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Christopher Pepper (He/Him)

@mrpepper.bsky.social
584 followers 589 following 987 posts

Award-winning educator and writer, with bylines in the NY Times, SF Chronicle, and Edutopia. Co-author of the national bestseller "TALK TO YOUR BOYS” (2025 - Workman Publishing). 👇🏻👇🏻 SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER: www.teenhealthtoday.com 👆🏻👆🏻

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Reposted by Christopher Pepper (He/Him)
Jen Bendery @jbendery.bsky.social · 3h
News of the Cornell rape case has fueled a 73% spike in calls to the National Sexual Assault hotline in the last week. "Yesterday alone, they were more than double normal. Many of those contacting the hotline say they were prompted to call as a direct result of reading about Jane Doe," says RAINN.
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Reposted by Christopher Pepper (He/Him)
Gail Cornwall @gailcornwall.com · 05/10/2026
Hands down the best take I’ve seen on what we can actually DO to prevent sexual assault. From @mrpepper.bsky.social. www.teenhealthtoday.com/p/6-powerful...
teenhealthtoday.com
Channel Your Rage Into Action Against Rape
Moving from anger into action
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
More than Half of College Men Don’t Learn about Sexuality in School A report from It’s On Us reveals that 58% of college students aren’t learning about consent or sexual communication in a formal setting before college. That’s not okay. itsonus.org/wp-content/u...
itsonus.org
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
A guide for raising boys to be resilient men www.vox.com/advice/50484...
vox.com
A guide for raising boys to be resilient men
Addressing male loneliness starts in childhood.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Who Is There When Boys Are Trying to Figure Out Who to Become? dominickmenshealth.substack.com/p/who-is-the...
dominickmenshealth.substack.com
Who Is There When Boys Are Trying to Figure Out Who to Become?
I couldn’t stop watching Storm.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Inside the Wild World of Gen-Z Testosterone-Maxxing Young men are shaping their identities around their T levels. What could go wrong? www.menshealth.com/health/a7368...
menshealth.com
Inside the Wild World of Gen-Z Testosterone-Maxxing
MH spoke to young T-maxxers about why they’re participating in the trend and how it's shaping their identities.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Cornell and what it costs to speak up americanmasculinity.substack.com/p/cornell-an...
americanmasculinity.substack.com
Cornell and What It Costs to Speak Up
Fifteen years of advocacy and clinical work on the men who stayed quiet, and the men who were supposed to be teaching them.
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Reposted by Christopher Pepper (He/Him)
The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 05/10/2026
While alcohol use has caused problems at universities for decades, and cannabis is the most commonly used drug on campuses, experts said students now have access to a variety of far more potent, fast-evolving and potentially deadly drugs.
washingtonpost.com
How ketamine, kratom and other drugs are changing Cornell and other schools
Recreational use of dangerous substances has led to calls for widely available overdose-reversal medication and drug-testing strips.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Thank you for helping people find this!
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Reposted by Christopher Pepper (He/Him)
Mockingbird, MPH, CHES @amockingbird.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
@mrpepper.bsky.social has literally co-written the book on having the awkward but necessary conversations with your sons. He’s put together a thorough post with links to information and resources for preventing sexual assault.
teenhealthtoday.com
Channel Your Rage Into Action Against Rape
Moving from anger into action
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Reposted by Christopher Pepper (He/Him)
Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Time for this classic again.
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Reposted by Christopher Pepper (He/Him)
Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I’ve been reporting on the CDC for years, and have written about many of its troubles over the past year. I was still shocked by the extent of the staff losses and political interference I found when reporting this one. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/h...
nytimes.com
‘Zombified’ C.D.C., Hobbled by Cuts, Struggles to Fulfill Scientific Mission (Gift Article)
The agency has lost its independence and nearly a third of its staff, as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and associates have tightened control.
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Reposted by Christopher Pepper (He/Him)
ProPublica @propublica.org · 26/09/2026
NEW: ProPublica’s Jake Pearson lost $10,000 mimicking the betting patterns of a problem gambler on DraftKings to test the company’s “responsible gaming” safeguards. One week in, he was invited to become a VIP — and faced little pushback as he spiraled.
propublica.org
I Deliberately Bet Like a Problem Gambler. DraftKings Made Me a VIP.
Amid growing public health concerns, operators like DraftKings have touted “responsible gaming” tools and prompts. But as I went off the deep end, I found they were no match for the incentives and pro...
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Wesley Morris has a chatty podcast about the list out today, and he said he voted for Orange Is The New Black.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
It’s so true.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
This video is actually on YouTube youtu.be/fjZ90V_JREk?...
youtu.be
We Can’t Lose Control of A.I. | The Ezra Klein Show
YouTube video by The Ezra Klein Show
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Sorry! That’s a dumb change.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
This Is What I Fear Most About A.I. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | This Is What I Fear Most About A.I. (Gift Article)
Letting A.I. patrol its own frontier is like asking Jesse James to patrol the Wild West.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The Signs of ‘Popcorn Brain’ Every Parent Should Know—and What To Do About It Here's how to know if your kid has "popcorn brain" and how to help. www.parents.com/what-is-popc...
parents.com
‘Popcorn Brain’ Could Be Making It Harder for Teens To Focus—Here’s What Parents Need To Know
Scrolling on our phones has decimated our ability to focus, resulting in a phenomenon known as "popcorn brain." The effects on teens' still developing emotional and social skills is especially worryin...
