Leaving the Manosphere (Part 1): Why Modern Men Are Searching for Meaning

What looks like online extremism, grievance politics, or internet trolling is something much older, and much darker.In this episode, Will Spencer shares audio from the first two sessions of his Book Club reading Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identity by historian Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke. The discussion explores how Nazism functioned not merely as a political movement, but as a religious system, complete with ritual, myth, demonology, and a vision of racial salvation.Drawing from history, theology, and personal experience, Will explains how neo-Nazi movements reorganized almost immediately after World War II, how figures like George Lincoln Rockwell and Julius Evola fused politics with occult spirituality, and why many modern online movements cannot be understood politically alone.This conversation is about spiritual formation, discernment, and clarity—and why Christians must take the religious roots of extremist ideologies seriously.Topics CoveredWhy Nazism functioned as a religious system, not just a political ideologyHow extremist movements regrouped immediately after World War IIGeorge Lincoln Rockwell’s mystical “conversion” and American neo-NazismJulius Evola, occult philosophy, and anti-Christian spiritual elitismHow grievance politics distorts spiritual developmentWhy these ideas persist in modern online masculinity cultureThe personal and relational cost of extremist belief systemsBooks MentionedBlack Sun — Nicholas Goodrick-ClarkeAmerican Veda — Philip GoldbergThe Myth of Mental Illness — Thomas SzaszThe Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment — Jeremiah BurroughsThe Christian Mind — Henry BlamiresWeird Scenes Inside the Canyon — Dave McGowanAbout the Book ClubThe Book Club is a private reading group where we work through serious books slowly and carefully, not for hot takes, but for Christian spiritual and intellectual formation. The goal isn’t information alone, but depth, clarity, and long-term stability in a culture designed to keep us reactive and distracted.Learn more and join at willspencer.blogProduction NoteThese conversations were recorded live on Zoom and lightly edited to remove long pauses. Audio quality is not studio-perfect. The substance of the discussion is the focus.

What happens after you leave the Manosphere? And why did the movement collapse in the first place?In this episode, Bob the Baptist continues his conversation with Will Spencer about what followed his departure from the Manosphere, and how the online masculinity ecosystem began to fracture and mutate in the years that followed.The discussion moves beyond personal story into cultural and spiritual diagnosis. Will explains how figures like Andrew Tate vacuumed attention and monetized grievance, how ideological energy migrated into more radical online communities, and why movements built on technique, resentment, and audience capture inevitably fail to produce real moral formation.Bob and Will also examine the deeper questions beneath the phenomenon: the difference between power and authority, the limits of psychology and biology as moral frameworks, the cost of public accountability, and why Christian leaders cannot simply borrow the aesthetics of masculinity without inheriting its distortions.Bob and Will explore:Why the Manosphere effectively collapsed after 2022How influencer culture rewards grievance and extremityThe migration of Red Pill ideas into more radical online movementsThe difference between power, authority, and moral formationWhy performative masculinity cannot sustain meaning or disciplineThe social and spiritual cost of leaving identity-driven communitiesWhat a Christian account of masculinity offers insteadPart 1 traced how men are drawn into the Manosphere and why it initially felt compelling. Part 2 examines what ultimately exposed its limits — and what replaces it when men pursue ordered responsibility, truth, and accountability rather than dominance or resentment.🌟 The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men." FOLLOW &amp; CONNECThttps://willspencer.co/mentorship Will Spencer Podcast Home Substack Twitter/X YouTube Instagram Support the Show SPONSORSMentioned in this episode:One-on-One Mentorship with Will SpencerFor men who aren’t lost — but aren’t moving. Mentorship provides structure, clarity, and accountability for ordering your life under responsibility, authority, and long-term direction. 👉 Learn more: https://willspencer.co/mentorshipThe Will Spencer Book ClubA guided reading community for men and women who want to slow down, think clearly, and understand the deeper intellectual and spiritual roots shaping our moment. We read demanding books together and discuss them live — not to signal intelligence, but to form judgment. Our first book: "Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identity" by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke.<a...

