Detention Diaries

A Conversation with Mike from Progressive Masculinity

There are some conversations that feel important.

Not performative.
Not algorithm-chasing.
Not “this will clip well for Instagram.”

Just important.

This week on Detention Diaries, I sat down with Mike from Progressive Masculinity to talk about something that is quietly (and sometimes loudly) shaping our classrooms, staffrooms and homes:

What does it actually mean to be a man in 2026?

And more importantly…
What does it mean to be a good one?

The Problem We’re Not Talking About Properly

In schools, we see it every day.

• Boys disengaging.
• Boys underachieving.
• Boys lashing out.
• Boys disappearing into screens.
• Boys struggling to articulate emotion beyond “I’m fine.”

At the same time, there’s a cultural tug-of-war happening:

On one side:
“Man up.”
“Don’t cry.”
“Be dominant.”

On the other:
“Masculinity is the problem.”
“Men need to do better.”
“Check your privilege.”

And somewhere in the middle?

Confused teenage lads trying to work out who they are.

Mike’s work with Progressive Masculinity sits in that messy middle. Not anti-men. Not anti-women. Not culture-war nonsense.

Just thoughtful, grounded conversations about how we raise boys and support men in a healthier way.

What We Talked About

This wasn’t a surface-level chat. We went deep.

We covered:

• Why so many boys feel lost right now
• The rise of online “masculinity influencers”
• What schools get right (and wrong) about behaviour and identity
• Why shame doesn’t build character
• The difference between strength and suppression
• How we can model better masculinity as teachers and fathers

We also talked about vulnerability.

Because here’s the uncomfortable truth:

You can’t ask boys to open up if the adult men around them never do.

Masculinity in Schools – The Reality

As a secondary teacher, I see the tension daily.

We want resilience.
But we don’t want aggression.
We want confidence.
But not arrogance.
We want independence.
But we panic when they fail.

Mike articulated something powerful:

Boys don’t need to be “fixed.”
They need frameworks.

Frameworks that allow:

• Strength with empathy
• Discipline with reflection
• Ambition without ego
• Leadership without domination

That resonated massively with me — especially in the context of behaviour conversations happening nationally.

We’re very quick to talk about sanctions.

We’re slower to talk about identity.

The Role of Fathers, Teachers & Male Role Models

We also explored something that I think a lot of men don’t say out loud:

Many of us are figuring this out in real time.

There was no “Progressive Masculinity Handbook” handed to our dads.
And there wasn’t one handed to us either.

So what do we do?

We model curiosity.
We model accountability.
We model emotional literacy.
We admit when we get it wrong.

And we keep talking.

🎧 Listen to the Episode

Below you can listen to the full conversation with Mike.

Make it Make SENDs #5 : Music and Inclusivity – is it even possible? with Kate Campbell-Green – Detention Diaries

Music, Inclusion, and Empowerment with Kate Campbell GreenJoin us in this insightful episode as Kate Campbell Green shares her journey through music education, inclusion, and advocacy. We explore how music can be a powerful tool for social change, personal growth, and transforming educational spaces. Discover practical strategies to make music truly inclusive and inspiring at all levels.Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Kate Campbell Green's journey 02:23 – Setting the tone: Covid, new year, and purpose of the Make It Make Sense podcast 03:03 – Why understanding my autistic daughter enhances my work in education 04:00 – The broad role of music services in schools and misconceptions 05:38 – How music education addresses disengagement and fosters belonging 06:36 – The significance of authentic venues like Stoller Hall and Band on the Wall 09:02 – Early musical influences and pathways from DJing to education 10:33 – Growing up autistic and ADHD: challenges and the role of music as sanctuary 13:13 – The power of creative process and improvisation in music learning 16:04 – Deep dive into inclusive music education: frameworks and mental models 18:19 – The four Rs of inclusion: rapport, resilience, representation, reflection 22:21 – The culture of music departments as safe spaces 23:02 – Is education truly inclusive? Challenges and personal reflections 25:26 – Insights from Dr. Shelley Moore on inclusive practices worldwide 28:41 – The pitfalls of segregation versus genuine inclusion 31:23 – The physiological and neurological impact of music on neurodiverse learners 33:45 – How improvisation and creative frameworks foster belonging 36:43 – Building trust and relationships in disengaged learners 38:07 – The emotional weight and reward of nurturing young people through music 43:21 – The impact of engagement in real-world performance venues 48:39 – How Tameside Music Service creates opportunities for all young people 55:18 – The significance of spaces like Stoller Hall for young performers 62:37 – The role of PGCEI and professional development in advancing inclusive practice 66:35 – Practical tips for teachers: mindset, respect, and embracing complexity 68:37 – The leaky pipeline: strategies to support long-term musical journeys 75:44 – Envisioning the future: joined-up pathways and careers in music 76:54 – The need for holistic, continuous music learning from cradle to career 79:55 – Why creativity and improvisation are skills machines can't replicate 80:48 – Reflection: the people behind music education give us hope 81:16 – If policy makers listened: Just give us the money & trust educators 82:23 – Balancing life and work: personal anecdotes from Kate 86:31 – What's next: new projects, stewardship, and supporting local music ecosystemsSupport the showEnjoyed the episode? Then it’s time to join the class.👉 Head to http://www.detentiondiaries.comto read the blog, sign up for the newsletter, and join our online staffroom community.Because education doesn’t end at the classroom door — and neither does the conversation.Support the showEnjoyed the episode? Then it’s time to join the class. 👉 Head to http://www.detentiondiaries.com to read the blog, sign up for the newsletter, and join our online staffroom community. Because education doesn’t end at the classroom door — and neither does the conversation.

1. Make it Make SENDs #5 : Music and Inclusivity – is it even possible? with Kate Campbell-Green 01:31:44
2. Detention Diaries #5 – Redefining Masculinity: What does it really mean to be a man? 58:08
3. Detention Diaries #4 What Teachers Really Need: Ross McGill on Workload, Wellbeing & the Future of Schools 01:23:12
4. Make it Make SENDS #4 – Aiming for the Edges with Dr Shelley Moore. How inclusion REALLY works! 01:09:20
5. Make it Make SENDs #3 – Talking About Talking: Jane Harris on Fixing the Speech and Language Crisis 01:08:16

Why This Conversation Matters

If you’re a teacher — this affects your classroom.

If you’re a school leader — this affects your culture.

If you’re a parent — this affects your home.

And if you’re a man trying to do better than the generation before you…

This one’s for you.

💬 Final Reflection

At one point in the conversation, we laughed about how awkward these conversations can feel.

But awkward doesn’t mean unnecessary.

If anything, awkward usually means important.

Mike isn’t shouting.
He’s not selling outrage.
He’s not building a brand off division.

He’s doing the quieter work.

And sometimes that’s exactly what we need.

🙌 Support the Show

If this episode resonated with you:

• ⭐ Leave a review wherever you listen
• 🔔 Subscribe to the podcast
• 📩 Join the blog community at http://www.detentiondiaries.com
• 📲 Share this episode with a colleague, friend or fellow parent

The more we talk about this stuff, the less power the extremes have.

And if you’re enjoying these conversations — your support genuinely makes a difference.

Thanks for listening.
Thanks for thinking.
And thanks for being part of the Detention Diaries community.