What all dads need to hear about emotions and their son's future mental health

Send us a text Today on the Reflective Parenting Podcast, I’m sitting down with Dr. Brendan Kwiatkowski-Hartman to talk about something many parents quietly wonder about: Why do boys sometimes pull away emotionally and how can we support them without pushing too hard? Brendan is a researcher who has spent years studying boys, masculinity, and emotional expression. What he learned in his PhD work is both reassuring and eye-opening: boys do feel deeply, even when it looks like they’ve shut down. And the reasons they hold back are often more complex and tender than we realize. This is a grounded, thoughtful conversation, especially meaningful for dads who want to connect more with their sons but aren’t always sure where to start. In this episode, we cover:The two stages when boys start hiding emotionsWhy boys say “I’m fine” even when they’re strugglingHow to become an emotional safe space for your sonWhat makes it hard for dads to be vulnerableGentle ways to start emotional conversations with boysThe RULER model for building emotional intelligenceHow to support boys who feel anxious or withdrawnWhy parents’ own emotional work mattersPractical scripts and small daily moments that build trust Read our blog post about this topic: https://curiousneuron.com/2025/11/15/boys-emotional-needs-study/ Learn more from Brendan below: @re.masculine https://remasculine.com https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36176325/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9513388/ Support the show Learn more with Curious Neuron: Snapping at your kid? Get this FREE training to learn how to catch your nervous system in overdrive BEFORE you snap! https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2 Read to become a Reflective Parent? Purchase our course below: https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/ Email: info@curiousneuron.com