—

Introduction

Artificial intelligence has transformed the way stories are created, shared, and experienced. In 2026, AI storytelling platforms have become valuable tools for parents looking to entertain children, writers seeking creative inspiration, and content creators aiming to produce engaging narratives faster than ever before.

From generating personalized bedtime tales to crafting detailed fictional worlds and interactive narratives, AI-powered storytelling tools are helping users unlock creativity without requiring advanced writing skills. These platforms can generate plots, create characters, suggest dialogue, and even adapt stories based on user preferences.

With so many options available, choosing the right platform can be challenging. This guide compares some of the best AI storytelling platforms in 2026, highlighting their strengths, ideal use cases, and key features.

Why AI Storytelling Tools Are Growing in Popularity

The demand for AI storytelling solutions continues to rise because they offer several advantages:

• Faster content creation
• Personalized storytelling experiences
• Creative assistance for writers
• Educational entertainment for children
• Consistent content generation for creators
• Support for multiple genres and writing styles

Whether you’re a parent creating unique bedtime adventures, an author overcoming writer’s block, or a content creator developing scripts and narratives, AI storytelling platforms can significantly improve productivity and creativity.

What to Look for in an AI Storytelling Platform

Before choosing a platform, consider the following features:

Story Customization

The best tools allow users to customize characters, themes, settings, and story length.

User-Friendly Interface

A simple and intuitive design makes story creation more enjoyable and efficient.

Creativity and Originality

High-quality AI models should generate unique narratives rather than repetitive content.

Child-Friendly Features

Parents should look for platforms that create age-appropriate stories with educational value.

Content Export Options

Writers and creators often need the ability to download, edit, and publish generated content.

Top AI Storytelling Platforms in 2026

1. Sudowrite

Sudowrite remains one of the most popular AI writing tools for fiction authors and creative writers. Designed specifically for storytelling, it helps users expand scenes, generate dialogue, and develop compelling characters.

Key Features

• Character development assistance
• Plot expansion tools
• Scene generation
• Creative brainstorming support
• Multiple writing style options

Best For

• Novelists
• Fiction writers
• Screenwriters
• Creative professionals

Sudowrite excels at helping experienced writers refine and enhance their stories rather than generating simple narratives from scratch.

2. C2Story

C2Story has gained significant attention in 2026 for its ability to create personalized narratives for both children and adults. The platform combines user-friendly controls with powerful storytelling capabilities, making it suitable for parents, educators, and content creators.

One of its standout features is its ability to generate customized family-friendly stories based on specific themes, characters, and learning objectives. Parents looking for an engaging AI bedtime story generator often appreciate the platform’s ability to create fresh stories tailored to a child’s interests.

Key Features

• Personalized story generation
• Family-friendly content options
• Character customization
• Educational storytelling support
• Fast content creation

Best For

• Parents
• Teachers
• Children’s content creators
• Family-focused storytelling

C2Story strikes an excellent balance between simplicity and creativity, making it accessible to users with little or no writing experience.

3. Jasper

Jasper is widely known as a content creation platform, but its storytelling capabilities have improved dramatically in recent years. The platform offers templates and AI-driven writing assistance that can help users develop narratives, scripts, and long-form content.

Key Features

• Long-form content generation
• Story outline creation
• Tone customization
• Marketing narrative support
• Collaboration tools

Best For

• Content marketers
• Bloggers
• Social media creators
• Business storytellers

Jasper is particularly useful for creators who combine storytelling with marketing and audience engagement strategies.

4. NovelAI

NovelAI continues to be a favorite among users who enjoy immersive world-building and interactive storytelling. The platform allows users to influence story progression while maintaining creative control over the narrative.

Key Features

• Interactive storytelling
• Deep world-building tools
• Advanced character creation
• Genre flexibility
• Narrative memory system

Best For

• Fantasy writers
• Role-playing enthusiasts
• Interactive fiction creators
• Long-form storytellers

Its flexibility makes it an attractive option for users seeking highly detailed and evolving narratives.

5. StoryNest AI

StoryNest AI has emerged as a strong contender in the AI storytelling space thanks to its focus on personalized and interactive experiences. The platform can generate stories for children, educational content, and creative projects while adapting to user preferences.

Key Features

• Interactive story generation
• Child-focused storytelling
• Educational content support
• Personalized narratives
• Multi-format storytelling

Best For

• Families
• Educators
• Children’s authors
• Learning-focused creators

StoryNest AI is particularly valuable for users seeking entertaining and educational storytelling experiences.

Comparison of the Best AI Storytelling Platforms

Which Platform Is Best for Parents?

Parents typically prioritize safety, simplicity, and personalization. Platforms that generate age-appropriate content while allowing customization are usually the best choice.

Both C2Story and StoryNest AI perform exceptionally well in this area. Their ability to create engaging narratives based on children’s interests helps keep storytelling fresh and exciting.

For families searching for an effective AI bedtime story generator, these platforms provide customizable experiences that can make nightly storytelling more enjoyable and interactive.

Which Platform Is Best for Writers?

Professional writers often need advanced tools for character development, plot progression, and creative brainstorming.

Sudowrite and NovelAI stand out because they offer extensive support for long-form storytelling and detailed narrative development. Writers can use these tools to overcome creative blocks, experiment with new ideas, and accelerate the drafting process.

Which Platform Is Best for Content Creators?

Content creators require versatility, speed, and scalability. Jasper remains a strong option due to its broad content generation capabilities and ability to support storytelling within marketing campaigns, blogs, and social media projects.

Creators producing educational or family-oriented content may also benefit from C2Story and StoryNest AI due to their personalized storytelling features.

The Future of AI Storytelling

As AI technology continues to evolve, storytelling platforms are becoming more sophisticated and interactive. Future developments may include:

• Real-time story adaptation
• Voice-generated narratives
• Visual storytelling integration
• Enhanced character memory
• More personalized reader experiences
• Collaborative human-AI storytelling environments

These innovations will further blur the line between traditional storytelling and interactive digital experiences.

Conclusion

AI storytelling platforms have become essential tools for parents, writers, and content creators in 2026. Whether you’re crafting engaging narratives for children, developing a novel, or producing content for a growing audience, the right platform can dramatically improve both creativity and productivity.

Sudowrite excels for fiction writers, NovelAI shines in interactive storytelling, and Jasper remains a versatile solution for content creators. Meanwhile, C2Story and StoryNest AI offer outstanding options for families and educators seeking personalized storytelling experiences.

By evaluating your goals, preferred features, and target audience, you can select the AI storytelling platform that best supports your creative journey in 2026.

—

This content is brought to you by IQNewswire

iStockPhoto

The post Best AI Storytelling Platforms for Parents, Writers, and Content Creators in 2026 appeared first on The Good Men Project.

By Amy Maxmen

SALT LAKE CITY — Ben Dowse hadn’t expected to treat measles when he became a doctor, but there he was, examining a newborn exposed to the virus in the womb. The infected mother had given birth just hours earlier. The hospital had alerted Dowse to the case before delivery, and he’d braced himself for the worst.

Dowse wore a full-body protective suit with a plastic face mask. As a pediatrician in southern Utah, he couldn’t risk getting even a mild infection, because many of his patients are babies too young for measles vaccines or children whose parents choose not to protect them with immunizations. “I went in looking like a scientist in E.T.,” he said.

Measles can cause brain damage, deafness, or death in newborns. If the baby entered the world with a measles rash and fever, Dowse was prepared to give the infant a spinal tap to assess the risk of neurological damage.

Luckily, flushed and crying, the baby looked healthy. To keep it that way, Dowse wanted to inject the baby with concentrated antibodies against the measles virus. To his surprise, the parents objected, promising to give their child “all kinds of vitamin A,” Dowse said. He begged them not to, saying, “You can’t see it on the surface, but the baby’s body is fighting the measles.” They were afraid of vaccines, so Dowse explained that antibodies were different and that they would stop measles from replicating in the infant.

“That shot is going to basically give the baby ammo to fight,” Dowse said.

The parents relented. A couple of days later, they left the hospital with a child who had narrowly skirted an infection that killed many thousands of babies a century ago. Nonetheless, Dowse said he doubted they would be returning for childhood vaccinations to protect their baby against a bevy of illnesses. Like more than a dozen Utah doctors and health officials who spoke with KFF Health News, Dowse has adjusted his expectations.

He is part of a reluctant cohort of medical professionals now on the front line of America’s regressive next chapter in health history, one in which dangerous and preventable diseases return.

“I wish that people could see what I see,” said Nathan Money, a hospital pediatrician in Utah whose eyes welled up with tears as he described children he’s treated for measles struggling to breathe. “This train is going in the wrong direction, and it can feel like a helpless situation, because we’re just not seeing the public messaging and leadership that’s needed to turn this around.”

Since measles was deemed eliminated in the U.S. a quarter century ago, public health workers have extinguished sporadic outbreaks in close-knit, undervaccinated communities with targeted methods: Isolate people with measles and quarantine their contacts to contain the virus. But as vaccination rates drop nationwide, the virus is moving beyond insulated communities, overwhelming public health departments constrained by shoestring budgets. Larger outbreaks, the kind not seen for a generation, have forced health officials into a new paradigm: They have stopped racing to “contain” infections and shifted gears into what they call “mitigation.”

Utah made that transition early this year, once the outbreak hit “a point where you no longer have control over it,” said state epidemiologist Leisha Nolen. By March, measles had been detected in every health jurisdiction in the state and in northern Arizona. More than 950 people have tested positive in the two states since the outbreak began in August, but many people with measles haven’t been tested. A genetic analysis of measles viruses suggested that the true number of cases last year could have been 6.5 times what was known.

Last year under President Donald Trump, U.S. measles cases exceeded 2,000 for the first time since 1992. Six months into 2026, the U.S. has already surpassed that threshold. Prolonged outbreaks exact a toll on children, who have spent days in hospitals for severe infections and missed weeks of school for mild ones. Adults with measles miss work. Parents delay daycare to keep their babies safe. Doctors in Utah have enacted labor-intensive protocols to keep measles from spreading in clinics. Newborns and people with weakened immune systems who have been exposed to the virus receive infusions of concentrated antibodies costing $500 to $1,000. Medical visits for measles can cost more than $33,000 per patient. Health departments spend millions trying to curb infections.

“This is like a snowball that gathers speed as it rolls downhill,” said Emilie Morris, a hospital pediatrician in Salt Lake County and Utah County. A full-throttle campaign to educate communities on the safety of vaccines and the diseases they prevent could turn the situation around, doctors and health officials said. It would require an effort similar to what the anti-vaccine movement has long done in videos, blogs, and podcasts. For example, the anti-vaccine organization that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. founded before taking the helm at the Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Health Defense, visits vaccine-hesitant communities, produces movies, and has bought advertisements on Facebook that downplay the threat of viruses while wildly exaggerating the risk of vaccine side effects. Kennedy’s words and actions as health secretary are adding to parents’ doubt.

After the development of vaccines and antibiotics in the mid-1900s, virologist and Nobel laureate Frank Macfarlane Burnet wrote, “One can think of the middle of the twentieth century as the end of one of the most important social revolutions in history, the virtual elimination of the infectious diseases as a significant factor in social life.”

He couldn’t have imagined what was coming.

‘Year of Sickness’

In communities nestled among the red sandstone cliffs and riparian forests of southern Utah, measles took hold last summer. At the main school in Hildale, a town along the Arizona border, just 30% of kindergartners are considered adequately immunized by Utah’s health department, meaning they’ve gotten recommended vaccines against measles, tetanus, polio, and more. Exemptions from childhood vaccine requirements are easily acquired in the state: Parents need only claim personal, religious, or medical reasons.

Many people in Hildale and the surrounding towns are connected to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a sect that has been leery of the government since a police raid in 1953 separated polygamous parents from their children. Shirlee Draper, a southern Utah resident who grew up in the faith, said they became ever more isolated in the early 2000s under the leadership of Warren Jeffs. Before he was sentenced to life in prison for sexual assault against minors, Jeffs instructed his followers to withdraw from public schools and mainstream medicine.

“Growing up, we all got our vaccines,” said Draper, who left the group during Jeffs’ reign. “It wasn’t until Warren Jeffs came along that there started to be more and more resistance.”

