Raising Men

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson returns to his conversation with Boad Swanson, author of Great-Souled Men, to dig into Aristotle’s virtues and what they mean for raising boys. They start with Aristotle’s answer to the purpose of life, a state of flourishing he called eudaimonia. Shaun opens up about seasons when he was crushing it and could not feel content, and how a lack of gratitude led straight to hubris. Boad explains the golden mean, the idea that every virtue has a sweet spot between too much and too little. 

Key Takea...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with entrepreneur, father, and author Boad Swanson to explore what classical philosophy can teach us about raising resilient, honorable young men in an era of cultural confusion. Drawing from his book, Great Souled Men, Boad unpacks Aristotle’s twelve virtues—anchored by courage, magnanimity, and magnificence—and explains how fathers can apply the "golden mean" to everyday parenting.

00:00 - Introduction to the masculinity crisis and the modern opportunity
01:40 - Aristotle's twelve virtues and defining the magnanimous ma
04:18 - Understanding courage through Aristotle's golden mean
05...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with Dr. Samuel Latimer, a clinical and social psychologist who works on family conflict. Shaun brings him a real bedtime problem. His strong-willed four-year-old daughter loses her bedtime book under a standing rule, then falls apart about it, roughly seven nights in ten.

Latimer starts by taking the blame off the table. Temper tantrums at this age are universal across cultures, so a meltdown is not a report card on your parenting.

From there the two of them rebuild the routine. They look at...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with James Bullard, a storyteller, performer, coach and host of the Radical Joy podcast. Together they explore why boys learn to hide their joy, and how parents can help their sons keep it. James grew up in rural Alabama as the boy who was always a little too happy. He shares how his mother protected that spark, and why he believes joy works like a muscle that grows with use. Shaun opens up about the day he turned his cheek when his young son went to kiss him...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with returning guest Ryan Riley, author of the Books for Boys series, to talk about finding purpose in life's transitions. Ryan's new company, Metaphor, built a self-reflection survey for people in a season of change, and Shaun takes it live and answers every question out loud. Ryan explains why the survey opens with one blunt line: "I know who I am." He also tells of a friend who dropped his only son at college and felt like he'd thrown a paper airplane he spent years folding. Together they...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with Colleen O’Neill, a board-certified pediatric occupational therapist who spent more than a decade working with kids and families in New York City. Together they dig into how to lovingly set a firm boundary, and why staying calm yourself comes before correcting your child. 

Key Takeaways

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with Dr. Carla Caturia, elite mental performance coach and founder of The House of RISE. She's back for a short follow-up on helping young athletes handle pressure, and it starts with her own story. Carla played varsity basketball, and her dad had coached her since she was born. When a younger, better teammate arrived, the pressure from her coach, her dad and herself got to be too much, and she quit. Today she teaches kids the tools she never had. First, notice what your inner critic is saying...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with Dr. Samuel Latimer, a clinical and social psychologist and founder of Fostering Growth and Cooperation. Together they ask what ancient wisdom can teach modern parents about raising boys who feel needed. Dr. Samuel draws on traditional societies like the Maya, who bring toddlers into household chores from the very start. Shaun shares how teaching his son golf only worked once he stopped coaching and started playing alongside him. They talk through co-sleeping, picky eating, and why natural consequences often teach more than taking away a phone. The...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with Geoff Owen, founder of Aligned Parenting and author of The Parenting Assumption, to test-drive his new AI parenting agent. Built on Biologically Aligned Parenting, the agent gives parents somewhere to turn when a hard moment hits at 11 o'clock at night. Shaun brings a real one. His four-year-old daughter is warm and close when it's just the two of them, then pushes him away the moment her mom is home. Geoff reads that behavior as a signal about what she needs from her environment. He explains benign authority...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with Ryan Riley, an entrepreneur, TEDx speaker and author of the Books for Boys character and leadership series. Ryan explains how boys drift before they collapse, and how parents can catch emotional withdrawal early. He defines drift simply: change outpacing our awareness. Shaun and Ryan talk about why so many dads struggle to find connection, and why pushing an 18-year-old out the door can set him up to fail. Ryan is a father of five, and he shares the hard lesson of a family crisis he didn't see...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with Tiffany Braxton, author of Consent Comics, for her third conversation on the show. After the news out of Cornell, Shaun wanted help talking with kids about consent without getting pulled into the culture war. Tiffany shares how she talked it through with her 12-year-old son, and why it was easy. It was one more chapter in a conversation they had been having for years. She also tells the story of her 15-year-old daughter waiting alone after a festival, and why she told her that feeling vulnerable was...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with Geoff Owen, founder of Aligned Parenting and author of The Parenting Assumption. Together, they explore what it means to strip away performance-driven parenting and build a home environment aligned with a child's natural biology. Geoff breaks down his core philosophy of "Biologically Aligned Parenting," explaining how traditional discipline often targets behavior instead of reading it as a crucial biological signal.

