Standing Room Only

Everyone says young men are more religious — here's what's actually changing

Stories about young men returning to religion are everywhere right now. But when we saw a recent Gallup poll showing that 42% of young men say religion is "very important" to them, we knew something felt off. In this podcast, Amanda breaks down why the so-called rise of religion among Gen Z men has less to do with faith and more to do with gender politics and the growing popularity of podcast bro culture. As Christianity becomes increasingly tied to masculinity and conservative identity, seemingly harmless religious language online often evolves into something far more extreme. Today's guest, Tia Levings, shares her firsthand experience inside tradwife and fundamentalist Christian culture and explains why this type of values-driven spirituality can quickly escalate into rhetoric centered on control, submission and limiting women's rights. Levings is the author of the NYT bestselling book "A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy." Her latest book, "I Belong to Me," is available now. Follow her on Substack: https://tialevings.substack.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHA5TFJCNllIeTB5TDB5bjZoMVBHWDJHVnlZZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuTmVlWXdkb0R5TWM5aEhCaW9kS0hzU05ZQk92dUs0RWJzZzBiU0piWktMRUVScENfTDlZMEowYjNweXhYbFM5NzgwSHhiOXdyVkJFekhkVkJpMjRsRE5DekpJVlZ1WDVrTHZPTW5DUnpPOUNDYXZTTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Ftialevings.substack.com%2F&v=Dxwwf5g8O8E].

The real reason for male loneliness will surprise you

The "male loneliness epidemic" has a scapegoat problem. In this episode, Amanda takes a closer look at the online media shaping young men, especially podcast culture and the values it pushes around women and politics. From toxic dating advice to bizarre narratives around self-pleasure, she breaks down how some influencers may be making loneliness worse, while promoting dehumanizing views of women. And it's not just online. Political figures like James Fishback are tapping into this audience in real life, which should caution us all. Amanda's guest this week is Michael E. Hayden, author of "Strange People on the Hill." He has researched and written about the manosphere. Find his writing here: https://substack.com/@michaeledisonhayden [https://substack.com/@michaeledisonhayden]

Gen Z doesn't want to be tradwives

Fox News is suggesting that young women want to ditch their careers and submit to their husbands. The data says otherwise. In this episode, Amanda debunks a Fox News segment promoting the "tradwife" myth and explain what Gen Z women actually want. Spoiler: feminist progress isn't reversing. Today's guest, Kylie Cheung, staff reporter at "Abortion, Every Day," explains why access to birth control could be the right's next major target—and why that matters for all women. Read Kylie's writing here: https://substack.com/@kylietcheung [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqblN1VldsVHhLRjM4X1FXVGtfUDl5TEdGem9xZ3xBQ3Jtc0treDNQWGowbU5IMFRqOHJrX1dVWm0wYnptNVFURWhnMndDN1AzVUdwRkhiTlpUUlhBS1E3S21WYl9LWFhOOXJyUkVlNEtldUliaktWT1p0UzFvZnNfX01kN1ViRDkxSTFwQUF5QVF2b1duZzZGaDMycw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack.com%2F%40kylietcheung&v=rdNgo4Gavv4]

Why MAGA men keep posting workout videos

If you've seen even one video of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. working out shirtless in jeans, you've seen enough. But there are dozens more, featuring him and other men from the Trump administration grinding through pull-ups, push-ups and heavy lifts with a level of intensity that borders on absurd. In this video, Amanda breaks down why these fitness stunts have little to do with improving Americans' health or promoting real discipline. And it goes beyond cringe: RFK Jr. just announced he is launching a podcast with medical "experts," which raises serious concerns about misinformation and public health risks—again. Amanda's guest this week is Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Ph.D., a professor of history at The New School who has written extensively about the history of the American fitness industry.

Why JD Vance is talking about demons right now

When Vice President JD Vance was asked about aliens, he couldn't resist steering the conversation toward demons. This demon talk goes beyond his personal beliefs, it points to a broader strategy within MAGA to energize the Christian right. By leaning into dark, supernatural themes, right-wing influencers are trying to tap into curiosity about the diabolical as a way to draw in younger audiences (mostly with fear). In this episode, Amanda shows why this good vs. evil strategy is doomed to fail and discusses the right's obsession with the occult with this week is Taylor Leigh, an ex-evangelical and practicing Satanist.