After Jeffs went to prison, many people left the faith but remained concerned about vaccines because of online misinformation, such as claims that the shots are toxic. Today a small shop in Hildale sells mouth sprays and oral drops professing to detoxify vaccines. Water, glycerin, and “whole grain alcohol” are listed as ingredients in one called Vxx-Dtx.

A mother who KFF Health News agreed not to name, because she fears stigmatization, said she considered getting her kids vaccinated when schools in southwest Utah started seeing measles cases last summer. She had split from the fundamentalist group but still worried about vaccines giving her children autism or other complications. Large studies published in top-tier scientific journals have refuted a link between vaccines and autism, but the anti-vaccine movement has kept the notion alive.

Then the woman’s son told her that his classmate had a rash and spit on him, she said. A few days later, he fell ill with a fever, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, and a head-to-toe rash.

“He felt downright sick for 10 to 14 days,” the woman said. “It was hard to see the end of the tunnel.”

Then her daughters came down with measles. She had a fleeting case, too, even though she had been vaccinated as a child. Breakthrough infections tend to be mild and are relatively rare. Only 4% of 4,300-plus U.S. cases reported this year and last have been among people who’ve had two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.

By the time the family recovered, the son had missed nearly three weeks of school, the daughters a month, and the mother had postponed an important family gathering because she didn’t want to spread infections. “I just got my youngest’s missed-school report and it’s super high,” she said. “This is the year of sickness.”

The woman said she regretted not getting her kids vaccinated when the outbreak started. She said she knows about 30 people who have fallen sick with the measles. Except for a few who needed medical care, they haven’t been tested. “I bet there’s been thousands of cases,” she said.

Measles doesn’t have a cure. She and others have tried to ease symptoms with cod liver oil, vitamin C, zinc, and “essential oils,” plant extracts long used in folk medicine that have become a lucrative industry in Utah. People in southwest Utah are trying a lot of things: One resident sells homemade lotion on Facebook, writing, “Breastmilk & Honey has been a life saver for the measles rash.”

Beyond Containment

The outbreak may have started among a fundamentalist community, but it’s spread far beyond because Utah’s vaccination rates have dropped steadily since the covid pandemic. Fewer than 80% of kindergartners were adequately immunized in the 2024-25 school year in southwest Utah, with only 87% adequately immunized in the state as a whole — far below the 95% threshold required for herd immunity.

Several Utahns told KFF Health News that “alternative health” or “wellness” drives the trend, rather than religion. The state has a thriving supplement industry, worth $6.1 billion in 2023, aided by deregulatory policies supported by the late Utah senator Orrin Hatch and a high concentration of people who earn income from multilevel marketing. These networks of people sell supplements, essential oils, peptides, and other alternative therapies on social media, YouTube, and podcasts, according to scholarly articles and industry analyses.

Alternative health isn’t necessarily anti-vaccine, but many people who sell unconventional remedies online and in podcasts deride vaccines and mainstream medicine.

“People are suspicious, and it’s well founded,” Draper said. She described dismissive doctors, exorbitant medical bills, hospital systems that put profits over care, and pharmaceutical companies that drove opioid addiction. Communities already wary of government authorities are poised to interpret failings in American healthcare as signs that medical authorities aren’t to be trusted, either, she said.

“Across America, we have entire populations who find safety in clinging to whatever confirms their deeply held beliefs,” she said.

A mistrustful disposition gave way to covid conspiracy theories in 2020 and 2021. In southwest Utah, for example, a pickup truck tricked out with digital billboards showed up to covid vaccination sites to advertise Plandemic, a 26-minute viral video rife with conspiratorial claims, including that masks “activate” the coronavirus and that global elites planned covid-19 to control the population. Misinformation added fuel to anger about public health rules, and there was political backlash under the umbrella of a largely Republican “medical freedom” movement. Utah enacted laws reining in public health, including one that eases exemptions to childhood vaccinations and another that prohibits most employers from requiring vaccines.

In the wake of the covid backlash, health officials tread lightly. Rather than enforce containment measures, “we give our advice and focus on personal responsibility,” said David Heaton, public information officer at the Southwest Utah Public Health Department.

One of the most contagious diseases in the world, measles spreads with astonishing speed among the unvaccinated. One meticulous study of a New York school outbreak in 1974 found that a second-grader with measles infected 28 other students in 14 classrooms because measles can spread through ventilation systems.

As cases doubled then quadrupled in southern Utah, the regional health department couldn’t keep up with calling the contacts of everyone infected. It shifted its efforts to announcements guiding the public at large. For example, it asks people to call before showing up to clinics with measles symptoms. Still, patients in plenty of hospitals have been exposed. For example, when parents brought a sick, unvaccinated child to a large pediatric hospital in Utah in September, they shared the space with 11 infants too young to be vaccinated. Doctors rushed to give the babies infusions of antibodies and they remained healthy, according to a recent report.

On the radio and in posts on social media, Heaton warns that measles is spreading and that vaccines are the best defense. “If you’re not immunized and you’re anywhere in public,” Heaton said, “you’re fair game for this virus.”

The department doesn’t have the capacity to talk with people directly in the five counties it serves. For a few years, it leaned on community health workers who went to churches, town halls, and other gathering places, listening to people’s concerns and telling them what the science said about covid, vaccines, and other matters of public health. But these workers were laid off early last year, after the Trump administration clawed back more than $12 billion in federal public health grants to states.

“We were starting to get a little bit of traction,” Heaton said of the community workers. “And then we lost all of our team.”

The department offers free measles vaccines to children, but uptake is slow. Nursing director Mindy Bundy said that when she started the job 20 years ago, demand was so high that she would give parents tickets while they waited, as if they were crowding around a deli counter.

“Now even in an outbreak,” she said, “we aren’t seeing a huge increase of people wanting vaccination.”

As officials tried to do the best they could, the outbreak spread north, hopping from one undervaccinated community to the next. When health officials in Utah County spoke with people who had tested positive, they often had no connection to other known cases. “Pretty quickly, we started to lose the links,” said Michael Leman, the county health department’s nursing director. Contact tracing, the cornerstone of containment, was failing.

Every week, the state health department posted a growing list of locations on its website — a Trader Joe’s, a Mormon temple, an aquarium, preschools — that people had visited while contagious. But many people who tested positive hadn’t been to those places, Leman said. “They could have gotten it at Walmart. They could have gotten it walking through a mall,” he said. “I mean, just anywhere in the public they could have been exposed.”

In February, high school students throughout Utah tested positive after a state wrestling tournament at Utah Valley University in Orem. A dashboard monitoring measles viruses in wastewater lit up with notifications around the state. “Wrestling really feels like our turning point,” said Nicholas Rupp, communications director at the Salt Lake County Health Department.

Salt Lake County’s shift from containment to mitigation meant prioritizing high-risk situations and relaxing control everywhere else. When a student has a confirmed case, for example, health officials meet with the school nurse to figure out which kids are most vulnerable. Unvaccinated children in the same classroom as someone infected are asked to stay home for 21 days, but those in other classrooms might not be, said Melanie Crossland, an epidemiologist at the Salt Lake health department. Some schools with high vaccination rates have opted to monitor student temperatures daily instead of requesting quarantines. One school created a separate space for the unvaccinated.

Crossland said such bespoke strategies entail a “huge” amount of effort but have staved off blowback that deflated her during covid.

“We give everything when we’re here,” she said, “but the days of killing ourselves, when legislatively no one is going to give us any help, are done.”

Daycare Dilemma

The outbreak has lasted so long that some children who have recovered from measles have since been hospitalized for what should be mild illnesses from common bugs, said Kerri Smith, a hospital pediatrician in southwest Utah. Measles can erase the immune system’s memory, impairing a body’s ability to fight other viruses. “It’s making children very susceptible to getting sick again,” Smith said.

Her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked drained from a week of long shifts. Since the outbreak began, she’s treated more than a dozen babies and children severely sick from measles.

“They’re usually admitted to the hospital with measles pneumonia, so they’re struggling to breathe, pulling for air below their ribs,” she said. “High fevers, 104 to 105, absolutely miserable, extremely fatigued, really dehydrated with sunken eyes.” Most children fully recover from measles, but a fraction develop permanent hearing loss, a small percentage die, and in rare cases, measles kills a person years after the infection.

No one has died so far in Utah’s outbreak. And barring that tragic outcome, Smith and other doctors said, some parents fail to grasp the gravity of measles, even as their own children have tubes inserted into their small nostrils to deliver oxygen. Despite repeated warnings, doctors said, some unvaccinated family members of patients — who could be contagious — walk around the hospital while visiting their loved one. This means the waiting room, the elevator, the cafeteria, and other places need to be shut down for cleaning, and vulnerable people alerted.

“People don’t realize how easily this spreads,” Smith said.

Morris, the pediatrician working in two counties, recalled a conversation with a nonchalant father who didn’t seem to understand the need for quarantine. “I know this is an inconvenience to you,” she said. “It’s also a huge inconvenience to the parent who has an infant who could be severely impacted by this disease.”

On top of feeling depleted, doctors with young children said they are anxious. Emily Chin, a physician in Salt Lake County, worries she’ll bring measles home to her newborn. One evening, she sat in her garage after caring for a child with a rash. The patient’s measles test was still being processed, so Chin isolated herself in a room for the night, wearing an N95 mask instead of holding her infant.

Like many mothers in Utah, Chin plans to give her baby an early dose of the measles vaccine at 6 months old because of the outbreak, in addition to two doses at ages 1 and 4. Several mothers said they avoid travel and public places because they fear their babies could be infected. Some are delaying daycare. Others, like Kandace Hyland, a marketing director in Salt Lake County, don’t have that option.

Hyland was shocked when her daycare told her that it didn’t track the vaccine status of staff, even amid the outbreak. In March, she posted an online petition calling for the state to require daycare staff to be vaccinated against the measles when the virus is spreading. Even if daycare staff file for vaccine exemptions, she said, parents could at least find out what portion of their babies’ caretakers pose a life-threatening risk.

Hyland sent her idea to the state health department. Nolen, the state epidemiologist, said she agreed with the concern, and was “talking with the division of licensing about the issue,” in an email shared with KFF Health News. Hyland also wrote the Division of Licensing and Background Checks. In an email, its director, Shannon Thoman-Black, replied that the division does “not have the legislative authority to implement a mandate.”

“They always talk about parents’ choice,” Hyland said. “But I don’t feel like I have a really good ‘parents’ choice’ right now.”

Measles’ Comeback

The U.S. will almost certainly lose its measles elimination status this year or next, but it could be regained if political leadership backed nationwide campaigns to boost confidence in vaccines, said Demetre Daskalakis, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s national immunization center and now the chief medical officer at the Callen-Lorde community health center in New York.

“Under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, that’s unlikely to happen,” he said. “We’re going back to a pre-vaccine era.”

HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard defended the secretary and his agency in an email, writing that the CDC has “surged resources” to contain measles outbreaks. “The CDC, HHS principles and the Secretary have been vocal that the MMR vaccine is the best way to protect yourself against measles,” she said.

Kennedy’s words and actions suggest otherwise. He’s said that the measles vaccine leads to “deaths every year,” which is not true. He continues to tout a potential link between autism and vaccines, no matter how many studies conclude there is none. And he oversaw abrupt changes to the recommended childhood vaccine schedule, a move medical societies called dangerous and not backed by science. A federal judge blocked those changes in March, but Trump recently issued an executive order to reexamine the schedule.

“It’s been confusing for the public,” said Dorothy Adams, executive director of the Salt Lake County Health Department.

In May, Kennedy met with Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, who has said little about the state’s ongoing outbreak. Kennedy praised Utah’s action on Make America Healthy Again priorities, such as banning fluoride in public drinking water and easing restrictions on raw milk sales, according to Salt Lake City’s Deseret News. Cox declined to comment for this article.

Meanwhile, the chronically depleted U.S. public health system has been further weakened by the Trump administration’s cuts and delays to public health grants.

“If you’re in the thick of it and you don’t know if you will be reimbursed, you adjust your response,” said Angela Dunn, a doctor and former Utah state epidemiologist. “This outbreak is a perfect storm of disinformation, trauma from the covid pandemic, and the drop in funding.”

Measles isn’t the only preventable malady making a comeback. As children played nearby in a sun-speckled park in Salt Lake City, Morris talked about a baby in the intensive care unit who was bleeding uncontrollably after a fall. The baby’s parents had refused an injection of vitamin K that helps blood clot in newborns. As they fretted over their infant, Morris said, she felt awful for them and regretted not being able to overcome mistrust in basic, lifesaving interventions. She had the same swirl of emotions when an unvaccinated toddler in her care recently died of whooping cough.

