Raising Men cover art

Raising Men

Raising Men

Written by: Shaun Dawson
Listen for free

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.© 2026 Shaun Dawson Parenting Relationships
Episodes
  • From Reactive to Radical: The Journey to Intentional Fatherhood with Jon Hord

    From Reactive to Radical: The Journey to Intentional Fatherhood with Jon Hord
    Jun 1 2026
    Jon Hord is the founder of the Engaged Father Project. A former high-achieving corporate VP who walked away from a 100-year-old family company after a health-induced epiphany, Jon now coaches dads to move from "reactive survival" to "radical intentionality." 5 Key Takeaways:The "Provider Trap": Connecting your value solely to your income.The "Deathbed Scenario" as a tool for major life decisions.Responding vs. Reacting: How to handle high-stress "Playbook 2" moments.Measuring backwards: Focusing on the "Gain" rather than the "Gap."The "Peace Frog": A practical tool for family feedback and emotional regulation."If you ask them, 'Hey kids... what would you rather have? A more expensive vacation, or I’m around more?'... [they'd say around more].""It is so hard for us as human beings to be aware of what’s actually going on in those moments for ourselves, because we’re just reacting.""For there to be an old dad, it means there has to be a new dad. And in that is my progress."00:00 — Excellence Is Making Smaller Corrections00:36 — Steering the Car, Not Letting It Drift01:25 — Welcome Back to Raising Men01:40 — When Providing Becomes a Trap02:28 — High Achievement at the Cost of Family03:05 — The Family Pays the Price03:58 — What Kids Really Want From Dad04:46 — The Collapse of Old Institutions05:33 — Work From Home or Work Takes Over06:15 — The Slippery Slope of Overwork07:04 — Ego, Status, and Success08:01 — When the Perks Disappear08:38 — Choosing Presence Over Prestige09:10 — Panic Attacks as a Wake-Up Call10:02 — Searching for Help in Crisis10:27 — Discovering the Sedona Method11:01 — Gaining Awareness of Inner Mechanics12:01 — From Survival Mode to Choice13:10 — Questioning the Path You’re On14:31 — Taking Time Away to Decide15:09 — The Deathbed Test16:16 — Choosing the Uncertain Path16:54 — A Partner Who Already Knew17:44 — Becoming a Life Coach18:10 — The Birth of the Engaged Father Project19:04 — You Can Engineer Your Life20:18 — The Power of Supportive People21:22 — Having the Right Partner Matters21:57 — What the Engaged Father Project Is22:45 — Parenting Is Taught Through Action23:07 — Two Playbooks for Life24:00 — Stress Reveals Who You Really Are24:41 — Defining the Dad You Want to Be25:33 — Why “Good Dad” Isn’t Good Enough26:36 — Choosing to Be an Incredible Dad27:18 — Turning Feedback Into Growth28:38 — Letting Kids Hold You Accountable29:59 — Empowering Kids to Speak Up31:04 — Defining the Standard32:24 — Measurement Creates Change33:17 — Knowing If You’re Doing It Right34:12 — Asking Kids for Honest Feedback35:17 — Measuring Progress Backwards36:23 — When Kids Notice the New You37:26 — Excellence Requires Constant Correction38:00 — Lessons From the Blue Angels39:15 — Small Corrections Beat Big Swings40:12 — Responding Instead of Reacting41:03 — Building a Community for Dads41:59 — The 30-Day Light Your Fire Challenge43:03 — Listening Creates Deeper Connection44:14 — Learning From Other Dads’ Experiments45:00 — Why the Community Is Free46:09 — One Principle of Excellent Fatherhood46:41 — Vulnerability as Strength48:04 — Authenticity Builds Real Connection49:26 — There Is No Connection Without Vulnerability50:22 — Masculinity and the Connection Gap51:01 — Why Human Connection Will Matter More52:02 — Final Reflections on Intentional Fatherhood53:06 — Closing Thoughts and CreditsBooks & Tools:The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy (mentioned) – https://becomingminimalist.com/the-gap-and-the-gain/The Sedona Method (mentioned) – https://www.sedona.com/Super Communicators by Charles Duhigg (mentioned) – https://www.charlesduhigg.com/supercommunicatorsGuest Links:Engaged Father School Community: https://www.skool.com/engaged-father-project/aboutWebsite: https://www.engagedfatherproject.com/
    Show More Show Less
    54 mins
  • Q&A: Reclaiming the Safe Harbor

