Why young men need mentors now more than ever | Matthew Jodouin | TEDxSurrey

In this talk, Matthew Jodouin shares how, despite a stable and supportive upbringing, he became lost as a teenager and turned to drugs, alcohol, and self-destructive choices. His life shifted only when a mentor stepped in - someone outside his family who believed in him before he could believe in himself. Through this transformation, Matthew highlights how mentorship provides connection, perspective, and hope, especially for young men who often struggle in silence with anxiety, depression, and addiction. Blending personal recovery with research and reflection, he argues that mentorship is not a luxury but a necessity. By creating spaces for connection and showing up for others, we can help young men rediscover purpose and change lives, including our own. Matthew Jodouin is a mindset mentor and certified coach who has helped hundreds of people unlock their potential since 2014. Named one of the Top 20 Life Coaches by The New York Journal, he’s known for an action-oriented approach that helps people turn stress, self-doubt, and inconsistency into confidence, clarity, and intentional living. As creator of programs including UNSTUCK, Momentum Mastermind, Success Principles, and The Modern Man Project, Matthew blends timeless philosophy with proven, science-grounded strategies to make personal growth practical, sustainable, and results-driven. Influenced early by a powerful mentor-mentee relationship, he now champions mentorship to help young men build confidence, purpose, direction, and meaning. Matthew lives on Vancouver Island, BC, with his wife and two young sons, and continues to inspire others to live with purpose, power, and momentum. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx