What Role Does Jordan Peterson Play in Shaping Young Men’s Views on Masculinity?

Host Curtis Chang teams up with “founding friend” and New York Times columnist David French to unpack David’s recent conversation with Jordan Peterson—and the crisis facing young men today. From mental health struggles to educational decline, David and Curtis take a hard look at what’s shaping young male identity in modern America, including the outsized influence of figures like Peterson. They explore how political polarization, digital culture, and a loss of purpose are driving young men to extremes. Most importantly, they offer a redemptive vision: practical ways to cultivate virtuous masculinity through mentorship, community, and spiritual formation.

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

• David’s column What’s the Matter With Men?
• David French appears on Jordan Peterson’s podcast
• Urban and Rural numbers on “Deaths of Despair” (NIH)
• The Widening Gender Gap
• Reflections: Men Without Chests (from C.S. Lewis’ The Abolition of Man)
• Admiral William H. McRaven’s 2014 Commencement Address
• Of Boys and Men: A Conversation with Richard Reeves
• Richard Reeves’ Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It

More From David French:

• David French’s New York Times pieces HERE
• Follow David French on Threads

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