Digital Social Hour — Braeden Sorbo: How Social Media Is Shaping Gen Z's Future

Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Braeden Sorbo
Episode #: 1486
Date: August 11, 2025

Episode Overview

In this provocative episode, Sean Kelly sits down with Braeden Sorbo, Gen Z commentator and author of Embrace Masculinity. The conversation dives into how social media and shifting cultural values are shaping the future of young people—particularly Gen Z. Sorbo, at just 23, voices strong opinions on traditional values, the degradation of the American Dream, the impacts of pornography and OnlyFans, the red pill movement, feminism, and the state of modern Western culture. Expect controversial takes, stark data, satire, and calls for renewed communication and morality in society.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Premise of Embrace Masculinity and Gen Z’s Search for Values

• Why Braeden Wrote the Book

  • Felt a lack of content speaking authentically to Gen Z about traditional values. (01:15)
  • Wants to be "that voice" addressing the resurgence and relevance of traditional American values for his generation. (01:15)
  • Main Message: Return to traditional values, covering topics from the decline of the American Dream to the importance of marriage, beauty in culture, and fraternity. (01:42)

• "The American Dream is Dead"

  • Outlines how economic and social shifts have made traditional pathways to success nearly impossible for most people.
  • Stat: "Parents with two or more kids, 20%… are foregoing an entire meal just so that their kids can eat." (02:19)
  • Laments loss of economic security and opportunity but also promises there’s a path back to societal strength and beauty. (02:19–03:27)

Social Media: Perils, Performance, and Satire

• Building His Own Identity

  • Maintains he started his social media without leaning on family fame, wanting to carve his own path. Didn't use his last name until he had 500,000 followers on TikTok. (04:08)
  • "I wanted to do this to prove not only to others, but to myself that I can still be my own individual outside of the shadow of my parents..." (05:01)

• Calling Out Online Culture Through Comedy and Satire

  • Braeden discusses his controversial tweets, like "mandatory DNA tests for women," emphasizing he uses satire to spark thought, pointing out, "Every joke has a hint of truth in it. When we limit jokes… we're restricting freedoms and limiting the reach of truth. The day that comedy becomes outlawed is the day that free speech is gone. And frankly, we're already there." (05:30, 05:52)

The Destructive Power of Pornography and OnlyFans

• Strong Critique of Porn and OnlyFans

  • Calls for a ban on pornography, arguing it’s not free speech but a public health and social disaster:
    • Links to human trafficking and mental health decline for participants and viewers (06:26-07:39)
    • "The average cycle for a porn star is about three years. After… you become numb emotionally, spiritually, and physically…" (07:26)
    • Claims consumption ruins real relationships and "destroys your ability to form bonds with people." (08:05)
    • Stat: "Young men, 45%... between 18 and 25 have never approached a girl in real life." (08:56)
  • Points to widespread normalization of pornography as damaging for both men and women, exacerbated by music videos, movies, and influencers.

• On OnlyFans and the ‘Empowerment’ Message

  • Argues that "1 in 10 women in Gen Z are on OnlyFans. They're prostituting themselves online. Our version of empowering women was them becoming prostitutes." (00:40, 13:07)
  • Criticizes contradictions in what society tells young women and the lure of easy online success over long-term fulfillment.
  • Memorable Quote: "If I had boobs, I'd rule the world." (14:35)

The Destruction of Beauty and Culture

• Bemoans the "destruction of beauty" in society, literal (urban architecture) and metaphorical (morality, art).
  • “When we create art… we’re trying to mirror truth. And if the truth we’re mirroring is ugly, our art is ugly, in which case society is also ugly.” (02:39)

On Red Pill Culture, Feminism, and Gender Roles

• Feminism’s Impact & Gender Roles

  • Attributes the decline of the family and society to feminism, which he says split men and women and "pitted them against each other as opposed to telling them to work together." (00:40, 13:07)
  • Sees traditional gender roles as beneficial: "We all have unique gifts as humans… When we realize those… it is better for society as a whole." (13:07)

