How to Use the Real Talk Series
The Real Talk series was built around one idea: teen boys need honest, grounded conversations about who they are, and the adults in their lives can help make those conversations happen.
The series includes four pieces that work together. Here is what each one does and who it is for.
The Student Book
This is the core of the series. Written directly to teen guys, it covers identity, emotions, and faith in language that is honest without being preachy. It can be read on its own or alongside the workbook.
The Workbook
The workbook goes deeper. It includes reflection questions, short exercises, and space for a teen to process what the book raises. Some guys work through it on their own. Others go through it with a parent or in a group setting.
The Parent Guide
This is written for parents. It walks alongside the student book and gives context for what your teen is reading, questions you can ask, and guidance for navigating conversations that might feel unfamiliar.
The Leader Guide
If you are a youth pastor, small group leader, or school counselor, the leader guide gives you what you need to use the Real Talk series in a group setting. It includes session outlines, discussion questions, and notes on how to create space where teen guys will actually open up.
How They Fit Together
The most common setup is a teen working through the student book and workbook while a parent reads the parent guide in parallel. This gives both people a shared vocabulary without requiring them to read the same thing at the same time.
For group settings, the leader guide supports a structured series of sessions, with students using the workbook to go deeper between meetings.
Each piece also stands on its own. If a parent just wants the parent guide, that works. If a teen only has the student book, that works too. The goal is to meet families where they are.