Michael Ian Black
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A Better Man: Rethinking Masculinity
In this hilarious and poignant keynote, comedian, actor, and father Michael Ian Black offers a radical plea for teaching young men to give and receive love.
He gets (mostly) serious about the trouble with masculinity. Through humor and empathy, he reveals his own complicated relationship with his father, explores the damage caused by the expectations placed on boys to “man up,” and searches for the best way to help boys be part of the solution, not the problem, in a world in which the word “masculinity” now goes hand in hand with “toxic.”
Michael delivers a heartfelt answer to an urgent question: How can we be, and raise, better men? This is an essential talk for anyone looking for a path forward as we navigate the complex gender issues of our time.
Author of “A Better Man”
He starred in both the cult film and Netflix series of Wet Hot American Summer. Most recently, he starred in the Netflix film, Sextuplets, recurred on The Good Fight for CBS and Insatiable for Netflix and guest starred on ABC’s Bless This Mess. He wrote and directed the film, Wedding Daze, and he wrote the screenplay for the David Schwimmer-directed Run Fatboy Run.
Michael has written thirteen books and memoirs, including the bestseller, A Child’s First Book of Trump. He is a popular podcaster, writing and hosting How To Be Amazing, Obscure, Mike and Tom Eat Snacks with Tom Cavanagh, and Topics with Michael Showalter. Michael regularly tours the country as a stand-up comedian and has released several stand-up albums and specials. He and his family live in the wilds of Connecticut.
Our speakers get attention.
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Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black Join CNN’s “Have I Got News For You” as Team CaptainsEmmy® and Tony® nominee Amber Ruffin and acclaimed comedian Michael Ian Black will serve as team captains on Have I Got News For You, the much-anticipated American version of the…
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Savannah Book Festival: Comedian Michael Ian Black examines masculinity in ‘A Better Man’Why does manliness, or the idea of it, lead to violence? What does it really mean to “man up”? Do men really have to be tough and stoic all of…
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Turns Out I’m Hilariously Funny: An Interview with Michael Ian BlackFrom The State and Wet Hot American Summer to his recent renaissance as an author of children’s books, Michael Ian Black’s done it all. I
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Raising Better Children: Virtual Jewish Book Fair Features Advice from Parenting AuthorsActor-comedian-writer Michael Ian Black is among the guest speakers at this year’s digital Detroit Jewish Book Fair.
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Comedian Michael Ian Black redefines manhood in book ‘A Better Man’Michael Ian Black never thought of himself as qualified to speak out against gun violence.
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Michael Ian Black gets ‘Mostly Serious’The actor and comedian talks about his book “A Better Man,” a heartfelt letter to his teenage son before he leaves for college.
As a parent of both boys and girls, I find myself rebuffing the gender-based cultural assumptions that are foisted on them more frequently than I could have ever imagined. Thank you, Michael Ian Black, for challenging society’s antiquated approach to raising boys and deepening the conversation about what we actually want for our kids. Sir, you are a good egg.
The way Michael Ian Black models vulnerability and writes about his own pain gives permission to every man across America to do it too. Michael's voice is necessary now more than ever, to offer men a different path, where they can be curious about their own gender and mount their own revolution for better definition of masculinity.
Michael Ian Black tackles the tough subject of masculinity in unexpected, tender, and sometimes funny ways.
A template for the conversation we need to be having with our boys.
