The Diary Of A CEO
The economic stagnation of young men and digital isolation are fueling widespread romantic rejection, demographic collapse, and mental health crises.
AI-assisted summary of Young Men Are (Quietly) Giving Up...Here’s Why! — original source. Check the original for full context.
Source published:
Detailed notes
## Background Published on YouTube on March 31, 2025, by The Diary Of A CEO, host Steven Bartlett sits down with expert guests Scott Galloway and Logan Ury for an emergency discussion on the recently published 'Lost Boys Report'. The episode explores whether society is failing young boys and why young men are quietly giving up, addressing themes of masculinity, dating dynamics, mental health, and social disengagement.
## TL;DR The panel examines the multi-faceted crisis facing young men today, spanning economic disengagement, loneliness, and changing dating expectations. Scott Galloway and Logan Ury break down how modern technology, porn overconsumption, hypergamy on dating apps, and the absence of clear male role models contribute to widespread social withdrawal and mental health struggles. They discuss the critical need to redefine modern masculinity through the core pillars of provider, protector, and procreator while proposing actionable solutions like men's peer groups, physical fitness, and real-world exposure to rejection. Ultimately, the conversation offers practical advice for parents, young men, and society to help restore purpose, connection, and emotional resilience in the next generation.
## Atmosphere & style The discussion carries an urgent, deeply empathetic, and serious tone appropriate for an emergency episode, balancing stark statistical realities with highly personal vulnerability. Steven Bartlett creates a grounded, conversational space where Scott Galloway's candid, pragmatic grit complements Logan Ury's insightful, compassionate behavioral analysis. Listeners experience a poignant emotional arc that moves from alarming cultural diagnoses and raw disclosures of male isolation to grounded, hopeful blueprints for self-improvement and genuine human connection.
## Key takeaways - [31:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=1902s) Women's preference for hypergamy and high standards on dating apps (such as 50% filtering for men 6'0" or taller) creates a severe dating bottleneck for average men. - [34:32](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=2072s) One in seven young men in the UK is currently classed as NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training), leading to increased disengagement, loneliness, and vulnerability to extremist echo chambers. - [41:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=2472s) Young women expect high emotional intelligence from partners, yet young men are rarely socialized with the vocabulary required to meet these expectations. - [50:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=3010s) Logan Ury and Scott Galloway advocate for an evolved definition of masculinity that balances decisive leadership and providing with deep emotional communication and peer support groups. - [01:13:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=4381s) Over 50% of young men aged 18 to 24 have never asked a woman out in person due to severe social anxiety and fear of public humiliation or online exposure. - [01:02:47](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=3767s) Modern single men increasingly turn to low-friction substitutes like unlimited pornography and AI companion apps, which robs them of real-world drive and resilience. - [01:07:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=4071s) Galloway outlines a structured framework for young men to audit excessive screen time and reallocate effort toward physical fitness, financial agency, and real-world social integration. - [01:37:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=5828s) Young men's sense of self-worth remains deeply tied to financial status, making financial failure a primary factor behind young male suicide rates. - [01:43:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=6188s) Traditional expectations of masculinity require young men to excel across three core domains: Provider (financial drive), Protector (defending others), and Procreator (taking romantic risks). - [01:47:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=6429s) Collapsing birth rates and declining marriage rates present major demographic and economic challenges across Western nations and East Asia. - [01:49:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=6543s) Young men feel politically alienated, as modern political and cultural movements often frame traditional male traits negatively while neglecting male-specific issues. - [01:56:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=6971s) Men account for three-quarters of suicides globally, often converting suppressed emotional vulnerability into anger or severe internal feelings of inadequacy. - [02:11:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=7861s) Life happiness typically follows a U-shaped curve, dropping significantly between ages 18 and 45 due to severe career, financial, and personal pressures.
## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=0s) Intro: The Crisis of the "Lost Boys"
Steven Bartlett opens the discussion by introducing a startling emergency conversation about the rising tide of lonely, addicted, and economically disengaged young men. Joined by behavioural scientist and Hinge dating coach Logan Ury alongside marketing professor Scott Galloway, the trio delves into recent data—specifically pointing to the March 2025 "Lost Boys Report" published by the Center for Social Justice (CSJ). The report outlines a sharp decline in male educational achievement, employment, and mental health, highlighting a staggering 40% increase in young men aged 16–24 who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
The panelists frame this decline not merely as an issue of online influencers like Andrew Tate, but as a deep structural crisis rooted in fatherlessness, changing workplace dynamics, and systemic educational mismatches. The episode sets out to explore why young men are struggling to find a clear path to adulthood and how society can address the widening gap between the modern dating market, economic demands, and male identity.
- The number of young men aged 16–24 who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) has surged by **40%**. - Women who out-earn their male partners become **twice as likely to divorce**, driven by traditional dating preferences where women seek equal or higher economic status. - A listener named Jeffrey submitted a letter expressing a pervasive, life-long sentiment: "My entire life I have never felt like I was good enough, like I could never earn my place in society."
---
[02:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=123s) The Lost Boys Report & Guest Backgrounds
The conversation turns to the CSJ report's findings, which detail how young boys are falling behind across every major metric—from school performance to suicide rates and criminal justice involvement. Bartlett shares that the report’s dismal findings left the CEO of his own company in tears after reading the data. The panel introduces their backgrounds and why they are personally and professionally invested in addressing the issue. Logan Ury explains her role applying behavioral and relationship science to modern dating, highlighting the growing "mating gap" where available men no longer match the financial or emotional expectations of women. Scott Galloway details his transition from analyzing data for shareholder value to focusing on societal trends, pointing out that while the advancement of women is a massive victory, young men in Western markets have fallen further and faster than almost any other demographic.
- Andy Cook, CEO of the Center for Social Justice, emphasized that frontline workers (teachers, youth workers, parents) consistently report that "something is going on with our boys." - Galloway notes that his interest is personal as well: as a young man with few economic or romantic prospects, he believes that under today's technological and economic pressures, he easily could have become one of these negative statistics.
---
[06:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=362s) How Did This Happen? The Loss of Male Role Models
When discussing the root cause of young men’s decline, Scott Galloway points directly to the absence of male role models as the primary point of failure. Citing research by Richard Reeves of the American Institute for Boys and Men, Galloway notes that when boys lose a male presence at home or in school, their outcomes plummet far more dramatically than those of young girls. Boys without male role models face significantly higher rates of incarceration, criminal activity, and self-harm.
The discussion highlights the declining presence of male figures in everyday environments. In the education system, the proportion of male teachers has dropped steadily—down to roughly **24%** today compared to higher levels in past decades. Galloway argues that this creates an environment with fewer mentors and after-school sports coaches, as well as an implicit bias against typical male behavior in the classroom.
- The U.S. has the second highest rate of single-parent households globally, behind Sweden. - Boys are **twice as likely** as girls to be suspended from school on a behavior-adjusted basis for the exact same infraction; for Black boys, they are **five times as likely**. - Traditional vocational pathways—such as wood, auto, or metal shop—have largely been phased out of secondary schools in favor of computer science, leaving few middle-class pathways for the two-thirds of males who will not obtain a traditional liberal arts degree.
---
[09:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=598s) Educational Disparities & The "Dandelion vs. Orchid" Theory
Logan Ury and Scott Galloway compare the differing developmental timelines and resilience levels of young boys and girls. Girls consistently perform better in formal academic settings, representing **70% of high school valedictorians** in the U.S. and occupying a disproportionate share of the top 10% of graduating classes. Despite these differences in GPA and classroom outcomes, young men and women score identically on standardized tests like the SAT, suggesting that traditional school environments reward female-coded behaviors—such as sitting still, remaining organized, and being eager to please.
To explain why young men react more severely to adversity, Logan Ury brings up the psychological framework of "orchid vs. dandelion" children. While girls tend to act like dandelions—capable of surviving and adapting across various harsh conditions—boys act more like delicate orchids, requiring very specific environments, consistent guidance, and stability to thrive. As a result, structural disruption in childhood hits young boys disproportionately hard.
- In the UK, research shows that **70% of five-year-old girls** are developmentally ready to start school, whereas significantly fewer boys at that age possess the necessary readiness. - Biologically, girls' prefrontal cortex development runs approximately **18 months ahead** of boys', meaning an 18-year-old female high school student is effectively competing against the brain maturity of a 16.5-year-old male peer. - The panel discusses policy proposals like "red-shirting" boys—holding them back one year so they begin kindergarten at age six instead of five to allow their emotional and cognitive maturity to catch up with girls.
---
[10:27](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=627s) The Impact of Fatherless Homes
The group looks closer at the data surrounding father absence, emphasizing that the modern home environment has undergone a massive demographic shift over the last half-century. In the United States, **25% of children** now live without a biological, step, or adoptive father present—the highest rate of single-parent child-rearing in the world, with **92%** of those single-parent homes headed by mothers alone.
Galloway reflects on how split families often deprive fathers of what he calls "garbage time"—the unscheduled, mundane everyday moments like car rides or casual backyard play where spontaneous connection, mentorship, and deep emotional bonding naturally happen. Without this ongoing daily presence, young men lose access to organic male guidance, leaving them far more susceptible to mental health challenges and risk-taking behaviors.
- In 1968, only **11% of children** lived in mother-only households, compared to **21% in 2020** (and 25% overall living without a father present today). - Children raised in father-absent homes are **300% (3x) more likely** to carry guns, deal drugs, or carry illegal drugs compared to those from two-parent households. - Studies demonstrate that the complete absence of a father directly increases depressive symptoms in young boys, whereas young girls in the same situation show far higher emotional resilience and significantly lower rates of depressive symptoms.
