com/@lizplank
https://facebook.com/feministabulous
https://twitter.com/feministabulous
http://www.elizabethplank.com/
Jamey Heath
https://instagram.com/jamey_heath_
https://tiktok.com/@jameyheath
https://twitter.com/jamey_heath_
https://facebook.com/jameyjaz
http://www.jameyheath.com/
#boys #men #masculinity #genz #genx #parent #son #parenthood #teenager #mentalhealth #socialmedia #relationships
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode