Rites of Passage: Why Boys Need Humbling & Girls Empowerment - Dr. Arne Rubinstein
Fri Feb 06 2026
Dr. Arne Rubinstein is a leading expert on rites of passage and adolescent development. As the founder of the Rites of Passage Institute, Dr. Rubinstein is devoted to creating transformational experiences for teenagers and communities. With over 30 years of experience, including a decade and a half as an emergency medicine doctor, he has a profound understanding of human development and the challenges young people face today. Dr. Rubinstein is also the author of "The Making of Men" and has significantly contributed to the field by working with schools globally and supporting over 500,000 people through his programs.
Key Takeaways:
A rite of passage is a guided process essential for successfully transitioning youth from childhood to adulthood, offering community support and shared wisdom. Unstructured "rites of passage," such as schoolies, often involve risk and lack meaningful guidance, leading to potentially harmful outcomes. Structured programs emphasise storytelling, challenge, vision creation, and recognition of unique gifts as critical components, providing a healthier and more profound transition experience. Both teenagers and their communities, including parents and elders, benefit from engagement in rites of passage, promoting stronger, more supportive relationships. Rites of passage are not limited to adolescence; they are valuable throughout life for managing transitions like leaving home, marriage, and aging. Notable Quotes:
"I am convinced that every one of our children is going to go through a rite of passage. The question is, will that be a healthy rite of passage?" "When we are creating rites of passage for our young people, we need to take into account that every child is different, and every child is born with their own unique gifts and talents." "Instead of having elders in the community who are actually doing it for the benefit of the young ones, when they're doing it as a way of sort of staying on top of them, that's when it goes wrong." "One thing, if we could teach girls to listen to their inner voice, that would really be impactful and important for those girls." "Bringing out their gifts and their spirit. That's what rites of passage are about." Resources:
Rites of Passage Institute Dr. Arne Rubinstein's book: The Making of Men Online Rites of Passage Leadership Training via the Rites of Passage Institute
Support the show: https://hope1032.com.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Dr. Arne Rubinstein is a leading expert on rites of passage and adolescent development. As the founder of the Rites of Passage Institute, Dr. Rubinstein is devoted to creating transformational experiences for teenagers and communities. With over 30 years of experience, including a decade and a half as an emergency medicine doctor, he has a profound understanding of human development and the challenges young people face today. Dr. Rubinstein is also the author of "The Making of Men" and has significantly contributed to the field by working with schools globally and supporting over 500,000 people through his programs. Key Takeaways: A rite of passage is a guided process essential for successfully transitioning youth from childhood to adulthood, offering community support and shared wisdom. Unstructured "rites of passage," such as schoolies, often involve risk and lack meaningful guidance, leading to potentially harmful outcomes. Structured programs emphasise storytelling, challenge, vision creation, and recognition of unique gifts as critical components, providing a healthier and more profound transition experience. Both teenagers and their communities, including parents and elders, benefit from engagement in rites of passage, promoting stronger, more supportive relationships. Rites of passage are not limited to adolescence; they are valuable throughout life for managing transitions like leaving home, marriage, and aging. Notable Quotes: "I am convinced that every one of our children is going to go through a rite of passage. The question is, will that be a healthy rite of passage?" "When we are creating rites of passage for our young people, we need to take into account that every child is different, and every child is born with their own unique gifts and talents." "Instead of having elders in the community who are actually doing it for the benefit of the young ones, when they're doing it as a way of sort of staying on top of them, that's when it goes wrong." "One thing, if we could teach girls to listen to their inner voice, that would really be impactful and important for those girls." "Bringing out their gifts and their spirit. That's what rites of passage are about." Resources: Rites of Passage Institute Dr. Arne Rubinstein's book: The Making of Men Online Rites of Passage Leadership Training via the Rites of Passage Institute Support the show: https://hope1032.com.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.