I found Dr. Brendan Kwiatkowski on Instagram, producing reel after reel, speaking about his heart-centred research into the social-emotional development of teenage boys. Insight after insight, his findings were emotionally echoed in the comments by boys, men, and the people who love them.

In this chat, we discuss:

Impact of technology, bullying, and societal expectations on mental health
How most boys want deep connections with their friends but never get it
How becoming a teenager can change boys' emotional expression
Overdiagnosis of boys' emotional disorders and the underdiagnosis of girls
Understanding boys' emotional behaviours
Preparing boys for the teenage years

Brendan is an educator, researcher, and speaker specializing in boys and men's social-emotional development and well-being. His research spans multiple disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, and education. He received his Ph.D. in Education from the University of Edinburgh, where he studied Canadian teenage boys' emotions, masculinities, and schooling experiences.

He is a mixed-methods researcher who firmly believes in positive-focused and person-centred research. His approach seeks to humanize and empower participants while also giving “voice” to their lived experiences. He is dedicated to making academic knowledge accessible to all and conducting research that is transformative and practically useful in real-world applications. You can find Brendan and all his platforms at: https://remasculine.com/

KNOW MORE KNOW LESS PODCAST: For other platforms: Listen here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/know-more-know-less/id1652659219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fxCXp5AlfajmcTgvSWSGl?si=87be920940534299 For full episodes and clips: https://youtu.be/Rpq0wXbrfLk

The Ignored Struggles of Teenage Boys w/ Dr. Brendan Kwiatkowski (ep#61)