What is the Manosphere, and why are so many men drawn to it?In this episode, Bob the Baptist interviews Will Spencer about his journey into — and ultimately out of — the Manosphere, the sprawling online ecosystem of male self-improvement, dating advice, and cultural commentary.The conversation traces how online communities offering guidance on confidence, fitness, success, and identity increasingly became substitutes for real-world formation and authority. From the influence of figures like Jordan Peterson to the rise of influencer-driven masculinity models, the Manosphere reflects a deeper hunger among men for structure, meaning, and direction.Bob and Will explore:How the Manosphere developed and why it expanded so rapidlyThe divide between “inner work” psychology culture and performance-driven masculinityWhy algorithm-driven communities create ideological silosThe dangers of personality-centered authorityWhy biology and psychology alone cannot sustain a moral vision of manhoodPart 2 (coming next week) continues the conversation by examining what ultimately exposed the limits of the Manosphere and what a Christian account of masculinity offers instead.CONNECT WITH BOB THE BAPTISTYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BraveNewTubeVideo: The Dark Trajectory of New Calvinism Video: How the Manosphere Became Mainstream🌟 The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men." FOLLOW &amp; CONNECThttps://willspencer.co/mentorship Will Spencer Podcast Home Substack Twitter/X YouTube Instagram Support the Show SPONSORSMentioned in this episode:One-on-One Mentorship with Will SpencerFor men who aren’t lost — but aren’t moving. Mentorship provides structure, clarity, and accountability for ordering your life under responsibility, authority, and long-term direction. 👉 Learn more: https://willspencer.co/mentorshipThe Will Spencer Book ClubA guided reading community for men and women who want to slow down, think clearly, and understand the deeper intellectual and spiritual roots shaping our moment. We read demanding books together and discuss them live — not to signal intelligence, but to form judgment. Our first book: "Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identity" by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke.Learn More About "Black Sun"

Former pastor Caleb Bobrycki aka "Bob the Baptist" joins Will Spencer to unpack how theology, politics, and culture collided inside modern evangelicalism — and why so many faithful Christians feel stuck in the middle.Description:Former pastor and YouTube creator Bob the Baptist (Caleb Bobrycki) joins Will Spencer for a wide-ranging conversation about how modern Reformed evangelicalism arrived at its current crisis — and why sincere believers are often caught between bad leadership and bad political options.They trace the influence of the Young, Restless, and Reformed movement, purity culture, and American Reconstructionism, and discuss how theological shortcuts and reactionary politics have replaced deeper confessional grounding. Along the way, they examine figures like John Piper, Machen, Van Til, and Rushdoony, and why responding to cultural chaos without first principles leads to repeated mistakes.Rather than choosing sides in today’s church culture wars, this episode asks a harder question: What would real theological reform actually require?Discussion HighlightsWhy sincere Christians often follow bad leadershipHow theology — not just politics — shaped today’s crisisThe legacy of Young, Restless, and ReformedPurity culture as a reaction to cultural driftWhy reactionary movements repeat old errorsThe danger of tribal theologyWhy confessional depth matters for cultural engagementAbout Bob the BaptistCaleb Bobrycki, known as Bob the Baptist, is a former associate pastor and creator of the YouTube channel Brave New Tube, where he explores evangelical theology, church culture, and political theology through in-depth video essays.His work focuses on helping Christians understand the deeper roots of today’s church controversies while remaining grounded in confessional faith.YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravenewtubeT-Shirts: https://bobthebaptist.printful.me/Patreon: https://patreon.com/bobthebaptist X: https://x.com/BobTheBaptist Email: CanvidFilms‪@gmail.com‬Watch my viral video with Bob: The Dark Trajectory of New CalvinismMentioned in this episode:One-on-One Mentorship with Will SpencerFor men who aren’t lost — but aren’t moving. Mentorship provides structure, clarity, and accountability for ordering your life under responsibility, authority, and long-term direction. 👉 Learn more: https://willspencer.co/mentorshipThe Will Spencer Book ClubA guided reading community for men and women who want to slow down, think clearly, and understand the deeper intellectual and spiritual roots shaping our moment. We read demanding books together and discuss them live — not to signal intelligence, but to form judgment. Our first book: "Black...

