Parents, teachers, coaches—this one’s for you. Kathryne Imabayashi (Parents-of-Boys coach; early-years educator; author of Raising Boys Who Become Remarkable Men) lays out the “bias you can’t unsee,” how the Boy Code pressures boys to hide their feelings, and simple everyday scripts to raise boys who are strong and kind.

About our guest:

Kathryne is a Canadian-born educator with four decades across international schools and leadership roles (Japan, Thailand, Georgia, Qatar). She founded Sonhood Coaching to help families intentionally parent boys ages 0–12 and hosts the podcast Unlocking the Parenting Code: All About Boys. Her 2024 book, Raising Boys Who Become Remarkable Men, distills her approach.

What we cover:

- How unconscious gender bias shows up in everyday parenting—and how to spot it.

- The Boy Code (term from Dr. William Pollack) and why boys learn to wear a “mask.”

- Practical, word-for-word validation scripts for moments when a boy shuts down.

- Building healthy rites of passage and finding role models/mentors.

- A compassionate lens on male mental health (including fatherhood changes).

- Simple, repeatable micro-habits for emotionally literate boyhood at home and school.

Why it matters

Boys face unique pressures that can mute emotions and spike behavior/discipline issues. Understanding the Boy Code and updating our responses helps boys stay connected, confident, and kind—without shaming or soft-pedaling boundaries.

Sonhood Coaching (site): https://www.sonhoodcoaching.com/

“The Boy’s Code” explainer (Kathryne): https://www.sonhoodcoaching.com/the-boys-code/

Book – Raising Boys Who Become Remarkable Men (Indigo): https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/raising-boys-who-become-remarkable-men-intentionally- parenting-your-son-from-birth-to-8/9784991347900.html

Book – Raising Boys Who Become Remarkable Men (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/dp/4991347904

Podcast – Unlocking the Parenting Code: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/unlocking-the-parenting-code-all-about-boys/id1781568167

If this helped you:

- Subscribe for more conversations that trade hot takes for useful tools.

- Comment: What’s one change you’ll try this week?

- Share with someone raising or teaching boys.

Start your podcast with RSS.com—launch, distribute everywhere, and track analytics.

Use our link to support Spare Bedroom Studios: https://rss.com/?via=9f1700

#RaisingBoys #BoyCode #Masculinity #ParentsOfBoys #MensMentalHealth #SoloSpotlight