Raising Men

Raising Men is a podcast about parenting, masculinity, and the lifelong journey of raising sons—and ourselves—to be men of courage, character, and purpose. Hosted by Shaun Dawson, each episode features real conversations with parents, leaders, and thinkers redefining what it means to raising men in today’s world.

Last refreshed: June 18th, 2026 at 2:59 PM

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Episodes

Reclaiming the Generational Rearview Mirror with Ted Dawson

In this special Father’s Day edition of Raising Men , host Shaun Dawson sits down for an intimate, deeply personal conversation with his own father, Ted Dawson. A former high-profile television sports broadcaster who navigated major media markets in the 1980s and 1990s, Ted shares his reflections on the immense cultural weight of being a primary financial provider. Together, the father and son look through the generational rearview mirror to discuss the evolving dynamics of fatherhood. They expl...

Jun 18, 2026•42 min•Ep. 46

Seeing the World Through My Son’s Eyes with Lake Dawson

Joined by his very own son and the original inspiration for the podcast, Lake Dawson, Shaun explores the world directly through a child's eyes. Filled with humor, heart, and a highly coordinated effort by Lake to secure some studio donuts, this Father's Day episode serves as a powerful reminder that presence and authentic connection always outpace perfection in parenting. 00:00 Introduction to Raising Boys 01:04 Understanding Good Role Models 02:29 Navigating Technology and Screen Time 03:55 The...

Jun 15, 2026•10 min•Ep. 45

Reclaiming a Vision for Young Men with Shaun Dawson

In this solo episode of Raising Men , host Shaun Dawson wrestles with a heavy and deeply honest question brought to him by a friend: What do you do when you want to support your teenager's passions, but their only apparent passion is doing drugs? Key Takeaways The Modern Environment Amplifies Temptation: Unlike past generations who had to seek out vices, today's teenage boys face an inescapable, highly potent "virtual firehose" of pornography and pure THC vapes directly in their backpacks. A Per...

Jun 11, 2026•16 min•Ep. 44

Practical Tools for Navigating Big Behaviors with Tosha Schore

Tosha Schore is a parent educator, author, and the founder of Parenting Boys Peacefully . She specializes in helping parents navigate the "bad guy myth" by reframing boy aggression as a signal of fear rather than a character flaw. Tosha provides practical tools for building deep connections and setting loving limits. 5 Key Takeaways: Reframing aggression as a communication of fear or lack of safety. The transformative power of the "Special Time" practice. Identifying patterns and signs before me...

Jun 08, 2026•52 min•Ep. 43

Q&A Navigating the "Man Box"

In this insightful Q&A episode of Raising Men , host Shaun Dawson dives deep into the complex personal growth challenges that modern fathers face on the playground and at home. Drawing from the collective insights of previous conversations, Shaun addresses two powerful, listener-submitted questions regarding early childhood cultural conditioning and the struggle for verbal emotional intimacy. He unpacks how deeply emotional boys are at birth and how quickly societal frameworks, like the "man...

Jun 04, 2026•17 min•Ep. 42

From Reactive to Radical: The Journey to Intentional Fatherhood with Jon Hord

Jon Hord is the founder of the Engaged Father Project . A former high-achieving corporate VP who walked away from a 100-year-old family company after a health-induced epiphany, Jon now coaches dads to move from "reactive survival" to "radical intentionality." 5 Key Takeaways: The "Provider Trap": Connecting your value solely to your income. The "Deathbed Scenario" as a tool for major life decisions. Responding vs. Reacting: How to handle high-stress "Playbook 2" moments. Measuring backwards: Foc...

Jun 01, 2026•54 min•Ep. 41

Q&A: Reclaiming the Safe Harbor

In this mailbag edition of Raising Men , host Shaun Dawson addresses two critical parenting dilemmas: emotional withholding and managing high-energy boys. Shaun unpacks the phenomenon of "emotional narrowing," explaining how rigid, fear-based discipline can inadvertently turn a home into an emotional desert. Drawing on insights from trauma-informed parenting, the episode highlights why genuine authority is built on relationship and trust rather than compliance. Later, Shaun shifts to the neurobi...

May 28, 2026•14 min•Ep. 40

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