Rephonic
Artwork for To Be A Boy
Mental Health
Masculinity
Parenting
Paternity Leave
Misogyny
Friendship
Boys
Toxic Masculinity
Community Support
Social Media
Manosphere
Employment Rights Act
Gender Equality
Fatherhood
Emotional Intelligence
Children
John Lewis Christmas Advert
Loneliness
Education
Sex Education

To Be A Boy dives into the chaos of raising boys today — from dodgy masculinity myths to the wild world of online culture. Joeli Brearley and Elliott Rae mix humour with sharp takes on the policies, systems and social norms shaping boys’ lives. It’s real talk, big laughs, and a nudge toward a fairer future.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes69Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ParentingKids & Family

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for To Be A Boy

Latest Episodes

Let them be bored! Six weeks, endless snacks and the nagging feeling that you should be running a children’s cruise ship from your kitchen.

Playworker Amber joins Elliott to explain why parents can lower the bar and why boredom, messy play and a li... more

YouTube

Masculinities educator Lewis Wedlock joins Joeli and Elliott to talk boys, schools, online influence and why the best conversations start with curiosity rather than condemnation. From “borrowed phrases” on the internet to helping young men sit with d... more

YouTube

In this wonderfully hopeful episode of To Be a Boy, Joeli speaks to Professor Seán Redmond about boys, belonging and how children can be drawn into criminal networks. Drawing on decades of youth justice experience and his landmark Greentown research,... more

YouTube

In this episode of To Be A Boy, Joeli and Elliott are joined by podcast BFF, couples coach, father of three and Be a Happier Parent host Alex Trippier for a raw (seriously, get your tissues READY), funny and deeply honest conversation about modern fa... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Seán Redmond
Professor of youth justice and researcher
University of Limerick
Episode: Nothing Is Ever Too Bad: Boys and the Adults Who Don’t Give Up with Professor Seán Redmond
Alex Trippier
Couples coach, founder of the Be A Happier Parent podcast
Be A Happier Parent
Episode: Raising Boys Without the Tough-Guy Act: Alex Tripper!
Shuab Gamote
Advocate for young people and NEET Commission advisor
NEET Commission
Episode: Inside the Mind of a 16-Year-Old Boy with Shuab Gamote
Ricardo Barcello
A real life young man; Movember Youth Advisory Board member
Movember Youth Advisory Board
Episode: Raised by the Internet? A Movember Conversation About Boys
Rachel Carrell
CEO and founder of Koru Kids
Koru Kids
Episode: Giving Boys a Better Story with Andrew 'Bernie' Bernard
Andrew Bernie Bernard
Educator, speaker and campaigner working to tackle violence against women and girls and challenge misogyny
Independent (education/advocacy)
Episode: Giving Boys a Better Story with Andrew 'Bernie' Bernard
Meadhbh Park
Author of Blackpilled, researcher on countering violent extremism
Counter-extremism and research
Episode: The Black Pill: Inside the Ideology Radicalising Young Men Online
Reena O'Connor
Comedian and Instagram influencer
Instagram influencer
Episode: Live from the Push 4 Paternity Leave March!
Femi Aluwal
Political activist
Activist
Episode: Live from the Push 4 Paternity Leave March!

Hosts

Elliott Rae
Co-host; engaged in discussions on masculinity, parenting, and policy; frequent guest on the show.
Joeli Brearley
Host; leads conversations on parenting, gender norms, and policy with a focus on practical impact for families.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 169 ratings
  • Must Have for Boy moms and Dads

    I absolutely love hearing the incredible insights of Joeli and Elliott and their many guests on the podcast. This podcast has been so helpful for me personally. As a mother of young boys , coming from a family full of women and girls- i didn’t know how much I needed to hear this.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kikibrooke A
    Canada2 months ago
  • Finding their voice

    I think they are finding their voice as a new podcast, and have found episodes to improve over time. Format struggles a bit, and doesn’t always flow smoothly. Overall a worthy listen as a new mother to a boy and feel like this content is much needed. I look forward to seeing how they evolve and grow over time!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ewalk7198
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great guests, discussing important issues

    Elliott and Joeli are a great combination, I like the banter between them. But it’s the guests so far that have made this a great listen. The four-parter on Adolescence in particular is really good. Looking forward to more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tallcmp172
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Thank you

