303: 'Boys have as rich an inner life as girls do.' (ft. Nat Damon of Reach Academy for Young Men))

When you were a boy, did you feel comfortable being your full self?Did you feel at ease around becoming a man -- like you knew what that meant and smoothly moved into that identity?We live in a world where boys and young men often feel like it's not safe to be themselves, and where it can be confusing to grow into manhood.According to Nat Damon, who runs Reach Academy for Young Men, "what boys need is to be seen and heard." And for boys who need healthy role models in terms of what it means to be a mature, healthy man, places like Reach are lifelines.Reach Academy gives boys a place to learn, grow, express themselves, bond with peers, and learn about leadership in a grounded way. Mentors there ask themselves questions like, "How can we help them to see the positive elements of being a man, while at the same time addressing the roots of toxic masculinity?" And, "How do you create a hope-filled atmosphere?"It's more important than ever to have places where people who identify as boys and young men can take the pressure off. Where they can get attuned support, and experience healthy leadership. And where they can be witnessed in whatever it is they're going through.If you're raising a son or sons, or if you have someone who identifies as a boy or young man in your life, you won't want to miss this.Work with usWant to go deeper than the podcast? Jason and I are ready to work with you! We specialize in helping men break old patterns and transform their sex & love lives for good.To see if there's a fit for our flagship program Pillars of Presence, book a call here. Start anytime. (https://evolutionary.men/apply/)---Memorable quotes from this episode:"Boys are growing up feeling more self-conscious and seeking more ways to escape the judgment put on them.""Being a mature man is this ability to be listen and be non-judgmental.""Being interested in other people is fundamental to leadership.""The topic of loneliness is something that we’re trying to address head-on.""We were able to exhale."Mentioned on this episode:Reach Academy: reachyoungmen.org