Advertise on podcast: Hold Me Back: Son and Father Change the Conversation

Ironically, while the core mission of HMB is to enhance communication between generations, there's yet to be an episode dedicated to the "science" of communication. Until now. Aidan & Ash welcome to the show one of the country's leading minds on the topic of why smart people routinely misunderstand each other. Dr. Nicholas Epley is the author of Mindwise: How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want, and the Director of the Roman Family Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he studies and teaches social cognition. There's nothing intuitive about this episode - which will have you rethinking everything. Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at HoldMeBack.com

"Never take a class before 9:30…always have peanut butter and pretzels in your room…get your flu shot…you'll need more ramen than condoms…you fail in silence…call your parents…90% of bad decisions will happen during O-week…anchor your day in routines...don't piss off your roommate." These are just a few of the observations Aidan shares with his dad, Ash, from his first year in college in order to separate "myth" from "reality" of what to expect during freshman year. Meanwhile, Ash tries to hold on tight while Aidan gives him a whole new perspective on what it means to "launch." Season 5 kicks off with a bang, because the boys really don't hold anything back in this episode. Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at HoldMeBack.com

A growing part of the generational divide is an emerging and unexpected language barrier. This phenomenon is a byproduct of the explosion in social media platforms, which seem to have created a new Gen Z dialect - particularly on TikTok. To help bridge this gap, Aidan recruited his sister Allison to take Ash through basic training on social media terminology in hopes he wouldn't embarrass himself at work and with friends. The jury is still out, so Aidan and Ally want complete deniability. You be the judge! This one will make you laugh out loud…and cringe! Who was more convincing: Ally or Ash? Vote at HoldMeBack.com

Over the last decade, the concept of resilience has been synonymous with raising healthy kids. But what if we're wrong? What if one person's life journey shined a bright light on how resilience can function in society in a way that is far from healthy? Ash and Aidan welcome onto the show Emi Nietfeld - journalist, mental health advocate, and author of the highly acclaimed book, "Acceptance: A Memoir." From homeless to Harvard, psychiatric wards to Google, Emi's memoir - which she started writing as a teen - is a powerful commentary that society can often unwittingly fail those who need them most in the name of "resilience." For Ash and Aidan, it was a commentary that was hard to confront, but impossible to turn away from. Join them for one of the most engaging interviews they've ever done. Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at HoldMeBack.com

Ash and Aidan tackle the topic every teenager can't wait to discuss with their parents: sex. In the spirit of not holding back, the boys openly and honestly discuss why, how, what, and when parents should discuss the topic of sex with their children. Aidan and Ash also share research most will find surprising, particularly when it comes to teens' sexual activity and the pros and cons of dating in high school. They also supply 10 useful tips for discussing this delicate topic with your teen. The only question left unanswered is who squirmed more during this candid discussion. Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at HoldMeBack.com

Season 4 kicks off with the topic Aidan has successfully avoided for 3 seasons: dating, relationships, and sex. The first of this 2-part series focuses on how hypersexualized media and the ease of access to explicit pornography is affecting tween and teen psychological development, as well as Gen Z's attitude towards sex and intimacy. The episode features an extensive interview with Dr. Gail Dines, a widely recognized author and scholar on the topic of pornography. Dr. Dines has been researching and writing about the porn industry for well over 30 years, and recently authored the highly acclaimed book Pornland: How Porn Has Hijacked Our Sexuality. Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at HoldMeBack.com

Aidan and Ash end the year - and Season 3 - with a topic that lies at the center of changing the conversation: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I). After discussing the role Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action play within DE&I, Ash and Aidan welcome to the show one of the country's leading minds in DE&I, Lareina Yee. Lareina is a senior partner for the most prestigious consulting firm in the world, where she also served as their first Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Lareina has over 23 years of experience advising companies on growth and organizational transformation, and is a recognized leader in gender and diversity. Yee discusses topics including the true impact DE&I is having, progress in gender equality, generational differences in the importance of DE&I, and why everyone needs to understand the concept of micro-aggressions. Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at HoldMeBack.com

