Ep 7: Friendship

In this extended episode we ask the questions who and what is influencing boys today? There is a lot of talk about this in the mainstream media, but who is asking us about what is really going on? In this episode we share our ideas about influences. Inevitably we look at social media but, in this episode, we also talk about other influences in our lives, that we feel get lost in the conversation, like family, friends and adults we trust. At the time of making this podcast, a social media ban for under 16s was announced in the UK. We talk to a range of adults from our Head Teacher to Alex Blower of Boys impact about what their view is on the ban and share the perspectives of 15-year-old boys on this. From the Boys was produced at MDX Studios at Middlesex University. It was created by Ahmed, Kente, Daniel, Jacob, Bobby, Patrick, Isaaq, Oskar, Muhamed, Tyrese, Ethan, Guillem, Kobi, Rabah, Arda and Félix from William Ellis School, in the London Borough of Camden. Producer Helen Bendon Audio Producer Michael McGlone Lead Facilitator Jake Sharland Sound Recordist and Audio Assistant Daniela Machado Special thanks to all the boys, Alex Blower and our teachers at William Ellis School for contributing to this episode. Links: MDX Studios at Middlesex University https://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/our-faculties/faculty-of-arts-and-creative-industries/mdx-studios/ William Ellis School https://www.williamellis.camden.sch.uk/ The William Ellis Trust https://www.williamellistrust.org.uk/ Boys Impact https://www.boysimpact.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we talk about friendship. Finding friendship and community is important and not always easy for boys growing up with expectations about how to fit in, how to be a boy. How do boys find their people? How do boys connect with one another and build relationships? What are some of the expectations around friendships? What role do school, family and local communities play in building connections with others? North London youth worker Jely Kikamba talks to us about what brings young people together, and the importance of spaces in our communities for boys to be together, to be safe and to be valued. From the Boys was produced at MDX Studios at Middlesex University. It was created by Ahmed, Kente, Daniel, Jacob, Bobby, Patrick, Isaaq, Oskar, Muhamed, Tyrese, Ethan, Guillem, Kobi, Rabah, Arda and Félix from William Ellis School, in the London Borough of Camden. Producer - Helen Bendon Audio Producer - Michael McGlone Lead Facilitator - Jake Sharland Sound Recordist and Audio Assistant - Daniela Machado Special thanks to all the boys and Jely Kikamba for contributing to this episode. Links: Ambitious Academy https://ambitiousacademyci.wixsite.com/ambitious-academy Arsenal in the Community https://www.arsenal.com/community MDX Studios at Middlesex University https://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/our-faculties/faculty-of-arts-and-creative-industries/mdx-studios/ William Ellis School https://www.williamellis.camden.sch.uk/ The William Ellis Trust https://www.williamellistrust.org.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we talk about music. We wanted to talk about music because it’s a big part of our lives. It has the potential to influence us, showing us ideas of success through lifestyles and lyrics. To get to the heart of some of these issues we interviewed music producer Jay Weathers. Jay is a multi-platinum songwriter and producer who has worked with Stormzy, Burna Boy, Ed Sheeran and J. Cole. We talk with Jay about his journey into the music industry, his influences and how music gave him the confidence to express himself. We also had a great conversation with Jay about how music genres are perceived and the dangers of glamourising certain lifestyles through music. In this final episode of From the Boys, we also share some of our reflections on making the series. From the Boys was produced at MDX Studios at Middlesex University. It was created by Ahmed, Kente, Daniel, Jacob, Bobby, Patrick, Isaaq, Oskar, Muhamed, Tyrese, Ethan, Guillem, Kobi, Rabah, Arda and Félix from William Ellis School, in the London Borough of Camden. Producer - Helen Bendon Audio Producer - Michael McGlone Lead Facilitator - Jake Sharland Sound Recordist and Audio Assistant - Daniela Machado Special thanks to all the boys and Jay Weathers for contributing to this episode. Links: Jay Weathers https://jayweathers.com/about/ MDX Studios at Middlesex University https://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/our-faculties/faculty-of-arts-and-creative-industries/mdx-studios/ William Ellis School https://www.williamellis.camden.sch.uk/ The William Ellis Trust https://www.williamellistrust.org.uk/ IntraMusic https://www.intramusic.org/, a Camden based charity helping secondary students from all backgrounds to find the joy in making music, acquire professional skills and access the music industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we talk about our interactions with girls. There is a lot of negative attention on how boys interact with girls. Whilst we know this does happen; this does not reflect the reality of our experience of just trying to get to know girls. In this episode, we share very honest conversations between a group of 15-year-old boys about how they feel around girls. We discuss how single sex schools, like ours, influence how boys build relationships with girls. We also asked our teachers about what they think about single sex education for boys and how that shapes ideas of what boys can be. We also talk about what and who influences our ideas around our relationships with girls and where boys look for advice about girls. From the Boys was produced at MDX Studios at Middlesex University. It was created by Ahmed, Kente, Daniel, Jacob, Bobby, Patrick, Isaaq, Oskar, Muhamed, Tyrese, Ethan, Guillem, Kobi, Rabah, Arda and Félix from William Ellis School, in the London Borough of Camden. Producer - Helen Bendon Audio Producer - Michael McGlone Lead Facilitator - Jake Sharland Sound Recordist and Audio Assistant - Daniela Machado Special thanks to all the boys and our teachers at William Ellis School for contributing to this episode. Links: MDX Studios at Middlesex University https://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/our-faculties/faculty-of-arts-and-creative-industries/mdx-studios/ William Ellis School https://www.williamellis.camden.sch.uk/ The William Ellis Trust https://www.williamellistrust.org.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this extended episode we talk about the challenges for boys in education. When we made this podcast, we were at the end of year 10, about to go into our final year of GCSEs and we wanted to understand more about the bigger picture about boys taking GCSEs. Our special guest this week is Alex Blower, a researcher from Arts University Bournemouth who also runs an organisation called Boys Impact supporting young men and boys. He talks about the inequalities facing boys in the education system. We then went back to school to talk to some of our teachers (as well as pastoral support and youth workers) about things that could improve the environment for boys to learn and what more adults can do to support boys. We look at what learning environments boys think work best, and what our teachers think about working in a Boys’ school. We had some fascinating conversations with our female teachers about this, which resulted in some learning for all of us. From the Boys was produced at MDX Studios at Middlesex University. It was created by Ahmed, Kente, Daniel, Jacob, Bobby, Patrick, Isaaq, Oskar, Muhamed, Tyrese, Ethan, Guillem, Kobi, Rabah, Arda and Félix from William Ellis School, in the London Borough of Camden. Producer - Helen Bendon Audio Producer - Michael McGlone Lead Facilitator - Jake Sharland Sound Recordist and Audio Assistant - Daniela Machado Special thanks to all the boys, Alex Blower, Jely Kikamba, Jay Weathers and Jeff Adolfo and our teachers from William Ellis School for contributing to this episode. Links: MDX Studios at Middlesex University https://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/our-faculties/faculty-of-arts-and-creative-industries/mdx-studios/ William Ellis School https://www.williamellis.camden.sch.uk/ The William Ellis Trust https://www.williamellistrust.org.uk/ Boys Impact https://www.boysimpact.com/ Taking Boys Seriously https://www.ulster.ac.uk/research/topic/social-work-and-social-policy/research-themes/taking-boys-seriously Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we focus on the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic on boys our age. We were in year 4 and 5 during the pandemic and missed vital schooling. Our discussions around the Covid 19 pandemic focus on the impact on our education, social lives, and mental health. A lot of us feel that things changed a lot for us during that time. We talk with boys and teachers about that time and what we think the impact on us was, and still is. When we took the conversation back to school, we learn that this period of time was the start of a lot of other issues affecting how the world sees boys. From the Boys was produced at MDX Studios at Middlesex University. It was created by Ahmed, Kente, Daniel, Jacob, Bobby, Patrick, Isaaq, Oskar, Muhamed, Tyrese, Ethan, Guillem, Kobi, Rabah, Arda and Félix from William Ellis School, in the London Borough of Camden. Producer - Helen Bendon Audio Producer - Michael McGlone Lead Facilitator - Jake Sharland Sound Recordist and Audio Assistant - Daniela Machado Special thanks to all the boys and our teachers from William Ellis School for contributing to this episode. Links: NHS Every Mind Matters nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-wellbeing-tips/youth-mental-health The NHS offers information and advice on mental health and wellbeing. Includes videos about dealing with change, social media and sleep. https://www.mind.org.uk/for-young-people/how-to-get-help-and-support/useful-contacts/ Resource list from Mind - If you're aged between 11 and 18, this page lists organisations and services that can offer you information and support. MDX Studios at Middlesex University https://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/our-faculties/faculty-of-arts-and-creative-industries/mdx-studios/ William Ellis School https://www.williamellis.camden.sch.uk/ The William Ellis Trust https://www.williamellistrust.org.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we talk about what success looks like for a boy today. Ideas of success are complex, relating to school, family expectations and wider social norms about what boys should be, and become as men. Does school success equal life success? We ask this question of boys our age, as well as a recent graduate from Middlesex University, who is a bit further along in his education journey. We got really into the idea of class and how this is a massive factor for how we think about success. We interview Alex Blower of Boys Impact who shares some of his experiences of education and some of the barriers working class boys face in the education system. This episode features other guests including music producer Jay Weathers, youth worker Jely Kikamba and some of our teachers at William Ellis School. From the Boys was produced at MDX Studios at Middlesex University. It was created by Ahmed, Kente, Daniel, Jacob, Bobby, Patrick, Isaaq, Oskar, Muhamed, Tyrese, Ethan, Guillem, Kobi, Rabah, Arda and Félix from William Ellis School, in the London Borough of Camden. Producer - Helen Bendon Audio Producer - Michael McGlone Lead Facilitator - Jake Sharland Sound Recordist and Audio Assistant - Daniela Machado Special thanks to all the boys, Alex Blower, Jely Kikamba, Jay Weathers and Jeff Adolfo and our teachers from William Ellis School for contributing to this episode. Links: MDX Studios at Middlesex University https://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/our-faculties/faculty-of-arts-and-creative-industries/mdx-studios/ William Ellis School https://www.williamellis.camden.sch.uk/ The William Ellis Trust https://www.williamellistrust.org.uk/ Boys Impact https://www.boysimpact.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a content warning. There is mention in this episode of mental health issues and suicide. In this episode we talk about pressure. Where does pressure on boys come from and how do we deal with it? We wanted this episode to predominantly discussions amongst boys, so listeners can learn more about our perspectives. The distinction between the pressures on boys and the pressures on men is quite blurred for us. Boys having a strong sense of having to provide is a big theme in this episode. The pressures we feel are shared with some of our guests in this episode, including music producer Jay Weathers, who tells us about his experience growing up in London. Alex Blower of Boys Impact helps us understand more about the about the effects of societal pressures on boys and young men’s mental health, and how as boys we learn how (and how not) to express ourselves in the face of pressures. This episode features other guests including youth worker Jely Kikamba and some of our teachers at William Ellis School. From the Boys was produced at MDX Studios at Middlesex University. It was created by Ahmed, Kente, Daniel, Jacob, Bobby, Patrick, Isaaq, Oskar, Muhamed, Tyrese, Ethan, Guillem, Kobi, Rabah, Arda and Félix from William Ellis School, in the London Borough of Camden. Producer - Helen Bendon Audio Producer - Michael McGlone Lead Facilitator - Jake Sharland Sound Recordist and Audio Assistant - Daniela Machado Special thanks to all the boys, Alex Blower, Jely Kikamba, Jay Weathers and Jeff Adolfo and our teachers from William Ellis School for contributing to this episode. Links: Young Minds https://www.youngminds.org.uk, mental health support for young people NHS Every Mind Matters nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-wellbeing-tips/youth-mental-health The NHS offers information and advice on mental health and wellbeing. Includes videos about dealing with change, social media and sleep. Mind https://www.mind.org.uk/for-young-people/how-to-get-help-and-support/useful-contacts/ Resource list from Mind - If you're aged between 11 and 18, this page lists organisations and services that can offer you information and support. The Samaritans samaritans.org 116 123 The Samaritans Helpline is open 24/7 for people to talk about any concerns, worries and troubles they are experiencing 0808 164 0123 (Welsh Language Line) https://www.samaritans.org/scotland/about-samaritans/research-policy/internet-suicide/talking-to-your-child-about-self-harm-and-suicide-content-online/ This is a guide for parents, carers and family members who are supporting a loved one with their online use in relation to self-harm and suicide. Shout giveusashout.org Shout is a confidential and anonymous text support service for anyone struggling to cope. Text SHOUT to 85258 (24/7) Childline 0800 1111 Childline help and support for children. https://www.childline.org.uk/ The Listening Place https://listeningplace.org.uk/ offers face-to-face support for over 18s so that people can talk openly about their suicidal feelings. --- MDX Studios at Middlesex University https://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/our-faculties/faculty-of-arts-and-creative-industries/mdx-studios/ William Ellis School https://www.williamellis.camden.sch.uk/ The William Ellis Trust https://www.williamellistrust.org.uk/ Boys Impact https://www.boysimpact.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is it to be a boy in London in 2026? There is a lot of talk in the media about the problem of boys, but the conversation too often doesn’t include us or reflect our experiences. In this podcast we set the agenda and talk about the things that really matter to us, to share our experiences from our own perspectives. We are year 10 boys from William Ellis School in north London. For our podcast series From the Boys, we have set out to voice our perspectives in this changing world of societal pressures and expectations on boys. We are aware there are many discussions around boyhood, however we want to involve boys of our age in these discussions to truly show how we feel and what we experience. In each episode, we talk to a range of people from educational specialists, teachers, young men and boys with different and important viewpoints. This podcast is for boys and those who are interested in their experiences. We hope that this podcast spreads awareness of the issues boys are actually facing. We hope that this podcast breaks the stereotypes of boys. We hope that this podcast raises awareness of some of the issues boys face and some of the misconceptions about them. We hope this podcast gives boys a chance to have their voices heard. From the Boys is an MDX Studios Production, Middlesex University. copyright 2026. This podcast was created by Ahmed, Kente, Daniel, Jacob, Bobby, Patrick, Isaaq, Oskar, Muhamed, Tyrese, Ethan, Guillem, Kobi, Rabah, Arda and Félix from William Ellis School, in the London Borough of Camden. From the Boys Artwork was by Patrick Music was by Alfred, Lucian, Josh, Sean, Sidney, Theo and Max from William Ellis School, in the London Borough of Camden, with the support of Al Mobbs of IntraMusic. Producer - Helen Bendon Audio producer - Michael McGlone Lead Facilitator - Jake Sharland Sound Recordist and Audio Assistant - Daniela Machado Graphic Design Consultant - Matt Ingram Video Team - Jeff Adolfo and Haziqh Bin Jalaludeen Special thanks to all our guests in this series - Alex Blower, Jay Weathers, Jely Kikamba, Jeff Adolfo, Jake Sharland, our teachers from William Ellis and to all the boys who to talked with us about boyhood. Thank you to Amol Rajan for the advice and encouragement. Thanks to Lucia Burne, Micheala Sones, Praveen Jayakody Mudiyanselage, Alejandro Villamil, Cris Tcaci and Andrew Laing for supporting the project. Thanks to Eleanor Jones, Mohammed Al Matari, Cris Tcaci, and Nayomi Roshini for helping with the interview transcriptions. Thanks to Izzy Jones, Horace Parry, Al Mobbs, Will Durham and the William Ellis Trust for helping make it all happen. Links: MDX Studios at Middlesex University https://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/our-faculties/faculty-of-arts-and-creative-industries/mdx-studios/ William Ellis School https://www.williamellis.camden.sch.uk/ The William Ellis Trust https://www.williamellistrust.org.uk/ IntraMusic https://www.intramusic.org/ is a Camden based charity helping secondary students from all backgrounds to find the joy in making music, acquire professional skills and access the music industry. Boys Impact https://www.boysimpact.com/ is a network of educators, researchers and practitioners who enable boys and young men who experience socio-economic inequality to flourish. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.