Shows
A Safe Place For BoysBonus Episode: ScroogedJoin Kelcee and Spencer for this post-holiday bonus episode ostensibly about the 1988 Charles Dickens adaptation Scrooged. Discussion topics include the unfortunate plot of mid-1990’s television sitcom Unhappily Ever After, the struggles of adapting a classic story, and where the toaster came from.
Content warnings for discussions of mental illness, sexual assault (10:52 - 14:37), parental death, and death by both freezing and burning.
Works Cited & Recommended Reading:
“Unhappily Ever After,” IMDB.com
“Scrooged,” Wikipedia.com
New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads
Credits:
2026-01-3146 minA Safe Place For BoysA Christmas Carol, or Reclamation DayJoin Kelcee and Spencer for their most ambitious project yet: discussing Charles Dicken’s classic 1843 novella A Christmas Carol (along with its many, many adaptations.) Discussion topics include the invention of the holiday special, hot nephews and wife guys, and what it really takes to change an old man’s mind.
Content warnings for discussions of poverty, death via childbirth, and child death, as well as mentions of child abuse.
Works Cited & Recommended Reading:
“A Christmas Carol Introduction,” Shmoop.com
“Ghost stories: why the Victorians were so spookily good at them,” by Kira Cochrane, The Guardian
...
2025-12-283h 21A Safe Place For BoysMagic Mike XXL, or A Ghost is a GhostJoin Kelcee and Spencer for Part TWO of a two-part conversation about Channing Tatum’s epic saga: Magic Mike (2012) and Magic Mike XXL (2015). Discussion topics include Big Dick Richie’s Billion Dollar Idea, how to become a real boy to the beat of a Backstreet Boys song, and Kelcee’s Kevin Nash book report.
Sorry Magic Mike’s Last Dance lovers. We aren’t talking about that one, and I think you know why.
Content warnings for discussions of sex and sex work (mostly stripping/exotic dancing), sexism, imbalanced relationship dynamics, brief mentions of homophobia, and drug use.
2025-10-042h 13A Safe Place For BoysMagic Mike, or The Kid's Not AlrightJoin Kelcee and Spencer for Part One of a two-part conversation about Channing Tatum’s epic saga: Magic Mike (2012) and Magic Mike XXL (2015). Discussion topics include an unhelpful breakdown of adult entertainment statutes, the liberatory potential of hip thrusting, and the importance of follow-up questions.
Sorry Magic Mike’s Last Dance lovers. We aren’t talking about that one, and I think you know why.
Content warnings for discussions of sex and sex work (mostly stripping/exotic dancing), drug use/abuse, drug overdoses, sexism (including mentions of sexual assault), poor labor practices, financial exploitation, and mentions o...
2025-07-141h 59A Safe Place For BoysHoles, or How to be a Good Boy in a Bad, Bad DesertJoin Kelcee and Spencer for a conversation about the best gosh-darn book-to-movie adaptation in the West: 2003’s Holes, based on the novel by Louis Sachar. Discussion topics include foot stuff (like…so much foot stuff), the perils of broken promises, and a how-to guide for morally-upright vigilantism.
Content warnings for EXTENSIVE discussions of both physical and emotional child abuse, particularly within the criminal justice and “troubled teen” systems, racism and racist violence (including lynching), sexism and sexist violence, and mentions of homelessness, child abandonment, suicide, and conversion therapy.
Works Cited & Recommended Reading:
Holes by Louis Sach...
2025-06-163h 02A Safe Place For BoysMy Cousin Vinny, or Getting By With a Little Help from Marisa TomeiJoin Kelcee and Spencer as they break out the F-bombs for a conversation about the third best legal movie of all time: 1992’s My Cousin Vinny. Discussion topics include a PSA about the best way to talk to cops, a robust defense of the defense attorney, and what Mona Lisa can teach us about love.
Also sorry we have the world’s loudest chairs and paper in this one. It’s still a low-budget production around here.
Content warnings for discussions of police misconduct, wrongful imprisonment, and capital punishment; and mentions of sexual assault, racism, and sexis...
2025-05-122h 12A Safe Place For BoysGood Will Hunting, or I'll Just Have a PerrierJoin Kelcee and Spencer for a conversation about the most famous entry into the “Boys With Feelings” genre: 1997’s Good Will Hunting. Discussion topics include What Men Want (in a therapist), war stories from the trenches of academia, and what makes a happy ending.