[015:42] Are Boys Mentally Weaker and Less Resilient?
The discussion opens with a stark and distressing statistic: a boy who is sexually molested is six to ten times more likely to take his own life later in life compared to non-abused peers. Scott Galloway notes that, emotionally and mentally, young boys often prove less resilient than girls when facing extreme trauma. Reflecting on why this subject remains so heavily veiled in stigma, Steven Bartlett shares a poignant personal memory from his appearance on Lewis Howes' podcast. Howes casually and openly revealed that he had been sexually abused as a child—a revelation that deeply stunned Steven. Decades ago, social incentives forced male victims to suffer in silence, as society routinely blamed the victim or viewed the abuse as a stroke against their manhood. It was only after experiencing severe dysfunctions in his personal relationships later in life that Howes felt ready to speak publicly, exemplifying how long men carry unaddressed childhood trauma.
``` ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ MALE CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE TRAUMA │ └────────────────────┬────────────────────┘ │ ┌─────────────┴─────────────┐ ▼ ▼ ┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────┐ │ 6x to 10x Higher Rate │ │ Historical Stigma & │ │ of Suicide in Life │ │ Suppressed Disclosures │ └─────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────┘ ```
Steven then shares an email from an anonymous primary and preschool teacher in Germany, who describes a alarming trend she observes every single year: an increasing number of young boys—and almost exclusively boys—entering the classroom with an aggressive energy that disrupts and destroys classroom dynamics. According to her experience, these troubled boys almost always share two distinct traits: a complete lack of firm boundaries at home, and unsupervised, unlimited access to internet content, including hardcore pornography. This combination utterly warps their perception of acceptable behavior, making early education an escalating battlefield for educators.
- A boy who experiences childhood sexual abuse is 6x to 10x more likely to commit suicide later in life. - Male victims historically hid abuse due to severe social stigma, fear of being blamed, and threats to their perceived masculinity. - German early-childhood educators report a growing cohort of young boys exhibiting disruptive, aggressive behavior driven by absent home boundaries and early exposure to online pornography.
---
[017:29] Is the Education System Built Against Boys?
Addressing the classroom crisis, the group debates whether standard schooling environments are fundamentally misaligned with male biology. Scott compares young boys directly to energetic dogs, remarking that "a happy dog is a tired dog." If a boy is not physically exhausted through active exercise, he will inevitably cause trouble. In single-sex male schools, administrators frequently combat this by doubling recess time, integrating roughhousing, and encouraging high-energy physical play. By contrast, co-educational and traditional modern classrooms demand that young children sit still for hours listening to lectures—a structure that deprives boys of required physical outlets and penalizes their natural energy.
``` ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ BOYS IN MODERN SCHOOLING │ ├────────────────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────┤ │ Traditional / Co-Ed Model │ Single-Sex / Adapted Model │ ├────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────┤ │ • Sedentary lecture format │ • Doubled recess & physical play│ │ • Zero physical outlets │ • Energy burned through motion │ │ • High risk of outbursts │ • Reduced behavioral friction │ └────────────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────────┘ ```
Beyond physical outlets, the panel highlights the critical necessity of a father figure or strong male authority in a boy's upbringing. Scott explains that while mothers provide foundational nurturing, young boys naturally test boundaries continuously and eventually "tune out" their mothers over time. There are moments when a mother needs a male presence to step in—whether due to physical size, tone of voice, or a distinct relational dynamic—to maintain structure. When boys lack this male boundary and simultaneously indulge in constant screen time—squeezing a "dopamine bag a hundred times a day"—removing the device triggers severe emotional meltdowns that mothers single-handedly struggle to contain.
- Single-sex male schools often provide double the recess time of standard co-ed schools to channel male physical energy. - Constant digital stimulation creates heavy dopamine dependence; abruptly removing screens triggers severe emotional outbursts in boys lacking behavioral boundaries. - Young boys naturally test boundaries repeatedly and often tune out female authority figures if no physical or firm male presence reinforces limits.
---
[020:09] Where Have All the Male Role Models Gone?
The panel confronts the societal hesitation surrounding male mentorship, noting how modern cultural shifts have alienated men from stepping into mentor roles. Years ago, suggesting that fathers or male role models play a unique, irreplaceable role in a boy's life was dismissed by critics as inherently sexist toward single mothers. Scott recalls his own childhood, raised by a single immigrant mother who worked as a secretary. When his father moved away for work, his mother proactively involved other trustworthy men in his life—including a stockbroker neighbor who took him horseback riding and community leaders who led camping trips. In today's climate, however, many men feel immense reticence and hesitation to mentor or interact with young boys who are not their own children, terrified of being falsely viewed with suspicion or accused of inappropriate motives.
``` TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY MENTORSHIP MODERN RETICENCE & ABSENCE ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐ │ • Neighborly support & guidance │ │ • Fear of suspicion or false claims │ │ • Active Scouting & youth groups │ │ • Co-ed restructuring of male spaces│ │ • Male teachers across K-12 │ │ • 72% female middle school teachers │ └─────────────────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐ │ First male authority figure for │ │ millions of boys: A PRISON GUARD │ └─────────────────────────────────────┘ ```
This loss of male guidance is heavily compounded inside the school system. Statistics reveal that **72% of middle school teachers are women**, and there are currently more female fighter pilots per capita in the United States than male kindergarten teachers. Male-focused institutions have also shifted; Boy Scouts was restructured into Scouts BSA to include girls, while Girl Scouts remained an exclusively single-sex organization for young women. As after-school programs are shuttered and fathers remain absent, the consequences are stark: for millions of young boys in under-resourced American communities, the very first adult male role model they ever encounter in person is a prison guard.
- 72% of middle school teachers in the United States are female. - There are more female fighter pilots per capita in the U.S. than there are male kindergarten teachers. - Boy Scouts converted to Scouts BSA (co-ed), whereas Girl Scouts maintained its single-sex status for girls. - Millions of American boys grow up without any consistent male role models at home or in school until interacting with law enforcement or prison guards.
---
[022:39] Winner-Take-All Economics and the Abandoned 90%
Expanding beyond social dynamics, Scott connects the male crisis to structural shifts in modern economics, where globalization and technological outsourcing have dismantled traditional blue-collar pathways to the middle class. Economic and educational policies in the U.S. and UK have increasingly morphed into a "winner-take-all" framework designed entirely to reward the top 1% or 10% of "remarkable" individuals while ignoring the remaining 90%. Scott illustrates this shift using UCLA's admissions history: when he applied decades ago as an "unremarkable" student from a single-parent home, the university had an **acceptance rate of 76%**. Today, UCLA's acceptance rate has plummeted to just **9%**, reflecting a system that prioritizes elite super-classes over average kids who need an engine for upward mobility.
``` UCLA ACCEPTANCE RATE SHIFT
76% ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ (Historical: Engine for middle-class mobility) │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ 9% ████ (Modern: Highly elite, winner-take-all selection) ```
This systemic inequality spills over into health and marital outcomes. While the top 10% of income earners enjoy the best healthcare and strongest marriages in human history, the bottom tiers face declining health standards and collapsing marriage rates. Marriage has effectively transformed into a luxury good reserved for the affluent: * In the **top quintile** of household income, **75% of adults get married**. * In the **bottom quintile**, that figure drops precipitously to **25%**. * For men in the lowest income quintile, there is only a **1 in 4 chance** of ever marrying.
Because married individuals consistently demonstrate higher wealth accumulation, better physical health, longer life expectancies, and lower rates of child poverty, the collapse of marriage among lower-earning men creates severe, compounding societal instability.
- UCLA acceptance rates fell from **76%** in Scott Galloway's youth to **9%** today. - 75% of adults in the top income quintile get married, compared to just 25% in the bottom income quintile. - Men in the lowest income bracket have only a 25% chance of ever getting married. - Declining marriage rates amongst low earners amplify societal wealth gaps, health disparities, and child poverty rates.
---
[026:21] The Reverse Gender Pay Gap and the Dating Crisis
Steven brings out a striking chart detailing the "reverse gender pay gap," pointing out that young women aged 16 to 24 in full-time employment now out-earn young men by roughly **10%**, while young men face nearly **double the unemployment rate** of young women. Logan Ury acknowledges the shift but clarifies that this dynamic typically fractures around age 30, when women bear children and hit a systemic "career meteorite" due to inadequate corporate support. However, this economic flip creates immediate structural friction in modern dating due to the persistence of *hypergamy*—the historical evolutionary tendency for women to seek partners of equal or higher economic and social status.
``` THE MODERN MATING GAP
HIGH-PERFORMING WOMEN AVAILABLE MALE PARTNERS ┌───────────────────────────┐ ┌───────────────────────────┐ │ • Higher higher-ed rates │ │ • Falling behind in school│ │ • Rising urban earnings │ MISMATCH │ • Lower labor participation│ │ • Higher EQ & self-work │ ───────────► │ • Raised solely to provide│ └───────────────────────────┘ └───────────────────────────┘ ```
This divide creates what Logan terms a massive "mating gap." Higher-earning, educated, and emotionally attuned women find a rapidly shrinking pool of viable male partners. Higher education trends accentuate the problem: **60% of current college enrollment is female**, and projections indicate that soon, for every two women who graduate college, only one man will. Consequently, half of college-educated women will not find a college-educated male partner. As Logan emphasizes, women are now demanding high emotional intelligence (EQ)—the new currency in dating—from men who were historically socialized strictly to be economic providers. Unprepared to deliver on emotional attunement and struggling economically, men are left behind.