Using the powerful "golf mindset" metaphor, Geoff and Shaun discuss how focusing on current capabilities rather than chasing perfection transforms both golf swings and family...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with Dr. Carla Caturia, an elite mental performance coach, former educator, and founder of The House of Rise. Together, they explore the hidden mental health struggles facing today’s high-achieving youth—young men and athletes who crush it in academics and sports on the outside, yet wrestle with crippling anxiety, burnout, and self-doubt behind closed doors. Dr. Caturia breaks down why kids put intense pressure on themselves to attach their identity to external achievements and how parents inadvertently reinforce praise-seeking behavior. 

Key Takeaways

In this episode of Raising Men, Shaun Dawson sits down with Dr. Adam McCormick, professor of social work at St. Edward's University and author of The Cost of Becoming a Boy. Together, they explore how modern boyhood often operates as a form of cultural trauma, pressuring young boys to abandon emotional vulnerability, tenderness, and help-seeking simply to maintain belonging. Drawing from twenty-five years of experience working with youth in foster care, schools, and juvenile detention settings, Dr. McCormick breaks down how cultural shaming drives boys toward isolation, irritability, and toxic online echo chambers. The discussion provides practical, actionable strategies...

Shaun Dawson sits down with a very special guest—his son, Lake. Stepping into the interviewer’s chair, Lake leads a candid, heartwarming, and witty conversation with his father.  Together, they explore their earliest memories, reflect on the loss of family pets, and recount the frosty conditions of Lake’s arrival during a minus-twenty-degree polar vortex.

Key Takeaways

Children process life's scale differently: What feels like the "worst day ever" to a child (like missing out on a Slurpee) can quickly be recontextualized through gentle parental guidance and shared family memories.

Fatherhood creates a uniqu...

In this episode of Raising Men, Shaun Dawson sits down with Liz Ortenburger, CEO of SafeNest, Nevada's largest non-profit addressing domestic and sexual violence, to navigate some of the most daunting topics facing parents today. Together, they confront the reality of early digital exposure and pornography, discussing how accidental access impacts developing adolescent brains and skews expectations around intimacy. Liz offers a refreshing, proactive perspective, urging parents to replace shame and avoidance with early, open conversations. Moving beyond traditional masculine stereotypes, Liz and Shaun examine how fathers, coaches, and mentors can guide boys to evolve from the historical expectations...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson introduces a new format focused on cultivating one of the most critical skills in modern masculinity: evaluating claims to discover what is actually true. Prompted by a viral quote claiming American teenagers have lower testosterone levels than 68-year-old men, Shaun uses this episode to practice moving from reactive emotional responses to disciplined, analytical thinking. Drawing from personal experiences—like how updated science changed his view on artificial sweeteners—and Stoic philosophy, he sets the stage for checking complex health claims. Shaun breaks down the current debates surrounding male hormone decline into...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with Dr. Katrina Ostmeyer—CEO of Beyond the Individual, Associate Professor of the Practice at the University of Kansas, licensed psychologist, and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Beyond her clinical and academic credentials, Dr. Ostmeyer brings invaluable lived experience as the mother of a neurodivergent boy. Together, they navigate the complex landscape of raising sons whose minds do not fit into standard conventional boxes.