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Coaches can be the first line of defense for teen boys when it comes to their mental health www.nbcnews.com/now/video/co...
nbcnews.com
Coaches can be the first line of defense for teen boys when it comes to their mental health
Coaches across the U.S. are tackling youth mental health problems and stressors head on at practice, using a new program. NBC News' Kate Snow reports.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Home From College, 2 Weeks Later www.nytimes.com/2026/09/09/s...
nytimes.com
Home From College, 2 Weeks Later (Gift Article)
Dozens of videos on social media feature freshmen moving out early in the first semester.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
The manosphere offers boys belonging. We must give them something better Supporting boys and advancing gender equality are not competing goals, writes policy expert Dr Tim Shand www.lbc.co.uk/article/mano...
lbc.co.uk
The manosphere offers boys belonging. We must give them something better | LBC
Supporting boys and advancing gender equality are not competing goals, writes policy expert Dr Tim Shand
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
The Truth About Brain Rot: It’s A Cry For Help www.nytimes.com/2026/09/08/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | The Truth About Brain Rot: It’s a Cry for Help
Maybe consuming meaningless content is the only way to be free online.
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Reposted by Christopher Pepper (He/Him)
kate conger @kateconger.com · 11/09/2026
Over six months, we tracked the appearance of child sexual abuse material on X. We found images from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's database, which is considered one of the most highly vetted and which many tech companies block on upload. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/11/t...
nytimes.com
Elon Musk Has Pledged to Rid His Platform, X, of Child Sexual Abuse, but It Persists
Reviews by the Canadian Center for Child Protection and The New York Times found that explicit images of children remain on the social media site owned by Elon Musk.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
When You Look At Your Cereal Box, What Do You See? An excerpt from Marion Nestle's new book, Sugar Coated. bittmanproject.substack.com/p/when-you-l...
bittmanproject.substack.com
When You Look At Your Cereal Box, What Do You See?
An excerpt from Marion Nestle's new book, Sugar Coated.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Five Things Students Taught Us About Connecting Across Difference greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item...
greatergood.berkeley.edu
Five Things Students Taught Us About Connecting Across Differences
We learned a lot in producing our new documentary series, Connecting on Campus: Stories of Courage, Curiosity, and Empathy.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
How to talk to your kids about edgy or violent porn in an age‑appropriate way theconversation.com/how-to-talk-...
theconversation.com
How to talk to your kids about edgy or violent porn in an age-appropriate way
Parents play a vital role in educating young people about sex, sexuality and pornography. But where do you start?
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Am I Doing This Right? Teen Edition Research-backed insights from renowned experts to everyday questions about raising teenagers. greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item...
greatergood.berkeley.edu
Am I Doing This Right? Teen Edition
Research-backed insights from renowned experts to everyday questions about raising teenagers.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Forget blackout drinking. Gen Z is throwing 'wellness darties' www.usatoday.com/story/life/h...
usatoday.com
Forget blackout drinking. Gen Z is throwing 'wellness darties'
A frat threw a "wellness darty." It incited an online debate about the role of Gen Z party culture as more young people look to de-center alcohol.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
We're holding Gen Z to a standard that doesn't make sense | Opinion We constantly hear that young people do not want to work. That they expect too much. That they are entitled, fragile and soft. But what if the explanation is wrong? www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
usatoday.com
We're holding Gen Z to a standard that doesn't make sense | Opinion
Gen Z is told to build success while traditional markers of adulthood – financial independence, stable work, home ownership – feel harder to reach.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
The Truth About Brain Rot: It’s a Cry for Help www.nytimes.com/2026/09/08/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | The Truth About Brain Rot: It’s a Cry for Help (Gift Article)
Maybe consuming meaningless content is the only way to be free online.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
To me, aving one or two teachers try a new lesson and give feedback on it/suggest ways to improve it seems better than just rolling something new out to a whole district. Is that how you are thinking of a “pilot”?
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Introducing Pheromone Maxxing, TikTok’s Latest Disgusting Dating Trend Researchers say human scent can affect attraction, but there’s still no clear proof of a human sex pheromone. www.vice.com/en/article/i...
vice.com
Introducing Pheromone Maxxing, TikTok’s Latest Disgusting Dating Trend
Researchers say human scent can affect attraction, but there’s still no clear proof of a human sex pheromone.
