Are We Engineering Our Own Extinction?

Esther Perel and Scott Galloway on the Rise of Asocial Men and the Death of Connection

In a gripping episode ofThe Prof G Pod, Scott Galloway sat down with world-renowned psychotherapist Esther Perel to examine an unsettling cultural shift: the decline of intimacy, the rise of isolation, and what Galloway provocatively called the evolution of "asocial, asexual males." Their conversation covered loneliness, masculinity, technology's role in eroding connection, and whether society is - perhaps unintentionally - planning its own extinction.

Some Highlights From the Conversation

The Decline of Male Social Bonds

• Galloway noted that fewer men participate in traditional bonding activities—such as team sports, social clubs, or even casual outings—warning that this could lead to a generation of disengaged, disconnected males.

Connection as a Strategic Edge

• Perel argued that relational skills are not just private virtues—they are now aCompetitive advantagein work and leadership. Companies that invest in emotional intelligence and team cohesion outperform those that neglect it.

The Role of Technology in "Social Atrophy"

• Both pointed toremote work, digital entertainment, and algorithm-driven isolation as key drivers of declining face-to-face intimacy. Perel called this "social atrophy"—a slow erosion of our ability to connect deeply.

Masculinity in Flux

• Perel emphasized the urgent need to rewrite outdated male codes. She advocates for environments where men can express emotions without shame, reframing vulnerability as strength, integrity, and even honor.

Extinction by Disconnection

• Perhaps most provocatively, Perel warned that if intimacy and connection continue to decline, we may be "planning our own extinction." Not necessarily through an absence of reproduction alone, but by undermining the relational glue that sustains societies.

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Who They Are—and Why They Resonate

Esther Perel

Belgian-American psychotherapist, best-selling author, and host ofWhere Should We Begin?She has redefined how we think about intimacy, desire, and relationships in modern life. Online, she is revered for her ability to blend compassion with razor-sharp cultural critique, offering insights that feel both therapeutic and deeply human.

Scott Galloway

Marketing professor at NYU Stern, serial entrepreneur, and media personality. Known for his blunt, often contrarian takes on business, technology, and society, he commands millions of followers through podcasts (Prof G Pod,Pivot), best-selling books, and newsletters. He is admired—and sometimes feared—for calling out power, inequality, and cultural blind spots.

Why Their Dialogue Matters

ThePerel-Galloway conversationgoes beyond diagnosing loneliness—it reframes connection as acultural currencyWe can't afford to lose. For Perel, the crisis is existential. For Galloway, it's structural and economic. Together, they highlight the same truth: if we neglect human connection, we erode not just intimacy, but society itself.

What are your thoughts on this discussion? Let me know in the comments!

Next read>>>The Death of Empathy: How Its Decline is Destroying Humanity and What Can Be Done

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