- Young women aged 16 to 24 in full-time employment make 10% more than their male peers, while young men face nearly double the unemployment rate. - Women represent 60% of current college enrollments; projections indicate a 2:1 female-to-male graduation ratio in the near future. - Two-thirds of divorces can be reverse-engineered to a man making less money or losing his job; when a wife out-earns her husband, the couple becomes twice as likely to divorce and the husband is three times as likely to use erectile dysfunction medication. - 75% of women cite economic viability as a mandatory criteria in a long-term partner, compared to only 25% of men. - The "high heels effect" (popularized by Chris Williamson) shows that over 50% of women explicitly refuse to date a man shorter than themselves, with real-world behavioral figures likely closer to 80%.
---
<ElicitationsGroup message="To explore these topics further:"> <Elicitation label="Examine the economic factors behind the college gender gap" query="What specific economic and structural factors have caused male college enrollment to drop to 40%?"/> <Elicitation label="Analyze solutions for restoring male mentorship programs" query="What specific policy proposals and community initiatives exist to safely increase male mentorship for young boys?"/> </ElicitationsGroup>
[31:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=1902s) Hypergamy, Height Filters, and the Modern Dating Bottleneck
Scott Galloway and Logan Ury address the growing structural disconnect in modern dating, examining how evolutionary dynamics interact with digital platforms. Galloway points out that women naturally seek partners who offer physical or metaphorical protection—a metric where "women metaphorically are getting taller every year." Because women traditionally date horizontally or upward socially and economically, while men date horizontally or downward, a shrinking pool of high-status men creates a sharp bottleneck. This dynamics leads to a phenomenon where top-tier men engage in "Porsched polygamy"—enjoying endless casual options without incentive to settle down—while the bottom half of men are effectively shut out of the mating market altogether.
Steven Bartlett outlines a prevalent dynamic on dating apps: a woman might have casual encounters with a high-status man, leading her to calibrate her relationship expectations to that tier. When that man declines a long-term commitment, lower-tier suitors are dismissed as outside her "weight class." Ury contextualizes this with real-world economic data: while young women out-earn young men in specific urban centers like New York and Washington, D.C., broader projections show a shrinking pool of traditional hypergamous mates across the board. The result is intense competition among women for a handful of top-tier men, while large numbers of men are completely overlooked.
``` +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | THE MODERN DATING DISCONNECT | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Top 10% Men --> Engage in "Porsched polygamy"; disincentivized from | | long-term commitment due to abundant options. | | | | High-Status Women --> Compete for a shrinking pool of hypergamous mates; | | unwilling to adjust expectations downward. | | | | Bottom 50% Men --> Shut out of the mating pool; increasingly retreat | | to online echo chambers and red-pill content. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ```
- **Hypergamy vs. Assortative Mating:** While assortative mating drives people toward partners of similar self-perceived attractiveness, hypergamy leads women to prioritize men who match or exceed their social and educational status. - **The Height Barrier:** On apps like Hinge, strict user filters exacerbate the issue. Over 50% of U.S. women set their height filter to 6'0" or taller, yet only 14% of American men meet that threshold, filtering out 86% of the dating pool automatically. - **The "Short King" Advantage:** Ury notes from her personal life and coaching practice that rigid height parameters cause women to miss out on exceptional long-term partners, sharing that she is happily married to a "short king."
---
[34:32](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=2072s) The Rise of Disengaged Men and Online Extremism
When young men are repeatedly excluded from traditional romantic and social milestones, they retreat into digital spaces—ranging from pornography to red-pill online forums. Ury notes that this disengagement aligns with broader economic dropouts, referencing data showing that 1 in 7 young men in the UK is currently classed as NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training). Without healthy real-world outlets, these young men gravitate toward polarizing online figures like Andrew Tate to find surrogate father figures and validation.
``` THE DISENGAGEMENT CYCLE
[ Exclusion from ] [ Digital Retreat ] [ Radicalization ] [ Dating/Economy ] ---> [ Porn, Reddit, ] ---> [ Red-Pill Echo ] [ Online Forums ] [ Chambers/Tate ] ```
Galloway highlights the harsh realities faced by average men on dating apps like Tinder, where an average-looking man must swipe right roughly 200 times to secure a single coffee date—only for four out of five of those dates to flake or ghost. This translates to an exhausting 1,000 right swipes just to land a single face-to-face meeting. This constant friction fosters deep feelings of rejection, making young men vulnerable to misogynistic and nationalistic narratives that blame outside forces for their lack of romantic and economic opportunity.
- **The Risk of Isolation:** Galloway warns of an emerging class of "asexual, asocial males." Men who have not lived with a partner or married by age 30 face a 1-in-3 chance of developing a substance abuse problem. - **Historical Social Anchors:** Historically, institutions like churches, temples, local workplaces, and higher education provided structured environments where men could demonstrate excellence, character, and humor over time. - **The Winner-Take-Most Market:** Online dating has digitized romance into a friction-free market, creating an environment that heavily favors top-tier, wealthy, or tall men while worsening outcomes for average men and complicating dating for women.
---
[41:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=2472s) Political Divergence and the Emotional Paradox
The divide between young men and women extends beyond dating app mechanics into political and ideological polarization. Research demonstrates that young women are now, on average, 30% more liberal than their male peers. Additionally, for the first time in history, young men are attending church at higher rates than young women. Despite both genders feeling misunderstood, a survey on relationship dynamics revealed that while 42% of respondents believe power is shared equally, 46% of men feel women hold more power, and 46% of women feel men hold more power.
Ury outlines key paradoxes shaping modern relationships, particularly around emotional expression and societal expectations:
1. **The Skill Deficit Paradox:** As women achieve financial independence, they expect partners to provide high-level emotional support. However, men are rarely raised with the emotional vocabulary or skills to meet this demand. As dating coach David noted to Ury, "women are in graduate school when it comes to emotional conversations and guys are in third grade." 2. **The Vulnerability Trap:** Women frequently ask men to open up, but may struggle when faced with raw male vulnerability. Quoting Brené Brown, Ury notes: "We beg guys to open up... and then when they do, we can't stomach it." Galloway reinforces this with a poignant quote from his research: "A woman would rather see me die on the White Horse than fall off of it." 3. **Double Standards in Emotional Labor:** While women expect empathy for their own journeys, they are sometimes unprepared to process a partner's deep emotional trauma, leading to mixed signals for men trying to navigate modern masculinity.
> "A woman would rather see me die on the White Horse than fall off of it."
- **Consumer Dissonance in Dating:** Galloway draws a parallel to marketing principles, distinguishing between stated preferences and actual purchasing behavior. While women state a desire for sensitive, emotionally attuned partners, physical attraction often remains tied to traditional masculine traits like facial hair and physical presence. - **Unrealistic Screening Metrics:** Popular social media trends capture women demanding partners who earn over $100,000 and stand over 6 feet tall—a combination representing just 2.2% of the total U.S. male population.
---
[46:06](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=2766s) Pragmatic Dating Advice: The "Second Coffee" Rule
Addressing the practical side of romantic relationships, Galloway and Ury debate how men and women can navigate these structural hurdles. When coaching young men, Galloway focuses on self-improvement and actionable value, asking them directly: "Would you want to have sex with you?" He pushes men to assess their physical fitness, their long-term career plans, their personal confidence, and their ability to show kindness and excellence.
For women navigating the dating world, Galloway's primary piece of advice is simple: always go on a "second coffee." Unless a first date displays clear red flags, initial encounters rarely reveal a person's true depth or long-term potential.
``` THE "SECOND COFFEE" FRAMEWORK
+-----------------------+ +-----------------------+ +-----------------------+ | First Date / | | Give It Time | | Long-Term Potential | | Slow Burner | --> | (Second Coffee) | --> | Discovered | | (Often awkward/low) | | Allow attraction | | (Depth, kindness, | +-----------------------+ | to build naturally | | reliability) | +-----------------------+ +-----------------------+ ```
Ury echoes this philosophy, pointing to a dedicated chapter in her book titled *"Make the Second Date the Default."* Drawing from her own marriage, she shares how her husband was a "slow burn"—someone who took time to open up and whom she might have overlooked had they only met on a single, high-pressure first date. By forcing a shift away from immediate spark-chasing, daters give deeper, high-value traits time to surface.
- **Stated vs. Revealed Preferences:** In Ury's research, both men and women cite "kindness and compassion" as the single most important trait they seek in a long-term partner, yet real-world dating app habits often prioritize superficial filters. - **The Expectation Gap:** Women frequently worry that dating an earner making less than them will result in carrying an unfair burden of house and child care without financial offset, keeping their status expectations high.
<FollowUp label="Want to explore the next section covering men's groups and porn addiction?" query="Please provide the walkthrough for the next part of the transcript covering men's support groups, porn addiction, and post-MeToo dynamics."/>
[47:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=2863s) What Women Want and the "Secret Weapon" for Men
Scott Galloway breaks down the core criteria women look for in a male partner, drawing on evolutionary psychology and personal observations. First and foremost, men must **signal resources**. While this does not require immediate luxury items like a Range Rover, it means showing a clear plan, discipline, ambition, and financial stability—such as being in school, holding down a good job, working out, or choosing to leave a party early to prepare for work the next morning. Second, women look for **intellect**, as smart decision-making historically ensured the survival of the tribe's offspring. Galloway notes that "the fastest way to communicate intellect is humor," jokingly offering his impression of a woman laughing hysterically before becoming intimate.
The third element—which Galloway calls a man's ultimate "secret weapon"—is **kindness**. Women want to observe how a man treats service staff, his parents, and strangers when there is no expectation of a reciprocal reward. This signals that he will remain supportive and compassionate when a partner is vulnerable or facing hardship.
- **Key Criteria Women Seek in Men:** 1. *Resource Signaling:* Demonstrating discipline, ambition, and financial trajectory. 2. *Intellect & Humor:* Showing smart decision-making through quick wit and comedic timing. 3. *Kindness:* Displaying basic manners, empathy, and respect without expecting anything in return.
---
[50:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=3010s) Redefining Masculinity and the Power of Peer Groups
Logan Ury argues that modern society desperately needs an "evolved" or "modern" definition of masculinity, as women do not want a feminine man, but rather a decisive provider who is also capable of deep emotional communication. To bridge this gap, Ury advocates for **men's groups**. She shares a personal example of a monthly group formed by her friend, world-class magician David Claven, alongside her husband and four or five other men. In their structured monthly meetings, each participant writes their two most pressing life struggles on Post-it notes. The group then forms a "council of peers" to listen, offer perspective, and hold members accountable.
Ury points out that men's groups offer a realistic alternative to individual therapy, which is often prohibitively expensive or gated behind long insurance waitlists. She highlights how these peer councils allow men to safely process hidden emotions—such as her friend David working through unconscious anger regarding his mother's debilitating illness, or her husband discussing work egos and the overwhelming transition to parenthood. Galloway agrees, highlighting initiatives like *ManTalks*, though he notes that society historically held reservations about men-only spaces due to fear of extremist gatherings or toxic male echo chambers.
- **Structure of a Peer Men's Group:** * Monthly meetings with 6 to 7 trusted male peers. * Writing down top concerns on Post-it notes to force self-reflection. * Structured rotation to focus on whoever has the most urgent issue. * Consistent accountability checks on progress month after month.
---
[54:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=3286s) Commercial Break: Shopify
Steven Bartlett pauses the conversation for a sponsor message from **Shopify**. He emphasizes that the biggest cost in business is not failure, but the time lost to indecision and overthinking. Reflecting on starting his first company at age 20 with no money or experience, Bartlett explains how Shopify streamlines the process for new entrepreneurs by managing customizable website templates, multi-channel sales, payment processing, shipping, and taxes.
---
[55:40](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=3340s) Emotional Openness vs. Banter in Male Friendships
Steven Bartlett reflects on how young men typically communicate within their social circles. In most male friend groups, interaction defaults to aggressive banter, roasting, and "trying to kill each other in the most funny way," which serves as a covert mechanism for showing affection. However, Bartlett notes that in his own WhatsApp group chat, the tone instantly shifts to deep emotional support whenever a friend faces genuine hardship—such as a recent complication in a friend's pregnancy.
Ury observes that while Bartlett's group is unusually emotionally mature, most men struggle to balance humor with vulnerability. She reveals that in her husband's men's group, the members explicitly had to practice being *less* funny because quick jokes were being used as a defense mechanism to deflect away from deep emotional topics.
``` [Banter / Roasting] <---> [Humor Deflection] <---> [Deep Emotional Vulnerability] (Default male love language) (Prevents deep conversations) (Requires intentional effort) ```
From an evolutionary standpoint, Ury notes that men historically held conversations side-by-side—such as sitting around a campfire or hunting on the savannah—which explains why men often feel more comfortable talking in the car or during shared activities rather than in eye-to-eye setups. Furthermore, traditional community structures like church groups, veterans' associations, or civic clubs (like The Elks) have rapidly declined, leaving young men isolated on platforms like TikTok, Twitch, and video games instead of spending face-to-face time with friends.
---
[58:33](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=3513s) Romantic Partners as "Guardrails" and the Dating Deficit
Scott Galloway admits that while male friend groups show empathy when tragedy strikes (such as a death or divorce), men rarely proactively confess feelings of loneliness, clinical depression, anger, or erectile dysfunction due to an innate fear of showing weakness. Instead, Galloway argues that for a young man in his 20s, a **girlfriend** often acts as his primary "board of directors" and essential life guardrail. He shares a candid story from his own youth: when he was 24, his girlfriend told him that if he didn't stop getting high every night, she would stop having sex with him—a wake-up call that radically altered his motivation and lifestyle choices.
Galloway highlights a stark demographic anomaly: only **1 in 3 men** in America under the age of 30 currently has a girlfriend, whereas **2 in 3 women** under 30 have a boyfriend. This mismatch occurs because young women are increasingly dating older, more economically and emotionally stable men. Without the stabilizing influence or prospect of a romantic partner, men tend to suffer far worse behavioral, social, and psychological outcomes than single women, often retreating into pornography, Reddit, and video games.
Ury echoes this concern, adding that historical data shows three-quarters of Baby Boomers and Gen X men were in relationships during their teenage years, compared to **under 50%** today. Missing out on early romantic experience prevents young men from developing key relational skills, creating a widening structural gap that turns into a major red flag by age 30.
- **Key Statistics on Young Relationships:** * **1 in 3** American men under 30 has a romantic partner, compared to **2 in 3** women under 30. * **<50%** of current teenagers engage in romantic relationships, down from **75%** in previous generations (Baby Boomers & Gen X). * Men lacking romantic guardrails are significantly more prone to social withdrawal, gaming addiction, and pornography overconsumption.
[01:02:47](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=3767s) The Dangers of Porn and the Replacement of Human Connection
The discussion turns toward pornography and how algorithmically driven technology is altering human behavior. Scott Galloway reflects on his college days at UCLA, where he graduated with a 2.27 GPA. He notes that a massive driver for him to physically go onto campus, socialize, and care about his appearance was the genuine desire to meet potential romantic partners. He warns that unlimited, frictionless, on-demand pornography robs young men of this fundamental "mojo"—the driving fire to build perseverance, endure rejection, dress well, and excel in the real world. Instead, giant technology companies are convincing youth that a digital facsimile of life is a sufficient substitute for real-world risks and rewards.
``` ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Frictionless, On-Demand Porn & AI Tech │ └────────────────────┬────────────────────┘ │ ┌──────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────┐ ▼ ▼ ┌───────────────────────┐ ┌───────────────────────┐ │ Erodes "Mojo" & Drive │ │ Replaces Human Bonds │ │ Reduces willingness │ │ Perfect AI companions │ │ to endure rejection │ │ avoid real-world friction │ └───────────────────────┘ └───────────────────────┘ ```
Logan Ury shares a personal perspective, revealing that her very first job out of Harvard was managing the "porn pod" at Google, selling advertising to porn companies—a team that no longer exists. Reflecting on that role, she questions what kind of societal disconnection she was inadvertently helping to perpetuate. She cautions that as artificial intelligence advances, the problem will intensify. Apps like Replika are already marketing "perfect AI boyfriends" that offer endless validation without any of the messiness or friction of real-life relationships. When combined with emerging sex robotics and high-definition pornography, young people may opt out of real-world relationships entirely, triggering severe consequences for future birth rates, social cohesion, and the broader economy.
* "We're taking young men's mojo away with frictionless, open-access, on-demand porn." — Scott Galloway * "Show me a guy who's good in a bar, I'll show you a guy who'll probably be good in a boardroom." — Scott Galloway
---
[01:06:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=4001s) Rejection Resilience and Risk-Taking
The conversation shifts to a broader cultural deficit among Gen Z: a critical lack of rejection resilience. Scott points out that the social and communication skills required to navigate the dating market—reading the room, keeping a sense of humor, and handling non-selection—are identical to the foundational skills needed to succeed in business and life. Logan reinforces this based on her extensive research with post-pandemic Gen Z daters in both the UK and the US. She recounts a conversation with a former dean and professor at Brown University who observed that while his office hours used to be empty, students now flood in demanding exact instructions on what will be tested because they are terrified of failing.
Logan also mentions feedback from managers at Google, who report young employees breaking down in tears over standard constructive feedback in Google Docs. Because young adults are not building up the emotional tolerance to fail in low-stakes environments, they refuse to take risks in high-stakes ones—whether in their careers or in love. She stresses that nothing in life worth having comes without taking risks, and finding love is not about passively waiting for a perfect partner, but becoming a great person who actively pursues what they want.
* **Viewer Submission:** Steven reads a message from a viewer who spent over $1,000 hiring women online just to talk to him out of crippling loneliness, followed by several thousand dollars more on other services, yet still felt entirely unfulfilled. * **Pornography Metrics:** Roughly 30% of total internet traffic is porn-related, with approximately 80% consumed by men and 20% by women. High pornography consumption directly correlates with elevated rates of depression.
---
[01:07:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=4071s) How Scott Helps Men Reclaim Their Lives
When Steven asks how an individual can realistically overcome loneliness and porn addiction when simply preaching "restraint" fails, Scott outlines the practical framework he uses when coaching young men. Recognizing that young men often have far more time than financial capital, he sits down with them, has them unlock their phones, and audits their screen time. They regularly find 8 to 12 hours (and sometimes up to 15 hours) spent aimlessly on platforms like TikTok each week. Scott then works with them to reallocate that time into three high-return investments:
``` ┌──────────────────────────────┐ │ Reallocated Screen Time │ │ (8–12 Hours/Week Audited) │ └──────────────┬───────────────┘ │ ┌───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┐ ▼ ▼ ▼ ┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ │ 1. Physical │ │ 2. Financial │ │ 3. Social │ │ Fitness │ │ Drive │ │ Integration │ │ Lift weights 3x │ │ Start making │ │ Join group in │ │ a week, build │ │ money anywhere │ │ person 2x a │ │ strength/health │ │ to ignite drive │ │ week (church, │ └─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ │ sports, etc.) │ └─────────────────┘ ```
1. **Physical Fitness:** Working out with weights three times a week. Scott argues that young men under 30 should cultivate their physical strength, which boosts testosterone, mental health, confidence, and kindness. 2. **Financial Drive:** Earning money, no matter how small the starting point (gig work, TaskRabbit, trade certifications). Making a little money ignites the drive to figure out the economy and achieve financial autonomy. 3. **Social Integration:** Placing oneself in the company of strangers twice a week—whether through a church group, softball league, volunteer organization, or club.
As an additional tactical exercise (which Scott labels "3A"), he assigns young men the deliberate task of asking someone out for a coffee or a drink with the primary goal of receiving a "no." Celebrating rejection reframes failure, teaching them that being turned down is completely survivable and stripping away the fear that prevents them from trying.
* "No is the way to success. Show me someone who's successful, I'm going to show you a ton of 'no's." — Scott Galloway
---
[01:13:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=4381s) Approaching Women in a Post-#MeToo Era
Addressing the contemporary dating climate, Steven notes that young men face an intimidating barrier: fear of public humiliation. Videos frequently go viral on TikTok and X showing women secretly filming men who approach them in settings like the gym, framing simple interactions as creepy or inappropriate. Logan calls this the second major dating paradox: society still overwhelmingly expects men to take the initiative and approach, yet in a post-#MeToo environment, men feel deeply confused about where and how to do so safely.
Logan notes that while people frequently claim they want to meet organically in real life rather than on dating apps, fear of being labeled a creep or becoming content for "datertainment" holds them back. Scott quips that the line between "creepy" and "romantic" often comes down to the perceived physical attractiveness of the person making the approach. Despite popular trends like urban run clubs being touted as the new dating scene, Logan reveals that when she surveys people, almost no one is actually meeting their partners there; as of 2017, online platforms remain the dominant driver of new relationships.
* **App Market Dynamics:** Hinge sets up a date every two seconds globally, highlighting how heavily dating has migrated online.
---
[01:15:17](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=4517s) Teens and the Struggle to Ask Girls Out In Person
The panel addresses a startling statistic regarding young men's social development. According to data from the Pew Research Center, over 50% of young men between the ages of 18 and 24 have never asked a woman out in person. Scott expresses deep concern over this trend, noting that asking people out online deprives young men of the ability to showcase their real-life charm, humor, and presence.
To solve this, Scott advocates for two structural changes: creating more physical "third spaces" for organic social interaction, and introducing a mandatory high school senior class called "Adulting." Beyond teaching practical financial skills like credit card interest rates, this course would teach young men how to express romantic interest respectfully while ensuring the other person feels entirely safe and comfortable.
Closing out the discussion, Logan shares an story about a 16-year-old girl who built an AI chatbot called *Ask Ayla*—trained on relationship science research—to give teenagers safe dating advice. When Logan asked her what the single most common question from users was, the teenager revealed it was simply: *"How do I ask someone out?"*
* "More than 50% of men between the ages of 18 and 24 have never asked a woman out in person." — Scott Galloway * "It's not that teens in all of human history had the secret; it's that they were willing to do it and fail. Now we're just not seeing that." — Logan Ury
<ElicitationsGroup message="Explore related topics from this podcast discussion:"> <Elicitation label="Explore Scott Galloway's advice on male role models and education" query="What did Scott Galloway and Logan Ury say about male role models and the education system in earlier parts of the interview?"/> <Elicitation label="Analyze the statistics on modern dating standards and hypergamy" query="What statistics and points were discussed regarding dating standards, hypergamy, and women's expectations in dating?"/> <ElicitationsGroup/>
[01:17:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=4638s) Social Anxiety, Alcohol, and Risk-Taking in Gen Z
Logan Ury explains that young people who came of age during the pandemic suffered severe disruptions to their social development. Having missed critical milestones of becoming fully functional social beings, they now exhibit weakened interpersonal skills—a deficit visible both in modern workplaces and in personal relationships. Without the ability or confidence to approach potential partners in person, fewer relationships are forming.
Adding fuel to the conversation, Steven Bartlett proposes a provocative take: the decline of drinking among Gen Z is a major barrier to dating. Pointing to consumer spending data, he notes that while Millennials spent $30 billion on alcohol, Gen Z's spending has plunged to just $2 billion. He critiques public figures like Peter Attia and Andrew Huberman for "declaring war on drinking," arguing that going out and making a few bad decisions serves as a crucial social lubricant that breaks down initial awkwardness.
``` Millennial Alcohol Spending: $30 Billion Gen Z Alcohol Spending: $2 Billion ```
Logan counters that Gen Z's shift toward sobriety and "sober curiosity" stems from health concerns, fear of post-drinking anxiety, and financial caution. However, she acknowledges a broader trend of risk aversion in Gen Z. Young adults are delaying driving licenses, postponing sexual activity, and avoiding mistakes. She attributes this caution to a pervasive "surveillance culture," where omnipresent smartphone cameras create fear that any misstep will be permanently recorded and broadcast online.
* Gen Z is getting driver's licenses significantly later or skipping them entirely. * Virginity loss occurs at a much later average age compared to previous generations. * High-definition smartphone recording creates a chilling effect on spontaneous social behavior. * "Part of dating, part of mating, is making mistakes, taking risks, and failing." — Logan Ury
---
[01:20:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=4800s) Practical Advice for Men and the Clothing Closet Exercise
When Steven asks what concrete steps young men can take to enhance their dating appeal, Logan stresses that success requires simple but disciplined execution. Citing her friend Sam Parr (founder of *The Hustle* and co-host of *My First Million*), she explains how cultivating genuine passions—like deep-dive interests in raw denim or personal development—makes a person vastly more compelling. When Sam met his future wife, Sarah, he earned significantly less than she did, but she was drawn to his growth mindset and clear trajectory.
Logan dispels the belief held by many men that they must be six feet tall or wealthy to be attractive. Most women simply look for effort and consistency: remembering details like a best friend's name, sending a supportive text before a stressful meeting, or planning a thoughtful date. By failing to offer these fundamentals, men miss easy opportunities to stand out.
> "Women are not expecting you to fly them to the moon. They want effort... You can get much farther than you think and be better than 90% of men by doing some of these bare-minimum things."
To highlight self-awareness, Logan shares a diagnostic exercise from her book *How to Not Die Alone*:
1. **The Partner Test:** Imagine your partner as an item in your wardrobe. Scott Galloway describes his partner as a *Brunello Cucinelli cashmere V-neck sweater*—luxurious, flattering, and comforting. Logan envisions her husband as a *bright orange house robe*, representing warmth and family life. 2. **The Mirror Test:** Ask yourself, *"If you were a piece of clothing in your closet, what would you be?"*
Logan warns against "relation-shopping"—treating potential partners like disposable consumer electronics—and encourages individuals to focus on self-improvement rather than maintaining rigid checklists.
---
[01:25:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=5111s) Successful Women, Emasculation, and the Pitfalls of Choice
Transitioning to high-achieving demographics, Logan addresses the challenges faced by successful, high-earning women. Many of her female clients and newsletter readers (over 85,000 subscribers) report that men feel intimidated or emasculated by their financial independence. This dynamic has driven a rise in women choosing solo motherhood ("single mother by choice") after struggling to find suitable partners.
``` Logan Ury's Newsletter Reach: 85,000+ readers ```
Logan also notes the prevalence of polyamory, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area. While open to non-traditional relationship structures—given that 50% of traditional marriages end in divorce—she observes an imbalance at dating events, where multiple high-value single women compete for a small pool of non-monogamous men.
Scott and Logan analyze how this dynamic affects high-status men. Although attractive, successful men enjoy abundant choices, this abundance often leads to "decision paralysis." These men frequently defer commitment into their 40s, failing to realize the opportunity costs of delaying marriage and family—namely, fewer years spent with their future children. However, Logan points out that after age 40, men face diminishing returns on dating apps, where women frequently set age filters, treating a history of long-term non-commitment as a red flag.
---
[01:28:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=5280s) Sponsor Break: Intuit & Perfect Ted
Steven introduces sponsor messages, highlighting career opportunities and lifestyle products:
* **Intuit:** Spotlighting their AI-driven platform (including TurboTax, CreditKarma, QuickBooks, and MailChimp) and hiring initiatives across global tech hubs like San Diego, the Bay Area, New York, Atlanta, and Toronto (`[intuit.com/careers](https://intuit.com/careers)`). * **Perfect Ted:** Discussing his 7-figure investment in ceremonial-grade Japanese matcha used by chains like Blank Street Coffee and Joe & The Juice. Listeners receive a 40% discount at `perfectted.com` using code **STEVEN40**.
---
[01:30:13](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=5413s) Modern Feminism and the Reality of "Having It All"
Steven brings up a controversial discussion from a previous podcast episode featuring a veteran child psychologist who argued that modern feminism has created unintended trade-offs for both men and women. The guest claimed that maternal physical presence during a child's first two years triggers key hormonal and developmental bonds, followed by distinct paternal play dynamics, and argued that society misleads women into believing they can seamlessly pursue an intense career and early motherhood simultaneously.
Scott addresses this tension by contrasting theoretical ideals with practical realities. Quoting his own maxim—"You can have it all, just not at the same time"—he shares a personal story about his partner working at Goldman Sachs while managing two infants. Waking up at 5:00 AM every day to balance corporate demands with mothering was intensely grueling. While supportive of career advancement and equality, he notes that double standards and biological timelines impose real-world constraints that abstract ideology cannot remove.
<ElicitationsGroup message="Explore further insights from this discussion:"> <Elicitation label="Analyze Logan Ury's dating tips for men" query="What are Logan Ury's core dating recommendations for men in the Lost Boys discussion?"/> <Elicitation label="Examine Scott Galloway's views on young men" query="Summarize Scott Galloway's core economic and social analysis of young men from the Lost Boys report."/> </ElicitationsGroup>
Here is a detailed, faithful walkthrough of the provided transcript section:
[01:31:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=5505s) Money, Identity, and Economic Reality for Men
Steven and Scott reflect on how tightly their sense of identity as men is bound to financial success. Steven shares an internal struggle while staying in Austin: although he is comfortable in a normal hotel, the moment his girlfriend of seven years prepares to join him, his immediate instinct is to upgrade to a luxury hotel or Airbnb. He notes that despite her being a yogi who works with breathwork and cares nothing for material items or designer brands, he still harbors an irrational, deeply ingrained fear that he must constantly demonstrate wealth and strength to keep her. Scott contends that Steven's feeling is actually grounded in common sense rather than irrationality. In a capitalist society, a family's healthcare, opportunities, and overall well-being are directly linked to money. Scott asserts that masculinity fundamentally boils down to three pillars: **provider, protector, and procreator**. Every young man should operate on the assumption that he has a responsibility to be economically viable—even if being supportive of a partner who makes more money becomes part of that equation.
Scott reminisces about growing up in the 1970s, remembering his grade school principal as a cool, handsome guy who taught karate, wore cool jackets, smelled of Aqua Velva, and drove a Datsun 240Z. In that era, a man could hold high social and sexual currency through character, style, and charisma on a modest salary. Today, however, Scott feels society has shifted entirely to being "all about the Benjamins." He argues that regardless of media articles claiming men just need to be emotionally available, a man's romantic options and standing in society remain almost perfectly correlated with his financial standing.
- Scott argues that while men are primarily turned on visually, women are turned on "with their ears," making economic independence essential. - Steven notes that growing up poor with his mother was far more traumatizing and humiliating than the absence of his father. - Scott points out the cultural cynicism of modern wealth: a high-character middle school principal used to have social status, but today, someone who made $10 million selling Dogecoin can secure sexual currency instantly. - Both agree that the pressure to be economically viable pushes young men toward get-rich-quick schemes out of fear of feeling worthless.
---
[01:37:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=5828s) The Impact of Financial Stigma on Male Mental Health
Logan weighs in on whether women tie their self-worth to money in the same way. She suggests that while women view money as security, the strict equation of money to personal identity and self-worth is vastly stronger in men. Steven illustrates this by sharing how his male group chats are constantly consumed with work and financial success. He recounts a friend who faced bankruptcy prior to starting a family; while his partner remained supportive, the friend became inconsolably depressed, explicitly telling Steven, "I've never felt more worthless."
Logan connects this personal story to research by Richard Reeves on young men. Reeves highlights that suicide is the leading cause of death for young men under 15, and the specific words most frequently found in male suicide notes are "worthless" and "useless." When men feel incapable of fulfilling the provider role, they feel cast to the margins of society and can end up opting out of life entirely.
- Financial hardship triggers intense existential crisis in men because societal utility is heavily measured by economic contribution. - Words like "worthless" and "useless" dominate the suicide notes of men who feel they have failed to achieve financial viability.
---
[01:39:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=5981s) A "Human Boot Camp": Posture, Manners, and Emotional Listening
Steven asks Logan and Scott what core skills they would teach in a "dating or human boot camp" for young men. Steven outlines his own curriculum: 1. **Comedy:** "The only thing that got me laid when I was broke was I was like slightly funny sometimes." 2. **Posture and Confidence:** Standing up straight, taking up space, and avoiding a shriveled posture (which going to the gym naturally helps correct). 3. **Male Manners:** Chivalrous behaviors like opening car doors, guiding a partner away from the street edge on pavements, or putting a protective hand out near traffic. Steven admits he enjoys these acts because they make him feel strong and masculine. 4. **Entrepreneurship & Fitness:** Building financial discipline and staying physically fit. 5. **Conflict Resolution & Deep Listening:** Learning how to process emotional conversations with a partner without becoming defensive.
Steven candidly admits that active listening during conflicts is entirely alien and uncomfortable for him. He shares a recent example where his girlfriend requested a dedicated 60-minute calendar block while he was traveling for work in Sweden. She spoke for 45 minutes about her feelings and subtle ways things could improve; Steven sat in silence, took notes, and repeated her points back to her. He explains that while male friendships function comfortably on shared silence, Pringles, and watching sports, romantic relationships require men to sit through uncomfortable, lengthy emotional check-ins.
- Steven emphasizes that posture directly correlates with dating success and self-confidence. - Practicing basic manners provides men with a tangible, positive reinforcement of their strength and protective role. - Active emotional listening—such as taking notes and reflecting back a partner's feelings during a 60-minute discussion—is a crucial, learned skill for men.
---
[01:43:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=6188s) The Three Pillars: Provider, Protector, and Procreator
Scott expands on his model for young men, breaking down the expectations across three core domains:
* **Provider:** Men do not necessarily need to be ultra-wealthy, but they must demonstrate financial discipline, have a concrete plan, earn certifications, and avoid reckless behaviors like "ordering a bottle of Grey Goose at 2 in the morning." * **Protector:** A man’s default operational setting should be protection. This means speaking well of people behind their backs, defending those who are criticized, and protecting anyone smaller, younger, or more vulnerable. Scott notes how heartbreaking it is that women feel unsafe when walking past groups of men on the street, stressing that men must be taught to adopt the protective mindset of soldiers, firefighters, or police officers. * **Procreator:** Men should embrace their natural romantic drive and actively take risks to initiate contact. Scott shares a exercise he used with his own sons: they were not allowed back into the house after being out unless they initiated a conversation with a stranger or patted someone's dog.
Scott recounts the story of how he met the mother of his children at the Raleigh Hotel pool. Without the aid of alcohol, he took a risk in the middle of the day, walked up to her and her friends, and asked, "Where are you guys from?" Eighteen months later, their first son was born—given the middle name Raleigh after the hotel. He stresses that wanting a romantic partner and having the guts to introduce yourself in person is a healthy, purposeful drive that men should cultivate.
Logan concludes the discussion with a sobering reflection on society's current state. She finds it tragic that biological instincts like procreation now have to be actively taught to young men, attributing this decline to terrible diets, over-medication, excessive pornography, and technological isolation.
- Men must treat protection as their default setting toward vulnerable individuals and special interest groups. - Practical social drills, such as forcing young men to speak to strangers before returning home, build necessary social skills for real-world dating. - The breakdown of basic evolutionary drives is being accelerated by modern lifestyle factors like screen addiction, bad diets, and pornography.
[01:47:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=6429s) The Demographic Collapse and Economic Risks
The conversation shifts toward the alarming global decline in birth rates, using South Korea as a stark warning sign. Based on a 0.7 total fertility rate, a cohort of 100 South Koreans of childbearing age will eventually produce just 12 grandchildren. Forty years ago, 60% of 30-year-olds in North America and Western nations had children, whereas today that figure has dropped to 27%. Logan Ury recounts sitting next to a woman on her flight to the recording who initially dismissed these concerns, asking why society should care when women are finally outperforming men for the first time in history. However, once Logan shared the stark statistics—such as marriage rates nearing historical lows and birth rates dropping 20% over the last two years—the passenger was stunned. People often mistakenly treat gender dynamics as a zero-sum game where a loss for men is a win for women, but the economic reality is that society as a whole is losing.
The structural impact of these demographic shifts threatens economic stability and national defense. Historically, 12 working-age individuals supported every senior citizen; today, that ratio has plummeted to three to one. South Korea is already replacing nursery schools with nursing homes, serving as the ultimate cautionary tale. By 2050, roughly 40% of South Korea's population will be senior citizens, and its labor force could shrink by half over the next 40 years. The Bank of Korea warns that the nation's economy could begin contracting within a decade. Furthermore, this demographic crash creates a severe national security crisis for countries relying on military conscription: South Korea's conscripted military strength could fall from 250,000 troops to just 125,000 by 2025.
* In South Korea, 100 people of childbearing age are on track to produce only 12 grandchildren. * Only 27% of 30-year-olds have a child today, down from 60% four decades ago. * The worker-to-retiree support ratio has fallen from 12:1 down to 3:1. * By 2050, approximately 40% of South Korea's population will consist of senior citizens. * South Korea's conscripted military is projected to drop from 250,000 troops to 125,000.
[01:49:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=6543s) How the Political Left Is Alienating Young Men
Steven Bartlett raises the political dimension of the crisis, noting that young men have become increasingly right-leaning and conservative. Donald Trump's political resurgence highlighted how the political left has failed to offer a compelling or constructive vision of masculinity. On the right, masculinity is often conflated with "coarseness and cruelty," pointing to figures like Trump—who displays a lack of grace, empathy, and kindness—or Elon Musk, who at the time was being sued by two women for sole custody over claims of not seeing his children. Yet, on the left, the primary prescription for masculinity appears to be telling men to "act more like a woman," which fails to resonate with men's natural desires for agency, strength, and economic viability.
