One of my earliest memories with Joseph is hanging out with him at a park when he was around 10 years old. He spent most of his time climbing trees with his friends. Since then, climbing has become a steady passion for him—it’s his primary sport, his job, one of his favourite things to do and one of his biggest aspirations in life.

We’ve spent countless hours underneath bouldering walls and pull-up bars. I’ve worked out with him, listened to him blast Apashe, and watched him grow into a remarkable young athlete. I asked him to join for a podcast episode so we could capture this moment in his life.

Then I connected with an Olympic medalist named Jason Rogers. This is what we created.

FURTHER READING

Jason Rogers writes The Mandate Letter, a patient and meaningful exploration of the world of masculinity that features in-depth research and thought-provoking interviews on relevant topics. 

SOURCES

William Pollack, Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood →

Michael Thompson, Speaking of Boys: Answers to the Most-Asked Questions About Raising Boys →

David Cohen, No Boy Left Behind? →

Rachel Giese, Boys: What it Means to Become a Man →

CONNECT

Breaking the Boy Code is part of the NGM Podcast Network. Next Gen Men is a nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging boys and men in the movement for gender justice. Learn more about our efforts and how you can support us at nextgenmen.ca. Reach out at [email protected] or on social media.

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