    Q&A: Reclaiming the Safe Harbor
    May 28 2026
    In this mailbag edition of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson addresses two critical parenting dilemmas: emotional withholding and managing high-energy boys. Shaun unpacks the phenomenon of "emotional narrowing," explaining how rigid, fear-based discipline can inadvertently turn a home into an emotional desert. Drawing on insights from trauma-informed parenting, the episode highlights why genuine authority is built on relationship and trust rather than compliance. Later, Shaun shifts to the neurobiology of young boys, validating the developmental gaps driven by prenatal testosterone that often leave boys behind in verbal and fine motor skills. He frames rough-and-tumble play not as misbehavior, but as a biological necessity for prefrontal cortex development. Finally, fathers are challenged to abandon the "project child" mentality—the habit of catastrophizing a child's future based on current behaviors—and instead remain fully present with the child standing in front of them today.Key TakeawaysAuthority Relies on Trust, Not Control: True paternal authority is forged through relationship and safety rather than demanding high-pressure, fear-based compliance.The Trajectory of Emotional Narrowing: Shaming or stonewalling a young boy’s vulnerability causes him to narrow his emotional expression, limiting his psychological vocabulary to silence or anger.The Biological Male Development Gap: Driven by testosterone surges in the womb, boys experience a distinct biological development gap that frequently places them six to twelve months behind girls in language skills and fine motor capabilities by school age.Rowdy Play Builds the Brain's Control Center: Physical roughhousing and high-energy boundary testing are neurobiological necessities that actively develop a boy’s prefrontal cortex (the "Sherlock Holmes brain"), which is essential for long-term impulse control.Ditch the Project-Child Mentality: Parents must break the destructive habit of plotting a child's current flaws on a future timeline; fatherhood requires staying present with the boy standing in front of you right now, rather than fighting a future version you fear he might become.Chapter Markers00:01 – Introduction: Diving Back Into the Mailbag Q&A01:30 – Question 1: Unintentional Emotional Deserts & Narrowed Expressions02:40 – Moving from Control to Trust: Connection Before Correction04:15 – The Neurobiology of Emotion Coaching vs. Emotional Suppression05:45 – Question 2: Is Rowdy Behavior Biological or Socialized?07:10 – The 6-12 Month Biological Development Gap in Boys08:50 – Real-Time Boundary Testing & Shaun's Minecraft Negotiation Strategy11:15 – How Roughhouse Play Builds the "Sherlock Holmes" Prefrontal Cortex12:55 – Breaking the Consultant Trajectory Trap: Present vs. Project Parenting14:15 – Final Thoughts: Showing Up and Searching for the Answers TogetherBooks MentionedBuilding Boys: Making Sure Our Boys Turn Out Happy, Healthy, and Safe by Jennifer L.W. FinkThe New Manhood & Raising Boys by Steve BiddulphRaising an Emotionally Intelligent Child by Dr. John GottmanEmotional Intelligence by Daniel GolemanThe Male Brain & The Female Brain by Dr. Louann BrizendineFrameworks & ConceptsThe Emotional Desert: A psychological dynamic where cultural or parental shaming forces a young boy to internalize and narrow his emotional expressions down to silence or anger.Connection Before Correction: A relational rule stating that structural discipline will trigger defensiveness and withdrawal unless a baseline of felt safety and empathy is established first.The Biological Timeline Gap: The developmental reality that prenatal testosterone exposure naturally delays speech and fine motor development loops in early male brains relative to female peers.The Sherlock Holmes Brain: Shaun’s signature metaphor for the prefrontal cortex—the neurological command center governing logic, emotional regulation, and intentional impulse control.The Consultant/Graphing Trap: An analytical parenting pitfall where a parent maps a single negative childhood behavior along a linear progression curve to catastrophize who the child will be at age 26.Episode mentioned:Jennifer L.W. Fink: https://raising.men/episodes/raising-great-guys-in-a-world-that-misunderstands-males-with-jennifer-l-w-finkSteve Biddulph: https://raising.men/episodes/why-boys-are-falling-behind-and-what-we-can-do-about-it-with-steve-biddulph
    Show More Show Less
    14 mins
  • Raising Men Under Hard Circumstances with Lisa Johnson

