Paternal
Paternal is a show about the brotherhood of fatherhood. Created and hosted by Nick Firchau, a longtime journalist and podcast producer, Paternal offers candid and in-depth conversations with great men who are quietly forging new paths in fatherhood. Listen as our diverse and thoughtful guests – a world-renowned soccer star in San Diego, a Oglala Sioux elder in South Dakota, a New York Knicks barber in Queens, a pioneering rock DJ in Seattle and many more - discuss the models of manhood that were passed down to them, and how they're redefining those models as they become fathers themselves.
info_outline
#143 Kevin Maguire: Building The Ultimate Group Text for Dads
05/14/2026
#143 Kevin Maguire: Building The Ultimate Group Text for Dads
Just a few months after the birth of his son in 2019, Kevin Maguire noticed he wasn’t feeling quite right. At times he resented his newborn son, other times he would cry for seemingly no reason. He lost interest in his work and some of his hobbies, and he just couldn’t quite shake this idea that maybe something was wrong with him. After all, wasn’t this supposed to be one the happiest moments of his life? Then Maguire discovered he was suffering from paternal postpartum depression, and the diagnosis sent him down a path that changed his life. Two years later he launched , a hugely popular international forum for men that Esquire dubbed “one big group text with other guys fumbling their way through fatherhood.” Beginning with one email to friends that began with the line “being a dad isn’t easy,” The New Fatherhood now boasts a weekly newsletter read by nearly 20,000 dads in more than 150 countries. On this episode of Paternal, Maguire discusses founding the forum, the kinds of vulnerable reactions he’s received from dads over the years, and why we live in an era with the biggest changes facing fathers in generations. Maguire’s new book, , is available wherever you buy books.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/41286135
info_outline
#142 Jordan Ritter Conn: Why Do Men Feel So Alone?
04/22/2026
#142 Jordan Ritter Conn: Why Do Men Feel So Alone?
When Jordan Ritter Conn was a teenager growing up in an Evangelical Christian family, he met with a half dozen male friends every Saturday night for Bible Study. The sessions were a free-for-all for owning up to masturbation or admitting your insecurities, for speaking frankly about your father or dreaming about your future. and the author of the new book , Conn still considers those Saturday nights “some of the best of my life.” On this episode of Paternal, Conn discusses why so many men are struggling to make similarly meaningful connections, as well as what he learned from years of intimate and revealing conversations with four men from diverse American backgrounds for his new book. He also examines the male loneliness crisis, why all men have to face “the masculinity gap” at some point in their lives, and why he always texts a male friend after a meaningful conversation. Conn’s new book, American Men, is available wherever you buy books.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/40969680
info_outline
#141 Daniel Smith: The Episode that Might Make You a Better Father
04/09/2026
#141 Daniel Smith: The Episode that Might Make You a Better Father
Brooklyn-based psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author has a motto: Feel everything, don’t look away. But how exactly are men supposed to confront some of the most challenging emotions in their lives, especially when society tells them to suppress or even ignore feelings like shame, envy or regret? On this episode of Paternal, Smith examines our relationship to what he calls “Hard Feelings,” and why reconsidering how we relate to these emotions can be beneficial for men as they become fathers. He also recounts his own story of growing up with a father who lingered at an emotional distance, and why modeling that emotions are off-limits can lead to shame and anger in our kids. Smith is the author of the 2012 memoir and the new release , available wherever you buy books.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/40780775
info_outline
#140 Tom Junod: All My Father’s Secrets
03/11/2026
#140 Tom Junod: All My Father’s Secrets
Tom Junod spent more than two decades as one the most celebrated writers in the men’s magazine game, winning two National Magazine Awards and penning unforgettable articles about everything from to . Dubbed by Esquire as the man who has “helped teach readers what masculinity looks like in the 21st century,” Junod has been considered one of great writers in the magazine’s nearly 100-year history, alongside Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Tom Wolfe. But Junod certainly didn’t learn about masculinity from a magazine. Instead he absorbed lessons about manhood imparted by his father Lou, a man who emulated the leading men of 1930s Hollywood and offered about wearing turtlenecks, making eye contact, and offering a firm handshake. Then Tom learned the details of his father’s other secrets, and it reshaped his opinion of what it means to be a good man. Junod is the author of the memoir , available now wherever you buy books.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/40390665
info_outline
#139 Seth Wickersham: The Fathers Behind the NFL’s Best Quarterbacks
02/05/2026
#139 Seth Wickersham: The Fathers Behind the NFL’s Best Quarterbacks
