Teaching Health Today: A HUGE Personal Announcement

I'm writing a book! Find out what it's all about, who I'm writing it with, and why I'm so excited about my publisher. PLUS: What the Daily Show has to say about masculinity.

Here’s The Big News

Hello! I’m THRILLED to share this update with you - I’m going to be writing a book!

Called TALK TO YOUR BOYS, it’s designed to help adults have crucial conversations with the boys in their lives. Here’s the pitch:

Having real conversations with boys about the issues they face today — things like consent, gun violence, racism, vaping, and porn — is challenging, and it can be hard to find solid advice on how to do it well. Too often, these conversations just don’t happen, and boys are left to navigate these potential minefields on their own. In TALK TO YOUR BOYS, authors Joanna Schroeder and Christopher Pepper will provide parents with a practical guide for helping boys navigate these concerns.

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The Official Announcement

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Why I Care About This Topic

In health classes, gender roles and expectations come up a lot, and it is clear to me that many boys are looking for guidance and support. As the coordinator of Young Men’s Health Groups in my school district, I’ve learned that boys are much more interested in having emotion-rich conversations and practicing relationship skills than adults sometimes expect. 

I’ve been reading and researching this topic for a long time. In fact, I just completed “Next Gen Mentors,” an eight-month professional development series about masculinity with Next Gen Men, an incredible nonprofit organization from Canada.

As a parent, I understand the need for better resources to help adults connect with tween/teen boys. As I’ve raised the boys in my house, I know how useful I've found books like

Melinda Wenner Moyer

’s terrific “How to Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes.” It’s always helpful to hear different perspectives and learn from experts, but I especially appreciate books that offer practical tools that I can put to use right away.

Bottom line: I believe boys (and their future partners and children) will be happier and healthier if they can fully express their emotions, and are encouraged to practice skills like self-awareness and empathy while building strong, supportive connections with others.

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About My Co-Author

Joanna Schroeder

is a writer, editor, and media critic who is known for her bold voice and unique perspectives on parenting issues. Utilizing her degree in Gender Studies from UCLA, Schroeder gained valuable insights into modern masculinity while serving as Executive Editor of The Good Men Project. She currently serves as managing editor of the YourTango Experts program, where she works daily with experts such as psychologists, child development experts, life coaches and parenting consultants. She is mother to two teenage sons and a young daughter.

She has been published in The New York Times, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, The Boston Globe, MSN, The Huffington Post and more. Her television and radio appearances include shows like “Red Table Talks” with Jada Pinkett-Smith, “AC360” with Anderson Cooper, “CBSN Originals” with Adam Yamaguchi, and interviews on networks such as CBC News, PBS, NPR, and The BBC.

I first learned about Joanna when she wrote a series of tweets about teen boys and online extremism that went VERY viral. The experience was documented in the Washington Post, and then polished into an essay in the New York Times: “Racists Are Recruiting. Watch Your White Sons.”

Here’s the message she was trying to get across: Parents need to understand how white supremacists prey on teen boys, so they can intervene. It’s a theme we’ll be emphasizing and expanding on in TALK TO YOUR BOYS.

Joanna is just as excited about this book as I am - you can read her announcement and sign up for her great newsletter,

Zooming Out

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About The Publisher

I am SO happy this will be published by Workman, which is known for its smart, useful, wonderfully designed books from folks like Atlas Obscura,

Gabrielle Blair

, W. Kamau Bell,

Kate Schatz

, Carla Naumburg, and

Dan Rather

. We’re hoping to see it on bookstore shelves in Spring 2025.

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How You Can Support This Effort

I am grateful for the support and encouragement I received while thinking about this book and developing the initial proposal. Now that it’s really happening, here are some specific assists I would welcome:

• If you have a book, video, or resource about boys or masculinity that you love, please let me know. I’m expecting to learn a lot in the process of writing this book, and want to make sure I try to talk to anyone whose perspective might be valuable.

• Stay connected by subscribing to and reading this newsletter, following me on Twitter and Instagram, and pre-ordering the book when it is available (pre-ordering can make a huge difference in the success of a book).

• I’m going to taking a sabbatical from my job for the 2023-24 school year. My main focus will be writing this book, but I am also available for consulting work, public speaking, and curriculum development. If you’ve ever wanted to work with me, this is a great time to get in touch!

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One More Thing

In this funny Daily Show feature, Jordan Klepper perfectly sums up why we need a book like TALK TO YOUR BOYS: “Because, long story short, if we don't talk to our boys, Andrew Tate is going to talk to them.”

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