Feb 25, 2022

This episode is a bonus 3rd segment of the conversation with Andrew Boscaljon in which he describes the rite of passage ceremony he orchestrated for his son. May it inspire you to build one for your son too.

For assistance on how, check out thenextmanup.com/forgingmen  

Music Credit: "Funkorama" Kevin MacLeod (

Apr 16, 2021

The need for males to be initiated into adulthood seems to be written into the laws of how our universe operates. This is both in the human kingdom and in the animal kingdom. A sampling of stories from various animal species supports this idea. In this episode Mark and Josh share some of their favorite initiation...

Aug 28, 2020

Yes, the initiation process is for your boy. But it’s also for you as well. Today, Mark takes a shot at flying solo and describes how he was surprised by the benefits for him as a dad after guiding both his boys through their rite of passage journey. 

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Jan 10, 2020

Stories are powerful and part of how we understand the world. The ancient story you’ve probably never heard of, Iron John, has much to say about the initiation of boys into men. Mark briefly retells the story and draws from Robert Bly’s book, by the same name, on why the story is relevant today for both dads and the...

Oct 25, 2019

Test your knowledge of cultural initiation rites from around the globe. They still happen today, but not in “Western” societies. The “what” or “how” may seem weird, but the "why" is something we’ve lost and need to recapture. Join us to learn more about why and how?

Music Credit: "Funkorama" Kevin MacLeod...