John Elway. Joe Namath. Johnny Unitas. Peyton Manning. Look into the backstory of just about any star quarterback you’ve ever heard of, and you’ll find either an overbearing father, or an absent one. In honor of the Super Bowl and the men who play the biggest role in this game, author and ESPN senior writer joins Paternal to discuss why there’s no cooler job title in America than quarterback, but each star’s story often traces back to the influence of his father. He also discusses the challenges the sons of these star quarterbacks face in living up to the legacy of their dads, the perils of father/son relationships built on football, and why even Tom Brady struggled to be a quarterback and a father at the same time. Wickersham’s latest book, , is available now wherever you buy books.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/39999670
info_outline
#138 Julian Brave Noisecat: Ghost Stories, Coyote Dads, and The Survival Story of “Baby X”
01/21/2026
#138 Julian Brave Noisecat: Ghost Stories, Coyote Dads, and The Survival Story of “Baby X”
As a teenager, often heard ghost stories about the history of the Canim Lake Indian Reserve. He considered them simply rez legends, and figured the details of the stories - that indigenous babies had been born and left in the incinerator of the Christian residential school - simply couldn’t be true. But then he learned the origin story of his own father, and everything changed. Now an acclaimed author and the first Indigenous North American filmmaker ever nominated for an Academy Award, Noisecat opens a new year on Paternal with the story of discovering the truth about his father, and why the story was largely shrouded in silence for decades. He also discusses how adults sent to residential schools as kids sometimes struggle as parents themselves, and what he’s learned about forgiveness and acceptance for his own father after learning more about his life. Noisecat’s memoir is available now wherever you buy books, and , his Academy-Award nominated documentary film, is available on Disney Plus and other streaming services.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/39807160
info_outline
#137 Robert Gallery: Football, Rage, and Recovery
09/04/2025
#137 Robert Gallery: Football, Rage, and Recovery
When was a senior at the University of Iowa, he was one of the most respected and feared college football players in the country. At 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, Gallery leveraged his size, talent and tenacity into a lucrative contract and an eight-year career in the National Football League. But all the while he was quietly suffering one concussion after another on the football field, and when his career finally ended, he struggled to handle bouts of rage that left him shaking in a chair after his young child spilled a glass of milk. On this episode of Paternal, Gallery reflects on the difficult transition from high-performance athlete to stay-at-home dad, the moment he learned about the extensive damage done to his brain, and how a vivid two-day psychoactive drug treatment in Mexico changed the course of his life. Gallery is the co-founder and CEO of , a non-profit organization supporting athletes through mental health and alternative therapy advocacy. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/38082560
info_outline
#136 Aymann Ismail: Three Generations of Men in the Mosque
08/20/2025
#136 Aymann Ismail: Three Generations of Men in the Mosque
What were the first words you said to your child when you became a parent? Was there something you needed to say to officially welcome him or her into this world, or was it all just a blur? For longtime Slate journalist and author the task was clear: He had to recite a Muslim call to prayer into his newborn son’s right ear, a ritual that’s been performed by countless Muslim fathers through the generations, all over the world. But was he appeasing God, or his own father? On this episode of Paternal, Ismail discusses a life spent navigating being a Muslim kid who preferred cartoons over daily prayers, and then how his faith influences his role as a father to two young kids now. And all the while he’s been trying to somehow live up to the expectations of his father, a devout and educated Muslim man fixated on the kind of man he believes his son should be. Ismail’s new book, , is available now wherever you buy books.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/37886395
info_outline
#135 Jonathan Malesic: Dads, Work, And Burnout (2023)
07/30/2025
#135 Jonathan Malesic: Dads, Work, And Burnout (2023)
spent more than a decade in what he thought was his dream job as a college professor. But after years on the clock he found himself exhausted, angry, and struggling to feel like he was making an impact with his students. But even when he quit his job in order to solve one problem, he quickly realized he had another on his hands: Without a job, was he suddenly less of a man? On this 2023 episode of Paternal, Malesic recounts the experience that led him to studying the phenomenon of burnout, how it affects men and women differently, what role work plays in defining a man’s sense of masculinity, and the effects of burnout on men when it comes to fatherhood. Malesic’s 2022 book is available wherever you buy books, and he is also the author of the 2022 essay “,” from The New York Times.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/37596795
info_outline
#134 Jayson Greene: Can Artificial Intelligence Help Us Cope With Grief?