Scott Galloway criticizes the Democratic Party's heavy reliance on identity politics, recalling his experience at the Democratic National Convention where a parade of special interest groups were represented—except for young men. The DNC website explicitly highlights 16 special interest groups it serves, including Asian Pacific Islanders, seniors, the disabled, immigrants, and Black Americans, which collectively make up roughly 74% of the U.S. population. Scott argues that when a political apparatus explicitly claims to advocate for 74% of the country, it effectively discriminates against the remaining 26%—which consists primarily of young men. While historical redress was necessary (pointing out that 60 years ago, Princeton, Harvard, and Yale combined had only 12 Black students, whereas over 60% of Harvard's freshman class now identifies as non-white), pushing diversity initiatives to such extremes has alienated young men.
Scott rejects the popular progressive term "toxic masculinity," asserting that traits like violence or criminality represent a complete absence of masculinity rather than a form of it. True masculinity is about being a protector, provider, and procreator. By labeling physical strength, romantic initiation, or male ambition as inherently threat-oriented, the left created a cultural void that was promptly filled by thinly veiled misogyny. In the 2024 election, while Latinos shifted significantly toward the right, the next largest groups pivoting from blue to red were males under 30 and women aged 45 to 64. Scott notes that these women are the mothers of struggling young men—mothers who care far more about their sons' lost futures than international territorial disputes or identity politics.
[01:53:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=6795s) Advice for Parents of Young Boys
For parents listening who feel helpless in the face of broader societal trends, Scott offers practical guidance on raising young boys. His first piece of advice to parents, particularly single mothers, is to "forgive yourself." During a boy's senior year of high school, a natural separation dynamic often causes friction between teens and their parents, but this does not mean the child has stopped loving them or will not figure things out. Beyond self-compassion, the most critical step parents can take is ensuring that active, positive adult men are involved in their sons' lives, whether through sports, community groups, or extended family.
Scott shares personal anecdotes about his own upbringing, recalling how his mother enrolled him in Boy Scouts and, when he was cut from his high school basketball and football teams, made sure to sign him up for the city league so he could keep playing sports alongside male role models. He recounts a recent lunch with a famous news anchor and her teenage son who were arguing heatedly. After asking the mother to step away, Scott looked the young man in the eye and reminded him that his mother was the only person in his life who wanted him to be more successful than she was, telling him directly: "You just got to cut this out. This woman is not your enemy." Reflecting on how he was an "asshole" to his own mother at that age, Scott emphasizes that young men need other men who can hold them accountable and offer firm direction, as research shows the primary point of failure for a young boy occurs when he loses male mentorship.
[01:56:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=6971s) Redefining Masculinity: Surplus Value and Emotional Vulnerability
Logan asks Scott and Steven what lessons about manhood they learned growing up that they had to unlearn, and how those lessons shape how they raise their own children. Scott references scholar Richard Reeves, defining the core metric of manhood as achieving "surplus value." Manhood is not defined by a religious ceremony or sexual active status, but by reaching a point where an individual creates more value than they absorb—generating more tax revenue, registering more complaints from others than they express themselves, and protecting those around them. Scott admits that until about age 40, he approached relationships transactionally, reacting aggressively to minor slights (like speeding up when someone honked at him in traffic) and constantly evaluating whether he was getting more out of a situation than he was giving. True maturity meant realizing that a real man takes hits, extends grace, and leaves the world slightly in his debt by giving more kindness and support than he demands back.
Steven strongly resonates with the concept of surplus value, adding that being called "generous" was one of the greatest compliments he ever received. For Steven, the hardest thing to unlearn was the belief that expressing emotional struggle was a sign of weakness or emasculation. Because society expects men to be strong providers, many men feel unable to turn to their romantic partners or male friends when they are floundering. Steven vividly remembers the fear he felt at age 30 when he ran the "experiment" of telling his girlfriend he was struggling, doing so only because he felt he had reached a breaking point.
Steven reads aloud deeply moving letters sent into the show by young listeners illustrating this acute mental health crisis:
> "For me the biggest challenge that young men face today is I feel like I'm striving for meaning but I can't find it anywhere. I struggle to even sleep at night with some form of substance because my brain is constantly firing different scenarios at me that I'm failing in my life. When I am alone with my thoughts it's like having never-ending lesson about how useless I am and how I need to change everything in my life. And the hardest part is I can't even tell anybody this because I would feel weak." > — **Liam**
> "My entire life I've never felt like I was good enough, like I could never earn my place in society. And even though I think I've achieved some things by the age of 18, I still feel like deep inside I will never be enough and I'm still not enough and I can't tell anybody." > — **Jeffrey**
This profound isolation fuels catastrophic mental health outcomes, with men accounting for 75% of all suicides in the UK and worldwide, making suicide the leading cause of death for young men in 50 countries. To lighten the discussion while reinforcing the point, Logan mentions a recent stand-up special by comedian Kumail Nanjiani. In the final 20 minutes, Nanjiani addressed how the media mocked him for entering therapy after receiving bad movie reviews, using his platform to dismantle toxic internet criticism and advocate for men taking charge of their mental well-being.
* Men account for 75% of all suicides in the UK and worldwide. * Suicide remains the leading cause of death among young men in 50 countries.
[02:02:40](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=7360s) Emotional Expression and Emasculation in Therapy
Logan Ury shares a story about a friend who realized through therapy that he rarely allowed himself to feel sadness; instead, suppressed emotion translated directly into anger. He recalled managing a crisis over his father’s car accident with complete composure, only to lose his temper hours later over a missing Ninja Turtles T-shirt. For men, learning to recognize these underlying emotions is crucial not just for romantic relationships, but for personal well-being and basic survival.
Steven Bartlett reflects on his first therapy experience around age 31, noting how long he delayed it because seeking help felt emasculating. As a man, his default setting was to act as the self-reliant protector—putting a hand in front of his partner at a crosswalk or holding company operations together under intense pressure. Having run businesses since age 18, Steven developed an automatic mechanism of emotional numbness to handle extreme stress, like figuring out how to cover payroll for 170 employees on a Friday with zero funds in the account. When there are no healthy pressure valves for that stress, men often drift toward destructive coping outlets like gambling or pornography addictions.
---
* Men frequently convert unexpressed sadness into immediate anger because emotional vulnerability feels unsafe. * Entrepreneurs and corporate leaders condition themselves into extreme numbness to manage high-stakes crisis situations. * Alternative vices like gambling and porn often step in as default outlets when healthy emotional release valves are absent.
[02:05:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=7502s) The Crisis of Young Men, Economics, and the Empathy Deficit
Scott Galloway admits that reading the influx of emails from desperate young men has become emotionally overwhelming. He describes letters detailing grief over lost parents, isolation, opioid dependencies, and a profound inability to find purpose despite wanting to add value to society. Scott emphasizes that much of this crisis stems from economic and structural decay rather than purely personal failure.
To address this systemic decline, Scott advocates for tangible structural interventions: expanding vocational training programs, establishing national service to foster identity and connection, and creating more college seats and physical "third places." He points out that Israel records some of the lowest depression rates among young adults despite severe existential threats, largely due to the shared purpose and community forged during mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Meanwhile, in the United States, male suicides account for roughly 77% to 80% of the total—a 4-to-1 ratio against women. Scott argues that if four out of five victims in any other demographic were dying by suicide, society would intervene with emergency policy measures. However, because historical economic prosperity was heavily concentrated among white males, today's 19-year-old men face a profound lack of social empathy and pay the price for past advantages.
``` +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | U.S. Male Suicide Crisis Metrics | +------------------------------------------------------+----------------------------+ | Share of Total U.S. Suicides | 77% to 80% | | Male-to-Female Suicide Ratio | 4 to 1 | | Primary Structural Causes Cited | Economic strain, lack of | | | purpose, absent third | | | places, policy oversight | +------------------------------------------------------+----------------------------+ ```
Fortunately, public dialogue is shifting. Leaders across political lines are beginning to recognize that society as a whole cannot thrive if young men are flailing. Scott notes that Wes Moore, the Democratic Governor of Maryland, explicitly declared supporting young men as a core priority of his administration—a bold position that was warmly received by the public. When Scott first brought up these issues four to five years ago, he faced intense pushback and accusations of misogyny, but the cultural conversation has transformed dramatically since then.
[02:07:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=7671s) Building Resources and a Positive Script for Modern Men
The speakers discuss the practical challenge of where to direct the thousands of distressed young men reaching out online. Distinguishing between standard adolescent angst and acute suicidal crisis is difficult, and Scott mentions occasionally sending struggling young men $500 out of pocket to cover their initial BetterHelp therapy sessions. He notes that podcasts have effectively replaced traditional institutions like church, serving as modern sermons delivered directly into listeners' airpods.
Steven, Scott, and Logan stress the necessity of curating healthy messages of modern masculinity to occupy the space currently dominated by toxic influencers. Men need a actionable "script" that integrates strength with constructive behavior—going to the gym, building financial stability, practicing kindness, and looking out for others.
---
* Podcasts currently function as the primary channel for moral and life guidance among young men in the absence of traditional institutions. * Building positive frameworks around physical fitness, financial agency, and community care prevents predatory online actors from filling the leadership vacuum.
[02:11:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=7861s) The Arc of Happiness, the Reality of Struggle, and the "SCAFA" Protocol
Scott Galloway shares his perspective on the broader arc of human happiness, describing it as a smile curve: life tends to be joyful from ages 0 to 18, hits its lowest and most stressful point between 18 and 45 due to economic strain, career pressure, and loss, and then climbs back up in later years. He urges young men not to equate baseline career struggles with total personal failure.
To illustrate this, Scott recalls the birth of his first child when he was 42 years old. Instead of feeling pure joy, he was overcome with intense shame and nausea in the delivery room because his tech business had failed during the Great Recession, leaving him with a net worth of negative $2 million. He felt he had completely failed as a provider before his son's life had even begun. Sharing that story publicly revealed that countless men experience similar crushing feelings of inadequacy during major life milestones.
To pull himself out of depressive spirals, Scott relies on an actionable recovery framework he calls **SCAFA**:
<Sequence> <Step subtitle="Physical OS Reset" title="Sweat"> Engage in intense physical exercise to clear stress hormones and reset the nervous system. </Step> <Step subtitle="Nutritional Stability" title="Clean Eating"> Focus on eating clean, whole foods at home to restore gut health and energy levels. </Step> <Step subtitle="Removing Chemical Interference" title="Abstinence"> Completely cut out substances like marijuana and alcohol to clear mental sensors and stabilize mood. </Step> <Step subtitle="Grounding Connections" title="Family"> Intentionally spend time around close family and children to restore a sense of core purpose. </Step> <Step subtitle="Non-Sexual Physical Touch" title="Affection"> Seek out simple physical closeness, whether cuddling with pets, sitting on the couch with family, or holding a partner. </Step> </Sequence>
[02:15:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=8121s) Fiction as a Tool for Empathy and Closing Remarks
Logan Ury introduces an underappreciated tool for men's emotional development: reading fiction. While most men gravitate strictly toward non-fiction business books to increase earning potential, reading fiction builds deep interpersonal empathy by forcing the reader inside another person's internal world for hundreds of pages. She suggests that men struggling to connect with women read novels written by women to gain genuine perspective on their experiences.
Scott agrees, recalling how reading John Irving novels like *The World According to Garp* and *The Cider House Rules* as a young man relieved his personal insecurities by showing him that everyone carries internal quirks and eccentricities.
Closing the discussion, Scott highlights his book, *Work in Progress: Notes on Becoming a Man*, which framing masculinity as an honorable personal code focused on responsibility and care. The panel ends with a shared call to uplift both men and women, rejecting zero-sum views of gender progress.
---
* Fiction acts as an empathy generator by allowing readers to experience the subjective life of another person for hundreds of pages. * Framing masculinity as an intentional personal code provides young men with purpose, discipline, and accountability.
<FollowUp label="Want to explore Scott Galloway's SCAFA framework and its application to mental health?" query="Explain Scott Galloway's SCAFA framework in detail, including how each element targets stress and depression."/>
[02:18:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=8299s) Book Releases and the Final Tradition
Scott Galloway mentions his upcoming book, which is not intended to strictly define masculinity for young men, but rather serves as a series of personal stories covering his failures, what he learned about trying to become a man, being a good father, and being a good partner. He notes it will be published in the fall. Steven Bartlett then highlights Logan Ury's book, *How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love*, asking what readers will discover in it. Logan explains that the book focuses on understanding the hidden blind spots that hold people back from finding love and creating an actionable plan to overcome them. Steven promises to link both of their books in the description and extends a huge thank you to the Centre for Social Justice for publishing the *Lost Boys Report*, which sparked a massive conversation across the UK and globally.
Steven then transitions into the podcast's signature closing tradition: asking the secret question left behind by the previous guest. He presents the prompt to both guests: "What are you most scared of?"
* **Scott Galloway's Upcoming Book**: A collection of stories detailing his failures and lessons on manhood, fatherhood, and partnership (releasing in the fall). * **Logan Ury's Book**: *How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love*. * **Research Citation**: The Centre for Social Justice (*Lost Boys Report*).
[02:19:23](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=8363s) Confronting Deepest Fears
Answering the tradition's question, Logan reveals that her single greatest fear is losing her husband. She shares that he recently survived a brush with death after battling very serious bone cancer. Reflecting on that trauma while he is out climbing while they have a one-year-old daughter, she admits that although the obvious answer might be something happening to her child, her primary terror is losing her husband.
Scott approaches the question from both a societal and personal lens. Societally, he fears an epidemic of loneliness where people believe they can fully disengage from life, driving anxiety, depression, and political polarization. Personally, Scott reveals a lifelong fear that his own selfish instincts will manifest in an ugly way, leaving him old and alone. He recounts how his 95-year-old father ended up essentially alone, and seeing some of those lower-character attributes in himself makes him terrified of "dying under bright lights, surrounded by strangers."
Steven resonates deeply with both answers. He shares that his immediate thought is something happening to his partner, whom he views as an angelic, perfect human being he could never replace. He also mirrors Scott’s personal fear—worrying that the temptations of life will lead him to make bad decisions, ultimate leading him to be an absent father, ending up "old, rich, and miserable."
[02:22:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=8523s) Expressing Gratitude and Impact
Steven takes a moment to express profound gratitude to Scott, calling him one of the leading voices in the fight for young men. Steven highlights how Scott stuck his neck out to address the topic long before it was socially acceptable, using eloquence, wisdom, and humor to engage both sides of the political spectrum. Steven credits Scott's massive reach—spanning hundreds of millions of views—with providing "cover" for others to speak out and enabling reports like the Centre for Social Justice's to exist in the first place. Although Scott modestly replies, "I think you're wrong, but I'll take it," Steven insists he is right.
Steven then turns to Logan, thanking her for lending her research-backed perspective and lived experience to a topic that often feels filled with societal "landmines." Logan steps in to echo the praise for Scott, sharing that whenever she discusses her interest in male advocacy, people immediately bring up Scott Galloway. Scott humbly attributes his best data to Richard Reeves, but Logan and Steven emphasize that Scott is uniquely gifted at translating data into persuasive narrative art that bridges political divides.
* **Data Attribution**: Scott credits researcher Richard Reeves for the foundational data regarding male dynamics and disparities.
[02:24:28](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=8668s) Conversation Cards and Closing Appeal
Steven wraps up the episode by introducing the *Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards*, explaining that previous batches quickly sold out due to high demand from people using them with colleagues, friends, and family, or as journaling prompts. He details how he personally curated and ranked the questions left by past iconic guests into three levels of depth—level three being the deepest questions designed to build meaningful connections. The cards feature QR codes on the back that allow users to watch the video of the guest answering that exact question in real time.
Finally, Steven delivers a direct appeal to the audience, noting that 53% of regular listeners have not yet subscribed to the channel. He asks viewers for a simple, free favor: hit the subscribe button. In return, he commits that he and his team will work tirelessly to improve the show every week, listen to audience feedback, and continue booking requested guests.
<ElicitationsGroup message="What would you like to do next?"> <Elicitation label="Explore Richard Reeves' research on male inequality" query="Explore Richard Reeves research on male inequality" query_intent="CLICKABLE_SUGGESTION" /> <Elicitation label="Summarize key insights from The Lost Boys Report" query="Summarize key insights from The Lost Boys Report" query_intent="CLICKABLE_SUGGESTION" /> <Elicitation label="Draft summary of Logan Ury's dating science advice" query="Draft summary of Logan Ury dating science advice" query_intent="CLICKABLE_SUGGESTION" /> </ElicitationsGroup>
## Notable quotes > [41:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=2472s) women are in graduate school when it comes to emotional conversations and guys are in third grade. — David
> [41:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=2472s) We beg guys to open up... and then when they do, we can't stomach it. — Brené Brown
> [41:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=2472s) A woman would rather see me die on the White Horse than fall off of it. — Scott Galloway
> [01:02:47](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=3767s) We're taking young men's mojo away with frictionless, open-access, on-demand porn. — Scott Galloway
> [01:07:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=4071s) No is the way to success. Show me someone who's successful, I'm going to show you a ton of 'no's. — Scott Galloway
> [01:15:17](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=4517s) More than 50% of men between the ages of 18 and 24 have never asked a woman out in person. — Scott Galloway
> [01:20:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=4800s) Women are not expecting you to fly them to the moon. They want effort... You can get much farther than you think and be better than 90% of men by doing some of these bare-minimum things. — Logan Ury
> [01:30:13](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=5413s) You can have it all, just not at the same time — Scott Galloway
> [01:37:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=5828s) I've never felt more worthless.
> [01:43:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=6188s) The only thing that got me laid when I was broke was I was like slightly funny sometimes. — Steven Bartlett
> [01:56:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=6971s) For me the biggest challenge that young men face today is I feel like I'm striving for meaning but I can't find it anywhere. I struggle to even sleep at night with some form of substance because my brain is constantly firing different scenarios at me that I'm failing in my life. When I am alone with my thoughts it's like having never-ending lesson about how useless I am and how I need to change everything in my life. And the hardest part is I can't even tell anybody this because I would feel weak. — Liam
> [01:56:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY&t=6971s) My entire life I've never felt like I was good enough, like I could never earn my place in society. And even though I think I've achieved some things by the age of 18, I still feel like deep inside I will never be enough and I'm still not enough and I can't tell anybody. — Jeffrey
## Mentioned Scott Galloway, Logan Ury, Steven Bartlett, Andrew Tate, David, Brené Brown, Hinge, Tinder, David Claven, ManTalks, Shopify, Sam Parr, Intuit, Perfect Ted, Richard Reeves, Ask Ayla, Replika, Google, Brown University, Pew Research Center, TikTok, X, The Hustle, My First Million, Blank Street Coffee, Joe & The Juice, Goldman Sachs, American Institute for Boys and Men, New York Stern School of Business, Centre for Social Justice, Lost Boys Report, Grey Goose, Raleigh Hotel, Bank of Korea, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Democratic National Convention, Democratic Party, Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University, Liam, Jeffrey, Kumail Nanjiani, Israel Defense Forces, Wes Moore, BetterHelp, John Irving, The World According to Garp, The Cider House Rules, Work in Progress: Notes on Becoming a Man, How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love, Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards
[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li70iz1NaDY)