Aspire: The I Have The Right To Podcast

E69: Aspire to Be Vulnerable - Real Men, Real Conversations

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2444289/fan_mail/new] In this week's episode of Aspire: Real Men, Real Conversations, host Alex Prout and co-host Jonas Wall sit down with John Stanczak, an educator, writer, and theology teacher at Seton Hall University, to explore what healthy masculinity really looks like. The conversation centers on identity, loneliness, vulnerability, faith, mental health, and how young men can grow into more emotionally honest and connected versions of themselves. John shares how years of teaching and leading all-boys schools, along with his own lived experience with depression and anxiety, shaped his interest in men’s mental health and the emotional lives of teenage boys. He explains why he wrote Letters to Owen, What Manhood Requires of Us and how he hopes to offer a healthier counterbalance to the harmful messages many young men absorb online. To learn more about I Have The Right To, please visit https://ihavetherightto.org/take-action/ Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2444289/support] Aspire is produced by BenHudakProductions.com

E68: Naming the Harm | Dr. Susan Osborn on Incest, Power, and Breaking the Silence - Advocacy in Action

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2444289/fan_mail/new] In this week’s episode of Aspire – Advocacy in Action, host Katie M. Shipp and co-hosts Ryan and Maria welcome Dr. Susan Osborn, award-winning author of She's Such a Liar: Incest, Knowledge & Power—A Manifesto. Dr. Osborn discusses how incest has been historically hidden, minimized, and dismissed, and explores the social, legal, and cultural forces that shape whether survivors are believed. The conversation examines the power of language in confronting abuse and accountability. Dr. Osborn explains why she uses the term “incestor” to describe a father who commits sexual violence against his daughter, arguing that precise language helps expose the systems that protect perpetrators and silence survivors. Together, the hosts and Dr. Osborn explore the impact of survivor storytelling, the role of medical and legal institutions in perpetuating silence, and why young advocates like Ryan are essential voices in advancing change. Rather than viewing incest as a private family matter, Dr. Osborn reframes it as a systemic issue sustained by broader cultural and institutional structures. This episode offers a thoughtful discussion on power, accountability, and the importance of creating communities where survivors are heard, believed, and supported. For more information about Susan Osborn, visit susanosborn.net To support the fight against sexual violence, sign the pledge at ihavetherightto.org/take-action Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2444289/support] Aspire is produced by BenHudakProductions.com

E67: Aspire to Be Honest (ft. Jon McLeod) - Real Men, Real Conversations

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2444289/fan_mail/new] This week’s episode of Aspire is a conversation about mental health, masculinity, and the power of asking better questions. Hosts Steve Peacock and Alex Prout, joined by student co-hosts Gabriel and Ryan, welcome Jon McLeod to the round table. Jon is an ESPN producer and mental health advocate who works at the intersection of sports, storytelling, and emotional well-being. Jon shares how his upbringing in Brooklyn, his family’s values, and the pressures of traditional masculinity shaped his career and his understanding of burnout, self-worth, and vulnerability. He explains how many men are taught to push feelings aside, but that real strength comes from honesty, self-awareness, and the courage to speak about what is happening underneath the surface. He also discusses how his work in sports and media led him to see how many people are silently struggling and how often a simple conversation can change that. A major theme of the episode is the importance of curiosity, trust, and asking questions without assumption. Jon tells a powerful story about challenging another man to tell the truth about his grief, which opened the door for vulnerability and healing among a group of men who had been suffering in silence. The conversation closes with reflections from the hosts on ripple effects, leadership, and the importance of creating safe spaces where men can be honest and emotionally supportive of one another. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2444289/support] Aspire is produced by BenHudakProductions.com

E66: Consent, Faith, and Masculinity (ft. Nathaniel Openshaw) - Real Men, Real Conversations

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2444289/fan_mail/new] This week’s episode of Aspire is a conversation about consent, faith, and what it means for young men to protect themselves and others. Host Alex Prout is joined by co-host Maria and guest Nathaniel Openshaw, a student at BYU-Idaho who is advocating for better health education, accountability for perpetrators, and healing for survivors. Thaniel shares how hearing the experiences of friends and people he cared about pushed him to act, and how his own journey led him to recognize faults in society by analyzing his surroundings in his own life. He reflects on the lack of consent education in faith-based spaces and explains why he sees consent as a sacred principle rooted in agency, mutual respect, and ongoing communication. He also talks about how his Christian faith shapes his understanding of manhood, leadership, and the responsibility to protect others. The conversation also explores how to teach these ideas in ways that resonate with students, especially in religious communities where sex and consent are often left out of the conversation. Thaniel shares the analogy he used in his talk to help others understand victim blaming and the importance of agency, while Alex and Maria reflect on the power of speaking up, listening, learning, and acting. In closing, Thaniel offers a simple but powerful statement: “I have the right to protect myself and others.” Make sure to follow I Have the Right To and learn more at ihavetherightto.org [https://ihavetherightto.org/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2444289/support] Aspire is produced by BenHudakProductions.com

E65: Aspire to be an Upstander (ft. Jackson Katz) - Real Men, Real Conversations

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2444289/fan_mail/new] This week’s episode of Aspire is a conversation about what it means to be an active upstander in a culture shaped by silence, harm, and pressure to conform. Hosts Alex Prouts and Gabriel Viscogliosi are joined by Dr. Jackson Katz, educator, author, and one of the leading voices in the movement to prevent gender-based violence. Jackson breaks down why violence against women is not just a women’s issue, but a men’s issue that demands men’s leadership, accountability, and courage. He explores the bystander approach, the importance of speaking up in everyday moments, and how young men can use their sphere of influence to challenge sexism, misogyny, and harmful peer pressure. He also pushes back on narrow, cartoonish ideas of strength, arguing that true strength includes vulnerability, moral courage, and the willingness to do the right thing even when it feels uncomfortable. The conversation also digs into the pressures facing young men today, from social media and the manosphere to the confusion many boys feel about identity and masculinity. Gabriel shares how aspirational masculinity is being taught in his school community, and Jackson responds with practical guidance for students, athletes, and anyone trying to build healthier peer cultures. In closing, Jackson offers a powerful reminder: everyone has the right to be treated with respect and dignity, and real change starts when people choose to be part of the solution. Make sure to check out Jackson Katz’s book, Every Man: Why Violence Against Women Is a Men’s Issue and How You Can Make a Difference https://jacksonkatz.substack.com/p/every-man-why-violence-against-women Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2444289/support] Aspire is produced by BenHudakProductions.com