07/16/2025
#134 Jayson Greene: Can Artificial Intelligence Help Us Cope With Grief?
Proponents of Artificial Intelligence assure us that everything in life is about to change: Work, education, healthcare, art, and even how we remember our loved ones. But what role can AI actually play in alleviating psychological and emotional suffering, especially when a parent loses a child? Welcome to the mind of author Jayson Greene, who penned the celebrated memoir back in 2019 after the tragic loss of his daughter Greta, and who’s very familiar with how opportunistic companies position AI technology as a solution to avoid feeling the pain of grief and loss. On this episode of Paternal, Greene discusses the AI themes in his debut sci-fi novel , how he’s faring 10 years after the death of his daughter, what he’s learned about how men connect over grief, and what it’s like to receive DMs from strangers who have lost their child. He also examines how he and his wife Stacy dealt with grief differently in the wake of Greta’s death, and why he often wonders what kind of person he has become after losing her. Greene previously appeared on .
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/37423325
info_outline
#133 Augustine Sedgewick: A History of Fatherhood, From Thomas Jefferson to Bob Dylan
06/25/2025
#133 Augustine Sedgewick: A History of Fatherhood, From Thomas Jefferson to Bob Dylan
How did Thomas Jefferson’s thoughts on fatherhood influence the American Revolution? What did Charles Darwin learn about evolution from watching his own kids? And why did Bob Dylan tell everyone he couldn’t stand his father? After becoming a father himself, historian and author dove into the past to learn more about these and other hugely influential men, and how being a father and a son shaped their lives and work, for better or worse. On this episode of Paternal, Sedgewick reflects on why he went looking through the past for paternal role models, and why the lives of Jefferson, Darwin, Dylan, Henry David Thoreau and Norman Rockwell reveal problematic habits dads can avoid today. Sedgewick is the author of , available now wherever you buy books.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/37143750
info_outline
#132 Sam Graham-Felsen: Where Have All My Male Friendships Gone?
06/11/2025
#132 Sam Graham-Felsen: Where Have All My Male Friendships Gone?
In the final scene of the 1986 coming-of-age film Stand By Me, the film’s narrator sums up boyhood friendship with the simple line, “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve.” And that’s largely true for a number of men who had no trouble developing deep, meaningful friendships with other boys. So why has a lack of friendship among dads become a cliche, or even a running joke? Why can’t guys hang onto those intimate friendships from their past, and what keeps them from making new friends as adults? On this episode of Paternal, journalist and novelist examines how one of his strongest childhood friendships has eroded over the years in the wake of marriage and fatherhood, and why men are reluctant to reach out to close friends when they’re in distress. He also discusses why listening to Joe Rogan offers some men a community in place of real-life friendships, and what men can do to rediscover the old friends they thought they lost. Graham-Felsen is the author of the article , which appeared in the New York Times Magazine in May.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/36945140
info_outline
#131 James Patterson: The King of Paperback Fiction Tackles Fatherhood
05/21/2025
#131 James Patterson: The King of Paperback Fiction Tackles Fatherhood
has sold more than 425 million books over the past 30 years, making him one of the richest and most successful authors in the world. At 78 years old and entering the final stage of his career, Patterson has legions of fans devoted to his brand of psychological thrillers and police procedurals, and he can effectively write about anything he wants, whenever he wants. So what’s the king of paperback fiction doing writing a book about fatherhood? On this episode of Paternal, Patterson discusses the motivations for his new how-to manual The #1 Dad Book and what he’s learned from his own experience as a father, and how to turn kids on to reading. He also reflects on the life of his own dad, who grew up in a poorhouse in upstate New York without ever knowing who his father was. Patterson’s latest, , is available wherever you buy books.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/36657570
info_outline
#130 Paternal Workshop: Your Tween’s Mind, Explained
05/08/2025
#130 Paternal Workshop: Your Tween’s Mind, Explained
