Raising Men

Raising Men is a podcast about parenting, masculinity, and the lifelong journey of raising sons—and ourselves—to be men of courage, character, and purpose. Hosted by Shaun Dawson, each episode features real conversations with parents, leaders, and thinkers redefining what it means to raising men in today’s world.

Raising Men is a kids podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 0 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Raising Men, a kids show with 0 episodes published.

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  Episode #76

  Building High Achieving Resilience with Dr. Carla Caturia

  Oct 1, 202633 min

  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 Praise the Process Over the Outcome: Praising results can accidentally teach kids to work for external approval; redirecting focus back to their internal experience builds lasting self-trust. Embrace Productive Struggle: Shielding kids from failure deprives them of essential problem-solving skills, making low-stakes failures in middle school or sports crucial learning opportunities. Train in the Mind Gym: Mental conditioning, emotional regulation, and pattern recognition require daily intentional practice just like physical training. Regulate Before You Relate: Parents cannot force motivation onto their sons; instead, parents must manage their own emotional reactions, step back, and observe before correcting. Master the Four Pillars: Sustainable self-worth relies on systematically developing Resiliency, Identity, Self-confidence, and Emotional intelligence. 00:00:00 - Praising Kids Through Self Reflection 00:00:23 - Guest Intro Dr. Carla Katuria 00:02:06 - High Achievement and Youth Anxiety 00:04:03 - Gender Differences in Athlete Burnout 00:06:48 - Separating Performance From Self Worth 00:08:29 - Shifting Mindsets Over External Motivation 00:11:00 - Allowing Productive Struggle in Youth 00:13:43 - Risks of Early Sports Specialization 00:16:48 - The RISE Framework Pillars 00:20:44 - Pattern Recognition and Mindset Resetting 00:24:14 - Achieving Flow and Strategic Recovery 00:31:00 - Essential Parenting Principles for Sons Books, Links and Frameworks Mentioned The RISE Framework: A four-pillar performance model focusing on Resiliency, Identity, Self-confidence, and Emotional intelligence. The House of RISE: Dr. Carla Caturia’s organization and mental performance coaching platform. The Mind Gym Concept: A mental exercise approach for recognizing emotional patterns and building self-regulation alongside physical athletic training. Flow State & Recovery Cycle: The intersection of skill and challenge to achieve peak performance while integrating essential mental and physical recovery.

