Today we’re talking about boys—the messages they receive about emotions, strength, masculinity, and what it means to “be a man” in today’s world. My guest is Dr. Katie Hurley, a child and adolescent psychotherapist, parenting educator, and Vice President of Community Initiatives for The Jed Foundation, a nonprofit focused on youth mental health and suicide prevention. Katie is the author of several books on kids’ and teens’ mental health, and her newest release, Breaking the Boy Code, takes a deep look at the societal pressures shaping boys’ emotional lives.

In our conversation, Katie and I explore how traditional expectations around masculinity can impact boys’ mental health, emotional expression, and relationships. We talk about the unique pressures boys are facing today, what can happen when emotions get pushed underground, and practical ways parents can support boys in developing emotional awareness, resilience, and a healthier sense of self. 

About Dr. Katie Hurley

 

Dr. Katie Hurley is a child and adolescent psychotherapist, parenting educator, public speaker, and writer, and is the Vice President of Community Initiatives for The Jed Foundation (JED), a nonprofit dedicated to youth and young adult mental health and suicide prevention. She is the author of the award-winning No More Mean Girls: The Secret to Raising Strong, Confident, and Compassionate Girls, The Depression Workbook for Teens: Tools to Improve Your Mood, Build Self-Esteem, and Stay Motivated, The Happy Kid Handbook: How to Raise Joyful Children in a Stressful World, A Year of Positive Thinking for Teens, and her newest book, The Stress-Buster Workbook for Kids. Her newest book is Breaking the Boy Code, which came out in March 2026.

Katie covers mental health, child and adolescent development, and parenting for The Washington Post, PBS Parents, Psychology Today, Everyday Health, PsyCom, and US News and World Report, among other places. She splits her time between Los Angeles, California and coastal Connecticut with her husband and two children.

Things you'll learn from this episode 

• Why the “Man Box” and traditional messages about masculinity can limit boys’ emotional well-being and self-expression

• How social media, gaming culture, and online spaces can influence boys’ identities, including exposure to red pill and incel ideologies

• Why open conversations about feelings and mental health are critical for helping boys thrive

• How practical tools, coping strategies, and supportive school environments can strengthen boys’ resilience and self-awareness

• Why media literacy, positive role models, and inclusive communities help boys navigate today’s complex world with greater confidence and authenticity

 

Resources mentioned

• Breaking the Boy Code: The New Playbook for Raising Resilience Boys by Dr. Katie Hurley

• Katie Hurley’s website

• Katie Hurley on Facebook

• Katie Hurley on Instagram

• Katie Hurley on Twitter

• Teen Talk / Katie’s Facebook Group for Parents of Teens

• Katie’s Facebook Group for Parents of younger children

• The Stress-Buster Workbook for Kids by Katie Hurley

• A Year of Positive Thinking for Teens by Katie Hurley

• The Happy Kid Handbook: How to Raise Joyful Children in a Stressful World by Katie Hurley

• The Depression Workbook for Teens: Tools to Improve Your Mood, Build Self-Esteem, and Stay Motivated by Katie Hurley

• No More Mean Girls: The Secret to Raising Strong, Confident, and Compassionate Girls by Katie Hurley

• Not familiar with ‘red pill’ content? Teen boys are, whether they want to be or not (Katie’s article on CNN)

• We’re Family, and We Lost Loved Ones to Suicide 25 Years Apart. Here’s What’s Changed About Suicide in America, and What Hasn’t (Katie’s article on Oprah Magazine)

• Ecumundo

• Dr. Tina Payne Bryson

• Louis Theroux Inside the Manosphere (documentary on Netflix)

• Sex Educator Amy Lang Talks About Kids & Pornography (Full-Tilt Parenting)

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