The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Episode: No Mercy / No Malice: The ‘Vcel’ Movement

Date: January 17, 2026
Main Theme:
Exploring the challenges facing young men in America, the dangers of the ‘incel’ (involuntarily celibate) ideology, and Scott Galloway’s concept of the “Vcel” (voluntary celibate) movement—a call for self-improvement, agency, and healthier masculinity.

Overview

Scott Galloway critiques the rise of incel culture and reframes the narrative around young men’s struggles in America. By sharing personal stories and broader societal analysis, he urges a move away from victimhood toward agency—encouraging young men to take responsibility, build character, and seek genuine relationships through real-world action and self-development.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rejecting the ‘Incel’ Moniker

• Historical norms:
  • “Throughout 99% of history, 99% of men have been incels for long periods.” (01:46)
• Personal story:
  • Scott recounts his own teenage years: skinny, insecure, celibate until nineteen, sidelined in dating.
  • Key turning point: Focused on self-improvement, social skills, and physical health.

2. Dangers of the Incel Ideology

• New cultural narrative:
  • Today, some young men “embrace” incel status, blaming women and the system rather than improving themselves.
  • Scott distinguishes between “incels” (involuntary) and “Vcels” (voluntary celibates choosing resentment over effort).
• Systemic Issues:
  • Boys lag behind girls in school and higher education.
  • Economic changes (housing, education costs) especially harm young men, who are “disproportionately evaluated on their economic prospects.”
  • Big Tech exploits isolation and anger, dating apps exacerbate romantic inequalities.

3. Political and Societal Response

• Political blame:
  • “The left ignored young men…espousing the belief that they didn’t have a problem, they were the problem.” (06:22)
  • The right fills the void with misogyny and regression: “arguing that the answer was to send women and non-white people back to the 50s.”
• Call for Agency:
  • “Men need to level up. Government programs and societal shifts will help, but young men should and will shoulder most of the responsibility.”

4. Actionable Advice—The Rule of Threes

• Scott’s ‘Rule of Threes’ for Well-Being:
  • “Exercise three times a week.”
  • “Work at least 30 hours a week out of the house.”
  • “Push yourself into the company of strangers at least three times a month.” (08:58)
• Benefits:
  • “Following this rule of threes will put you into the 95th percentile of young men.”

5. Perspective on Work and Opportunity

• Job market reality:
  • “It’s easier to get a job than it has been for most of the last 100 years. Youth unemployment is…historically low.” (09:35)
• Personal example:
  • Scott worked various jobs to put himself through school: waiting tables, hauling groceries and golf bags.

6. The ‘Red Pill’ and Dating Myths

• Pop culture impact:
  • Recent Netflix miniseries “Adolescence” has reignited debate on incel culture, with focus on red pill ideology.
• Dating realities:
  • Contrary to incel beliefs, “American men today are twice as likely to procreate as their ancestors.” (11:50)
  • “Bottom 80% of male Tinder users…are competing for the bottom 22% of women” (12:22), exemplifying online dating’s distortions.

7. How the Incel Community Evolved

• Origins:
  • Started as an inclusive support hub, “the term was hijacked as a weapon of war, and the community morphed into a nihilistic, misogynistic subculture.”
• Mental health toll:
  • “About two thirds of incels say they’ve considered suicide.” (12:52)

8. Societal Solutions and Empathy

• Democrats’ newfound attention:
  • Young male malaise now recognized as a serious voting issue.
• Empathy and zero-sum fallacy:
  • “Empathy isn’t zero sum. The party and society more broadly can build on the gains women have registered while also supporting boys and men.”

9. Meaningful Relationships—The Final Truth

• Manosphere’s big omission:
  • “In the end, meaningful relationships are the only things that matter.”
• Warning on isolation:
  • “If you sequester from other mammals, the anxiety and depression you’ll ultimately feel will dwarf any terror about disappointment.”
  • “Isolation is the only danger that compounds.” (13:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On personal growth:
  • “Having an impressive person who could date other men choose and love you is profound.” (03:12)
• Blunt challenge:
  • “If you’ve surrendered sitting at home all day, watching porn, binging Netflix and playing Diablo, that’s on you.” (08:35)
• Reframing adversity:
  • “Young men need real world venues where they can demonstrate excellence to women who are more discerning.”
• On mental health and solitude:
  • “If you’re alone and resigned to being nutrition for Big Tech, you need to reset and commit to becoming voluntarily insoluble.” (12:45)
• On isolation:
  • “Isolation is the only danger that compounds.” (13:10)
• Closing reflection:
  • Scott’s signature line: “Life is so rich.” (13:14)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:14] Scott’s personal journey from teen insecurity to self-improvement
• [03:12] First meaningful relationship and its impact
• [06:22] Political leaders’ failure to address young men’s issues
• [08:35] Scott’s challenge to young men in self-sabotaging routines
• [08:58] The “Rule of Threes”: actionable advice for young men
• [09:35] Realities of today’s job market and personal grit
• [11:50] Debunking procreation and dating myths in incel ideology
• [12:22] Online dating and the “winner-take-most” environment
• [12:52] Mental health impact: two-thirds of incels have contemplated suicide
• [13:10] Warning about isolation: “Isolation is the only danger that compounds”
• [13:14] Episode closes: “Life is so rich.”

Conclusion

In this episode, Scott Galloway delivers a direct, empathic, and challenging message to young men: recognize your agency, reject the passivity of inceldom, seek self-improvement, and invest in relationships and real-world achievement. His blend of personal anecdotes, societal analysis, and concrete advice urges both men and society to recognize that supporting young men is vital—not at the expense of women, but as part of a healthier future for all.