Episode 50

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Published on:

21st Jan 2025

Masculinity and Caring for Nature...and Reviewing Past Episodes - with Dr Cassie Pedersen

Masculinity is playing a significant yet under-discussed role in harms against animals and the environment. From hunting, to meat-eating, to driving fast cars, to burning fossil fuels, ‘man’s’ domination of nature is closely connected to gender inequality and masculine norms. In this 50th episode special, we discuss with Dr Cassie Pedersen why we urgently need to break down stereotypes suggesting that it is ‘feminine’ to care for nature, and help boys and men to embrace our interdependence with the world around us. We ask: Do environmental and animal activism challenge gender norms? What can each of us do in our own everyday lives? And how is ecofeminism relevant to men and boys? This is based on a new paper by Cassie and Stephen in the Journal of Criminology, ‘From men's violence to an ethic of care: Ecofeminist contributions to green criminology’.

Then, in part two, with Cassie’s help, we review the first 50 episodes of Now and Men. What have been our highlights so far? What directions should the podcast take in the future? And how do we face up to the increasingly authoritarian and destructive times we are living in? Join us in reflecting on the personal and political issues the podcast has explored over the last 3+ years, and what it has taught us about masculinity and allyship today.

Dr Cassie Pedersen is a Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Federation University (Australia). Her background is in philosophy, with her PhD being on the theory of trauma, and her current work focuses predominantly on green criminology and harms against non-human animals.

Episode timeline

  • Introduction
  • Men’s violence and environmental destruction (01:46-05:01)
  • Green criminology and ecofeminism explained (05:01-07:28)
  • The relationship between masculinity and violence against animals (07:28-10:47)
  • Why an ethic of care offers an alternative (10:47-14:16)
  • The impact of ecofeminism on Cassie and Stephen (14:16-19:51)
  • Broadening what we mean by activism (19:51-25:19)
  • The gendered dynamics of environmentalism (25:19-31:52)
  • Break
  • Standout episodes of Now and Men (31:57-36:56)
  • The most significant issues we have and should cover (36:56-44:28)
  • Bizarre and unusual podcast experiences (44:28-48:40)
  • Gender, podcasting, and allyship (48:40-52:26)
  • Episodes we’ve particularly enjoyed (52:26-54:07)
  • What we’ve learned (54:07-56:51)
  • Inspiring figures of 2024, and messages to take away (56:51-01:02:59)
  • End

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About the Podcast

Now and Men
Changing Masculinities, Challenging Norms
What role can men play in achieving gender equality?
Why is feminism good for men?
How are rigid ideas about masculinity holding back our lives—and how are people around the world challenging them?

These are the questions at the heart of Now and Men, a podcast hosted by social researchers Dr Stephen Burrell (Lecturer at the University of Melbourne, Australia) and Sandy Ruxton (Independent Researcher and Honorary Fellow at Durham University, UK).

We explore masculinity and change in the lives of men and boys today, diving into issues such as gender-based violence, fatherhood, men’s health, politics and the environment. Grounded in feminist thinking, our conversations connect big ideas to everyday experiences—showing how gender shapes all of us, and how men can be part of building a more equal world.

At a time when regressive versions of masculinity are resurging—amplified by political leaders, online influencers, even podcasters—we spotlight the people pushing back. Each episode features inspiring voices working to engage men and boys in positive, transformative ways and imagining feminist futures.

New episodes drop every month. Follow us wherever you get your podcasts, and join us in exploring what healthy, caring, equitable paths forward can look like for men. Questions or comments? We’d love to hear from you at nowandmen@gmail.com.

About your hosts

Stephen Burrell

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I am a Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Melbourne. I'm originally from the UK, and moved to Australia at the beginning of 2024. My research is about men, masculinities, and violence. I am particularly interested in the prevention of men's violence - especially violence against women, and violence against the environment - and promoting care as an alternative. I'm a big fan of feminism, drinking tea, connecting with nature, eating vegan snacks, and listening to heavy metal.

Sandy Ruxton

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Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Sociology at Durham University (UK). Independent researcher, expert on men and masculinities. Previous policy work on human rights, children and families, poverty and social exclusion, and asylum and migration. Programme experience with boys and young men in schools, community, and prisons. Steering Committee member, MenEngage Europe. Volunteer for OX4 Food Crew. Chess-player, bike-rider, tree-hugger. Great grandfather edited Boy's Own Paper, but was sacked.