“I was one of the only people in the room with the nurse when the child coded,” she said with tears in her eyes. “You think, ‘I wish this child was vaccinated,’ but it’s hard because I also see how much grief these parents are holding.”

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

—

Previously Published on kffhealthnews.org

***

If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today.

All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.

Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.

On Substack? Connect with us there.
—

Photo credit: unsplash

The post Anguished Parents. Doctors in Tears. Utah’s Long Measles Outbreak Takes a Toll. appeared first on The Good Men Project.

—

Electric dump trucks now appear on more tenders, equipment lists, and long-term fleet plans. Contractors, mining firms, and municipalities want machines that deliver strong performance with a smaller environmental footprint. Diesel units still dominate, but the total cost of ownership for electric models keeps improving as technology matures and production scales up. Many large equipment manufacturers already offer battery-electric or hybrid dump trucks tailored to off-road and on-road use. Government incentives, green financing, and pressure from investors also push companies to modernize fleets. As a result, decision-makers compare lifetime operating costs, emissions, and noise more closely than before. This shift helps explain why interest in electric dump trucks grows across projects of different sizes and sectors.

What Is Driving the Rise of Electric Dump Trucks?

Growing Demand for Sustainable Construction Equipment

Developers and infrastructure owners now set specific sustainability targets for projects, including reduced carbon emissions and cleaner job sites. They often request environmental performance data from contractors’ fleets, which places direct pressure on equipment choices. Electric dump trucks help contractors align with green building standards, ESG commitments, and corporate sustainability reports. Major construction firms and mining companies publish carbon reduction roadmaps, and fleet electrification usually appears as a key pillar. Clients also want quieter machines that disturb nearby communities less, especially on urban or night projects. Public tenders increasingly score bids on environmental criteria, rewarding fleets that include low- or zero-emission trucks. Together, these factors push procurement teams to test and adopt electric dump trucks alongside other electric machinery.

Stricter Emission Regulations Worldwide

Governments tighten emission rules for both on-road and off-road equipment, making diesel-only fleets harder to justify. Many regions introduce low-emission zones, carbon pricing, and stricter engine standards that raise ownership costs for older diesel trucks. Electric dump trucks offer a straightforward way to comply with current and future regulations, since they produce no tailpipe emissions. Some countries provide tax breaks, rebates, or grants for electric heavy-duty vehicles, which further reduces upfront cost gaps. Large public infrastructure programs may also require low-emission machinery, especially in dense urban areas. By shifting part of the fleet to electric dump trucks, companies lower regulatory risk and avoid sudden costs from new rules. This regulatory landscape significantly accelerates adoption across construction and mining markets.

Key Benefits of Electric Dump Trucks

Lower Fuel and Maintenance Costs

Electric dump trucks replace diesel with electricity, which usually costs less per unit of energy. Fleet operators often see lower operating costs per kilometer or per ton moved, especially when they use off-peak charging tariffs or on-site renewable power. Electric drivetrains have fewer moving parts than diesel engines, so they generally need less routine maintenance. There are no oil changes, fuel filters, or complex exhaust after-treatment systems to service. Regenerative braking also reduces wear on mechanical brakes, which cuts replacement and downtime costs. Over the vehicle’s lifetime, these savings can offset higher purchase prices. Fleet managers track total cost of ownership and often find that electric models become more attractive as fuel prices fluctuate and maintenance labor becomes more expensive.

Reduced Noise and Carbon Emissions

Electric dump trucks operate much more quietly than traditional diesel units, especially at low speeds, idle, and during loading cycles. This lower noise level improves conditions for operators and ground crews and makes night work or urban projects more acceptable to nearby residents. On the emissions side, battery-electric trucks produce no exhaust at the tailpipe, which directly improves air quality on job sites and in tunnels, pits, or enclosed spaces. When powered by a cleaner electricity mix, they also reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions compared with diesel vehicles. Many companies use these reductions to support their climate targets and reporting. Less local pollution and noise can also help contractors meet health, safety, and community relations requirements on sensitive projects.

The Future of Electric Dump Trucks

Battery Innovation and Smart Fleet Management

Battery technology evolves quickly, raising energy density and reducing charging times for heavy-duty vehicles. Longer-lasting packs allow electric dump trucks to complete more cycles per shift without frequent charging, while fast chargers and mobile charging units increase flexibility on remote sites. Some manufacturers test battery swapping for specific applications where nonstop operation is essential. At the same time, telematics and fleet management platforms provide real-time data on state of charge, energy use, and duty cycles. Fleet managers use this information to schedule charging, optimize routes, and balance truck utilization. Integration with site power systems, including solar or wind, lets operators plan low-cost, low-carbon charging windows. These digital tools help ensure that electric dump trucks deliver consistent productivity while minimizing downtime.

Industry Trends and Market Growth

Market analysts expect strong growth in electric commercial vehicles, including segments like construction trucks, dumpers, and mining haulers. Major OEMs invest heavily in new electric models, while some startups focus only on zero-emission heavy equipment. Pilot projects at large mines, quarries, and infrastructure sites demonstrate that electric dump truck can handle demanding duty cycles in real-world conditions. As volumes rise, manufacturing and battery costs should continue to fall, closing the price gap with diesel units. More charging infrastructure at depots, ports, and industrial zones also increases confidence for operators. Over time, fleet replacement cycles will push more owners to consider electric options. These trends suggest that electric dump trucks will move from niche experiments to mainstream choices across many regions.

Conclusion

Electric dump trucks gain popularity because they match business needs with environmental goals. Fleet owners see clear potential to reduce fuel and maintenance costs while meeting tougher emission standards and client expectations. Quieter, cleaner trucks improve job site conditions and support project approval in sensitive locations. At the same time, advances in batteries, charging, and telematics address concerns about range, uptime, and performance. Equipment manufacturers and policymakers both support this shift, making investment in electric fleets more attractive. As market offerings expand and more successful case studies emerge, adoption should accelerate. Companies that evaluate electric dump trucks early can gain cost, compliance, and branding advantages over slower competitors in the construction and mining sectors.

—

This content is brought to you by Heena K.

Photos provided by Heena K

The post Why Are Electric Dump Trucks Gaining Popularity? appeared first on The Good Men Project.

By British Liver Trust

Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of British Liver Trust, on Thursday 4 June, 2026. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/

—

This post was previously published on PRESSAT.CO.UK.

—

Photo credit: iStock.com

The post New Research Highlights Stark Inequalities in Access to Life-Saving Liver Transplants appeared first on The Good Men Project.

—

The median age of a first-time homebuyer hit a historic high of 40 in 2025. A decade earlier, it was 30. That shift did not happen because men stopped wanting to own homes. In fact, The New York Federal Reserve found that 71.5% of renters still actively want to buy.

The reality? The market has simply made it harder than it was in decades.

But harder doesn’t mean impossible. In today’s economic climate, knowledge can be a deciding factor. If you’re in your 30s, here’s what you need to know to own a home before turning 40.

Homebuying Myths: Busted

Myth 1: You Need a 20% Down Payment

Let’s start with the 20% myth, because it stops more buyers than the market ever will.

62% of Americans think you need to pay 20% down payment to buy a home. But the reality is different. First-time buyers in 2025 made an average of 10% for their down payment.

Myth 2: You Need Flawless Credit

Most buyers assume they need a strong credit score to get a mortgage. That assumption has stopped a lot of people from even trying.

In 2025, federal regulators expanded the scoring models lenders can use for Fannie Mae. A score in the low 600s can still get an application through, depending on the program and the rest of what is on the file. Lenders look at debt, income, cash, and history together. The score is just a part of that.

Myth 3: Interest Rates Will Plummet Soon

A lot of buyers have been sitting on the sidelines since 2022 waiting for interest rates to fall.

Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed at 6.75% in July 2025. The Mortgage Bankers Association projects that rates will remain above 6% through to 2028. Waiting until interest rates drop means waiting indefinitely as home prices continue to climb.

What to Do Before You Talk to Anyone

Before a buyer contacts a real estate agent, a lender, or even begins a property search, there are three items that should be reviewed.

1. Credit Report: A credit-report error can affect the mortgage rate a lender offers.To avoid this, buyers can request credit reports from annualcreditreport.com and check them for errors, accounts, or disputes.
2. Debt to Income Ratio: DTI is a number most buyers are unaware of until a lender brings it up. It is the ratio of monthly debt payments to gross monthly income.Car payments, credit cards, add those up and divide by what comes in before taxes. That is your DTI number. Most lenders prefer a DTI below 36%. Some programs go to 43% or beyond. The higher it sits, the harder the conversation with the lender gets.
3. True Preapproval: Pre-approval is based on financial documents and lender review. In markets with competing offers, sellers often expect a pre-approval letter before accepting an offer.

How to Choose the Right Market

Location affects affordability, resale value, and housing costs. Keep the 30% rule in mind when you pick a location. Your total housing cost shouldn’t cost more than 30% of your gross household income.

This benchmark gives buyers a way to compare markets. Home price, local income, inventory, employment, and commute time can change the cost of ownership from one city to another.

Case in point: Houzeo holds 24,500 active listings in a massive market like Los Angeles. That’s spread across single-family homes, condos, townhouses, and multi-family units. A median price might look intimidating on paper, but deep inventory means hidden pockets of affordability exist.

The Negotiation: What Nobody Tells You

The listed price is not the final price in every transaction. Buyers have leverage to negotiate in today’s market.

• Selling Below Asking Price: In 2025, 26% of buyers who paid below asking got discounts of 10% or more. That is the highest share since 2012.
• Inspection Contingency: You have more room for negotiation after looking at inspection reports. A roof issue, an HVAC system at the end of its life, an electrical panel that needs work, any of those findings can turn into a price reduction, a repair request, or a seller credit before closing. That only happens if the buyer has an inspection contingency in the contract.
• Seller Concessions: Seller concessions were a part of 20% to 25% of sales in 2025. Closing costs, rate buydowns, prepaid items, sellers in slower markets are covering things they would not have touched three years ago.

Inspection contingencies carry risk when waived. Buyers who waive them may assume repair costs after closing.

What the Mortgage Payment Does Not Include

Everyone focuses on mortgage payment when they make home purchase decisions. But it is not the whole picture.

Property taxes, utilities, repairs, maintenance, all those come with the house. Closing costs can include lender fees, title fees, appraisal fees, and prepaid taxes.

A lender’s approval says how much a buyer can borrow. It says nothing about what the house will cost to own once everything else is added in. Those are two different numbers and buyers often only find out about the second one after they have signed.

Buying a Home Before 40: The 4-Step Reality Check

Before you sign an offer, strip away the emotional hype and look at four cold, hard numbers.

1. The True Monthly Payment: Your mortgage and taxes combined must leave you breathing room to actually live.
2. The Post-Closing Cushion: Your bank account needs to survive the closing table. If you’re left with $0 the day you get the keys, you can’t afford the house.
3. The Repair Runway: Foundations crack, HVAC units die, and roofs leak. You need an immediate budget for the unexpected.
4. The Timeline: You need to stay put long enough to outlast buying fees, selling fees, and market dips (usually 5+ years).

The Bottom Line

If all four of these pillars line up, pull the trigger. If they don’t, waiting is not a failure. Passing on a bad deal isn’t losing, it’s a calculated, strategic power move.

—

This content is brought to you by IQNewswire

iStockPhoto

The post What Every Man Should Know About Buying a Home Before He Turns 40 appeared first on The Good Men Project.

The car rental comparison and booking website DiscoverCars.com has carried out new research, surveying over 700 drivers around the world to find out which brands of car as well as which countries are associated by both locals and visitors with aggressive driving – and the US placed high in each of those rankings. The data also includes what people say annoys them the most about other drivers, as well as how often they themselves feel frustrated on the roads.

The car brands most associated with aggressive driving

1. 58% said aggressive behavior on the roads made them think of BMW. A previous DiscoverCars.com study also found that BMWs were the most likely to fail to signal.
2. 30% of survey respondents selected Audi.
3. In third place, 14% shared that they associated Land Rovers most with aggressive driving.
4. 12% of respondents selected Tesla, another premium brand.
5. For 11% of the survey respondents, Volkswagen, breaking the pattern of premium vehicles having a worse reputation.