You could fill an entire bookshelf with guides on babies and toddlers, or the best strategies for dealing with teenagers. But for Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, one of the most critical stages for child development is the pre-adolescent phase, when kids really begin to push their parents away and first ask the biggest questions of their lives: Who am I? Am I normal? Where do I fit in? On this episode of Paternal, Dr. Ginsburg returns to the show for the first in a series of special episodes devoted to the issues affecting our kids. He dives deep into the idea of brain puberty and what’s happening in the minds of kids in this pre-adolescent phase, why they’re trying harder than ever to break free from their parents, how screen habits figure into their development, and why you should leave your own painful memories of middle school out of the conversation with your kids. is a pediatrician specializing in Adolescent Medicine at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He is also the author of Lighthouse Parenting: Raising Your Child With Loving Guidance for a Lifelong Bond.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/36478040
info_outline
#129 Christopher Blackwell: How A Prison ‘Heal Circle’ Helps Incarcerated Men
04/24/2025
#129 Christopher Blackwell: How A Prison ‘Heal Circle’ Helps Incarcerated Men
has been a lot of things in his life. As a young boy he was a son longing to connect with his father over classic cars and football. As a teenager he was an insecure class clown, and then a dropout. In his 20s he was a drug dealer living in survival mode in a neighborhood riddled with crime and violence. And now he’s an inmate in the Washington Corrections Center, serving a 45-year prison sentence for robbery and murder. But Blackwell is also an award-winning journalist, the co-founder of a non-profit organization focused on prison reform, a mentor to other inmates, and a husband. On this episode of Paternal, Blackwell reflects on how growing up without community and positive male role models led to a tragic robbery gone wrong, and how he’s transformed himself thanks to prison’s “heal circle,” where inmates share their stories and discover a sense of honesty and camaraderie they never had as young men. Blackwell is the co-founder of , a grassroots organization led by criminal legal system-impacted people that works to transform the legal system by providing civic education and empowerment programs for incarcerated people and their loved ones. His first book, , is available for pre-order now.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/36289430
info_outline
#128 Austin Davis: A Young Father Forges the Future of Pennsylvania Politics
04/09/2025
#128 Austin Davis: A Young Father Forges the Future of Pennsylvania Politics
was just a teenager when the trajectory of his life changed forever. A fatal shooting rattled his neighborhood in the working class Pennsylvania town of McKeesport, and spurred him to attend a city council meeting of all white officials who were skeptical of the concerned Black teenager raising his voice. “ The people closest to the pain should be closest to the power,” Davis says. “ I had a stake in that community just as much as they did as somebody who lived there and grew up there, and I wanted to make it a better place.” Nearly two decades later Davis was elected the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, becoming the first African American to ever hold the office and the youngest Lieutenant Governor in the United States. On this episode of Paternal, Davis recounts how the son of a bus driver and hairdresser rose to one of the most powerful positions in Pennsylvania, why becoming a father helped him focus his energy on fixing the state’s childcare problem, and where he finds hope for the future despite extreme partisanship and vitriol among today’s politicians.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/36059800
info_outline
#127 Jake Tapper: Leadership and Vulnerability (2023)
03/26/2025
#127 Jake Tapper: Leadership and Vulnerability (2023)
Jake Tapper has been a leading figure in American media for more than a decade, serving as the chief DC anchor at CNN, the host of the network’s weekday show “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” and the co-host of the Sunday public-affairs show, “State of the Union.” During that time he’s interviewed some of the most consequential and controversial figures in American politics, and in the process learned a few things about why powerful men are so reluctant to admit when they’re wrong, and what it costs them in the end. On this 2023 episode of Paternal, Tapper discusses how he balanced a high-powered career in journalism with a life as a father of two children, how his own father influenced his upbringing in Philadelphia, and the traits that make a successful leader. Tapper’s new book, , is available wherever you buy books.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/35862200
info_outline
#126 Paternal Workshop: Why It’s Hard For Men To Say “I’m Sorry”
03/13/2025
#126 Paternal Workshop: Why It’s Hard For Men To Say “I’m Sorry”
Award-winning research psychologist and professor Dr. Michael Addis returns to Paternal for the latest in a series of special episodes, this time to discuss a subject that a number of past guests have brought up over the years: Grace and self-compassion. He examines why some men hold themselves to impossible standards when it comes to work, relationships and parenting, and why the inability to forgive yourself is connected to the ability to apologize to others, and actually mean it. Dr. Addis is a professor in the Department of Psychology at Clark University in Worcester, Mass. He also provides personal coaching and consultation for men at .