    Raising Men Under Hard Circumstances with Lisa Johnson
    May 25 2026
    In this episode of Raising Men, Shawn sits down with Lisa Johnson, a high-conflict divorce strategist, certified domestic violence advocate, and co-founder of Been There, Got Out. After enduring a decade-long legal battle with her ex-husband—including more than 100 court appearances—Lisa transformed her painful experience into a mission to help parents navigate high-conflict divorces and protect their children from emotional harm. She shares the lessons she learned about parental alienation, emotional resilience, and how parents can stay grounded and supportive for their children even when a former partner becomes an adversary. Key TakeawaysChildren in high-conflict divorces often express anger or aggression as a fear response and a test of whether their remaining parent will stay emotionally present. Defending yourself when a child repeats accusations from the other parent can deepen the conflict, while validating their feelings helps preserve trust. Protecting children sometimes means shielding them from the legal and emotional chaos while seeking support and therapy for yourself. Consistent connection rituals—even just ten minutes of focused attention—can strengthen the parent-child bond and provide emotional security. A strong, judgment-free relationship with your child is the best long-term protection against alienation and manipulation. Top Quotes from Lisa Johnson“One of the worst things you can do when your child repeats accusations from your ex is try to correct the record immediately.” “Kids usually love both parents, so when they hear two completely different versions of the truth, it creates cognitive dissonance.” “The most important thing is building a relationship with your child where they feel they can tell you anything without being judged.” Chapter Markers00:00 — When Kids Parrot the Other Parent00:35 — Parenting Through a High-Conflict Divorce01:14 — Meet Lisa Johnson01:54 — Discovering a Double Life03:07 — Staying to Protect the “Intact Family”04:10 — “This Will Be a Really Bad Divorce”05:29 — Representing Herself in Court06:20 — When Divorce Never Really Ends07:01 — A Father Walks Away08:20 — The Fear of Father Absence08:55 — Scrambling for Support09:45 — Finding the Right Therapist for Her Son11:02 — Aggression as a Cry for Connection12:13 — Why Kids Test if You’ll Stay12:51 — Aggression as Fear Response13:45 — When the Fighting Finally Stopped14:28 — The College Battle15:35 — Financial Abuse Through the Courts16:47 — Why High-Conflict Cases Defy Logic18:15 — Why People Don’t Believe These Stories19:06 — Turning Trauma Into Advocacy19:50 — What She Would Do Differently21:54 — Why Coaching Matters in High-Conflict Cases22:12 — Avoiding Barstool Legal Advice24:05 — How Trauma Shows Up Differently in Sons25:23 — Shielding Kids From the Conflict26:41 — “She Kept It Together”27:30 — The Power of Male Role Models28:18 — A Grandfather Steps In28:47 — Debate as a Path to Belonging30:45 — When Coaches Become Father Figures31:00 — When an Ex Turns Kids Against You33:02 — How Parental Alienation Begins34:26 — Why Defending Yourself Backfires36:31 — Validating Feelings Before Facts38:07 — When Humor Becomes Avoidance39:00 — Planning Responses Before the Storm40:12 — Parenting From the Calm Brain42:28 — The 10-Minute Rule44:43 — Why Rituals Matter46:29 — Making Time Count as Kids Grow47:06 — Building a Relationship That Lasts48:59 — One Principle for Raising Strong Men50:01 — Closing ReflectionsBooks, Links, and References MentionedWhen Your Ex Turns Your Kids Against You – Lisa Johnson https://beentheregotout.com/Been There, Got Out – Support and strategy for high-conflict divorces https://beentheregotout.com/Splitting: Protecting Yourself While Divorcing Someone with Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorder – Bill Eddy https://www.highconflictinstitute.com/bookstores/splittingHigh Conflict Institute – Founded by Bill Eddy https://www.highconflictinstitute.com/Frameworks MentionedThe 10-Minute Rule (Child Psychiatrist Strategy) A simple method to strengthen connection with your child:Spend 10 minutes of undivided attention with your child.Let the child lead the activity.Show curiosity about their interests.Give them both control and attention.Repeat consistently to build trust and emotional security.
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet