Why So Many Men Feel Lost

Today's guest is Jon Ronson, the bestselling author of The Psychopath Test and So You've Been Publicly Shamed, host of the podcast Things Fell Apart, and author of the new book The Castle: Adventures in a World of Unraveling Men. Nick Gillespie talks with Ronson about what happens when the institutions and social structures that once gave people a sense of purpose begin to disappear. They discuss men who have dropped out of work and society, the strange incentives that push people to turn themselves into online brands, and how social media can reward outrage and extremism. They also discuss whether public shaming helped produce today's more disinhibited culture and why Ronson still believes there is an audience for curiosity, nuance, and genuinely open conversation. 0:00—Are men unraveling? 5:30—Chris Mark 14:49—Influencers, gatekeepers, and Greg Chism 22:24—Graham Linehan 32:50—Does public shaming no longer work? 37:55—The human need for meaning 44:19—Andrew Gold 50:22—Social media incentives 58:11—Things Fell Apart