Episodes

Amy Lang is a sex educator -- and the mom of a teenage boy who is utterly mortified by his mom's career. If anyone understands just how awkward talking about sex with your son can be -- and how important it is to push through despite your the discomfort -- it's Amy. Amy is the creator of Birds + Bees + Kids, a fantastic resource for parents, childcare providers and educators. She speaks frequently about sex education and has written two books about sexuality and dating. She's down to earth and ...

Photo by Craig Marren via Flickr - Is Gun Play Really Okay? - A generation ago, gun play was an acceptable part of childhood. Parents gave their kids toy guns as gifts -- yes, even Red Ryder BB guns! (and yes,

Photo by Isengardt via Flickr - Why do boys spend so many hours playing videogames? And how worried should we be about the hours they spend gaming? - To get some answers, we turned to a true expert: Greg Wondra,

Photo by Ryan Quick via Flickr - Can your video game-loving boy turn his passion into a career? Perhaps, says our special guest, Greg Wondra. Greg is a veteran game designer who worked on the MLB 2K series, Wizard 101, Lost Planet 3, and Monkeyquest,

Photo by Paul Inkles via Flickr - How many hours per week do your boys spend in front of a screen? - According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children ages 6-10 now spend 6 hours per day using screens as entertainment.

Photo by Independentman via Flickr What is masculinity? It's a question that's not easy to answer. But it's an important one for parents and educators of boys to tackle because the primary question for all boys, is "What is it to be a man?" In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss: * So-called "toxic masculinity" & the idea that boys are "broken" * Healthy masculinity * Changing expectations of boys and men * How to help boys wrestle with dueling definitions of masculinity Links we mentioned...

Photo by Stewart Baird via Flickr "By age 9, the default emotion for most boys is anger." -- Michael Gurian It's easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless in the face of a boy's anger, whether you've got a toddler throwing a temper tantrum or a teenager on a rampage. But learning to respond to boys' anger with love and patience is one of the best gifts we can give to our guys. In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss: * How the "boy code" subtly encourages anger * The biology of anger * Techniques...

Photo by woodleywonderworks via Flickr - Sports are a HUGE part of boy world -- and that's a problem for boys who aren't interested in or don't particularly enjoy athletics. In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss: -

Photo by Runar Pederson Hokestad via Flickr - Sam had high hopes for this 12th birthday. But things didn’t go as planned. Instead of a day of adventure and independence, Sam’s had an encounter with a cop and learned he must wait another four years to ...

Photo by Lars Plougmann via Flickr Few things cause boys (and their families) as much stress as HOMEWORK. In many cases, homework battles turn into outright power struggles -- with no winners. In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss: * Why boys struggle with homework * The impact of homework on boys' academic achievement * What to do about "meaningless" homework * How a "too cool for school" attitude can interfere with learning * Why arguing about homework might not be the best use of your ...

What do you get when you combine a former educator/family coach with a writer/mom of 4 boys? A podcast that's all about parenting, teaching and reaching tomorrow's men! In this episode, you'll meet your co-hosts, Janet Allison and Jennifer L.W. Fink. Learn how they connected -- and why they believe it's so important for parents and teachers of boys to learn about the Boy Code. Jen (left) & Janet (right) Links we mentioned (or should have!) in Episode 100: BoysAlive! (Janet's website) and con...