Content warnings for extensive discussions of physical violence, child abuse, sexual abuse and misconduct, and mental health treatments.
Works Cited & Recommended Reading:
“Good Will Hunting,” Wikipedia
“Malick gave Good Will Hunting its ending,” by Tom Shone, These Violent Delights
“The Unlikely Link Between Metallica And Matt Damon,” by MTV News Staff, mtv.com
“Ther...
2025-04-063h 00A Safe Place For BoysLast Dragon, or The Power of the Glow (feat. Ed McClain)Join Kelcee and Spencer AND special guest Ed McClain for a conversation about the 1985 martial arts classic The Last Dragon. Discussion topics include the complicated legacy of Bruce Lee, what to do if the power was inside you all along, and why it’s so important to see the Good Guys win.
Content warnings for discussions of racism, sexism, physical violence, and gun violence.
Works Cited & Recommended Reading:
Check out Ed’s music on Bandcamp or Soundcloud
Check out Paul Bowman’s work about Bruce Lee
New to the Show? Start at the beginning...
2025-03-012h 41A Safe Place For BoysCool Runnings, or The Meaning of the Crash (feat. Geoff Sykes)Join Kelcee and Spencer AND special guest Geoff Sykes for a conversation about the 1993 live-action Disney sports adventure Cool Runnings. Discussion topics include the looming specter of death, getting serious about your friends’ dreams, and how to be a badass mother (and why.)
Content warnings for discussions of racism and sports-related injuries
Works Cited & Recommended Reading:
“I am Dudley 'Tal' Stokes, founding member of the Jamaican Bobsled Team, Olympian and inspiration for the movie Cool Runnings. Ask me anything!”
“The two things you need for success are confidence and ignorance | Dudley Stokes” by Cian Fahey, Off...
2025-02-012h 35A Safe Place For BoysSouth Park--Bigger, Longer, and Uncut, or Trouble in Paradise LostCONTENT WARNING: South Park
Join Kelcee and Spencer for their conversation about the (checks notes) Academy Award Nominated, 1999 Adult Animation Comedy Musical South Park--Bigger, Longer, and Uncut. Discussion topics include why it's funny when kids swear, jurisprudence in the case of Satire v. Censorship, and Big Gay Al's Manifesto for Queer Survival.
Content warnings for discussions of obscene language (which at times includes the use of said language); discussions of sexism (and sexist language), racism, xenophobia (specifically toward Middle Eastern characters), fatphobia, and antisemitism; and discussions of abusive romantic relationships, suicide/suicidal ideation, child endangerment, ho...
2024-11-252h 19A Safe Place For BoysAlien and Aliens Part 2, or Mommy IssuesJoin Kelcee and Spencer for part TWO of their conversation about the scariest movie ever made and its genre-bending sequel: Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). Discussion topics include meditations on whether it matters that Ripley’s a woman, a deep dive into the goop of the monstrous feminine, and James Cameron’s imaginary dead women.
And if you’re wondering what male author we’re quoting around 15:04, it’s John Updike in The Witches of Eastwick. You’re welcome.
Content warnings for discussions of sexual assault throughout, sexual imagery, forced pregnancy, body horror, death, child endangerment, and brief mentions...
2024-11-052h 17A Safe Place For BoysAlien and Aliens Part 1, or In Space Everyone Can Hear You ScreamJoin Kelcee and Spencer for part one of their conversation about the scariest movie ever made and its genre-bending sequel: Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). Discussion topics include the merits of anatomy-based monster design, whether or not Ellen Ripley needs more trauma, and why you should consider pursuing a forklift operator certification.
Content warnings for discussions of sexual assault throughout, sexual imagery, forced pregnancy, body horror, death, child endangerment, and brief mentions of anti-latinx racism.
Works Cited & Recommended Reading:
“Xenomorph Eggs Originally Looked Very Different In Alien” by Anthony Jones, Screenrant
New to the Show? Start...
2024-10-191h 52A Safe Place For BoysThe Karate Kid Part 2, or The Ignoble Crane KickJoin Kelcee and Spencer for part TWO of their conversation about the 1984 martial arts classic: The Karate Kid. Discussion topics include how to fight and why, a trip to the Cobra Kai Corner, and Mr. Miyagi: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.
