In this episode, Peter Biello and Orlando Montoya explore In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man by Tom Junod. They discuss the author’s complex relationship with his charismatic and deeply flawed father, and how family secrets shape identity. This conversation examines masculinity, memory, and the lasting influence of fathers across generations.

Look Inside Audio Sample Read Sample In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man A Memoir By Tom Junod

Credit: Doubleday

 

In this episode of Narrative Edge, hosts Peter Biello and Orlando Montoya unpack a memoir by Tom Junod that traces the complicated legacy of a larger-than-life father. Lou Junod emerges as both magnetic and intimidating, a man whose presence filled every room and shaped his son’s understanding of masculinity. Through vivid storytelling, the hosts examine how charisma and control can coexist in a parent-child relationship.

The conversation moves beyond one family’s story to explore broader themes of manhood and generational influence. Junod’s reflections reveal a childhood marked by admiration, fear, and competition, as well as a household shaped by conflict and secrecy. The hosts highlight how uncovering family truths becomes a source of personal power, even when those truths are painful.

Ultimately, the episode considers what it means to redefine masculinity. While Junod stops short of prescribing answers, his story invites listeners to reflect on their own upbringing and inherited beliefs. The result is a thoughtful discussion about identity, accountability, and the quiet work of becoming someone different from the models we were given.