Healthy Masculinity Summit Preview with Steve Stein

 

Welcome to an insightful exploration of healthy masculinity, brought to you by Steve Stein, the founder of BetterListen! and WisdomFeed. As the host of the Surfing the Tsunami of Change One Day Summit Series, Steve offers a comprehensive preview of the upcoming Healthy Masculinity Summit, a dynamic event designed to spark meaningful conversation around masculinity in today’s world. This summit is a timely and essential gathering, aiming to shed light on the nuances of masculinity beyond the often-highlighted toxic narratives.

Introducing the Healthy Masculinity Summit

The summit kicks off this Thursday, marking a fresh approach with nearly all sessions conducted live to foster real-time engagement and connection. Steve shares his enthusiasm for the event’s lineup, which begins with an extraordinary women’s panel discussing healthy masculinity from diverse perspectives.

On Thursday, the panel features notable voices such as Susun Weed, who offers a unique and thought-provoking take on healthy masculinity. Michael Danzinsky, an expert who has successfully run parenting summits hosts this opening panel. Attendees will also hear from Ashanti Branch, Christopher Reigeluth, Ph.D., Matt Englar-Carlson, Nadia Brackett, Karen Salmansohn, and Noel Cordeaux.

Summit Day: A Full Day of Insight and Practice

The core of the summit unfolds on Friday, filled with a robust schedule that begins bright and early with a free yoga class at 8:00 a.m. This introductory session sets a mindful tone for the day, encouraging participants to ground themselves physically and mentally before diving into the summit’s content.

Throughout Friday, the summit features a stellar lineup of speakers and facilitators who bring decades of wisdom and experience to the table. Mikey Brackett and Brian Reeves, who played instrumental roles in organizing the event, will share their expertise. Steve also highlights the mentorship of John Lee and the involvement of John and Will from Men Talking Mindfulness, emphasizing the summit’s deep roots in mindfulness and mental health practices.

Other distinguished guests include Bob Roth from the David Lynch Foundation, known for his work in promoting meditation; Daniel Ellenberg; and Thomas Moore, the renowned author of Care of the Soul. Remarkably, both Thomas Moore and Matthew Fox, both aged 85, will join live, offering their profound, lifelong wisdom on the topic.

Saturday Sessions and Special Events

Saturday morning continues the mindfulness journey with Will Schneider leading a meditation session. The day culminates with a closing panel featuring Daniel Ellenberg, bringing thoughtful reflections and conclusions to the summit discussions.

One of the summit’s highlights is a special watch party hosted on Saturday afternoon. This event features a rare screening of a video Steve produced 30 years ago, which originally aired on PBS. Titled Men and Women Talking Together, the video explores gender dynamics in a way that remains relevant and compelling today.

Steve explains that the screening will be introduced by Ralph White from the New Center For Holistic Studies introducing Robert Bly and Deborah Tannen . This watch party is not just a nostalgic look back but a critical examination of ongoing conversations about gender and communication, emphasizing the timeless nature of these discussions.

The Importance of Healthy Masculinity in Today’s World

Masculinity is a topic that has surged to the forefront of public discourse, often framed in terms of toxic masculinity. However, Steve points out a crucial gap: the absence of a clear, positive concept of healthy masculinity. He quotes a recent observation that “healthy masculinity” has been discarded like “throwing out the baby with the bathwater.” This summit aims to fill that void by fostering intelligent, nuanced conversations that transcend simple antidotes to toxicity.

The goal is not merely to counter toxic masculinity but to create a space where healthy expressions of masculinity can be understood, cultivated, and celebrated. This approach invites participants to engage deeply with ideas and practices that support men in living authentic, balanced lives.

Timeless Wisdom on Gender Communication

Reflecting on past work, Steve shares insights from the 1991 video Men and Women Talking Together, which depicted a “battle of the sexes” that was widely covered in The New York Times. This video highlights intriguing neurological differences, such as the analogy that women have a “superhighway” in their brains (referring to the corpus callosum) while men have a “country road,” influencing how men and women communicate.

The video also explores how men tend to report information, whereas women seek rapport and connection. These timeless observations continue to inform contemporary conversations about gender dynamics and underscore the importance of understanding and empathy.

Addressing Critical Mental Health Issues Among Men

Steve emphasizes the sobering realities men face today, citing the work of Scott Galloway and Jonathan Haidt. Men are statistically four times more likely to take their own lives, a heartbreaking fact that reveals the depth of the mental health crisis affecting men worldwide. Steve shares a striking image: if you visit a morgue and observe five individuals who died by suicide, four are typically men.

Scott Galloway’s poignant statement that “the most dangerous person in society is a man who is broken and alone” rings true. This highlights the urgency of creating supportive environments where men can find connection, healing, and healthy role models.

Jonathan Haidt’s call for a “great rewiring of childhood” further underscores the need to address the impact of smartphones and social media on young people’s mental health. The overuse of technology during formative years contributes to a growing crisis that demands attention and action.

Personal Reflections and the Call to Action

On a personal note, Steve reflects on raising two young men in their early 20s and the challenges of finding enough healthy role models for them. This personal experience fuels his commitment to the Healthy Masculinity Summit, which he envisions as a transformative platform for change.

The summit is scheduled for June 12th, 13th, and 14th, and it’s free to attend. Steve invites everyone to sign up through the link here or visit surfingthetsunami.com for more details. The event promises to be a powerful opportunity to engage with leading voices, explore new perspectives, and contribute to a vital conversation shaping the future of masculinity.

 

Why You Should Join the Healthy Masculinity Summit

• Engage with Experts: Learn from leaders in mindfulness, mental health, and gender studies who bring decades of experience and wisdom.
• Participate in Live Sessions: Almost all sessions are live, offering interactive opportunities to ask questions and connect with others.
• Explore Mindfulness Practices: Start your day with yoga and meditation sessions designed to cultivate presence and calm.
• Experience Rare Content: Join a unique watch party featuring a classic video on gender communication, never streamed before in over 25 years.
• Support Mental Health Awareness: Gain insights into the mental health challenges men face and discover pathways to healing and resilience.
• Contribute to a Positive Movement: Be part of a growing dialogue that moves beyond toxicity to embrace healthy, empowered masculinity.

Final Thoughts: Starting a Conversation That Matters

The Healthy Masculinity Summit is more than an event—it’s a movement toward redefining masculinity in a way that is inclusive, compassionate, and empowering. Steve Stein’s vision invites us to start conversations that matter, to listen deeply, and to support one another in navigating the complexities of gender and identity in our changing world.

By participating in this summit, you join a community dedicated to fostering wisdom, mindfulness, and meaningful change. Whether you are a man seeking understanding, a woman interested in the dialogue, or anyone committed to social progress, this summit offers valuable insights and tools for growth.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of something transformative. Sign up today and take the first step on a journey toward healthy masculinity and greater awareness.