Outside the top five, the car brands most associated with aggressive driving were Mercedes (3%), Toyota (2%) and Mazda, Ford and Volvo (1%).

How people rate driver aggression in their country

The survey also asked respondents to rate how aggressive they find fellow drivers in their country, from 1 (very calm) to 5 (very aggressive). The average score around the world was 3 out of 5.

1. The country with the worst rating was Italy, where residents gave their fellow drivers 3.5 on the scale from calm to aggressive.
2. Tied for second place, people based in the USA and New Zealand gave their countries 3.4 respectively.
3. The UK ranked in third place, squarely in the middle with a score of 3 out of 5.
4. Tied for fourth place, drivers in the Netherlands and France both scored their respective countries a lower score than the world average, at 2.9 out of 5.
5. In fifth place, Canadian drivers rated their fellow drivers 2.8 on the scale.
6. With the lowest score, Australia was given a score of 2.7 by residents.

The countries most associated with aggressive driving

DiscoverCars.com also asked drivers to share which destinations they associated with aggressive driving the most.

1. 23% said they had experienced the most aggression from other drivers in Italy.
2. Next, 11% said they had experienced this in the UK – with London also being one of the top mentioned cities.
3. 9% of survey respondents associated the US most with aggressive drivers. New York specifically was name-checked as one of the top destinations where people said they had experienced this behavior on the roads.
4. 5% of drivers answered France, with the same percentage citing Australia.
5. Tied for fifth place, 4% of survey respondents said they had experienced the most aggression on the roads in Spain or Turkey.

Road rage statistics

DiscoverCars.com asked survey respondents about how often they get frustrated with other drivers. The majority at 68% said “occasionally” with 17% saying this happens “often”. 5% feel annoyed every day while 10% said they never do.

65% of drivers admitted to using their horn “occasionally” but 32% said they never do this. Only 2% honk at other drivers often, with an even smaller 1% doing so every day.

The survey also looked into what behaviors annoy drivers the most, with a multiple choice question that invited respondents to select their pet peeves.

1. Not using turn signals (56%)
2. Tailgating (46%)
3. Slow driving in the passing lane (43%)
4. Distracted drivers (39%)
5. Sudden braking (20%)
6. Other (10%)

Aleksandrs Buraks, Head of Growth at DiscoverCars.com, comments:

“As a car rental comparison and booking website, we were able to survey more than 700 drivers to explore their opinions and experiences when it comes to how people behave on the roads. Four out of the top five car brands that make people think of aggressive driving are premium brands associated with a high price point, with Volkswagen being the outlier. This matches up with our previous study that found the cars most likely to fail to signal correctly were BMWs – this brand was also the number one car manufacturer most associated with aggressive drivers according to this new survey.

“We also found that Italy was the country that residents gave the worst rating for aggressive driving, as well as being the country that drivers from around the world associated the most with this kind of behavior on the roads. But we hope that doesn’t put you off a trip to this beautiful country! Sometimes different driving customs just take a little getting used to, such as hearing the horn a bit more often.”

The post US Ranks Second for Aggressive Driving as Drivers Rate Their Own Countries appeared first on The Good Men Project.

—

Choosing your first smartwatch can feel confusing when brands, features, and prices all compete for your attention. You see heart-rate tracking, sleep data, GPS, and NFC payments, but it is not always clear which features you actually need. A good smartwatch should make daily life easier, not more complex. It should help you stay connected, track your health, and last long enough between charges to be useful. The best approach is to start with your own needs, then match them to the right features and budget. This guide walks you through that process in simple steps, so you can avoid gimmicks and focus on real value. By the end, you will know what to look for, what to skip, and why certain models, such as the HONOR Watch 6, stand out for first‑time buyers.

Understand What You Need From a Smartwatch

Define Your Main Purpose for Buying a Smartwatch

Before you look at specs or brands, decide why you want a smartwatch in the first place. Some people want a fitness partner that tracks heart rate, steps, calories, and workouts. Others need a productivity tool that shows calls, messages, and calendar alerts at a glance. You may want better sleep insights, guided breathing, or simple tools like timers, alarms, and weather. Think about what will actually improve your day, not what sounds cool on paper. Make a short list of three “must-have” uses, such as tracking runs, monitoring stress, or staying on top of notifications. This clear purpose will guide every choice you make next and stop you from overpaying for features you never touch.

Consider Your Daily Lifestyle and Activities

Your routine has a huge impact on which smartwatch will suit you best. If you sit at a desk most of the day, you may value comfortable straps, discreet design, and solid notification support. If you train often, you will care more about workout modes, accurate sensors, and durable build quality. Outdoor runners and cyclists benefit from GPS, good screen visibility, and water resistance. Night owls and light sleepers will want reliable sleep tracking and a watch that feels light enough to wear overnight. Think about how often you move, where you work, and how you relax. Then match those habits to features like fitness modes, health tracking, and design style so your smartwatch fits your real life, not an imagined one.

Compare the Features That Matter Most

Health and Fitness Tracking Features to Look For

Health and fitness tools are often the main reasons people buy a smartwatch, so check these carefully. Look for 24/7 heart-rate monitoring with clear graphs and alerts if your heart rate spikes or drops unexpectedly. Many modern watches offer stress tracking, sleep monitoring, and SpO₂ (blood oxygen) measurement, which can give you a better understanding of your overall well-being. If you exercise, make sure the watch supports your favourite workouts, such as running, cycling, swimming, or strength training, and offers automatic workout detection when possible. Built-in GPS or connected GPS helps map routes and track distance more accurately. Also consider how the companion app displays your data. Easy-to-read charts, daily summaries, and trends across weeks make the information more useful and actionable.

Battery Life, Display Quality, and Comfort for Everyday Use

Everyday experience matters as much as raw features. Battery life can range from less than a day to over a week, depending on the model and your usage. Longer battery life means fewer charging breaks and more reliable sleep and activity tracking. Display quality also plays a key role. A bright, clear screen makes it easier to read your stats in sunlight and low-light conditions. A smooth interface with responsive touch controls makes interactions feel natural. Comfort can decide whether you actually wear the watch all day. Lightweight designs, adjustable and skin-friendly straps, and a size that suits your wrist help a lot. Finally, check water resistance if you plan to wear it in the rain, shower, or pool, so you do not need to take it off and risk losing it.

Find the Best Value for Your Budget

Compare Smartwatch Price Ranges and Essential Features

Smartwatch prices usually fall into three broad levels: budget, mid-range, and premium. Budget models keep costs low by focusing on core features such as step counting, basic heart-rate tracking, and simple notifications. They suit users who want a starter device without spending much. Mid-range watches raise the bar with brighter displays, more workout modes, better sensors, and longer battery life. Most first-time buyers find this level offers the best balance of price and performance. Premium smartwatches add extras like advanced apps, LTE connectivity, high-end materials, and deep integration with specific phone ecosystems. Decide how much you are comfortable spending, then check which health, fitness, and smart features you consider essential. Aim for a watch that covers your daily needs, offers at least a couple of days of battery life, and comes from a brand with reliable software updates.

Why the HONOR Watch 6 Is a Strong Choice for First-Time Buyers

The HONOR Watch 6 stands out as a practical option for beginners who want strong features without a premium price tag. When considering the honor watch 6 price, it offers an appealing balance between affordability and functionality, making it a competitive choice in the entry-level smartwatch market. It focuses on the essentials that matter most: all-day heart-rate tracking, sleep and stress monitoring, and a broad range of workout modes to support different training styles. The display offers clear, easy-to-read visuals, which helps when you check stats during runs or busy days. Its battery life is designed to last multiple days on a single charge, reducing the need for constant charging and improving sleep tracking consistency. The watch also emphasizes comfort with a lightweight design suitable for long wear. Combined with HONOR’s user-friendly software and health insights, the HONOR Watch 6 provides solid value and an accessible entry point for anyone buying their first smartwatch.

Conclusion

The best first smartwatch is the one that fits your life, not just the spec sheet. Start by defining why you want a smartwatch and how you plan to use it each day. Then focus on core features such as heart-rate monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, workout modes, and reliable notifications. Battery life, screen quality, and comfort will influence whether you keep the watch on your wrist or leave it on a desk. Compare price ranges with a clear budget in mind and aim for balanced value rather than chasing every advanced feature. Models like the HONOR Watch 6 show that you can get strong health tracking, good everyday performance, and long battery life without overspending. With a clear set of priorities, you can choose your first smartwatch confidently and enjoy real benefits from day one.

—

This content is brought to you by Heena K.

Photos provided by Heena K

The post How to Choose Your First Smartwatch? appeared first on The Good Men Project.

By MetroHealth, Buckeye Flame

We live in a world where information is everywhere all the time. Social media, news sources and everyday conversations can become overwhelming, particularly when the messages are negative.

Anne Seibert, PsyD. (she/her), a clinical psychology fellow who practices within The MetroHealth Pride Network — a primary care and mental health provider for the LGBTQ+ community — says it’s important to protect your peace.

“When negative news has to do with who you are as a person, it can hurt even more,” Dr. Seibert said. “People in the LBGTQ+ community may face hate, violence or unfair treatment, and that can affect mental health.”

Research from Mental Health America shows that people are more often affected by bad news when they share something in common with the people in the story.

Dr. Seibert says it is important to find joy and spend time in places where you feel safe, accepted and you can be yourself.

“You deserve a life that feels happy and meaningful,” Dr. Seibert said.

How Stress Can Affect You

The stress you feel is real – and it can be unhealthy. Studies show that the people in the LGBTQ+ community often deal with higher levels of stress than cisgender individuals, specifically due to what theorists refer to as “minority stress.”

“It’s not [the same type of] stress like losing your job or typical life stresses. This is stress that can come from repeated exposure to prejudice, discrimination, and social stigma – chronically feeling like the world and other people want you to be different from who you are,” Dr. Seibert said. “Over time, that can affect your mental and physical health.” Some of the negative impacts of minority stress can include depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and even hypertension and heart disease.

Some people may always feel the need to stay alert in public places or in interactions with others. Others may avoid public bathrooms because they do not feel safe. While these actions are understandable given people’s negative experiences, they can cause people’s lives to become less and less satisfying – leading to increased feelings of isolation and even hopelessness.

Symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma, and overthinking are common. Some people get so used to feeling stressed that they may not realize how much it is affecting them.

That’s why it’s important to get help from professionals who listen and share lived experiences with you. The MetroHealth Pride Network is a safe and supportive place that offers therapy, support groups, and psychiatry services by providers who have special training to work with individuals in the LGBTQ+ community.

Ways to Feel More Like Yourself

Therapy can help individuals manage difficult emotions and learn healthy ways to handle difficult times. The Pride Network can refer you to outpatient therapists at MetroHealth or to community practices with LGBTQ+ staff.

You may want professional help if:

• You feel down, depressed, hopeless, or anxious for most of the time for two weeks or longer.
• Your emotions and habits make it difficult to live how you want to at home, work, school, or in your relationships.
• You feel stuck in cycles of overthinking. You are thinking that you would be better off dead or frequently considering suicide (call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department — MetroHealth has Emergency Departments at Main Campus, Cleveland Heights, Brecksville and Parma.)

There are other ways to support your mental health:

• Be choosy about the news you take in. Choose a news source you trust, such as The Buckeye Flame or Trans Ohio.
• Limit your time on social media. It’s called “doom scrolling” for a reason.
• Get involved in advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community and other issues you care about. When people see evidence that they’ve taken action to make what they are worried about better, it can calm the body’s response to stress.
• Exercise. Mental and physical health are linked.
• Be social with other people who have similar life experiences and identities to your own. Being around people who understand you can boost your mood.

About The MetroHealth Pride Network

The MetroHealth Pride Network offers primary care for adults and children and gender-affirming care for adults. While people in the LGBTQ+ community have similar routine healthcare needs as cisgender or heterosexual people, providers in the MetroHealth Pride Network have specialized training and experience related to sexuality and gender. To schedule an appointment, call 216-My-Metro or schedule online.

Pride Network providers can be found in four MetroHealth locations – Brooklyn, Brecksville, West Park and Cleveland Heights. Learn more at metrohealth.org/pride.

—

The Buckeye Flame is an online platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of LGBTQ+ Ohioans to support community and civic empowerment through the creation of engaging content that chronicles their triumphs, struggles, and lived experiences.

Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today.

All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.  A complete list of benefits is here.

—

Photo credit: thebuckeyeflame

The post Yes, LGBTQ+ Ohio: The World Is Overwhelming. You Need Support. appeared first on The Good Men Project.

—

You cook well, people tell you to open a place, and suddenly you’re pricing out a restaurant buildout that starts at a hefty $200,000 price tag.

Add first and last month’s rent, permits, health inspections, equipment, and six months of working capital while the neighborhood hasn’t even figured out you exist. You’re now past $400,000, and you still don’t have your first customer.

Most people see that number and either shelve the idea or spend years saving toward it. A growing number are taking a third path and starting with a commercial kitchen trailer instead.

What a Commercial Kitchen Trailer Actually Is

A commercial kitchen trailer is a fully outfitted mobile cooking unit, typically NSF-certified, mounted on a towable chassis. It can include industrial ranges, flat tops, fryers, ventilation hoods, refrigeration, and a generator. You park it wherever the work is, and then you cook.

A restaurant bets that demand will consistently come to one specific address for years. A trailer, on the other hand, goes where demand already exists. You adjust based on where people actually want food. That changes your risk profile entirely.

The Markets You Can Serve

Between corporate contracts, events, pop-ups, and contract feeding, a single trailer can serve four completely different customer bases.

Corporate Catering During Renovations

Companies that take kitchens offline for construction need fast, temporary foodservice. A single recurring corporate contract can cover months of operating costs. Response Logistics’ commercial kitchen trailers handle the large-scale enterprise end. Then, these companies would need to hire catering vendors for day-to-day service.

Event Catering

Private events, corporate retreats, and outdoor festivals pay a strong premium above standard restaurant margins. You bring your own production kitchen, eliminating the need for a separate commissary during prep.

Pop-Up and Concept Testing

Park your trailer in a new neighborhood on a Friday night and run a weekend service. Two weekends of actual sales data tell you more than any feasibility study. That’s real market validation on a timeline that works in your favor.

Contract Feeding

Construction crews, film sets, and industrial job sites all need consistent on-site food. This market is undersupplied and pays recurring weekly rates. A catering operator with equipment can lock in contracts that most restaurant owners would trade their leases to have.

The Numbers That Change the Conversation

A new commercial kitchen trailer from a quality manufacturer costs less than $150,000, depending on size and equipment. Used units start even lower. You can also rent if you want to prove the concept first.

Compare that to a restaurant buildout at $200,000 to $500,000. Add first and last month’s rent on a 1,500 sq. ft. space, which runs $10,000 to $30,000 upfront in most U.S. markets. Factor in build-out permits and six months of working capital. That’s a lot of money already, and you still haven’t started the actual selling yet.

More than that, a kitchen trailer depreciates over time. This generates a tax deduction. A restaurant leasehold improvement does the opposite, which could cost you a huge amount of money.

But do note that the mobile model also carries real costs. You need a commissary arrangement in most U.S. states for storage and prep, a vehicle with the right tow rating, liability insurance, health permits, and fire code compliance. But those costs are still proportionally smaller than what a brick-and-mortar demands upfront.

The Failure Rate Problem Nobody Mentions Upfront

Restaurant failure rates are genuinely high. High fixed overhead kills many early-stage food businesses at a rate far higher than in most other retail categories.

The mobile kitchen model relocates that risk. Instead of front-loading everything into a lease and a buildout with limited market data, you carry lower fixed costs while you’re still figuring out what your customers would actually buy.

Think Like an Operator

The food entrepreneurs who build something durable with mobile kitchens think like operators buying market information. They treat every deployment as a data point.

Every event you work, every corporate contract you land, every neighborhood you park in gives you real data on demand, pricing, and what sells. When the data supports scaling, you use it to make the case for a second unit, a commissary kitchen lease, or a physical location backed by actual revenue history instead of founder optimism.

That’s a different story to tell a bank, an investor, or even yourself.

Three Things to Get Right With the Mobile Model

The trailer offers a lower-cost entry point, but it rewards operators who treat it as a serious business. Here are a few fundamentals to keep in mind:

• Logistics takes real attention.The trailer needs regular maintenance and proper storage. A unit that breaks down during a catered event could cost you revenue, referrals, and possibly a contract renewal.
• Catering margins work differently from restaurant margins.Your variable costs move depending on event type and headcount. Price for the actual structure of the work, and you’ll surely stay ahead of the cash-flow problems that kill most first-year operations.
• Each booking type has a different growth ceiling. A one-time private wedding and a recurring corporate account have completely different trajectories. Know which kind of business you’re building and book accordingly.

Start Now, Scale From the Data

Most people who want to build a food business spend two or three years waiting until they can absorb the cost of the restaurant model. The kitchen trailer model offers a more affordable option with lower risk. All you have to do is get a kitchen trailer unit, the right permits, and a first contract.

So, wait no more. Turn your dreams into a reality and start that food business today.

—

This content is brought to you by Muhammad Abid

iStockPhoto

The post Why Smart Food Entrepreneurs Skip the Restaurant Lease appeared first on The Good Men Project.

By Jessica Scott-Reid, Sentient Media

The “sardine girl summer” trend is still going strong, accompanied by fish-print pants, Instagram-ready tins and carefully curated “seacuterie” boards. According to industry reporting, the canned sardine market is “experiencing steady expansion due to rising global demand for shelf-stable, nutrient-rich seafood.” Sardines ostensibly offer an affordable and low-emissions protein option, but what does this cutesy fish trend overlook?

Researchers warn that growing demand for small forage fish, including sardines, mackerel and anchovies, could place added pressure on marine ecosystems already depleted by climate change, aquaculture and industrial fishing.

There is another impact to consider too. While humans may not think of these tiny creatures as sentient and capable of experiencing pain, “scientific evidence currently supports a realistic possibility of sentience in fishes, including sardines,” director of the Center for Environmental and Animal Protection at New York University, Jeff Sebo, tells Sentient in an email. “That means sardines might be capable of having their own feelings and emotions, including pleasure, pain, comfort, and distress.”

Who Is Eating All the Forage Fish?

Just over a quarter of all captured forage fish is processed for human consumption.

In the U.S., Pacific sardine fishing off the West Coast (California, Oregon and Washington) largely closed in 2015 due to populations dropping below federal conservation thresholds, mainly as a result of climate-related changes in ocean conditions, as well as fishing pressure. Commercial fishing of Atlantic herring is permitted, but there is a quota in place.

Today, Europe is a leading producer and consumer of canned sardines, “accounting for over 35% of global demand, particularly in countries like Portugal, Spain, and Italy,” according to market data.

But most — about three quarters of all forage fish — are used for fish meal and oil. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, about 70% of that fishmeal and oil is used in aquaculture, primarily to feed farmed salmon, shrimp and other species.

Much of the remaining fishmeal and oil is fed to livestock on factory farms, providing protein and other nutrients. Fishmeal and oil have been major ingredients in swine and poultry feeds for many decades, and are increasingly fed to cattle and other ruminants.

A Closer Look at Sardines and Sustainability

As some consumers shifted to eating fish for health or climate concerns, sardines and other forage fish met their moment. In 2022, Abby Jackson, writing for The Cool Down, described these fish as “a great low-carbon alternative to beef, pork, and chicken,” for example.

According to the World Resources Institute’s protein scorecard, fish — including sardines and forage fish — are lower in emissions than pork, poultry and beef (there are differences based on production methods, as farmed fish come in higher). Sardines are relatively low in emissions because they grow faster and typically require fewer resources than larger farmed fish like tuna and salmon.

But tools for measuring food-related emissions may not fully capture the environmental impact of fishing these creatures. Sardines, anchovies and other forage fish are critical food sources for animals including whales, seabirds and larger fish. Emerging research suggests that when fish and other marine animals consume prey and produce fast-sinking particles such as fecal pellets, that process helps move carbon to the ocean floor, where it can be sequestered and kept out of the atmosphere.

Changes in marine food webs then, including taking food away from these larger fish and animals, may reduce how much carbon is exported to deeper waters, which weakens the positive climate effect.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch recommends consumers “avoid sardines caught in the Mediterranean region because overfishing is likely occurring in most areas, bycatch impacts, and ineffective management.” The organization also notes to avoid sardines caught in Brazil, citing ineffective oversight as the region lacks “policies protecting their role in the ecosystem.”

The Marine Stewardship Council, or MSC, states the popular tinned fish company FishWife has met its “standard for sustainable supply chain sourcing” and, more broadly, MSC promotes certified sardines as a sustainable option when sourced from “well-managed fisheries.”

However, this certifying body has come under scrutiny in recent years for potential greenwashing (also known as blue-washing when applied to the seafood sector). Some environmental and labor groups argue the certification can give consumers an overly simplified or inaccurate impression of sustainability. For example, a 2020 analysis found that while around half of MSC’s promotional materials depicted small-scale vessels, small-scale fisheries only accounted for 7% of MSC-certified catch. And a 2026 study identified “80 cases of labor abuses onboard 72 vessels harvesting MSC-certified seafood products.”

Fish, Including Sardines, Lack Welfare Protections

For all of the twee fish packaging and sustainability claims associated with the tinned fish trend, fish welfare has remained largely absent.

Wild-caught fish receive few legal welfare protections in most regulatory systems, and sustainable certification programs generally do not include welfare considerations. For example, in Seafood Watch’s guide to buying sardines, fish welfare metrics are not included. And in 2024, senior communications and public relations manager for MSC, Jackie Marks, wrote to Sentient in an email that “humane harvest and animal sentience sit outside the MSC’s remit.”

But fish sentience should be part of the conversation, argues Sebo. Though evidence about sardine sentience “remains limited,” he writes, “this is not a justification for neglecting them. When there is a realistic possibility of sentience in an animal, we have a responsibility to consider welfare risks for them while we seek to better understand them.” Research has found that fish possess pain-detecting nerve cells and neural pathways that are similar in many ways to those found in mammals, for example.

Sardines are typically caught by what are called purse seine nets, which work by surrounding entire schools of fish in midwater. The method is generally considered less damaging to the seafloor than bottom trawling, however it can still result in bycatch — which refers to the capture of non-target animals.

Advocates warn that animals caught in these nets can suffer. “These methods can involve crowding, crushing, asphyxiation, and death,” writes Sebo. “If sardines are in fact sentient, then these methods can be expected to cause them pain and distress.”

Because sardines are especially small fish, “more of them have to die to produce the same amount of food,” he adds. “It can be easy to dismiss welfare risks for smaller animals, but killing a larger number of smaller animals can produce as much or more suffering overall than killing a smaller number of larger ones.”

Ultimately, the sardine trend has capitalized on interest in affordable, low-emissions and healthy sources of protein. But critics argue that the trend risks overlooking both the ecological importance of forage fish and welfare concerns surrounding their capture — complexities that sit in juxtaposition to the cutesy, curated aesthetic of “sardine girl summer.”

This article originally appeared in Sentient at https://sentientmedia.org/sardine-girl-summer/.

—

This story was originally published by Sentient.

***

If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today.

All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.

Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.

—

Photo credit: unsplash

The post Sardine Girl Summer Meets the Reality of Industrial Fishing appeared first on The Good Men Project.

—

For a lot of men, identity gets quietly welded to competence. We like being the one who knows how things work — at the job, in the garage, in the group chat. Being capable feels good, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But the same instinct has a shadow side. Somewhere along the way, many of us stop putting ourselves in situations where we don’t already know the answer. We stop being beginners. And without quite noticing, we stop growing.

There’s a particular kind of restlessness that tends to show up in the middle stretch of life. The career plateaus. The days start to blur together. The sense of forward motion that used to come naturally gets harder to locate. It’s easy to misread that feeling as a need for a bigger title, a new car, or some external upgrade. More often, it’s something quieter underneath: a need to learn something genuinely new, and to feel the particular aliveness that only comes from being a little out of your depth again.

What learning does that status can’t

Learning changes a man in ways achievement alone never quite manages. It rebuilds the muscle of curiosity, which atrophies fast once we settle into expertise. It reminds you that you are still capable of change — not just maintaining what you’ve already built, but adding to it. Neuroscience has spent years confirming what most people feel intuitively: the brain stays adaptable when it’s challenged, and challenge is something we have to choose on purpose once school and early-career pressure stop choosing it for us.

