Best of 2021



Which ON BOYS episodes were the Best of 2021?  The answers may surprise you! 5. Highly Sensitive Boys with William Allen By age 5, William Allen understood very clearly that he was different. People told him to “man up” and that he “needed to be tougher.” Their words and reactions to his emotions told him, in no … Continue reading Best of 2021


ON BOYS Most Popular Episode of 2021



ON BOYS listeners really want to know how to keep boys safe online. Which makes sense, given that the internet is a portal to all kinds of free and easily accessible porn — as well as conspiracy theories, disinformation, and peer pressure. In January 2021, we asked our friend Amy Lang to help us address … Continue reading ON BOYS Most Popular Episode of 2021


Raising Next Gen Men



How do we raise next gen men — men who can thrive in the 21st century? “When you’re on a playground, you can’t yell, ‘Hey, Tommy, cut that hegemonic masculinity out!’” says Jake Stika, co-founder of Next Gen Men, a Canadian organization dedicated to changing how the world sees, acts and thinks about masculinity. Parents, … Continue reading Raising Next Gen Men


Dr. Jon Lasser on Expanding Boys’ Opportunities



Dr. Jon Lasser believes we all have a role to play in expanding boys’ opportunities. The Man Box and Boy Code still limit and shape boys’ behavior. And although there are plenty of books and TV shows that encourage girls to step past gendered boundaries, there are far fewer resources for boys and their parents. … Continue reading Dr. Jon Lasser on Expanding Boys’ Opportunities


Jack Kammer: Boys are Affected by Sexism Too



Jack Kammer says boys are affected by sexism too.  Boys and girls who engage in the same exact behavior may be treated very differently. And yet, when we fail to acknowledge that fact, we contribute to the gaslighting of our boys. Because the truth is that males and females both experience advantages AND disadvantages related … Continue reading Jack Kammer: Boys are Affected by Sexism Too


Keeping Boys Safe from Respiratory Viruses



Did you know that boys may be more susceptible to respiratory viruses than girls? Society tells us that boys are strong and tough, but the truth is that males are biologically fragile — from before birth all the way through to death. Male fetuses are more likely to be miscarried than female fetuses, especially during … Continue reading Keeping Boys Safe from Respiratory Viruses


Video Game Addiction



Video game addiction Google that term and you’ll get 95 million results — and the first one is for an addiction treatment center. But is video game addiction really “a thing?” More importantly — what can parents do if they think their kid’s gaming is out of control? Step one, says Chris Ferguson, a psychology … Continue reading Video Game Addiction


The Tyler Merritt Project on Helping Boys Survive Mistakes



Before he started The Tyler Merritt Project or created his viral video, Before You Call the Cops, Tyler Merritt was a confused, young black boy trying to make sense of all the expectations and stereotypes swirling around him. “I wish somebody had really sat down with me as a young person and simply said, ‘Hey, … Continue reading The Tyler Merritt Project on Helping Boys Survive Mistakes


Another View of Wilderness Therapy



Is wilderness therapy a good choice for troubled boys?  For boys who are self-harming, self-medicating with alcohol or drugs, or in trouble with the law? Is wilderness therapy the solution for families who have tried everything and are desperate to help their sons? It can be, says Jane (name changed at her request, to protect … Continue reading Another View of Wilderness Therapy