Myth Busting -- Fatherhood, Fact Checking and Men's Mental Health: Interview with Josh Levs | Episode 62

Overview

There are many stories we tell that hold men back from living their best lives. Here are a few that create barriers for men to reach out when they are distressed (Solomon):

  1. “No sissy stuff” — in other words, if it is what women do, then it’s not for “real men.”

  2. “Be a big wheel” — you are what you do for a living; achievement and your paycheck define your worth.

  3. “Sturdy oak” — you are the one people lean on for help; you don’t lean on others.

  4. “Give ‘em hell” — when all else fails, come out swinging; better to intimidate than to look weak.

In this episode, I speak with the internationally acclaimed “fact checking” journalist Josh Levs who has been busting myths about fatherhood for years. We examine the faulty scripts, how they contribute to the suffering of families, and we challenge listeners to adopt a new mindset on developing an “All In Life.”

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About Josh Levs

Josh Levs is a dad to three children.

He is also a truth seeker, an entrepreneur, a business consultant, and a former CNN and NPR journalist. He won six Peabody Awards and the designation of “Journalist of the Year” from the Atlanta Press Club.

He’s best known for his unstoppable advocacy and activism for gender equality. His book “All In: How Our Work-First Culture Fails Dads, Families, and Businesses—And How We Can Fix It Together” won the Nautilus Gold award, and the United Nations named him a Global Champion of Gender Equality.

He took legal action against Time Warner (CNN’s parent company) for fair parental leave after his daughter was born prematurely. Subsequently, Time Warner stepped up, radically changed its policy and blazed a path for other companies large and small to do the same.

Show Notes

All In Book Cover.jpg

joshlevs.com

joshlevs.com/dadfacts

https://joshlevs.com/all-in-book-by-josh-levs/

TED Talk: Removing the "Man-Can't" Myth: https://youtu.be/U0yVYy5Nyls

Newsweek Articles:

  • They're Dragging Out the 'Absent Black Fathers' Myth Again. Can We Give it a Rest? (2020): https://www.newsweek.com/absent-black-fathers-myth-racism-1509085

  • Lack of Paternity Leave Holds Back Women at Work—and Men at Home (2019): https://www.newsweek.com/lack-paternity-leave-holds-back-women-work-men-home-opinion-1443636

Washington Post: CNN journalist Josh Levs forced his employer to give new dads more time off. Now he wants others to speak up, too: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2015/06/15/as-a-new-father-cnn-journalist-josh-levs-forced-his-employer-to-give-dads-more-time-off-now-he-wants-others-to-speak-up-too/

Strategy + Business Article: COVID-19, the flexibility stigma, and gender equality https://www.strategy-business.com/blog/COVID-19-the-flexibility-stigma-and-gender-equality

DadsCare.jpg

Dove Men+Care

Man Therapy

  • https://mantherapy.org/

  • Video Brett Zachman: https://youtu.be/TW32FFJPMss

Dad Summit 2.0

  • https://dad2.com/

  • Changing the way media portrays dads in advertising: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-parenting/post/huggies-revamps-dad-test-campaign-after-complaints/2012/03/12/gIQAHQng7R_blog.html

Men’s Mental Health Summit (Denver): http://thecarsonjspencerfoundation.blogspot.com/2015/10/

Guts, Grit & The Grind: MENtal Mechanics MANual: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578658135/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1591657583&sr=8-1

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