Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What does a liberal solution to the masculinity crisis look like? As men fall behind in the American educational system and the economy, they’re looking for meaning — and often find it in the wrong places. My guest today is Scott Galloway, a professor at N.Y.U.’s Stern School of Business. Galloway is an unlikely masculinity guru — he’s a liberal academic, a business founder and a married father. He had a lot to say about the social and economic reasons young men seem to be struggling, but he’s still optimistic about the future.
00:00 - The Difference Between Weak and Strong Men
01:54 - How Big Tech Is Isolating Young Men
04:16 - Scott Galloway’s Upbringing and Success Story
08:24 - How the Education System Disadvantages Boys
11:51 - A Liberal Critique
13:49 - Today’s Economic Challenges
15:37 - The Problem The Far Right Saw First
17:28 - Policy Proposals: Redshirting, Mentorship & National Service
19:42 - Why Scott Galloway Doesn’t Believe In "Toxic Masculinity"
21:03 - The 3 P’s to Being a Good Man
22:27 - Why We Should Stop Demonizing Young Men’s Horniness
33:41 - The Alliance Between Men and Women
36:39 - Is the A.I. Era Good for Men?
39:23 - What Worries Scott Galloway, the Father
41:50 - What’s next for Interesting Times
Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com.
Read the full transcript here: nytimes.com/2026/08/06/opinion/ross-douthat-scott-galloway-masculinity.html
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
What does a liberal solution to the masculinity crisis look like? As men fall behind in the American educational system and the economy, they’re looking for meaning — and often find it in the wrong places. My guest today is Scott Galloway, a professor at N.Y.U.’s Stern School of Business. Galloway is an unlikely masculinity guru — he’s a liberal academic, a business founder and a married father. He had a lot to say about the social and economic reasons young men seem to be struggling, but he’s still optimistic about the future.
00:00 - The Difference Between Weak and Strong Men
01:54 - How Big Tech Is Isolating Young Men
04:16 - Scott Galloway’s Upbringing and Success Story
08:24 - How the Education System Disadvantages Boys
11:51 - A Liberal Critique
13:49 - Today’s Economic Challenges
15:37 - The Problem The Far Right Saw First
17:28 - Policy Proposals: Redshirting, Mentorship & National Service
19:42 - Why Scott Galloway Doesn’t Believe In "Toxic Masculinity"
21:03 - The 3 P’s to Being a Good Man
22:27 - Why We Should Stop Demonizing Young Men’s Horniness
33:41 - The Alliance Between Men and Women
36:39 - Is the A.I. Era Good for Men?
39:23 - What Worries Scott Galloway, the Father
41:50 - What’s next for Interesting Times
Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com.
Read the full transcript here: nytimes.com/2026/08/06/opinion/ross-douthat-scott-galloway-masculinity.html
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
