How These Teen Boys Went From Defiant to Responsible (In One Weekend)

In this episode, Dr. Mark Schillinger sits down with six Young Men's Ultimate Weekend (YMUW) graduates, ranging in age from high school to their early 30s, to talk honestly about who they were before the weekend, what was hard to face about themselves while they were there, and how their lives shifted after they graduated.

The YMUW grads discuss:

• What teen boys are actually afraid of when they think about growing up
• Why the hardest part of YMUW isn't physical, it's emotional
• How the program changed parent-son relationships, sometimes dramatically
• What a real rite of passage does that therapy alone often can't
• Why the obstacle course, the sweat lodge, and even the joke circles matter more than they sound.

If you're a parent wondering whether your son is ready for adulthood, or worried he's not, this conversation will hit close to home.

If you're a young man sitting on the fence about YMUW, listen to the guys who were exactly where you are.

ℹ️ Learn More about the Young Men's Ultimate Weekend, a Modern Day Rite-of-Passage
🔥Registration Open for June 11-14, 2026 and August 21-23, 2026 | https://go.ymuw.org/

*** More Resources ***

On-demand and live, online workshops for teenagers and young men are available here: https://cts.drmarkmentor.com/workshops

For a complimentary 20-minute consultation with Dr. Mark or for more information about his parent coaching and mentoring young men, go to https://cts.drmarkmentor.com/

*** About Dr. Mark Schillinger ***
Dr. Mark Schillinger's work has been featured on the CNN show "This is Life with Lisa Ling." These videos are designed to help parents more effectively "challenge" or motivate their teenage sons to become more responsible and resilient. These videos offer straightforward advice so parents can minimize conflict and maximize cooperation with their sons – especially those young men who are distracted by their digital devices. For more information, visit https://www.challengingteenagesons.com

*** Connect with Dr. Mark ***
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/challenging.teenage.sons
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/challengingteenagesons/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-mark-schillinger-family-mentor-and-community-leader-735585a/