The conversation explores the key diagnostic differences between boys and girls, how to distinguish normal boyhood energy from neurodivergence, and the delicate balance be...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson shares a special solo reading inspired by a recent conversation with Dr. Randolph Schiffer, author of Bedtime Stories That Will Terrify Children. Exploring how experiencing controlled fear in a safe environment is essential for a boy's emotional health, Shaun reads "Dog"—a story about two young brothers navigating late-night dread inside a forest cedar house. As sounds echo through the dark, seven-year-old Brenton and five-year-old Randy must find the courage to confront the unknown together. From cold floors to a shaking white door, the tale reveals how fear gives way to...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson welcomes Dr. Randolph B. Schiffer, a neurologist, former Marine infantry officer, and founding director of the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Brain Health. Together, they examine how modern parenting culture often protects children from discomfort, inadvertently creating a fearful society that avoids failure, responsibility, and risk. Dr. Schiffer explains that while fear is built into human biology, courage—the capacity to think, speak, and act despite fear—is a skill that must be learned. Drawing from his experiences in combat during Vietnam, decades in medicine, and creating stories for his young son...

In this episode of Raising Men, Shaun Dawson explores the cultural noise surrounding trans issues, encouraging listeners to approach complex debates with grace, protection, and humility rather than online outrage. Shaun reflects on a story from The Bulwark Daily podcast about Julia Curlee, the first openly transgender CIA officer, and her daily security briefings with former Vice President Mike Pence. Despite Pence holding public, conservative convictions that conflicted with Curlee’s identity, he maintained an exemplary professional relationship with her defined by meritocracy, dignity, and honor. Highlighting this interaction, Shaun outlines a blueprint for modern, healthy masculinity: holding firm pe...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with Dr. Mike Ayers, author of Father Friend: How Intentional Dads Lean In, Lead Well, and Love Big at Every Stage, to discuss what it takes to stop parenting on autopilot and build an intentional roadmap for raising sons. Drawing from over 25 years of studying developmental psychology and organizational leadership, Dr. Mike explains how fathers can transition from direct command-and-control tactics into trusted lifelong advisors as their children grow. He outlines the core philosophy of the "Father Friend" model—balancing the tension between authority and affection—and breaks down...

In this follow-up conversation, host Shaun Dawson reunites with Tiffany Braxton, author of Consent Comics, to unpack why traditional cultural messaging around consent often turns men off—and how to reframe it productively. Moving past narrow sexual contexts, Tiffany presents consent as an accessible, everyday framework for living that centers on recognizing, enforcing, and respecting healthy boundaries across time, personal space, and relationships. Shaun and Tiffany discuss her book’s visual roadmaps, such as "Navigating Consent" and "What a Consensual Yes Feels Like," exploring how these tools empower both children and adults to honor their own boundaries and those of o...

In this episode of Raising Men, Shaun Dawson sits down with author, activist, and educator Tiffany Braxton to explore consent, personal power, and respect. Overloaded with cultural baggage and zero-sum framing, the conversation around boundaries often alienates men and boys by painting them strictly as aggressors. Tiffany reframes this dynamic through her book, Consent Comics, which uses layered storytelling to present consent as a universal principle of mutual care, relationship safety, and human dignity rather than a set of rigid rules.

Together, they discuss moving away from shame-based narratives, the power of active parental modeling, and the...

In this solo episode of Raising Men, Shaun Dawson explores what it truly looks like to protect the people relying on us. Drawing from the historical covert trip President George W. Bush took to Baghdad in 2003, Shaun contrasts performative thumping of the chest with the quiet, risk-absorbing nature of genuine protective masculinity. 

