Ep. 201 - Jason Prokowiew: Fighting a Two-Front War in My Own Home

Show Notes

Release Date: May 5, 2026

Guest: Jason Prokowiew, author of War Boys

About the Episode: How do you learn to love a man you were raised to fear? In this episode, we speak with author Jason Prokowiew about his transformative new memoir, War Boys. Jason shares the harrowing history of his father’s survival in Nazi-occupied Belarus and explores how that trauma rippled through their suburban American household. We dive into the “braiding” of two lives: a father fighting for survival and a son fighting for his identity as a queer man.

Key Topics Discussed:

* The 50-Hour Tapes: How Jason used long-form interviewing to bridge the emotional gap with his father before his passing in 2002.

* Inherited Trauma: The reality of growing up with an abusive, alcoholic parent whose “survival mode” never truly turned off.

* The “Replacement” Family: Understanding his father’s drive to have 13 children as a response to losing his mother and sister in the bombing of Minsk.

* Queer Identity & Resilience: How Jason navigated loneliness and shame while finding his own voice in a house dominated by his father’s presence.

* The Power of Storytelling: Why claiming your own narrative is the final step in the healing process.

Resources Mentioned:

* Book: War Boys: A Father and Son Memoir (Trio House Press - July 1, 2026)

* Watch: Jason Prokowiew on Stories from the Stage (WBUR)

* Connect: Follow Jason’s work and upcoming book events on social media.

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