Season 3 of I Love You, MAN opens with a conversation about boys, schools, and the growing pressures they face.

Rachel Harper is a primary school principal with over 20 years' experience across all levels of education. She’s also the founder of It Takes a Village, a community wellbeing initiative that led eight Wicklow schools to introduce a voluntary no-mobile-device code.

In this episode, Rachel and host Stephen Feeney talk openly about what’s happening for boys right now, rising anxiety, emotional shutdown, social withdrawal and how schools and families can respond with compassion and structure.

They discuss:

• The everyday wellbeing challenges boys are facing

• The impact of smartphone culture on attention, connection and self-worth

• Why communities must lead alongside schools

• Practical ideas to re-centre relationships and emotional skills in education

If you care about boys, education, or the future of wellbeing in schools, this conversation sets the tone for a season rooted in real challenges and hopeful solutions.