Let them be bored! Six weeks, endless snacks and the nagging feeling that you should be running a children’s cruise ship from your kitchen.

Playworker Amber joins Elliott to explain why parents can lower the bar and why boredom, messy play and a little independence can be brilliant for children. Packed with simple, low-cost ideas for toddlers to teens, inclusive advice for children with additional needs and a persuasive case for the adventure playground, this is a warm, reassuring guide to a summer with more connection, less pressure and far less forced fun.

Masculinities educator Lewis Wedlock joins Joeli and Elliott to talk boys, schools, online influence and why the best conversations start with curiosity rather than condemnation. From “borrowed phrases” on the internet to helping young men sit with discomfort, this is a sharp, hopeful and very human conversation about teaching boys HOW to think, not just WHAT to think.

Book - Masculinities in Schools by Lewis Wedlock

Links mentioned:

Voice of the Boys report

State of UK Men 2025 report

Safer Scrolling

In this wonderfully hopeful episode of To Be a Boy, Joeli speaks to Professor Seán Redmond about boys, belonging and how children can be drawn into criminal networks. Drawing on decades of youth justice experience and his landmark Greentown research, Seán explains why punishment alone rarely works — and why young people need accountability, safe spaces and trusted adults who believe nothing is ever too bad to talk about. He believes that things can always be fixed.

REPPP - Research Evidence into Policy, Programmes and Practice

https://www.ul.ie/artsoc/ccjvs/research/youth-justice/reppp

In this episode of To Be A Boy, Joeli and Elliott are joined by podcast BFF, couples coach, father of three and Be a Happier Parent host Alex Trippier for a raw (seriously, get your tissues READY), funny and deeply honest conversation about modern fatherhood. Together, they explore the mental load, anger, repair, school refusal, resilience, sensitive boys, the manosphere, porn, consent and what it really takes to raise boys without passing on old models of fear, toughness and control. From the shame of losing your temper to the power of apology, Alex makes the case for parenting with more connection, more courage and a lot less certainty.https://www.instagram.com/beahappierparent/

In this episode of To Be A Boy, Joeli and Elliott unpack the newly announced social media ban for under-16s: from TikTok, YouTube and Roblox to VPNs, WhatsApp and the very real risk that teenagers are simply left to “stare at the wall”.

They ask whether the ban is a necessary cultural reset, a blunt instrument, or both. They also look at what young people need instead: youth clubs, third spaces, safer online communities, and more honest support for families. Plus, a detour into The Care Gap, boys and domestic responsibility, dinner fatigue, England football feelings, and Elliott’s surprisingly nerve-wracking mission to give men flowers for Father’s Day.

Joeli and Elliott are joined by Shuab Gamote, advocate for young people, strategic adviser to the NEETs Commission, and co-author of Inside the Mind of a 16-Year-Old.

Shuab has spoken to more than 1,000 young people across the UK, and in this conversation he shares what they are really saying about school, work, confidence, social media, COVID, class, AI, safety, and the future. Together, they explore why so many boys feel misunderstood, why the education system is failing some young people, and why confidence, purpose, trusted adults and real-world opportunities matter so much.

It’s a wide-ranging, hopeful and deeply human conversation about what boys are navigating today, and what parents, schools, employers and policymakers can do to help them feel seen, valued and ready for the world ahead.

In a world of social media, body pressures, dating confusion and manosphere content that’s only getting louder, what does it mean to be a young man right now?

In this episode, Elliott and Joeli speak to Ricardo Barcello, a 19-year-old student and member of the Movember Youth Advisory Board, about what life really feels like for young men today. From gym culture and skincare anxiety to friendship, misogyny, dating and the growing divide between boys and girls, Ricardo brings honesty, empathy and much-needed nuance to the conversation.

This week, Elliott is joined by educator and campaigner Andrew “Bernie” Bernard, with Koru Kid's very own Rachel Carrell stepping in brilliantly as co-host.

Hold tight for this one, the team are going deep on some big topics and have some genuinely thought-provoking questions to a big conversation about boys, masculinity and the world they’re growing up in. Together, they unpack everything from the manosphere and controlling behaviour to why boys need boundaries, care and, as Bernie puts it, a healthy sense of humour. It's a moving episode that's going to stick with you.

Join Joeli and Elliott as we revisit our conversation with John Amaechi to talk all things sports, identity and masculinity, emphasising the importance of emotional intelligence and intimacy among men. John reflects on his experiences as a latecomer to basketball and how it shaped his understanding of masculinity. They also roll up their sleeves and delve into the societal pressures surrounding masculinity, the need for empathy, and the responsibility of parents and coaches in nurturing healthy relationships. John advocates for a redefinition of masculinity that embraces vulnerability and connection, urging listeners to foster environments where boys can express their emotions freely and develop meaningful relationships: it's right up our street.

Meadhbh Park, author of Blackpilled and expert in countering violent extremism, joins Joeli and Elliott to unpack the ideologies pulling young men towards the darkest corners of the internet. From the nihilistic “black pill” philosophy and incel communities to the mainstream creep of looks-maxing culture and self-optimisation content, she maps the full landscape of the Manosphere and explains why loneliness, not hatred, is often where it all begins.The conversation gets practical too. Meadhbh shares the warning signs parents should watch for, why autistic and socially isolated boys are particularly vulnerable, and what tools can actually help. She also offers a more human portrait of the young men inside these communities than the headlines tend to allow: not monsters, but often deeply broken kids who found their first sense of belonging in the worst possible place.