Gemma Gaudette's guest appearances

Gemma Gaudette

Story Story Night

ON BOYS Podcast

So Called Podcast

Jessi Roberts

Dave Lee

Michael Bartlett

Ben Murray

Jeff Walker

Bruce Anderson

Emma Arnold

Rebecca Campbell

Erin Sorensen

Emily Smith

Andrew Coussens

Reema Zaman

Erin Riley

Rich Harris

Jamie Hill

OwlTail

Gemma Gaudette says “we don’t give boys enough credit.”Gemma, host of Idaho Matters &amp; a mom of two sons (currently ages 11 &amp; 15), knows (from personal experience!) that boys can be dramatic &amp; sensitive, even though society has coded those traits as “feminine.” Yet many adults continue to insist on &amp; impose so-called “masculine” expectations on boys, without recognizing the breadth of normal variation.Many adults also react to boys’ behavior based on their experiences with harmful adult males. “There’s an automatic assumption that boys are bad,” Gemma says. “There is an automatic assumption that a boy is a predator…I get very frustrated as a boy mom when we label all boys as ‘bad,’ ‘aggressive,’ as ‘having anger issues,’ because I think that when we do that, at some point, our boys believe that.”Helping boys navigate emotions &amp; relationshipsLike most brothers, Gemma’s boys fight &amp; bicker – often, physically. Given the age &amp; size difference between her sons, she told her oldest son not to engage physically with the younger son. Sensing opportunity, the young one began tormenting his older brother. That led to a fascinating, revealing conversation between Gemma and her 15-year-old, which revealed her son’s deep love and concern for his younger brother. She validated his feelings and reiterated his right to self-protection.“We have to give boys room to breathe, and say that it’s okay sometimes feel aggression,” Gemma says. We then need to talk to them about healthy ways to cope with that feeling. We also need to establish boundaries and (reasonable) behavioral expectations, she says..On giving boys more independenceParental fear can inhibit boys’ independence and hinder the development of confidence and competence. Boys need opportunities to assume responsibility and act autonomously in order to develop responsibility.“We’ve got to give them little baby steps toward autonomy,” Gemma says, “so when we release them ‘into the wild,’ they know how to make good choices.”As her boys have become teenagers, Gemma has shifted toward advising them and encouraging them to consider their options (and the likely consequences of each option) instead of simply telling them what to do. “They need me now to coach them,” she says, “because if we continue to tell them what to do, they’ll never know what to do when we’re not there.”In this episode, Jen, Janet, &amp; Gemma discuss:Helping boys recognize &amp; navigate gender normsAggression nurturance &amp; roughhousingSetting boundariesModeling &amp; teaching conflict resolutionSociety’s fear of teenage boysTeaching boys mannersGiving boys autonomyWhy Gemma doesn’t use an app or tracker to monitor her boys’ whereaboutsThe mental load of parenting teensLinks we mentioned (or should have) in this episode:Boy Moms as Boy Advocates — our previous ON BOYS episode w Gemma“Building Boys:” An Author Interview with Jennifer Fink — Gemma interviews Jen on Idaho MattersRaising Boys — CBSN documentary featuring Jen &amp; GemmaMichael Gurian on Raising Boys –– ON BOYS episodeTeacher Tom Talks About Boys, Emotions, &amp; Play — ON BOYS episodeThe Art of Roughhousing (w Dr. Lawrence Cohen) — ON BOYS episodeWhat Middle School Boys Need — ON BOYS episode w Jerome HunterOur Sponsors:* Check out Factor: http://factor75.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy &amp; Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Gemma Gaudette says “we don’t give boys enough credit.”Gemma, host of <a href="https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/show/idaho-matters" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Idaho Matters</a> &amp; a mom of two sons (currently ages 11 &amp; 15), knows (from personal experience!) that boys can be dramatic &amp; sensitive, even though society has coded those traits as “feminine.” Yet many adults continue to insist on &amp; impose so-called “masculine” expectations on boys, without recognizing the breadth of normal variation.Many adults also react to boys’ behavior based on their experiences with harmful adult males. “There’s an automatic assumption that boys are bad,” Gemma says. “There is an automatic assumption that a boy is a predator…I get very frustrated as a boy mom when we label all boys as ‘bad,’ ‘aggressive,’ as ‘having anger issues,’ because I think that when we do that, at some point, our boys believe that.”<h5>Helping boys navigate emotions &amp; relationships</h5>Like most brothers, Gemma’s boys fight &amp; <a href="https://buildingboys.net/why-you-need-to-stop-focusing-on-your-boys-bickering/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bicker</a> – often, physically. Given the age &amp; size difference between her sons, she told her oldest son not to engage physically with the younger son. Sensing opportunity, the young one began tormenting his older brother. That led to a fascinating, revealing conversation between Gemma and her 15-year-old, which revealed her son’s deep love and concern for his younger brother. She validated his feelings and reiterated his right to self-protection.“We have to give boys room to breathe, and say that it’s okay sometimes feel aggression,” Gemma says. We then need to talk to them about healthy ways to cope with that feeling. We also need to establish boundaries and (reasonable) behavioral expectations, she says..<h5>On giving boys more independence</h5>Parental fear can inhibit boys’ independence and hinder the development of confidence and competence. Boys need opportunities to assume responsibility and act autonomously in order to develop responsibility.“We’ve got to give them little baby steps toward autonomy,” Gemma says, “so when we release them ‘into the wild,’ they know how to make good choices.”As her boys have become teenagers, Gemma has shifted toward advising them and encouraging them to consider their options (and the likely consequences of each option) instead of simply telling them what to do. “They need me now to coach them,” she says, “because if we continue to tell them what to do, they’ll never know what to do when we’re not there.”<a href="https://www.on-boys-podcast.com/?attachment_id=4883" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><h5>In this episode, Jen, Janet, &amp; Gemma discuss:</h5><ul><li>Helping boys recognize &amp; navigate gender norms</li><li>Aggression nurturance &amp; roughhousing</li><li>Setting boundaries</li><li>Modeling &amp; teaching conflict resolution</li><li>Society’s fear of teenage boys</li><li>Teaching boys manners</li><li>Giving boys autonomy</li><li>Why Gemma doesn’t use an app or tracker to monitor her boys’ whereabouts</li><li>The mental load of parenting teens</li></ul><h5> </h5><h5>Links we mentioned (or should have) in this episode:</h5><a href="https://www.on-boys-podcast.com/boy-moms-as-boy-advocates/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Boy Moms as Boy Advocates</a> — our previous ON BOYS episode w Gemma<a href="https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/show/idaho-matters/2023-05-30/building-boys-an-author-interview-with-jennifer-fink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“Building Boys:” An Author Interview with Jennifer Fink</a> — Gemma interviews Jen on Idaho Matters<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/video/cbsn-originals-presents-speaking-frankly-raising-boys/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Raising Boys</a> — CBSN documentary featuring Jen &amp; Gemma<a href="https://www.on-boys-podcast.com/michael-gurian-on-raising-boys/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Michael Gurian on Raising Boys –</a>– ON BOYS episode<a href="https://www.on-boys-podcast.com/teacher-tom-talks-about-boys-emotions-play/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Teacher Tom Talks About Boys, Emotions, &amp; Play</a> — ON BOYS episode<a href="https://www.on-boys-podcast.com/the-art-of-roughhousing-dr-lawrence-cohen/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Art of Roughhousing (w Dr. Lawrence Cohen)</a> — ON BOYS episode<a href="https://www.on-boys-podcast.com/what-middle-school-boys-need/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What Middle School Boys Need</a> — ON BOYS episode w Jerome HunterOur Sponsors: * Check out Factor: <a href="http://factor75.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://factor75.com</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href="https://redcircle.com/brands" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy &amp; Opt-Out: <a href="https://redcircle.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Gemma Gaudette Talks About Raising Boys