Shaun outlines how modern culture floods young men with performative dominance games, and reframes true strength as quiet, deliberate, and grounded. Bringing these lessons into the home, he provides actionable strategies for parents to manage their own power, regulate their reactions during conflict, and protect t...

Jennifer L.W. Fink returns to Raising Men to explore why raising boys today feels increasingly complex and how parents can guide them with clarity and intentionality. Bringing decades of experience as a nurse, mother of four sons, and author of Building Boys, Jennifer addresses the cultural pressures, pathologized narratives, and digital environments shaping young males.

Together, Shaun and Jennifer unpack the developmental differences between boys and girls, highlighting how misunderstandings about male growth often lead to unnecessary friction at home and in school. They discuss the unique challenges of modern parenting, from hyper-scrutiny on social media...

In this live short episode, host Shaun Dawson sits down with mindfulness expert Marc Krusin to step away from the standard interview format and experience a live guided meditation. Addressing his own daily struggles with staying relaxed and present, Shaun invites Marc to lead a five-part foundational mindfulness exercise designed to quiet a racing mind. Together, they explore box breathing, thought observation, and sensory awareness.

Key Takeaways

Modern parents face the ongoing challenge of raising children in an "always on" world saturated with digital noise. In this episode, host Shaun Dawson sits down with London-based meditation teachers Mayra Clay and Marc Krusin to discuss how emotional awareness, stillness, and presence can transform family dynamics.

Myra and Mark share how Bright Path Ascension Meditation techniques offer a practical way to quiet the mind without requiring hours of isolated retreat. They emphasize that true strength lies in internal awareness rather than mere external composure, shedding light on the distinction between inner peace and outer stillness. The...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with relational guide Mike Elliott to explore what it truly means to lead a family with presence, purpose, and emotional safety. Moving beyond the traditional mandate of simply providing a paycheck, Mike breaks down how true security is created when a father cultivates a home where vulnerability and connection can thrive.

The conversation examines the loss of cultural rites of passage, defining how healthy initiation requires both intentional challenge and a supportive community to integrate lessons into manhood. Shaun and Mike address the trap of "mental...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with licensed psychotherapist and parent coach Todd Sarner to discuss navigating daily family conflict and moving from constant power struggles to deep connection. Focusing on the turbulent preschool years, Todd breaks down the underlying developmental and attachment dynamics that drive toddler behavior and morning meltdowns.

Together, they explore why standard disciplinary power struggles backfire when dealing with an undeveloped prefrontal cortex and how viewing behavior through a "deficit model" rather than a "conflict model" transforms a parent's response. From managing screen time and junk connection...

Shaun Dawson dives into an unexpected source of parenting wisdom: the bestselling sci-fi series Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman. Behind its absurd premise—a man in his boxers and a leather jacket navigating a brutal, subterranean reality-TV death trap with his ex-girlfriend’s cat—lies a surprisingly tactical manual for modern male agency. Shaun draws parallels between protagonist Carl’s sudden descent into a rigged system and the overwhelming challenges faced by young men today. Rather than panicking or adopting a victim mentality, Carl shifts from his reactive "Conan brain" to his strategic "Sherlock brain," demonstrating self-mastery, logic, and prot...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with Brandon Martini, the co-founder of Stratus Financial and host of the Aviation Mentors podcast. Brandon shares his incredible journey from maxing out credit cards to build a successful flight school from a maintenance closet, all the way to navigating a devastating professional betrayal that nearly ruined his entire business operations. 

Beyond his achievements in professional aviation, Brandon opens up honestly about the deep personal growth that came from unexpected early fatherhood and long term co-parenting challenges. He completely dismantles the toxic "myth of normality" perpetuated b...

What does a healthy vision of masculinity actually look like, and how do we measure our progress toward it? In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson is joined live by Don Ross, creator of Manhood Tribes, to take and dissect Don’s “How Manly Are You?” questionnaire.