Eddie LaRow joins Will Spencer for a wide-ranging conversation about masculinity, rootlessness, and the collapse of moral authority in modern life.Rather than reacting to headlines or personalities, this episode examines a recurring historical pattern: when men lose roots in family, church, and community, power rushes in to replace authority. Drawing on thinkers such as Max Picard, Robert Nisbet, Philip Rieff, and Augustine, Will and Eddie explore why Gen Z men are drawn toward radical politics — and why this crisis did not begin online.The conversation moves through history, theology, and culture to clarify the difference between authority and power, how modern speed distorts the inner life, and why formation requires discipline, community, and time. This is a discussion about responsibility, rootedness, and how men can recover moral clarity in a disordered age.Topics DiscussedWhy many young men feel rootlessAuthority vs. power and why the difference mattersHistorical patterns behind modern radicalizationSpeed, chaos, and the modern inner lifeMasculinity, formation, and disciplineThe Church’s role in restoring moral authorityGuestEddie LaRow is an editor and writer whose work has appeared in First Things, Modern Age, and The American Mind. He writes on history, theology, culture, and Generation Z, with a focus on authority, community, and formation.Eddie's LinksSubstack — https://eddielarow.substack.com/ First Things: — https://firstthings.com/archive/?_author=eddie-larow🌟 The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men." FOLLOW &amp; CONNECThttps://willspencer.co/mentorship Will Spencer Podcast Home Substack Twitter/X YouTube Instagram Support the Show SPONSORSMentioned in this episode:The Will Spencer Book ClubA guided reading community for men and women who want to slow down, think clearly, and understand the deeper intellectual and spiritual roots shaping our moment. We read demanding books together and discuss them live — not to signal intelligence, but to form judgment. Our first book: "Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identity" by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke.Learn More About "Black Sun"One-on-One Mentorship with Will SpencerFor men who aren’t lost — but aren’t moving. Mentorship provides structure, clarity, and accountability for ordering your life under responsibility, authority, and long-term direction. 👉 Learn more: <a...

In this episode, I share why I’m changing how The Will Spencer Podcast works—and where it’s headed next.After five years of interviews, something has shifted. I talk about moving from a posture of learning into a season of teaching, why interviews will become less frequent, and what kind of original content I’ll be creating going forward.I also introduce a new book club launching in January, explain why I’m investing more deeply in Substack, and share what led me to begin mentoring men directly.This is a short, honest update about growth, responsibility, and what it looks like to build something with intention over time.Thanks for being here.LINKSSubscribe on Substack:👉 https://willspencer.blogBasic: $60/year • Book Club • Solo Essays • Four Doors book chaptersSignature: $297 one time • Personalized Message • Four Doors full bookBook Club (starts January 7, 2026):Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identityby Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke📘 https://www.willspencer.blog/p/this-isnt-a-political-problemMentorship (Free Clarity Call):👉 https://willspencer.co/mentorship

Public school did not fail by accident. It did exactly what it was designed to do.Robert Bortins—CEO of Classical Conversations and co-author of Woke and Weaponized—joins me to explain why education is never neutral, how parental authority was displaced by the state, and why efforts to reform public schooling consistently miss the point.We trace the historical and ideological roots of the modern education system, discuss social-emotional learning, AI, homeschooling, and classical education, and examine what happens to families, faith, and culture when formation is outsourced.This is not a rant or a political argument. It’s an explanation of how education actually works—and who it ultimately serves.If you’re a parent, a father, or anyone trying to understand why education feels increasingly disconnected from truth and responsibility, this conversation will bring clarity.CONNECT WITH ROBERT BORTINShttps://classicalconversations.comhttps://robertbortins.com/woke-and-weaponized/https://x.com/TheRobertBshowhttps://refiningrhetoric.com/🌟 The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men." FOLLOW &amp; CONNECThttps://willspencer.co/mentorship Will Spencer Podcast Home Substack Twitter/X YouTube Instagram Support the Show SPONSORS Mentioned in this episode:Biblical Mentorship for MenIf you’re a man who knows something needs to change — not because life is “too hard,” but because you’ve been drifting, avoiding responsibility, or lacking direction — Will Spencer’s Biblical Mentorship for Men is a disciplined, Scripture-based process focused on clarity, responsibility, and spiritual depth. This is not therapy. It’s not self-help. And it’s not about numbing pain. It’s about learning how to suffer well, lead yourself, and live faithfully. You can book a free Clarity Call to talk through where you are and whether mentorship is the right next step.https://willspencer.co/mentorship

Pastor Matthew Statler is an Army veteran with four Iraq deployments, a former cavalry scout, and a biblical counselor who knows the trauma system from the inside. After years of PTSD diagnoses, alcoholism, and failed therapeutic models, Matthew encountered a biblical theology of suffering that radically transformed his life.In this conversation, we confront the rise of the “Trauma Mindset” as a counterfeit gospel — one that dissolves responsibility, cannot handle guilt or shame, and increasingly turns to psychedelics as a false path to healing and revelation.We explore why Scripture offers a deeper, more honest account of suffering than modern psychology, how psychedelics function as a pseudo-sacrament, and why true healing requires repentance, endurance, and hope in Christ rather than therapeutic escape.This is a serious conversation for men seeking clarity, strength, and a worldview capable of bearing real suffering.📌 Guest LinksPastor Matthew StatlerX: https://x.com/StatlerMatthewSubstack: https://matthewstatler.substack.comSierra Vista Baptist Church: https://sierravista.church🌟 The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men." FOLLOW &amp; CONNECThttps://willspencer.co/mentorship Will Spencer Podcast Home Substack Twitter/X YouTube Instagram Support the Show SPONSORSMentioned in this episode:One-on-One Mentorship with Will SpencerFor men who aren’t lost — but aren’t moving. Mentorship provides structure, clarity, and accountability for ordering your life under responsibility, authority, and long-term direction. 👉 Learn more: https://willspencer.co/mentorshipThe Will Spencer Book ClubA guided reading community for men and women who want to slow down, think clearly, and understand the deeper intellectual and spiritual roots shaping our moment. We read demanding books together and discuss them live — not to signal intelligence, but to form judgment. Our first book: "Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identity" by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke.Learn More About "Black Sun"

Andrew Crapuchettes is a pioneer in labor market analytics and the visionary founder of Red Balloon, a job platform connecting freedom-loving employers with employees who won't compromise their values. In this conversation, he shares how he transformed from a Silicon Valley entrepreneur to building a company that rejects woke ideology in the workplace. The episode explores the false promise of workplace neutrality, the $800,000 difference between A-level and B-level engineers, and why young men must reject the lie that prosperity ladders have been pulled up.CONNECT WITH ANDREW CRAPUCHETTESRed Balloon - https://redballoon.workLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/acrapuchettesMentioned in this episode:Anxiety, Depression, Anger: There's a Biblical Path to FreedomAre you struggling with anxiety, depression, or anger? Living below your potential? Will Spencer's Biblical Mentorship for Men helps you move from fear to confidence, confusion to clarity, and bondage to freedom in 90 days—using Scripture, not worldly red pill nonsense. Book a FREE 30-minute call to get clarity on where you are and where you're heading. Because freedom in Christ isn't just possible. It's promised.https://willspencer.co/mentorship

Andy Felton is a former nuclear submarine officer and author of "Nourished by Design," exploring faith, food and health from a Christian worldview. His journey from personal health struggles to writing a comprehensive theology of nutrition reveals how the secular wellness space has captured territory the church abandoned.The conversation challenges both progressive food co-op culture and conservative McDonald's Christianity, arguing that neither understands God's design for human flourishing through food.CONNECT WITH ANDY FELTONhttps://NourishedByDesignBook.comBuy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/2Wajhsm🌟 The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men." FOLLOW &amp; CONNECThttps://willspencer.co/mentorship Will Spencer Podcast Home Substack Twitter/X YouTube Instagram Support the Show SPONSORSMentioned in this episode:One-on-One Mentorship with Will SpencerFor men who aren’t lost — but aren’t moving. Mentorship provides structure, clarity, and accountability for ordering your life under responsibility, authority, and long-term direction. 👉 Learn more: https://willspencer.co/mentorshipThe Will Spencer Book ClubA guided reading community for men and women who want to slow down, think clearly, and understand the deeper intellectual and spiritual roots shaping our moment. We read demanding books together and discuss them live — not to signal intelligence, but to form judgment. Our first book: "Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identity" by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke.Learn More About "Black Sun"