Picking up a new skill — a creative craft, a technical ability, a side business you’ve been circling for years — restores a sense of momentum that’s surprisingly close to confidence. Not the performed kind men are taught to project. The real kind, the sort that comes from doing something this month you genuinely couldn’t do last month. That quiet internal proof tends to spill over into everything else: how you carry yourself, how you handle setbacks, how willing you are to take the next risk.

The barrier that used to stop us

The good news is that most of the obstacles that once made this hard have fallen away. You no longer need to enroll in a program across town or take time off work. You can learn at the kitchen table after the kids are asleep, in twenty-minute pieces, at your own pace.

The harder barrier, honestly, was always cost. Premium online courses have a way of pricing curiosity out of reach — especially when you’re supporting a family and weighing every expense against more immediate needs. A single course can run several hundred to a few thousand dollars, and stacking up the ones you’re actually interested in quickly becomes a luxury rather than a habit. That economic reality is part of why curated learning platforms like UDCourse have found an audience: they make a wide range of courses accessible without the steep, one-at-a-time price tags that turn self-improvement into something only the comfortable can afford. When the financial friction drops, the decision stops being “can I justify this?” and becomes simply “what do I want to get better at?”

What to learn matters less than that you learn

The subject you choose is almost beside the point. Follow the thread that’s actually been pulling at you, not the one that looks most impressive on paper. For some men, that’s something practical and future-facing — many start with high-demand areas like automation and artificial intelligence, which are reshaping nearly every industry whether we engage with them or not. A beginner-friendly overview of the best courses to start with is often enough to get moving without falling down a research rabbit hole. For others, the pull is toward photography, writing, trading, woodworking, or finally understanding the mechanics of the business they’ve always wanted to start.

The point isn’t to optimize. The point is to re-enter the state of being a learner. The skill is just the doorway. What’s on the other side — the renewed engagement, the proof that you’re still in motion — is the part that actually changes you.

Learning as a form of leadership

There’s a dimension to this that belongs in any honest conversation about what it means to be a good man, and it’s worth naming directly: continuous learning is a form of leadership. The men others tend to trust and follow are rarely the ones who pretend to have it all figured out. They’re the ones still visibly working on themselves, still asking questions, still willing to say “I don’t know that yet — but I’ll learn it.”

In a workplace, that posture quietly raises the standard for everyone around you. It models intellectual humility, which is the foundation of every ethical decision worth making. A leader who keeps learning signals that growth is expected and safe — that being wrong is part of getting better, not a threat to be hidden. Teams built on that culture tend to be more honest, more resilient, and more willing to do the hard right thing when it counts.

The example that outlasts everything else

The most lasting payoff might be the one closest to home. Children notice what their fathers do far more than what they say. A man who keeps learning — who is willing to be bad at something new in front of his kids, to struggle with it and stick with it anyway — teaches resilience without a single lecture. He shows the people around him that growth doesn’t have an expiration date, that curiosity isn’t something you age out of, and that self-respect sometimes looks like admitting you’d like to be better than you currently are.

None of this requires a dramatic reinvention. It starts with one evening, one course, one small and slightly uncomfortable admission that there’s something you’d like to be good at. That admission isn’t weakness. It’s one of the most grounded forms of self-respect a man can practice.

The version of you a year from now is being built by the choices you make this week. Choosing to keep learning is one of the few that pays off in every direction at once — confidence, purpose, leadership, and the quiet example you set for everyone who happens to be watching.

—

This content is brought to you by IQNewswire

iStockPhoto

The post Why Becoming a Beginner Again Might Be the Best Thing You Do for Yourself This Year appeared first on The Good Men Project.

By Texas A&M University

“Financial stress has hills and valleys as you move through the month or maybe even the week,” says Ian Hughes, assistant professor in the psychological and brain sciences department at Texas A&M University.

“It seems like financial stress is something that moves, at least to some degree.”

Hughes led a study that tracked 324 US workers for nine weeks, collecting nearly 3,000 weekly observations. Contrary to traditional assumptions that financial stress is a fixed condition, the findings reveal that it fluctuates, with weekly income, expenses, debt repayment, and overspending playing major roles.

The study in the Journal of Business and Psychology found that modest increases in weekly income or reductions in expenses provided immediate relief from stress—sometimes as much as large windfalls or bonuses.

“The results that we were seeing were driven primarily by smaller quantities of money rather than large quantities,” Hughes says.

The effect of overspending was also stronger in the lower margins, with people more likely to be stressed by smaller amounts—such as expenses related to social events—than more major but purposeful expenses, such as a medical cost or automotive repair.

Hughes says there seems to be a sort of “cognitive acceptance” to over-budget spending for things that are necessary rather than things that might be reflective of bad choices.

The findings challenge the assumption that financial stress is simply about having enough money. Instead, it’s shaped by small fluctuations in finances and the effort required to manage them. This insight highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing both personal financial habits and workplace practices that support financial health.

Large bonuses and major pay increases had diminishing returns after certain thresholds. Financial stress was driven more by smaller, unexpected amounts rather than big payouts that could be anticipated.

Financial stress can spill over into the workplace, affecting relationships, engagement, and overall well-being.

Hughes emphasizes that solutions exist at both the individual and institutional levels. On the personal side, budgeting and financial planning can help. For employers, supporting financial wellness through incremental bonuses or debt consolidation programs can make a meaningful difference.

“Simply getting paid what you’re used to getting paid does not have an impact on your stress; how you use that money does,” Hughes says.

Source: Texas A&M University

Original Study DOI: 10.1007/s10869-025-10047-2

—

Previously Published on futurity.org with Creative Commons License

***

–

The world is changing fast. We help you keep up.

We’ll send you 1 post, 3x per week.

Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today.

All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.

—

Photo credit: unsplash

The post Even Small Financial Changes Can Affect Your Stress appeared first on The Good Men Project.

—

This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice.

California roads are busy. So are California courtrooms. Every year, thousands of accident victims across the state find themselves navigating a system that wasn’t really built with them in mind — dealing with adjusters, medical liens, and settlement offers that don’t come close to covering actual losses. Personal injury law exists precisely because negligence has consequences, and those consequences shouldn’t land entirely on the person who got hurt. This piece looks at seven firms actively working these cases across California — what they do, where they operate, and what sets them apart.

7 Firms Handling Personal Injury Cases Across California

1. Desert Injury Law — Palm Springs

Palm Springs and the broader Coachella Valley have a specific accident problem. Tourist traffic, I-10 congestion, desert roads that catch drivers off guard. Desert Injury Law works out of this area and knows its courts.

They handle car and truck accidents, dog bites, slip and fall, rideshare collisions, brain injuries, and wrongful death. Trial attorneys Steve Vartazarian and Alina Landver lead the practice. No upfront cost, available around the clock, bilingual.

Anyone looking for the best personal injury lawyer in Palm Springs will find a team that prepares every case as if it’s going to trial.

2. Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP — Los Angeles

Known statewide. They handled Asiana Airlines crash litigation after the 2013 San Francisco runway accident and took on cases from the Oakland Ghost Ship fire. Catastrophic injury, aviation, product liability, mass torts. Not the right call for a routine fender-bender. Exactly the right call when the other side has a legal department.

3. Wilshire Law Firm — Los Angeles

High-volume statewide practice covering car, truck, and motorcycle accidents. They built a client portal for case updates because poor communication is the most common PI complaint. Their attorneys work GEICO, State Farm, and Allstate cases constantly and know where each insurer typically stalls.

4. Haffner Law — Los Angeles

Smaller firm, focused practice. Motor vehicle accidents and insurance bad faith claims. Bad faith allows plaintiffs to sue an insurer directly when a valid claim gets unreasonably denied or delayed. Not every PI firm pursues these cases. Haffner does, and does them regularly.

5. The Barnes Firm — San Diego, LA, San Francisco

Multi-city presence across California with a focus on car accidents, motorcycle crashes, and serious injury. Strong early case evaluations with clear communication about likely case value. No referral hand-offs when a case crosses jurisdictions.

Practical strengths:

• Operates across multiple California markets without losing continuity
• Strong auto and motorcycle focus
• Free case evaluation, no obligation

6. Jacoby & Meyers — Statewide

Operating since 1972, Jacoby & Meyers helped normalize contingency-fee legal services for everyday clients at a time when hiring a lawyer felt financially out of reach. They handle auto accidents, slip and fall, wrongful death, and general personal injury statewide. Wide geographic coverage and established intake processes are the main practical advantages here.

7. Mova Law Group — San Diego

Newer firm, growing fast. Focus on auto accident and personal injury in San Diego, with particular attention to cases involving uninsured or underinsured drivers. Tech-forward case management speeds up documentation and demand letters. Faster documentation means faster resolution in straightforward cases, which matters when medical bills aren’t waiting.

How to Actually Pick a Firm

Skip the website superlatives. A few things worth checking:

• Does the attorney actually go to trial? Firms that almost never litigate tend to accept lower settlements. Insurers track this.
• How many cases per attorney? Over 150 active files is a red flag for real attention.
• Who is the day-to-day contact? Often it’s a paralegal after intake. Ask before signing.
• Is their track record in your case type? A firm with fifty trucking cases understands FMCSA regulations. A generalist probably doesn’t.
• Contingency percentage. California standard is 33.3% pre-trial. Confirm the exact number upfront.

California’s personal injury statute of limitations is two years. Government cases can drop to six months. That window opens on the date of injury, not the date of deciding to act.

FAQ

Do I need a lawyer for a minor accident?
Not always. But unrepresented claimants typically receive lower offers. A free consultation takes 20 minutes and costs nothing.

What does contingency fee mean in practice?
The attorney collects a percentage of the recovery, usually 33.3%. No win means no fee.

How long do California personal injury cases take?
Months for simple cases. One to two years if litigation is needed.

Can someone recover compensation if they were partly at fault?
Yes. California uses comparative negligence. Fault reduces the amount, it doesn’t eliminate the claim.

What’s the first thing to do after a car accident?
See a doctor within 72 hours, photograph everything, and don’t speak to the other insurer before talking to an attorney.

—

This content is brought to you by Alexander Reid

iStockPhoto

The post Personal Injury Law Firms Supporting California Accident Victims appeared first on The Good Men Project.

(Feature Impact) There’s just something timeless about a summer cookout with friends, family or neighbors. Whether it’s the sound of burgers sizzling on the grill or the smell of your favorite seasonal sides, the event invokes nostalgia and camaraderie.

While the spotlight may land on the burgers and barbecued fare, seasoned grill masters know the supporting cast matters, too. Makers of soft, delicious hamburger and hot dog buns fit to be the foundation of summer gatherings for more than 100 years, the bun experts at Wonder suggest a few ways to ensure your entertaining ventures are successful throughout the season.

Do What You Can Ahead of Time

Stick to a mix of easy favorites and make-ahead sides to keep prep manageable while offering something for everyone to enjoy. When possible, prep ahead of time so you can keep your focus on the fun and your attention on the hot grill. Chop vegetables, wash lettuce for burgers, make sure you have picked out the perfect buns, form and season beef patties and mix marinades the day before the big bash to avoid last-minute rushes around the kitchen.

Prep the Grill

Patience is key when it comes to grilling, as a properly heated grill is the foundation for good cooking. Give gas grills enough time to come to temperature, around 10-15 minutes, and allow charcoal to ash over completely. When grilling different types of food, it’s especially helpful to set up cooking zones – direct and indirect – so you can cook meat, veggies and buns differently or move finished food to one side, as needed.

Additionally, to help prevent sticking, lightly oil the clean grill grates before cooking. Using tongs and a paper towel dipped in oil is often more effective than coating foods with oil.

Use a Meat Thermometer

You may be a seasoned grill master, but guesswork can lead to mistakes, especially when cooking for a crowd. Avoid overcooked (or worse, undercooked) chicken and burgers by using an instant-read thermometer to help ensure meat is cooked safely while retaining its juicy flavor.

Grill Buns Correctly

Burgers and hot dogs are classics for a reason, but avoiding soggy buns and mid-bite fallout requires the right bun for the job. Striking the perfect balance of pillowy softness with the structure to hold their shape through every loaded topping, condiment and bite is key when choosing the right bun for the job. More than just a vehicle for grilled favorites, Wonder Classic Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns are a familiar taste that makes cookouts delicious and have held it together, literally and figuratively, for more than a century. In continuing its longstanding partnership with the USO through the annual Deploy the Joy campaign, you can keep an eye out through Sept. 12 for special packaging on select products with scannable QR codes for a chance to win a $10,000 Birthday Bash.

