Podcast Title: Lost Boys
Episode: A Feminist Perspective on Lost Boys
Host/Author: Anthony Scaramucci and Scott Galloway
Release Date: July 10, 2025
Guests: Carol Radziwill

Introduction

In this episode of Lost Boys, hosts Anthony Scaramucci and Scott Galloway delve into the pressing challenges faced by young men in contemporary America from a feminist perspective. They are joined by Carol Radziwill, a renowned journalist and author, known for her six seasons on Bravo's Real Housewives of New York City, her Emmy-winning documentaries, and bestselling memoir, What Remains. The conversation aims to explore the multifaceted struggles young men encounter at home, school, and work, and to seek actionable solutions to help them thrive.

Historical Context and Male Privilege

Anthony Scaramucci opens the discussion by addressing the narrative that white males have historically held significant advantages, citing that this demographic enjoyed "a 5,000 years of a head start on everybody else" (03:04). This sets the stage for Carol Radziwill to elaborate on how these privileges have insulated men, particularly white men, from developing essential competitive skills.

Carol Radziwill states:

"Men have always been, you know, assumed to be the standard. Right. So they were handed everything. They never had to fight for any rights that I know of." (04:23)

She underscores that while women and minorities have historically had to fight for basic rights such as property ownership, voting, and bodily autonomy, men, especially white men, did not face these challenges to the same extent. This historical advantage has left a generation of young men underprepared for today's competitive social and economic landscape.

Current Challenges Faced by Young Men

The hosts and Radziwill discuss how societal shifts have left young men "falling behind." Radziwill attributes this to the lack of necessity for men to "develop that muscle" of competition due to their historical privileges. She observes that as women have made significant strides in corporate America and politics, men are now struggling to keep pace.

"Now this generation has to deal with the fact they're struggling because they never had to develop that muscle to compete on that level." (05:10)

Scott Galloway adds to the conversation by presenting Carol with a poignant story from a CEO whose son committed suicide, highlighting the dire mental health crisis among young men. This narrative emphasizes the urgent need for open channels of communication and support for men feeling isolated and overwhelmed.

Mental Health and Suicide Rates

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the alarming mental health statistics among young men. Anthony Scaramucci presents data indicating that men are "four times as likely to commit suicide" (12:15) and face higher rates of addiction, homelessness, and incarceration.

Radziwill responds by linking high suicide rates to societal pressures and the dismantling of patriarchal structures, which she believes have inadvertently caused men to "turn on its own." She emphasizes the necessity of dismantling these structures to help young men find their footing.

"We need to dismantle this. We need to tell young men, I mean, here's some statistics." (08:15)

Scaramuy introduces a story about a CEO who lost his son to depression, illustrating the profound personal impacts of these societal issues. This anecdote serves to humanize the statistics and underscore the real-life consequences of neglecting men's mental health.

Dating and Social Connections

The conversation shifts to the challenges young men face in forming romantic relationships and social connections. Radziwill highlights how societal expectations and the rise of digital dating platforms have complicated men's ability to connect authentically.

"They're swiping a thousand times to get one coffee date... but honestly, I don't know if that's true. I use dating. I'm single too." (27:15)

She points out that while women are also struggling with online dating, men often channel their frustrations into unproductive behaviors like excessive gaming or pornography consumption due to a lack of emotional support structures.

Anthony contrasts this with women's ability to derive emotional support from their friend networks, suggesting that without similar guardrails, young men are left vulnerable.

Role of Femininity and Sensitivity in Masculinity

A critical part of the discussion revolves around societal perceptions of sensitivity in men. Radziwill argues that while sensitivity is a valued trait, men are not traditionally taught to embody it, leading to difficulties in forming meaningful connections.

"Men have no idea how to show up as a safe man because they feel so disconnected and lonely." (35:00)

She advocates for men to develop nurturing qualities and better listening skills, which are often overlooked in traditional masculine roles. Galloway challenges Carol’s assertion, leading to a debate about whether the current system can accommodate the needs of both men and women without resource conflicts.

Solutions and Alliances

In the concluding segment, Anthony Scaramucci emphasizes the importance of restoring the "alliance between men and women" to address these intertwined societal issues.

"What I hope is that we can have some empathy such that we realize it's not a zero sum game and restore the alliance between men and women." (41:10)

Galloway reiterates this point, advocating for a collaborative approach that supports both men's and women's struggles without positioning them against each other. However, Radziwill expresses skepticism, arguing that history shows limited capacity to support both groups adequately.

"I disagree. I think we've shown. History has shown that there's not enough space really." (40:15)

Despite the disagreement, all parties agree on the necessity for empathy, mutual support, and systemic changes to better support young men while continuing to advance women's rights and opportunities.

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with a call to action for listeners to foster empathy and rebuild the essential alliance between men and women. Scaramuy concludes by highlighting the need for a balanced approach that doesn't pit one group against the other but instead seeks comprehensive societal support for all.

"There's enough space in the room to provide advocacy for everyone." (39:36)
"What I'm advocating for is a renewal in the greatest alliance in history, and that is the alliance between men and women." (43:20)

Carol Radziwill humorously notes the aspiration for such an alliance, acknowledging the challenges but reinforcing the importance of striving for it.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Carol Radziwill (04:23): "Men have always been, you know, assumed to be the standard. Right. So they were handed everything. They never had to fight for any rights that I know of."

• Anthony Scaramucci (05:10): "Now this generation has to deal with the fact they're struggling because they never had to develop that muscle to compete on that level."

• Carol Radziwill (08:15): "We need to dismantle this. We need to tell young men, I mean, here's some statistics."

• Carol Radziwill (27:15): "They're swiping a thousand times to get one coffee date... but honestly, I don't know if that's true. I use dating. I'm single too."

• Carol Radziwill (35:00): "Men have no idea how to show up as a safe man because they feel so disconnected and lonely."

• Anthony Scaramucci (41:10): "What I hope is that we can have some empathy such that we realize it's not a zero sum game and restore the alliance between men and women."

• Carol Radziwill (40:15): "I disagree. I think we've shown. History has shown that there's not enough space really."

Closing Remarks

Hosts Anthony Scaramucci and Scott Galloway thank Carol Radziwill for her participation, acknowledging the depth and complexity of the issues discussed. They encourage listeners to visit their website www.lostboys.men for more information and to share the podcast with others who might benefit from the conversation.

Note: This summary intentionally omits advertisements, sponsor messages, and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions of the episode.