Raising Men is a podcast about parenting, masculinity, and the lifelong journey of raising sons—and ourselves—to be men of courage, character, and purpose. Hosted by Shaun Dawson, each episode features real conversations with parents, leaders, and thinkers redefining what it means to raising men in today’s world.
Raising Men
Claim This Podcastby Shaun Dawson
5.0(3 reviews)
48 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview
Raising Men is a podcast about parenting, masculinity, and the lifelong journey of raising sons—and ourselves—to be men of courage, character, and purpose. Hosted by Shaun Dawson, each episode features real conversations with parents, leaders, and thinkers redefining what it means to raising men in today’s world.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/17/2025
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Recent Episodes
June 18, 2026
Reclaiming the Generational Rearview Mirror with Ted Dawson
<p><strong>In this special Father’s Day edition of </strong><strong>Raising Men</strong>, host Shaun Dawson sits down for an intimate, deeply personal conversation with his own father, <strong>Ted Dawson. </strong>A former high-profile television sports broadcaster who navigated major media markets in the 1980s and 1990s, Ted shares his reflections on the immense cultural weight of being a primary financial provider. </p><p>Together, the father and son look through the generational rearview mirror to discuss the evolving dynamics of fatherhood. They explore the stark contrasts between Ted’s traditional, career-focused approach—which relied heavily on Shaun's mother to manage the household—and Shaun's modern, connection-first parenting style. From childhood memories of strict discipline and elite sports opportunities to incredible family history and the timeless value of unwavering parental support, this episode offers a poignant look at what it truly means to guide the next generation.</p><p><strong>Key Takeaways</strong></p><ul><li><strong>The Provider Dilemma:</strong> Traditional models of masculinity often equate manhood with being the primary financial provider, a focus that can inadvertently shift a father's presence away from daily family emotional needs.</li><li><strong>Evolving Discipline Styles:</strong> Parenting approaches have undergone a massive generational shift, moving away from rigid, fear-based physical punishments toward natural consequences and maintaining emotional trust.</li><li><strong>The Power of Unwavering Support:</strong> Believing in and supporting a child's passions, even when they may lack elite natural talent, builds a foundational sense of security and confidence.</li><li><strong>Teamwork Beyond the Field:</strong> The true value of youth participation in sports or music lies not in achieving perfection or elite status, but in learning to collaborate, communicate, and rely on a team.</li><li><strong>Praise Over Perfection:</strong> The most impactful gift a parent can give is consistent praise that recognizes incremental improvement and effort rather than demanding flawless outcomes.</li></ul><p><br></p>“There's no question in my mind I did the right thing by supporting you and pleasing you and pushing you.” <p><br></p>“Support your child. Support them no matter what they do. Support their drive. Support their passion.”<p><br><strong>Chapter Markers</strong></p><ul><li><strong>00:00</strong> – Intro and setting boundaries for parent-focused discussions.</li><li><strong>03:12</strong> – Welcoming elite sports broadcaster and father, Ted Dawson.</li><li><strong>04:28</strong> – Unpacking the cultural mandate and internal toll of the provider role.</li><li><strong>06:16</strong> – Generational divides in balancing career drive with home life.</li><li><strong>07:36</strong> – Reminiscing on 1980s childhood discipline and the fear of the work phone number.</li><li><strong>11:00</strong> – The "death row" spanking routine and Brother Matt's infamous punishment.</li><li><strong>13:49</strong> – Modern discipline alternatives: shifting from physical punishment to natural consequences.</li><li><strong>15:29</strong> – Rebuilding trust and navigating the addictive loop of morning screen time.</li><li><strong>19:19</strong> – Embracing high-intelligence children and the challenge of smart parenting.</li><li><strong>20:05</strong> – A transformative day in the Dodger Stadium bullpen with the pitching coach.</li><li><strong>22:37</strong> – Overcoming parental ego regarding elite youth athletic achievements.</li><li><strong>25:51</strong> – Honoring a mother's legacy, ancestral history, and final parental principles.</li></ul><p><strong>Books, Links and Frameworks Mentioned</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Natural Consequences Framework:</strong> A modern parenting method prioritizing logical outcomes and accountability over physical or arbitrary punishments.</li><li><strong>The "Level of Trust" Percentage Metric:</strong> A collaborative tool used by Shaun to help children conceptually measure and rebuild family trust after a boundary violation.</li><li><strong>The Three-Count Rule:</strong> A emotional regulation and boundary discipline practice involving counting to three to give children a transitional pause before a room time-out.</li></ul>