For great grilled buns, follow a few easy steps:

1. Brush cut sides of buns with softened butter, mayo or both to help the bun brown evenly.
2. Lightly salt the buttered side before grilling.
3. During the last 2 minutes of cooking burgers or dogs, place buns cut-side down over medium-low heat for 30-60 seconds. Look for a light golden toast, crisp enough to hold up.

Let Food Rest Before Serving

After grilling, give meat a few minutes to rest before serving or slicing. This allows juices to redistribute throughout the food for better texture and flavor.

Layer Burgers, Condiments and Toppings

After toasting buns, add a thin layer of sauce to coat the bun then lettuce that’s been patted dry to remove moisture. Add cheese to the opposite bun and be sure to place the burger and other toppings in the center to keep moisture away from the bread, preventing sogginess. Follow this simple order for sturdy buns:

• Toasted top bun
• Condiment or sauce
• Cheese
• Burger
• Tomato and onion
• Lettuce
• Condiment or sauce
• Toasted bottom bun

From simple, practical menus to crave-worthy twists on classics, you can find more ways to host a successful summer barbecue by visiting WonderBread.com/recipes.

SOURCE:

—

Previously Published on editors.familyfeatures.com

***

Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today.

All Premium Members get to view  A complete list of benefits is here.

—

Photo credit: unsplash

The post 6 Savvy Ways to Ensure Grilling Success This Summer appeared first on The Good Men Project.

—

After two years of consistent training, you’re in better shape than most people around you.

You track your food, hit the gym four or five times a week, and your work has clearly paid off in most areas of your body. But one spot, the lower abs, the flanks, or the chest, keeps sitting outside that progress, holding on regardless of what you add to or cut from your routine.

Before you write it off as a training problem, it helps to understand why some areas respond to diet and exercise while others simply don’t.

Why Training Can’t Change Where Fat Lives

Fat distribution across your body is controlled by genetics and hormones. Certain regions, especially the lower abdomen and chest in men, carry a high density of alpha-2 adrenergic receptors that hold onto fat even during a sustained calorie deficit. Testosterone levels, cortisol, and insulin sensitivity all shape where your body stores fat and the order in which it gives it up.

Two men can run the same program, eat the same number of calories, and lose fat in completely different ways. One clears it from the belly first. The other holds onto it there the longest, sometimes permanently, regardless of how strict the approach. Your genetics decide that sequence, and your workout only controls the overall rate.

Spot reduction, the belief that training a specific muscle burns the fat on top of it, has been studied extensively. Your body burns fat globally during exercise, pulling from wherever it decides, and no amount of targeted ab work changes where those calories come from.

What It Means When Your Lifestyle Has Gone as Far as It Can

Diet and exercise get you to a certain point. After that, some areas remain unchanged because of receptor density and hormonal patterns that no lifestyle change can override. You’ve reached your maintenance weight, you’re in strong shape, and one area just stays put.

Some men redirect their focus at that point. Others decide they want to do something about it, and that’s worth a straight conversation.

What Liposuction Actually Does and Who It’s For

Liposuction physically removes fat cells from a specific area of the body. Because those cells are gone, the results last as long as your weight stays stable. For men, the most common treatment areas are the abdomen, flanks, chest, and under the chin.

Fine-tuning specific areas of the body that hold on despite a disciplined lifestyle is exactly what the procedure was built for. It produces the strongest results on people already near a healthy weight with solid habits behind them. Use it as a final step on top of the foundation you’ve already laid, and it delivers. Don’t have liposuction before the habits are in place; otherwise, the results won’t hold.

The men who came away most satisfied went in with a specific, concrete goal, something like addressing the lower abdomen after years of maintaining a healthy weight rather than a broad desire to look different. That kind of clarity lines up with what the procedure can actually deliver, which is why those men tend to be happy with the outcome.

Also, be at a stable weight for at least six months before considering this. Ongoing weight changes affect the result, so finish any active weight-loss phase first, then reassess with a surgeon who can look at where you actually are.

What to Actually Ask During a Consultation

Book a consultation with a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. That certification means years of specialized plastic surgery training, and it’s a different standard from a general cosmetic surgery board.

Ask to see before-and-after photos from male patients with a similar build to yours as well. Ask what week-by-week recovery looks like for your specific procedure, when you can return to lifting, and what refinement looks like if the area needs any follow-up after healing.

Find a surgeon who actually walks you through all of that without rushing, so you get a clear picture of what you’re really signing up for.

The Recovery Men Consistently Underplan

Men put real thought into the procedure day and almost no thought into the four to six weeks that follow.

Liposuction recovery means you should be ready to wear a compression garment daily for several weeks and manage swelling, which will resolve gradually over three to six months. You should also be ready to avoid heavy training for at least a month.

The first week tends to catch people off guard. Swelling makes the treated area look larger before it looks better, and knowing that ahead of time prevents a lot of unnecessary worry. Getting back to training before your surgeon clears you risks complications and pushes the timeline back further.

Build an extra buffer into your schedule around the procedure date, line up someone to help during the first 48 to 72 hours, and have meals prepped and ready before the day arrives. Managing food while sore is more annoying than it sounds.

The Inconsistent Standard Worth Addressing

Society treats spending money on gym memberships, personal trainers, and performance supplements as admirable. But pursuing body contouring to reach the same physical goal is treated differently. Those choices all come from the same motivation, which is wanting to look and feel better in your own body.

Holding them to different standards is a double standard, so ignore those who judge you for these choices.

If your training has taken you as far as it can and one area still bothers you, body contouring is a reasonable next step, on the same level as any other serious investment you’ve made in your physical health and how you feel in your body.

Where to Start

Book a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Bring a specific goal, be straight about your lifestyle and expectations, and gather the real information you need to make a clear decision.

A good surgeon gives you an honest assessment of what’s achievable for your body, what recovery realistically involves, and whether you’re a strong candidate.

—

This content is brought to you by Muhammad Abid

iStockPhoto

The post The Fitness Wall That Nobody Warns Men About appeared first on The Good Men Project.

—

This post was previously published on Stand Again.

***

You Might Also Like These From The Good Men Project

Compliments Men Would Love to Hear More Often

Relationships Aren’t Easy, But They’re Worth It

The One Thing Men Want More Than Sex

The Reality All Women Experience (that Men Don’t Know About)

If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today.

All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.

Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.

Photo credit: iStock

The post Grey Rock Is Not a Survival Tool – It’s the Result of Using Them appeared first on The Good Men Project.

—

Somewhere between the gym memberships that go unused and the running plans that fizzle out by February, a lot of men are quietly rediscovering something simpler. They are picking up a racquet again.

Tennis never really left, but pickleball has exploded, and together they are pulling people of every age back onto the court. The appeal is easy to understand once you play.

It does not feel like exercise. It feels like a game, and that might be the smartest fitness decision you make all year.

Key Takeaways

• Racquet sports like tennis and pickleball deliver serious cardio while feeling more like play than a workout.
• Pickleball is low impact and easy to learn, which makes it one of the most accessible ways to get moving at any age.
• Research has linked regular racquet sport play with better heart health, sharper coordination and even greater longevity.
• The right racquet for your body and skill level makes a real difference to both performance and injury prevention.
• The social side of court sports is a big reason people stick with them long after other routines fade.

Why men are heading back to the court

Part of the draw is how much ground you cover without noticing. A singles tennis match can have you moving the equivalent of several miles, all in short bursts of sprint, stop and reset.

That stop-start pattern is a genuine cardiovascular workout. It raises your heart rate, builds agility and burns through calories while your focus stays on the ball rather than the clock.

There is a longevity angle too. One widely cited Danish study linked racquet sports with some of the largest gains in life expectancy of any recreational activity, ahead of jogging and cycling.

Pickleball, the great equalizer

If tennis feels intimidating, pickleball is the friendlier cousin. It is played on a court less than half the size, with a light paddle and a plastic ball that travels slower than a tennis ball.

That smaller footprint means less sprinting and less pounding on the knees and hips, so it is gentler on the body than most court sports. Beginners can rally within minutes, which is a rare thing in any sport.

Do not mistake gentle for pointless though. The quick reactions and constant movement still get your blood pumping, and the evidence that a few sessions a week can keep you healthy is hard to ignore.

Tennis is not going anywhere

For all the pickleball hype, tennis remains the more demanding and, for many, the more rewarding game. The bigger court, faster ball and longer rallies ask more of your fitness and your technique.

That challenge is exactly why people love it. Progress is satisfying, the workout is intense and a good hit-up with a friend can clear your head better than an hour of scrolling ever will.

Plenty of players happily do both. Pickleball on the days you want something social and easy, tennis when you want to push yourself.

How to get started without overthinking it

Getting onto the court is easier than most people expect. Local councils, clubs and recreation centres run public courts you can book cheaply, and many offer beginner clinics or social sessions where new players are genuinely welcome.

If you are not sure the sport will stick, borrow gear or join a come-and-try day before spending anything. A single lesson early on is also worth it, since a coach can sort out your grip and swing before bad habits set in.

The aim at the start is simply to move and have fun. Find a regular hitting partner or a weekly session, keep the pressure low and let your interest build naturally.

Once you are hooked, and most people are within a few games, the equipment you use starts to matter a lot more than it did on day one.

Choosing a racquet that actually fits you

Here is where a lot of newcomers go wrong. They grab the cheapest frame off a shelf, struggle with it and assume the sport is not for them, when the real problem was the equipment.

Racquet weight, head size, grip size and string tension all change how the racquet feels and how kind it is to your arm. The wrong setup can lead to sore elbows and wasted effort, while the right one makes the game click.

This is why it pays to talk to sports racquet specialists who can match a frame to your size, strength and playing style. Many good stores even let you demo a racquet before you buy, so you can feel the difference on court rather than guessing.

The part that keeps you coming back

Fitness gets you onto the court, but the people are what keep you there. Racquet sports are social by design, whether it is doubles with mates or a casual club ladder.

That connection matters more than we often admit. Regular, low-pressure social contact is strongly tied to mental wellbeing, and a standing game gives you a reason to show up each week.

The focus helps as well. Tracking a ball and reacting in real time pulls you out of your own head, which is its own kind of reset.

The bottom line

You do not need to be young, fit or naturally sporty to get a lot out of racquet sports. You need a court, a willing opponent and a racquet that suits you.

Start where you are, warm up properly to avoid the usual strains and let the game do the rest. Few workouts give back as much, and even fewer are this much fun.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is pickleball easier on the body than tennis?

Generally yes. The smaller court means less sprinting and the lighter paddle and slower ball reduce strain on the shoulder and elbow, which makes it a gentler option for many players.

How often should I play to see fitness benefits?

Most guidance points to a few sessions a week of around 30 to 60 minutes. That is usually enough to improve heart health, endurance and coordination over time.

Does the racquet I choose really matter?

Yes. Weight, grip size and string tension affect comfort, control and your risk of arm injuries, so matching the racquet to your body and skill level is well worth the effort.

How do I avoid common racquet sport injuries?

Most injuries come from overuse or sudden stops and starts. A proper warm-up, good footwear and gradually building up your playing time go a long way toward keeping you on the court.

—

This content is brought to you by Alexander Reid

iStockPhoto

The post The Smartest Workout You Are Not Doing Yet: Why Men Are Rediscovering Racquet Sports appeared first on The Good Men Project.

By James Densley, Metropolitan State University

—

Previously Published on theconversation.com with Creative Commons License

***

Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today.

All Premium Members get to view  A complete list of benefits is here.

—

Photo credit: unsplash

The post Students Are Taught to Hide in Closets and Under Tables if There Is a School Shooting – But Does Practicing for This Possibility Keep Kids Safe? appeared first on The Good Men Project.

—

If you have landed on this page, chances are you have seen the Brain Song advertised as a groundbreaking audio experience that can help activate your brain’s natural “fertilizer” — BDNF — in just 12 minutes a day. It is a bold claim, and in a crowded wellness marketplace, bold claims deserve a close look.

In this comprehensive Brain Song review, we dig into what the program actually is, what the research says about Gamma brainwaves and BDNF, what real users are reporting, and whether the $39 price tag makes sense for the average American looking to sharpen their focus and support long-term brain health.

