The real reason for male loneliness will surprise you

The “male loneliness epidemic” has a scapegoat problem. In this episode, I take a closer look at the online media shaping young men, especially podcast culture and the values it pushes around women and politics. From toxic dating advice to bizarre narratives around self-pleasure, I break down how some influencers may be making loneliness worse, while promoting dehumanizing views of women. And it’s not just online. Political figures like James Fishback are tapping into this audience in real life, which, I argue, should caution us all. My guest this week is Michael E. Hayden, author of “Strange People on the Hill.” He has researched and written about the manosphere. Find his writing here: https://substack.com/@michaeledisonhayden Subscribe here on YouTube for more Standing Room Only, airing weekly Thursdays at 5 PM ET on YouTube. 🥳 Standing Room Only started as a newsletter. Join the party and get it in your inbox 2x a week by clicking here: https://www.salon.com/newsletter 🤓 Read Amanda Marcotte's writing on Salon.com here: https://www.salon.com/writer/amanda_marcotte 👍 Follow Amanda on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/amandamarcotte.bsky.social ✌️ Support Salon’s mission—become a member: https://www.salon.com/premium?utm_source=youtube-sro&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=become-a-member-ytsro 🎵 Like our Encore segment? Follow the Standing Room Only Playlist on Spotify to hear the full songs and more recommendations from Amanda: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5xGJv3dQ8BPbO2gMw53dvB This episode explores the male loneliness epidemic, podcast bro culture and how modern dating advice and manosphere content are shaping young men’s views on women, relationships and politics.