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/35663510
info_outline
#125 Joseph Earl Thomas: Fatherhood, Regardless of Your Expectations
02/27/2025
#125 Joseph Earl Thomas: Fatherhood, Regardless of Your Expectations
Acclaimed author spent much of his childhood watching everyone around him, trying to figure out where he belonged. He grew up attending public school in Philadelphia and constantly scanned the classrooms and hallways to avoid being beaten up by bigger, stronger boys. And throughout his adolescence Thomas was always trying to figure out what a man is and what a man isn’t. Then he realized that he shouldn’t even bother with those expectations. On this episode of Paternal, Thomas recounts what life was like growing in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Frankford, what he learned about violence and vulnerability from his grandfather, his own anxieties as a parent to four kids, and why he’s reluctant to say his life story fits “the hero-story narrative thing” of Black kids finding success in America. Thomas is the author of the 2023 memoir Sink, which was dubbed “an extraordinary memoir of Black American boyhood” by the New York Times. Thomas’ memoir and his 2024 novel are available wherever you buy books.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/35446415
info_outline
#124 Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg: What Type Of Parent Are You?
02/13/2025
#124 Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg: What Type Of Parent Are You?
Authoritarian parents. Permissive parents. Disengaged parents. Lighthouse parents. How would you describe the parents you had as a kid and, more importantly, what type are you now that you’re a parent? The answer could speak volumes about how you interact with your kids when it comes to the rules of the house, how to build resilience, and how much you value expressing emotions. And it will likely determine just how strong the bond is between you and your kids for the rest of their lives. On this episode of Paternal, - a pediatrician specializing in Adolescent Medicine at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine - breaks down the different styles of parenting and which one consistently yields the best results for children. He also discusses a pair of challenges often echoed by fathers on Paternal - how to honor your kids’ emotions instead of shutting them down, and why it’s crucial to show yourself some grace in front of your kids. Dr. Ginsburg is the author of three books on parenting including , available wherever you buy books beginning March 18.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/35264020
info_outline
#123 Frank: A Father’s Week Of Life On The Street (2018)
01/29/2025
#123 Frank: A Father’s Week Of Life On The Street (2018)
Meet Frank. He’s a 62 year-old father of four grown kids, and grandfather to seven grandchildren. Back in the summer of 2017, Frank decided to leave his home in San Diego and spend a week in Denver with his son Tommy, but it was no ordinary trip. Tommy is a homeless drug addict who lives in and around Civic Center Park in Denver, and he needs help. But can a committed father really change the course of life for his son, who’s caught in the deadliest drug crisis in American history? On this 2018 episode that is the most downloaded episode in Paternal history, Frank recounts the signs that may have foretold a troubled future for his son, and recounts his experience of living homeless in vivid detail, with endless empathy for his son and his battle against addiction. Special thanks on this episode to Chris Conner and Denver’s Road Home, and Denver Human Services. Special thanks also to Pastor Jerry Herships of Denver. This episode includes a 2025 update on Frank and Tommy, and Frank’s memoir, , is available on Amazon.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/35051640
info_outline
#122 Scott Oake: The Perfect Place To Heal
01/15/2025
#122 Scott Oake: The Perfect Place To Heal
Bruce Oake didn’t speak until the age of two, but once he started, he never stopped. A precocious kid with boundless energy growing up in Winnipeg, Oake was an amateur boxer as a teenager and a talented hip hop artist who adored the ragged, tough guy aura of some of his musical heroes. But by his mid-20s Bruce was firmly caught up in the opioid epidemic and struggling to find a way to get clean, leaving his parents to wonder what they could possibly do to help their son. On this episode of Paternal, looks back on the life and death of his eldest son, and reflects on if he could have done anything differently as a father. He also discusses the idea of addiction as a health issue versus a moral issue, misconceptions about rehabilitation centers, and how a recovery center built in Bruce Oake’s memory gives dozens of men the chance to heal. Scott Oake is an award-winning sports broadcaster who has contributed to “Hockey Night in Canada” since 1989. His new memoir will be available beginning Jan. 21, wherever you buy books. All proceeds will be donated to the Bruce and Anne Oake Foundation.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/34868335