• Red Pill/Manosphere Movement

  • Says the red pill makes sense in a world without an objective moral base (16:26), but that Christianity critiques "domination" culture.
  • Uses biblical stories to caution against the red pill’s “have as many as you want” mindset, saying, "70 kids doesn’t mean your bloodline never ends; it means you get 68 funerals and one bad kid." (17:36)

Modern Discourse: Communication vs. Outrage

• Critiques influencer rage-bait, saying, "The social media and political spheres are so full of angst and hatred that we’re not actually realizing a lot of people… want the same thing but have different routes of getting there." (10:07–10:46)
• Argues that "rage clip farming… is not productive for discussion and discourse. All it does is sow discord." (10:46)

On Christian Nationalism and Islam

• Christian Nationalism
  • Sorbo supports “a foundational truth to society,” referencing the foundation of the colonies in Christian values. (17:47)
  • "A Christian nation is inherently a good thing because no other religion upholds women as equal to men…" (18:31)
• Concerns About Islam & Cultural Differences
  • Frames Islam as inherently misogynistic in practice, contrasting with his view of Christianity.
  • Warns of Sharia law encroaching on Western cities, citing London and Paris. (19:39)
  • Maintains under Christianity, "everyone is one," but warns that "outside of that banner, there are inherent differences." (19:41)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On OnlyFans & Female Empowerment:

  • "Our version of empowering women was them becoming prostitutes. Why is that a good message?" — Braeden Sorbo (00:40, 13:07)

• On Social Media Satire:

  • “Every joke has a hint of truth in it… The day that comedy becomes outlawed is the day that free speech is gone.” — Braeden Sorbo (05:52)

• On the State of Men:

  • “Young men, 45% of them between the ages of 18 and 25 have never approached a girl.” — Braeden Sorbo (08:56)

• On Red Pill & Religion:

  • "If we don’t have an objective truth we’re holding ourselves to, who are you to say what I’m doing is wrong?" — Braeden Sorbo (16:26)

• On Culture and Beauty:

  • “When we create art… if the truth that we’re mirroring is ugly, our art is ugly, in which case society is also ugly.” — Braeden Sorbo (03:18)

• On Rage-Baiting in Discourse:

  • “Rage clip farming… all it does is sow discord.” — Braeden Sorbo (10:46)

• On ‘If I Had Boobs’:

  • "If I had boobs, I'd rule the world. Like, there is truth to that." — Braeden Sorbo (14:36)

• On Christian Nationalism & Cultural Difference:

  • “A Christian nation is an absolute necessity for the survival of America.” — Braeden Sorbo (19:39)

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|-------------------------------------------------| | 00:40 | OnlyFans, Gen Z women, and the empowerment debate | | 01:15 | Why Braeden wrote Embrace Masculinity | | 02:19 | “The American Dream is dead,” Gen Z economics | | 03:18 | The destruction of beauty in culture | | 05:30–05:52 | Online satire and freedom of speech | | 06:26–08:05 | The case against pornography and OnlyFans | | 08:56 | “45% of young men never approached a girl” | | 10:07–10:46 | Communication vs. rage farming in discourse | | 13:07 | Gender roles, feminism, and the American family | | 16:26 | The red pill’s logic, moral bases, and critique | | 17:47 | Christian nationalism defined | | 19:41 | Islam, cultural difference, and American identity|

Conclusion & Where to Find Braeden

Sean wraps by plugging Braeden's book (Embrace Masculinity) and socials:

“You can go to storebustudios.com, use my code sorbo for 20% off. They can follow me at Braden Sorbo on any and all platforms.” — Braeden Sorbo (21:38)

Tone & Style Note: The conversation is unfiltered, conversational, often provocative, and blends satirical wit with earnest calls for moral revival and critical thinking about the messages shaping Gen Z.