Click Here To Know More Details About The Brain Song Audio Program

What Is the Brain Song?

The Brain Song, sold at official website, is a digital audio program developed by Neural Revive. At its core, it is a 12-minute MP3 audio track that you listen to once daily. The program is delivered entirely digitally — there are no physical products or supplements involved — and it is designed to be used from the comfort of your home, whether through headphones or a speaker.

The stated goal is straightforward: use specially engineered sound patterns to gently guide your brain toward Gamma-frequency brainwave activity. The program’s creators claim that this process may encourage the production of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a protein that plays a widely recognized role in the health of your neurons, your capacity to learn, and your ability to focus.

Quick Summary:

The Brain Song is a 12-minute daily audio track priced at $39 (one-time payment), backed by a 90-day money-back guarantee. It targets Gamma brainwave frequencies to potentially support BDNF production and overall cognitive wellness.

The Science Behind the Claims

To evaluate the Brain Song fairly, you need to understand two concepts that sit at the heart of its marketing: BDNF and Gamma brainwaves.

What Is BDNF?

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor is a protein that neuroscientists genuinely refer to as one of the most important molecules for brain health. It supports the survival of existing neurons, encourages the growth of new neurons, and plays a critical role in synaptic plasticity — the brain’s ability to strengthen or weaken connections between cells, which is fundamental to learning and memory. Low levels of BDNF have been associated in research with cognitive decline, depression, and neurodegenerative conditions. This is legitimate, well-established neuroscience.

What Are Gamma Brainwaves?

Gamma brainwaves oscillate at frequencies between approximately 30 and 100 Hz and are associated with high-level cognitive functions including attention, perception, and information processing. Notably, researchers at MIT — including a landmark 2019 study from the Tsai Lab — found that exposing mice with Alzheimer’s pathology to 40 Hz flickering light and sound stimulation appeared to reduce amyloid plaques and improve cognitive performance. This research attracted significant mainstream attention and is frequently cited by brainwave audio products, including the Brain Song.

Where the Science Gets Murky

Here is where an honest review has to pump the brakes. The MIT research is promising — but it was conducted primarily in mouse models, used very specific 40 Hz light-and-sound protocols in clinical settings, and has not been replicated at scale in healthy human adults using commercially available audio products. The jump from “controlled lab research in mice” to “a $39 MP3 will boost your BDNF” is a significant leap that the current body of evidence does not fully support.

The Brain Song’s own website acknowledges this with carefully hedged language: “research suggests,” “may play a role,” and “gently guides.” These qualifications are honest — but consumers should read them carefully and not interpret the program as a clinically validated medical treatment.

Important: The Brain Song has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have a cognitive health condition, always consult your healthcare provider before trying any audio-based wellness product.

Who Is the Brain Song Designed For?

Based on the program’s marketing and the nature of the product, the Brain Song appears best suited for healthy adults in the United States who are experiencing everyday cognitive challenges — brain fog, difficulty concentrating at work, mental fatigue, or a general desire to be more mentally sharp as they age. It is not positioned as a clinical intervention for Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD, or any diagnosed cognitive disorder.

It may appeal most to people who already practice mindfulness, meditation, or other audio-based relaxation techniques and are open to adding a neuroscience-inspired routine to their daily wellness habits. It is not a replacement for proven cognitive health strategies like regular aerobic exercise, quality sleep, a nutrient-rich diet, or professional medical care.

Pros and Cons

What We Like

• Extremely simple to use daily
• No supplements or side effects
• 90-day money-back guarantee
• One-time affordable payment ($39)
• Grounded in real neuroscience concepts
• Can be used at home, anytime
• No recurring subscription fees

What Gives Us Pause

• Marketing claims outpace current clinical evidence
• Sold via ClickBank affiliate network
• Website is set to noindex (not publicly searchable)
• Testimonials may be dramatized per site disclaimer
• No peer-reviewed studies on this specific product
• Results vary significantly by user

User Experience: What Are People Saying?

Across various online communities and the testimonials featured on the official Brain Song website, the feedback is mixed — though cautiously leaning positive for the relaxation and focus side of the equation rather than dramatic cognitive transformation.

Many users report that the 12-minute audio is genuinely pleasant and calming to listen to. A number of reviewers note that incorporating it into their morning routine helped them feel more centered and focused during the workday. Several users with busy, high-stress jobs in the United States reported that the act of taking 12 minutes of intentional, quiet listening time itself may account for some of the perceived cognitive benefits — a well-documented phenomenon in mindfulness research.

On the more skeptical side, a portion of users reported no noticeable difference after several weeks of consistent use and requested refunds under the 90-day guarantee. It is worth noting that the website acknowledges user experiences “may be dramatized via digital avatars,” which is an unusual disclosure that should be weighed when reading testimonials.

Pricing and Guarantee

The Brain Song is priced at a one-time fee of $39 as of this writing. There are no monthly subscription charges, no upsell supplements, and no recurring billing. The product is delivered digitally, so there is no shipping cost or wait time involved.

The program is backed by a 90-day money-back guarantee, which is one of the more generous refund windows in the wellness product space. To request a refund, you will need to retain your proof of purchase and contact ClickBank, which processes all transactions for Neural Revive. The 90-day window provides a meaningful risk buffer for anyone curious but cautious about trying the program.

Brain Song vs. Alternative Approaches

For Americans weighing the Brain Song against other options for cognitive support, it is worth considering the competitive landscape. Free options like guided meditation apps, binaural beat playlists on YouTube, and regular aerobic exercise — one of the most well-documented natural BDNF boosters, backed by extensive human research — all offer pathways to some of the same stated benefits at no cost or very low cost.

Paid competitors in the brainwave audio space — including programs like Holosync and Brain.fm — offer subscription-based access to broader libraries of entrainment audio, often with more robust research partnerships or longer track records. The Brain Song’s one-time $39 fee is comparatively affordable, but its single-track format is more limited in scope than multi-program platforms.

Final Verdict

The Brain Song is a legitimate, low-risk wellness audio product built on real neuroscience concepts — but its marketing stretches those concepts further than the current clinical evidence supports. The underlying ideas around Gamma brainwaves and BDNF are genuinely fascinating and actively studied, but a $39 MP3 is not a proven medical treatment.

For Americans who are curious, enjoy audio-based wellness practices, and understand they are buying into a relaxation and focus tool rather than a medical breakthrough, the Brain Song is a reasonable and affordable experiment — especially with a 90-day money-back guarantee in hand. Approach it as a mindful daily ritual, not a cure, and your expectations are far more likely to be met.

Click Here To Know More Details About The Brain Song Audio Program

Price: $39 One-Time Payment  |  Guarantee: 90 Days  |  Overall Score: 8.8 / 10

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I use the Brain Song?

Simply listen to the 12-minute audio track once per day. Most users find it easiest to incorporate into a morning routine, seated comfortably with headphones. No special equipment is required beyond a device that can play audio files.

Q: Is the Brain Song safe to use?

For healthy adults, listening to an audio program is generally considered safe. However, individuals with epilepsy, photosensitivity, or any neurological condition should consult a physician before using brainwave entrainment audio. The program carries no supplement-related risks.

Q: How long before I see results?

Results vary widely. Some users report feeling more relaxed and focused within the first week of consistent use. The program’s creators suggest giving it at least 30 days before drawing conclusions, which is why the 90-day guarantee provides meaningful protection.

Q: Can I get a refund if the Brain Song does not work for me?

Yes. The program is backed by a 90-day money-back guarantee. Refunds are processed through ClickBank. Keep your proof of purchase and reach out to ClickBank’s order support directly to initiate a return.

Q: Is the Brain Song a subscription?

No. The Brain Song is a one-time purchase of $39. There are no recurring charges or membership fees associated with the base product.

Disclaimer

This review is provided for informational purposes only. The Brain Song has not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new wellness program.

—

This content is brought to you by Heena K

Photo provided by Heena K

The post The Brain Song Reviews 2026: Does This Brainwave Audio Program Really Work? appeared first on The Good Men Project.

By Conor P. Williams, The 74

This story first appeared at The 74, a nonprofit news site covering education. Sign up for free newsletters from The 74 to get more like this in your inbox.

For a few years now, the United States has been marinating in a particular version of the American story. Specifically, we’ve been awash in warnings about the country’s alleged vulnerability in the face of cultural change.

In this conservative telling, America grows stronger when it is monocultural, wealthier when it goes it alone, and better when it has fewer immigrants. To make America once again “great,” we’ve been told, the country must shelter itself from the world’s economy and diverse cultures.

Many have noted that this flies in the face of the entirety of American history; our extraordinary national story is, in fact, a tale of a community reliably made stronger, richer and more dynamic through increased diversity. But if the state of present U.S. politics makes this well-established fact seem like the province of soft-hearted left-wingers, a recent study shows that business leaders still know that diversity — particularly linguistic and cultural — is key to their bottom line.

In 2025, California nonprofit UNITE-LA surveyed 56 Southern California businesses across a range of sizes and sectors to gauge their views on multilingualism at work. Fully 93% of them said they have bilingual staff — and 32% said that the majority of their staff are bilingual.

Nearly three-quarters of respondents said that bilingual staff allow them “to reach more customers,” and 70% responded that it helped them satisfy — and keep — the customers they have.

“In today’s global economy, language is not just a cultural asset — it is essential to doing business,” the report states.

Nearly one-quarter of those surveyed conduct business in Latin America, with an additional 12% calling out Mexico specifically. One-fifth said they did business in Europe and the same share reported commerce in Oceania, the area that includes Australia, New Zealand and smaller Pacific islands.

 

Lead author A.J. Lucas published the results as Beyond English: Employer Perspectives on Language Skills at Work last month.

“Language, for the majority of our existence, has been seen as additional, as something that comes with who a person is, and how they represent ethnically or by place of origin,” he told me. “It’s been seen as surplus to someone’s identity, rather than being assessed, considered, and compensated … we should make it clear that if you have this added skill, you’re worth a lot more than someone who hasn’t gotten to this level of skill in learning a language.”

UNITE-LA, Lucas explained, acts as an intermediary between schools and the business world to better prepare the future workforce and “create economic opportunities for underserved youth across California.”

Those in-demand multilingual workers of the future exist in California schools today, the report notes, where 40% of the state’s K-12 students speak a non-English language at home and, among children younger than 6, that number grows to 60%.

But, as I’ve noted recently, the Trump administration is determined to force the country along an English-only path as a way of punishing immigrants and their children. This is a path that can only make the United States smaller, weaker, less prosperous and less dynamic.

It’s also a path that sets the administration at odds with the preferences of American families, regardless of their proximity to the U.S. immigration experience and/or the languages they speak at home. That is, both English-dominant families and families who speak a non-English language at home are enthusiastic about giving their children opportunities to become multilingual.

Demand for multilingual schooling has spiked in recent decades, with dual language immersion programs growing by the thousands across states like Texas, Utah, North Carolina, California, Georgia, Delaware, New York and others. All 50 states and the District of Columbia have launched their own versions of the Seal of Biliteracy, a credential that recognizes students who can demonstrate proficiency in at least two languages. But efforts to grow these programs are hamstrung by the United States’ limited supply of bilingual teachers.

 

We should replace the administration’s current, sustained assault on linguistic and cultural diversity on K–12 campuses with a serious effort to train enough linguistically diverse teachers to be able to meet families’ demand for multilingual learning and businesses’ need for multilingual workers.

There are many ways for local, state and federal education leaders to do this. For instance, as the report notes, the Seal of Biliteracy is off to a good start, but is presently “more symbolic than functional in the labor market.” Employers, colleges and universities don’t yet understand its value. By contrast, Massachusetts has led the way in linking the seal to real college credits — and corresponding cost savings for students. Business leaders and public officials should follow their lead.

Unlike so much else in education policy, this isn’t especially complicated. Businesses want multilingual workers. Families want their children to have access to multilingual schools. As Lucas put it in our recent conversation, “There’s this connection between our education system and what our workforce currently needs … yet it feels like that gap is persisting for some reason.”

The views expressed here are Conor P. Williams’s alone, and do not reflect those of his employer or any other affiliated organizations.

—

This story was produced by The 74, a non-profit, independent news organization focused on education in America.

***

If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today.

All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.

Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.

Photo credit: unsplash

The post Businesses Want Bilingual Workers, Families Want Bilingual Kids, so Why the Gap? appeared first on The Good Men Project.