info_outline
#121 Best of 2024: Conversations of the Year
01/02/2025
#121 Best of 2024: Conversations of the Year
Paternal closes out the year with a collection of the best conversations from 2024, curating five of the best segments from the past year into one collection. On this episode, Paternal guests discuss a variety of topics, including why Evangelicals and young men flocked to Donald Trump during the presidential election, why black boys need love stories too, the role the gym plays for men as they deal with issues of grief and addiction, and why anxiety and anger are so prevelant for some men heading into the new year. Guests on this episode of Paternal include author and The Atlantic journalist , award-winning author , New York Times journalist , music critic and powerlifter , and CNN political commentator and attorney . Stay tuned for all new episodes of Paternal in 2025.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/34693085
info_outline
#120 David Robertson: Learning To Live With Anxiety
12/19/2024
#120 David Robertson: Learning To Live With Anxiety
When discovered a mouse living in his minivan years ago, he knew it meant trouble. But what happened next - six weeks of Googling for information about mice, the viruses they carry, and the chances he might die from catching such an illness - was more than something a simple mousetrap could handle. It was indicative of the challenges Robertson faces every day, living with anxiety. On this episode of Paternal, Robertson discusses all the ways that anxiety has affected his life as an award-winning author and a husband and father of five kids. He also reflects on what role masculinity played in him hiding the seriousness of his mental health issues, his thoughts on group therapy and medication, and why he’s chosen to use his platform to openly address mental health. Robertson is the author of the new memoir All the Little Monsters, which will be available Jan. 21 wherever you buy books.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/34526100
info_outline
#119 Charles Bock: A Man In Over His Head
12/05/2024
#119 Charles Bock: A Man In Over His Head
Sixteen years ago, novelist was the kind of guy who would never, ever want to appear on a podcast about fatherhood. He was single and living in New York City as an aspiring writer aching to finish his first novel and somehow get it published. He had no real desire to become a father, and he knew he was too immature to become anyone’s dad. And then he met Diana. On this episode of Paternal, Bock discusses what happens when a man reluctantly becomes a father, and then faces a life-altering sequence of events that leaves him largely on his own to raise his daughter. He also recounts how he balanced grieving his wife's death and full-time caregiver responsibilities, all while his friends questioned if he was up to the task and the mothers in the preschool pickup line kept a safe distance from a father clearly in over his head. Bock’s memoir is available now wherever you buy books.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/34293215
info_outline
#118 Ian Marcus Corbin: The Science and Philosophy of Community
11/20/2024
#118 Ian Marcus Corbin: The Science and Philosophy of Community
Four years after the worst of the COVID pandemic, is it really possible that America is still trapped in an epidemic of loneliness and isolation? Many of the nation’s experts believe it’s true, so much so that U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy asserting the mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. And the crisis is disproportionately affecting men and young people, leaving many Americans searching for community and a sense of belonging. On this episode of Paternal, Harvard Medical School faculty member, philosopher and father discusses the value of maintaining a connection to our communities and developing a clear purpose in life. He also discusses why our society’s commitment to individualism and simple conveniences can make it tougher than ever to avoid feeling lonely, and why young people are struggling to feel like they have agency over their lives.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/34019642
info_outline
#117 John Branch: Donald Trump and the Battle For Male Voters
10/30/2024
