You can support the podcast here

The focus of this episode is masculinity and the road to adulthood for young men. How do we take lessons from cultures that honour rites of passage and make that relevant to young men in the UK.

Who is helping our young boys to become men? Davis talks about how he has brought communities together to support vulnerable and at risk young men and boys.

Davis J. Williams is a world-class youth mentor, author of seven transformative books, and the powerhouse behind Manhood Academy Global—a BAFTA-nominated charity that’s reshaping how we raise boys in a world that often fails them. With over 25 years of frontline experience, Davis has stood at the intersection of education, activism, and cultural healing, guiding thousands of young people through rites of passage that help them become men of purpose, not statistics.

Known for his deep compassion, unfiltered wisdom, and razor-sharp insights, Davis blends street smarts with soul work. He’s a connector of people, a champion for the inner child, and a firm believer that “if you heal the boy, the man will appear.” His approach is bold, trauma-informed, and rooted in love—and he’s here to disrupt the norm, challenge our comfort zones, and have the kind of conversations that leave a mark.

https://www.manhoodacademyglobal.com

In this interview with Davis J Williams and Julia Davis, they talked about:

• Davis’ Move from the competitive field of football coaching where some young people struggled to participate to supporting youth in the community

• Discovering Rites of Passage in Gambia self-respect, discipline, self-control and ambition

• The journey to manhood builds throughout the boys’ lives, involving the whole community

• Bringing this rite of passage experience to the boys becoming involved in violence in London whose parents are struggling alone to guide them

• Is important to involve parents to support their skills – developed the Parenthood Academy e.g. to create more intimacy at home like parents holding hands to model caring environment, eating meal together at a table

• Bring in cartoons and animations to talk about manhood to combat narratives on social media e.g. through talking about Batman story and trauma of losing his parents

• Programmes are run by volunteers from the community who want to support positive masculinity, rather than getting funding from local authorities or referrals from schools

• Too important to wait for public funding to be provided, parents pay subscriptions for the kids to attend because they value the programme

• Focus on building accountability to each other and the practitioners – a brotherhood – and once built rapport take them away for a deeper emotional experience of overcoming a challenge

• Sit in circle without distraction – no mask wearing, no bravado - finding connections with safe people rather than with gangs

• Alongside, Parent Lead is working with the parents to go on their own emotional journey and remembering their own goals, encouraging ongoing conversations between parents and youths

• Length of time youths are involved varies – longest is 4 years of holding space for transformation

• Peer leaders who volunteer come from different professions – all have in common that they have capacity to care

• Strict screening process in place

• Not easy because have to overcome the boys’ resistance to authority figures

• How to allow conversations to go where the boys want to take them, even when uncomfortable or controversial

Get your free Start Your Circle Guide http://eepurl.com/iJH3pw

Our book Circle Holding: A Practical Guide to Facilitating Talking Circles is available at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Circle-Holding-Practical-Facilitating-Talking/dp/1805013157/

Or you can get 10% off the book through the publisher using code CIRCLEHPOD10 at checkout on this link only: https://uk.singingdragon.com/products/circle-holding

Find details of the next free mini training and Q&A here and all our upcoming trainings on the Training menu above.