June 15, 2026
Seeing the World Through My Son’s Eyes with Lake Dawson
<p>Joined by his very own son and the original inspiration for the podcast, Lake Dawson, Shaun explores the world directly through a child's eyes. </p><p>Filled with humor, heart, and a highly coordinated effort by Lake to secure some studio donuts, this Father's Day episode serves as a powerful reminder that presence and authentic connection always outpace perfection in parenting. </p><p>00:00 Introduction to Raising Boys<br>01:04 Understanding Good Role Models<br>02:29 Navigating Technology and Screen Time<br>03:55 The Two Brain Theory<br>06:12 Lessons and Traditions at Home<br>07:43 A Father's Pride and Joy<br>09:14 Celebrating Special Moments Together</p>
June 11, 2026
Reclaiming a Vision for Young Men with Shaun Dawson
<p>In this solo episode of Raising Men, host Shaun Dawson wrestles with a heavy and deeply honest question brought to him by a friend:<strong> What do you do when you want to support your teenager's passions, but their only apparent passion is doing drugs? </strong></p><p><strong>Key Takeaways</strong></p><ul><li><strong>The Modern Environment Amplifies Temptation:</strong> Unlike past generations who had to seek out vices, today's teenage boys face an inescapable, highly potent "virtual firehose" of pornography and pure THC vapes directly in their backpacks.</li><li><strong>A Perceived Cultural Disconnect:</strong> Many young men feel the current cultural landscape has turned its back on them, creating a sense that the game is rigged and leaving them feeling like they have nothing to offer that society values.</li><li><strong>The Danger of Digital Grifts:</strong> Frustrated and isolated in basements, many boys turn to online figures who seem to voice their pain, only to find that the promises of quick wealth or easy help turn out to be a grift.</li><li><strong>Vision Must Be Intrinsic:</strong> To find the strength to choose the uphill path, a young man must create a vision for his own life that is rooted in personal inspiration rather than shame, and it cannot be imposed by parents or coaches.</li><li><strong>Mindset Controls the Outcome:</strong> True success and resilience are dictated by how the mind reacts to challenges; tools like structural directive affirmations can organically reprogram internal scripts to achieve major life goals.</li></ul><p>“I am not an expert on this... but I do want to think through a strategic perspective with you.”</p><p>“It feels maybe like the game is rigged, like our culture cares more about making sure that a girl who was born with a penis feels included... than it does about a young man literally having nothing to give the world that the world seems to value.”</p><p>“Our culture has turned its back on young men... But at the same time, it needs healthy young men to thrive. Our culture thirsts for healthy young men.”</p><p>00:00 Welcome back and addressing a heavy question from a friend <br>01:14 Shaun clarifies his lack of expert tactical experience with addiction <br>02:28 Contrasting the inspiring upswing of the past with today's culture <br>03:30 Exploring how a 16-year-old boy views a shifting world <br>04:34 The inescapable donut shop metaphor for modern sensory overload <br>05:41 Limitless pure THC and the virtual firehose of isolation <br>06:40 Turning to online gurus and the reality of the digital grift <br>08:18 A profoundly difficult time to be a young man today <br>08:56 The culture won't change but it thirsts for healthy men <br>10:54 Why young men must forge an intrinsic vision for their lives <br>12:12 Lanny Bassham's Olympic origin story and mental performance study <br>15:36 How to write a structural directive affirmation to change your mind</p><p><strong>Books, Links and Frameworks Mentioned</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Book:</strong> With Winning in Mind by Lanny Bassham https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Mind-3rd-Ed/dp/1934324264</li><li><strong>Song:</strong> "If You Want to Be Someone Else, Change Your Mind" by Sister Hazel</li><li><strong>Framework:</strong> The Directive Affirmation — A specific card-writing structure that outlines a goal with a time limit, personal pay value, and a concrete action plan, written in the present tense and read six times per day.</li></ul>
48 total episodes available with 1 transcripts
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Raising Men?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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