#117 John Branch: Donald Trump and the Battle For Male Voters
In one of the tightest presidential elections in U.S. history, is it possible that thousands of disaffected young men might be the ones casting the deciding votes? Donald Trump certainly thinks it’s a possibility, and the former president has made a concerted effort to court these Gen Z men through interviews with a constellation of podcast and YouTube stars of the Manoverse. But what’s really driving these men to turn out for Trump, and will the strategy work? On this episode of Paternal, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter discusses what he learned from speaking with a variety of Gen Z men who have latched onto Trump as their savior. He also breaks down how the Trump campaign has attempted to define their candidate as the ultimate male superhero while attacking Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz, bringing different definitions of masculinity to the forefront of the presidential election. Branch is a longtime reporter for the New York Times, and wrote the article “Donald Trump Courts the Manoverse” earlier this year.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/33679237
info_outline
#116 Jason Reynolds: Black Boys Deserve Love Stories Too
10/17/2024
#116 Jason Reynolds: Black Boys Deserve Love Stories Too
Over the past 10 years, has become one of the most prolific and celebrated writers working today. He writes for a young audience that he believes is ready to think about and discuss the hard things in life, and he recently added a MacArthur Genius Grant to his collection of awards earned for depicting the rich inner lives of kids of color, ensuring that they see themselves and their communities in literature. But in his latest book, Reynolds is writing for the first time about boys’ emotions and questions surrounding sex and intimacy. And he’s also thinking about why no one ever asks boys or men about their complex interior lives when it comes to these essential subjects. On this episode of Paternal, Reynolds discusses writing a love story for black boys, what he learned from his father about facing tough challenges in life, and how his father taught him to live a complete life, even on his deathbed. Reynolds’ new book is available wherever you buy books.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/33495037
info_outline
#115 Gary Vider: The Con Man and The Comedian
09/18/2024
#115 Gary Vider: The Con Man and The Comedian
is the son of a con man. His father Manny ran a series of schemes in and around New York City for years while Gary was growing up, including dozens of times when father and son conned their way into Madison Square Garden while posing as media members for Sports Illustrated for Kids. Gary met some of the biggest names in sports - - all because Manny had what all good con artists have: The ability to ignore all the possible consequences of his actions. “Most people can’t do it,” Gary says, “but my dad was the master.” But what happens when those actions destroy a family, and leave a son isolated from his father for almost 25 years? On this episode of Paternal, Gary looks back on growing up with a con man for a father, what he learned by trying to reconnect with his dad decades later, and why it took becoming a father himself to question what he really knew or believed about his own dad. Gary Vider is the host of the podcast .
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/33101962
info_outline
#114 Mike Africa, Jr.: Prison, Parenthood, and the Legacy of a Revolution
08/22/2024
#114 Mike Africa, Jr.: Prison, Parenthood, and the Legacy of a Revolution
Once you hear the story of the Black civil liberties group MOVE, it’s almost impossible to believe you had never learned about it before. Dubbed by some as a cult and by others as revolutionaries in the mold of The Black Panther Party, MOVE members railed against racial injustice and inequality in Philadelphia during the 1970s and early 80s, frequently clashing with police. A number of MOVE’s members were either jailed or killed as a result, leaving its younger generation to make sense of the legacy of MOVE and how the group’s actions shaped their lives. On this episode of Paternal, MOVE member discusses his parents’ imprisonment for the murder of a police officer, and how he made peace with the knowledge that he was born in a Philadelphia jail cell. He also discusses meeting his father for the first time in prison, the experience of watching his father walk free after 40 years inside, and the challenges of raising his own kids in the shadow of MOVE. Africa is the author of the memoir , which is available now wherever you buy books.
/episode/index/show/paternalpodcast/id/32687407