Content warnings for discussions of bullying and physical violence, anti-asian racism, and war-related trauma, and mentions of child abuse and misogyny.
Works Cited & Recommended Reading:
Southpaw podcast
The scholarship of Dr. Wayne Wong (see a video of his most recent presentation at the Martial Arts Studies Conference soon...
2024-10-051h 58A Safe Place For BoysThe Karate Kid Part 1, or Adventures in Bonsai-SittingJoin Kelcee and Spencer for part one of their conversation about the 1984 martial arts classic: The Karate Kid. Or, if you want to be pedantic: The Karate Kid (Part 1). Discussion topics include a toxic masculinity speedrun, the not-so-real history of karate, and the world’s most abrupt bully redemption arc.
See you in two weeks for part two!
Content warnings for discussions of bullying and physical violence, and brief mentions of child abuse, domestic violence, death, and war-related trauma.
Works Cited & Recommended Reading:
“This is NOT Karate” by Jesse Enkamp, youtube.com
“The influen...
2024-09-211h 56A Safe Place For BoysHades, or Parent-Trapping in God ModeJoin Kelcee and Spencer for their SUPER GIANT conversation about the 2019 video game phenomenon Hades. Discussion topics include a rougelike rundown, the downsides of “ancient Greek” body culture, and healthy anger management techniques (that don’t involve stabbing your son with a fork.)
Content Warnings for discussions of child abuse and death throughout, rape and sexual violence (particularly between 1:15:35 and 1:19:22), murder, grief, and pregnancy loss.
Works Cited & Recommended Reading:
“Roguelike Games: 5 Elements of Roguelike Video Games,” Masterclass
“Zagreus,” Britannica
“What Hades Can Teach Us About Ancient Greek Masculinity,” by Autumn Wright, Wired.com
"The...
2024-09-072h 27A Safe Place For BoysMr. Mom Part 2, or The Rocky InterludeJoin Kelcee and Spencer for part two of their conversation about hidden feminist classic Mr. Mom (1983). Discussion topics include stay-at-home-fatherhood statistics, pandemic callbacks, and, of course, the enduring messages of Rocky 3.
Recommended Reading: “Male Weepies: A Misunderstood Genre” by Broey Deschanel, Youtube.com
Content Warnings for discussion of sexism (including workplace sexual harassment and an attempted assault), mentions of physical violence, and mental health issues.
Works Cited:
“It’s Time to Recognize ‘Mr.Mom’ as a Feminist Classic” by Cole Haddon, Substack
“Only 6 American Men Identified As Stay-At-Home Dads In The 1970s. Today, It's A Di...
2024-08-241h 14A Safe Place For BoysMr. Mom Part 1, or How to Feed Your Baby Chili Without Really TryingJoin Kelcee and Spencer for part one of their conversation about the hidden “John Hughes” gem from 1983: Mr. Mom. Discussion topics include ruminations on the Detroit Lions, Bad Boss Behavior, and a moment-by-moment breakdown of the most egregious child theft in cinema history. Join us again in two weeks for part two!
Also sorry we hit the microphone a million times in this one.
Recommended Reading: Spencer says to watch Rocky 3 (1982).
Content Warnings for discussion of sexism (including workplace sexual harassment and an attempted assault) and mental health issues.
New to the Sh...
2024-08-101h 24A Safe Place For Boys"Season Two" Announcement!Hi Everyone! A Safe Place for Boys is going on summer vacation!
Thank you all so much for the feedback and suggestions you've given us so far. We're really looking forward to bringing you even more compassionate conversations about masculinity in media starting Saturday, August 10th.
If you want to watch/play along with us, here is a preview of what we'll be talking about in "season two" (order TBD):
Mr. Mom (1983)
Alien (1979)/Aliens (1986)
The Karate Kid (1984)
The Last Dragon (1985)
Cool Runnings (1993)
Hades (2019)
South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut (1999) (Just...trust us)
Thank you...
2024-07-1309 minA Safe Place For BoysIt's a Wonderful Life Part 2, or "Deck the Halls with Donna Reed"Join Kelcee and Spencer for part TWO of their conversation about the 1946 holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life. Discussion topics include watching movies for the FBI, the failures of armchair psychology diagnoses, and what to do when the wallpaper starts talking to you.
