To Be A Boy
New Podcast on Boys, Marketing in the Manosphere, Andropause and Where's this movement at?
Welcome to GOOD NEWS FOR MEN. I’m James Routledge and JACK is a platform to evolve the conversation around men and masculinity. We shine a light on good men and raise up positive male role models.
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To Be A Boy. Joeli Brearley (Pregnant Then Screwed) and Elliott Rae (Parenting Out Loud) have been entering the “murky waters” of masculinity and boyhood in their relatively new podcast (11 eps). Their latest episode is with Caitlin Moran who talks about how girls are now able to be “everything” whilst boys still remain very limited in who they can be. Agreed. But my word - can we get more famous men saying stuff like this? Caitlin Moran, hats off - but we really need men to be leading this conversation to persuade other men and boys to listen up.
Marketing Meets Manosphere. Register interest to be there. New documentary "Influenced: The Online Masculinity Map" which follows the journey of ex-red-piller turned therapist Will Adolphy, will be screened for the first time. Brands are waking up to the opportunity and challenge of marketing to young men, more cogs are turning in this movement…
The Andropause. Getting dubbed as the “male menopause” (although that’s wildly misleading). This phenomena where testosterone declines in men is certainly gaining traction as an area for men to explore. I first heard of TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) on an Armchair Expert podcast and was intrigued… an area to watch. Podcast on the topic by Ross Tompkins.
If you’re reading I thought I’d give you my honest thoughts about “all this stuff”. It’s all quietened down a bit since Adolescene and Gareth Southgate. There was a huge spike in interest and conversation and that’s definitely raised the level of discussion on men, men’s mental health, boys and masculinity in general. A step change. Yet we’re nowhere near mainstream yet. The main reason I feel this is, is because of ££££. When the mental health movement began really taking shape, money was pouring into the market. People were willing to spend thousands on their mental health, businesses were willing to spend their money to support employees and investors then began backing mental health companies with big bucks.
We’re not here in men and masculinity v.2.0 yet. The men I know working in this space are struggling to fill their boots with men seeking support. The brands serving men with self-care products, or different approaches to wellbeing are fledgling. Meanwhile Guinness has had it’s best year ever and the gambling company near me (Bet365) I have no doubt is still doing very very well.
Men might be evolving, but I’m not sure they are parting with their pounds to accelerate that evolution yet. Hair transplants, retainers for perfect teeth, branded t-shirts, beer and supplements are dominating male disposable income (as well general cost of living) Until money moves to different spaces, products exhibiting different masculine values - this masculinity movement will keep simmering away - more cash will bring it to the boil.
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11/06, 6pm - 9pm. East London.
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James