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  Episode #75

  Healing Cultural Shame and Reconnecting with our Sons with Dr. Adam McCormick

  Sep 28, 202643 min

  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 for parents—particularly mothers, who represent a significant portion of caregivers guiding boys—on fostering deeper connection through shoulder-to-shoulder conversations, practicing emotional presence, and prioritizing relational accountability over punitive consequences. Reconnecting young men with their authentic selves begins with understanding the wounds behind their behavior. Key Takeaways Boyhood as Cultural Trauma : Culturally feminized traits like emotional expression, vulnerability, and asking for help are essential for mental health, yet boys are systematically policed into abandoning them to achieve belonging. Shame Cannot Cure Shame : Boys cannot be shamed out of behaviors they were originally shamed into; punitive responses or social exclusion only push young men into destructive ecosystems and online echo chambers. Shoulder-to-Shoulder Connection : Boys are socialized against direct, eye-to-eye emotional confrontation; parents achieve breakthroughs by initiating serious conversations side-by-side during activities like driving or playing video games. True Accountability vs. Consequences : Real accountability requires understanding the impact and harm of one's behavior on others, whereas simple punitive consequences fail to foster empathy or repair relationships. Staying Present Through Emotion : Caregivers naturally rush to fix, lecture, or distract a struggling boy, but true emotional maturity develops when adults simply stay present and allow boys to feel their emotions fully. "I've never seen a kid or an adult who has been shamed out of something that they were shamed into in the first place." — Dr. Adam McCormick "Trauma really at its core is a disconnection from our most authentic self." — Dr. Adam McCormick "Our capacity to stay with them is oftentimes so much more important than even what we say to them in those conversations." — Dr. Adam McCormick 00:00 – Pre-interview discussion on episode topics and audience context 11:29 – Welcome Dr. Adam McCormick author of The Cost of Becoming a Boy 12:57 – Boyhood as cultural trauma and early emotional self-erasure 17:42 – Cultural double standards and the crisis facing young men 20:17 – Why shaming boys fails to change behavior 24:35 – The function of shame and the tension between safety and authenticity 28:56 – The loss of community play spaces and rising male isolation 32:32 – How depression and mental health distress manifest differently in young men 35:35 – Tactical strategies for parents: shoulder-to-shoulder conversations 42:46 – Differentiating behavioral explanations from excuses 44:30 – What real accountability and relational repair look like 51:37 – One core principle for parents raising boys Books, Links and Frameworks Mentioned The Cost of Becoming a Boy by Dr. Adam McCormick Author of Healing the Helping Professional: The Unfinished Business of Childhood Trauma https://naswpress.org/product/healing-the-helping-professional/ Authors & Thinkers Mentioned Dr. Gabor Maté – Concept of the traumatic tension between childhood attachment and authenticity Frameworks & Concepts The Great Setup : Cultural conditioning that forces boys to disdain feminized traits essential for human flourishing. Shoulder-to-Shoulder Communication : Setting non-confrontational environments (driving, side-by-side gaming) to encourage young men to open up. True Accountability vs. Consequences : Moving beyond arbitrary punishment to relational repair, impact awareness, and tolerating shame. Small-T Therapy : Informal, daily relational micro-interactions with peers, mentors, and parents that regulate the nervous system.

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  Episode #74

  Lessons on Physics, Pets, and Becoming a Father with Lake Dawson

  Sep 24, 202614 min

  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 unique emotional bond: Deep relationships with children offer a fundamental sense of fulfillment and connection that redefines a parent's life. Open dialogue invites curiosity: Giving kids the microphone and allowing them to ask big questions—such as why parents chose to have children—creates moments of profound trust and connection. Early memories and identity shape us: Children absorb family history, shared stories, and physical resemblances, building their sense of belonging through parental reflection. Grief and loss are shared milestones: Discussing the loss of loved ones and pets with children helps them process grief gently and openly within a safe space. 00:46 Lake shares his favorite school subject and math skills 01:41 Shaun explains physics and astrophysics to Lake 02:37 Discussing the worst days ever, missing Slurpees, and pet loss 04:02 Reflecting on the best day ever and Lake's birth 04:41 Remembering the polar vortex and minus-twenty-degree weather 05:03 Lake and Shaun share their earliest childhood memories 07:02 Comparing physical resemblances and photos from childhood 07:47 Lake asks Shaun why he decided to have kids 10:11 Shaun recounts airplane conversations about parenting fulfillment 11:04 The soulmate realization and deciding to become a father 12:18 Addressing questions about loneliness and father-son closeness

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  Episode #73

  Navigating Pornography Culture and Teaching Boys How to Partner with Liz Ortenburger

