Speaking to Isolated Men

​While we would prefer people to attend live, a recording is available for a short period following the event.

​Popular media loves to speak of a “male loneliness crisis”, but data shows men are not generally more lonely than women. The biggest divide is instead by class and especially education. When men are disconnected, it’s often simply because they are less educated, and left behind socially when others leave their hometown for work and higher education.

​Sam Pressler and Soren Duggan have just published a highly illuminating report on the lives of men without degrees, after interviewing a cohort of these men in depth. In this chat with them, we’ll discuss:

​-what do men mean when they say they are isolated or that they have no friends?

​-what role do marriages and relationships play in this social dynamic?

​-why is higher education such a fundamental force in our social lives in the 21st century?

​-how might narratives related to self help harm or help men who are socially isolated?

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​Sam Pressler

​Sam Pressler is a writer, researcher, and community-builder focused on the intersection of civic life and class. He’s currently a Practitioner Fellow at UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, a Research Affiliate at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program, and the creator of the Connective Tissue newsletter. In his past life, he founded and served as the Executive Director of the Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP), the nation’s largest community arts organization for veterans and military families. His grandmas are very proud of him.

​Soren Duggan

​Soren Duggan is a communications strategist, researcher, and writer dedicated to understanding how the modern media and information ecosystem influences our culture and politics. He previously served for nine years in the United States Army, operating in human intelligence collection roles for U.S. Special Operations where he deployed to Afghanistan and Syria. As a Center for Public Leadership Fellow at Harvard University, he co-founded Shared America, a 501(c)(3) creating and proliferating pro-social sentiment through digital strategic communications. He now focuses on deep qualitative methodologies to answer questions about the unique social and political issues of today.

​Dr Sarah Stein Lubrano has a background in feminist activism, mutual aid, and other local organising as well as teaching in prisons. She holds a PhD from the University of Oxford and a Master’s degree from the University of Cambridge. She was previously the Head of Content at The School of Life and wrote obituaries. Her first book, Don’t Talk About Politics: Changing 21st Century Minds, is out now. That book and her forthcoming book delve into social atrophy, the shrinking and changing of the brain due to social isolation - and the societal problems that cause this.

​If you are unemployed or low income, feel free to write to us to request a complimentary ticket.