Ruth Schwartz

For our 10th Anniversary Season we are celebrating the decades. In this episode, our featured storytellers roll with the times sharing stories inspired by the "'00s." Recording live at JUMP in downtown Boise on February 25th, 2020.

"00s" Featured Storytellers Ruth Schwartz, Buffie Main, and Gemma Gaudette

If you use all your energy thinking about what’s next, you may miss what’s happening right now. Gemma Gaudette, Host of Idaho Matters on Boise State Public Radio, recommends taking a moment to enjoy where you are, rather than focusing on where you’re not. When Gemma began her career, she was focused on the next move, the next raise, and the next city on her way to working in television news in a major market. Ultimately that career did not satisfy the work-life balance she sought. Her work in and out of broadcast journalism, however, led to her a perfect fit with Idaho Matters. Having lived all over Idaho, Gemma knows the different points of view and distinct cultures that exist across the state. Whether or not you agree with the differing opinions, Gemma hopes that Idaho Matters will continue to inform listeners and challenge their understanding of these topics and of one another. *** Love Shadow (Remix Safety Guide) by rocavaco (c) copyright 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Noncommercial Sampling Plus license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/rocavaco/52156 Ft: Loveshadow

If you use all your energy thinking about what’s next, you may miss what’s happening right now. Gemma Gaudette, Host of Idaho Matters on Boise State Public Radio, recommends taking a moment to enjoy where you are, rather than focusing on where you’re not. When Gemma began her career, she was focused on the next move, the next raise, and the next city on her way to working in television news in a major market. Ultimately that career did not satisfy the work-life balance she sought. Her work in and out of broadcast journalism, however, led to her a perfect fit with Idaho Matters. Having lived all over Idaho, Gemma knows the different points of view and distinct cultures that exist across the state. Whether or not you agree with the differing opinions, Gemma hopes that Idaho Matters will continue to inform listeners and challenge their understanding of these topics and of one another. *** Love Shadow (Remix Safety Guide) by rocavaco (c) copyright 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Noncommercial Sampling Plus license. <a href="http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/rocavaco/52156" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/rocavaco/52156</a> Ft: Loveshadow

So Called: Gemma Gaudette, Host of Idaho Matters on Boise State Public Radio