How do you change the world? One conversation at a time, according to the CEO of StoryCorps, Sandra Clark. Clark joins Aidan and Ash for an illuminating discussion on how StoryCorps' program, One Small Step (OSS), is trying to bridge the nation's growing divide in an effort to fend off a growing "culture of contempt" in the United States. Clark shares how the program works, the science behind it, whether it's having the desired impact, and how we can all get involved. Aidan and Ash also discuss how OSS is influencing HMB's similar mission to bridge the divide by changing the conversation, and how HMB will support OSS in the future. Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at HoldMeBack.com

What started as an episode on teen gambling took a turn into a fascinating conversation with the polymathic Dan Singer, one of the world's leading experts on the businesses of online gaming, casinos, sportsbooks, daily fantasy sports, poker, and eSports. In addition to teaching Game Theory in Negotiations at Yale, Dan leads the Global Sports and Gaming Practice for the largest and most well-known strategy consulting firm in the world - where he serves major leagues and gaming companies. Dan is a regular contributor to Sports Business Journal and his research has been cited by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and ESPN. He's also a part-time pro poker player and has ranked in the Top 40 in the American Crossword championships. After listening to Dan, Ash and Aidan can't wait to play poker (or perhaps, never play it again)! Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at HoldMeBack.com

Aidan and Ash tackle the topic of diversity in an interview with Eboo Patel. Eboo is the Founder and President of Interfaith America - the leading interfaith organization in the United States - and was named "one of America's best leaders" by U.S. News and World Report. He served on President Obama's Inaugural Faith Council and has written five books, including his recently published "We Need to Build: Fieldnotes for Diverse Democracy." In the interview, Eboo shares how a potluck dinner is the key to building a healthy diverse democracy. He also triggers an important discovery for Aidan and a moment of reckoning for Ash. As a bonus, Aidan chronicles how Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) is reimagining diversity. Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at HoldMeBack.com

What are adults missing about teens and their technology? Apparently, a lot! Aidan and Ash kick off their mental health series by welcoming Harvard Project Zero researchers Emily Weinstein and Carrie James to discuss their book, Behind Their Screens: What Teens Are Facing (And Adults Are Missing). Drawing on perspectives from 3,500 teens, Weinstein and James bring stories and data together for a powerful reframe of what teens are up against – and what teens need adults to understand. Based on this phenomenal work, HMB is now contributing a portion of their proceeds to support Harvard Project Zero's research on teens' digital lives. Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at HoldMeBack.com

Just when Aidan and Ash thought they had shared everything there is to know about the college admissions process, they found out they had an opportunity to interview one of the brightest minds in the field. In this episode, they welcome on Jeff Selingo, a New York Times bestselling author of three books who has written about higher education for more than two decades. His latest book, Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions, was named among the 100 Notable Books of the year by the New York Times in 2020. Hear why it's so hard to get into college these days, what to focus on when you apply, how schools differ in their admissions process, when it makes sense to apply early, and whether you need to know what you're going to study. Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at HoldMeBack.com

Ash has spent so much time in Gen Z's world, Aidan felt it was time to return the favor. Over the summer, Aidan infiltrated several work environments during his internships and exploratory visits - and he had some things to say! In fact, he made a Top 10 list of observations to share. From work culture to snacks to meetings to commutes to clean bathrooms, Aidan tells all. Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at HoldMeBack.com

Aidan and Ash continue the College Admission Series (CAS) as they welcome Lee Coffin, Vice Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Dartmouth College. Prior to joining the Dartmouth administration in 2016, he served as Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at Tufts University from 2003-2016 and Dean of Admission at Connecticut College from 1995-2001. He also hosts two podcasts: Admissions Beat and The Search. In this thought-provoking interview, hear Mr. Coffin discuss what you should look for in the colleges you apply to, a behind-the-scenes look at how colleges approach the application process, and what he hopes changes about college admissions in the future. Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at HoldMeBack.com

Aidan and Ash talk all things college essays with one of the most enigmatic thought leaders in Silicon Valley, Umair Khan. Khan is a successful entrepreneur, tech investor, restaurateur, and the author of the book College Application Hacked - which focuses on writing killer personal statements and why college applications should be stress-free. He's also a visiting professor at UC Berkeley where he teaches entrepreneurship. A two-time MIT graduate, Khan has written essays that have gotten him into MIT (twice), Stanford (twice), Princeton, Yale, Dartmouth, Cornell, and Brown. Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at HoldMeBack.com