Content Warnings for discussions of PTSD and trauma, suicide and suicidal ideation, and child abuse.
Works Cited:
“The Weird Story of the FBI and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’” by Kat Eschner, Smithsonian Magazine
“How Jimmy Stewart’s war service affected ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’” by Nina Metz, The Chicago Trib...
2024-06-291h 10A Safe Place For BoysIt's a Wonderful Life Part 1, or In Franklin We TrustJoin Kelcee and Spencer for part one of their conversation about the 1946 holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life. Discussion topics include Heaven’s HR policies, the relative value of the moon, and how to save a good man’s life and still make it home in time for Christmas dinner.
Join us for part 2 on June 29th!
Content Warnings for discussions of child abuse, suicide and suicidal ideation, death, and non-consentual robe theft.
Works Cited:
“It’s a Wonderful Life,” Wikipedia
Credits:
Theme Music...
2024-06-151h 02A Safe Place For BoysCharacter Crossover #1: M*A*S*H and Avatar: The Last AirbenderThis week in the treehouse: it’s a two-for-one special! Join Kelcee and Spencer and they talk about not one but TWO of their favorite sad boys of television: Hawkeye Pierce from M*A*S*H and Jeong Jeong the Deserter from Avatar the Last Airbender. War: not good for much of anything, as it turns out. Woodstock 99 references, on the other hand? Evergreen.
Content Warnings for discussions of war (and the typical violence therein), death, mental illness, anti-asian racism, and child abuse.
Works Cited:
“Sometimes You Hear the Bullet”, imdb.com
...
2024-06-011h 25A Safe Place For BoysA Goofy Movie, or How Pop Music Saved My SonJoin Kelcee and Spencer as they discuss the 1995 Disney cult classic A Goofy Movie and try to figure out if it’s possible for fathers and their teenage sons to ever truly see I 2 I.
Content Warnings for brief discussions of child abuse and anti-Black racism.
Works Cited:
“So What is Goofy?” by Nick Hasted, The Independent
“A Goofy Movie,” Wikipedia
“The Enduring Legacy of Disney's Black Millennial Classic 'A Goofy Movie,'” by Austin Williams, Vice
“A Goofy Movie star reflects on film 25 years later: 'Unlike any other project I've worked on,'” by...
2024-05-181h 40A Safe Place For BoysA Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, or How to be a Good Boy in a Bad, Bad CityHi friends! Please mind the content warnings for this episode!
Join Kelcee and Spencer as they discuss the 2014 Romantic Iranian Vampire Western Thriller, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night and debate the merits of stealing cats, cars, drugs, and skateboards.
Content Warnings for discussions of drug addiction/use, sex work, sexual assault, violence, and death.
Works Cited and Recommended Reading:
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, IMDB
An Ardent, Unironic Defense of Edward Cullen by The Morbid Zoo, youtube.com
Episode #17: Theda Bara, Hollywood’s First Sex Sy...
2024-05-041h 39A Safe Place For BoysThe Hunchback of Notre Dame, or How Repression Killed My French FatherJoin Kelcee and Spencer as they discuss the 1996 Disney adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and try to figure out if it really matters who “gets the girl.”
Content warnings for discussions of child abuse, racism/xenophobia (specifically against Romani people,) ableism, and sexuality.
Works Cited:
Why Being 'Gypped' Hurts The Roma More Than It Hurts You by Janaki Challa, npr.org
The “G” Word Isn’t for You: How “Gypsy” Erases Romani Women by Naomi P, now.org
Real-life Quasimodo uncovered in Tate archives by Royanikkhah, The Telegraph
...
2024-04-201h 16A Safe Place For BoysJurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous DadsJoin Kelcee and Spencer as they discuss the classic 1993 horror-action adventure Jurassic Park and try to figure out just what was going on with dads in the 1990's.
Works Cited:
"Jurassic Park is a Movie About Evolving Fatherhood" by Darren Mooney, Escapist Magazine
The Monstrous Feminine: Film, Feminism, Psychoanalysis by Barbara Creed
"No Longer Missing in Action" by Sheryl Stolberg, Los Angeles Times
fatherhood.gov
Credits:
Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD
Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)
C...
2024-04-061h 27