74. Mike Nicholson: Progressive Masculinity (and why boys do want to talk)

Wild Card - Whose Shoes? Podcast | Mike Nicholson: Progressive Masculinity (and why boys do want to talk)What if the real issue isn’t that boys don’t talk - but that we rarely create spaces where they feel safe enough to?In this episode, I’m joined by Mike Nicholson, former English teacher and founder of Progressive Masculinity. I first heard Mike speak at an education conference in Wolverhampton organised by Sarah Milne, and his session stayed with me long afterwards - especially the powerful “mask” exercise exploring how young men feel they must appear versus how they really feel.Drawing on nearly two decades in the classroom, Mike shares what he saw: thoughtful, capable boys quietly limiting themselves to fit narrow expectations of masculinity - and what changed when they were simply given permission to talk.We explore:Why the idea that boys don’t talk is a mythThe impact of safe, non-judgemental spacesEarly intervention and “upstream” preventionOnline rabbit holes and algorithm-driven risksHelping boys decide what kind of men they want to becomeA values-led approach to confidence, identity and belongingThere are strong echoes here of my #CYPWhoseShoes work - listening deeply, understanding different perspectives, and recognising that real change is often felt before it can ever be measured.🎧 If you have boys or young men in your life - as parents, teachers, grandparents or colleagues - this conversation is well worth a listen.🍋💡🍋 Lemon Lightbulbs from this episodeBoys don’t avoid talking - they avoid judgement.The gap between the “outside mask” and inside feelings is often huge.Prevention starts with belonging, not behaviour management.Algorithms can take curiosity to harmful places faster than adults realise.Listening with young people changes everything.Some of the most important outcomes can’t be captured on a spreadsheet.If we remove unhealthy spaces, we must create healthier ones.Values help young people navigate peer pressure.Supporting boys and empowering girls are not opposing goals.There isn’t one way to be a man - only the freedom to become yourself.LinksProgressive MasculinityWhose Shoes?Our #CYPWhoseShoes projectMen and boys' champions#WhoseShoes #WildCardWhoseShoes #CYPWhoseShoes #Belonging #Education #MentalHealth #EarlyInterventionWe LOVE it when you leave a review!If you enjoy my podcast and find these conversations usefulplease  share your thoughts by leaving a review (Spotify or Apple are easiest to leave a review - navigate via 3 dots) and comment on your favourite episodes.Connect with me - Gill Phillips - on LinkedIn, especially if you are interested in our brand new #CYPWhoseShoes resources or our well-established #MatExp (maternity experience) work.I tweet (not so much these days!) as @WhoseShoes  and am on Instagram as @WhoseShoesUK and @WildCardWS.Please recommend 'Wild Card - Whose Shoes' to others who enjoy hearing passionate people talk about their experiences of improving health care.