    Thank you so much for creating this podcast!! I am a mum of 3 boys and I am determined to raise the next generation of happy, grounded, kind and connected boys. For the world to be a better place for all boys and girls and future adults! We need this so much! So very excited to follow this! 🔥🙏🙏🙏

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Popcast_for_kids
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Hoping you go deeper

    I’m 1.5 episodes in and it all feels a bit Blue Peter so far. Planning to persevere because the topic is so important to me but really hoping you both go on a steep learning curve as the series progresses. Ep 1 you say the idea partly came from MeToo and basically wanting to avoid bringing up a predator. Hmmm. Ep2 you show dismay at the global DEI climbdown - policies which are literally about assuming males have ‘privilege’ and must be deprioritised. As things stand I am not convinced you’re th... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Bonbonbons585
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the strong rapport between hosts and the quality of guests, noting the banter adds warmth while episodes feature heavy-hitting insights.
The show is praised for addressing important issues with seriousness and practical takeaways, though some listeners want deeper dives on certain topics.
Feedback often highlights the relevance of episodes around paternity leave and youth masculinity for families and educators.
Guests bring credibility and varied perspectives, strengthening the show's appeal to policy-minded and parenting-focused audiences.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Nothing Is Ever Too Bad: Boys and the Adults Who Don’t Give Up with Professor Seán Redmond
Q: What does grooming by a criminal network look like, and is there a start point to it?
Grooming does not have a single start point; it unfolds through proximity, transactional incentives, emotional appeal, and sometimes default involvement, with adults often guiding or enabling access and opportunities.
Raised by the Internet? A Movember Conversation About Boys
Q: Do you think dating is still a priority for you and your peers, or are younger generations shifting away from pursuing romantic relationships?
Ricardo notes a shift toward focusing on personal goals and independence, with dating taking a back seat for many as they prioritize education, careers, and social lives, while recognizing the value of developing face-to-face communication skills for when opportunities arise.
Raised by the Internet? A Movember Conversation About Boys
Q: What do you think you and your friends and your generation of young men, what are the challenges, the main pressures that you are feeling right now?
Ricardo highlights social media as the dominant pressure, along with the constant exposure to online personas, dating apps, and societal expectations about masculinity, body image, and success. He emphasizes the need for genuine friendships and parental guidance to navigate these pressures without losing empathy or self-worth.
Inside the Mind of a 16-Year-Old Boy with Shuab Gamote
Q: What are the biggest challenges for being a 16-year-old boy today?
They feel misunderstood, face mixed online and offline messages about masculinity, and struggle with a lack of clear pathways and confidence, compounded by social media and a fragile sense of belonging.
The Black Pill: Inside the Ideology Radicalising Young Men Online
Q: How can parents counter this movement without pushing their kids away?
Engage in open, nonjudgmental conversations, understand the signs of withdrawal or online immersion, involve professionals like school counselors or prevent officers when needed, and foster real-world connections and activities to build resilience and healthy self-esteem.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About To Be A Boy

What is To Be A Boy about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, policy-minded show examining how boys grow up in today's world, tackling masculinity, parenting, online culture, and education. Episodes frequently feature researchers, activists, and policymakers discussing parental leave, child development, youth mental health, and safe digital ecosystems, alongside personal stories from fathers and caregivers. Its strengths lie in bridging rigorous research with real-world parenting angles, and in inviting a diverse slate of guests, from academics to politicians to everyday parents, to explore practical paths toward healthier masculinity and fairer family policies.

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Which podcasts are similar to To Be A Boy?

These podcasts share a similar audience with To Be A Boy:

1. Motherkind
2. How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
3. Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe
4. Woman's Hour
5. The Rest Is Entertainment

How many episodes of To Be A Boy are there?

To Be A Boy launched a year ago and published 69 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact To Be A Boy?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for To Be A Boy?

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What guests have appeared on To Be A Boy?

Recent guests on To Be A Boy include:

1. Seán Redmond
2. Alex Trippier
3. Shuab Gamote
4. Ricardo Barcello
5. Rachel Carrell
6. Andrew Bernie Bernard
7. Meadhbh Park
8. Reena O'Connor

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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