Together, they walk through Shaun’s live self-assessment—covering everything from emergency eye-flushing home repair mishaps and physical capability to time margin, male friendships, and standing up against power abuse. Don breaks down the underlying framework of the quiz: the 5 Marks of Manhood (Strength, Courage, Skill, Honor, and Allegiance...

Together, Shaun and Don dive deep into the cultural confusion surrounding modern masculinity and the isolation epidemic trapping today's fathers. Don shares his raw, personal journey of overcoming an addiction to pornography by bringing his struggles out of the dark and into the light with a trusted brother. This conversation serves as a powerful tactical guide for any father wanting to build a life-changing brotherhood for himself while modeling authentic, honorable connection for his sons.

Key Takeaways

Thirty years ago, Shaun Dawson sat by his mother's bedside in Albuquerque, New Mexico, watching her take her final breath. In this deeply moving and intensely personal solo episode, Shaun looks back at the raw reality of that loss and the decades of grief that followed. He unpacks the complex emotions of a young college student wrestling with anger, resentment, and a profound sense of impending loss—emotions that still spark moments of shame and reflection today. Shaun shares the beautiful, funny, and deeply human moments of his mother’s final days, including the invaluable guidance of hospice care and...

In this deeply moving episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson reunites with world-renowned psychologist and bestselling author Steve Biddulph to pivot the conversation from raising sons to transforming fathers. Moving past cultural caricatures, they dive into the profound psychological realities shaping modern masculinity. Steve explores his seminal concept of the "river of manhood," explaining how masculinity is a learned virtue that must flow into a boy from a community of good men rather than an innate quality. The discussion tackles the pervasive "father wound" that impacts up to 90% of men through estrangement, criticism, or emotional absence. By balancing...

Navigating the threshold of modern adolescence requires more than passive autopilot parenting; it demands intentionality, real-world action, and an unyielding commitment to relational connection. In this powerful Q&A episode of the Raising Men Podcast, host Shaun Dawson steps into the breach to address the deep cultural noise and heavy transitions facing young men today. Drawing from the collective wisdom of past guests—including former Navy SEAL Eric Davis and men’s leadership pioneer Dan Doty—this session tackles two of the most pressing anxieties keeping fathers awake at night: engineering a meaningful, challenge-based rite of passage for a 13-year...

In this episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with Jody Hill, a best-selling author, speaker, and parenting sidekick, to unpack the transformative power of a parent’s words. Jody, the author of The Parent's Secret Superpower, shares a simple yet life-altering message: the language parents use daily directly shapes how children view themselves and navigate their futures. Moving past the pressure to read every parenting book or attend endless courses, she reminds parents that their greatest asset is already within them. Through powerful real-world stories and practical strategies, Jody explains how to resist the urge to co...

In this powerful and deeply personal solo address, Shaun Dawson marks the 250th anniversary of the nation by examining the "quiet crisis" surrounding modern masculinity. Moving past polarized cultural narratives, Shaun argues that the current friction and pressure surrounding what it means to be a man is not bad news—it is a rare, pressure-testing opportunity to strip away performative habits and forge a healthy vision of manhood for the next generation. True masculinity isn't learned from a screen or a public performance; it is caught through proximity, intentional presence, and an unwavering commitment to show up. Shaun challenges pa...

In this compelling episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson sits down with Jonathan V. Last (JVL), editor of The Bulwark and father of four, to navigate the complex and rapidly evolving landscape of youth sports. Drawing from twelve years of experience parenting a high-level collegiate baseball pitcher, JVL unpacks the delicate balance between fostering an elite athlete's drive and maintaining strict perspective.

He shares powerful, practical insights on why parents must actively deemphasize outcomes—such as winning weekend tournaments—and instead fiercely protect the process, where true character and resilience are forged. From discussing the modern pres...