Erica Komisar – The Inconvenient Truth about Parenting in 2025

In this thought-provoking episode, Pete Hunt welcomes back psychoanalyst and bestselling author Erica Komisar, following a year of exponential growth in her reach and message, including a recent appearance on The Diary of a CEO. Known for challenging modern parenting ideals, Erica confronts the uncomfortable truths about early attachment, the myth of “having it all,” and why parental presence in a child’s early years is non-negotiable.

Whether you’re a father, partner, or simply someone reflecting on how you were parented, this conversation offers both a reality check and a powerful invitation to rethink what children really need.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:29 – Why Erica’s message is seen as controversial

04:03 – The cost of early childcare trade-offs

09:20 – Narcissism and unmet emotional needs

13:00 – The impact of different attachment styles

18:04 – Boarding school and emotional detachment

23:30 – The social media narrative vs. real parenting

27:00 – Why guilt shouldn’t be ignored

32:16 – “Second chances” and late-stage fatherhood

36:45 – Teenagers, tech, and the void of play

41:00 – Starting deeper conversations with your kids

47:00 – Reframing parenting as teamwork

52:30 – Careers, control, and the realities of modern motherhood

1:03:00 – The long-term impact of early disconnection

To find out more about the private network Pete founded for growth-focused leaders, visit:

www.monumental.global

Your Wheel of Life in just 90 seconds:

https://insight.monumental.global/wheeloflife

In this powerful episode, Pete Hunt sits down with Nick Duffell, psychotherapist, author, and pioneer of work around boarding school trauma. They explore why so many high-achieving men with these privileged backgrounds feel emotionally stuck, the hidden impact of early survival strategies, and how intimacy becomes one of life’s greatest challenges. A raw and essential listen for men navigating midlife, relationships, and identity.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:29 – Why relationships are so hard for men

04:46 – Boarding school and emotional shutdown

07:52 – The missing emotional training

11:15 – Listening as a lost skill

15:08 – Survivor roles and disconnection

22:04 – The gift of emotional energy

24:06 – The mother wound

32:00 – The child self in adult relationships

36:10 – Institutional life vs. intimacy

43:00 – The missing father figure

47:02 – Mentorship and male role models

50:00 – The impact of porn and overstimulation

53:40 – Power through vulnerability

To find out more about the private network that Pete founded for growth focused leaders, visit www.monumental.global

In a special departure from the usual one-on-one format, host Pete Hunt, Founder of "Monumental", welcomes George, Mike, Oli, Sam, and Ben, a group of Monumental members, for a candid conversation about what really goes on inside Monumental.

Together, they discuss how meaningful support, honest dialogue, and putting down the “mask” can transform men’s relationships, careers, and overall sense of fulfilment.

For more information, please click on this link. https://monumental.global/

To understand your Wheel of Life (in just 90 seconds) click on this link.

https://insight.monumental.global/wheeloflife