In a world where boys are told to "toughen up" before they even understand what they're feeling, how do we raise sons who stay connected to their hearts?

In this episode, we sit down with writer, editor, and media critic Joanna Schroeder to talk about what it really means to raise emotionally healthy boys today. Not perfect boys. Not "alpha" boys. Not fragile boys. But boys who can feel.

Together, we unpack what's often called the "boy crisis" — and move beyond headlines to the real, lived experiences happening in our homes. From emotional suppression to loneliness, from screen time to algorithm-driven messaging, we explore the cultural forces shaping our sons — and what we can actually do about it as parents.

This conversation isn't about fear. It's about awareness. And responsibility. And repair.

We talk candidly about:

• Why boys' mental health deserves our attention — without ignoring the bigger picture

• The subtle ways society teaches boys to disconnect from their emotions

• How to help boys regulate anger without shaming their feelings

• What emotional safety at home actually looks like (especially when we're dysregulated ourselves)

• How social media and online content shape boys' identity earlier than we think

• Practical boundaries around screen time, smartphones, and tech in the bedroom

• Why repair matters more than perfection in parenting

• How to raise boys who are both strong and soft

One of our favorite takeaways? You don't have to protect your son from the world entirely. But you can make your home the safest place for him to land.

This episode is for the moms raising sons. For the parents trying to break cycles. For anyone who has ever been told to "stop crying" and is determined to do it differently.

The goal isn't to raise boys who never struggle.

It's to raise boys who know they don't have to struggle alone.

Links & Resources
👉 Joanna's book Talk to Your Boys: 16 Conversations to Help Tweens and Teens Grow into Confident, Caring Young Men
👉 Talk To Your Boys website
👉 Joanna on Instagram
👉 2024 Recap Episode (where we talk about trying to do it all)

For more honest motherhood conversation, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen — and follow along on Instagram @mightyasamotherpodcast.