Unlocking the Power of Play



Powered by RedCircle Play is a powerful tool for parenting & child development. Mr. Rogers once said “Play is serious learning” and “the work of childhood,” and we and our guest, Georgie Wisen-Vincent, couldn’t agree more. That’s not to say or imply that play is serious or work in the way that most of adults … Continue reading Unlocking the Power of Play


Male Puberty Starts Sooner Than You Think



Powered by RedCircle Modern male puberty starts sooner than you think.  Boys today may enter puberty as early as age nine. That’s why your 10-year-old’s mood swings might actually be linked to these new hormonal shifts. As Cara Natterson and Vanessa Kroll Bennett point out in their book, This Is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained, … Continue reading Male Puberty Starts Sooner Than You Think


Best of 2024



Powered by RedCircle Which ON BOYS episodes were the Best of 2024?  Your favorites include: 5. Needed: Boy-Friendly Schools Tyler, a 16-year-old Texas boy, started struggling in middle school. Recess was no more. Classes were 90 minutes long. So, “he found it really hard to sit still in class,” says Julie Jargon, the Wall Street Journal Family … Continue reading Best of 2024


Listen to Boys & Young Men



Powered by RedCircle How often do we really listen to boys & young men? Not nearly often enough! There’s been a lot of chatter lately about boys & young men, masculinity, and the growing gender gap in politics – and very little public input from boys & young men themselves. In this episode, Jen & Janet … Continue reading Listen to Boys & Young Men


Male Suicide & Mental Health: A Father’s Story of Love, Loss, and Awareness



Powered by RedCircle We gotta talk about male suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, you can call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for help in the United States. Call 988 or 800-273-TALK (8255). The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is open 24 hours a day, every day. Services are also … Continue reading Male Suicide & Mental Health: A Father’s Story of Love, Loss, and Awareness


Exploring the Gender Gap



Powered by RedCircle If you heard anything at all about the 2024 U.S. presidential election, you likely encountered the term “gender gap.”  More than half of female voters (53%) voted for Kamala Harris; more than half of male voters (also 55%) voted for Donald Trump. Among young voters, the gender gap was even more pronounced: … Continue reading Exploring the Gender Gap


Navigating Youth Mental Health in the Digital Age



Powered by RedCircle How can we support our boys’ well-being during a youth mental health crisis? How can we help them navigate life in this digital age? Katey McPherson has been working on these issues for years. Since we last talked in 2019, she and others have helped the state of Arizona pass a bundle of … Continue reading Navigating Youth Mental Health in the Digital Age


Raising Boys Beyond the Man Box



Powered by RedCircle Do you know what the “man box” is? Your boys do, whether they know the term or not. The “man box” is the set of expectations, perceptions, and behaviors that are considered “manly” in our society. In this episode, Jen, Janet, and Ted Bunch, Chief Development Officer of A Call to Men, explore … Continue reading Raising Boys Beyond the Man Box


Amy Lang Discusses Puberty, Perimenopause, & Neurodivergence



Powered by RedCircle Puberty, perimenopause, and neurodivergence affects brains and bodies. And if two or more of those things are going on in our household at the same time…well, things can get particularly challenging, says Amy Lang, founder of Birds & Bees & Kids. Amy & Janet discuss it all in this ON BOYS episode … Continue reading Amy Lang Discusses Puberty, Perimenopause, & Neurodivergence