Masculinity: identity, social media and extremism

Gender is always in motion, but is masculinity in crisis? In this episode, host David Karsten speaks with Dr Ben Rich and Todd Morley about modern masculinity, the challenges men face today, the rise of extremism and the solutions that could benefit us all.

• What does it mean to be a man in 2025 – and is masculinity in crisis? [00:09]
• Why men are falling behind: education, mental health and identity in a time of “polycrisis” [02:04]
• Generational divides and changing views on struggle [07:43]
• How social media is shaping masculinity [11:19]
• Extremism explained – what it really means and how it connects to masculinity [14:49]
• Is the internet an accelerant for radicalisation? [23:01]
• What men – and society – can do to create better futures [26:59]
• Redefining the “modern man” – why ambiguity matters [30:50]
• Inside the Curtin Extremism Research Network (CERN) [34:59]

Learn more

• Hasan Piker: a "himbo gateway drug" to the left?
• Most young Aussie men are turning to masculinity influencers, and it's impacting their mental health
• What is gender? With Judith Butler 
• The draw of the ‘manosphere’: understanding Andrew Tate’s appeal to lost men
• The Future Of the Manosphere podcast
• Western Australia Intervention Support Program (WAISP)

Connect with our guests

Doctor Ben Rich

Dr Ben Rich is a senior lecturer in the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry, and co-director of the Curtin Extremism Research Network (CERN), where his research focuses on the factors behind politically extreme views in areas such as gender, race, and public health.

Todd Morley

Todd Morley is a PhD researcher in the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry. His current research focuses on the radicalisation patterns of lone actor terrorists, and he also works as a preventing/countering violent extremism practitioner and consultant outside of Curtin.

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Transcript

Read the transcript.

Behind the scenes

Host: David Karsten
Content creator and recordist: Zoe Taylor
Editor: Caitlin Crowley
Producer: Emilia Jolakoska
Executive Producers: Anita Shore and Natasha Weeks

First Nations Acknowledgement

Curtin University acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the First Peoples of this place we call Australia, and the First Nations peoples connected with our global campuses. We are committed to working in partnership with Custodians and Owners to strengthen and embed First Nations’ voices and perspectives in our decision-making, now and into the future.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.