Blogs I’m a recovering runner. Now, I walk, and while walking, I listen to podcasts. A lot of them. Some of my favorites are The Daily, The Moth, Pod Save America, and The Best People, but I am open to listening and learning about everything. Bring on the pods!
Most recently, I tuned into a thought-provoking conversation with journalist Liz Plank and professor Scott Galloway (check out Prof G media), as they discussed the “quiet crisis” that boys and young men are facing. While they were talking, each cited statistics on male loneliness, isolation, and falling behind educationally. If you can, I encourage you to listen to the conversation yourself, but if you can’t, here are the four things Galloway says all boys must do:
- Take action.
- Get strong.
- Make money.
- Once a week, go to something where you don’t know anyone and meet people.
Listening to the conversation, I kept thinking about how this all lands in a school setting. What do boys need from us right now, and how can we respond in ways that are practical and grounded in real relationships? Here’s a version of Galloway’s list with added ideas for educators, families, and communities:
1. Take Action
In the podcast, Galloway states, action absorbs anxiety.
Educators: Integrate project-based learning, hands-on activities, and problem-solving challenges that connect academic subjects to the real world. Try movement and physical outlets within the school day, even if it’s a break to stand and stretch.
Families: Promote activities that involve physical action and teamwork, from sports to robotics clubs to community service. Ask boys to take the lead on household projects and to learn life skills like cooking, gardening, cleaning, laundry, and taking care of children, siblings, and pets.
Community: Fund and support after-school programs, vocational training, and community centers that provide safe, structured environments for boys to be active and engaged.
2. Get Strong
Encouraging boys to get strong is not only about physical strength, it’s about building mental and emotional resilience and looking to girls and women to gain skills. This also means equipping them with tools to manage frustration and overcome setbacks.
Educators: Create a classroom culture that values effort. Suggest boys take academic risks and talk about the impact of perseverance. Provide constructive feedback that focuses on what they can control.
Families: Teach boys to problem-solve. Nurture “stick-to-it-tiveness” when there are challenges, from a math problem to a relationship issue, even when they want to quit.
Communities: Promote male role models in all aspects of life who demonstrate integrity, leadership, compassion, and emotional intelligence.
3. Make Money
In other words, cultivate self-reliance. Financial stability is a key driver for many boys and men. As educators, we can connect academics with tangible, real-world value.
Educators: Highlight careers in teaching, the trades, and in entrepreneurship. Bring in speakers from a variety of professions and cultures.
Families: Involve boys in family budgeting and financial planning. Suggest a part-time job or to start a small business (lawn mowing, dog walking, babysitting) to understand work and money.
Communities: Advocate for policies that support vocational training, apprenticeships, and mentorship programs that connect young men with skilled workers.
4. Go Somewhere New
The recommendation to “Once a week, go do something where you don’t know anyone and meet people” is a powerful antidote to isolation. Loneliness is a significant barrier to boys’ success and well-being.
Educators: Design group projects that require collaboration and teamwork. Actively create a sense of belonging in the classroom. Act as a mentor and connect boys with positive peer groups. Incorporate social-emotional learning into your curriculum. Connect boys with school psychologists, counselors, and colleagues for increased support.
Families: Propose that boys join clubs, teams, or groups based on their interests, but also to try new things! Prioritize family meals and conversations that build connections. Talk about feelings and emotions and what they mean. Use this feelings wheel to assist them in articulating what they are experiencing.
Communities: Support and invest in community centers, libraries, and organizations that provide a variety of inclusive social opportunities for young men. Encourage boys to learn about racism, sexism, and misogyny through exposure to the arts, political involvement, and honest conversations.
The challenges facing boys are real, and as educators, we have a unique and powerful opportunity to be part of the solution. While this blog is about boys, through their empowerment, we impact girls and make their lives better, too. This Substack, Male Loneliness Isn’t a Crisis, It’s a Mirror, encourages boys to “pick up a shovel” and join in making the world a better place, not just for them, but for everyone.
By embracing action, resilience, self-reliance, and connection, we guide a generation of boys in navigating their struggles. The result? More confident, capable, well-adjusted men who are ready to partner with us for a less lonely, and more equitable world.
To hear more voices and ideas on this topic, check out these conversations:
- The Crisis of Men and Boys — with Jonathan Haidt and Richard Reeves | Prof G Conversations
- Why We Ignore Young Men’s Struggles — with Richard Reeves | Office Hours Special Edition
- Where Did All My Male Friendships Go? | New York Times Podcasts
About the Author
Susanne Leslie is a Professional Learning Specialist at Teaching Channel. She holds a B.A. in Sociology and a Master’s in Education. As a former parent educator, Susanne’s specialty is Culture, Wellness, and Early Childhood instruction. In her current role, she writes courses and content, and is an enthusiastic advocate for play and time outdoors as the best teaching tools.
Fun Fact: Susanne has jumped out of two (perfectly good) airplanes!
