Beyond the Man Box: Unlocking the Full Potential of Masculinity w/ Ed Frauenheim

In a recent FiveThirtyEight poll, 60 percent of men surveyed said society puts pressure on men to behave in a way that is unhealthy or bad. Men account for 80 percent of suicides in the United States, and 3 in 10 men have suffered from depression. Ed Adams and Ed Frauenheim say a big part of the problem is a model of masculinity that's become outmoded and even dangerous, to both men and women.

In this episode of The Evolved Caveman, Dr. John sits down with Ed Frauenheim, co-author of 'Reinventing Masculinity,' to explore the outdated model of confined masculinity that promotes emotional repression, selfishness, and violence, proposing instead a liberating masculinity paradigm that includes caring, collaboration, and emotional expressivity. They touch on Ed's personal journey, the changing workplace dynamics that favor inclusive leadership, and even delve into the world of teal-conscious organizations. Tune in for a raw, honest discussion on how men can break free from the traditional molds and embrace a fuller, healthier version of themselves.

Some of the topics covered in this one:

A better definition of masculinity to help men reach their full potential

The top commonalities among great leaders

The future direction of masculinity

Surviving growing up as a male in society

The damage done to young men growing up in the Man Box

About My Esteemed Guest, Ed Frauenheim:

Ed Frauenheim was senior director of content at Great Place to Work--the research organization behind Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list. He has written or cowritten articles for Fortune, Inc., and Wired and is the coauthor of three books. Ed Frauenheim has wrestled with what it means to be a man for four decades. In his personal and professional lives. As a young man, an adult, a father. As an observer of the best workplaces in the world. As cofounder of a group trying to reinvent organizations.

The traditional male obsessions with winning, with brute strength, with becoming king of the corporate hill haunted Ed for much of his life. But through personal reflection, mindful practices, and plenty of help, he has come to redefine as worthy traits like emotional sensitivity, exuberance, and camaraderie. He’s living a fuller life as a result.

Ed has cowritten three other books, including A Great Place to Work for All: Better for Business, Better for People, Better for the World. In that book and other content, Ed has explored how our more-complex, interconnected economy is calling on men to break free of a narrow version of masculinity.

Links to John and Jorees sites:

For more info on Dr. John Schinnerer's work with executives and high achievers, visit

If you're interested in the couples counseling work he's doing with Joree Rose, LMFT, visit

The website for the Evolved Caveman Podcast is

For more on the exceptional counseling work with women that Joree does, visit

Follow Dr. John Schinnerer on

Instagram |

Facebook | )

Twitter/X |

#masculinity #masculinefemininebalance #manbox #mensmentalhealth #relationshipadvice #marriagegoals