#1013 - Scott Galloway - How to Fix a Culture of Emasculated Men
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
This episode features Scott Galloway, professor of marketing at NYU Stern School of Business, discussing the crisis facing young men in modern society. Galloway examines why men are struggling across multiple dimensions - education, mental health, economic prospects, and relationship formation - while proposing practical solutions that could benefit all young people. (00:00)
Main themes explored:
- The societal bias against acknowledging men's struggles and the need for balanced discourse
- How economic policies and social changes have created a crisis of masculinity and reduced mating opportunities
- The three pillars of healthy masculinity: provider, protector, and procreator
- Practical solutions including mandatory national service and tax reform to lift up all young people
Speakers
Scott Galloway
Scott Galloway is a professor of marketing at the New York University Stern School of Business, a public speaker, entrepreneur and author. He has served on seven public company boards and founded several companies, witnessing eight weddings of people who met at his workplaces. Galloway is known for his provocative takes on business, technology, and societal issues, particularly around young men's struggles in modern society.
Chris Williamson
Chris Williamson is the host of Modern Wisdom podcast, one of the top 10 global podcasts. Based in Austin, Texas, he originally comes from Stockton-on-Tees in the UK, one of the rougher areas he describes as "the worst place" some comedians have toured. Williamson focuses on insights for ambitious professionals and has built his platform through persistence and strategic networking.
Key Takeaways
Embrace the Three Pillars of Modern Masculinity
Galloway argues that healthy masculinity should focus on three core roles: provider, protector, and procreator. As a provider, men should develop economic viability and demonstrate they can be responsible with money and planning. As protectors, they should leverage their physical advantages to create safety and security for others. As procreators, they should channel their sexual energy productively toward building meaningful relationships rather than escaping into porn and online fantasies. (65:00)
Pursue Surplus Value as the Ultimate Goal
The measure of becoming a man isn't age or ceremony - it's reaching "surplus value" where you contribute more to society than you extract. Galloway emphasizes asking yourself: "Am I creating more economic value, love, empathy, and concern than I'm absorbing?" This means generating tax revenue, noticing people's lives positively, and adding more to relationships and communities than you take out. (89:05)
Practice Strategic Risk-Taking for Growth
Men should consistently try to be in rooms they don't deserve to be in - applying to schools above their level, jobs beyond their qualifications, and expressing friendship with more impressive men. The key is surrounding yourself with higher-character, more successful people. Galloway advises that if you're not getting rejections regularly, you're not aiming high enough. This applies to romantic pursuits, career moves, and social connections. (55:17)
Develop Authentic Kindness as a Secret Weapon
There's a crucial distinction between being "nice" (people-pleasing for personal gain) and being truly kind (planting trees whose shade you won't live under). Women notice authentic kindness - holding doors, being patient, small acts with no reciprocal expectation. Galloway suggests establishing a "kindness practice" until it becomes second nature, as kindness is one of the three key traits women find attractive alongside resource signaling and intellect. (95:41)
Navigate Modern Dating by Learning to Handle Rejection
Young men have been taught to avoid risk in romantic pursuits, but Galloway insists they need to learn to approach women while making them feel safe. The objective should sometimes be getting a "no" to build resilience. Men need to understand that great relationships often require multiple rejections first. He advocates for structured practice: be in social situations weekly, express interest appropriately, and accept rejection gracefully while continuing to try. (54:39)
Statistics & Facts
- College enrollment is now 60% women to 40% men, the exact inverse of 40 years ago when Title IX was introduced to help women. Men also drop out at higher rates, with significantly more men dropping out during COVID than women. (08:20)
- If you go on a date with a young man, he's 16 times more likely to go home and hurt himself than hurt you. You're four times more likely to die on the car ride to the date or from drowning or choking. (06:02)
- One in three men who don't cohabitate with a woman or aren't married by age 30 will become substance abusers. Widows are happier after their husband dies, while widowers are less happy. Men in relationships live 4-7 years longer, while the benefit for women is only 2-4 years. (13:17)