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Reposted by Christopher Pepper (He/Him)
Marcus Luther @marcusluther.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
I very much know that this is going to be a school year where I am attentive to how I am doing as a person, not just as a teacher—so exercises like those shared in this piece from @edutopia.org resonate a lot with me. At minimum: do I have intentional strategies? www.edutopia.org/article/mana...
edutopia.org
6 Ways to Manage the Mental Load of Teaching
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities, these daily strategies can help you connect to the present moment.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
‘Roblox has taken the place of McDonald’s’: Inside booming teen economy They have always loved to shop. But today’s teen is a vertically integrated fashion brand; creating, marketing and buying all at once. www.afr.com/life-and-lux...
afr.com
‘Roblox has taken the place of McDonald’s’: Inside booming teen economy
They have always loved to shop. But today’s teen is a vertically integrated fashion brand; creating, marketing and buying all at once.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Those hair removal creams scare me!
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Hi, I’m Christopher Pepper, a writer and teacher in Berkeley, CA. I love the swell towards the end of “Night Shift” where Lucy Dacus sings “In five years I hope the songs feel like covers Dedicated to new lovers” Would you like to introduce yourself with a small song moment you like?
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Reposted by Christopher Pepper (He/Him)
The Washington Sun @washingtonsun.com · 04/09/2026
HHS is canceling infant mortality and postpartum grants to focus instead on research related to what the department says are “root causes” like sperm counts and erectile dysfunction. www.notus.org/health-science/hhs-ca…
notus.org
HHS Cancels Infant Mortality, Postpartum Grants to Focus on Sperm Counts, ED
Officials at the Office of Minority Health told grantees that they’re prioritizing “root causes” of infertility and promoting exercise.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
The ‘Gen Z stare’ — and the decline of saying things out loud We’re speaking fewer words every year. Scientists worry what that’s doing to our brains. wapo.st/4gTbOAI
wapo.st
The ‘Gen Z stare’ — and the decline of saying things out loud
We’re speaking fewer words every year. Scientists worry what that’s doing to our brains.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
The EducateUS Youth Advisory Board is producing this series of zines to help more people understand why sex ed is the way it is in the U.S. (read: pretty messed up in most places), and how we can make it better together. educateusaction.org/resources/ed...
educateusaction.org
EducateUS ZINE LIBRARY • EducateUS
Welcome to our zine library!The EducateUS Youth Advisory Board is producing this series of zines to help more people understand why sex ed is the way it
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Thank you to #GloriaSteinem for helping bring “Free To Be…You And Me” into the world. carlemuseum.org/museum-at-ho...
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Likely yes. This NY Times article lays out the risk of any strangulation www.nytimes.com/2024/04/12/o...
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Reposted by Christopher Pepper (He/Him)
Julie S. Lalonde @julieslalonde.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
I am an incredibly sex+ person - both in my personal belief system and in my approach to violence prevention work. I've literally taught consent in kink spaces. But we really gotta address the mainstreaming of "choking" because it's really dangerous & more & more often seen as "normal" by youth.
theguardian.com
Police investigate death of teenage girl two days after alleged ‘sexual choking’ act in Sydney
Paramedics called to northern beaches home on Sunday evening before 16-year-old dies in hospital on Tuesday night after sexual strangulation act
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Men are skipping showers before dates for a reason that may surprise women The viral TikTok trend is tied to the looksmaxxing movement, but scientific evidence for human pheromones is inconclusive www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/me...
foxnews.com
Men are skipping showers before dates for a reason that may surprise women
Pheromone-maxxing has men skipping showers and deodorant before dates, but the science behind natural body odor and attraction remains inconclusive.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
‘BIGOREXIA’ IS ON THE RISE. HERE’S WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW www.huffpost.com/entry/bigore...
huffpost.com
'Bigorexia' Is On The Rise In Kids And Teens. Here's What Parents Should Know.
Although it can affect anyone, this lesser-known disorder commonly affects boys and young men.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
As Male Teachers Vanish From the Classroom, Schools Look for Ways to Bring Them Back A new survey of 145 men in the profession points to mentorship, pay and a sense of belonging as the biggest levers for recruitment and retention. edsurge.com/news/as-male...
edsurge.com
As Male Teachers Vanish From the Classroom, Schools Look for Ways to Bring Them Back - EdSurge News
A new survey of 145 men in the profession points to mentorship, pay and a sense of belonging as the biggest levers for recruitment and retention.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Young Men, Misogyny, and Extremism: The New Study Shocking Australia manofmany.com/culture/univ...
manofmany.com
Young Men, Misogyny, and Extremism: The New Study Shocking Australia | Man of Many
A new University of Melbourne study reveals shocking rates of youth misogyny in Australia. Here is how we break the manosphere pipeline.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
This piece I wrote last year pairs well with the Ms. story: aibm.org/commentary/b...
aibm.org
Boys, let’s talk about sex
Comprehensive sex ed helps boys build healthy relationships, understand consent, and share responsibility. Why it matters—at school, at home, and beyond.
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Christopher Pepper (He/Him) @mrpepper.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
www.canadianaffairs.news/2026/09/01/t...
canadianaffairs.news
The battle for boys' attention
Some creators are trying to offer boys a healthy alternative to the manosphere. But competing with its reach and message can be difficult
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