  Sep 21, 202637 min

  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 of protecting and providing into becoming true partners in their relationships. Key Takeaways Teach Kids to Swim, Don't Just Build Fences: Digital filters alone cannot stop pornography exposure; parents must actively educate children early so they can navigate accidental exposure with critical thinking instead of shame. Shift from Protect and Provide to Partner: Modern masculinity requires expanding traditional roles to teach young men how to build healthy, equal, and collaborative partnerships with women. Role Models and Mentors Matter: While parental shame pushes boys into secrecy, constructive accountability from respected mentors, coaches, and peer circles effectively redirects harmful behaviors. Uncorrected Behavior Is Condoned Behavior: In youth environments like sports locker rooms, unaddressed misogynistic or harmful banter is perceived by developing brains as approved behavior. Value Diversity of Experience: True cultural progress and healthy environments require valuing individual life journeys and diverse perspectives rather than relying on rigid categorical metrics. "If you are not having the conversation with your kids, Pornhub is having it for you." — Liz Ortenburger "What does not get corrected gets condoned." — Liz Ortenburger "We have to start teaching young boys how to protect, provide, and partner." — Liz Ortenburger 00:00:00 - Unannounced Mom Knocking Teaser 00:00:25 - Guest Intro Liz Ortunburger 00:02:23 - Modern Evolution of Pornography 00:04:26 - Brain Development and Addiction 00:07:48 - Avoiding Shame in Conversations 00:11:00 - Guiding Healthy Youth Development 00:14:05 - Value of Male Role Models 00:17:46 - Shaping Locker Room Culture 00:20:20 - Extreme Consequences of Ignorance 00:23:30 - Protecting Providing and Partnering 00:28:40 - Modeling Healthy Adult Relationships 00:35:45 - Safe Nest Contact Info Books, Links and Frameworks Mentioned SafeNest: Nevada's largest non-profit addressing domestic and sexual violence https://safenest.org/ Scott Galloway: Bestselling author and statistician referenced for his writings on manhood ( Notes on Being a Man ) Mentorship Programs: Big Brothers Big Sisters, 100 Black Men, Gentlemen by Choice, Coaching Boys into Men Protect, Provide, and Partner: Framework for expanding traditional masculine development to include healthy, collaborative relationship skills Car Windshield Conversations: Tactical approach for discussing uncomfortable or sensitive topics with teens in low-pressure settings Liz Ortenburger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-ortenburger-9539aa32/

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  Episode #72

  The Truth about Testosterone

  Sep 17, 202616 min

  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 three distinct perspectives: the alarmists who view it as a cultural and health crisis, the skeptics who consider it a moral panic driven by flawed data and weight gain, and the commercial entities capitalizing on the controversy. This episode lays the groundwork for critical thinking before diving directly into the scientific literature in part two. Key Takeaways Move from Conan to Sherlock: Emotional or outrageous health claims target our reactive, survival-focused brain first; true critical thinking requires passing those claims to our analytical prefrontal cortex before accepting or spreading them. Seek Out the Steel Man: Avoid creating easily defeatable "straw man" versions of opposing arguments; instead, find and evaluate the strongest, most serious version of a claim. Question the Source of Nuance: Scientific understanding evolves over time, and even if popular claims turn out to be partly right or wrong, the underlying mechanisms are often vastly different from public perception. Beware Outrage as a Business Model: Media outlets, political commentators, and commercial sellers profit off controversy and fear regardless of the truth, making healthy skepticism essential. Trace Claims to Primary Sources: Before repeating headlines or accepting sweeping statistics about male health, follow the citations down to the original scientific studies to evaluate the actual data. 00:00 Intro & Teenager Testosterone Claim 00:43 Evaluating Claims & Personal Misconceptions 03:15 Artificial Sweetener Research Shift 03:52 Epictetus & Evaluating Harsh Appearances 04:56 Steel-Manning the Testosterone Decline 06:01 Deteriorating Male Reproductive Health Studies 07:03 Camp 1: Crisis & Action 09:29 Camp 2: Moral Panic View 11:13 Lab Differences & Weight Factors 12:56 Camp 3: Commercial Interests 13:48 Outrage as a Business Model 14:32 Chasing Evidence for Next Week Books and Frameworks mentioned Conan Brain vs. Sherlock Holmes Brain Framework: Shaun's neuroscience metaphor contrasting the reactive, survival-driven amygdala with the analytical, regulating prefrontal cortex[cite: 1, 3]. Steel Man vs. Straw Man: The philosophical practice of evaluating the strongest possible version of an opposing argument. Epictetus on "Harsh Appearances": Stoic philosophy encouraging individuals to examine impressions before accepting them as reality. Tucker Carlson's The End of Men (2022): Documentary segment referenced regarding testosterone trends and red light therapy. 2022 & 2025 Gut Microbiome & Sucralose Clinical Trials: Studies cited by Shaun regarding artificial sweeteners, gut bacteria changes, and insulin sensitivity. European Fertility Conference (July 2026 Analysis): Pooled study analysis mentioned regarding male reproductive health and testosterone data.

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