Authentic. Transformative. Grounded. Compelling. Human
Hi there, I'm Joel
I'm a speaker, former school principal, and dad who's spent more than 25 years thinking deeply about what young people, and the adults who raise them, actually need to thrive.
I'm passionate about boys. About understanding what they're navigating, what shapes them, and what they need from the people closest to them. In a world that's noisier, faster, and more complicated than ever, I believe parents are the most important influence in a boy's life (and I love helping them feel equipped for that role.)
My talks for parent communities draw on research, real stories, and the kind of honest conversation that doesn't often happen in everyday life. I'm not here to alarm you or hand you a checklist. I'm here to help you feel more connected to your son, more confident in your instincts, and clearer on what actually makes a difference.
Whether I'm speaking to a school hall full of parents or sitting with a smaller community group, I show up the same way…curious, direct, and genuinely invested in the people in the room.
What People Are Saying
"Joel presented a timely and topical workshop for our parent community on Parenting Boys in the Digital Age. Joel quickly built trust with our parents through stories and insightful information, and provided many opportunities for our parents to share their own experiences. He has a warm, grounded and authoritative presence that engages and unifies an audience. Our parents left with practical strategies, new ideas and frameworks, and, perhaps most importantly, a feeling that they were not alone in this journey. “
Sarita Ryan, Principal, Alice Miller School
"I trust Joel Hines with my life. That’s not a sentence I say very often or very willingly but it seems fitting I begin with this truth.
It just so happens that I also had the pleasure of working alongside Hinesy at our organisation The Man Cave for a few years, and I picked up a few insights that might entice you to invest your time with this man.
Hinesy is a storyteller who has the rare ability to open hearts and capture imaginations. He has the depth and range to weave folklore with philosophy, psychology with poetry, and quick-witted humour with unshakable truth. He can weave this magic with everyone from teenage boys who are on the edge of juvie to concerned parents desperate for answers to teachers needing an injection of hope and practical tools to corporates whose souls are yearning to reconnect to their humanity.”
Hunter Johnson, Co-Founder, The Man Cave
“Joel finds the right kind of balance in his events. In a pace that is gentle but engaging, he blends meaningful activities and discussions with practical skills. These are woven together with stories that are drawn from awesome anecdotes, poetry, ancient teachings and contemporary news and events. I experienced elation, wonder, tears and insights that seemed to originate from my heart and merged with my mind.”
Joss Wyss, Educator